《Reborn as an Ugly Wife in the Countryside》 Chapter 1: Just Wait to Be a Widow

Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Just Wait to Be a Widow

Zhong Xiaoxiao shivered uncontrobly from the cold, thinking to herself, "When I buy a house in the future, I must buy one that faces south. The heating in this north-facing house is just too bad." "Mom, mom, it''s too cold, turn on the air conditioner for me!" "Mom! Mom!" After calling for a while with no response, she had no choice but to open her eyes and get out of bed. When she did, she was stunned. Where was this ce? The room was pitch dark as if it were a y house. She found herself lying on a hard kang bed, icy cold. There was a small table on the floor with two red candles burning on it. The windows seemed to be papered, adorned with red ''happiness'' characters. There were no unnecessary decorations in the room. She had clearly been sleeping at homecould this be a dream? She considered this over and over, then silentlyid back down, closed her eyes, and chanted in her mind, "This must be a dream; it has to be a dream." Xiaoxiao fell into a drowsy sleep again, yet unexpectedly, the door creaked open, and in walked a man with a clear brow and handsome eyes. He approached the kang and shook Xiaoxiao with no sense of tenderness. She was jostled to the point of a headache and slowly opened her eyes only to see a man ring at her. "Just as the rumors say, it''s bad enough you''re ugly, but you''re truly the epitome ofziness!" The man expressed his anger with his face. Before Xiaoxiao could regain herposure, the man spoke again, "As you wished, I married you, but don''t expect me to touch you. Prepare yourself to be a widow for the rest of your life!" With that, he stormed out, mming the door behind him. Xiaoxiao was stupefied. The man who had just left seemed to be wearing an ancient Chinese red wedding robe. Looking at the candles on the table and the ''happiness'' characters on the windows, she nced down at herself and was shockedshe was wearing a wedding dress, too. Had she joined the ranks of time travelers? Was that man some kind of time-travel bonus? A cheap husband? "I just want to be alone, don''t ask who ''alone'' is. If I really did travel through time, I truly don''t want to live anymore. It''s alright for others to time travel, but I''m simply not cut out for this. I can''t farm, can''t manage household affairs, I''m not fierce, nor educated. This time travel trope really isn''t for me. I''m just a modern Taobao shop owner, only good at ying with theputer, typing, selling bras and underwearthat''s it. I''m an idiot! Oh God, let me die again!" Lying in bed, Xiaoxiao felt like crying but had no tears. Still unable to digest the fact that she''d traveled through time, she thought to herself: just lie down, keep lying down, it''s absolutely unbelievable! Don''t think about it, don''t think about it, and she drifted off to sleep again in a daze. Outside the house, after leaving the bridal chamber, Yang Ming headed straight to his younger brother Yang Dong''s room. "Big brother, why are you here? You aren''t nning to sleep here, are you? Leaving your bride alone in the room!" "From now on, I''ll be sleeping here!" With that deration, hey down on the kang and went to sleep. "......" Inside the main house "Husband, it seems our third son went to our fourth son''s room." "Ah! Children and grandchildren will have their own luck; let''s not interfere. Though that girl from the Zhong Family doesn''t have the best reputation, rumors are just rumors after all, no one really knows what she''s like. Let''s just wait and see. You should guide her more. If it really doesn''t work out, we''ll let our son decide." "Whether she''s good or bad, what can we decide? Could we divorce her if we wanted? If we could decide, we wouldn''t have been forced to agree to this marriage in the first ce. Our third son is suffering! He might as well be a monk for life," the olddy said, wiping away tears with her hand. "Stop thinking about it, let''s take one step at a time. Life goes on." On the other hand, Xiaoxiao waspletely unaware of the situation. She was still trying hard to sleep, hoping to somehow travel back! Chapter 2 Ugly Girl Zhong Xiaoxiao

Chapter 2: Chapter 2 Ugly Girl Zhong Xiaoxiao

It was barely dawn when Xiaoxiao woke up. Looking at this unchanging room, Xiaoxiao felt very desperate, fearing she might never return. In the modern world, although she was just an ordinary person, she had afortable life; but here, an ordinary person in ancient times was truly handicapped in terms of living. Staring at the dark earthen house, she surmised she must have traveled into a farming novelit definitely seemed like an extremely poor ce. Could someone disabled in taking care of herself earn any money here? Xiaoxiao was very doubtful! Oh dear, she had forgotten something important, what did she look like now? Yesterday, from what her makeshift husband implied, it seemed she was quite ugly! First, she needed to find a mirror. There probably wasn''t one in this shabby home! Better go outside and look for something reflective. Amidst the confusion of being transported through time, Xiaoxiao didn''t care about her appearance and walked out the door. "Younger Sister-inw, you''re up! Come over here to wash your face." A woman in her twenties called out to her from the well. "May I ask who you are?" "I''m the wife of the third brother! Just call me Sister-inw, don''t be shy. If you don''t understand something, just ask me." "Okay, Sister-inw." Xiaoxiao thought to herself, this sister-inw looked honest and amiable, with a gaunt face and sallow skinprobably typical of a farm household. Xiaoxiao probably didn''t look much better herself. Seeing a water container nearby, a thought struck hermaybe she could see her own reflection. She walked over. Xiaoxiao leaned closer and vaguely saw her face: thick eyebrows, double eyelids, but not veryrge eyes, just average, a t nose, big nostrils, and a round face with two small dimples. Her lips were slightly thick, she had a set of white teeth, including two adorable little buck teeth, and a rtively small head. She looked the same as she did in the modern worldnot pretty, but average. As the saying goes, "Three parts looks, seven parts dress." Although she wasn''t pretty, she still managed to make herself look more spirited and lively with her hairstyle. Thus, in the modern world, Xiaoxiao always wore her hair short or mid-length. The long hair of ancient times truly made Xiaoxiao look uglier. Thinking if she really had to live in ancient times, she definitely needed to be herself! She quickly washed her face, borrowed scissors from her sister-inw, and went back to her room. Once inside, she cut her hair to medium length, just over the shoulders. Cutting it was truly refreshing. She took the red string she used to tie her hair, pulled forward the bangs and tied them back. The young girl looked about sixteen or seventeen, and with the tidying up, indeed looked a bit more lively and cute. Slowly, even if not naturally talented, she still could transform herself outwardly. Since she was here, she had to be the real Zhong Xiaoxiao and follow her own path, let others say what they would. Thinking she hade here as a bride, there should be some dowry, right? Cursed was the original owner of this body for not leaving any memories for her, leaving her in total ignorance, groping in the dark. She had seen earlier that the house was sparsely furnished, just one table. Looking under it, indeed, there was a trunk hidden in an inconspicuous spot under the table with a red cloth on itpresumably the dowry. Opening it, she found a quilt, three sets of new clothes, and, although nothing else, some silver coins like those seen in TV dramas. Xiaoxiao bit into one, wow, was this ancient Silver Coin? She really didn''t know how much they were worth. It seemed her family wasn''t doing too poorly! She chose a light blue outfit and dressed up. Truly, clothes make a difference just as a saddle makes a horse. The young girl looked more beautiful and spirited than when she first arrived. Just then, she heard someone outside calling Xiaoxiao toe eat, so she walked out Chapter 3 That’s Happily Decided

Chapter 3: Chapter 3 That''s Happily Decided

Xiaoxiao arrived at the Main House, thinking that this must be the farmhouse''s principal residence where the elders lived and where meals were likely served. With a nervous heart, she approached the doorway, convincing herself that speaking less would be wise. It is never wrong to start with a knock. "I am Xiaoxiao." "Come in quickly and take a seat. Your sisters-inw are in the kitchen; we''re about to start eating!" The speaker was a woman who appeared to be about sixty years old, with ck hair flecked with white, a rather long face, drooping eyelids, and several missing teeth. She did not seem to be a stern figure; this must be her nominal husband''s mother. As Xiaoxiao entered, the room was full of people, men and women, old and young, all turning their gaze towards her, their eyes filled with surprise. Word had it that the Zhong Family''s girl was quite ugly, but upon seeing her, she actually looked rather charming. She was about 1.6 meters tall with a moderate build; however, what on earth was with her hairstyle? While everyone was sizing up Xiaoxiao, she was also observing everyone else. The room was filled with people with simple and honest faces, the very image of a hardworking farming family. They didn''t match the wicked family members often depicted in time-travel novels. Hmm, she''d keep watching. If this was the case, it would be wonderful because she truly wasn''t cut out for handling wicked people. After all, a harmonious family is the foundation of prosperity. Isn''t life happiest and most joyful when everyone gets along? "Dinner''s ready! Oh! Third younger sister, what happened to your hair? It was fine just a moment ago, and now you''ve cut it. Did you borrow my scissors to cut your hair when you said you needed them?" The eldest sister-inw, carrying the prepared food, walked into the room, chatting as she set down the meal. "Oh, the ends of my hair were in bad condition, so I cut them off, thinking about letting it grow out again," said Xiaoxiao, feeling a bit guilty, still unsure if such a haircut was permissible in ancient times. Though she had decided to live here, that did not mean she embraced the lifestyle of her body''s original owner. She just wanted to be herself and live without feigning agreement with others. "Let''s eat," the patriarchmanded, and everyone sat down to start their meal. Xiaoxiao looked around and nodded in approval. She had imagined that, as in some other time-travel stories, women might not be allowed at the table and might have to wait for their share of food. But it seemed that novels were just novels; the dining arrangement here was simr to what she knew from the modern rural houses she''d been to, where everyone ate at the same table and took how much they wanted. However, the quantity of food might suffice, but the quality was terriblycking. It was difficult to swallow for someone as picky as herself. It had no richness or vor and seemed to just be boiled in a pot, almost fit for pigs. The cornmeal pancakes were the only passable item, so Xiaoxiao had one with water before returning to her room without staying back to help clean up. Don''t use Xiaoxiao ofcking perception or not knowing her ce. If her nominal husband didn''t appreciate her, should she still act like a docile girl and obedient daughter-inw? For whom? She had decided to be true to herself and had no intention of conforming to their expectations. She recalled what her nominal husband had said the night before, "As you wish, I married you, but don''t expect me to touch you. Just get ready to live like a widow." "Great, I am a time traveler, after all. Who knows who you are? I am not the original person; only a fool would let you touch me." Yes, she happily reached her decision. She really wondered what issues had existed between her body''s original owner and her nominal husband. Ah, forget it. Wait, wasn''t her nominal husband absent from the meal just now? Where had he gone? Oh no, she had seen him for only a moment yesterday. What did her nominal husband even look like? She hadn''t gotten a clear view at all! This was a mess! Chapter 4: The Runaway Cheap Husband

Chapter 4: Chapter 4: The Runaway Cheap Husband

Main House "Mom, the third brother has left, and the third sister-inw just had her meal. Why didn''t she react at all!" said Yang Chun, the eldest of the Yang Family. "Dear father, this third brother''s wife, I always feel something off about her. Wasn''t it said that she is ugly,zy, good for nothing, and quite unreasonable? But at first nce, she seems passable, quite polite towards us. She doesn''t seem like an unreasonable person from the looks of it. It''s just that she can''t do housework; her beingzy might actually be true. You see, she went straight back to her room after eating without offering to help clean up." "You said it yourself, they were just rumors. You can''t judge a book by its cover." This family was full of na?ve straightforward people, only the head of the family was somewhat shrewd and saw things more clearly. "I see this girl as good-natured. We should teach her more in the future. Maybe she and our third son could live happily together." "Tomorrow is the day to formally present the bride. The third brother isn''t here; how can we proceed?" "Eldest, second, both of you should go hunting in the mountains and try to get some wild chickens or rabbits for the gift tomorrow. Mom will prepare twenty eggs, and we''ll take out that jar of wine we made earlier; that''ll be it, as we don''t have much else! If it really doesn''t work out tomorrow, we can let the youngest follow her back home." "Dad, how can a younger brother-inw follow his sister-inw home! Wouldn''t that be aughing stock?" "So? With your third brother gone, what else should we do? You go tomorrow. Luckily, the vigers don''t know your third brother, so you could just pose as him." "But her family is so fearsome; they might beat me to death!" "......" The whole room fell silent, exchanging nces as though their eyes were saying, Youngest Brother, take good care of yourself and good luck! Yulin Academy "Brother Yang, yesterday was your joyful wedding dayhowe you''re already back at the Academy today?" "Right, right, how''s the new wife? I heard she is quite a beauty, hahaha!" "Beautiful or not, when you close your eyes, they''re all the same, hahaha!" "Brother Yang has indeed married a good wife, hahaha!" "That''s so true." ...... ...... A group of ssmates surrounded him, making fun of him. They were all here to mock Yang Ming. So what if he was good at studying, a potential Top Schr, or favored by the Academy''s teachers? He still ended up being forced into a marriage with a notoriously ugly wife. Oh, how satisfying it was! They had toe and rub it in, every word dripping with mockery. Yang Ming was suffering in silence, resenting the thought of the wife he had at home; it was enough to make his blood boil, considering forced marriage a tremendous disgrace. He nned to stay in the Academy for a few months first, letting his wife hang. She wanted to get married, right? He didn''t believe someone like her couldst in a rural setting. He was waiting for the day she couldn''t stand it anymore and would leave on her own ord. At this moment, Xiaoxiao was unaware of her cheap husband''s scheme. After returning to her room, she started contemting how to live her future life. First, she wanted to renovate her living space to make it habitable. Next, she needed to understand the current state of the country, and then the focus was on earning money to improve her quality of life. Once she had saved enough, she would travel the world. In an era devoid of mobile phones andputers, besides hiking and sightseeing, there wasn''t much leisure activity to speak of. That''s what she decided. Taking the silver from her dowry, she stepped out, determined to find someone who could tell her how much it was worth, because it was crucial for renovating her house! Chapter 5: Twenty Taels of Silver

Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Twenty Taels of Silver

"Sister-inw, are you in the house?" Xiaoxiao walked to the yard and called out. "I have something to ask you." "Third sister-inw, what''s the matter?" She only saw the elder sister-inw emerge from the room on the left side, ah, looking at this yard. Not to mention her own house, which was merely a y hut, the others were living in simr dwellings too. Improving the living quarters was just around the corner, huh. "Sister-inw, I want to tidy up and improve our living space. Can you help me see how much money I have? Oh! I mean, how many Silver Coins?" After saying that, she took out the Silver and also watched the elder sister-inw''s expression, thinking to herself that no matter the era, many people''s rtionships with their siblings had copsed and marriages had fallen apart due to financial issues. If this family coveted her Silver Coin, it would mean that they were not to be associated with, and she also needed to think of a strategy to leave sooner rather thanter. "Third sister-inw, did you hit your head? Why don''t you even know how much Silver you have?" She saw her elder sister-inw''s eyes reflecting surprise and concern, but not greed. Xiaoxiao was satisfied and at the same time puzzled, "Sister-inw, what do you mean by hitting my head? Could it be that I had a fall before?" "Indeed, yesterday, you fell on the road while you were being weed into the family. Remember there was a light rain yesterday, and the road was not easy to walk on. The people carrying the bridal sedan chair in front slipped, and you were thrown out of the sedan chair. You said you weren''t hurt, third sister-inw, don''t you remember?" Xiaoxiao was still wondering. She had just slept at home and inexplicably time-traveled here. What happened to the original body? There must have been a catalyst. She hoped that the original body could travel to the modern world to help look after her mother. If her modern self was gone, her mother and family would be so saddened! "Sister-inw, I must have hit my head, as when I woke up in the new house, I could not remember many things. I only remember that my name is Zhong Xiaoxiao. You can treat me like I''m a newborn child, can''t you? Teach me more, okay?" She yfully swayed her elder sister-inw''s arm with an innocent face. "Injuring your brain is a serious matter, we''d better find a doctor, third sister-inw." "No need, no need, sister-inw, I got the impression from what my husband said that my reputation wasn''t very good before. Now that I''ve lost my memory, let''s just pretend I''m a newborn child, and you can teach me how to behave from scratch. Let''s not bother with a doctor. It''s not something to boast about. It''s better if you''re the only one who knows! You haven''t told me yet, how much is this worth?" "You, well alright then. What you have here are twenty taels, which in our area could buy you four mu ofnd. If we were talking about living expenses, it could sustain the whole family for several years." "So, I have quite a fortune here! Then I want to make several sets of clothes, get a cab, chairs, buy some writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstone, and a few books. Will that be enough?" Xiaoxiao thought to herself how generous her natal family was, able to provide enough to support andlord''s household for several years. She was eager to meet her natal family and see just how eminent they really were. "Writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstone, and books are quite expensive. What do you need them for, to give to your third brother? You really care about him." The elder sister-inw said with a smile. "To give to him? Is he a Schr?" "Oh yes, you''ve forgotten that. Your third brother is indeed a Schr, preparing for his official examinations." "Are we close to the town here? If so, let''s go have a look in town today!" "From here to the town, it takes half an hour on foot. Today is market day. How about I call the second sister-inw, and the three sisters-inw can go for a stroll?" "That''s a deal." Once she had called the second sister-inw and informed her parents, the three women set out. On the way, Xiaoxiao was dumbfounded, "Sister-inw, can we take a ride there?" Chapter 6: Xiaoxiao the Spendthrift is Online

Chapter 6: Chapter 6: Xiaoxiao the Spendthrift is Online

After walking for an hour, they finally arrived in the town. The sight of the ancient buildings and the bustling streets filled Xiaoxiao with excitement. She looked as wild as a horse freed from its shackles. Each item for sale looked like a genuine antique, and her eyes gleamed as if she had discovered treasures of gold and jewels. Everything she saw, she wanted to buy, as if money was no object, and soon the three of them had their hands full of purchases. Sister-inw could no longer contain herself, "Xiaoxiao, just because you have Silver Coin, doesn''t mean you should spend it like this!" Her face was filled with anguish as she thought, this is way too wasteful! Moreover, what was being bought was hardly practical! "Oh right, the things I wanted to buy, I haven''t bought yet. Let''s head to the Cloth Shop first," Xiaoxiao said, realizing she had lost herself a bit and behaved like she was shopping in a supermarket. This wasn''t right! She needed to cure her shopping spree hangover! The trio arrived at the Cloth Shop, intending to buy ready-made clothes, but the sisters-inw couldn''t stand it and unanimously decided to make the clothes themselves if they just bought the fabric. So, they ended up buying three bolts of cloth and calling it quits. Next, they visited a furniture shop. The options were limited, surprisinglycking cabs and only offering trunks. Eventually, after a long negotiation with the Shopkeeper, Xiaoxiao custom-ordered a kang cab based on a modern design. Additionally, she asked them to craft some coat hangers, a lounge chair, a desk, and a chair. Thinking about adding other itemster, she paid and hurried towards the Bookstore, her sisters-inw by now utterly dumbfounded by Xiaoxiao''s extravagant spending, unable to keep up. "Shopkeeper, let me have a set of brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and help me select a few books about misceneous facts and events of this era!" Seeing a big spender, the Shopkeeper promptly gathered the items. After picking out five books, he said, "Here you go, twelve taels of Silver Coin in total." Xiaoxiao hesitated, then turned to her sisters-inw with a sheepish smile, shing her white teeth and dimples, "Sisters, I think I got carried away. I don''t think I have enough Silver," giggling awkwardly. The two sisters-inw just rolled their eyes. This girl''s frantic buying was thoroughly reckless, ignoring the consequences. Was this the notorious spoiling from her family? Yet, why was she so adorable? "If you don''t have enough Silver, then just don''t buy it! With how poor our family looks, how much Silver Coin do you think we have on us?" the second sister-inw joked. The second sister-inw, clearly a sharp-tongued but soft-hearted person, was just Xiaoxiao''s type! She always felt that except for her cheap husband, this family was entirely wonderful. "Shopkeeper, I''ll write a few characters. If you think they''re good, how about you take five taels?" "Sure!" The Shopkeeper, looking at Xiaoxiao, figured a young girl buying books must have some genuine talent. Checking out her writing couldn''t hurt. They prepared the writing set, and Xiaoxiao approached the table to write, "Business Flourish" in bold characters. The Shopkeeper was dazzled by her calligraphy and gasped, "Well written!" Xiaoxiao thought about how her practice with a writing brush in modern times wasn''t for nothing. She paid five taels of Silver, then turned to her sisters-inw, "Sisters, let''s go home, haha! With all these things, we''ll have to find a cart. I can''t walk anymore!" Shopping made her as energetic as if she was on a stimnt, but the moment she stopped, she deted like a punctured ball and waspletely drained! Carryingrge and small packages, Xiaoxiao and herpany walked away, never realizing that in the bookstore, a schr with a fairplexion had been watching the whole time. "This girl is interesting!" he murmured to himself before finding a cart and heading towards Yulin Academy in the county. Chapter 7: Reckless Yang Ming

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: Reckless Yang Ming

Three people hired an ox cart and hurriedly returned home. Xiaoxiao was thrilled to ride in it, reminiscing about how it had been over a decade since she had left the countryside in the modern era at the age of a teenager. Ah, how nostalgic! Ancient times had no cars, which conveniently solved her problem of getting carsick! Riding in the cart was fast; they soon reached the entrance of the vige. It was already afternoon by then, and outside there were quite a few vigers milling about, which was rather odd in such cold weather. Seeing the wives of the Yang Family returning in the ox cart, loaded with all sorts of goods, they began to gossip. "That must be the new bride of Yang Family''s third son!" "I heard she''szy and squanders money. It seems it''s true, she''s already wasting away on her very first day entering the home!" "My daughter-inw is from the same vige as her. They say that girl is spoiled rotten at home, doesn''t do any work, and likes to spend. Plus, her personality isn''t that great either. She''s pretty fierce. What''s the saying again? Oh, right, ys down thew without making sense.''" "This bride is going to be a handful for the old Yang Family to deal with. Just watch, if it were me, I''d say their house won''t have peace. Didn''t you see? Yang Family''s third son left early this morning! He''s dissatisfied with his new bride! Who knows, he might not evene back tomorrow!" "You guys are just jealous. They have money, if you had money, you would also buy, buy, buy!" "......" "......" Overhearing the vigers''ments, Xiaoxiao, a popr young woman of the 21st century, felt her face turning red with embarrassment. It was the first time she had been gossiped about like this. Feeling somewhat embarrassed and a bit naive at the situation, she resolutely decided nothing could bring her down; she would prove them wrong and make them green with envy. Yulin Academy "Yang Ming!" The person who had arrived was none other than Yang Ming''s good friend Chu Lian, also the pale-faced schr who had noticed Xiaoxiao. Being a year older and from the same town, the two had be close at the Academy, looking out for each other. Chu Lian was humorous and witty in contrast to the somewhat wooden Yang Ming. Their differing personalities made it odd they were friends, yet they indeed were. "Big brother Chu!" "What''s the situation, didn''t you just get married yesterday? How''s the little sister-inw? Come on, tell me!" "Heh, heh, I kinda don''t remember what she looks like. I only saw her briefly," Yang Ming said with a helpless expression, as he truly hadn''t gotten a good look. "Hahaha, I think you didn''t dare to look! Hahaha," Chu Lianughed, holding his stomach. "Speaking of looks, today at the town''s bookstore, I did see a girl who was, how should I put it, quite unique and interesting! I''d really like to get to know her." "Another girl caught your eye! You don''t even care for the daughter of the master," Yang Ming said truthfully. Chu Lian, handsome and from a family that owned shops in both the town and county, had many women wanting to marry him, yet he looked down on them all. His mention of a specific woman today must mean that she had something special. At that moment, Yang Ming could not foresee his wife being the object of interest, and wouldter regret countless times not extinguishing this budding interest. It led him down many winding paths in his quest to win his wife over! "It''s not easy to catch my eye, unlike you, forced into marriage!" Watching Chu Lian''s amused face, he patted his shoulder, reflecting on his own predicament with a look of sheer dejection and yet unaware of just how far down the path of self-destruction he was heading! Chapter 8: Returning to My Mother’s House with My Younger Brother-in-Law

Chapter 8: Chapter 8: Returning to My Mother''s House with My Younger Brother-in-Law

In the evening, Xiaoxiaoy on the kang bed, revisiting the words her father-inw had said at dinner, "Third son''s wife, since the third son has gone to the Academy and won''t return until tomorrow, it''ll have to be the fourth son apanying you on your trip back home. Your mother has prepared everything for the return-home gifts!" Hehehe, to be apanied by a young brother-inw on a visit back to her parent''s house, aside from the unfortunate her, she guessed there was no one else quite as peculiar. It was just a matter of facing whateveres, she thought, and a good opportunity to see what sort of ce her parental home was! Xiaoxiao tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Her mind raced through all the novels she had read like flipping off a light, considering how transmigration masters either had a "Golden Finger" or were just cheats in themselves, bing omnipotent in ancient times, able to create anything. Thinking it over, she felt that being life-disabled as she was, it would be best to find a substantial golden thigh totch ontothat was the real deal. In time, just like other transmigration masters, she would find a good husband, have a chubby baby, and live a happy, fulfilling life. Haha, after thirty years of being single, she finally fell asleep dreaming sweet dreams! Yang Dong, the Yang Family''s fourth son, was the same age as Xiaoxiao, fifteen years old, with an estimated height of around 1.63 meters, healthy wheat-colored skin, and a youthful face that promised to mature into that of a tough guy. He had borrowed an ox-cart early in the morning and left with his third sister-inw. As Xiaoxiao sat on the ox-cart, she checked the gifts for her return home: two chickens, a rabbit, twenty eggs, a jar of wine, and the pastries they had bought from the town yesterday. She wasn''t sure if it was too much or too little! She was somewhat impatient to visit her parental home, and about halfway through the journey, Xiaoxiao just couldn''t hold it in any longer! "Fourth brother, let''s chat for a bit, it''s too boring to travel in silence!" "Why don''t you tell me about our household, um, like who''s in the family, how muchnd we have, what we grow," she continued talking when she saw her fourth brother ignoring her. "Counting you, there are twelve people in our family: father and mother, the eldest brother''s family of four, the second brother''s family of three, your family of two, and me." "Thend is allocated per person; right now, we have eleven acres, and yours hasn''t been divided yet." "We grow corn!" "Is that it?" Xiaoxiao thought to herself that this really was a reticent fellow, answering only what was asked, sinctly at that, without a single superfluous word. "Then tell me how our family earns money? Isn''t the third brother studying? Those brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, and books are so expensive, do we have the silver to support him?" "Thend is enough to feed us, and when we''re not farming, we go out to work. The third brother also copies books for others!" "That''s it again! Can''t you say a bit more? It''s really boring when all you do is answer questions!" The fourth brother fell silent once more, and Xiaoxiao felt like tearing her hair out in frustration. Fine, be silent! Before they knew it, they had arrived at her parental home in Stone Vige. The sight was quite a contrast; while the Yang Family''s vige had houses of earth, Stone Vige was wealthier, with every house made of stone. "Xiaoxiao''s back, and is this your husband? He looks quite handsome," the vigers started to inquire as soon as they saw Xiaoxiao entering the vige! "Oh, no, this is my younger brother-inw!" "......" The vigers were immediately dumbfounded. What was this all about! Fourth brother looked on in astonishment. He had onlye to make up the numbers, and here his third sister-inw had blown his cover. Was third sister-inw really as naive as she seemed, or was it something else? He just couldn''t figure it out. At this moment, an elderly woman in her fifties approached. When Xiaoxiao spotted her, she couldn''t help herself; she jumped down from the ox-cart and ran over, throwing her arms around the old woman, crying her heart out, all the pent-up grievancesing to the fore, as she blurted out words that no one else could understand. "Mom! Mom..." Chapter 9: Fiery Temperament - Maternal Relatives

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: Fiery Temperament - Maternal Rtives

Having arrived back home, Xiaoxiao took a while to calm herself. It''d be a lie to say that time-traveling to an ancient era wasn''t scary. Fortunately, her father was still her father, her mother was still her mother, her older brother was still her older brother, and many of the vigers had familiar faces. This might not be a historical dynasty, but a parallel world where people might look the same but have different personalities and lives. Thinking like this, Xiaoxiao felt somewhat relieved, at least she still recognized everyone. "Sis, did their family bully you?" her older brother suddenly stood up, mming the table. Such a temper! "Boss''s wife, go to your uncle''s house and call them all over. Did they think the Zhong Family has no one to defend it?" Dad was no pushover either! "We should go settle this with them now." Hey, hey, hey, Mom, their quick tempers aside, what about yourdylike image? "I''ll go help my auntie too!" At that moment, a child''s voice made Xiaoxiao break intoughter. Having such protective family members was really wonderful. Tears in her eyes, she beamed a big smile and quickly held back her sister-inw, "I''m fine, they treated me well. I just missed you all too much!" As for the fourth youngest, he waspletely dumbfounded, thinking he''d nevere here again. Let someone else deal with this! From the moment he entered the vige, his heart had been in his throat, too many ups and downs. Just when he had calmed down a bit, he saw Old Daddy Zhong pointing at him, asking Xiaoxiao, "They didn''t bully you? Then exin him! He''s not your husband, is he?" "Uncle, I am" "Did I ask you? Xiaoxiao! You speak!" He was cut off before he could finish. "..." Fourth brother felt a mixture of sweat and fear. Quite intimidating. "This is my brother-inw. My husband had to stay at the Academy and couldn''t leave, so he apanied me here. Don''t scare him; he''s still a child." Hey, who''s a child? We''re the same age! Fourth Brother was speechless! "Hmph," Old Daddy Zhong was still visibly upset. "Dad, my husband is a Schr who is studying for his official exam. We can''t afford to dy his education, right?" "Hmph, what''s the use of a mere schr who can neither lift by hand nor carry on his shoulder? Only you would choose him." "I have foresight, okay? Do you think your daughter can lift and carry? Plus, you think your daughter is all that desirable? Just listen to what people outside are saying. Do you really think your daughter is that sought-after? It''s good enough that someone wants her," she mentally ranted, although the one interested hadn''t actually made a move C utterly stinking! "But from today onward, I will reform and be a new person, and make those people take a second look!" Xiaoxiao grew more and more excited as she spoke, leaving everyone stunned. They all thought this girl seemed different after just a few days of marriage, but regardless, they all felt good about it in their hearts. Old Daddy Zhong finally showed a smile. It was wonderful to see his daughter thinking this way. She had indeed been too pampered before. Who could me him when the Zhong Family only had one daughter? Everyone doted on her together. Just as he felt reassured, a cold ssh came his way! "Dad, the dowry is all spent. Could you give me some more to carry on me?" "........" Everyone. "No one is allowed to give her any. Let her learn how hard it is to earn Silver,"manded an irritated Old Daddy Zhong. "If you won''t give it, then I''ll just go back to the Yang Family and start anew. I''ll go back to farming! Just you watch! I''ll earn Silver to honor you all." Yang Fourth Brother watched the family''s interaction, feeling quite envious. Xiaoxiao got along sofortably with her family, and before she knew it, it was time to go back. Chapter 10 Bestie Li Chuntao

Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Bestie Li Chuntao

Xiaoxiao sat in the oxcart on the way back, thinking about the useful information she had gotten from her parents'' home. The reason Stone Vige was richer than other viges was because of Stone Mountain. Stone Mountain didn''t produce trees or crops, it only produced stones. And these stones were quite useful, usable for building houses, paving roads, and crafting various objects. For example, the stone lions in front of the government office were from Stone Vige, demonstrating the vigers'' excellent craftsmanship. This Stone Mountain was none other than the property of the Zhong Family''s head! Stone Vige also had another wealthy family that had made its fortune through farming. They were what you would callndlords, and as fate would have it, Xiaoxiao''s best friend from her childhood was the daughter of thisndlord. The reason the two girls were so close was that they shared a reputation; as the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. This best friend was named Li Chuntao, fourteen years old and weighing in at two hundred pounds, a weight she achieved entirely through eating. In essence, the two girls were not bad by nature, but they were considered misfits in farm households where women were expected to work like men and men were treated like beasts of burden. No one wanted to marry daughters from such families, especially since neither of them was particrly beautiful. Therefore, no suitors came knocking on their door. But outsiders did not understand the situation, and as people say, what one person tells ten, ten will tell a hundred, and the story passed on by the hundredth person is never the same as the original. That''s how their reputations had been soiledXiaoxiao thought to herself that rumors really were terrifying! "Xiaoxiao, wait for me!" Just as she left the vige entrance, she heard a woman''s shout. Xiaoxiao looked up and immediately recognized her friend by her figure! Rushing up to the oxcart, she pulled Xiaoxiao down and walked to the side of the road, "Xiaoxiao, who''s that man?" "Oh, that''s my husband..." She hadn''t finished speaking when she heard a scream! "What? Your husband? But that''s not the guy we saw that day." "Would you let me finish? That''s my husband''s brother!" "Oh, oh, you scared me to death. I thought I got it wrong. I was just saying, Yang Ming that we saw the other dayhe''s taller, fairly pale, and quiet, looks like a true schr!" Chuntao said this while ncing over at Yang Dong from the corner of her eye. Xiaoxiao looked at Chuntao and noticed her cheeks were flushed red. Perhaps there was a situation brewing, so she nudged Chuntao with her elbow and teased, "What, you fancy my brother-inw?" "Don''t talk nonsense!" "If you can get your weight down to one hundred fifty pounds, I''ll help you out. How about that?" "Really?" "True, truer than a pearl. Let me tell you, being this heavy, you won''t even manage to consummate the marriage on your wedding night!" Xiaoxiaoughed. "Stop talking nonsense, someone might hear you," Chuntao said, embarrassed. "I''m not trying to scare you, but with your weight, it''s going to be difficult to get pregnant, and even if you do, it won''t be easy to give birth. There could be dangers for both mother and child. You''ve still got time now; you definitely need to lose weight before you get married!" "Then... what should I do?" Chuntao, frightened by Xiaoxiao''s words, resolved to shed the excess weight. "You? Just need to keep your mouth shut and your legs moving. Eat less, exercise more, and you''re bound to slim down. I look forward to hearing your good news! I''ll matchmake for you when it''s time. Now I must go, it''s gettingte!" She finished speaking and climbed back onto the oxcart, leaving Chuntao standing there stupified, havingpletely forgotten why she hade in the first ce! At this moment, Yang Dong was still unaware that his new sister-inw had just sold him out. He thought to himself how exhausting the day had been, finally, he could go home! Chapter 11 Starting Over by Cooking

Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Starting Over by Cooking

Back home, Xiaoxiao still kept to her old habits, retreating to her room to rest after the meal as usual. The habits of a homebody are hard to change. "Fourth child, tell me about your visit to your third sister-inw''s ce today. They didn''t give you a hard time, did they?" As soon as Xiaoxiao left, Old Man Yang asked eagerly. "Dad, please don''t send me to such errands in the future, their family temper is really something! When they saw me, they were about to bring the entire family over for a fight! Butter, the third sister-inw calmed them down." "That''s good, that''s good," Old Man Yang said, relieved. "As soon as the third sister-inw got home, she cried a river. Personally, I think the third brother was a bit much. Who goes to sleep in my room on his wedding day and doesn''t evene back to visit the next day, yet the third sister-inw is there speaking well on his behalf!" "Hmm, the third daughter-inw really knows the bigger picture, good, good." The next morning, Xiaoxiao got up early, having vowed in front of her family to turn over a new leaf, so she decided to start with cooking. After washing up, she headed to the kitchen. In the morning, one should make some porridge, p on some pancakes, cook a soup, and maybe make some ''Embroidered Pouch'' eggs! No sooner said than done, except for making pancakes, everything else was a piece of cake for her, as she often cooked them in modern times. She picked up a basin and went to look for rice. "One pot of rice for three people, so four pots for eleven," Xiaoxiao murmured, "The kids eat less, so that should be three pots." After washing the rice and cleaning the pot, she poured the rice in, added water, and got ready to light the fire. But when it came to lighting the fire, she hit a snag, ended up with a sooty face and a room full of smoke, without actually getting the fire started. She had wanted to make a grand entrance, dazzling them as the dutiful daughter-inw, but she botched it! Both the eldest and second sister-inw were surprised to see Xiaoxiao in the kitchen! "Sisters, I can''t seem to get the fire going. Hehe," she said, revealing an embarrassed smile through her soot-stained face. "I''ll show you. Watch, like this, like this, and there, it''s done," the eldest sister-inw took over the fire starter and demonstrated. "Wow! Eldest sister-inw, you''re so amazing!" Xiaoxiao pped and cheered. "Am I amazing just for lighting a fire?" she thought, finding her third younger sister-inw quite childlike. "Eldest sister-inw, second sister-inw, I''d like to prepare today''s breakfast. Would it be okay for you to guide me?" "Sure, today you''ll cook, and we''ll be your assistants," said the second sister-inw. "The porridge is ready to go; just light the fire and it''ll be ready soon. I want to make cornmeal pancakes, but I''ve never done it before. How much flour and water should I use?" "Oh, oh, should I flick it onto the side of the pot like this?" "Should I add water to the bottom of the pot?" "......" "......" The kitchen was filled with Xiaoxiao''s questions until breakfast was finally ready. Here it''s not much different from Northern China and it was just entering early winter. Without modern greenhouses to grow vegetables, there weren''t any leafy greensonly storage vegetables like cabbage, radishes, potatoes, and sweet potatoes were avable. So, Xiaoxiao''s breakfast could only be rice porridge, cornmeal pancakes, and shredded radish soup! She had intended to make ''Embroidered Pouch'' eggs but ended up not doing so when she realized all the eggs were sent to her parent''s home. "Mom, today''s breakfast was made by the third sister-inw!" The sisters-inw began carrying the food into the house. Everyone was surprised to hear this. The old third daughter-inw was known for not being able to cook or do housework. And yet, she had prepared breakfast today! "Dad, Mom, I have something to say before we eat," Xiaoxiao said with a serious expression. Listening to Xiaoxiao''s words, everyone started to wonder. What could Xiaoxiao possibly have to say? They thought apprehensively, hoping she wouldn''t bring up the issue with the third son. "We''re all family here. Whatever it is, just say it!" Chapter 12 Xiaoxiao Decides

Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Xiaoxiao Decides

"Let me introduce myself first, my name is Zhong Xiaoxiao, I''m fifteen years old this year, and I''m delighted to be family with everyone." Xiaoxiao spoke seriously, causing everyone at the dinner table to exchange nces, having never seen Xiaoxiao like this before. Everyone listened quietly, not daring to interrupt. "The five hundred nces in my past life, exchanged for a mere brush past in this life, how much fate must we have to be a family!" "I know that by marrying in, you don''t all agree, but when Yang Ming returns, we will have a proper discussion. Regardless of whether we have the fate of a husband and wife, you will be my family for this lifetime. Today, I want to dere here, no matter what my reputation was before, from today onwards, I will strive to be a good person, and I ask everyone here to hold me ountable!" After she finished speaking, she bowed deeply. Xiaoxiao''s speech touched everyone deeply. After all, the family was tender-hearted and their affection for Xiaoxiao had grown over the few days they spent together! "Child, don''t say any more, since you''ve married into our family, you''re our daughter-inw. It''s our third son who has wronged you. When he returns, I''ll have words with him," old Mr. Yang said with a sigh! "Father, I''m fine. I was just disrespectful in front of the elders, I''m d you don''t me me!" "Good child, no me, no me. Now, everyone, let''s eat!" The family ate in silence and after cleaning up, returned to their respective rooms. In the room of the second eldest of the Yang Family "Wife, the things our younger sister-inw said today, they were all so poetic! I hardly understood!" Yang Gang, the second eldest in the Yang Family, said. "Let me tell you, our younger sister-inw is quite literate. You don''t know, the day before yesterday when we went to town, at the bookstore, she didn''t have enough Silver for the books. They cost twelve taels, but she managed to get them for five. Guess how she did it!" "How did she manage that? I couldn''t guess; you know I''m slow!" "Just by writing a few big characters offhand, the shopkeeper deducted seven taels of Silver, real Silver! How long would we have to work to earn that! I don''t know what she wrote, but it must have been excellent!" "Really? Is it that incredible?" "Truly, she''s just better than us in all respects, just like how we only know how to farm. I think she and our third brother are quite a match. But she indeed spends a lot. Just that one day, she bought fabric and ordered furniture, and got a whole bunch of useless stuff, you just see! It might be a bit difficult for her to change all at once!" After breakfast, Xiaoxiao went back to her room. She had been a bit serious just now, but she had to dere her resolve; she couldn''t not be serious. In the modern world, her mother had pampered her into a simple, cutesy, coquettish young woman of eighteen in heart, only serious when handling real matters. After all, at thirty years old, one must act the part when handling business, or how would one survive in society? Luckily, she had crossed into a fifteen-year-old girl. She felt her original personality still fitted in quite well, yet she had no idea that such a personality was quite unconventional in the ancient times! In the northern winter, the vigers also entered a period of hibernation, only resuming farming in the spring. The men either went out to work or hunted in the mountains, while the women stayed at home to do needlework, embroidering to supplement the family ie, and the Yang Family was no exception. It was early winter now; the heavy snow had not yet arrived. The men had gone to the mountains, leaving the grandmother, the three daughters-inw, and the three small children at home! Armed with the fabric she bought, Xiaoxiao called her sisters-inw to the main house! "Mother, let''s work together. It''s more fun to chat while we''re all here!" Chapter 13 Mother-in-law and Daughter-in-law Chatting about Household Matters

Chapter 13: Chapter 13 Mother-inw and Daughter-inw Chatting about Household Matters

Xiaoxiao entered the house, kicked off her shoes, climbed onto the kang bed without treating herself like an outsider! "Mom, your room is so much warmer, this kang is really toasty, not like my icy cold one. It''s the peak of winter now; can the kang in my room be heated too?" Xiaoxiao said cheerfully! Her elder and second sisters-inw thought to themselves that this younger sister-inw really dared to speak her mind. They were cold too but didn''t dare to say so. "Child, you have had it tough. We don''t have enough firewood at home; to save on firewood, everyone gathers in the main house during the day, and only goes back to sleep at night. When it gets colder next month, we''ll start heating the kang in each room!" Grandma replied, somewhat embarrassed! Xiaoxiao was surprised. Didn''t they have eleven acres ofnd? Weren''t all those cornstalks and cobs enough for fuel? It seemed the yield was quite low. "Mom, I''m thinking of adding a stove to my room. Isn''t there a room next to mine? I''ve seen the hole for heating the kang is in the outer room, perfect to build a stove directly. This way, in winter I can also boil water; heating water will warm up the kang too, so it won''t be a waste of firewood!" "Why don''t we do the same for the elder and second sisters-inw''s rooms? We can stop cooking in the kitchen and cook on the new stove instead. This way, we''ll also warm up the kang by the way, right?" After hearing this, the elder and second sisters-inw were quietly delighted; it was a good idea, and they waited for Grandma''s response. "Let''s wait for your dad toe back and discuss it then," Grandma said. "Eh, okay!" Xiaoxiao agreed with a chuckle, thinking that even if they disagreed, she would do it anyway, or else she''d freeze to death! "Little sister-inw, what are you making there, cutting the fabric into such small pieces?" "Oh, I''m making some underpants and vests!" "What are those?" "They''re clothes you wear close to your body, for daily changing and washing. Otherwise, it''s easy to get sick! I need to make several since, in this cold winter, clothes don''t dry easily! I''ll make some for you too. Later, I''ll also make some chest supports for you, and I guarantee big brother and second brother will love how it looks," Xiaoxiao teased, as she mimicked lifting her chest with her hands. The two sisters-inw blushed at Xiaoxiao''s gesture, immediately getting the hint! Although Xiaoxiao was not good at making outer clothes and had no idea how to do embroidery, making underwear was a different storyit was something she mastered with her hands tied behind her back. That had been Xiaoxiao''s profession for seven or eight years; because she loved what she did, she wanted to understand her products better, from material selection to style, from production to sales. Xiaoxiao had learned it all. Friends always said she had too much time on her hands. A small underwear business owner like her didn''t need to do the work herself! Xiaoxiao would always retort with aint: when selling underwear, she was serious! "Oh, right, Mom, I still need to go to town. I don''t have any toiletries since I came here; I need to buy some. You all can''t say I''m wasteful, okay? These are necessities! Just for basins, I need three: for washing my face, feet, and my butt! Last time I didn''t think it through and bought a bunch of useless things, really sorry about that!" "......" Everyone was speechless. This third daughter-inw was too fussy! Could she really fit in with the Zhang family? Everyone had their doubts! "It''s my negligence, I didn''t prepare for you when you arrived. Here, take one hundred coins, and have your elder sister-inw apany you on a trip there!" "Mom, I have money; you don''t need to give me any. Besides, I won''t hand over all the money I earn in the future either, so I won''t use the family''s money!" "......" Without finishing the underwear, she grabbed her elder sister-inw and left in the hope of catching the ox cart. She really didn''t want to walk! "Mom, why does the little sister-inw talk in such an odd way,pletely shameless! But that kind of disposition is also good. You can tell she''s not cunning, just in silly." "It''s just you who talks too much, get back to your work!" Chapter 14: Going Completely Broke

Chapter 14: Chapter 14: Going Completely Broke

``` Xiaoxiao was quite purposeful this time she went shopping, heading straight for the main items she needed to buy. She got three washbasins, a porcin cup for rinsing the mouth, a toothbrushwhich, despite being crudely made, was still better than just rinsing with wateras nobody here had invented toothpaste yet, and they had to use salt instead, which was really ridiculous. No towels either, just cotton cloths for wiping the face. She got five to use in rotation for washing her face and bathing. As for the body scrubber, well, she found it, but it was exorbitantly pricedone piece costing a tael, how could it not be expensive? Xiaoxiao chose items typically used by the gentry; peasant families wouldn''t fuss over such bathing luxuries! She also picked up a good amount of seasoning; the food at her inws'' was just too hard to swallow,rgely because they skimped on seasoninghow tasty could something be with just salt? While the variety of spices here wasn''t as extensive as in modern times, it was sufficient for Xiaoxiao. She wasn''t a great chef herself, only knowing how to cook a few simple home dishes, so she didn''t need that many spices. She bought salt, white sugar, rock sugar, vinegar, soy sauce! Ginger and garlic! This ce only grew leeks, not ginger or garlic. The spices were proprietary blends, so each was expensive. Luxuries for sure, something that peasant households would hesitate to buyonly Xiaoxiao did! Finally, she went to the butcher''s and got five jin of fat to render intord, and another five jin of pork belly to add to dishes asionally. There were no convenience stores in the vige, and going to the town to shop was really inconvenient; she had to buy in bulk when she could. Even arge family like hers would finish these purchases in just a few days. Fat turned out to be more expensive than lean meat, while ribs andrge bones were surprisingly cheap. Pigs'' innards cost nothing at all, which totally overturned Xiaoxiao''s understanding; she bought three jin of ribs and three jin ofrge bones. She didn''t take any of the free offal, honestly admitting that she didn''t know how to cook it without it smelling bad. But she deemed ribs andrge bones quite manageable! She nned to show off her cooking to everyone that evening! Though she didn''t waste anything, she had still managed to spend all of her money, truly bing penniless. But she couldn''t just not spend it; she''d have to worry about the futureter. How sad, she really hadn''t nned well! Just as the two of them entered the vige in their ox cart. "See that? The Yang Family''s third daughter-inw is bringing back a load again!" "You see? Carrying quite a bit of meat too? The Yangs are in for a treat; we hardly ever indulge in meat normally, and she buys so much in one go!" "She really knows how to spend, doesn''t she? Just married in for three days, and besides visiting her family, she''s been shopping the other two days!" "......" "......" The vigers were gossiping again! Oh no! Why, why? On such a cold day, when everyone should be huddled indoors by the fire, could it be they''re out here just to watch her? It can''t be denied, Xiaoxiao figured it outthe country folk didn''t have much entertainment, and they loved to gossip idly. Whose family got a new daughter-inw, whose daughter-inw wasn''tying eggs anymore, whose daughter-inw got beaten again... And since the new bride of the Yang Family was a woman of notorious reputation, everyone was waiting to see her make a fool of herself! Unwittingly, by just shopping for a couple of days, Xiaoxiao firmly established a reputation for being a spendthrift, and for many days thereafter, "The Yang Family''s new daughter-inw sure knows how to waste money" became a byword among the vigers at leisure times, only stopping once they saw the Yang Family''s fortunes improving day by day! Among the crowd was someone whose eyes lit up at the sight of the big and small bundles of purchases, saliva pooling in his mouth as he made his way toward the Yang Family''s home! ``` Chapter 15: The Aunt Who Comes to Collect Debts

Chapter 15: Chapter 15: The Aunt Who Comes to Collect Debts

"Is the second brother''s wife at home?" Xiaoxiao returned home, took her belongings to her room, and then took the seasonings and meat she had purchased to the kitchen. As soon as she reached the main house, she heard some noise outside and feared that someone hade to visit! "Mom, who''s here?" Xiaoxiao asked. She had just married into the family and aside from her own family members, she had yet to meet anyone else! "It''s your aunt by marriage, go and greet her." "Ah!" Having said that, the three daughters-inw all stood up and went to the courtyard! "Oh! This must be the third son''s wife, she looks exceptionally... pretty!" The visitor appeared younger than her own mother-inw,rge and plump, clearly someone who had lived a life of plenty, presenting a very prosperous appearance. "Um, hello aunt, thank you for thepliment!" "..." The aunt continued into the house, thinking that this third daughter-inw really had a thick face, couldn''t she detect the sarcasm? "Older sister,e in, have a seat on the kang, it''s warm!" The mother-inw immediately weed her, then instructed, "Boss''s wife, hurry, boil some water for your aunt!" "No need to fuss over me. I came today to ask when you''ll be paying back the silver you owe our family." "Aunt, as you know, our household''s situation isn''t greatthis year''s harvest was poor. Tomorrow the children will go out to work, and we''ll take on more embroidery work. As soon as we''ve saved enough, we''ll definitely pay you back!" said the mother-inw in a very subdued manner. "Your household''s situation? Your household brings loads home, it looks much better than ours! We can''t even afford meat in our house!" she finished, casting a nce at Xiaoxiao. The aunt''s volume was loud, and the insinuation was that if they had money to spend, they should also have money to repay the debt. It''s impolite for younger family members to interrupt when elders are talking, something Xiaoxiao understood well. So she just listened silently. "The third son''s wife has juste to our family, and there are some living necessities that needed purchasing. Besides, she spent her own dowry! Our family wouldn''t have had the silver to buy these things for her. I feel bad for the girl; we hadn''t prepared anything for her!" The mother-inw had tears in her eyes and asionally dabbed them with a handkerchief. "I don''t care. She married into your family, so it''s your responsibility. You can''t just live well and not repay debts. If ites to that, use her dowry to repay them!" "How can we ask a new bride to use her dowry to help her inws pay off debts? Wouldn''t that disgrace our Yang family?" "Has our Yang family''s face been spared till now? Go and hear what people are saying outside!" the aunt said haughtily, determined not to give up until she got the silver. Xiaoxiao herself couldn''t stand the idea of borrowing money; she had once lent seven thousand dors to a friend who didn''t repay it for over a year. Each time she asked for it back, her friend imed to be broke, yet her social media posts said otherwise, showing her living a more carefree life than Xiaoxiao, which aggravated her. Now, she realized her actions had indeed troubled her inws, giving the impression of enjoying money while avoiding debts, which wasn''t great. Though the aunt''s attitude was harsh, hearing the mother-inw''s words confirmed that they indeed owed the money. It''s only right to repay debts, and she had to take responsibility for this burden. Thus, Xiaoxiao spoke up, "Aunt, it''s not that I don''t want to help the family repay the debt. As you''ve seen, I''ve bought quite a few things in the past few days and have spent all my dowry. If I had known the family had debts, I would never have spent like this! Could you possibly grant us some leniency?" "I''m giving you an extension, who will give me one? You can''t just enjoy yourselves without care for debts. If you have no silver, use today''s purchases to pay for it!" she said, standing up and heading toward the kitchen, still eyeing that meat. Chapter 16 One Month Deadline

Chapter 16: Chapter 16 One Month Deadline

"Aunt, that''s the child''s stuff, you can''t take it!" The grandmother shouted as soon as she saw the aunt moving to take things, quickly holding her back. Xiaoxiao saw that her newly bought items were about to be taken away, which wouldn''t do at all since they were all essentials, and every single item was necessary. Her mind raced, what to do, what to do. Suddenly, spotting the cloth on the kang, she had a brainwave and said: "Aunt, everything I bought today is something the housecks, otherwise I wouldn''t have bought them, right? Look, how about this, you take this bolt of cloth as a token of respect from a junior like me. You can go back and make a few new clothes; this is really high-quality fabric." The aunt''s eyes lit up at the sight of the fabric, its color bright and shiny. The fabrics worn by the vige households weren''t generally this varied; only the fabric of a wealthy family home would be like this, and she liked it very much. She still made a show of reluctance on her face, though she wasn''t as aggressive as before, "All right then, consider it interest. But when do you n to repay the five taels of silver? You need to provide a clear answer, it''s been dragging on year after year!" Only now did Xiaoxiao realize they owed five taels of silver. She thought that it would have been better not to buy anything blindly on her first day; however, it was toote for regrets. Her mind worked furiously. How long would it take for a family to earn five taels? With sixborers in the family, maybe working for two months would be enough. So she said, "Three months, in three months we will definitely pay back the money." "Three months is too long, one month at most!" "Okay, one month it is!" Xiaoxiao wasmitted now, thinking to herself to just send the aunt away as soon as possible. Otherwise, she feared the things she bought today would not be safe. If they couldn''t repay in a month, they would deal with it then; if it really came down to it, they could use the furniture she bought to offset the debt! "That''s settled then, I''ll be leaving. Your grandmother is still waiting for me to cook for her! Don''t forget to visit your grandmother since you''ve just married into the family!" Taking the fabric, she left. He who epts a favor is always under an obligation, and it wouldn''t be right for her to take the meat as well! "Aunt, rest assured, I will go see her tomorrow!" Atst, they saw the aunt off, and the grandmother just copsed there. Xiaoxiao hurried over to help her, "Mother, what''s wrong?" "Daughter-inw, it''s five taels of silver! Our family can''t repay that in a year, how will we manage in a month?" The grandmother said anxiously! "Mother, don''t we have sixborers in our family? Big brother, second brother, fourth brother, big sister-inw, second sister-inw, and me. We can all go work in town!" "Little sister-inw, it''s already difficult to find work in winter, and it''s even harder for us women. Femalebor is even harder toe by, and even if we do, it pays less," sighed the big sister-inw. "I''m sorry, mother, I didn''t know, I spoke without thinking again. Don''t worry, if we can''t repay the money, I''ll sell the furniture I ordered to settle the debt." "Child, you''ve been wronged. You even had to part with a bolt of cloth," said the grandmother, taking Xiaoxiao''s hand and gently patting it! "Mother, it''s alright. We are family, after all. Don''t be sad. There''s always a way out. Cheer up! By the way, I bought meat today! I''ll cook for you all tonight, and I guarantee you''ll all love it!" Xiaoxiao cheerfully said, adept atforting others. The grandmother finally managed to smile. "Great! Mother''s in for a treat today!" Yet, she thought to herself that her daughter-inw really had a sweet mouth, knew how to cheer someone up, and was truly endearing! Chapter 17: It’s All Yang Ming’s Fault

Chapter 17: Chapter 17: It''s All Yang Ming''s Fault

The three sisters-inw began to bustle about in the kitchen, and it was then that Xiaoxiao learned how the debt of five taels hade about. Yang Ming''s grandfather had five sons and two daughters. A few years ago, they had divided their property. Thend was divided based on the number of people; each person received several acres. The two daughters, having married off, were not involved in the division. Since the grandparents went to live with the eldest uncle, the grandparents'' main house and two acres ofnd also went to the eldest uncle. The other sons received Silver to buy their ownnd and build their houses, except for Yang Ming''s father. The reason turned out to be Yang Ming because Yang Ming had spent quite a bit of money since he was a child. So, at the time of division, they used the excuse that he had spent too much of the family''s Silver to leave Yang Ming''s family without any Silver to divide. Not only did they not receive any Silver, but they also had to pay an extra ten taels. Since they had nowhere else to go, the old master gave them the old house. However, the other sons disagreed. In the end, it was decided to settle with ten taels of Silver paid to the eldest uncle''s family as support for the old couple for five years, equating to two taels per year. During these five years, no one else needed to contribute to the support fee. After five years, each family would pay another five hundred Wen of support fee annually! This year just happened to be the fifth year, and during these five years, because of house repairs, their son''s marriage, having another child, and providing for Yang Ming''s education, the family had barely managed to pay off the five taels. Xiaoxiao was very surprised after hearing this. It turned out that Yang Ming was to me. She was technically Yang Ming''s wife, so it wasn''t wrong for her to pay. However, she still felt that her mother-inw and father-inw were too honest. How could they be bullied like this? She definitely wouldn''t have agreed if it were her! And shouldn''t Yang Ming have stepped up? Just like this! Bad review! Bad review! "Sister-inw, are we out of rice?" Xiaoxiao began cooking and found that there was no rice! "You used all the rice this morning. We don''t usually eat rice; it''s too expensive, costing twenty Wen per pound! We bought a few pounds because you and your third brother were hosting important guests for your wedding. This morning, you were so eager to cook for us that we did not have the heart to tell you!" exined the sister-inw. "..." What a kind-hearted family! She had not realized that was the only rice they had at home. The vige did not have any rivers nearby, so there were no paddy fields. Due to the soil quality, the yield of wheat was also low; hence, the area only grew maize. Each family could just about get by growing maize, making rice and flour very preciousmodities here! From now on, they could only eat coarse maize flour. But luckily, Xiaoxiao loved eating flour-based foods and could still ept it. "Sister-inw, sister-inw, will we make tbreads or maize flour buns today? I''ll handle the dishes," Xiaoxiao said. Speaking of which, everyone got busy. Xiaoxiao used the bought fat to render oil, saving the residue for soupter. The pork belly and big bones she bought were left outside; the cold winter weather would keep them fresh, so they did not need to be cured. The n was to eat the ribs today. No sooner said than done, she peeled the potatoes, chopped them up, cut the ribs into pieces, nched them in water, and prepared scallions and ginger. She sauted the scallions and ginger in oil, then added soy sauce and rock sugar. She stir-fried the rib pieces until they were colored, added water, and once it boiled, added the potatoes and stewed everything in one seamless motion! The two sisters-inw watched agape! Was this their young sister-inw? The one rumored to be incapable in the kitchen? The way she cooked just now, didn''t look like it at all! It was like she was a master chef! They definitely couldn''t cook this type of dish! Chapter 18: Accidentally Becoming a Master Chef

Chapter 18: Chapter 18: identally Bing a Master Chef

Xiaoxiao was cooking while calcting her future path, thinking from having a hefty twenty taels to being broke and now owing five taelstruly a disgrace to her fellow transmigrators. Everyone else seemed to get richer as they crossed, but she was getting poorer! She must figure out a way to make money, but how? It was a vexing problem indeed. It was then that she realized her sisters-inw were staring at her. "What''s wrong? Is there something on my face?" "Younger sister-inw, didn''t you say you can''t cook?" the second sister-inw asked puzzledly. "Oh, I can''t cook at all, but I bought so many spices! I figured it''d be tasty as long as I added those!" Xiaoxiao could only respond like this. She wasn''t inherently skilled in cooking. As long as she followed the steps and added the spices, it would turn out fine, although surely better than anything her sisters-inw made without spices. She was quite confident about that. Just then, there was noise from outside, probably the four men returning from the mountain. Everyone hurried out to wee them, even the children, who circled around excitedly! Sometimes they would bring snacks from the mountain for the children. "Little uncle, little uncle, what tasty things did you bring today?" Yang Liuliu pulled on uncle Yang Dong''s clothes, asking excitedly. Yang Liuliu was her second brother''s daughter, just turned three this year. "Here, take these!" Yang Dong pulled out a handful of fruits from his pocket and distributed them among the three children. After washing up, the men entered the house with the children, delighted to see the food of the day. They hadn''t expected meat, and it smelled delicious. They sat down and noticed the women''s gloomy faces, in stark contrast to the jubnt children. "Mom, this meat is really tasty," said Yang Shulin as he stuffed his mouth. Yang Shulin was the son of the eldest sister-inw, four years old this year. The eldest sister-inw also had a daughter, Yang Guangguang, eight years old! Poor children grow up fast, and in the family, it was Guangguang who looked after them. "Eat slowly and remember to thank your third aunt. This meat was bought and cooked by your third aunt. Mom doesn''t have such cooking skills." The men were even more perplexed upon hearing this. Not only had their third sister-inw bought meat, but she had also cooked it herself. Hurriedly, they took a bite and were pleasantly surprised. The family usually just boiled their meat and had never tried this method before. They hadn''t realized their third sister-inw had such skills! "Thank you, third aunt, you''re amazing! This is the tastiest meat I''ve ever eaten!" All the men in the room nodded and agreed emphatically, causing Xiaoxiao to blush. "Actually, I just bought some spices. Our family used to only boil the food in salt, so the taste wascking! Now that I''ve bought spices, every meal will be delicious from now on, hehe." She had also made shredded radish soup in the morning, but without the spices, it was no different from what her sisters-inw would make. She truly had the spices to thank for unwittingly turning her into a great chef! "Father, how much did we make from the game today?" The mother-inw, anxious about the one-month deadline to repay the money, couldn''t wait any longer and asked even before finishing her meal. Usually, to ensure safety, the grandfather and other vige men hunted together and rarely went alone. After hunting, they would sell the game at the Vige Chief''s house. The Vige Chief''s eldest son was responsible for collecting the game and delivering it to the town or the county, saving everyone the trouble of selling it themselves and sparing their time, though at a lower price. The money received was then divided among the hunters. "We didn''t catch much big game today, so our family only got eighty wen!" "What are we going to do now!" The more the mother-inw spoke, the harder it was to stop her tears, as she spilled all of today''s troubles. Chapter 19 Bookstore Rejected

Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Bookstore Rejected

The family all fell silent, the prospect of paying back five taels of Silver within a month was too difficult for them; if it were possible, they wouldn''t have been paying for five years already. Hunting wasn''t a daily urrence, nor did it yield much Silver, and findingbor work during winter wasn''t easy either. Everyone wore a worried and distressed expression, and even their meal didn''t taste good anymore. Xiaoxiao could see her family like this, and it pained her heart. Such a kind and honest family should be living happily together, yet due to financial issues, they toiled daily. Her parents-inw were only around fifty years old, yet they looked like they were in their sixties, all exhausted by life. The entire family was skinny, and although they weren''t starving, their dietcked nutrients. "Youngest sister-inw, I do have an idea, and I''ll just say it outright. Last time at the Bookstore, didn''t you casually write a few characters that offset seven taels of Silver?" During the silence, the second sister-inw spoke up. She then vividly recounted the incident of offsetting Silver with writing at the Bookstore to everyone. The elderly couple listened as if they were enchanted by a storyteller, admiring the inherent talent for storytelling in their daughter-inw. They also thought to themselves that their youngest daughter-inw really did match their son well, with her schrly knowledge. "Right, the second sister-inw really thinks of everything. I hadn''t thought of that. Tomorrow, I will go to the Bookstore to ask about it. Dad, Mom, don''t worry anymore. Let''s eat, eat up, this is specially made for you!" she said as she served food to her elders. Everyone then breathed a sigh of relief. The next morning, Xiaoxiao finished her breakfast and set out for town on foot, considering their debt, feeling that every penny must be saved. Walking for half an hour wasn''t too long, and it was good as exercise too. This time she went alone, determined to pay off the debt as everyone in the family was doing their part; men went hunting, while women did needlework at home. "Xiao''er, is the Shopkeeper in?" Xiaoxiao asked as she entered the Bookstore. "Our Shopkeeper left for a trip yesterday. Miss, are you looking for the Shopkeeper for something specific?" The attendant, who wasn''t present during her previous visit, was unaware of thest incident. "When will he be back?" "The Shopkeeper didn''t specify, so I''m not very clear on that!" Xiaoxiao was dismayed. How could her luck be so bad? She had hoped she might be able to easily repay the Silver by writing, but now that n was ruined. "Brother Xiao''er, I had written calligraphy for the Shopkeeper before, do you ept those here?" "We never ept that kind of item. We only copy books here!" "Then how is the copying done? Can you exin it in detail?" "Copying a book pays a hundred coins. The ink and paper are provided by us. If you copy fast, you can finish five books in a month! But we don''t ept poor handwriting. Before taking the job, you''ll need to write a sample here to see if your writing is good enough to decide!" "If I take on five books, do you have a time requirement for how long I should take?" "There''s no specific requirement, but obviously, the faster, the better. You should not take more than two months for five books." Books were so expensive, yet copying them was so underpaid, earning only five hundred coins in a month. But without other sources of ie, she had to start copying books. Thus, she wrote a sample for Xiao''er, passed the evaluation, and walked out of the Bookstore with ink, paper, and five books. Luckily, the characters here were the same as in modern times. She had initially thought they might be in traditional script, but having seen the simplified characters on signs around the town, she had boldly offered to write previously, perhaps her ssical studies could be applied here. Xiaoxiao thought to herself as she walked, but unexpectedly, she ran into a schring from the opposite direction. Chapter 20 Accidental Encounter Without Recognition

Chapter 20: Chapter 20 idental Encounter Without Recognition

"I''m sorry, miss, are you all right?" Xiaoxiao was only protecting the ink that she had; if it spilled, it would all be over. Before she could even look up, she heard a pleasant voice. At the sound, she turned to look. She saw a man with thick brows and big eyes, wheat-colored skin, a high nose bridge, a round face, and thin lips. He was quite handsome, with a clearplexion and expressive eyes, standing at about 1.8 meters tall, with a well-proportioned figure, neither fat nor skinny. He was dressed in a long cotton coat. Though he had the appearance of a schr, there was a certain resoluteness about him, and Xiaoxiao found herself staring for a moment. Realizing it was impolite, she smiled broadly at him and said, "I''m fine, thank you!" Then, she turned and walked away. Watching the girl''s retreating figure, the man felt a bit dazed. She seemed familiar, as if he had seen her somewhere before! "Hey! What are you looking at? Have the books been delivered yet?" "Oh! Not yet, I''m on it now." "Let''s go, I''ll go with you." After speaking, the two headed toward the Bookstore. Indeed, the two men were none other than Yang Ming and Chu Lian, who hade to the Bookstore to deliver books! Inside the Bookstore "This is the first time I''ve seen a womane to copy books; usually, it''s the students from the Academy." "Exactly! Look at that woman''s writing, such beautiful small script, clearly practiced for many years, she must be from some family''s youngdy." "No, that''s not right, what youngdy woulde out to copy books? Could it be that she''s from a family that has fallen on hard times?" There was a lot of discussion going on inside the Bookstore, and the two men heard it as soon as they entered. Chu Lian, curious, stepped forward to ask. "What does the woman look like?" "Well, how should I put it, not very pretty, but she does have a certaindylike air about her. Her hairstyle is very distinctive, up to here," he said, gesturing to his shoulder. Upon hearing this, Chu Lian thought, This must be the woman from before! Yang Ming thought, This must be the woman from just now! "Quick, show me the writing she did!" Chu Lian said urgently, his heart pounding. When he saw the handwriting, he smiled, determined to find her! Yang Ming was surprised when he saw the words written on the paperbeautiful small script, apanied by a fine poem: A precarious pagoda rises a hundred feet, hands could pluck stars from the sky, dare not speak aloud, for fear of startling the celestial beings above. She could truly be considered a talented woman, signed with the name Xiaohan. So, her name was Xiaohan. Recalling her smile from before, he smiled too. And so, the name Xiaohan silently took up residence in the hearts of two men! In fact, Xiaohan was just Xiaoxiao''s modern-day pseudonym. She was used to signing her name in modern times, and the poem was something even kindergarten children in modern times could recite, so she had written it down casually, never imagining it would be remembered. Yang Ming hade to the Bookstore to deliver books, as he couldn''t be much help at home, and he had to earn his own living expenses. He had brought three books and received three hundred wen, then took another three books before heading back to Yulin Academy. Actually, there were book copying services in the County as well, but people from the town preferred toe to the town''s Bookstore, as they were more familiar with each other. At this moment, Xiaoxiao had no idea she had just had a chance encounter with her nominal husband. A chance encounter! How romantic! And yet, it was so melodramatic! The two of them did not recognize each other. It''s not really their fault; they had barely seen each other for a minute on their wedding night. Xiaoxiao was still dazed from the time travel, hardly seeing anything clearly, and Yang Ming had not dared to look at her, moreover, since she had changed her hairstyle, recognition was even more difficult! After separating from Yang Ming, Xiaoxiao went home. She needed to hurry back and start copying books to earn money. After arriving home, she exined the situation to her mother-inw, who, along with her sisters-inw, did not me her. They were instead grateful that she could help share the burden. "Mom, don''t worry, I''ll think of some other way." Chapter 21 There Will Be a Way When the Car Reaches the Mountain

Chapter 21: Chapter 21 There Will Be a Way When the Car Reaches the Mountain

Xiaoxiao was on the kang in the main house, diligently copying books until her wrists ached. This was truly not the work for humans; writing with a brush was nothing like a pentoo slow and terribly tiring on the hand. This was not a sustainable solution. To think of Yang Ming, who had been copying books for years, he really had perseverance, sigh! Why did she suddenly start thinking about him? Xiaoxiao pondered, when suddenly she heard her own stomach rumbling! The afternoon had passed, so why hadn''t lunch been prepared yet? If she hadn''t been hungry, she would have forgotten about lunch altogether! "Mom, I''m sorry, I forgot to make lunch!" Xiaoxiao said apologetically, getting up and ready to walk outside. "Third son''s wife, you must be hungry. Go ahead and prepare something for yourself; there''s no need to include ours. We''re used to having just two meals a day! It''s almost dinner time anyway!" the mother-inw spoke. "..." So the reason they had enough food was because they only ate twice a day? That wouldn''t do at all! Such eating habits were bad for the stomach. Once she earned money in the future, meals had to be decent. These past few days she had been so busy that she''d also forgotten about lunch, but since it was winter with shorter days, dinner wasn''t far off. She didn''t have the nerve to cook just for herself, so she went back and sat on the kang. "It''s alright, I''m not that hungry. I''ll wait and have dinner with everyone." "Auntie, I''ve brought you something tasty!" Yang Shulin, the elder sister-inw''s son, said as he pulled out a handful of fruit from his pocket and offered it to Xiaoxiao as if presenting a treasure. Looking over, Xiaoxiao''s eyes lit up, "Eh, isn''t that hawthorn? Where did thesee from?" "Little uncle brought them back from the mountain yesterday! Auntie, aren''t you hungry? Eat these quickly! They''re really delicious!" The child''s tender voice munched away crisply, unbearably cute. "Mmm, our Dabao is so thoughtful!" After speaking, she nted a kiss on Shulin''s cheek. Seeing Auntie so fond of the hawthorns, the little ones each came forth offering their treasures, giving her all the hawthorns they had left! What wonderful children, to offer up their food at a time when everyone was hungrysuch spirit was trulymendable! Xiaoxiao was growing more and more fond of this family by the day. A family of honest folks, it was only the deeds of Yang Ming that somehow remained irksome. Logically, children from the same family shouldn''t differ so much in character. Had those years at the Academy led him astray? Xiaoxiao bit into a hawthorn; they were quiterge, ripe and deeply red, and had not been spoiled by the frost. She quickly inquired about themhawthorn could be made into preserves or candied hawthorns and possibly sold for money. "Mom, isn''t it cold outside now? Howe the hawthorns haven''t frozen?" "The hawthorns can survive the frost for now, but it won''t be long since it''s getting colder by the day. It''s just for these next few days." "How many are there on the mountain?" "Should be plenty. No one''s picking them, so most are just falling on the ground. Main issue is they''re sour, eat too many and it hurts your teeth. Why, you like them? If you do, tomorrow I can have your father and the others help you pick more!" "Yes, I like them, super like them. Make sure dad helps me gather all the rest and bring them back. The more the better. Otherwise, they''ll freeze and we won''t be able to eat them!" Xiaoxiao was somewhat excited; indeed, where there''s a will, there''s a way. She hadn''t seen candied hawthorns for sale in town before. If she sold them, she was sure to make money. However, in her excitement, Xiaoxiao overlooked an important factshe had no idea how to make candied hawthorns! Chapter 21, Where There''s a Will, There''s a Way Xiaoxiao sat on the kang bed in the main house, diligently copying texts until her wrist ached. This really wasn''t work fit for humans. Writing with a brush wasn''t like using a fountain pen; it was not only too slow, but it was also particrly tiring on the hand. This definitely wasn''t a long-term solution. To think that Yang Ming had copied texts for years really showed his perseverance. Ugh! Why did she suddenly start thinking about him! While Xiaoxiao was musing, she suddenly heard her stomach grumbling. Lunchtime had passed; why hadn''t they started cooking lunch yet? If she hadn''t been hungry, she would have forgotten about lunch entirely! "Mom, I''m sorry, I forgot to cook lunch!" Xiaoxiao said apologetically, getting up to go outside. "Third daughter-inw must be hungry. Go and make something for yourself; you don''t need to make extra for us. We''re used to only having two meals a day! It''ll soon be time for dinner anyway," her mother-inw said. "..." So, the reason they had enough to eat was because they only had two meals a day? That wouldn''t do at all! Such a habit wasn''t good for the stomach. When she made money in the future, they would definitely eat well. These past few days, she''d been so busy that she had forgotten about lunch too, but fortunately, it was winter, and the days were short. Soon it would be time for dinner. Her face wasn''t so thick-skinned; she couldn''t bring herself to cook just for her own sake. So, she went back to sit on the kang bed. "It''s okay, I''m not very hungry. I''ll just wait for dinner and eat with everyone." "Third Aunt, I''ve brought you something tasty!" Yang Shulin, her elder sister-inw''s child, said as he pulled out a handful of fruit from his pocket and presented it to Xiaoxiao as if he was offering a treasure. Looking over, Xiaoxiao''s eyes lit up, "Eh, isn''t this hawthorn? Where did thise from?" "Uncle Yang Shu brought them back from the mountain yesterday! Third Aunt, aren''t you hungry? Eat, eat! They''re so tasty!" The childish voice was crunchy and incredibly cute. "Mm, our Dabao really knows how to care for others!" After saying this, she nted a kiss on Shulin''s face. Seeing how much Third Aunt liked them, the other little ones came one by one to offer their treasures, giving all the remaining hawthorns they had to their dear Third Aunt! What wonderful children they were, willingly giving up food when everyone was hungry. Such a spirit was truly precious! Xiaoxiao grew fonder and fonder of her family. Everyone in this household was straightforward and honest, with only the things Yang Ming did being perpetually annoying. Logically, the character of children from the same family shouldn''t be so drastically different. Could it be that his years at the Academy had led him astray? Xiaoxiao took a bite of the hawthorn; they were really big, ripe, and red, and they hadn''t been damaged by the frost. She quickly inquired about the situation. These hawthorns could be made into preserves, candied hawthorn; maybe they could be sold for money. "Mom, it''s cold outside now, right? The hawthorn hasn''t been frozen, has it?" "This kind of hawthorn can withstand the frost, and they''re fine for now, but it won''t be long. It''s getting colder by the day, and we''ve only got a few days left." "How much is left on the mountain?" "There should be plenty. No one picks them, and they just fall to the ground. Mainly because they''re sour, and eating too many can give you toothache. Why? Do you like them? If you want, I can ask your father and the others to pick more for you tomorrow!" "Mm, I like them, absolutely love them. Make sure dad and the others collect all the remaining ones for me, the more the better. Otherwise, they''ll freeze, and then they won''t be good to eat!" Xiaoxiao became a bit excited. There was always a way through the mountains, so to speak. She hadn''t seen candied hawthorn being sold in town before. If she sold them, she could definitely make some money. However, in her excitement, Xiaoxiao had overlooked an important detail: she had no idea how to make candied hawthorn! Chapter 22: The Ideal is Plump, Reality is Skinny

Chapter 22: Chapter 22: The Ideal is Plump, Reality is Skinny

The next day, Xiaoxiao instructed her youngest brother to bring back some hawthorn and some branches to make skewers since there were no bamboos in this area, only branches to substitute. Her brother readily agreed, and Xiaoxiao awaited his return, nning to try making candied hawthorn that evening. After the men left, the women regathered in the main house. Xiaoxiao continued copying books, but suddenly remembered the words of her great-aunt, "Mother, the other day the great-aunt told me to visit grandma. When would be a suitable time for me to go? Being the junior, I don''t know much about these customs." "Ah, actually, it should have been you and your third brother going, but he''s not around." Xiaoxiao''s mother-inw always wore a look of worry, making Xiaoxiao frustrated, wishing she could be happier! "Then I''ll just wait for Yang Ming toe back and go with him. He can''t keep away forever, right?" "He can''t, he can''t. He has toe back for the new year, and the Academy is about to break for holidays. Daughter-inw, you''ve had it hard." "Mother, I''m not suffering. He''s doing it all for the sake of his studies, isn''t he? If he does well, our family will be better off in the future. Just wait for him to make something of himself." Yet, deep down, she thought it might be better if he didn''te back. How would they get along? It felt odd. That matter passed, but unexpectedly, her uncle''s family was still waiting for Xiaoxiao''s visit, hoping that as the wife of the third son who had bought so much meat, she would definitely bring some when visiting her grandmother-inw. Xiaoxiao was bound to disappoint them. Evening came quickly; her brother returned with a sack full of hawthorn. Xiaoxiao was thrilled, and after dinner, she hurriedly got her brother started on making the skewers while she began preparing the hawthorn. During dinner, she had boldly dered that she would make a delicious snack for the children that evening. The two began to get busy in the kitchen. Xiaoxiao washed a pile of hawthorn, cut it horizontally with a knife and squeezed out the seeds, carved out the ck parts at the bottom of the fruit, and then threaded them onto the skewers. She beautifully assembled the hawthorn, now just needing to hang the sugar. However, idealism is plush, reality is lean. She had only eaten candied hawthorn, never made it. Not everyone could immediately be a great chef; without some technique, it was impossible. The key to making candied hawthorn was boiling the sugar, how much water and sugar to add, all these were in proportions and there was also the matter of getting the heat right. Xiaoxiao was clueless about these; she could only keep trying over and over. Watching the previously purchased sugar nearly run out, Xiaoxiao felt deted. What was she to do? There was hardly any spare money to buy sugar for more trials - sugar was a preciousmodity rarely bought by households here. Yang Dong, seeing his sister-inw wasting so much, felt pained by the loss of sugar and grew impatient, "Sister-inw, our family really can''t afford this kind of extravagance. Even though you bought these ingredients, that''s no reason to squander them like this! Just stop it, why not just eat the hawthorn as it is? Why make such a fuss over this?" "Do you think I want to waste it? I''m thinking about making it sessfully so we can sell them in town or at County. How else are we supposed to repay that five Silver?" Xiaoxiao said, feeling wronged. She didn''t want to waste either; she had been trying hard to share the burdens of this family. Yang Dong, realizing he had misunderstood her, thought she was just fussing to taste something delicious herselfhe hadn''t expected that she was so dedicated to repaying the money. "Sister-inw, I''m sorry, I didn''t know that. Let''s keep trying. Maybe we''ll seed with one more attempt!" Chapter 23 Borrowing Money Turmoil

Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Borrowing Money Turmoil

Two people fighting together are always better than one struggling alone. After hearing Yang Dong''s words, Xiaoxiao didn''t feel as discouraged as before; her spirits lifted, she resumed her experiments, and finally achieved sess after using up thest of the sugar. Looking at her spoils of war, Xiaoxiao excitedly raised her hands and cheered, and Yang Dong was especially happy too, no longer sulking. After all, they were both just fifteen-year-old children whose emotionsbe it joy, anger, sorrow, or happinesswere inly visible on their faces. Their rtionship was growing more and more pleasant, and bursts ofughter could be hearding from the kitchen. Inside the second room "My dear, listen, I don''t know what your third sister-inw and fourth brother are concocting in the kitchen, but look how happy they are!" "What else can you concoct in the kitchen but food? Don''t overthink it; go to sleep!" Yang Gang, the second brother, might seem a bit simple at times, but he was no fool. He could detect the subtext in his wife''s words. His wife, unfortunately, was not the most tactful personsaying whatever came to mind without a filter. He was worried that one day she might really put her foot in her mouth! The next morning, after having breakfast, Xiaoxiao spoke up, "Mother, how much silver do we have left in the house? I would like to borrow some!" "..." The family all widened their eyes upon hearing this. Was this third daughter-inw still unable to shake off her extravagant habits? With the household situation as it was, she was still thinking of spending money? They had thought she had changed for the better. "Third sister-inw, given our current situation, you really shouldn''t be thinking of wasting money; we don''t have any to spare. If it weren''t for you, we wouldn''t be pressured to repay money within a month." The second sister-inw bristled at Xiaoxiao''s request. No one in the family wanted to say it, so she assumed the role of the viin. "If you don''t know how to speak, then don''t speak!" Yang Gang immediately intervened to stop her. "How am I not speaking properly? I''m just telling the truth." "You''re talking nonsense." "Yang Gang, you''re the one talking nonsense!" The second sister-inw shouted back. "You''re the one talking nonsense!" "..." Before things could escte, Yang Gang and his wife had already begun arguing. Somehow, their argument devolved into a squabble over who was talking nonsense. The level of this quarrel really was unparalleled. Xiaoxiao couldn''t help butugh, "Second brother, second sister-inw, stop it, don''t fight. I''m not wasting money," she said, giving Yang Dong a look. Understanding immediately, he went outside and brought in yesterday''s spoils of war. "This is the snack Yang Dong and I made yesterday. Please, have a taste. It''s called candied hawthornhawthorn strung together and coated with sugar. I''m thinking of selling them in town, but I ran out of money to buy sugar because I used it all up for the experiments yesterday, so that''s why I shamelessly came to ask Mother for some." "Delicious, it''s so good, Auntie, you are amazing!" "Yeah, tasty, very tasty. This sugar is really sweet!" "Hmm, truly sweet!" The adults hadn''t spoken yet when the kids began to express their opinions. The words of children are the most sincere, and this further boosted Xiaoxiao''s confidence. She was more and more convinced that selling these would surely make money. Seeing the kids'' reactions, the others also picked up the candied hawthorns to try them. Yang Gang and his wife stopped arguing, and upon trying the snack, they too found it quite enjoyablea never-before-tasted treat that was both sweet and sour. "Third daughter-inw, this snack is delicious, but isn''t it just hawthorn from the mountain? It''s something no one wantedthat''s why it was still avable even in this weather. If no one wanted these before, do you think they''ll sell well?" The mother-inw asked worriedly. It wasn''t that she doubted Xiaoxiao; she just feared her only bit of silver would be squandered. "And this sugar, it''s so expensive. How much will you have to charge for each skewer? Will people actually buy them?" Chapter 24: Brainwashing Everyone

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Brainwashing Everyone

Xiaoxiao could understand everyone''s concerns. They must be thinking that with the family''s current situation, they couldn''t afford the slightest error. If the goods didn''t sell, the only money the family had would be gone. Yet, Xiaoxiao really couldn''t ept giving up without even trying. With great difficulty she had made her product, and without trying she would definitely not seed. Now, all she could do was use her "infallible tongue" to wash everyone''s brains. "Although hawthorn is amon fruit in our vige, people in the town and the county don''t eat it often, so we can use that fact to open up a market." "Younger sister-inw, what does ''opening up a market'' mean?" the second sister-inw asked. "Don''t interrupt!" the second brother immediately shouted. "It means to sell them. Although the item ismon, we can attract customers with new and novel ways of making it, pulling a rabbit out of the hat. These candied hawthorns are sweet on the outside and sour inside, appetizing to eat, both adults and children will like them." "Plus, with a unique method of selling, it will definitely attract people to buy! Believe me." Xiaoxiao talked non-stop, and everyone listened in silence, all mulling over the feasibility of what Xiaoxiao had proposed. "But this candied hawthorn is just made of ordinary hawthorn and sugar; others would figure it out just by looking at it!" Another question was asked, which was a good sign. It meant that people were keen but just scared to act. If no one had asked, it would have been truly awkward. "That''s why we have to be quick. First, we gather all the hawthorn from the mountain to our home. This way, by the time others want to start, there won''t be so much hawthorn left. They can only wait until next year." "If our whole family works together, we can definitely repay our debts!" She added one more strong argument at the end. Everyone wanted to repay the money, so why not give it a try! "Alright, let''s go with what our third daughter-inw says. Mother, how much silver do we still have at home? Give it all to the third daughter-inw." The father-inw finally spoke up. "Thank you, Dad!" Great, she had finally gotten the go-ahead; it really hadn''t been easy. Xiaoxiao sighed at her own misfortune, thinking back to when she used to run an online store selling underwear, when she would take 20,000 yuan as a fund without consulting anyone and just do it. Now, to do such a small thing, she still needed to use her "infallible tongue"whom could she me? Who asked her to spend her "coffin fund" without understanding the situation when she first arrived. She really deserved to p herself! But on second thought, it was quite good. It would have been difficult for her to fit into the family with her independent nature. Sigh, thinking about it, she had spent her "coffin fund" well; it was worth it! "However, third daughter-inw, this is not a loan, it''s our family''s business. Borrowing would be out of the question." "Hmm, you''re right, Dad. I was mistaken before. From now on, all the money we make will be managed by Mom! No distinction between you and me." The following day, the men didn''t go hunting but went up the mountain to pick hawthorns instead. They needed to gather them all in theing days; otherwise, if it got any colder, it would be toote. Xiaoxiao took thest 500 wen the family had to the town and bought ten jin of sugar. It was a great responsibility; having purchased the sugar, she could now make the candied hawthorns. That evening, the men came back home with three sacks of hawthorns. "Sister-inw, there''s only so much left on the mountain; we''ve gathered it all," Yang Dong said dejectedly. "It''s alright. To gather this much at this time of the year is already impressive. Let''s sell these first, and after they''re sold we can think of other ways to make money! Can a living person really be suffocated by urine?" Chapter 25 Off to a Good Start

Chapter 25: Chapter 25 Off to a Good Start

In the evening, when everyone offered to help, Xiaoxiao turned them down. "Dad, you should still go to the mountain if you need to, and continue with your embroidery work. Our household''s earning methods must not stop; you are my strong support. There aren''t many hawthorns, and I reckon they won''t sell for many days. There''s no need for the whole family to join in. Let the fourth brother help me with selling the candied hawthornthat''s enough!" "The third daughter-inw is right, we cannot simply abandon our usual ways of earning money." The mother-inw agreed, fearing that if everyone turned to doing that thing and it failed to sell, it would be disastrous. The next day, as soon as it was slightly light, Xiaoxiao and Yang Dong got up to start their tasks, Xiaoxiao had Yang Dong make a target to stick the candied hawthorns on, and they made a hundred skewers. Not knowing how well it would sell, they didn''t make too many. After having breakfast, they set out! They walked there, and along the way, they passed many people heading to the town. Xiaoxiao wouldn''t miss this great promotional opportunity. Although most of them were from nearby viges and probably reluctant to spend money, as the saying goes, "a little something is still something." She picked up a skewer and began eating it herself while singing, "They all say candied hawthorn is sweet, within its sweetness it envelops sourness. They all say candied hawthorn is sour, within its sourness it reveals sweetness..." "Mom, what is this candied hawthorn? That sister sings so beautifully!" At this moment, a child by the roadside started asking his parents. Xiaoxiao didn''t answer; she just kept on singing. She awaited people toe and inquire on their own. After not singing for a long time, it felt great; after all, she was a microphone hog who couldn''t be stopped when singing. Yang Dong, listening to his sister-inw singing joyfully, was filled with exasperation and anxious seeing the reactions of the passersby. Finally, the people gathered around to ask. "Tasty candied hawthorn, five coins per skewer. You won''t regret buying, no getting fooled here!" Upon hearing this, Yang Dong gasped. His sister-inw truly dared to shout out the pricefive coins for a skewer with just five hawthorns, that was almost equal to half a pound of cornmeal. "Five coins is too expensive!" everyone hesitated after hearing this. "Beautifuldy, five coins are absolutely worth it. It''s covered in sugar outside, and sugar is a valuable item. One pound of sugar can''t make many skewers! It''s super delicious, no charge if not tasteful..." Xiaoxiao started using her eloquent tongue again, walking and stopping. Upon reaching the town, she realized she had sold ten skewers; it was a good start. Yang Dong waspletely impressed by his sister-inw''s ability to talk, especially the way she kept everyone''s attention without repeating herself. "Fourth brother, you should pitch in too! My throat is almost smoking, don''t just hold the target without saying anything." How could his fourth brother be so quiet? They had gone over the selling points of the candied hawthorns together when making them. Although they had prepared, Yang Dong was timid by nature and shied away from public speech. But remembering he was already 15, he felt his sister-inw was much bolder than him, so he clumsily started to imitate her. It was much better in the town than on the road. They stopped here and there and by noon had sold out, so they hurried home. On the way back, Yang Dong, still puzzled, asked, "Isn''t five coins per skewer too expensive?" "Are you silly? One pound of sugar only makes twenty skewers, and I even made them smaller to help people ept them. Normally, it should be ten per skewer. We used five pounds of sugar today, that''s 250 coins. Sometimes we lose some in failed attempts. Tell me, if we sell less, how would we make anything?" Chapter 26: Investigating the Situation in the County

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Investigating the Situation in the County

As soon as Yang Dong reached home, he rushed into the house. "Mother, mother, all sold, all sold!" Even Yang Dong couldn''t hide his joyous excitement. "All sold?" "How much silver?" "That quick?" The women at home couldn''t sit still anymore, they immediately gathered around upon hearing Yang Dong''s words. "Mother, everything is here!" Xiaoxiao dumped the copper coins onto the kang, and the copper coins clinked crisply, "Count them!" Everyone saw, in just half a day, so many copper coins had been sold. They all started counting together. "I have one hundred and five copper coins here." "I have ny-eight here." "I have eighty-eight here." "Aunt, I can only count to ten." "..." Xiaoxiao saw the whole family joining in, counting money with joyful spirits, and at this moment she felt an immense sense of achievement. It was so good to see the family so happy! "Ny-eight strings, five copper coins per string, a total of four hundred ny copper coins sold, the cost of the sugar was two hundred fifty copper coins, today we made a profit of two hundred forty copper coins, I originally thought about arger profit, but I was afraid they wouldn''t ept it. So, it barely worked out like this!" Xiaoxiao began to report the situation. Everyone was incredulous after hearing it; selling for five copper coins per string had worked, and this daughter-inw really had some tricks! And to think she still described it as barely working out, that was seriously impressive! "Mother, these four hundred ny copper coins are for you, we''re only short ten copper coins, we haven''t lost out at all, it''s definitely a sure-win business, you can be at ease now!" Xiaoxiao knew her mother-inw was worried about losing money, so today she didn''t use the money earned to buy more sugar, but instead decided to give her mother-inw some peace of mind. Afterwards, they could use the money from sales to invest again! This household couldn''t afford to lose money, better to y it safe. "I n to make another hundred strings tomorrow and explore the County market, the town is ultimately too small, I''m afraid it can''t handle as many candied hawthorns as we produce!" After Xiaoxiao shared her thoughts, no one objected, as they had indeed seen the legitimate earnings. The next day, the two of them prepared the candied hawthorns and set off again. Although the County was far, requiring two hours by walk, they still went on foot. This time, Yang Dong wasn''t so timid, without needing reminders from Xiaoxiao, he started singing as he walked, which was much more confident than yesterday. Truly, a child could be taught, perhaps he might really be groomed into a businessman! This was Xiaoxiao''s first time in the County, which was muchrger than the town, with more people and a dazzling array of shops. The variety of goods sold was also more abundant than in the town. If it wasn''t for selling candied hawthorns, she really wanted to take a good look around. Xiaoxiao still opted for the mobile vending method to save the stall fees. Now, every copper coin mattered; after all, she was genuinely poor! "Brother-inw, since we are in the County, should we go see third brother?" Xiaoxiao''s impression of Yang Dong increasingly improved, his genuine intention to help bond third brother and his wife was why he asked this. "Maybe we shouldn''t. He''s also busy with his studies, let''s not disturb him. Besides, he''ll be back at the end of the year, and we don''t have time anyway!" Xiaoxiao responded guiltily, but forget it, she was not going. She wasn''t the original person, really clueless about what the original person saw in Yang Ming, judging from her cheap husband''s suggestions, it was the original person who fell for Yang Ming, determined to marry only him! She finally got her wish! Really can''t understand what''s so good about that Yang Ming? Could it be that handsome guys are just infuriating? Chapter 27: Your Whole Family Are Ladies

Chapter 27: Chapter 27: Your Whole Family Are Ladies

Candied hawthorns did indeed sell well in the county, consumption levels were higher than in town, and wandering around, she''d nearly sold them all. "Fourth brother, you wait here for me, keep selling on your own, I''m going to find a toilet." Xiaoxiao was speechless; she had already tried to drink less water, but still couldn''t hold it in, a short trip to the town was okay, but back and forth to the county was too far. "You go ahead, I''ll wait for you right here at this doorway," Yang Dong pointed to a sign nearby. Xiaoxiao looked up and oh dear mother, why was it Yulin Academy? This Yang Dong absolutely had to be doing this on purpose. Never mind that, she had to take care of her emergency! Xiaoxiao finally found a household after making several turns and borrowed their toilet. On her way back, she felt someone following her. She walked briskly to the corner and waited for the right moment. As soon as she sensed someone around the corner, she immediately started punching and kicking the neer, all the while shouting. "You perverted freak, disgusting pervert, shameless, I''ll knock your teeth out for following me!" "Dare to stalk me now, huh?" Xiaoxiao kept beating the man who was holding his head! "Oh my, Miss, please stop hitting, I am just a student from the academy ahead, I just share this path with you!" Xiaoxiao paused for a moment when she heard the man''s words, but still didn''t believe him and continued to beat him up, "Who are you calling Miss? You''re the Miss, your whole family''s Misses!" The man got angry, "You shrew..." He lifted his head as if to retaliate. But the instant he saw Xiaoxiao, his expression turned to one of surprise, "It''s you!" "You know me?" "I am from Shibao Town, studying at the Yulin Academy up ahead. You must be from Shibao Town too, right? I''ve seen you in the Bookstore in town." "Oh, so what!" Xiaoxiao thought, so what if he was studying here, it had nothing to do with her, a pervert who stalked people deserved to be beaten. "Miss, you really misunderstood, I''m not stalking you, I''m truly just walking the same path," the man saw that Xiaoxiao hadn''t let down her guard at all and quickly exined. "If you don''t believe me, we can go to the Academy to prove it, I''m really a schr there." "Alright, alright, I''ll trust you for now, no need to prove anything." Go to the Academy to prove it? No way, what if she brought out that Yang Ming by ident, she was in a hurry to get away! "Thank you, Miss!" The man made a fist with both hands, bowed deeply, truly the image of a well-mannered schr. "Miss, howe you''re in this county!" Seeing Xiaoxiao walk towards the Academy, the man started making conversation. Xiaoxiao didn''t speak, just kept walking forward. Seeing Yang Dong, she shouted, "Fourth brother, let''s head back!" "What is this for sale?" The man saw Xiaoxiao was leaving, noticed the man with Xiaoxiao holding a target seeming to sell something, and quickly inquired. "Young master, this is a new kind of snack made by our family, called candied hawthorn, sweet on the outside and sour in the middle, very appetizing. Would you like to buy a skewer to try? Five coins each," Yang Dong hastily pitched. The man turned around and asked Xiaoxiao upon hearing Yang Dong''s words, "Did you make this?" Xiaoxiao didn''t respond, but her gaze seemed to say, if it''s not me who made it, then did you? "Give me thest few skewers! Just right to let my ssmates taste!" "Alright, here you go! Twenty-five coins." Seeing the sale wasplete, Xiaoxiao walked away directly, with Yang Dong following close behind him, muttering softly, "Not going to see third brother?" Xiaoxiao nced back, "See what third brother!" Leaving the man alone to brave the cold wind, he cracked a mischievous smile, "Such an interesting woman, she''s quite spirited this time!" Chapter 28 Trouble

Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Trouble

Yulin Academy "Here, try this!" "What''s this?" "Ah, this is what I mentionedst time, made by that woman. She calls it ''candied hawthorn''!" When Yang Ming saw the candied hawthorn and took a bite, wasn''t this just the hawthorns that the fourth brother brought back for the kids from the mountain? He had not expected there to be such a way to eat them! Weren''t these hawthorns only found on their mountain? Could it be that the woman Chu Lian was interested in was from a nearby vige? "Indeed delicious, did that woman make it for you?" "I wish she made it especially for me. I just got lucky today; she was selling it at the entrance of our Academy." "I wonder what kind of trouble her family is in, both copying books and selling candied hawthorns! She must be in urgent need of money!" Chu Lian murmured to himself again. "You mentioned copying books? Is that the same person everyone was talking about in the Bookstorest time?" "Yes, yes. You wouldn''t know, she was so fierce today, she beat me up! Look here, and here!" he said, showing his arms to Yang Ming. "..." Meanwhile, Xiaoxiao had used all the money she made to buy sugar, and the two hurried home, excited at the thought of making two hundred strings of candied hawthorns at once. But once they arrived, they found the men of the Yang Family all lying on the kang bed, and the women looked as if their souls had been sucked out, which likely meant trouble. "Dad, what happened?" Xiaoxiao hurried over to the kang and asked. "Wuwu, Yang Erpang who went hunting with us today is gone!" the mother-inw began to cry and wail again. "What happened?" "We were unlucky today; we encountered a big tiger. The six of us couldn''t fend it off, we all got injured, and Yang Erpang, who ran a bit slower, couldn''t escape!" Yang Chun, the Yang family Boss, exined. "How are you all, is there anything wrong? Where are you hurt? Have you found a doctor?" Xiaoxiao was truly anxious. If something happened to the men in the family, that would be a big problem; the women in the family would all have to suffer the consequences! "We''re alright, just superficial injuries. A little rest and we''ll be fine; no need for a doctor. But after this incident, I''m afraid it''ll be hard to go hunting again!" "Dad, hunting has always been dangerous. It''s a stroke of luck that you''ve returned alive this time. It''s better not to go hunting anymore. I wasn''t too keen on you guys doing it from the beginning, and now this is a good opportunity to stop!" "But without hunting, the silver we owe will be even harder to repay!" "Dad, just rest up well. Leave the matter of repaying the money to me!" The old man looked around at everyone in the house and thought to himself that this third daughter-inw was a good choice. With the trouble at home, the few women in the family were already scared senseless, not knowing what to do. It was fortunate that this third daughter-inw had ideas. "Sister-inw, with this situation at home, I think we should call my third brother back!" Yang Dong spoke up. "No need, he would be of no help if he returned. Mom, let dad and the others rest on the main kang bed. Although they aren''t seriously injured, they did bleed, after all. Mom, take out the money from home and buy some meat for dad and the others to replenish. To my eldest sister-inw and second sister-inw, cooking will need some extra care from you. My youngest brother and I will make the most of these few days to sell the remaining candied hawthorns! Dad, you and the others just rx and recuperate, you''ll get better..." Xiaoxiao began to arrange everything at home while also calcting their financial situation now that there was no ie. Relying solely on selling candied hawthorns, they could earn at most two taels of silver. She would need to think of other ways to make money. Why was it that others seemed to make money within minutes of time-traveling, yet when it came to her, it was so pitiful? The next day, Xiaoxiao and Yang Dong made two hundred strings of candied hawthorns and went to the County early. The business was very good, and they sold out by afternoon. When the two returned home, they found a crowd of people gathered at the entrance of their house. Chapter 29 Relatives Knock on the Door

Chapter 29: Chapter 29 Rtives Knock on the Door

"I dont care, now that our Erpang is gone, you have topensate!" Xiaoxiao and the others hadnt even squeezed into the room when they first heard the crying and shouting. "Your Erpang is gone, what has that got to do with us? Our men are injured too, and I havent evene to you yet!" In this family, only the second sister-inw was capable of confronting others; the mother-inw and the eldest sister-inw could only cry. "Theres no justice left, a person from our family has died, and you still want toe to us! How are we supposed to live! Wuu wuu! Im going to the government office to sue you." The shouting person was indeed Erpangs wife. "Erpangs family, hunting is inherently dangerous, you have no reason to me his family!" Some vigers could not stand it anymore, it was only because the Yang Family were all honest folks that they were targeted. "If I dont find them, who else can I find? If it werent for them taking my Erpang out, this would not have happened. A living, breathing person, gone just like that, how are we, mother and child, supposed to survive?" Erpangs wife sat on the ground and started howling! At this moment, a clear voice rose, breaking through the crying and shouting. "How do you propose wepensate you?" A woman in blue clothes squeezed through the crowd, her presence so evidently out of cepared to everyone else there. "Compensate with ten taels of silver!" Erpangs wife perked up, hearing there might be a chance, and immediately answered. Everyone gasped upon hearing this; how dare she extort! The Yang Family was so poor, where would they get the silver! "Ten taels of silver, you really dare to ask for that! This matter has nothing to do with my father-inw, and even if you take us to the government office, we are not afraid of you. Werent there two others with them? Why dont you go find them instead of targeting us, just because you think my father-inw is easy to bully? Everyone here, listen well, as long as I, Zhong Xiaoxiao, am here, you can forget about bullying them!" Everyone was stunned by Xiaoxiaos words; this was the famed daughter-inw married into the old Yang family, so fierce! But it was about time the Yang family had someone like her; after all, they had been bullied for too long over the years. "However, Im not an unreasonable person. If your Erpang had the connection to go hunting with my father-inw, it shows there were some ties between them. I dont want it to be difficult for my father-inw and them, so here is five hundred copper coins as condolence money for your family. Take the money and leave quickly while Im still in a good mood, or else in a while, you might not even get five hundred coins!" Saying this, she pulled out a string of copper coins with an air of superiority! Erpangs wife was intimidated by Xiaoxiao; she knew her Erpangs death was not their fault, but she had no choice as a widow with a child at home. It was already tough, and she thought of targeting the honest Yang Family, not expecting that the new daughter-inw they just married would be so formidable. She had no choice but to take the five hundred copper coins and slink away. "The main character has left; everyone else can disperse too, haha!" It was only then that the vigers went back home. After this incident, the news that the Yang familys son had married a feisty daughter-inw spread even further! From now on, the old Yang family would not be so easy to bully! "Dad, Mom, our family needs to act more assertively from now on; we cant let others bully us anymore!" "Third sister-inw, youre amazing. We didnt even know what to do with this kind of person!" Actually, Xiaoxiao herself had no idea what to do; she couldnt handle a rascal. She had just read the helplessness on the face of Erpangs wife; otherwise, rascals are not so easy to get rid of! The matter passed like that, and over the next few days, Xiaoxiao focused on making and selling candied hawthorns. Chapter 30 Yuelai Restaurant

Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Yui Restaurant

"Sister-inw, doing business really brings in the money quickly! Its only been a few days, and weve already made two taels of silver!" Yang Dong eximed, having be more talkative after spending several days together. "Absolutely! Nothing beats doing business, earning silver is real, with more silver our life will get better, ignoring those who say doing business is base; they are just envious and resentful..." Xiaoxiao started her brainwashing mode again. "Yes, sister-inw, the candied hawthorn is sold out; what should we sell next? I will just follow you from now on!" Yang Dong waspletely brainwashed, focused solely on doing business. "Oh! The times are tough now, its deep into the winter, and theres nothing avable!" Such a miserable crossing; if it were Xiatian, things would be more abundant, but in deep winter, what can Ie up with? Theres nothing avable. "Sister-inw, cant hawthorn be substituted with something else?" "..." Yang Dong is more flexible-minded than herself, right, food coated with sugar could also be candied sweet potatoes, candied apples, candied dates; they could be dishes in a restaurant. But such simple food to learn, can it bring in silver? After all, theres no secret recipe, just need to boil the sugar well and its done, the candied hawthorn was unique because no other family had hawthorn, thus preventing others from copying. The candied sweet potatoes are uncertain; might as well try it. "Brother, lets go to the restaurant." "Sister-inw, lets not eat out, its too expensive, lets go back home to eat." This sister-inw, just a few days and already not being thrifty! "Ivee up with a great money-making idea, juste with me!" Without waiting to finish, she grabbed Yang Dong and started looking for a restaurant. After a while, they discovered two restaurants; one restaurant looked bustling with people, the other seemed sparse inparisonXiaoxiao entered the sparse one, Yui Restaurant. Xiaoxiao was self-aware, arger store probably wouldnt care for her novelty. "Guests, pleasee inside; what would you like?" "Xiaoer, its almost mealtime, why are there so few diners?" "Previously, Yui Restaurant used to be one of the top here in the county, but recently the Dongfeng Restaurant opened across the street with some new dishes, so weve had fewer customers; our shopkeeper is really worried..." Xiaoer was genuinely anxious for their restaurant, chattering on. "Dont talk too much!" A man emerged from behind the counter. "Guests, I apologize for any indiscretion; our Little Second here spoke out of turn." "Are you the shopkeeper? Havent you thought about where you fall shortpared to the ce across the street?" "..." The shopkeeper was surprised to see that the speaker was just a teenage girl. He too had thought about it, but there was little he could do about the dishes! "Do you have candied sweet potatoes here?" "Candied sweet potatoes? What is that?" "Its sweet potatoes coated in sugar!" Xiaoxiao didnt bother to keep secrets; it was a very simple dish! "I am uninformed, Ive never heard nor tasted it before!" "Shopkeeper, I have this dish at hand, it might help you for now, why not give it a try! Desperate times call for desperate measures, what do you say?" "If it seeds, what would the youngdy want in return?" The shopkeepers eyes lit up, if there really was a new dish, it might be worth a try! But certainly, she wouldnt help for nothing. "Shopkeeper, you are an open-minded person; I will not lie, I am offering my help because I am in need of silver," Xiaoxiao smiled knowingly; she liked dealing with straightforward people. Chapter 31 Tasting the Dishes

Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Tasting the Dishes

Xiaoxiao entered the kitchen and began to prepare her dish. She peeled the sweet potatoes, washed them, cut them into chunks, and fried them in oil until they were golden brown, then drained them. She started to simmer the sugar and toss the sweet potatoes. In one fluid motion, she looked just like a professional chef. "Shopkeeper, try this!" The shopkeeper was pleasantly surprised by the golden dish before him. Its appearance alone was enticing. He picked up a piece with his chopsticks, and his eyes lit upit was delicious, truly delectable. "Its tasty, yes, but this is a dessert. I fear it cant be the main course!" The shopkeeper was voicing a hard truth, and Xiaoxiao understood. She had been too hasty. Then, an idea struck her. Pork ribs were so cheap here, probably because there werent any dishes that featured them. Perhaps she, a faux-chef, could make a dish out of them. She had just checked the menu and indeed there were no pork rib dishes. So, she suggested: "If you trust me, Shopkeeper, send Xiaoer to buy some pork ribs. Then hang a sign outside, announcing todays special dishes: Candied Sweet Potatoes, Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs! We shouldnt wait. Lets let the guests try the new dishes at lunchtime!" Having tasted the candied sweet potatoes, the shopkeeper thought that the sweet and sour pork ribs shouldnt be bad either. He hastily sent Xiaoer to prepare. As word spread that Yui Hotel had new dishes, people began toe in, curious to try them outafter all, Yui Hotel had a reputation to uphold. And it was true, with the psychological lure of trying new dishes, more customers arrived. Xiaoxiao got busy in the kitchen, and Yang Dong was not idle either, as he began to help out. "Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs, one order!" "Candied Sweet Potatoes, one order!" "Another order of Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs!" "..." Xiaoer kept calling out orders, ted. It had been a long time since they had seen such a crowd. "Uncle Wang, there sure are a lot of people today!" a man walked in. "Today, a girl rmended two dishes to me. Young Master, you should try them!" "Oh? If our ce keeps on like this, Im afraid it really will be pushed out by the establishment across the street. What kind of woman is she!" "Shes in the kitchen helping with the cooking. Young Master, would you like to take a look?" The two men went to the kitchen together and saw Xiaoxiao cooking. The man was stunnedit was her, it was really her. What a coincidence. "She helped cook and made a request?" the man asked the shopkeeper. "She said she offered her services because she was short of money. Ill make sure to pay her the Silver Taelter!" "Give her a bit more!" "Certainly, Young Master!" "Get me a portion, Ill try it!" The man sat in the private room and began to taste the food. He didnt expect that this woman would have such creative ideas. Sweet potatoes and pork ribs, such simple ingredients, had been turned into such delicious dishes. Just what kind of family could nurture a woman like her! Yulin Academy "Here, I brought this for you! Try it!" "Whats this?" "The food made by that woman I was telling you about! Candied Sweet Potatoes and Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs!" "..." "Ive decided, Ill find an opportunity to formally meet her!" "..." "She must have even more surprises in store for me!" "..." "Shes like a mystery, waiting for me to solve." "..." Yang Ming thought to himself how wonderful it was, feeling somewhat envious of Chu Lian for being able to freely pursue what he wanted. When would he, too, experience such a stirring in his heart? When would he meet someone to share his life with? Could it really be the girl his family had in mind? Maybe he shouldnt believe the rumors! Maybe he should go back and try to get along! Maybe... maybe... Yes, he decided, hell go back and see her next month! Chapter 32: Just Three or Two

Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Just Three or Two

Xiaoxiao had not expected that such two ordinary dishes could attract so many people; it seemed to be because so few knew of them here. She really had taken the initiative. Xiaoxiao was so busy that she didnte out of the kitchen until the afternoon. "Miss, you truly have a magic touch! Our ce hasnt seen this many customers in a long time," the shopkeeper hurried over as soon as he saw Xiaoxiaoe out, especially since the Young Master had instructed him to take extra care of her. "Its nothing, myst name is Zhong! How should I address you, shopkeeper?" "Miss Zhong, myst name is Wang, and you can call me Uncle Wang!" "Uncle Wang, Ill write down the recipes for you. Ill speak frankly, these are just ordinary dishes with no secret recipes. If others want to make them, a little research will do. So, if you really want to do well, you need to find other methods, preferably unique secret recipes!" Xiaoer brought over pen and paper, and Xiaoxiao began writing the methods. She handed them to the shopkeeper when finished. "Even though these dishes are ordinary, they can be varied. For example, this syrup-coated sweet potato can also be made with apples, dates, or bananas. And these ribs can be turned into pork ribs with potatoes, with green beans, or with sauerkraut! Your chefs just need to do a bit of research to get these right; I dont need to go into the details!" "Miss Zhong, I know of the fruits and vegetables you spoke of, but what is this sauerkraut?" "..." How could it be that this ce didnt have sauerkraut? Wasnt sauerkraut a signature dish of the Northeast Region? Perhaps it hadnt been developed yet? But isnt it just Chinese cabbage salted and pickled? Who exactly came up with it? Could it be her? Ha ha! "Sauerkraut is a type of food. Ill try making it when I get back. If I seed, how about I supply it to your restaurant? It might just save your establishment!" Xiaoxiao was getting excited. If it really worked out, perhaps her family could keep making this! "Then Ill be looking forward to your sauerkraut, Miss!" saying this, he handed over ten taels of silver to Xiaoxiao. Shopkeeper Wang was also very excited. If it truly worked out, it would be fantastic, as they needed new dishes topete against the Dongfeng Restaurant across the street! Yang Dong waspletely stunned to see the ten taels of silver. Could one earn so much in just an afternoon? "Shopkeeper, as I said, I offered my services because I was short on money. Besides, these are just ordinary foods that others could figure out too. I am well aware of my own limitations. Just give me three taels, as thats all I currently need," she replied. "..." This girl was quite different. She wasnt greedy. Indeed, if it werent for the Young Masters instructions, he wouldnt have offered so much. "If I manage to create other foods in the future, I hope Uncle Wang will continue to look out for me!" "Alright, then well do as you say!" On the way back, Yang Dong was very puzzled. "Sister-inw, why didnt you take the ten taels? I dont understand. Didnt we also charge a lot for the candied hawthorns we sold before?" "I have already exined to you about selling candied hawthorns before. You need to consider the cost, which actually includes our familysbor. We make and sell candied hawthorns every day, and you all go up the mountain to pick hawthorns. All of that is ounted for. It might seem like were making a fifty-fifty profit, but after deducting these expenses, we just earn a bit for our hard work!" "And today, we only provided a method, which is something anyone can learn with just a little consideration, so we cant be too greedy. One must be content with what they have. Being able to solve our current difficulties is already very good!" After hearing his sister-inws words, Yang Dong seemed to understand a bit more. His sister-inw sure had a lot of wisdom! Chapter 33 Unexpected Guests

Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Unexpected Guests

"Dad, Mom, were back!" Before they reached home, Yang Dong shouted excitedly, his personality bing more and more cheerful. "Quick, get us some water, Im dying of thirst!" Xiaoxiao didnt hold back, truly too exhausted and thirsty. The sister-inw hurriedly poured water, and Xiaoxiao and Yang Dong both drank it down in one go! "Mom, weve saved up five silver taels, so we can pay it back now. Here you go!" Xiaoxiao quickly handed over the five silver taels to her mother-inw, and, disregarding any image, plopped down onto the stool, the tightly wound life of nearly ten days finally allowed her to rest. "..." So fast? Just how many days has it been? This third daughter-inw is too amazing! Didnt they say before that selling candied hawthorn could earn a good two taels or more? And after being swindled out of five hundred wen by the second fatty daughter-inw, now she can actually take out five taelshow did she manage this? "Mom, you all say, Im going back to sleep, dont call me for dinner." Xiaoxiao didnt care what everyone thought, leaving Yang Dong to exin for himself. She was just too tired and needed to get a good sleep. True to her word, Xiaoxiao fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, sleeping till she woke naturally, straight through to the next morning. The feeling of being debt-free was just fantastic. Xiaoxiao nned to rest for a few days, first transcribe some books to make a little money, and then slowly consider the pickled vegetable business! Before she could start earning the small money, an unexpected guest arrived! At the vige entrance, an ox cart rolled in! "Excuse me, sister, could you tell me how to get to Yang Mings house?" the coachman asked, aftering down. "Go straight in, the third house at the eastern end of the vige with a big willow tree at the door! Thats the one." "Thank you, sister!" The ox cart headed towards Yang Mings house, but people began murmuring behind it! "Has the old Yang familye into some fortune? It looks like theres furniture on that cart." "Its a style weve never seen before. Must be pretty expensive, right! It surely costs several silver taels!" "Indeed! Who knows what kind of luck theyve stumbled upon!" "If you ask me, it must be that wasteful daughter-inw of theirs!" "Quite possible!" "..." They were spot on. It was the new furniture that Xiaoxiao had ordered arriving! An elderly woman from the crowd, hearing the murmurs, huffed her way back home! At the Yang Family home, "Is anyone at home?" Xiaoxiao was in the main house transcribing a book when she heard the noise outside; she quickly went to check who hade! She was thrilled to see the furniture had arrivedit was about time she sorted out their living space! "Shopkeeper Zhang, what brings you here in person! Please,e in and sit!" So it was Shopkeeper Zhang! Such impressive service, to have the shopkeeper personally deliver the goods! "Ha-ha, Im here on business and was worried the delivery might not go smoothly, so I came. I hope Im not interrupting! Miss, where do you want the furniture? Ill have it arranged for you. No need to hurry inside." After the furniture was set up, Xiaoxiao ushered Shopkeeper Zhang into the main house. "Dad, Mom, this is Shopkeeper Zhang from the furniture store, hes brought the delivery! Heh heh, sorry about that, I couldnt help myself the first day and bought it," Xiaoxiao said apologetically to her father-inw and mother-inw, this was her splurge from earlier on, she hadnt spent any extra money recently. "Shopkeeper Zhang, please, have a seat. Were very sorry, our home is small and weve just had a bit of a situation, Im receiving guests on the kang, please pardon me!" Yang Dong, as the head of the family, was still good at receiving guests. "Oh no, not at all, Im the one who is being presumptuous for intruding. The main reason for my visit is to seek a favor from your daughter-inw, hence I came in person!" "This is our third daughter-inw!" "..." Chapter 34 Accidental Fortune

Chapter 34: Chapter 34 idental Fortune

"Elder brother, your family has indeed married a fine daughter-inw!" Shopkeeper Zhang had truly not expected such a young girl to already be wed. "Indeed, this family now relies on this daughter-inw to hold it together!" Elder Yang was very proud upon hearing Shopkeeper Zhangs words. His praise held true; Elder Yang was now very grateful that he had agreed to this marriage in the past! It was all thanks to his third son, s! "Dad, Shopkeeper Zhang, you two should stop praising me!" Xiaoxiao, though fond ofpliments, insisted that they focus on the matter at hand. "Heres the thing, young mistress. The furniture you ordered from our shop, once finished, I thought looked quite special and very practical, so I was thinking..." "Thats easy, just make some more and sell them to others!" Xiaoxiao quickly voiced her thoughts upon understanding Shopkeeper Zhangs hint, feeling there was nothing to it as the idea wasnt originally hers. "The young mistress sure is straightforward. Dont worry, we will pay you ordingly. Here are two taels of silver as payment for the cab and lounge chair. If you have other ideas in the future, we will pay one tael for each piece. Hows that?" "..." Xiaoxiao had not anticipated that casually designing a piece of furniture would bring her such an unexpected fortune. "Does the young mistress think its too little?" Seeing Xiaoxiaos silence, Shopkeeper Zhang was nervous. "No, no, this is already quite a lot. I was just thinking, I indeed have some new ideas for furniture, but I cant draw blueprints. I can only describe them verbally to your carpenters and let you figure it out by yourselves. Is that eptable?" "Yes, yes, as long as you have ideas, thats good enough! Our carpenters are very skilled; what weck are people with ideas. Young mistress, you have been a great help to us!" After finalizing the details and sending Shopkeeper Zhang on his way, she agreed to provide the furniture store with at least one new design every month. Though it wasnt going to make her rich, Xiaoxiao was quite content. Reflecting on the past ten days, who would have thought that with a modern perspective, even a domestic invalid could earn money here? It seemed she wouldnt starve in this ce after all! Prosperity seemed imminent, and Xiaoxiaos confidence was growing. "Mom, heres one tael of silver for you to use for household expenses. I need to keep the other tael for myself because I have other things I need to do!" "You keep it all. The house doesnt need anything right now; do whatever you want to do. Theres no need to give us the silver." Having seen the third daughter-inws abilities, the mother-inw no longer had her previous concerns. Whatever she wants to do, let her do it. After all, the money was earned by her. "Alright, Mom, I wont keep this from youIll hold onto it. Rest assured, our family will only get better, and look, havent I found another way to make money? Were definitely not going to starve!" Xiaoxiao was genuinely happy, firmly believing the familys circumstances would continue to improve. When the furniture arrived, Xiaoxiao was excited and quickly went to tidy up her room. Since there wasnt much in her room to begin with, organizing was easy. The new furniture was neatly ced in the room, and the old desk and boxes were moved to the outer room. The weather was getting colder; they couldnt bear it without heating the kang, and they might even catch a cold. The top priority was adding a stove. There were children in the house; they couldnt be left to freeze. They also needed to buy a big bath tubas it stood, using a small basin to wash in the chill was unbearable. No matter how you looked at it, a poor household couldnt have enough even if they kept adding things. Would these newly earned two taels of silver even be enough? Xiaoxiao had her doubts! Chapter 35: The Eccentric Old Lady

Chapter 35: Chapter 35: The entric Old Lady

Western Corner of Yang Familys Vige An olddy angrily returned home, climbed onto the kang bed, and without caring whether it was day or night, she pulled the quilt over and lied down! "Mom, whats wrong with you!" The speaker was Yang Mings uncle, Yang Dazhu! "Nothing!" The olddy said these two words with her back turned. "Nothing, then why are you covering yourself with the quilt in broad daylight?" The olddy still didnt speak, sulking all by herself; her family couldnt do anything but leave her alone and walk out. "Who upset you now, mom?" Seeing her mother-inw like this, the aunt quickly asked! "How would I know!" "Ive had enough, your mom just does this for no reason, as if I havent taken good care of her." Ever since the old man passed away, leaving the olddy by herself, shes been being gloomy and irritable, throwing fits and ignoring people at the drop of a hatno one could stand it! "Grandma, just now, Bao Bao saw a bullock cart taking furniture to Uncle Ers house, and thats when Grandma got like this!" It was Yang Dazhus eldest grandson, Yang Bapbao, who spoke. "What? They bought furniture again? Having money but not knowing to pay off debts! Its absolutely infuriating! No wonder Moms angry; I reminded herst time to keep an eye on her grandma, bought so much meat, and she didnt even think to bring some over as a token of respect to her grandma!" His auntined while pping the tableshe was waiting to eat that meat! "Why are you rambling nonsense in front of the child!" Li Dazhu, seeing his wife like this, couldnt overlook it, and with such behavior from these two women at home, what good could they possibly teach the children! "Bao Bao, go to Uncle Ers house and tell them your great-grandma wants to see her daughter-inw!" Yang Dazhu had no idea what else to do with his mother; whoever caused the trouble had to sort it out, otherwise nobody was effective. That very afternoon, Xiaoxiao received the message from Bao Bao. She had to go eventually;e what may. Xiaoxiao got ready, took two kilograms of meat, and went out with her mother-inw, grateful that the meat bought a few days back hadnt been finished otherwise, there would have been nothing to bring as a gift! Uncles house was at the western corner of the vige; their house looked newer than hers, with a bigger courtyard and more rooms. They even raised pigs in the yard, clearly wealthier than Yang Mings family! Xiaoxiao and her mother-inw went straight to the main house. "Mom, I brought your third daughter-inw to see you!" her mother-inw said, pulling Xiaoxiao toward the olddy on the kang. "Hello Grandma, I am Yang Mings wife, Zhong Xiaoxiao! Im sorry I havent visited you sooner because Yang Ming was away, and I thought wede together when he returned!" Xiaoxiao exined, but the olddy on the kang didnt make a single move; if it wasnt for seeing someone there, Xiaoxiao would have doubted anyone was present! "Grandma, are you asleep?" The olddy still didnt speak, her mother-inw giving Xiaoxiao a meaningful look. But Xiaoxiao waspletely clueless, what in the world was going on here! "Grandma, I brought some meat to help nourish you." ... This olddy was too peculiar, wasnt it her own idea to ask Xiaoxiao toe? Now shes not speaking; was this her way of showing whos boss? What...what should one do about this! "Grandma, Grandma, Grandma!" "Are you calling back spirits! Im not deaf, I can hear!" The olddy finally stirred, slowly turning around and sitting up! "Grandma, youre awake! Sorry if I disturbed you just now!" "Are you Yang Mings newly married wife?" The olddy scrutinized Xiaoxiao carefully! "Yes, Grandma!" "Not very pretty! Ugly! Not worthy of my grandson!" "..." Chapter 36: Coddling the Old Child

Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Coddling the Old Child

"Grandma, youre right, your grandson is just like you, handsome as a jade tree in the breeze, suave and debonair, truly a sight to behold. Im like burning incense to my good fortune for being able to marry him, snagging such a great deal!" Haha, haha, not even knowing what one looks like, oh heavens, please forgive me for telling such tant lies with my eyes wide open! But that part about being like you wasnt a lie at all, speaking in such an annoying way! How could one just bluntly call someone ugly? It seems Yang Ming has inherited the old roots, definitely inherited! "Hmm, at least you know whats good for you!" The olddys frown slowly rxed upon hearing Xiaoxiaos words! "How many days have you been married by now?" "Grandma, its almost ten days now!" "Almost ten days! What, you look down on me whos nearly ready to be buried?" "How could I, Grandma? Theres an old saying that a family with an elder is like possessing a treasure. How could you be nearly ready to be buried? You ought to live to a ripe old age! Just wait for us, your descendants, to dote on you...." Xiaoxiao once again unleashed her silver tongue, almost spitting as she spoke, but it was quite a feat to have sweet-talked this old child! It really was no easy task! Laughter echoed from within the house, and Uncles entire family was surprised. This olddy was notoriously hard to please, yet this new daughter-inw managed to make her so happy that she evenughed out loud; it had been so long since theyd heardughter from the olddy since Grandfather passed away! "Quick, get the food ready!" Uncle Yang Dazhu was truly delighted. Just seeing how happy the olddy was, todays meal was a must. "Hmph!" Auntie responded disdainfully, but regardless, she truly admired Xiaoxiao for having tamed the formidable olddy and obediently went to the kitchen to prepare the meal. "Lovely, lovely, sing another one!" "And then, what happened next? Did they switch the real and fake princesses back?" "..." Xiaoxiao was at a loss for words, entertaining this old child was really not easy, singing, dancing, and storytelling, she even brought in Legend of the Pearl Princess! This olddy was either entric or suffering from senility that needed pampering! Knock, knock! The sound of knocking on the door rang out! "Mom, the meal is ready!" "Stop the noise, I havent finished listening yet!" The olddy nced disdainfully at this daughter-inw who dared to interrupt her story time! "Grandma, you may not be hungry, but I am. Can you bear to let your granddaughter-inw go hungry? Dont you feel sorry for me?" Xiaoxiao internally gave a hundred and twenty thumbs up to her Auntie, her true savior. She was about to talk herself hoarse, and now, atst, she didnt have to keep going! "I do feel sorry, I do,e along with Grandma and lets eat!" The olddy took Xiaoxiao by the hand and headed to the kitchen. Uncles family had plenty of rooms, so they had a separate dining room; unlike at Xiaoxiaos mother-inws ce, where they had to carry meals to the Main House when it was time to eat. Upon reaching the kitchen to eat, Xiaoxiao saw Uncles whole family: Uncle, Auntie, their eldest sons family of three, their second sons family of three, and their third sons family of three. Xiaoxiao wondered why there were no daughters in the family; were the genes here so good that they only provided Y chromosomes? Her own family had all boys, and now in her inws house, it was the same, but it wasnt until muchter that Xiaoxiao learned there was a big secret behind her inws situation! Though Auntie seemed rather formidable, she was nevercking in human kindness. The table wasid out with abundant dishes, and not a bit of the two pounds of meat they brought was withheld. Xiaoxiao thought to herself that sometimes you cant judge a person by their appearance; considering the matter of repaying the money, if it hadnt been for her, they might have been paying it back for ten years, which is not something the average person would agree to so readily! Chapter 37 Little Qingmei, the Inexpensive Husband

Chapter 37: Chapter 37 Little Qingmei, the Inexpensive Husband

Thanks to the sudden and harmonious rtionship between the olddy and Xiaoxiao, which was as if they had be one person, this meal was very harmonious. After eating, they also repaid the five taels of silver, and it was only then that Xiaoxiao and her mother-inw returned home. Xiaoxiao finally let out a sigh of relief; this day had been even more exhausting than hardbor! Yet, on the way back, she encountered someone she didnt expect to see. "Auntie, youre just getting back, huh?" The new arrival was a girl who looked to be about seventeen or eighteen, quite prettyXiaoxiao was stunned by her appearance. You could tell at a nce that she was the gentle type, quite the opposite of Xiaoxiaos outspoken and chatty nature. Unexpectedly a beauty had emerged from the countryside. "Ah, Hehua, is there something you need?" The mother-inws eyes flickered upon seeing Hehua, which indicated there might be some issues. "Oh, its nothing much, I was just checking if my brother Ming hade back yet!" Hehua nced at Xiaoxiao before speaking. "This is Yang Mings wife, you should call her sister-inw. Xiaoxiao, this is our neighbor, Hehua." The mother-inw quickly introduced them. "Hello, Im Zhong Xiaoxiao." Xiaoxiao said generously, maintaining proper manners regardless of who the person was. "Sister-inw, hello, Im Hehua, Ive grown up with brother Ming since we were kids!" Hehuas innocent-looking eyes seemed to Xiaoxiao to carry a hint of provocation! "..." Huh, the cheap husbands Little Qingmei? Quite pretty and seemingly calcting, who calls someone brother in front of his wife like that, treating oneself like a rival? "Brother Ming hasnte back yet, so Ill head home first. Ille to look for him when he returns!" Having said that, Hehua walked towards her own house. Childhood sweethearts, now thats some juicy gossip! As soon as Xiaoxiao got home, she immediately called her sister-inw to inquire about it. When it came to who loved gossip the most at home, no one could beat her sister-inw. "Sister-inw, whats the deal with Hehua and Yang Ming?" "Howe those two childhood sweethearts didnt end up together?" "So, does that mean Hehua likes Yang Ming then?" "And does Yang Ming like Hehua?" Xiaoxiao asked one question after another. It turned out that Yang Ming and Hehua really were childhood sweethearts; Yang Ming was twenty, Hehua eighteen. Their families were neighbors, and they always yed together as children. Their rtionship was indeed very good. The mother-inw had indeed intended to match them, but unfortunately, their family was too poor and Hehuas mother did not agree. Whether Yang Ming liked Hehua or not was unknown. Xiaoxiao reasoned that he probably did like her; otherwise, why would he hate the original body so much! When that Yang Ming returned, she would just step aside and let them be, as a gesture of goodwill befitting a gentleman! In the following days, Xiaoxiao wasnt idle either. She kept busy with Yang Dong, running around buying this and that, and stocked up on all the missing items. They also added stoves to every room in the house! She was happily busy! Finally, they started heating the kang in the house, making it warm. If they hadnt heated the kang, they really could have frozen to death! Xiaoxiao also began to ferment sauerkraut. There was a lot of cabbage stored in the cer at home, but it wasnt in a condition to be sold yet. To consider selling, they would probably need to nt arge crop next year, or collect from other families this year. Selling sauerkraut this year seemed unlikely due to the lengthy production timeas long as a month. It would be fine for household consumption, but in order to show it to Shopkeeper Wang and begin mass production, it would take at least two months, and by that time, the New Year would have already passed. Thinking it over, Xiaoxiao realized that selling sauerkraut wasnt feasible, but she could try making spicy kimchi as a side dish to apany drinks! Xiaoxiao was actually pretty good at making spicy kimchi. Could she say it was because of her pursuit of a star? She had developed a liking for a certain South Korean Oppa and had specifically learned how to make it! Looking back, she thought nothing learned was ever a waste; you never knew when it mighte in handy! Chapter 38: I Really Want to Cling to Powerful Support!

Chapter 38: Chapter 38: I Really Want to Cling to Powerful Support!

Making kimchi wasnt thatplicated here because the seasonings were limited, so Xiaoxiao decided to work with what was avable, but it would be best if she could get her hands on some apples and pears, though she wasnt sure if they were for sale. She had to go to town for them. Living in the countryside really wasnt convenient; she often had to travel quite a distance just to buy things. Xiaoxiao bought a bunch of seasonings in one go and actually managed to find apples and pears. Thankfully, these fruits were locally grown, just in the neighboring county. In modern times, Lin County would be so close, but here, it felt incredibly far away. Xiaoxiao started making the kimchi, and five dayster, it was on the family dining table! "Dad, Mom, try this, I newly created it!" Xiaoxiao eagerly urged everyone to taste the kimchi she had made. "Its a bit spicy, eldest brother, second brother, dad, you guys just have a taste, its not good for recovery, eat less! The little ones too, eat less okay!" Xiaoxiao said, as she patted Yang Liulius head beside her. "Its delicious, sister-inw, youve really got skills, even ordinary cabbage can be made so tasty!" Xiaoers wifemented. "Haha, thats nothing, the main thing is I used a lot of seasonings, add good seasonings and everything bes tasty!" After the meal, Xiaoxiao and Yang Dong took their kimchi to the Yui Restaurant! "Uncle Wang, hows business these days!" Xiaoxiao entered and immediately saw Shopkeeper Wang at the counter. "Miss, youre finally here,e on, lets talk in the back!" Saying that, the three of them headed to the backyard. "To be honest, we are being imitated quickly, so I was really waiting for your pickled vegetables!" Shopkeeper Wang was anxious and saw Xiaoxiao as a lifesaver. "Uncle Wang, it takes about a month to make pickled vegetables, and another month if we make them inrge quantities. I think it might be toote time-wise, so today I brought something else, have a taste!" Initially, Shopkeeper Wang felt utterly disappointed upon hearing Xiaoxiaos words, but perked up when she mentioned bringing something different. He quickly had Xiaoer prepare bowls and chopsticks, and upon tasting, his eyes lit up. "This is cabbage, its vorful, tasty." "Uncle Wang, this is meant for a side dish with drinks. Your restaurant surely sees a lot of customersing in for drinks. No need for arge te when selling, just a small dish will do!" "Great idea! Miss, how much did you bring today? Lets hurry and have the customers try this dish!" "Ive brought one jar today, well test out the response first. Ill bring more in five days! Then well decide on the quantity to make. As for the price, although its cabbage, Ive added quite a few expensive seasonings, so its 300 wen per jar! I dont know if you can ept that, Uncle Wang!" Xiaoxiao set the price this way because she was supplying wholesale, not retailing herself, so she didnt ask for too high a price. She was making a 100 wen profit per jar. Moreover, she felt that this batch wasnt easy to copy. After all, when she didnt make spicy kimchi herself, she couldnt taste the apples and pears in it, so others probably couldnt either, or so she consoled herself. If it was still replicated, there was nothing she could do about it! Shopkeeper Wang looked at the jar; it wasnt small and could be divided into many small dishes for sale. The price was reasonable, and the girl was honest and not greedy, so he readily agreed and went off to have the dish tested! Xiaoxiao took the 300 wen and went home with Yang Dong, nning to see the results in five days! How long would it take to be wealthy at this rate, she sighed heavily, longing totch onto someones coattails! Chapter 39: Taking Charge Like This?

Chapter 39: Chapter 39: Taking Charge Like This?

"Dad, Mom, Ive taken another job! Making that spicy cabbage, I can earn about a hundred wen per jar!" Xiaoxiao reported to her parents as soon as she got home. "Today, I tried selling it at the Yui Restaurant in the county. If nothing unexpected happens, this could really work out. Its just that our familys white cabbages will have to be used up by me! There might even not be enough, hehe." "Thats wonderful! Wonderful! Daughter-inw, Dad has something to tell you!" "Dad, what is it? Go ahead." "Dad wants you to take charge of this family!" "..." No one in the family expected the old man to say such a thing. There were still elders in the house, and the eldest and the second son were still around. It was not her turn to take over, being only the third daughter-inw! "Dad, that really shouldnt be the case. There are so many people in our family older than me. Its not my turn!" What on earth was her father-inw thinking! Running a family was such a headache. She never had the time for that, always staying out of matters! "Dads been thinking about this for several days. From the time you came to our family until now, Dad has seen all youve done for this household, and I feel relieved having you in charge. You dont have to worry about the first and second sons families not epting it. Do you guys have any objections?" Her father-inw immediately turned to the eldest and second brothers families! "Dad, I agree! Sister-inw really is better than us!" Yang Chun, the eldest, said. "Dad, I agree too," said Yang Gang, the second son. "What about you two?" The father-inw then asked the two daughters-inw. "We have no objections!" both sisters-inw unanimously replied! "Dad, I really cant, Im still too young!" Xiaoxiao truly did not want to take over the family. She didnt even know how long she would stay in this family! How could she take on such a big responsibility! "Everyone will help you, so just agree. Child, your mom and I are getting old, and I wouldnt feel secure handing it over to someone else." Seeing her father-inw like this, and then looking at the sincere eyes of the family, Xiaoxiao had no choice but to agree. She would take one step at a time. Who made her soft-hearted! Was she really going to run the household? Just a few days affair? It felt like a dream! It must be said that the cleverest person in the household was still the old man. Seeing how busy Xiaoxiao had been these days for the family, he knew she was good, but his third son didnt realize it. He had to find a way to tie Xiaoxiao to this family. Given his sons way, he really feared that the third daughter-inw might be driven away. Moreover, handing over the family to Xiaoxiao wouldnt be a bad thing, as it was sure to improve. "Dad, since youve asked me to take charge of this family, then I really will. Now that our family has a source of ie, I think we should eat regrly, three meals a day; its a must, as the children are still growing!" "..." Xiaoxiao really dared to speak up, they also wanted to eat three meals, but they were scared of not having enough! "Dont worry about food, since Im taking over the household, Ill definitely lead everyone to eat well and dress warmly, to get rich! Just follow my lead and do your best!" Seeing some doubts among them, Xiaoxiao still pumped everyone up. "I believe in sister-inw. I have been following her around these days, and her ability is immense! She will definitely make sure we are well-fed!" Yang Dong stood up in support, his belief unwavering. This sister-inw was too capable, and he still had so much to learn from her. "Okay, well all listen to the third daughter-inw." The family was delighted, finally going to eat their fill, no more going hungry once a day! Chapter 40 Life is Full of Surprises

Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Life is Full of Surprises

Yui Restaurant private room "Young Master, this is a new dish created by that girl, called spicy pickled cabbage." Chu Lians eyes lit up, that woman hade up with a new trick! Interesting. "How has it been priced?" "Three hundred wen per jar, sell it and see first, well decide how much to make when shees next time!" "How is it selling? When is sheing next? Did you make a contract?" "This..." "No contract? What if she sells to other houses? Youre not new to this!" Shopkeeper Wang truly hadnt thought it through, he just trusted that girl andpletely forgot the deceptionmon in business. "When shees next time, I want to talk to her myself!" At this moment, Xiaoxiao didnt know that even in such a backward ce, contracts are necessary. She hadnt paid attention to such matters as she was busy teaching her eldest sister-inw and second sister-inw how to make spicy pickled cabbage. "Eldest sister-inw, second sister-inw, this is our familys money-making skill, you must not tell anyone else. If other families learn this, ours will no longer have a way to make money!" Although the eldest and second sister-inw were nice, Xiaoxiao still reminded them, better safe than sorry! "Third sister-inw, dont worry, we got it!" The eldest and second sister-inw answered in unison. They were very serious about learning the method of making spicy pickled cabbage from Xiaoxiao! This was their guarantee to have enough to eat. "Eldest sister-inw, what do we have for dinner tonight?" Xiaoxiao chatted idly, not expecting to stumble upon a surpriseit turns out life is full of surprises! "Why dont we swap for some tofu at third uncles house?" The eldest sister-inw suggested while washing the cabbage. "Does third uncles family make tofu?" Xiaoxiao was surprised; the Yang Family also had business-minded people! "Yes, we dont have many vegetables in winter, so we nt soybeans in the vegetable garden every year. We can exchange a pound of beans for a pound of tofu in winter to add a dish to our meals at home!" "..." Third uncle has quite a business mind, even though she herself doesnt know how to make tofu, she still knows that a pound of soybeans can make at least two and a half pounds of tofu. Exchanging soybeans for tofu is a sure-fire business dealwhat a clever move! Third uncles family must be living well. "Then apart from making tofu, how else do you eat these soybeans?" Soybeans are valuable; they can be pressed for oil, sprouted into bean sprouts, and at the very least fried into crispy beans for a snack to go with drinks! "Apart from making tofu, how else could we eat them? Soybeans arent worth much, just five wen per pound, even cheaper than cornmeal, so not many grow it. Third sister-inw, do you have any clever ideas again?" Second sister-inw thought her third sister-inw was talented and might have another money-making idea. "..." Why do treasures, as Xiaoxiao sees them, have so little value here? Its truly a waste of good resources. But she just knows what soybeans can do, not exactly how to do it! Xiaoxiao sadly realized she wasnt here to live, but rather to experiment! In modern times, who would eat sprouts and wonder how they grew? Who would eat a bowl of rice and investigate how the rice was cultivated? I cannot do it, Xiaoxiao was merely about buying and eating! Now that she has to research it, its really asking too much of her, but knowing that theres food yet no one knows how to prepare it, itches Xiaoxiaos heart! She must take action herself, to be well-fed and clothed. First make money, having money is what allows her to so boldly experiment! Chapter 41: The Overly Familiar Third Aunt

Chapter 41: Chapter 41: The Overly Familiar Third Aunt

Uncle Yang Sanzhus house in Yang Vige "Husband, I heard from my sister-inw today that Second Brothers family has repaid all the debts they owed!" She really got an earful from her sister-inws mouth today; not only had Yang Mings wife repaid five taels of silver within a few days, but she had also sweet-talked the old stick-in-the-mud at home, hurrying to discuss it with her own husband upon returning. "So quickly? Wasnt it supposed to be a one-month deadline?" Everyone knew about Xiaoxiaos situation more or less, but they all pretended not to know, simply shaking it off as none of their business. "What do you know! All you know is how to make tofu!" The thought that her husband was good for nothing but making tofu, and turned aggressive only at home, irked her to no end. "As if you know so much, fussing like an old woman all the time, look at yourself!" Yang Sanzhu muttered quietly. "Im telling you, the wife Second Brother married might turn out to be a real moneymaker! We must get on good terms with them!" "Hmph, if it werent for your meddling in the first ce, Second Brothers family wouldnt have had to repay ten taels of silver. Now you want to get cozy with them?" Although rtions between the two households hadnt turned sour, it was her meddling that had made Second Brothers family live in such poverty over the years. "So what? We had our own difficulties back then. Dont worry about this matter; we need to establish a good rtionship regardless. Our second son still hasnt found a wife yet!" Having said that, she grabbed two pounds of tofu and headed out the door. "Eh! Where are you going?" Yang Sanzhu called after her, but she did not reply! Xiaoxiao had never imagined that she, apleteyabout in life, unable to cheat her way through, would be a hotmodity that others coveted! Xiaoxiao and her two sisters-inw were busy in the kitchen when suddenly, she heard her second sister-inw say: "Isnt that Third Auntie outside? Why has shee? She rarely visits us!" Following her second sister-inws words, Xiaoxiao turned her head and saw that there was a visitor. The woman appeared to be in her forties, dressed neatly and cleanly, in fairly good-quality clothes that contrasted with her own familys patched clothing. She also wore a silver hairpin; life at Uncle Sanzhus seemed to be quite good indeed. Xiaoxiao and the other two hurried out of the kitchen, and as soon as they did, Third Auntie stopped them. "Oh, this must be Yang Mings wife. Come, let Third Auntie have a look at you." While speaking, she dragged Xiaoxiao toward the main house. "..." The two sisters-inw stood looking at each other, bewildered. Third Auntie seemed to have had a change of heart today, showing such warmth toward their youngest sister-inw. Xiaoxiao followed Third Auntie to Mother-inws room. Once inside, Third Auntie and Mother-inw started chatting away,vishing praise on Xiaoxiao, the new daughter-inw, to the extent that Xiaoxiao almost didnt recognize whom Third Auntie was talking about! "You really did marry an excellent daughter-inw!" "I saw your mother today, and she went on and on praising your daughter-inw. Im so jealous I could die. If our family had such a good daughter-inw, Id wake upughing from my dreams!" "Your daughter-inw even helps repay your debts. The one in our family is already good enough not to take from her parents home!" Xiaoxiao kept silent, just listened as Third Auntie and Mother-inw talked, finally managing to send Third Auntie on her way. "Niece-inw, we may not have much, but we have plenty of tofu at Third Aunties house. If you want some, juste and take it, all right! Come over to Third Aunties house often, hang around with your cousin-inw, and let her learn a thing or two from you!" Third Auntie continued to speak as she escorted her to the front door. "Sure thing! Third Auntie!" Chapter 42 Can you give her to me?

Chapter 42: Chapter 42 Can you give her to me?

"Mother, whats going on? Auntie is way too enthusiastic!" Xiaoxiao truly found Auntie too enthusiastic, no one had ever been so passionate towards her since her arrival; it felt so insincerely enthusiastic. Mother hadnt replied, but the forthright second sister-inw spoke up first. "She must have seen that the third sister-inw can make money. Auntie is such a shrewd person, she certainly wouldnt suffer any loss!" Looking at the second sister-inw, Xiaoxiao guessed that Auntie must really be a calcting person. Theres a saying that goes, When somethings out of the ordinary, there must be evil afoot. Aunties behavior today was definitely out of the ordinary! It seemed that, in the future, she had to be more cautious. However, Auntie really did bring two pounds of tofu today, so they could switch up the meal tonight, which was lovely. After dinner, Xiaoxiao went back to her room andy in bed, thinking again of soy milk, tofu pudding, and deep-fried dough sticks! How she longed for a taste! With these thoughts, Xiaoxiao felt utterly miserable, wishing to return to the modern era, especially, especially so. She was different from her transmigration peers; they all found their other halves, felt true love, and were no longer alone. But she hadnt! Thinking and thinking, Xiaoxiao started to cry in bed like a child, venting all her loneliness and helplessness! Perhaps because the crying was too loud, it was overheard by Yang Dong, who had gotten up in the middle of the night. The next day before dawn, Yang Dong left the house without telling anyone where he was going. Yulin Academy Yang Ming was surprised to hear that someone was looking for him outside. Could something have happened at home? At the entrance, he discovered that the visitor was his own brother, Yang Dong. "Why are you here? Is there some trouble at home?" Yang Ming asked anxiously, fearing that something had happened with the wife at home. "Everythings fine at home, no trouble at all!" "Thats a relief, but why did youe here then?" Yang Ming was still somewhat skeptical; his brother rarely came to the Academy to find him. "Last night, I got up and heard the third sister-inws crying. She sounded so heartbroken!" "What are you trying to say!" She cried? Because of him? "I just wanted to ask you when you n to return." "I havent decided yet, this isnt your concern!" Yang Ming was greatly distressed; he didnt know what to do. "If you dont intend to treat her well, can you let me have her?" "What did you say, say that again..." Yang Mings eyes widened, he grabbed Yang Dong by the cor, shocked by the words he heard! She had only been in the house for a few days, but seeing his brothers serious demeanor, he became uncertain. "Do you like her?" Yang Ming still asked cautiously, hoping his brother would not entertain such thoughts C after all, that was his sister-inw. What sort of thing would that be! "I dont know what liking someone means, I just know the third sister-inw is a good person, and we all want her to stay in our house. If you cant, Im the only option!" "..." Shes a good person? Everyone at home wants to keep her? What exactly had he missed? His usually reticent brother had spoken so much today! "I will return. You and she are uncle and niece-inw; dont entertain these crooked thoughts. Understand? Dont give people something tough about. I hope I never hear such words from you again!" Yang Ming quickly admonished his brother, worried he would take a wrong turn. After sending off his brother, Yang Ming found himself distracted while reading, repeatedly pondering his brothers words. What skill did Zhong Xiaoxiao possess that she won over the entire family in just a few days! Chapter 43 Because You Miss Her

Chapter 43: Chapter 43 Because You Miss Her

Waking up with a pair of swollen eyes, Xiaoxiao felt embarrassed for the first time, thinking its such a trivial matter, why the heck was she crying. Its just theck of a man, just theck of support! From now on, shed just look towards money, and that would be correct! Xiaoxiao pep-talked herself, but didnt pay it any more attention. Although the amount of spicy pickled cabbage to be made was decided to be settled next time, Xiaoxiao thought it wouldnt be hard to sell at the beginning, so she decided to make two jars every day as a backup. If she ran out of jars, Yang Dong, the fourth brother, would have to buy more. Only then did she realize that Yang Dong wasnt at home! By the time she saw Yang Dong, it was already the afternoon. "Where have you been today?" As soon as Yang Dong came home, Xiaoxiao dragged him over to ask. She had been with her younger brother all the time recently, and she truly saw this kid, who was more than a full cycle younger than herself, as her little brother and genuinely worried about him. "I went to find Brother Yang Ming! I asked him when hesing back!" Yang Dong didnt beat around the bush and simply said it outright. "What did you find him for?" Xiaoxiao was surprised. Why would her fourth brother suddenly go looking for Yang Ming. "Because you miss him!" "..." Miss who? Nonsense, youre overthinking it, little brother. Yang Dongs behavior today seemed especially strange. Seeing how confidently he spoke, yet looking worried about her, could it be that he heard her crying yesterday? "Who told you I missed him!" Xiaoxiao felt a warm feeling in her heart, touched and even more fond of this naive young man! "You did!" Yang Dong pointed to Xiaoxiaos swollen eyes! "...So, what was the result? When is heing back?" Xiaoxiao did want to know Yang Mings reaction! "Soon! He said hesing back." Heh, soon? That idiot Yang Ming is really good at fobbing people off! Better nevere back! A man whocks responsibility and only knows how to escape is not a good man. Thumbs down, down, down, down! At this moment, Yang Ming had no idea that he had sunk to rock bottom in the eyes of his wife, and when he finally wanted to redeem his image, hed find it a long road ahead. Yulin Academy "Achoo, achoo..." Yang Ming sneezed several times in a row. "Whats up, caught a cold?" "No." Yang Ming rubbed his nose and said. "Then it must be your wife missing you, hahaha," Chu Lian teased him,ughing as he spoke. Yang Ming felt helpless because ever since he got hitched, he hadnt stopped being teased by Chu Lian. Was his wife really missing him to the point of crying? It looked like it was true, given his younger brothers demeanor. What does it feel like to be missed? Yang Ming pondered and, without realizing, a smile spread across his face. "Look at that! The moment your wifees up, you start smiling, as if youre in a daze! Yet you still y tough, iming you dont like her!" Chu Lian caught the corner of Yang Mings mouth lifting into a smile, a rare urrence, and immediately continued to tease him. "I cant even remember what she looks like, so what is there to talk about liking or not liking! Enough about me, how about you?" Feeling his ears get hot from the teasing, Yang Ming shifted the conversation away at once. "Me? Im going to meet her formally very soon. There was a misunderstandingst time; I was mistaken for a phnderer, and this time I have to redeem my image as an honest gentleman!" Chu Lian shrugged his shoulders and spoke earnestly. "Well, good luck with that!" Yang Ming could see that Chu Lian was serious about this girl. Thinking of this girl, her beautiful handwriting, her poetry, her gentle smile, and those candied hawthorns, the candied sweet potatoes, and now the spicy pickled cabbage. She truly was a uniquedy, certainly a good match for Chu Lian. Chapter 44 Young Master? Rich Second Generation?

Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Young Master? Rich Second Generation?

The day for the spicy cabbage delivery arrived in the blink of an eye! Xiaoxiao and Yang Dong set out early in the morning. As soon as Xiaoer saw Xiaoxiao, he immediately came up to greet her. "Miss, youre here atst! Our shopkeeper has been anxiously waiting for you!" "Quickly take me to see Shopkeeper Wang!" In fact, Xiaoxiao was also very anxious, but making spicy cabbage takes time, and she was afraid she wouldnt do it well, so she hadnt prepared much in advance. "Miss Zhong, lets go to the private room; our Young Master would like to speak with you personally!" No sooner had Shopkeeper Wang appeared than he invited Xiaoxiao to a private room, with Yang Dong following along. "Young man, our Young Master wishes to speak with Miss Zhong alone, would you mind waiting over here for a moment?" Shopkeeper Wang, upon seeing Yang Dong alsoe along, immediately stopped him; the Young Master had specifically instructed that no outsiders be present. "This..." Yang Dong nced at Xiaoxiao, clearly concerned, yet also looking to her for guidance. "Fourth brother, its okay, dont worry, Ill be right back." Yang Dong always listened to Xiaoxiao, so he didnt follow; instead, he was arranged to wait in another private room. Xiaoxiao was arranged in the private room, which was empty of the Young Master that Shopkeeper Wang had mentioned. "Miss, please wait here for a moment. We have sent someone to fetch our Young Master, and he will arrive shortly!" Xiaoxiao didnt mind, since he was, after all, a rich second generation; a bit of posturing was normal, and she was not inexperienced in dealing with such situations. For the sake of her dreams of wealth, waiting a bit was no big deal. But as she waited, time began to drag on, and Xiaoxiao actually fell asleep. Upon entering, Chu Lian was greeted by this scene. The girls hands rested on the table; her head tilted, pressing against her arms, and her ck hair cascaded like clouds over her shoulders. Her eyebrows were furrowed, indicating her fatigue even in sleep; just how tired must she have been? Seeing her sleep so peacefully, like a quiet princess, Chu Lian couldnt bear to wake her. Just as Shopkeeper Wang was about to make a noise, "Shh!" Chu Lian quickly gestured for him to be silent, then waved his hand to signal Shopkeeper Wang to step back. Chu Lian moved into the private room, found a chair to sit down, and just quietly watched Xiaoxiao, quietly, quietly waiting for the princess to wake up! "Im rich!" The sudden murmuring startled Chu Lian; it turned out the girl was talking in her sleep! Rich? Dreaming about bing rich? Just how much does this girl love money? If he hadnt known that this girl worked hard for her money and was not greedy or corrupt, he might have misunderstood her. Although the girl did not have a nation-toppling beauty, she possessed a talent rare amongst women, which was adorable, indeed! Chu Lian thought to himself, his thoughts drifting further and further away, but he didnt expect Xiaoxiao to wake up at this moment. Xiaoxiao slowly opened her eyes and saw Chu Lian sitting there, staring at her. She immediately jumped up from her seat. "You voyeur!" "..." Voyeur? After rising, Xiaoxiao began pummeling Chu Lian. While hitting him she said, "You peeping Tom, how dare you spy on me sleeping! How dare you peek!" "Miss, please be merciful, be merciful. I am the Young Master of this establishment!" Chu Lian was on the verge of tears; he had hoped to repair his image as a gentleman, but here he was, getting beaten up again, feeling emotionally hurt! "..." Xiaoxiao felt something was off, oh right, she was here waiting for someone, waiting for that rich second generation. Wait a minute! Young Master? Rich second generation? "Eh!" Chapter 45 Do You Have Money?

Chapter 45: Chapter 45 Do You Have Money?

Xiaoxiao stopped her movements, her mind racing. What to do? What to do? She seemed to have offended the major investor! should she y dumb or act cute? She guessed no one would buy her act! "Miss, let me correct you once more, I am not the stalker or peeping Tom you think I am!" Seeing that Xiaoxiao had stopped, Chu Lian immediately stood up straight to clear his name! He wanted to salvage his image! "Oh!" Apart from that, Xiaoxiao didnt know what else to say! "..." Where did her fighting spirit go? "Werent we supposed to talk about spicy cabbage? Lets sit down and discuss it!" Seeing Xiaoxiaos confused state, Chu Lian hurriedly steered the conversation back on track, seizing a great opportunity to redeem his image. "How is the spicy cabbage selling?" With Chu Lian not pressing her anymore, Xiaoxiao felt relieved and quickly asked about the sales. "Its selling well. One jar is definitely not enough!" "Oh, then why do I see it still being sold downstairs?" "Because its so scarce, weve spread the sale out over five days, and thus the price has also gone up!" "..." This rich second generation actually has a head for business, even knowing about limited sales making things more valuable! "So, how much do you n to order from me?" Xiaoxiao really didnt care about how others sold it, the retail price, or their profitsit had nothing to do with her. As long as they could sell the spicy cabbage and order from her, that was all she cared about. She didnt have to strain her brains trying to help with sales, which suited her just fine considering she didnt have much brainpower to spare. "How long can your productst?" "Seven days once opened, one month if sealed. It takes about five days to make. How long we can sell it this year is still unknown, at most three months. After three months, we cant continue until next winter!" "Why not?" "Because there are no raw materials left this year. We can only collect from the vigers and each doesnt have much. Its uncertain if we can make it through three months, but after three months even if we wanted to, we wouldnt be able to collect any!" "Why not just nt it in spring?" "That wont do. Napa cabbage is an autumn crop. nting in the spring wont allow it to form heartsthe spring would yield only Xiaobais. Moreover, the other ingredients are also harvested in the autumn. Even if we nted a lot in the autumn, we could only sell in the winter because Napa cabbage cant be stored through the summer..." When it came to work, Xiaoxiao was always serious and thorough, so she spoke earnestly, that articte manner captivating to watch. In a ce where most women wouldnt show themselves much, she indeed stood out. What Chu Lian saw was not Xiaoxiaos fierce, calm, or adorably dumb appearance but that of a strong career woman. Chu Lian thought perhaps she could shine even brighter. Suddenly, he really wanted to see that version of her, so he asked: "Besides spicy cabbage, what do you think we need to do topete with Dongfeng Restaurant across from Yui Restaurant?" He was eager to hear her insights on doing business! "Do you have money?" "..." "Oh, I mean, what is your financial capability?" Xiaoxiao had a habit of being impulsively foolish. Just when she seemed to be doing well, the next second she might blurt out something foolish! Who else but Xiaoxiao, in her foolishness, would outright ask someone if they had money in such a setting! "Yui Restaurant is present in many towns and counties. Miss, what do you think about that financial capability?" Chapter 46 Xiaoxiao Goes Off Track

Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Xiaoxiao Goes Off Track

Xiaoxiao took a sharp breath when she heard this. To be able to open a chain of restaurants in such a backward ce, one must have immense financial resources! Is this the legendary "Golden Thigh"? Opportunity has arrived! Should she cling to it or not? Since the "Golden Thigh" asked, she might as well share her thoughts; after all, its not like she would lose a piece of flesh. "If you want Yui Restaurant to stand out among the many restaurants, the only and most fundamental method is to create dishes that people cant stop praising!" As Xiaoxiao thought about it, she felt lucky that this ce was rather backward and the culinary scene wasnt very advanced, otherwise, she wouldnt have the chance to spout her ideas here, since she wasnt a hotel management major. "There are two methods!" Xiaoxiao said as she gestured the number two with her fingers. "Im all ears!" Chu Lian became interested. He knew that making good dishes was fundamental to a restaurant, but it was not easy toe up with a good recipe. "The first method is to recruit talents. Broadly invite chefs from all over and collect various recipes! For those with secret recipes, buy them outright to make them exclusive to Yui Restaurant!" "The second method is to build your own team of chefs and develop exclusive Yui Restaurant dishes." Although she herself couldnt cook the dishes served in a restaurant, in the modern era she had tasted many. Many foods here had yet to be developed, and with just a little guidance, there would surely be people who could figure it outXiaoxiao believed that the intellect of the people here wasnt inferior to modern folks! Chu Lian stayed silent, just listening quietly, pondering Xiaoxiaos words again and againrecruiting talents, building a team, buying exclusivity, exclusive recipes, innovative vocabry. What kind of woman is this? Xiaoxiao felt like she was giving a report. Looking at the "Golden Thigh" who just listened without speaking, she wondered if he was dissatisfied or what. No matter, she pressed on! "Whichever method you choose, arge amount of financial resources is needed. Thats why I asked about your financial situation!" "Of course, this isnt a quick fix topete with Dongfeng Restaurant. This is just the fundamental way for Yui Restaurant to survive in this world!" "Then, in the youngdys opinion, how should wepete with Dongfeng Restaurant?" The "Golden Thigh" finally spoke up, and it didnt feel good for someone to be hogging the conversation! "Adopt a different sales model from other restaurants! Break with tradition!" "A different sales model?" Chu Lian was captivated by the girls unique ideas. He felt that she might just be able to do something remarkable! "Oh, just be different from the rest! Create some gimmicks to attract customers!" "The environment can be varied, for example, ying soothing music in the lobby, or having a storyteller tell jokes. Private rooms could be themed, like ones suitable for business talks, ones suitable for ssmates to chat, or ones suitable for nobledies to meet with friends..." "Sales can also have some tricks, such as giving away dishes to every table, discounts ording to the amount spent, or giving gifts based on spending levels. Offer discounts, give out coupons to attract repeat business..." This modern method of promotion wasnt difficult toe by, as much as needed was readily avable. Xiaoxiao, as if opening a floodgate of words, started thinking about modern restaurantsfrom their decor to the meal preparation, from promotion to service. The more she talked, the more she veered off-topic, not knowing which country she had digressed to,pletely forgetting that she was speaking with the "Golden Thigh." As Chu Lian listened to Xiaoxiaos words, his eyes grew brighter and his admiration for her deepened. He had never considered the things she was saying, feeling leagues behind her in terms of insight. "My name is Chu Lian. May I know how to address the youngdy?" "My surname is Zhong." So her name was Zhong Xiaohan. Chu Lian wondered what rtion she had to Zhong Xiaoxiaothey sounded as if they could be sisters! Chapter 47: The Big Golden Leg, Brother Chu?

Chapter 47: Chapter 47: The Big Golden Leg, Brother Chu?

"Knock knock," the sound of knocking on the door rang out! "Young Master, Miss Zhongs younger brother is waiting outside. Hes asking how much longer it will take?" Shopkeeper Wang did not want to disturb, but the Young Master was taking too long. At this rate, the sun would set soon. Xiaoxiao was speechless. How could she forget about business and chatter away about nothing? "Let him wait a little longer. It will be done soon!" Chu Lian instructed, wondering how time had flown so quickly. "Young Master, lets get back to the matter of the spicy cabbage!" Xiaoxiao hurriedly brought the conversation back on track. "Just call me Chu Lian!" "..." She wouldnt dare to call him by name; he was a very wealthy man! "Then you can call me Brother Chu if you like!" "..." "Or perhaps, Master Chu is better!" Call him brother? No way. Based on experience, fraternal ties always led to ambiguous rtionships. She would be foolish to call him that! Chu Lian watched Xiaoxiaos reaction and thought he still had to work hard to close the gap between them. "I also want to sell the spicy cabbage in other counties. If it can only be preserved for a month, Im afraid it wont reach some ces in time!" "I wonder if you have any brilliant ideas to help me ovee this difficulty!" In business talks, even though he wanted to foster good rtions, Chu Lian still prioritized benefits. Moreover, this youngdy was not one to ept charity; treating her affairs with professionalism was a form of respect for her! "..." She knew very well that to solve this problem, one would have to acquire the recipe and produce it locally. This rich man had his schemes; probably, that was exactly what he had in mind! "Im not against selling the recipe to you, but the production of spicy cabbage in our county must be done by our family! I need to ensure a livelihood for my family members." After all, Xiaoxiao couldnt handle the business in other counties herself! Owing the rich man a favor was no big deal! But could no one else really figure out the recipe for the spicy cabbage? Xiaoxiao felt quite dubious about it. Hence, she kindly suggested, "Wouldnt you want to have someone study the method of making spicy cabbage? Maybe you dont need to buy the recipe!" "Do you think the cooks havent tried? If they could have figured it out, do you think youd still be sitting here?" Was this girl cunning or naive? In truth, Xiaoxiao only felt guilty about selling such a simple culinary recipe. "..." Crafty merchant! A true merchant always has a trick up their sleeve. Xiaoxiao had no retort. "The recipe for twenty silver pieces, how do you feel about that?" What! That expensive? She only earned one silver piece for making a piece of furniture before. She just couldntprehend the pricing! When she first arrived, her sister-inw told her twenty silver pieces couldst several years, but she had spent it all in two days! Was this the difference between the world of the poor and the rich? She wanted to be rich, so she decided to take the twenty silver pieces! "Agreed!" "Lets draw up a contract, then. You cannot sell the recipe to anyone else! Only you have the right to produce it in our county, and you can only sell it to me!" "Of course!" The contract was drafted, made in duplicate, and both Xiaoxiao and Chu Lian signed their names. "In a few days, Ill bring the cooks from each county who will make the spicy cabbage. I hope you will teach them personally then." Xiaoxiao naturally agreed. They finally settled on the supply quantityat present, two jars for the county town and one jar for the towns every day! The county had seven towns in total, which would not be supplied for now. They were scheduled to start supply next month. With the contract in hand, Xiaoxiao and Yang Dong happily went home. Chu Lian watched Xiaoxiaos departing figure, reying their conversation from the day in his mind, feeling as if he had been poisoned. When he picked up the contract and saw Xiaoxiaos signature, he was taken aback! Chapter 48 Investigating Zhong Xiaoxiao

Chapter 48: Chapter 48 Investigating Zhong Xiaoxiao

Looking at the bright signature, the three big characters "Zhong Xiaoxiao" made Chu Lians hands start to tremble in shock. How could this name be the same as Yang Mings wife, who had a bad reputation? Was it a coincidence? Or were they the same person? "Uncle Wang, have someone check out this girls background! I want details." Chu Lian could no longer hold back, anxious to know the truth! Earlier at the Bookstore, this girl had clearly written her name as Xiaohan. How could it have changed to Zhong Xiaoxiao now? How could such a coincidence happen? If it really was her, what was he supposed to do with these budding feelings of love? Yang Ming was a good brother of his! Although it seemed that Yang Ming did not like his wife, what if he hadnt seen his own wife? If he knew his wife was this girl, could he still let go? Chu Lian, a man of seven feet, started to worry about matters of the heart. Xiaoxiao had no idea she was being investigated! But no matter how much probing was done, it was useless; after all, she was using her real identity, and there was no way any discrepancies could emerge. As soon as she got home, Xiaoxiao started reporting to her family, updating her family had already be her habit. "Father, the pickled cabbage deal worked out, well be producing about three jars daily. Its not much, but it still means an ie of nine taels a month! Thats enough for our familys food and drink!" The family was delighted to hear about the ie of nine taels. Xiaoxiao was truly impressive. Ever since she had married into the family, not only had they stopped umting debt, but they also had three meals a day, and every room in the house was warm. "Hmm, okay, you handle the household matters, father is at ease!" "I n to have my older and second sisters-inw take full charge of making pickled cabbage in the future; no more embroidery work, it strains the eyes and earns little!" "Third sister-inw, dont worry, I will do it properly. I may not be good at other things, but I can definitely exert strength, right, older sister-inw?" the second sister-inw immediately agreed. "Mmm, third sister-inw, rest assured!" "Mmm, my own family, I am indeed reassured. Next up, I n to gather cabbages with fourth brother in the vige!" Xiaoxiao mentioned her n to gather cabbages, it was something that had to be done. "Gather cabbages?" "Yeah, now that our family is making pickled cabbage and the other households havent started yet, we should buy up the cabbages first to avoidpetitionter! Well get through these three months and then nt our own next year." "Buying cabbages can also help our family connect with the vigers, especially with the New Year approaching and everyone needing money. Its also a way to help them." "What third daughter-inw said is right, youve been here for about twenty days now. Running about all day, people in the vige still dont recognize you, this event is a good opportunity to get to know the vigers better." As soon as mother-inw heard about building rtionships, she immediately spoke up, truly worried about Xiaoxiaos reputation in the vige. People outside had not stopped discussing Xiaoxiaos faults! Xiaoxiao herself didnt care what others thought of her, but living in this household, she couldnt allow her family to suffer any slights, so it was essential to maintain good rtions and properly establish her reputation. "Third sister-inw, what do you think older brother and second brother can do?" The elder brother, Yang Chun, couldnt sit still either. Now that the women in the house were earning money, here he was, the eldest son, doing nothing. "Yeah, third sister-inw, what can we do more?" the second brother, Yang Gang, followed up. "Big brother, second brother, dont worry, there will be work for you when the timees. Just rest until the end of the month, and next month Ill have tasks ready for you, dontin about being tired then!" "How could we!" Old Man Yang was very pleased to see his family so harmonious. All was well, only his youngest son was missing! Chapter 49 The Fool Who Ruins His Family

Chapter 49: Chapter 49 The Fool Who Ruins His Family

"Have you heard? Yang Mings new wife wants to buy up all the cabbages?" "Heard! Heard! Five coins for two kilograms. Thats half a coin more expensive per kilogram than at the market!" "Do you think shes a fool? Cabbages are such cheap things, everybody has them, and she still wants to buy them!" "Better for us if shes foolish, we can sell more. I cant talk now, I need to let my folks know so they can alle to sell! It would be a shame not to take advantage of this opportunity!" "Right, right, right, I need to inform my folks too!" As they spoke, the vigers scattered, each hurrying to tell their rtives. In no time, the news of Xiaoxiao buying up cabbages had spread! Only one person didnt leave but, puffed up with anger, headed for Yang Mings house! Yang Family "Sister-inw, this business of Yang Mings wife buying up cabbages, is it true?" The visitor grabbed Xiaoxiaos mother-inw as soon as she entered the yard and asked! "Sister-inw, its true, whats the matter!" The neer was Yang Mings fourth aunt-inw, Yang Sizhus wife. "Whats the matter, you ask? Just listen to how people are gossiping about Yang Mings wife outside, theyre all calling her a fool!" "Whats going on..." "You guys, if you want to buy, then buy, but why offer more than the market rate? Now look what happened, everyones saying the Yang Family has married a spendthrift idiot!" The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. These people really had some nerve. They were clearly getting a good deal, yet they couldnt say a kind word. "Aunt, dont worry, let them talk, well earn our money. Let them be envious and resentful!" Xiaoxiao really hadnt thought it through this time; she figured if she offered market rate, many families would keep the cabbages for themselves and not sell, so she decided to pay a little extra. She didnt expect it to cause such a fuss. "Child, how can you be so oblivious? Im worried sick about you!" "Being oblivious is good, it helps you live longer!" Xiaoxiao spoke nonchntly, what else could she do, since she couldnt control what other people said. The crowd: "Pfft!" Xiaoxiao managed to amuse everyone with her attitude. Indeed, with such a personality, if it werent for her, just this cabbage event alone would be enough to have any other daughter-inw weeping all day and living in sorrow. Xiaoxiao, however, could hold up the family as if nothing was amiss. Aunt: "Right, what do you need so many cabbages for?" Mother-inw: "Our third daughter-inw got a gig supplying vegetables for a restaurant in the county, they need these cabbages." Aunt: "Does that mean your family wont have to worry about food and clothes from now on?" Mother-inw: "Yes, we dont have to worry about food and drink anymore, and weve paid back all the Silver to elder brothers family." Aunt: "Sister-inw, youve finally made it through the hard times, now we just need to find a wife for your fourth son!" Mother-inw: "Yes, now our third daughter-inw is in charge of the household, and his father and I are just enjoying our blessings. If you know any nice girls, could you help look out for a match for my youngest?" "..." "..." Listening to her mother-inw and aunt chatting on the side, Xiaoxiao could tell that her mother-inw got along the best with this fourth aunt among her sisters-inw. It seems she would have to get closer to this aunt in the future and support her more. After seeing the aunt off, Xiaoxiao suddenly remembered something. "Mom, is it really okay for us to be buying up cabbages on such arge scale? Shouldnt we report it to the Vige Chief?" It is always wise to proceed with caution in business; since ancient times, trading has involved giving the right gifts to the right people, to avoid troublemakers! Chapter 50: Giving Gifts to the Village Chief

Chapter 50: Chapter 50: Giving Gifts to the Vige Chief

Ever since Xiaoxiao took charge at home, the supply of meat never ran out. Xiaoxiao, a meat eater, would never let her family run out of meat. So there was no need to buy anything special for gifts! Just grab two pounds of meat and go! Upon arriving at the Vige Chiefs house, she saw an old womaning out, presumably the Vige Chiefs wife whom her mother-inw had mentioned! "Hello, Vige Chiefs wife, I am Yang Mings wife. Ivee to speak with the Vige Chief about something. Is he at home?" Xiaoxiao greeted her politely and handed the meat to the old woman. The old woman, called "Vige Chiefs wife" and seeing the meat, smiled broadly and quickly took the meat, though she said: "What Vige Chiefs wife? Just call me auntie. Look at you, bringing things when youee in, quickly!" "Oh, hello Auntie!" Xiaoxiao followed the Vige Chiefs wife into the house. "Old man, hurry, Yang Mings wife is looking for you!" After saying this, she went to the kitchen to put away the meat, leaving Xiaoxiao and the Vige Chief to talk. "Hello, Vige Chief." "Hmm, Yang Mings wife, what do you need?" It was alreadymon knowledge that Yang Mings wife wanted to buy cabbages, so she must havee for this reason! "Uncle Vige Chief, I want to buy cabbages from the vigers, and I thought I should let you know first." Xiaoxiao could tell from the Vige Chiefs demeanor that he was a shrewd man; how else could he have be the Vige Chief? He probably was just waiting for her! "Hmm, Ive heard about this. Actually, you didnt need to inform me; just go ahead and buy them." "Actually, I am buying these cabbages for Yui Restaurant in the county town. Im worried some people might try to cause trouble. We cant afford to offend people from the county town, and you are the highest official here. I hope you can support me when the timees!" "Dont worry, if anyone causes trouble in the vige, I will take care of it." "Thank you, Uncle Vige Chief. Actually, this is a good thing. If I handle this well, next year our vige can nt more and help the vigers get richer!" The Vige Chiefs eyes lit up when he heard Xiaoxiaos words. Their vige wasnt wealthy, and every time he went to the vige head, other chiefs outshone him. If he could improve their viges conditions, it would reflect well on him and secure his position. "If you can really make our vige rich, that would be great. Go ahead with the cabbage buying, and if anyone causes trouble, I, the Vige Chief, will back you up!" The Vige Chiefs attitude improved, and Xiaoxiao felt reassured. With the Vige Chiefs backing, she could now buy his cabbages openly and legitimately. "Old man, that Yang Mings wife didnte empty-handed, huh? A full two pounds of meat!" The moment Xiaoxiao left, the Vige Chiefs wife started chattering. "Old Yang Family might indeed have married a remarkable wife!" The old Vige Chief stroked his beard, saying meaningfully. "Whats so remarkable about her? Shes just a spendthrift and a fool. She pays two and a half cents per pound for cabbages that others sell for two cents. If thats not foolish, what is? Just listen to what others say about her!" "Thats just womanspassion!" "Im not wrong though!" "Just you watch; Old Yang Family might just rely on her, and our vige might too!" "How could our vige rely on her?" "In any case, get along well with Yang Mings wife in the future, help her out more, hear me? And tell the family too!" The old Vige Chief instructed. If Yang Mings wife really could lead everyone to prosperity, he couldnt let his own family members spoil it. "Got it!" Chapter 51: The Unreliable Xiaoxiao

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: The Unreliable Xiaoxiao

Early the next morning, Xiaoxiaos house was filled with people delivering cabbages. "Dont crowd, please line up. As long as the cabbages are well preserved, well buy them," Xiaoxiao was maintaining order, Yang Dong operated the scale, and Xiaoxiao paid the money. The older and second sisters-inw were in charge of picking out the cabbages, discarding the bad ones and only keeping the good ones! "Yang Mings wife, what on earth do you need all these cabbages for?" Someone couldnt hold back their curiosity, and everybody else also wanted to know what their family would do with so many cabbages. "Actually, Im just collecting them for someone else. I have some connection with the Yui Restaurant in the county city. They need these cabbages for their dishes, so I thought of our vige! I also negotiated some benefits for you, got an extra half wen for each!" This was not the time to tell the truth, to avoid others getting ideas. It was still better to keep a low profile. "Ah, so thats what its about. Then we all have you to thank!" "Yes, yes, we owe it to you for thinking of us!" "Indeed, if it werent for Yang Mings wife, where would we get such a price!" "..." "..." Seeing everyone expressing their gratitude, Xiaoxiao thought this was a good opportunity to establish a good reputation! "No need to thank me, were all from the same vige! Just dont take me for a fool, okay? If the buyer gives two and a half wen, then its two and a half wen. I couldnt do something like only giving you two wen. I just cant do something like skimming money from these deals!" After hearing Xiaoxiaos words, everyone felt a bit embarrassed. They had often called Xiaoxiao a fool, someone who squanders family resources. Having not dealt with her before, they didnt realize just how honest Yang Mings wife actually was. They were all thinking they should visit her more often in the future. In fact, the vigers were very likable people who just lived their own lives, mostly concerned with trivial household matters, and werent bad or terrible people. Thus, Xiaoxiao managed to change their opinions of her without much effort. With a little more care in the future and leading them to be wealthy, she could definitely win them over! The toughest one to deal with was probably her nominal husband, but Xiaoxiao had no intention of interacting with him or causing any sparks. So she didnt need to trouble her mind over it at all! After collecting cabbages for an entire day, they gathered about eight thousand catties. Xiaoxiao told the vigers that they would start with these and notify them when they were ready to buy more. The twenty taels of silver set aside for buying vegetables werepletely spent. Xiaoxiao did the math: they used about eighty catties for the pickles each day, so eight thousand catties would just be enough to supply the county and the town for three months. The supply of cabbages for the other seven towns would have to be continued after they made more money, as she didnt have much left now. "Third sister-inw, you spent all the silver on cabbages. Arent we buying other ingredients? The condiments cost so much more than these cabbages!" Yang Dong, seeing his sister-inw buy so many cabbages, grew increasingly worried. However, with the vigers present, he didnt think it was appropriate to raise his concerns. Once people left, he immediately asked her about it. "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless; she couldnt believe she had forgotten about this. It seemed Yang Dong was more reliable than herself. Those apples, pears, were all expensive, worth a hundred wen per catty, and so was salt, which wasnt cheap either at fifty wen per catty. Then there were the chili peppers, ginger, garlic... oh my goodness. She was way too irresponsible, focusing on the minor issue and forgetting about the major one, a big taboo. What to do? What to do? Should she ask for an advance from the moneybags? She was too embarrassed to even think about it! Who could she borrow from? She couldnt deal with losing face like that! Chapter 52 Street Performance!

Chapter 52: Chapter 52 Street Performance!

Going to the furniture store to pick a style meant waiting for the furniture to be made; only after the product looked good would payment be made, and this process would take at least a few days. Being unable to wait, this n was unworkable. Perhaps setting up a stall on the street to write letters for people would work, but who writes letters these days? Or maybe sell some couplets, but with two months until New Years, would anyone buy them? Or perhaps some calligraphy and paintings? Hehehe, why did it feel like she was bing a street performer? Well, if performing it was, then let it be, no other options left; she would head to the county town for one day. If she couldnt make any money, she would just go to Golden Thigh without any shame! The next day, Xiaoxiao left the house alone without bringing Yang Dong; this matter was purely of her own making and she had to solve it herself. She took her own brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and using thest bit of money she had at home, bought some red paper and a scroll, and headed to the county town. Speaking of timing, it was just her luck that today was the towns market day, bustling with so many people. Xiaoxiao found a spot and settled down. "Passersby, dont miss out! From the south, headed north, I write couplets and paintings right here on the spot! An absolute value!" "Ill write right here for everyone to see whether my writing is any good." "Come here, folks at the front just watch, those at the back, please move forward, people in the middle turn towards me, gather around, Ill write for you right now." "It doesnt matter if you dont buy, just watching the excitement is fine too. If you want to see clearly,e closer, stand closer, if you stand too far you wont see, and all youll see is the back of someones head." The crowd around her grewrger, all drawn by her enticing spiels, curious to see the excitement whether or not they bought anything. Not far away, Chu Lian and Yang Ming happened to witness the whole scene! Chu Lian: Whats this girl up to, didnt I just give her twenty silvers? Yang Ming: Its her! Indeed, like Chu Lian said, shes a fascinating person. Seeing the crowd grow, Xiaoxiao, pleased with the result, wrote a sample couplet on the spot. "Upper couplet: Spring fills the world, songs of joy rise in waves Lower couplet: Fortune visits the household, happiness abundant and vast Horizontal inscription: Blessings spread across the seas" There were literate people in the crowd, and as Xiaoxiao wrote, they read it out loud. "Well written!" The crowd began to stir, everyone discussing the talenteddy whose origins were unknown. "I can write many different couplets; youll need them for New Years anyway, why not buy some that are fresh and original, and also support me in the process?" "Anyone wants them? My ink is running low, once its gone, Ill have to head back! Ten wen a pair, prices are fair!" Seeing the prices were simr to previous years but the couplets more original and having the chance to watch the talenteddy write them live, they all decided to buy one after another. As Xiaoxiao wrote, the crowd read alongside, listening to one innovative couplet after another, truly dazzling everyone present, including Yang Ming and Chu Lian. The longer she wrote, the longer Yang Ming and Chu Lian watched. Finally, the couplets were done, and Xiaoxiao was terribly exhausted, but she had only made a silver or two. At least it was enough to buy some materials for the time being. Xiaoxiao still had onest act, to write calligraphy and painting on the spot. Due to limited funds, she had only bought one scroll. "For thest piece, I will write a calligraphy and painting, hoping to meet someone who appreciates it! Starting price: five silvers!" Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth and went all out; for the sake of money, she shamelessly borrowed a poem from the ancients. "The rich need not buy fertile fields, for there are thousands of bushels of grain in books. The settled need not build tall mansions, for there are golden houses in books. Those seeking a wife need notment theck of a matchmaker, for there are beauties like Yan Ruyu in books. Those going out need not worry about no one to apany them, for there are carriages and horses aplenty in books." The moment Chu Lian saw this poem, he couldnt help himself, "Ill offer ten silvers!" Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao turned to look, "..." Oh no, why him, The Golden Thigh! Chapter 53 The Wife of a Good Brother

Chapter 53: Chapter 53 The Wife of a Good Brother

Xiaoxiao was speechless. Why was it that whenever she did not want to encounter someone, she would inevitably run into them? "As you all can see, the calligraphy and paintings are sold. Please disperse, I am also closing up!" She hurriedly packed up her things. "Thank you for your support today. I wille again if I get the chance!" Seeing Yang Ming arrive, Xiaoxiao quickly dispersed the crowd, and only then did everyone reluctantly leave. "Young Master Chu, what a coincidence, hehe." Xiaoxiao gave a foolish grin to conceal her embarrassment at that moment. Seeing Xiaoxiaos hands reddened from the cold, Chu Lians heart ached. Just how badly did her family need money! "I have something to discuss with her, you go back to the Academy first!" Chu Lian also had his own ulterior motives. He pulled Yang Ming aside and said with his back towards Xiaoxiao! It was best not to let them meet until he had investigated whether this girl was indeed Yang Mings wife or not. Yang Ming understood what Chu Lian meant and tactfully left. Xiaoxiao watched Yang Mings departing figure, feeling a sense of familiarity! Chu Lian: "Lets go! To Yui Restaurant!" Xiaoxiao: "That... theres really no need to go!" Chu Lian: "Do you want your hands to be ruined?" Xiaoxiao: "..." Xiaoxiao, in her effort to make money, wrote incessantly andpletely forgot about her hands which were stiff and red from the cold. It was only after Chu Lian mentioned it that she realized her hands were nearly numb with cold, so she obediently followed Chu Lian to the Yui Restaurant. Upon arriving at the private room, Chu Lian had Xiaoer bring a brazier and ordered a table full of dishes. Seeing such thoughtfulness from the wealthy young man, Xiaoxiao felt she owed him a ratherrge debt of gratitude! Xiaoxiao: "How about... Ill just give you the calligraphy and painting!" Chu Lian: "Arent you in desperate need of money?" Xiaoxiao: "Not at all, not at all, that was purely a hobby, just for my own enjoyment!" Chu Lian: "..." Xiaoxiao thought to herself that she could make do with a couple of silvers for now. Besides, she could still earn nine hundred coins a day from selling spicy cabbage, and she could make a few more silvers by working at the furniture shop. Though it might be tight, it would be enough to get by. She was determined not to owe the wealthy young man any favors, so she insisted on giving the calligraphy and painting to Chu Lian. After the meal, she bought some materials and went home. Seeing Xiaoxiaos stubbornness, Chu Lian had no choice but to ept the calligraphy and painting. Watching her leave, he thought to himself what a stubborn girl she was! "Knock knock!" A knocking sound rang out. "Young Master, the people who went to investigate have returned!" "Come in, quickly!" Chu Lians heart raced, dreading to hear the answer he did not want to hear! "Young Master, the investigation revealed that the girls name is Zhong Xiaoxiao, from Yang Family Vige. She is the new bride taken by Schr Yang Ming more than twenty days ago!" "ng!" The sound of a teacup hitting the floor echoed. He had heard exactly what he wished not to hear. "Young Master, should I continue?" Seeing the Young Masters reaction, the person hesitated to speak further. "Continue!" "ording to the vigers, Zhong Xiaoxiao spent all the money as soon as she arrived at Yang Mings home, and she is known among them as someone who squanders money excessively!" "Stop talking! Leave!" Chu Lian couldnt bear to hear any more and gestured for the messenger to go away. How could it be possible? He did not believe it. He chose to believe only what he had seen for himself. The one who was proactive and diligent, the one who wasnt greedy or dishonest, the one who was stubborn yet adorable, the one who was wonderfully quirky. However, none of that mattered now. What was important was Zhong Xiaoxiaos identity; she was the wife of his good brother Yang Ming! And he had heard that Yang Ming was forced into it, which meant that Zhong Xiaoxiao must have taken a liking to Yang Ming. Did that not mean his own chances were gone? Chapter 54: Piracy Comes Quickly

Chapter 54: Chapter 54: Piracy Comes Quickly

Xiaoxiao had been quite busy these past few days, visiting the furniture store daily, hoping to create more furniture designs to make some money for emergencies. Because she forgot one important thing, that was to create different products from apples and pears as a cover, to prevent people from discovering them. Xiaoxiao felt so tired in her heart. She had sold the recipe to Jin Datui, it wasnt hers anymore. Let others imitate it if they wanted, that was Jin Datuis problem now. But she couldnt just ignore it, her family was still relying on Jin Datuis earnings! She couldnt afford to let go of such important support that they had finally secured! Before she could figure out how to cover up the ingredients, she found that pickled spicy cabbage was already being sold on the streets! This knockoff hade so quickly! "Shopkeeper, what do you call this item?" Xiaoxiao stepped forward to inquire, first to probe the other party. "Miss! This is called spicy pickled cabbage! Its Yui Restaurants signature appetizer!" "Is this made by Yui Restaurant?" "Yes, yes! Rest assured, miss. Only our Yui Restaurant has this spicy pickled cabbage, nowhere else can you find it!" "How much do you sell it for?" "Twenty wen per jin!" "..." The price difference was too big, something was fishy. The spicy pickled cabbage made by Xiaoxiao cost three hundred wen for just twenty-five jin, thats twelve wen per jin. Moreover, Yui Restaurant sold it by the small dish for fifty wen each! Selling it by the jin was too cheap, it definitely wasnt Yui Restaurants spicy pickled cabbage, Jin Datui wasnt that foolish. "Give me a jin!" Xiaoxiao hurriedly bought the spicy pickled cabbage and rushed to Yui Restaurant in the county town! "Uncle Wang, is the Young Master in?" "The Young Master is at the Academy, whats the matter?" "Quickly find him, I have an urgent matter!" Shopkeeper Wang, seeing Xiaoxiao like this, immediately sent someone to fetch him! Soon after, Chu Lian arrived. Hearing that it was Xiaoxiao who sought him, he was surprised and came immediately without stopping. These past few days, he had been thinking about Xiaoxiao, Yang Ming, and their rtionship with him, considering every possible strategy to resolve this deadlock. If Xiaoxiao knew, she would definitely mock, "Young man, you are overthinking it!" "Miss, what matter do you have for me?" Upon arriving in the private room, Chu Lian asked immediately. "Try it!" Xiaoxiao ced the spicy pickled cabbage she had bought on the table and urged Chu Lian to taste it. She had already tasted it herself just before, and the vor was much different; it seemed they had not discovered the secret use of apples and pears! But somehow, this felt precarious; it was only a matter of time! "This was just bought outside, marketed under your Yui Restaurants name, for twenty wen per jin, very cheap!" "..." "We havent even started selling, and already theres someone on the market selling it, which is highly disadvantageous for us!" Chu Lian also realized the seriousness of the situation. He didnt n to just sell it in the restaurant, but also intended to package it in small jars for sale in the market. He hadnt expected that someone else would seize the initiative so quickly and sell it at such low prices in their name! Fortunately, the taste was different, so the situation was not beyond repair, and there was still a chance to remedy it. "Send someone to investigate, see if the person selling the spicy pickled cabbage is just an ordinary farmer trying to make a living, or if someone aims to take on Yui Restaurant, deliberately setting a trap to tarnish Yui Restaurants reputation!" "If its just an ordinary farmer, its easy to handle. But if you have a rival, you need to be careful! Identify thepetitors and target the remedy ordingly!" Before Chu Lian could even reply, Xiaoxiao had already begun to help him analyze ande up with strategies! Chapter 55 Everyone Comes to Find Fault

Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Everyone Comes to Find Fault

Xiaoxiao and Chu Lian had been discussing their countermeasures but were interrupted by wails and cries from outside! "Whats happening?" It seemed there was trouble! The two rushed out of the private room! At the entrance, the ce was crowded, everyone was discussing animatedly, pointing and gesturing. "Is this a ck-hearted establishment? My son died because of the food from your restaurant, you must exin this!" "My poor dear son! Oh Heaven! Why did you take my son away! Its all because of these heartless people! Give me back my son!" An old woman started wailing and howling. "Everyone should avoid dining at this restaurant, its a shady ce, their food is unclean, it might kill you all too!" The old womans rtives were shouting at the crowd gathering around! The diners inside the restaurant began to panic, some even started to gag, fearing they might be next to die. As soon as Xiaoxiao came out, she witnessed this drama! She looked at the old woman, her family, and the dead body lying on the ground. Xiaoxiao carefully observed everyones actions. "Madam, did your son eat at our restaurant? May I ask when and what he ordered?" Upon seeing this, Shopkeeper Wang hurriedly stepped forward to ask. "What, you still want to deny it? My son died after eating your kimchi! Where else could the kimchie from?" the old woman insisted angrily! "Are you sure it was from our store?" "It was bought here! Why else would wee here! Oh, theres no justice!" Her cries were so loud they could shake heaven and earth, like thunder rumbling without rain. Xiaoxiao just couldnt stand it anymore, but before she could speak, another wave of people interrupted! "Look, everyone! This is the ce, we all got sick from eating the kimchi from this restaurant!" "You all mustnt eat here, it really kills!" "This restaurants food is unclean!" After the arrival of the second group, the patrons in the restaurant became even more panicked, utterly convinced that the Yui Restaurants food could be lethal. "Everyone, please calm down, we will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly! Rest assured!" Shopkeeper Wang began to calm the crowd, but it seemed the crowd was not buying it. "Everyone here got sick, and a person died, what else is there to investigate? Its definitely your fault!" "Exactly, its definitely your fault, why else would everyonee to you to settle ounts and not go anywhere else." "Isnt the kimchi exclusively from here?" "What to do? I just ate that kimchi!" "So did I!" "No way, I need to see a doctor! And youre paying for the doctors visit." Chu Lian saw that Shopkeeper Wang was unable to control the situation, nced at Xiaoxiao, who had her arms crossed and was watching the spectacle as if it didnt concern her. After all, it really wasnt Xiaoxiaos concern. Whether to care or not depended entirely on her mood! The people here might not know how to handle the situation, but she was Zhong Xiaoxiao, who had watched plenty of historical dramas, mystery dramas, detective dramas, and should be thankful to the brilliant scriptwriters; this type of plot was quitemon, and also thankful she was a dedicated homebody! Seeing Shopkeeper Wangs reaction, Xiaoxiao knew disaster was looming, and it was up to her to step in! Xiaoxiao went over to the person lying on the ground and slowly circled around him, appearing thoughtful. Then she turned to the old woman and said: "Are you sure your son is dead?" Chapter 56: The Rascal Xiaoxiao

Chapter 56: Chapter 56: The Rascal Xiaoxiao

The old womans eyes flickered upon hearing Xiaoxiaos words, but then she continued to wail: "How can it be false? My poor son, just in his twenties! Oh Heaven! I dont want to live anymore!" Saying so, she proceeded to throw herself at the door! Onlookers hurriedly stepped forward to prevent the old woman from hitting the wall, feeling somewhat sympathetic towards her. "Whats with this girl? Someone has died, how can she have no sympathy at all!" "Yes, yes, stop causing trouble, cant you see the person is dead?" Xiaoxiao didnt care whether the old woman would hit the door or not, nor did she pay attention to the peoples reactions, continuing to speak, holding a knife shed gotten from who knows where: "You say hes dead, right? Well, then, lets have an autopsy and cut open your sons belly. Lets see if theres any spicy cabbage inside. Dont worry, I wont dissect your son in vain, I willpensate you. Oh, right, Ive reported to the officials, the government officer will arrive soon!" As she spoke, she casually yed with the knife in her hand, making everyone afraid to even breathe. She had seen it clearly, the body was still breathing out air. In the dead of winter, how could a dead body exhale steam? This was clearly an attempt to swindle people. So she had to bluff! You say youre dead? Then lets dissect and see! Wouldnt that scare you back to life? "What did you say? Reported to the officials? Autopsy? That cant happen! How can my son be subjected to the knife! No, no." The old woman grew scared, thinking she just wouldnt allow it. What could a little girl do to her? Surely she wouldnt actually chop up her son, right? Just then, a real government officer squeezed through the crowd and arrived! "Who reported this to the officials?" When the old woman saw an actual government officer hade, she was immediately dumbfounded, hurriedly saying: "Officer sir, were not reporting, were not reporting! Nobody reported anything!" After saying this, she gestured for her family to carry the body away. Seeing that people were about to leave, Xiaoxiao quickly stopped them, thinking how she was just starting to have fun! "Esteemed corpse, sir, its time for you to speak up. Do you really want me to dissect you? My knife isnt discerning, and you might really be a corpse with one cut," she said, as she tapped the corpses cheek with the back of her knife. The corpse suddenly sprang to life, leaping around in aical fashion. "I dont want to be dissected, I dont want to be dissected." Everyone was startled by the sudden emergence of the corpse, and upon seeing the deade to life, they understood everything. It was a feigned death to extort money, and they had nearly been fooled. "The truth reveals itself, no need toy siege!" After saying this, Xiaoxiao shot a look at Chu Lian, as if to say, look, it was that simple! Chu Lian, seeing how Xiaoxiao handled the situation, was once again impressed by the girl, though her manner with the knife was rather intimidating. This time Xiaoxiao had dealt with the matterpletely in the style of a ruffian because pretending to be dead was in itself a very funny and ridiculous matter. The old womans family, seeing that their ruse had been exposed, knelt down and began begging for mercy, crying. "We didnt want to do this, but we really ran out of food at home, so we thought of pretending to be dead to extort some silver!" "Please spare us, we wont dare to do it again." "Officer sir, please dont arrest me, I dont want to go to jail." The old woman was truly crying this time, but it was toote; the government officer took them away nheless! "The girl is amazing." "Yes, we never imagined they were so despicable to deceive us all!" "Thats right, girl, we were rude to you just now, please dont be offended!" Knowing the truth, the crowd apologized to Xiaoxiao one after another, and they all began to admire her. At this moment, another family that had been affected could no longer sit still. "He may have faked his death, but our diarrhea is real. It was all because of this spicy cabbage!" Chapter 57 Gentle Xiaoxiao

Chapter 57: Chapter 57 Gentle Xiaoxiao

s! One wave leaves only for another to arrive! The show must go on, she felt as if she were acting out a dramatic "Breaking Through the East" opera. Xiaoxiao put away her ruffian-like demeanor, approached the uncle with a gentle tone, and helped him up. "Uncle, are you feeling any better now? I had Xiaoer fetch a doctor. Lets see to your illness first, okay?" The crowd was quite perplexed. How could the same person who was a swaggering ruffian threatening to chop people with a knife just a moment ago suddenly be so gentle? Truly a fickle woman! Ones attitude towards others indeed depends on how they themselves are treated. Seeing the agony in this family, Xiaoxiao didnt think their illness was feigned. It was best to see a doctor first; after all, human life is more important than anything else. "Miss, were really not swindling anyone. Its true that our family became like this after eating that spicy cabbage!" The uncle groaned in pain, but didnt forget to exin. "Mm, uncle, I understand. Looking at you, I can tell you are kind-hearted, not the type tomit such a wrongdoing!" To deal with such people one had to appeal to their emotions and convince them with reason. It should be rtively easy to converse with them and quickly uncover the truth. The doctor from the pharmacy had been brought over by Xiaoer and was waiting nearby. Upon hearing Xiaoxiaos words, he immediately stepped forward to conduct his examination. He ced his hand on the uncles arm to take his pulse, and after a while had checked several peoples pulses. His expression grew serious: "You all have upset stomachs from bad food." When the crowd heard the doctors diagnosis, they began to stir again. "It looks like there really is a problem with that spicy cabbage!" "The doctor has made a diagnosis, so there cant be any mistake!" "Doctor, please check me too, I also ate the spicy cabbage!" Xiaoxiao didnt bother with the fickle crowd, but insteadpassionately instructed the doctor to prescribe medicine for treatment and signalled Chu Lian to settle the diagnosis fee and the cost of the medicine with the doctor. "Uncle, you said it was the spicy cabbage that caused this problem, and I believe you. But are you certain that this spicy cabbage was bought at Yui Restaurant?" Xiaoxiao was getting to the heart of the matter. She didnt believe that the spicy cabbage she made could be the issue. It was very likely that the trouble was caused by counterfeit, cheap spicy cabbage. Moreover, looking at this family, they did not seem wealthy enough to afford a meal at Yui Restaurant. "As far as I know, Yui Restaurant is one of the best in the county. Although its dishes are not particrly expensive, they are not cheap either. For your family of five or six to dine at Yui Restaurant, it would cost at least one or two Silver taels. Uncle, forgive my candor, but you dont seem like someone willing to spend so much on a meal." "Miss, we indeed did not buy the spicy cabbage here. We bought it on the street, and after the incident, we went to find those people. They said the spicy cabbage came from your restaurant, and thats why we came here." Before the crowd could react, Xiaoer shouted out loud: "Our spicy cabbage from Yui Restaurant has never been sold on the street!" Thats when everyone finally caught on. "Right, right, since when did they start selling spicy cabbage on the streets?" "I havent heard about it!" "..." "..." Xiaoxiao had had enough. The onlooking crowd was giving her a headache, but she still had to patiently handle the situation. "Uncle, the spicy cabbage from Yui Restaurant is only served to dining guests in the restaurant and is currently not sold outside. You may have bought a counterfeit product. They might be using Yui Restaurants name to deceive the public. You were, unfortunately, deceived." After speaking, she signalled Xiaoer to bring over a te of spicy cabbage. "Uncle, please taste the real spicy cabbage from Yui Restaurant!" Chapter 58: A Great Opportunity for Advertising

Chapter 58: Chapter 58: A Great Opportunity for Advertising

Xiaoxiao had tasted that counterfeit kimchi before, and there was indeed a difference in taste, so she had to let the uncle try it and firmly establish Yui Restaurants good name! She had stored eight thousand kilograms of cabbage, eight thousand kilograms! It couldnt just go to waste! The uncle and his family all came over for a taste and immediately said, "Miss, we were deceived! The taste is different! What we ate wasnt like this!" Xiaoxiao was relieved in her heart, relieved. This family told the truth. It seemed that there were still many honest people in the world, her gamble on human nature had indeed paid off! "I told you, Yui Restaurant is an old reputable brand!" "Yes, theres never been a problem." "Weve been tricked!" "..." "..." The crowd chattered back and forth, everyone quite enjoyed watching the drama unfold, truly, gossipy people are never in shortage, no matter the era. Xiaoxiao felt that the opportunity to advertise had arrived. With this incident, the kimchi had to beunched. Leveraging public opinion was better and faster than her promoting it alone. So, she signaled to Chu Lian, as it was not suitable for her to take the lead. Once Chu Lian received the signal from Xiaoxiao, he thought that his moment to shine had arrived, he couldnt let Xiaoxiao down. "Everyone, please be quiet, I am the Young Master of Yui Restaurant, please listen to me for a moment." The crowd, hearing Chu Lians voice, immediately fell silent! "Todays incident has seriously affected the reputation of our Yui Restaurant. You all have seen what the truth is, so please rest assured, the kimchi from our Yui Restaurant is absolutely problem-free!" "Today, taking this opportunity, I want to announce that Yui Restaurant will officially start selling jarred kimchi beginning the start of next month. The kimchi will be sold at Yui Restaurant locations across various ces and will not be sold anywhere else, so please recognize our Yui Restaurants kimchi!" Xiaoxiao, upon hearing Chu Lians words, gave him a confirming look, not bad, not bad. This way, it would prevent others from selling fakes under Yui Restaurants name. Chu Lian was extremely pleased inside, Xiaoxiao had actually given him several approving looks, so he continued, "We are very sorry about todays matter. As you all leaveter, you can each collect a portion of kimchi from Xiaoer as a token of our goodwill!" The matter finally came to a close. Once Xiaoxiao returned to the private room, she copsed into her chair, muttering, "Oh dear God, finally its settled!" Chu Lian came in and saw Xiaoxiao sprawled in her chair. "Miss, thank you so much for today. Without you, I really wouldnt know how to wrap things up!" His words were genuinely heartfelt, as he had just taken over the management of this side of the restaurant and indeed felt quite inexperienced in handling events. "Lets not talk about that now! Todays incident was definitely no ident." Chu Lian thought it was all over and there was nothing left to consider, but it turned out there was still more to it. "The yacting scam definitely had someone orchestrating it from behind the scenes; you yourself think carefully who might be against you! And also, that person who jumped on the bandwagon to sell the kimchi needs to be investigated to find out who it is!" "Its toote today, so I will be leaving now. You handle the rest yourself!" Without waiting for Chu Lian to respond, Xiaoxiao pushed open the door and left. Leaving Chu Lian sitting there alone, pondering over everything that had happened today. It seems he still has a long way to go and much to learn! Following Zhong Xiaoxiao, he would definitely learn much more. For his own sake, as well as for Yui Restaurant, he had made up his mind about this girl! Chapter 59: It Turns Out to Be One of Our Own Causing Trouble

Chapter 59: Chapter 59: It Turns Out to Be One of Our Own Causing Trouble

A few dayster, news came from Yui Restaurant that the person selling the spicy cabbage had been found. They had made people sick, so they were summoned to the government office! These past few days, Xiaoxiao had been quite leisurely, not going out. She had been copying books at home. She hadnt finished copying the books she had taken from the Bookstore, and with her constant running about, she would never finish this copying work. There were two sisters-inw in charge of making spicy cabbage. Since Yang Dong was responsible for buying the ingredients, she could afford to rx for a few days. Almost a month had passed since her arrival here, and Xiaoxiao felt weary from exposing herself so often for money. She really found it tiring and thought that staying at home suited her better. "Wife of Yang Ming, wife of Yang Ming, you must help your third aunt!" Xiaoxiao was copying books at home when she heard themotion from the third aunt outside! What could have happened to the third aunt? She thought, being such an insignificant figure, how could she possibly be of any help? Xiaoxiao hurried outside to assess the situation! "Third Aunt, whats the matter? Why are you looking for me?" "Wife of Yang Ming, Ill be direct with you. The person selling the spicy cabbage is my maternal brother, and now he is locked up in arge cell," she said. "..." Xiaoxiao had never imagined that this counterfeit spicy cabbage issue originated from her own third aunt. The source of the trouble was actually one of her own, and Xiaoxiao felt a chill in her heart! "Im truly out of options now. Third Aunt knows youre acquainted with Yui Restaurant. Do you think you could speak on his behalf and get my maternal brother released?" She was so anxious she could barely stand it. She hadnt expected that selling some food would result in making people sick with diarrhea. She had only wanted to help her maternal brother make some money, but now she had brought trouble upon herself! "Third Aunt, I just want to ask you. Was it your idea for your maternal brother to sell the spicy cabbage?" It was evident that Xiaoxiao was angry. Her second sister-inw had said that the third aunt was shrewd, but how could shee up with such a foolish n? "Mmm, the third aunt wanted her maternal brother to have a better life... I never anticipated this," the third aunt replied hesitantly, clearly embarrassed. "Third Aunt, let me be frank; I cant help with this. Theyve made people sick with diarrhea. What if someone had died from it? Moreover, Im not really familiar with Yui Restaurant; Im just an employee of theirs." Xiaoxiao truly didnt want to help. How could she have time to manage everything, especially when she was still bearing a child? "Wife of Yang Ming, you cant just ignore this! Your third aunt is truly desperate," she pleaded. In the end, Xiaoxiao still refused to help. During dinner, her mother-inw came to persuade her: "Third daughter-inw, really, its partly mothers fault. A few days ago, your third aunt kept inquiring about what we were doing with the cabbages. Mother mentioned that we were making spicy cabbage, but I didnt give her the recipe!" "..." "Why dont you help your third aunt this time?" "..." Sigh, it seemed she would have to get involved whether she liked it or not. Xiaoxiao felt genuinely tired, but considering the third aunts behavior, she decided to let her stew for a few daysthat would serve her right and prevent future mischief! Why did her cheap husband have so many rtives, none of which were easy to deal with! After a few days, the third aunt came asking for help again. "Third Aunt, I will go and try to intercede, but I want to make it clear that this cant happen again in the future," Xiaoxiao said. "Were family, and we should be united. You cant take advantage of your nephews wife!" "Do you realize that it is Yui Restaurant who hired our family to make the spicy cabbage? By letting your brother sell spicy cabbage under Yui Restaurants name, youre actually sabotaging our familys source of ie." Chapter 60: Have you gotten your period yet?

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Have you gotten your period yet?

Xiaoxiao knew she had to make things clear with her aunt-inw, because modern ideas for making money kept popping into her head. If her aunt-inw stopped being sneaky in the future, Xiaoxiao wouldnt mind helping another person. After all, its easier to walk down a road with more friends rather than enemies! "Yang Mings wife, dont worry, your aunt-inw will definitely not cause any trouble for you all from now on. Ive had enough this time, and my family hasnt stoppedining about me! I totally regret it!" It was then that Xiaoxiao helped her aunt-inw to plead with Golden Leg. She felt really embarrassed, for it was her own people who had dropped the ball. "Well, consider it as owing you one, just let them go for now. They are my rtives, hehe!" "..." Chu Lian had not expected that they were rtives. Had he known they were Xiaoxiaos rtives, he would not have arrested them. "Have you made any progress with the ones ying dead to extort money? Has that family confessed yet?" Xiaoxiao thought, since she was here, she might as well ask about the progress. "It seems someone has been paying them off behind the scenes, but they refuse to admit it. However, I suspect its the Dongfeng Restaurant across the street!" The only enemy they had made here was the Dongfeng Restaurant across the street. Business had been terrible due to previous squeezes, and now, when things were finally looking up, they started causing trouble again. "Those spicy pickled cabbages are bound to get copied, so think of a way to disguise them. It would be best to make something else with apples and pears as a decoy." Xiaoxiao had been thinking about this for days and hadnt taken action mainly because she knew apples and pears could be made into canned goods, but she wasnt skilled at it herself. She had tried making them in modern times, and although her family would grudgingly eat them, they didnte close to the store-bought quality and were not presentable. However, now that she had Golden Legs support, maybe she could ask his chefs to experiment. After all, they were professionals and should do better than her half-baked attempts. "Do you have any good ideas, miss?" Chu Lian figured Xiaoxiao must have some clever n up her sleeve; this girl always brought him surprises. "I do have one, but it will require your chefs experimentation. Im just offering the idea." Xiaoxiao shared the idea of canning with Golden Leg and let them research it. This could also count as repaying a favor in a way. Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was the beginning of the month. The men in the family, having sustained only minor injuries, were now bouncing around lively again. Since the spicy pickled cabbage was going to be sold in jars, and they needed to produce arge quantity for eight towns and the county, Xiaoxiaos whole familyjoined forces to get busy! For the external sales, they changed the packaging from 25-pound jars to smaller 5-pound jars. One early morning, during breakfast. "Ugh! Ugh!" Xiaoxiao, for some unknown reason, started vomiting. "Younger sister-inw, whats wrong with you?" The second sister-inw noticed Xiaoxiaos symptoms and thought she might be pregnant, sensing big gossip because she knew Yang Ming had not consummated the marriage. "Maybe I just have an upset stomach," Xiaoxiao said, thinking little of it. "Ugh! Ugh!" Unable to sit still, Xiaoxiao immediately rushed to the outhouse, throwing up violently. "Could the younger sister-inw be...?" The second sister-inw, never one to avoid stirring things up, voiced her gossipden thoughts. The family was stunned. The fact that Yang Ming and his wife hadnt consummated their marriage was an open secret. What was going on now? Finally, the old master Yang Ming spoke up and instructed the women of the house to go and ask. "Daughter-inw, have you had your monthly yet?" Xiaoxiao had justid down when her mother-inw rushed in to inquire. "..." Monthly? What the hell? She had no idea what her mother-inw was talking about! "Its, you know, that!" the second sister-inw reminded her. "Oh... not yet!" Chapter 61: I Marry My Third Sister-in-Law

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: I Marry My Third Sister-in-Law

"How long has it been since yourst visit?" The moment grandmother heard she hadnte, she grew even more anxious. "..." Xiaoxiao herself didnt know. After all, she hadnt had her period since her arrival. Could it be... Xiaoxiaos eyes suddenly widened as if she had realized something! "Sister-inw, youre not... pregnant, are you?" The second sister-inw spoke up to remind her, seeing the younger sister-inws reaction, she feared it was true. "It cant be, maybe I just have a stomach ache! Mother, please leave for a bit, I just need to rest a while and Ill be fine!" Xiaoxiao then forced aposed demeanor, ushering the women out first. Her mind was in turmoil; she needed some quiet. "Then you rest well, weve got the household chores covered! Dont overthink it, take good care of yourself." Grandmother advised, because regardless of whose child it was, a woman with child needed to pay extra attention to her health. After sending them away, Xiaoxiaoy on the kang, her thoughts bing increasingly wild! Was she pregnant? The original body was how old? Fifteen, a minor. Having a baby as a minor wasnt a joke; it was a life-threatening matter. She didnt want to die! Then she thought, who could be the father of the child? That nominal husband? No wonder the original body insisted on marrying! Could it be because she had had marital rtions with the nominal husband, could it be that the original body had forced him? And looking at her own petite frame, her undeveloped breasts, what man would desire her? No wonder the original body had to resort to force! Xiaoxiaos thoughts strayed further and further, her imagination running wilder, yet she was unaware that the Yang Family house was already in an uproar! In the main house "Husband, the third daughter-inw might be pregnant!" The moment grandmother got back to the room, she told Old Master Yang. "..." Everyone in the family was waiting in the room for news, no one had left, and this news took everyone by surprise. What were they to do? The family was at a loss. "The child is definitely not the third brothers." The second brothers wife didnt care about such things; she was one to speak her mind without reservation. "Nonsense!" Yang Gang, the second brother, immediately intervened, pulling his wife to silence her, his wife, oh. "Im not speaking nonsense, we all know, the third brother didnt even consummate the marriage on his wedding night." Yet his wife was not one to be easily silenced, continuing to discuss what everyone already knew but left unspoken. "You speak one more word, and Ill hit you!" Yang Gangs face couldnt take it anymore, his younger brothers private affairs were not for a sister-inw to gossip about. "Whether it is or isnt, ask the fourth brother. Hes always fooling around with his third sister-inw. Maybe the child shes carrying is of the Yang familys blood." "..." His wife had indeed spoken out of turn again. Yang Gang stood up to strike his wife but was stopped by the others in the room. "Second sister-inw, what are you saying? How could you say such things about me, about the third sister-inw!" Yang Dong couldnt sit still any longer, he couldnt believe his own family thought this way about him. The third sister-inw worked so hard, so tirelessly for the family, and to have her reputation doubted by her own family members was something he found uneptable. In a fit of frustration, he blurted out, "Since its like this, Ill marry the third sister-inw!" "What did you say?" Everyone was dumbstruck by the youngest brothers deration. This was serious trouble. Grandmother was so scared that she began to cry, and for a moment, there was silence in the room as no one knew how to resolve such a grave issue. Switching grooms was no trifling matterwouldnt the Zhong Family erupt in anger? "Boss, go to the Academy and bring the third brother back. Lets hear what he has to say!" After a moment of silence, Old Master Yang finally spoke. Chapter 62 The Child is Mine

Chapter 62: Chapter 62 The Child is Mine

Yulin Academy Yang Ming and Chu Lian had barely returned when they saw Yang Chun waiting at the gate of the Academy. "Big brother, why have youe?" Something must have happened at home; big brother seemed very anxious. Yang Ming quickened his steps and approached to ask. Upon seeing Yang Ming return, Yang Chun immediately pulled him aside and said in a hushed voice, "Dad sent me, your wife is with child! He wants you toe home quickly." "What did you say? What do you mean with child?" Yang Ming was anxious, wondering what good news his wife could possibly bring. Not causing trouble for the family was already a blessing. "Aiya, have you be foolish from all your studying? With child means pregnant! Your wife is pregnant," Yang Chun said with a hint of impatience, his voice several decibels louder than before. He repeated it twice, afraid Yang Ming wouldnt understand. "What?" Pregnant? Whose? Whatever else Yang Chun said afterwards was lost on him as his mind kept reying the news that she was pregnant! Because Yang Chun had suddenly raised his voice, Chu Lian happened to overhear. He was as shaken as Yang Ming, a voice continuously echoing in his head: Zhong Xiaoxiao was carrying a child, Yang Mings child. Dispirited, Chu Lian entered the Academy without greeting Yang Ming. Yang Ming and Yang Chun hurriedly made their way home. On the road, Yang Chun had plenty to say about recent events at home, discussing the changes, but Yang Ming didnt take a word of it in. At this moment, Xiaoxiao was still unaware that her nominal husband was returning. After allowing her mind to wander aimlessly, she vomited several times more, too drained to eat all day, and eventually fell into a drowsy sleep. As soon as Yang Ming arrived home, he went straight to the main house to see Old Master Yang. "You actually remembered toe back, eh?" Seeing his third son, Old Master Yang was beyond exasperation, and naturally, his tone was harsh. "Did I waste my years providing for your education? Where have all your studies gone, eh? Is this how you behave? Leaving home right after marriage? Abandoning your new wife like that, eh?" "Youve really let down your wife!" "..." "..." Knowing his father was angry, Yang Ming said nothing, just listening to his fathers reproaches. "Your wife is expecting. Your youngest brother wants to marry her!" "..." What? The child is the youngests? Yang Mings veins stood out in anger and frustration, remembering he had warned his brother. Such a scandal could not afflict their family; the youngests reputation must not be tarnished, nor his own future ruined. With that thought, Yang Ming calmed himself down. "The child... is mine!" He said this and walked out. Old Master Yangughed. He firmly believed his youngest wouldnt do such a thing; he also trusted he hadnt misjudged his third daughter-inw. If she indeed was expecting, then the child must be his third sons. Upon leaving, Yang Ming headed straight for his youngest brothers room, intending to teach him a lesson. Yang Dong had yet to react when Yang Ming swung a punch at him. "Lessen your contact with your sister-inw from now on!" "Remember your rtion is that of aunt and nephew!" Feeling one punch was lesson enough, Yang Ming stopped and added, "I will not divorce. Get that idea out of your head." The two of them then sat in silence, with no further sound. Yang Ming sat on the bed, preupied with the thought of his wifes pregnancy, the child being his brothers, yet also of their family. For the sake of their familys reputation, it could not be known; he must im the child as his own and continue life with Zhong Xiaoxiao, a thought that left him in profound mncholy. "Big brother, sister-inw truly is a good person!" "..." "From today on, you should move back in!" "..." Chapter 63: It’s You!

Chapter 63: Chapter 63: Its You!

Yang Mings heart finally quieted down; he had to face what was inevitable. He had indeed been avoiding things too much, and it was all his fault. If only he had treated her well, she and his younger brother wouldnt have... But, didnt she really like him? It had only been a few days. Had she already taken a liking to his younger brother? A sense of jealousy inexplicably rose in his heart! As Yang Ming thought this, he walked into the new house he shared with Xiaoxiao. As soon as he entered, he noticed that his room had changed. A kitchen range had been added to the outer room, and his desk had been moved there. Everything was arranged very neatly. Upon entering the room, he saw a writing desk decorated with floral fabric, which held brushes, ink, paper, and an inkstone, along with unfinished copies of books. There was an exquisitely crafted cab on the bed-tform, and a peculiar chair sat on the floor. The room was cleaned thoroughly. The impression it gave was that the owner of the room was a person of great learning and taste. Was his wife really like this? His wife was sleeping on the bed-tform, her back to him. He sat down beside the bed-tform, thinking that since he was destined to spend his life with her, he might as well make it good, treat her well. He wondered if it was still possible! Xiaoxiao was woken by hunger, and she vaguely saw a man watching her. It had be dark, and the room had also darkened, so she couldnt see clearly. She had been vomiting all day and had no energy left to get up and thrash him. "Youre awake?" Seeing that his wife was awake, Yang Ming quickly lit the candle on the table. The room brightened in that moment. "Why is it you!" "Why is it you!" Both eximed at the same time! "..." There was a long silence. They were in different frames of mind. Yang Ming: How could the woman Chu Lian liked be in his house? Xiaoxiao: Isnt this the guy that bumped into her on the street? Why is he in her house? "Im Yang Ming." It was finally Yang Ming who broke the silence! As soon as Xiaoxiao realized it was her nominal husband, her goodwill immediately vanished, even dropping into the negatives. "Oh, Im Zhong Xiaoxiao." Yang Ming never imagined that the woman who had smiled at him, the one who penned beautiful characters andposed fine poetry, wrote couplets on the streets, and made those peculiar snacks, was actually his wife. He realized he had let go of a raw gem C he had pushed his wife towards his younger brother, and now she was pregnant with his brothers child. He was so regretful! As he was thinking this, he saw Xiaoxiao weakly rise and asked, "What are you doing?" "I havent eaten all day, going out to get something." Xiaoxiao was truly hungry, and she didnt want to stay in the same room with Yang Ming; this was an opportunity for her to leave as well. "Ill go." Yang Ming said, and then left the room. "..." What did this nominal husband suddenlying back mean? Could it possibly be because she was pregnant? Coming back to take responsibility? She didnt care for that, okay! Soon Yang Ming brought in some food and asked Xiaoxiao to eat while he went out to warm up the bed-tform for her! Xiaoxiao, having vomited all day, felt very ufortable in her stomach and only managed to eat a little. After eating, shey down again. But she noticed that after Yang Ming had finished warming the bed-tform, he didnt leave but entered the room again. "Why havent you left?" With no other option, Xiaoxiao had to ask. "Im not leaving anymore!" "..." Xiaoxiao was instantly bewildered. What did he mean by not leaving anymore? Was he nning to stay and make a good life with her? She didnt need that, okay! Although he was the father of the child, a loveless marriage was not something Zhong Xiaoxiao could ept. She wanted to marry for love! Chapter 64: Change of Heart So Soon?

Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Change of Heart So Soon?

"No, get out!" Xiaoxiao immediately made her intentions clear; she wasnt there to live with Yang Ming. Staying was only a temporary measure. Once she had saved enough money, she could leave. But she hadnt expected an ident, and now with Qiuqiu, the idea of taking Qiuqiu and running away didnt seem too bad. "Youve changed your heart so quickly?" Yang Ming hadnt expected her to outright reject him, and it left a bad taste in his heart. The hurtful words came out without thinking, and as soon as he said them, he regretted it! "Yes, Ive changed!" Xiaoxiao was very angry; how could this man not know how to speak properly or make conversation? So she angrily confirmed the change, just to see what he would do. "It seems your affection wasnt that deep after all!" "..." Xiaoxiao felt that she simply couldnt have a pleasant chat with her nominal husband! She decided to stop speaking altogether. It was still early before bedtime when she saw Yang Ming sitting at the table, actually starting to read her book. Silence, silence, and more silence. Being alone, the quiet didnt seem like much, but with someone suddenly beside her not talking, Xiaoxiao found it unbearable, feeling an overwhelming need for conversation! "Are you nning to stay and raise the child with me?" Xiaoxiao finally asked. "Yes!" "..." This personality, how could it be just like Yang Dongs from the beginning, the type who doesnt talk much. "Dont you n to divorce me?" "Not divorcing!" "..." This... had she made a mistake staying in this family? She should have left from the beginning; now she felt like she couldnt shake him off! In fact, Yang Ming wasnt interest in reading at all; he was holding the book upside down. But he didnt know what to say to Xiaoxiao, fortunately, his wife initiated the conversation and he could express the attitude he ought to! "Arent you going to the Academy anymore?" "I am." Great, he was still going to the Academy. She couldnt stand it if they were together in one room every day. With this news, Xiaoxiao felt less upset and drifted off to sleep once more. After Xiaoxiao fell asleep, Yang Ming found a quilt,id it at the foot of the kang bed, climbed on, slipped into the quilt, and went to sleep as well. The next morning, Yang Ming returned to the Academy. This time he didnt leave without saying goodbye; instead, he said to Xiaoxiao: "Wait for me toe back!" "..." Xiaoxiao couldnt help feeling that these words sounded like something from a TV drama where the male and female leads are parting, yet she was not the female lead deeply loved by the hero! Such a pity! After getting up, Xiaoxiao felt much better today and didnt feel sick anymore. So she went to check on the kimchi production. "Younger Brother, what happened to your face, did you get into a fight?" As soon as Xiaoxiao entered, she noticed some bruising on her younger brother-inws face. "Its nothing, I just bumped into something! Are you feeling better, Sister-inw? Maybe you should go back and rest some more!" "I feel much better. Do you think pregnancy has rendered me invalid? Dont worry, see, Im still jumping around." As she spoke, Xiaoxiao even twirled around to show him that she waspletely fine. "..." The sister-inw is really pregnant! Whose child is it? Her third older brothers? The others in the kitchen watched the exchange between Xiaoxiao and Yang Dong, their expressions grave. "Whats with you guys? Has something happened at home?" Xiaoxiao, noticing everyones odd behaviour, asked directly. She had always been a straightforward person, always asking questions when in doubt, except perhaps for her awkward interactions with her nominal husband... how to get along with him was still a mystery. "Younger Sister-inw, there is nothing wrong!" The eldest sister-inw quickly chimed in to alleviate the situation. As family members started getting busy, Xiaoxiao looked on, pondering. The workload of supplying eight towns and one county overwhelmed her. They were short-staffed, space was tight, and money was scarce. Without money, nothing moved forward; it seemed necessary to talk with the "big golden leg." Chapter 65: Striving for Benefits

Chapter 65: Chapter 65: Striving for Benefits

Off I went, Xiaoxiao got ready and stepped out the door. She had nned to bring Yang Dong along, thinking it would be good for him to listen in and learn something, but Yang Dong had said there was too much to do at home, so he wasnt going toe! Xiaoxiao, being quite thick-skinned, didnt notice anything amiss and thus went on her own. In fact, Yang Dong did want to go, but he had just been warned by his older brother, so he had no choice but to decline! Yui Restaurant "Uncle Wang, is the Young Master here?" "The youngdy has arrived! The Young Master is in the private room, but... hes drinking by himself!" "..." Huh! Drinking, whats going on here? Is he facing some trouble? Why isnt he properly staying at the Academy during the day and instead drinking? "Then Ill head over now!" When Xiaoxiao reached the private room, she knocked on the door and, finding no response, she pushed the door open and entered. Xiaoxiao saw Chu Lian with a defeated look on his face, drinking one gulp after another. Xiaoxiao didnt want to get involved; being a small fry herself, it wasnt her ce to inquire into the affairs of a big boss. Although Xiaoxiao was thick-skinned, she understood that a married woman shouldnt get too close to other men. Since she couldnt talk about work, it was better for her to leave. Just as Xiaoxiao was about to leave, she heard Chu Lians voice. "Why are you here?" Chu Lian hadnt recovered from yesterdays events, which is why he was drowning his sorrows in alcohol today, but unexpectedly, he was caught red-handed by the person he liked. "Oh, I came to talk about the pickled cabbage, but since youre busy, Ill head back now!" Xiaoxiao said as she turned to leave. "Wait, Im not busy, sit down and lets talk!" Xiaoxiao thought since it was like that, she might as well continue the discussion. She didnt have the time to keeping over, especially now that she was pregnant, she couldnt keep running around! "Its like this: now that the demand for the pickled cabbage has grown, frankly, my ce is too small and there are not enough hands to meet the supply. I was thinking, why not find a ce to open a small workshop and hire a few people." "Thats possible!" "But I dont have the money, so I was thinking, maybe you could invest." "Invest? How do you mean?" "Originally, investing meant we were partners: you put in the money, I provided the recipe, and we split the profits evenly. But now Ive sold you the recipe, so I can only work for you. Thats why I thought of a different kind of partnership." Now Xiaoxiao regretted it deeply. She hadnt expected pickled cabbage to sell so well. Now she had no choice but to work for others! If she were to make something else, she was determined to do it herself, or find a partner, and not carelessly sell the recipe again! She had underestimated the spending power of people here, as well as the strength of Yui Restaurant. It seemed she was still too naive! "What kind of method?" Chu Lian wanted to hear what peculiar idea this girl hade up with next. "All the expenses for running the workshop were to be yours; we would work in the workshop, with normal wages paid by you, but in addition to the wages, the pickled cabbage produced would be sold to my family at a rate of two copper coins per catty as a share of the profits. Of course, you could also choose to cross the river and tear down the bridge!" Xiaoxiao felt she was too passive, but at least the production rights in the contract previously signed were hers, so she wanted to fight for her own benefits. "Deal!" Chu Lian agreed without hesitation. Either way, he had to continue doing business, and this was also a legitimate opportunity for him to get closer to Zhong Xiaoxiao. So the two of them drew up a new contract, and Xiaoxiao took the two hundred taels of silver that Chu Lian had given her and went home. But as soon as she arrived, a voice rang out: "Where have you been?" Chapter 66 I Disagree

Chapter 66: Chapter 66 I Disagree

Huh! Why is my dear husband at home? Whats this about? Didnt he say he was going to the Academy? Xiaoxiao: "Why did youe back?" Yang Ming: "With a baby on the way, stop running around outside." Xiaoxiao: "..." Oh my god! Thats not answering the question at all. Why did hee back?! Xiaoxiao: "Can you go live in the fourth brothers room?" Yang Ming: "No." Xiaoxiao: "..." What to do? Its so inconvenient to have a grown man around the house. Should I think of some way to get rid of him? Xiaoxiao thought to herself. When dinner time arrived, both of them went to eat. This was the first time the whole family hade together for a meal, and the food was richer than usual. "Son, are you leaving again after this time?" Yangs father was delighted to see the whole family gathered. "Not leaving!" "Hmm, good, stay at home and help your wife more." "Hmm." Afterward, the family quietly ate their meal, and Xiaoxiao asked as if making small talk: "Dad, are there any vacant houses in our vige, preferably a big one?" "Sister-inw, why do you ask? Youre not thinking of moving out, are you?" The second sister-inw began to tease! "How could that be? I want to rent it for three months to start a workshop!" Start a workshop? Whats this all about? Yang Ming was entirely knocked senseless by his wifes words. "Our supply of spicy cabbage cant keep up anymore. I went to talk to the restaurant owner today, and weve agreed to start a workshop. Theyll provide the capital, and well provide thebor. For every kilogram of spicy cabbage produced, our family will get a share of two wen, and of course, theres a wage for working in the workshop too!" As she spoke, she took out the contract for everyone to see, but no one in the family could recognize more than a few characters. In the end, it was Yang Ming who read it. Everyone was happy after hearing Xiaoxiaos n, not only because they would receive wages but also because making spicy cabbage would earn them money. It was an excellent opportunity. Yang Ming saw Chu Lians name on the contract, and it suddenly reminded him that Chu Lian was another man keeping an eye on his wife. In the past few days, the fact that his wife was pregnant had overwhelmed him to the point that hedpletely forgotten about such a vital issue. He immediately stated, "I disagree." "..." Nobody at the table expected Yang Ming to disagree, and for a moment, silence fell again. Yang Mings words always carried weight in their household, and generally, everybody listened to him. Now that there was a disagreement between the couple, it was up to them to resolve it, so nobody else said a word. Xiaoxiao was also surprised; her quick temper was about to erupt on the spot, but with so many people around, she held back, thinking of settling it with him once they were back in their room. Yang Ming recalled the words Chu Lian had said to him these past few days, and he finally had a revtion. How much effort his wife had put into their home these days: selling candied hawthorn on the streets, writing couplets for people, volunteering to make candied sweet potatoes, and now proposing that their family make spicy cabbageall because the house needed money. A pang of distress rose in his heart; he felt he was inhumane to let a woman expose herself to the public eye so much while he himself... After dinner, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming returned to their room, and Xiaoxiao immediately exploded. "By what right do you disagree?!" "..." Yang Ming, seeing Xiaoxiaos face, knew she was angry, but what could he do? He certainly couldnt say that Chu Lian had improper thoughts about her. "Youre expecting a child!" "..." What does that have to do with having a child? "Dont go outside all the time; take care of yourself. "..." Somehow, it felt like she was being cared for. It made it hard for her to even start an argument! Chapter 67: Pretending to be a Married Couple

Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Pretending to be a Married Couple

"You dont have a choice, I make the decisions in this house." "..." "Dont believe me, you can go ask the family." "..." Xiaoxiao didnt care whether he agreed or not, because she was definitely going to do it. Otherwise, where would the moneye from? The winter nights are long and darkes swiftly, and without any lights here, Xiaoxiao had to find her own entertainment every evening. In modern times, due to constant use ofputers and mobile phones, Xiaoxiaos eyes became inmed and hurt every day, eventually leading to nearsightedness. Now having traveled back and gained a pair of good eyes, she cherished them and only engaged in activities that didnt strain her eyes. Seeing that Yang Ming wasnt leaving, she treated him as if he were air, climbed onto the kang bed, closed her eyes to rest, and started doing yoga. At this point, Yang Ming watched as his wife climbed onto the kang and began performing those strange movements, finding it quite eerie. He also felt that their cohabitation was awkward, so he went out to find some chores to do, first moving his belongings in and then tidying everything up. When Xiaoxiao saw he was serious about the move, she became uneasy. It seemed that she would have to share a room with him today, sharing the kang and the pillows? In fact, they had already slept on the same kang the previous night, but Xiaoxiao was too sick from vomiting and, after hearing that he had gone to the Academy, she had fallen asleep in a daze. But today was differenttoday she was wide awake, profoundly so. Xiaoxiao suddenly stopped her movements, remembering she was pregnant. It would be wiser to do less yoga. Yang Ming: "Where are you going?" Xiaoxiao: "Im going to heat the kang!" Yang Ming: "Dont move, Ill do it." Xiaoxiao: "..." Howe it felt like suddenly having an extra pair of hands for freebor! Yang Ming got up and started heating the kang, boiling arge pot of water for washing. He saw his wife use one basin to wash her face and then switch to another basin to wash her feet. When the wife took out a third basin, he said, "Can you step out for a bit? Ill call you back in after Im done washing!" "..." Whats with all these basins... In the end, Yang Ming still went out. Xiaoxiao felt a bit helpless. What was she going to do from now on? She had just managed to get a big tub to bathe in every day, and now she had to go back to washing haphazardly? It was worrisome having someone who could show up in the room at any time. Xiaoxiao washed quickly, then cleaned her underwear and hung it outside. Seeing Yang Ming standing guard at the door, she felt exasperated and had no choice but to call him back in. After Yang Ming entered, he quickly finished his washing and, just like the night before, covered his quilt at the foot of the kang andy down directly. Looking at the set-up, Xiaoxiao felt relieved. She was at the head of the kang, and he was at the foot; there was still some distance between them. Xiaoxiao thought it was necessary to talk to Yang Ming and tell him her thoughts. "You dont like me, right?" "..." "Do you have someone you like?" "..." "Then lets just be a pretend couple!" "..." Xiaoxiao saw that Yang Ming was silent and continued: "Dont worry, once you find the person you like, Ill leave!" "..." "Ill take the child with me, and I wont cause you any trouble at all." "..." A pretend couple? She would take the child and leave? He really didnt like her after all, or had she actually fallen for his younger brother? Yang Mingy there, unable to fall asleep for a long time. Meanwhile, Xiaoxiao also couldnt sleep, thinking about how she hadnt found a boyfriend in thirty years. Having finally been sent one by heaven, he still wasnt hers. Was she going to end up lonely for the rest of her life? Chapter 68 The Matchmaker Visits

Chapter 68: Chapter 68 The Matchmaker Visits

Early the next morning, Xiaoxiao was surprised to find the matchmaker at their door, proposing a marriage for her younger brother, Yang Dong. Yang Dong was still so young, barely a fuzz on his face; in her heart, he was just a middle school kid. In fact, it was quite normal for fifteen-year-olds to have marriage discussions here; had his family not been so poor, he might already have been betrothed. Seeing her youngest son and daughter-inw in such a state, the mother-inw could no longer sit idly by, so she sent for the matchmaker, hoping to quickly choose a bride for her youngest. Once his marriage was settled, he wouldnt be able to continue thinking about marrying his brothers wife. The most crucial reason to sever the rtionship between the youngest son and his sister-inw was the fear that such a scandal could impact her third sons future prospects. "Elder sister, what do you think of these three girls? Ive picked out the best ones for you!" The well-known matchmaker of Yang Family Vige, Matchmaker Yang, was responsible for marriages within ten miles around. All three girls were fourteen years old, one year younger than the youngest son; their ages were quite suitable. But here, if a fourteen-year-old girl had not yet been spoken for, it often meant there was an issue with her family or herself. Just like Xiaoxiao and her best friend Li Chuntao. While the inws were discussing which girl was the better option, Xiaoxiao did not partake, instead turning her head to nce at Yang Ming. Why did he seem so happy today? Was he really that excited about his brother finding a partner? It must be said that Yang Ming was indeed thrilledhis thoughts aligned with his mothers: find a match for the youngest brother, and thetter wouldnt need to dwell on his brothers wife anymore. Xiaoxiao quietly listened to the information about the three girls, thinking of helping by inquiring further to avoid a blind and mute marriage. Such marriages could be deadly; her younger brother, such a fine young man, should choose a girl he liked. Moreover, she had her best friend, Li Chuntao, in mind! If her friend could lose weight, she would undoubtedly be a beautya far better match than herself. "Daughter-inw, this Wang Miaomiao is from your vige, what do you think of this girl?" As she pondered, the mother-inw unexpectedly turned to ask her opinion, but how would she know! "Mother, when I was at my parental home, I seldom left the house, so I dont know her." Ever since Matchmaker Yang arrived, she had been frequently casting nces at Xiaoxiao, who among the matchmakers was notoriously unmarriageable. It was pure dumb luck that she managed to marry the Schr. "Why dont we just settle on Yang Xiaocao, then? Same vige, we know her background well!" Xiaoxiao, hearing the mother-inw hastening to a decision, immediately panicked. "No, I dont agree!" Having been in the vige for about a month now and having gotten to know quite a few people, she was aware of who Yang Xiaocao wasa girl uglier than herself, with a paraplegic father at home. It wasnt that she was prejudiced against the ugly or hated the poor, but if one could find better, why settle! "Why dont you ask the youngest brother for his opinion before making a decision?" Nobody expected Xiaoxiao to object, and Yang Ming was especially shocked, his eyes widening at her disapproval of the youngests marriage! At that moment, Xiaoxiao was unaware that everyone had misunderstood her disapproval, thinking there was something between her and the youngest. "Yang Dong, what do you say? Do you agree to this marriage arrangement?" Xiaoxiao was still trying on Yang Dongs behalf, but unbeknownst to her, Yang Dong had already given up. "Mhm." Yang Dong felt that marriage was always a matter of paternalmand and matchmakers word; he had no say, thus resignedly agreed. Upon hearing Yang Dongs consent, Xiaoxiao instantly grew furious and shouted at him: "Yang Dong! Come out here now!" Chapter 69: Is Your Heartbeat Accelerating?

Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Is Your Heartbeat elerating?

This was the first time the third sister-inw called his name. It seemed she was truly angry, and he was very afraid. He obediently followed her out. "Third, hurry and go see whats happening," the mother immediately instructed her son. "Matchmaker Yang, Im really sorry. Perhaps we should discuss this more." "Are you kidding me? Since when does a younger brother-inw go on a blind date, and the sister-inw interrupts? This is truly an oddity in the world!" Matchmaker Yang was no longer speaking in kind terms, visibly unsatisfied, she left. As she left, she continued, "In the future, if your family wants to talk about marriage, donte to me! What a waste of my time!" After Yang Dong and Xiaoxiao left, they headed to the kitchen. "Younger brother, what are you doing? How can you so easily throw away your own happiness?" "My own happiness?" Yang Dong repeated silently after hearing this. My own happiness? He hadnt thought about it. "Dont you want to marry a woman you like?" Like? He didnt know what like meant! "Third sister-inw, what does like feel like?" "Like, its when you constantly think about her in your heart, when shes happy youre happy, when shes sad youre sad, you want to give her the best of everything! No matter if its in poverty or wealth, you want to spend your whole life with her." Xiaoxiao said, with a face full of intoxication, about the feeling of liking someone. It seemed Yang Dong understood something. He quite liked the third sister-inw and blurted out without thinking, "Then it seems I like the third sister-inw." "..." Xiaoxiao was petrified when she heard this. This brat. Does he really understand or not? Its all been for nothing. She stepped forward, seized Yang Dongs hand, waited a moment, and then asked, "Is your heartbeat faster?" At that moment, Yang Ming was outside. He heard the conversation inside, heard his younger brothers confession, saw Xiaoxiao grab his brothers hand, and felt he might be the superfluous one. So, without waiting to hear Xiaoxiao speak, he fled in panic. "It doesnt seem so!" Yang Dong answered. He really didnt feel his heartbeat quicken. "The most important feeling of liking someone is that your heartbeat inexplicably quickens when you see her. Understand?" "Yes, I understand, third sister-inw!" "If two people who marry cannot like each other, they will be very pained their whole lives, so you have to find someone you like and who also likes you, understand? You are still young, were not in a hurry, we can choose slowly! So dont just decide like this, okay?" Xiaoxiao was truly worried. She herself was a very good example, and she wanted her younger brother-inw to carefully choose. She truly regarded Yang Dong as her own younger brother. Yang Dong was finally persuaded, and the two of them returned to the room where everyone was waiting. "Mother, theres no need to rush the marriage for the fourth brother; hes still young. Rest assured, I will definitely help him find a good wife." As soon as Xiaoxiao returned to the room, she made her stance clear, no longer with any hint of the anger from before, her face all smiles. "Mother, Ill listen to the third sister-inw!" Yang Dong also made his position known. Yet, everyone in the room was unsettled. Their concerns grew evenrger. Well, who knows how things will develop from here. Xiaoxiao turned to look at her nominal husband. Huh, whats gotten into him? He was quite happy just a moment ago, so why the long face now? Mens hearts, a needle in the sea! After Yang Ming returned, he was distracted, dwelling on the conversation his wife and younger brother just had. The more he thought about it, the more he believed he shouldnt be too selfish. Maybe enabling them was the best choice. His younger brothers happiness was happiness too, especially since they already had children. Chapter 70: He Knows Whatever She is Thinking

Chapter 70: Chapter 70: He Knows Whatever She is Thinking

"Dad, Mom, Im going to ask the Vige Chief about the house! Im heading out first," Xiaoxiao said as she walked out. "Third child, hurry up and follow!" "..." Would it really be okay for him to follow? He hesitated, yet his feet did not stop. They arrived at the Vige Chiefs house without speaking a word to each other. Xiaoxiao suddenly realized she seemed to have gained a shadow. "Auntie, is Vige Chief uncle at home?" "Yes, yes, Yang Mings wife, pleasee in!" The woman took the two kilograms of meat from Xiaoxiaos hand, smiling warmly as she ushered her into the house. The Vige Chief, hearing the noise, was more enthusiastic thanst time and came out to greet them before Xiaoxiao entered. "Yang Mings wife,e inside, what brings you here this time?" Yang Ming, trailing behind, felt ignored. Wasnt he, the Schr, supposed to hold some status in this vige? Why was he being treated like air now? Only upon entering did the Vige Chief notice Yang Ming following behind. "Ah, Yang Ming is here too!" "..." Yang Ming felt a bit hurt inside. "Vige Chief uncle, its like this, my wife would like to rent a house in our vige. Could you help us see if theres a suitable one?" Yang Ming thought, since he couldnt stop her, he might as well help her with everything. Xiaoxiao didnt expect Yang Ming to speak up for her about renting a house; wasnt he opposed to it? Whats happening now? "We indeed have several vacant houses in the vige. How big are you looking for?" The Vige Chief had not expected Yang Mings wife to make such a big move so quickly. It seemed he had not misjudged the situation. "Vige Chief uncle, the more rooms, the better, and preferably with arge cer. We are renting it for Yui Restaurant, they want to make kimchi in our vige, and they might hire workers too." "..." Hearing Yang Mings words, Xiaoxiao was undoubtedly surprised; so he knew everything she was thinking, he understood all along. This was the most Yang Ming had ever spoken, it turns out he wasnt always silent, just not with her. That kimchi was now the talk of the entire county; having it produced in their vige was a huge deal. The Vige Chief, hearing this, was all smiles and immediately decided to take Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao to see the houses. They saw two ces, both because households had be extinct, were under vige management. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming picked a ce with arge well and a big cer, since these were essential conditions. Although the house looked a bit old, it wasnt a big problem. The rent for three months was three taels of Silver; Xiaoxiao paid right away and discussed hiring ten workers with the Vige Chief. Then she nned to clean up the house with Yang Ming. "You go back and rest. Ill clean up!" "No need, I can do it. It must be tidied up today, I want to move in as soon as possible." "Youre pregnant, you shouldnt overexert yourself!" "..." I cant do this and I cant do that? Werent ancient women still working in the fields up until childbirth? Why does she feel like shes being taken care of so well, bing a high-priority protectee! She doesnt even know on which day she and Yang Ming conceived, how many months shes been pregnant, shes been here for over forty days, so she must be almost two months pregnant now. The first three months of pregnancy are very important; if he wants to work, she thought, let him workno point in wasting freebor. So Xiaoxiao went back on her own, leaving Yang Ming to work diligently. Since he had promised her, he had to finish the job, and finish it well. Unknowingly, it was noon, and his stomach started rumbling. He was truly hungry! He thought: If only his wife could bring him some food! Chapter 71: Bringing Food to the Affordable Husband

Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Bringing Food to the Affordable Husband

Because she was pregnant, Xiaoxiao wasnt allowed to do much around the house, and having always been busy, she suddenly found the idleness to be incredibly boring. So she decided she would still cook the midday meal, a task she felt she could handle. Everyone in the family was working, and she couldnt stand being the only one idle. The circumstances at home had improved recently, with both rice and flour being purchased, so their meals were no longer monotonous. This time, Xiaoxiao made a veryvish meal. Thinking that since her husband Yang Ming had be an unpaidborer, it was only right for her to cheer him up with a meal delivery. After eating, she spoke to her father-inw, "Dad, Im going to bring Yang Ming his meal!" Old Master Yang was pleased to hear this, it seemed his third daughter-inw still cared about his son. "Mm, go ahead!" Xiaoxiao put the food into a basket and went to find Yang Ming. After eating, everyone else went back to making kimchi, leaving only the elderly couple at home. "His dad, what are we going to do about the fourth childs situation?" After the events of the morning, she, as his mother, was even more frightened and at a loss for what to do, with nobody in the family to discuss the matter. "Dont think too much, I dont see anything going on between the fourth child and his third sister-inw! You are all overthinking it! We dont need to intervene; the third son will handle it himself." Its said that experiencees with age, and out of the whole family, only Old Master Yang had the rity of mind. Even Yang Ming himself was utterly confused about this matter. But are you sure your son can handle it? Meanwhile, Yang Ming continued his work, when he heard some noise from outside, sounding like someone wasing. Looking out, he was surprised to see his wife, Xiaoxiao, carrying a basket and walking towards the yard! "Yang Ming, take a break, its time to eat!" When Yang Ming heard Xiaoxiaos voice, he felt instantly cheered; his wife really brought him a meal. He immediately stopped what he was doing and found a ce to sit down. Xiaoxiao opened the basket and took out two bowls of rice along with a big tter of dishes: pork ribs, shredded potatoes, tofu, and candied sweet potatoes. "Did you make this?" From the sight of the candied sweet potatoes, Yang Ming knew for sure that the meal had been prepared by his wife. "Eat up before it gets cold!" Hearing Xiaoxiaos words, Yang Ming felt a warmness in his heart,pletely forgetting about having to give her up to his younger brother, and he happily dove into the meal. "This is delicious." "..." This was the first time Xiaoxiao heard him say such pleasing words. Had her usually thrifty husband suddenly changed his nature? "Have you eaten?" "..." Why did it feel like her husband was making conversation for the sake of it? It seemed their talk the other day had an effect. They should just continue living peacefully as friends. "I ate before I came here!" After Yang Ming finished eating, Xiaoxiao packed the bowls and chopsticks back into the basket, ready to head back. "Then Ill be going back. Ill send my younger brother over this afternoon to help you. We need to finish the work today, as I n to move here tomorrow, and we need to hire people for help. We have to hurry, the kimchi wont sell for long, and we need to make as much money as we can while we can." Xiaoxiao was all smiles, giving voice to her thoughts. The idea of making a good amount of money thrilled her. After all, they needed funds for many things, like building a house and buyingnd. They couldnt expect to be rich overnight, but striving for a moderately prosperous life was the goal, wasnt it? The instant Yang Ming heard Xiaoxiao mention his younger brother, his mood soured. His younger brother, always his younger brothersomething in him ignited with unspoken fury as he replied brusquely: "We dont need him, I can manage on my own!" "..." Chapter 72 Two Bombs

Chapter 72: Chapter 72 Two Bombs

In the end, Yang Ming decided not to ask his younger brother for help and managed to tidy up the small courtyard before dark after much exhausting effort. The next morning, bright and early, they borrowed an ox cart and the whole family bustled about, moving everything to the newly rented yard. The vigers saw this and began discussing among themselves. "The Yang Family is moving?" "Where are they moving to?" "Looks like the Yang Family has really made some money!" "I havent heard about them buying or building a house!" "..." "..." Xiaoxiao had grown ustomed to the vigers gossip about her every move; rather than ignoring them this time, she approached the crowd. "Everyone, theres no need for spection. Yui Restaurant has rented a ce here to ask us to help make pickled Chinese cabbage, so if anyone has some to sell, bring it to our newly rented yard in the afternoon. Well buy as much as you have!" "Also, we are looking to hire ten women to help make the pickled cabbage. If youre interested, hurry and sign up at the Vige Chiefs ce!" Having dropped these two bombshells, Xiaoxiao followed her family to the newly rented yard. She left a group of people in utter disarray. "Pickled Chinese cabbage? Ive heard its selling like hotcakes in the county town!" "How on earth did the Yangs get so lucky to forge such a big connection with the Yui Restaurant?" "And now theyre looking to hire? This is getting serious." "I must go ask at the Vige Chiefs house. Its not easy for us women to find jobs." "Right? Lets go, hurry up!" "..." "..." A crowd swiftly gathered at the Vige Chiefs house to inquire about the situation and immediately began questioning upon arrival. "Vige Chief, we just heard from Yang Mings wife that theyre hiring ten women. Is this true?" "Yes, yes, its not easy for us women to find work. Are they really hiring women?" "How much will they pay?" "..." "Everyone calm down and listen to me!" The Vige Chief spoke up, and the crowd instantly silenced, eagerly awaiting his response. "The hiring is true. It pays twenty wen a day and includes a meal at noon!" The news exploded through the crowd. Twenty wen? Even men working outside may not make that much, let alone women, and to have lunch provided as wellsomething not even the men had at midday. Delighted, everyone jostled to register themselves and their family members. With only ten spots avable, they needed to act fast, fearing they wouldnt be selected. "Quiet down, quiet! There are requirements for these job positions: only married women with children over five years old and under thirty years of age need apply." In fact, it was Xiaoxiao who had set these criteria because those too young or too old wouldnt be suitable for the job. Handlingrge quantities of Chinese cabbage every day was tiring work, and women with very young children couldnt be spared, as they needed to attend to their kids. Even with such restrictions, more than ten people in the vige met the criteria, so the Vige Chief had to manage the selection process. "For those who arent selected, dont worry. Yui Restaurants decision to make pickled Chinese cabbage in our vige is all thanks to Yang Mings wife. She has said that if things go well this year, next year we could nt more Chinese cabbage and lead everyone to make money!" Reassured by the Vige Chiefs words, the vigers settled down. The Vige Chief responsibly chose ten suitable women and arranged for them to start work at Xiaoxiaos ce the next day. With that resolved, the crowd dispersed and everyone went their separate ways, except for one person who clutched a handkerchief tightly, ceaselessly twisting it, their face dark and filled with envy as they walked towards Xiaoxiaos newly rented cottage. Chapter 73: Childhood Sweethearts Meet Again

Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Childhood Sweethearts Meet Again

At this moment, Xiaoxiao was busy in the yard when she noticed someone peering inside from the gate. Oh? Isnt that my husbands Little Qingmei? It seems like a moment for childhood sweethearts to meet. Thinking that they were only fake spouses anyway, Xiaoxiao decided to help them connect and went to find Yang Ming: "Yang Ming, someone is looking for you outside!" "..." Upon hearing Xiaoxiaos words, Yang Ming went out. The woman who doubted what was happening immediately asked, "Sister-inw, who is it?" "Oh, its Yang Mings Little Qingmei!" "What? Sister-inw, are you crazy? How can you let your husband meet alone with another woman? Especially since they have that kind of rtionship!" Although she said that, the woman was calcting in her heartcould it be that her sister-inw really liked someone else now, and thats why she didnt care? "Hehe, hehe, Im just testing him!" Xiaoxiao awkwardly replied, surely she couldnt admit she was creating an opportunity for her supposed husband! That would blow her cover! But this woman, too direct with her words, mentioned their rtionship right in front of her. It was a good thing Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were just pretending, or wouldnt this cause a huge conflict? It had to be said, Xiaoxiao realized that every domestic conflict was always sparked by this womans mouth. When Yang Ming reached the gate, he was surprised to see that the visitor was Hehua. "Brother Ming!" As soon as Hehua saw Yang Minge out, she rushed forward, her sweet voice making everyones skin crawl. "Hehua, what brought you here, is there something you need?" "I heard your family was looking to hire help. Brother Ming, could you let me work at your ce?" Hehua felt her opportunity had arrived. Her mother had always disapproved of her rtionship with Brother Ming, looking down on his familys poverty. But now that his family had money and could afford to hire help, and since Brother Ming was a schr, her mother would surely agree. With her beauty, she was certain she could outshine Zhong Xiaoxiao. "Im afraid thats not possible!" Yang Ming was well aware of Xiaoxiaos hiring criteria, so he couldnt agree; he was a man of principle. "Why not, Brother Ming? Help me out, is it because your sister-inw doesnt agree with meing?" As she spoke, she even started to cry, thinking no man could resist a womans tears. "Hey, dont cry. You better head back, my sister-inw doesnt even know you want toe. Theres no question of agreement or disagreement!" Yang Ming was indeed helpless in front of a crying woman, at twenty years old he had barely spoken to several women. "Then please ask your sister-inw for me, Im begging you, Brother Ming." "You should go back, it definitely wont work." Having said that, Yang Ming went into the yard and closed therge gate without waiting for Hehua to say another word. Hehua stomped her foot, walking away reluctantly. That night, Xiaoxiao was still doing her things, as Yang Ming had be used to being treated as if he were invisible. "Today it was Hehua who looked for me, she asked if she could work for us?" "..." Xiaoxiao hadnt expected Yang Ming to bring up the matter himself, had he agreed already and didnt know how to exin it to her? "So you agreed?" "No!" "..." There goes an opportunity wasted, how frustrating! "Actually, you know, I just worry about hiring someone too young, so I set the age limit to being married with childrenshes eighteen now, should be old enough." "Its not suitable. The Vige Chief has already set the standard. How can there be exceptions? What would the other vigers think?" "..." Oh! This cheap husband really does have principles! Chapter 74 What About Me?

Chapter 74: Chapter 74 What About Me?

The next day, the ten people selected by the Vige Chief reported to the rented courtyard as agreed. As soon as they arrived, Xiaoxiao called a meeting for everyone. "We are helping out at Yui Restaurant, so everything here is not allowed to be disclosed. Even your own family members cannot know, can you do that?" "We can!" All replied in unison. "Although I trust you all, without rules, theres no square or circle, so we need to sign a contract. If someone talks, they willpensate Yui Restaurant with five hundred taels of silver. Of course, if you work honestly, there will be no issues." "..." Five hundred taels, they had never seen so much money in their lives, they couldnt afford to pay that. "If you promise not to talk, what are you afraid of, those who want to work,e and make your mark!" Everyone thought so too, just keep their mouths shut and work honestly. Earning silver was for real, so they all came forward to make their marks. Seeing this, Xiaoxiao thought the Vige Chief had made some good selections, and likely there wouldnt be any issues. Forgive her for doubting before acknowledging good faith. Without drawing up a contract to keep them in line, she couldnt be sure the group of women wouldnt cause trouble. As for writing five hundred taels, that was entirely to intimidate them. Today, Xiaoxiao hadnt nned for everyone to start working but instead took everyones measurements to have uniforms tailored at the cloth store; she needed the attire to be uniform. Then, she instructed everyone to clean up at home first, take baths, keep their nails short with no ck soil underneath, hair neat, and clothes clean, as cleanliness was most important when dealing with food. Yang Ming had been by her side all the while, assisting Xiaoxiao. It was his first time seeing Xiaoxiao like this, capable of leading, full of confidencehardly the image of a fifteen-year-old girl. No wonder Chu Lian always spoke of her with shining eyes. His wife was indeed remarkable. Yang Ming felt an inexplicable sense of pride, his lips unconsciously curving upwards. Xiaoxiao caught Yang Mings twitching lips by ident and thought this nominal husband was quite strangewhy were his lips twitching? Surely he wasnt sick. Xiaoxiao arranged everything at home. The two elders had reached the age to enjoy their elder years; they didnt need toe out and toil, so Xiaoxiao asked them to take care of the children and cook at home. The eldest and second brothers specialized in collecting cabbages, which might run out and require trips to other viges. The fourth brother specialized in purchasing ingredients, while the eldest and second sisters-inw mastered the core of making spicy cabbage. She herself was in charge of the ounts. Only the nominal husband had no work to do. Yang Ming felt as if he was forgotten again, and his mood turned instantly sour. "What about me?" "..." Oops! Xiaoxiao indeed had forgotten him; she had be ustomed to a home without him. "Why dont you go back to the Academy? Try to be the Top Schr when youe back." Xiaoxiao genuinely felt that he had nothing to do here and could roll back to the Academy to continue his studies, so she casually suggested it, not realizing Yang Ming took it to heart, his wife wished for him to be the Top Schr. "The Academy is on break!" A break now? Pull the other one! The heavy snows hadnt even fallen, and New Years was still two months away. An Academy here couldnt be on break so early. She didnt believe it for a second! But seeing the nominal husbands face set with a determination not to rest without work, well, he could be her assistant then. "Lets go, youll apany me to have the uniforms made." Only then did Yang Mings expression improve slightly. Following her, he seemed like a Flower Guardian. Afterward, Xiaoxiao deeply regretted this decision because from then on, she had such an attendant by her side. Chapter 75 Are You Sure You Are Really Childhood Sweethearts?

Chapter 75: Chapter 75 Are You Sure You Are Really Childhood Sweethearts?

This was the first time Xiaoxiao went to town with her bargain husband. Could this be considered their first date? Pfft, what was she thinking! The husband is fake! It wasnt really a date; at best, it was just attending to some official business. At that moment, Yang Ming saw his wifes facial expressions alternate between smiles and frowns, wondering what on earth she was thinking! "Lets take the ox-cart!" Before Xiaoxiao could respond, she saw Yang Ming heading towards the viges ox-cart and had no choice but to follow him. There were already a few people on the ox-cart. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming found seats and sat down. "The young couple is heading to town, huh." Most of the people on the ox-cart were women. Seeing Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming board, they all started chatting. One was a Schr, and the other a workshop owner; both were notable figures, eager to build good rtions. "Such a loving couple indeed!" "Yes, yes, Schr Yang is really considerate, unlike mine, just a rough man, never has he apanied me on the ox-cart." "..." "..." Ha, loving? Where did they see love? If merely sitting together in an ox-cart or going to town together counted as love, then she and her younger brother must have loved countless times. Eh! The vigers couldnt really think that way, could they! Only then did Xiaoxiao realize, she always forgot she was now fifteen, not thirty. Xiaoxiao gave a wry smile; she guessed no one was as careless as herself. There were two more seats on the ox-cart. After waiting a while, and seeing no one else, the coachman was ready to move on. "Wait, wait!" Just as the ox-cart was about to leave, a woman came running over. Upon seeing her, Xiaoxiao thought, how could it be her cheap husbands Little Qingmei again? It seemed their childhood friendship was indeed fated. As soon as Little Qingmei boarded the ox-cart, she went to sit next to Yang Ming. "Sit over there." Seeing Hehua about to sit beside him, Yang Ming immediately had her sit across from him. "Ming brother, Ill sit next to you and chat with sister-inw!" She couldnt miss this great opportunity seeing Ming brother. Just when she saw Ming and his wife pass in front of her house, she guessed they might be going to town. She quickly grabbed some embroidery as an excuse to go to town too. Because she wanted to meet Ming brother, she had to change her clothes and dress up, which made her a littlete and nearly miss the cart. "You can chat from across as well." "..." Hehua didnt expect Ming brother to reject her so outright. Just as she was about to speak, she was metaphorically struck on the head. "Your sister-inw is with a child; you cant squeeze her." The other women heard Yang Mings words and immediately congratted him. "Oh, the Schrs wife is indeed fortunate." "Congrattions, Schr Yang is going to be a father." "..." "..." Everyone was chatting away, leaving Xiaoxiao with nothing to do but chuckle. "Are we going or not? If we are, sit tight, I need to drive." By then, the coachman was getting impatient. "Lets go, lets go, lets go." Hehua was reluctant, still hoping to sit next to Yang Ming. At this point, the other women on the cart couldnt stand it any longer. "Look at you, a girl not yet married, how could you sit so close to a man?" "Exactly, exactly, and you keep calling him Ming brother. Even his wife doesnt call him that." "..." "..." Hearing this, Hehua got embarrassed. Reluctantly sitting across, her eyes welled up with tears, looking pitiful. Seeing this, Xiaoxiao thought, is this how you treat your childhood sweetheart? Are you sure you two are really childhood sweethearts? Chapter 76: The Hard-working Little Qingmei

Chapter 76: Chapter 76: The Hard-working Little Qingmei

The ox-cart made its way to the town, and everyone was casually chatting along the way, but Little Qingmei, the cheap husbandspanion, was rather quiet. Finally, they arrived, and everyone got off. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming headed straight for the Cloth Shop in town. However, Xiaoxiao noticed that Little Qingmei had followed them. Persistent andmendable spirit! "Sister-inw, where are you going?" Little Qingmei actually walked up and hooked Xiaoxiaos arm, as if they were close. Girl, is it really okay to be so forward? I know all your little tricks. Luckily for me, my marriage with the cheap husband is fake, otherwise it would have been really awkward. "We are going to the Cloth Shop." "Thats great, Im going there too." "..." "..." The two of them ended up chatting back and forth. Chatting? Who cant do that? You talk human in front of humans and ghost in front of ghosts, Xiaoxiao can deal with such a little girl. Yang Ming, following behind, couldnt get a word in. Why did it seem like the two upfront were as close as real sisters? Something wasnt right. The trio arrived at the Jinxiu Cloth Store, the biggest cloth shop in town. As Xiaoer saw Xiaoxiao was nning to have twenty garments made, such a big customer, he hurriedly fetched the Shopkeeper, who turned out to be a woman. "Miss, how do you n to make these garments?" The Shopkeeper asked as soon as she appeared. "She is my wife!" Upon hearing the other party call his wife "Miss," Yang Ming felt ufortable, and blurted out this statement. "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless. What difference does a title make? Its just a title, after all. However, Hehua shed a look of jealousy when she saw Yang Mings reaction. Why was Brother Ming so indifferent toward her? "I am Zhong Xiaoxiao, just call me Xiaoxiao." She didnt want to be called "youngdy"; it felt weird. She preferred her own name as it sounded more pleasing. "Okay, Xiaoxiao, my name is Wang Xiangxiang, I look older than you, so you can call me Sister Wang." Xiaoxiao saw Wang Xiangxiangpretty and seemingly around twenty-one or two years old. It seemed not only men could stand out here; women could too stand on their own. Since Xiaoxiao couldnt draw, she talked with the tailor for a long time before finalizing the styles she had in mind. They agreed to rush the order, so the garments would be delivered in three days. Since they kept discussing clothing, Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang hit it off really wellXiaoxiao felt this was truemon interest,pletely different from her chat with Hehua earlier. Xiaoxiao thought maybe she could return to her original trade, selling bras and knickers. Cooking and farming were indeed too challenging for her. But would the conservative folks around here ept it? Xiaoxiao was quite skeptical! After finishing their talk, Xiaoxiao finally remembered Yang Ming and Hehua, waiting on the side. Looking at them, they seemed to have no interaction. What a waste of an opportunity; were they foolish? "Hehua, didnt you say you were bringing embroidered goods? Are you done?" "Oh, oh, not yet!" Hehua hadpletely forgotten about it, too busy thinking about how to start a conversation with Brother Ming. However, Brother Ming wasnt paying her any attention, instead continually watching Zhong Xiaoxiao. Only then did Hehua present the embroidery to Wang Xiangxiang. "Miss, your embroidery isnt finished yet. How can we ept it?" As a Shopkeeper who had seen many people, Wang Xiangxiang could tell what was going on between the three at a nce. "Oh, oh, my apologies. I brought the wrong one!" Hehua apologized, her face full of regret. She was so focused on finding a chance to see Brother Ming that shepletely forgot the embroidery wasnt finished. Xiaoxiao saw and thought that Hehua really went to great lengths to see the cheap husband. Just how deep were this girls feelings! Chapter 77 My Wife is the Most Beautiful in My Heart

Chapter 77: Chapter 77 My Wife is the Most Beautiful in My Heart

The three of them left the Cloth Shop, with Little Qingmei still tagging along. Xiaoxiao didnt mind, adopting an attitude of indifference and looking forward to the drama! Xiaoxiao also gave Yang Ming a suggestive look, batting her eyelids at him, meaning the opportunity was his if he chose to take it. Yang Ming caught the look from Xiaoxiao, but what did it mean? Was she suggesting that he should send Hehua away? Having Hehua around was indeed awkward, so: "Hehua, we still have other matters to attend to, so well leave first!" Without waiting for Hehua to respond, he grabbed Xiaoxiaos arm, signaling her to hurry up. And like that, Xiaoxiao was pulled away, but inside she was calcting. Why was she not on the same wavelength as her cheap husband? She had clearly signaled him; hisprehension was terriblycking! As they walked down the street, the biting wind pped against her face, freezing one to death. Xiaoxiao thought that having two was worse than three, awkward to the extreme. Having finally made the trip to town, she was determined to buy everything needed. Xiaoxiao didnt care what her cheap husband thought anymore; she had once again entered her shopping spree mode. The trailing Yang Ming saw this side of Xiaoxiao for the first time and was struck dumb: was this the origin of the rumors? Looking at his hands, overloaded with parcels, he could barely hold on anymore. "Are we not done shopping yet?" "..." Only then did Xiaoxiao remember her free packhorse following behind. "Oh, were done shopping. Lets go, time to eat," she said, heading towards Yui Restaurant. Upon arriving at Yui Restaurant, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming took their seats in the hall. Just as they were about to order food, they saw three schrs approaching them. Could they be the cheap husbands ssmates? Xiaoxiao observed the three men carefully, sensing malice in their approach, and indeed it was so. "Brother Yang, what brings you here today? You normally cant afford to dine here. Whats up? Did you strike it rich?" "And this must be your ugly wife, truly living up to her reputation!" With that, they all burst into loudughter. "Its tough being poor; one can only afford to marry an ugly woman." The three went on mocking. Despite their schrly appearances, they spoke in a manner unbing of their status. Hearing these provocative and scornful words, Yang Ming didnt get angry. Instead, he settled Xiaoxiao down and continued ordering the meal. The three men, seeing their taunts unsessful, grew angrier. One of them grabbed Yang Mings arm: "Im talking to you. Didnt you hear me?" Yang Ming replied calmly: "Whether I can afford it or not is none of your concern; whom I marry is none of your concern. Moreover, my wife is the most beautiful in my eyes. Can you leave us now?" My goodness, Xiaoxiao felt a strange sensation of being indirectly flirted with. Yang Ming had some nerve, iming most beautiful. Beautiful, my foot! tantly lying without fear of biting his tongue. Yet, why did it feel so delightful inside? It felt like being defended! Hearing Yang Mings im of most beautiful, the three menughed even harder: "Yang Ming, you really dare to say it, huh? Look at how ugly she is! Hahahaha" "True, but after bragging it doesnt make any difference! Hahahaha" Hey, Xiaoxiaos temper red instantly, and she banged the table and stood up: "Beauty is something that can only be seen with the eyes of the heart! Beauty emanates from the depths of the soul." "Judging a persons beauty shouldnt be based solely on their appearance. True beauty lies in the soul. To be beautiful on the outside yet filthy inside is the real ugliness. You who judge by appearance alone are far too shallow. Is this how the Sages Book is read? Truly an eye-opener!" The people present fell silent upon hearing this, pondering over Xiaoxiaos words. Then, a crisp round of apuse rang out. "Well said!" Chapter 78: Public Declaration of Love

Chapter 78: Chapter 78: Public Deration of Love

Everyone turned their heads upon hearing the shout, only to hear three schrs and their own bargain husband all call out in unison, "Teacher!" Teacher? Like a school teacher? Xiaoxiao saw the neer who indeed looked like a learned man, just like those portrayed on TV, a schr with a beard. "Hmm, you three, did you feel ashamed after hearing what others had said?" The three schrs all hung their heads in silence,pletely devoid of their earlier arrogance. "Go back and write the Three Character ssic ten times!" Pfft! The Three Character ssic, are these guys still in their enlightenment phase? Writing lines? That really is like a primary schooler. The three answered hurriedly, then scurried away disheartened. "Good day, Teacher. This is my wife!" Seeing this, Yang Ming hurriedly introduced his wife to the teacher, as her words today had made him feel ashamed. On their wedding day, he had called his wife both ugly andzy. His reading of the Sages Book had been in vain, as it proved that judging by appearances was wrong. His wife was truly a person of substance; she was truly beautiful! "Good day, Teacher." Xiaoxiao, seeing Yang Ming make the introduction, quickly greeted the teacher as well. "Those words just now were truly wonderful. May I ask under which teacher you studied?" "You tter me, teacher. They are merely realizations Ivee to myself! I havent studied under any teacher!" Xiaoxiao didnt even know if her family had arranged for a teacher to teach her how to read. At that moment, the crowd recognized Xiaoxiao. "I know this youngdy. She has written couplets in the county town before, and they were exceptional! And those poems! Miss, do you still write? Ill go buy a scroll right now!" "..." Had she be famous? It seemed she must keep a lower profile in the future! "Theres something today, so lets not write now. Ill set up my stall another day if I get the chance!" Xiaoxiao tly refused, deciding it was better to keep a low profile. "What a pity!" The person looked very disappointed, missing out on the chance to see herpose on the spot. "Yang Ming, your wife writes great poetry. I wonder if I have the honor to observe?" The teacher always favored learned individuals and held no prejudice against women; his own daughter had been taught to be a talented woman and was very popr among the students at the Academy. Yang Ming wasnt sure if Xiaoxiao was willing, so he couldnt just answer; instead, he looked towards Xiaoxiao. Xiaoxiao didnt really want to, but considering her bargain husband was still studying at the Academy, it was better not to offend the teacher, so she nodded at Yang Ming. No need for dinner, a crowd gathered around, all wanting to see just how Xiaoxiao wrote! What in the world to write, Xiaoxiao was really in a quandary. To borrow from ancient poets again felt wrong. She really didnt have much ink in her stomach, always borrowing from the ancients was not ideal. Xiaoxiao thought about it and decided to use something from a TV series, from My Fair Princess where Ziwei said it; that probably wasnt from the ancients! But she couldnt remember clearly, she only remembered that one poem. So, she took up her brush: Be like the rock that stays steadfast, And I shall be like the reed that bends. The reed is flexible as silk, And the rock never shifts. Xiaoxiao really goofed this time, this was actually an ancient love poem, already written by someone from the past. She was truly bringing disaster on herself by making a public deration of love! By the time she realized it, it was toote, she was embarrassed beyond measure. Seeing this, everyone cast envious nces at Yang Ming. "Yang Ming, you are truly fortunate!" The teacher sincerely sighed; Yang Mings wife was a talented woman and also very bold,plementing Yang Ming well. The couple was quite well-matched. On the return trip, still in the ox cart, Yang Ming thought about his wifes love poem the whole way, feeling very pleased! Chapter 79 Cuihua Serve the Sauerkraut!

Chapter 79: Chapter 79 Cuihua Serve the Sauerkraut!

Xiaoxiao sat on the ox cart and noticed Cheap Husband forcing a smile, the corners of his mouth twitching unnaturally! This must be a serious affliction. Could it be that Cheap Husband cannot smile? Does he twitch every time he tries? Just writing a love poem made him twitch uncontrobly, what if she did this, that, and then that again... In the afternoon, when they got home and there was nothing much to do, Xiaoxiao suddenly remembered the sauerkraut she had pickled over a month ago. She immediately went to check on it, and sure enough, it was perfectly pickled. She decided to show off her cooking skills that evening, delighted at the thought of eating the sauerkraut. She wondered, does this count as self-sufficiency? In the kitchen "Third sister-inw, what on earth have you made? This smells quite potent!" The second sister-inw spoke while pinching her nose with one hand and waving the other in front of her face, showing clear disdain. "Second sister-inw, today Im going to treat you to one of my specialties. Just you wait and see!" Xiaoxiao elongated her words, her eyes twinkling with confidence. As they looked at the sauerkraut Xiaoxiao scooped out from the tub, and the white foam floating on top, they felt a bit nauseous. It felt like the invention had gone bad. Could it even be edible? The sisters-inw exchanged nces, incredulous. "Big sister, second sister, let me handle dinner tonight. Youve been exhausted from making spicy cabbage all day. Go rest; I can manage on my own." As she spoke, Xiaoxiao ushered her sisters-inw toward the door. The three sisters-inw had been living together for a long time, so without any protest, they left as advised. Xiaoxiao got busy in the kitchen. Suddenly, the door to the kitchen creaked open. Thinking her sisters-inw had returned, she didnt stop what she was doing and simply said, "Didnt I say I could handle it? Why are you back?" When no one responded, Xiaoxiao turned around and, to her surprise, it was Cheap Husband! Yang Ming had been in the house since the afternoon, wondering what Xiaoxiao had been so busy with all day. Seeing her not returning even as dinner time approached, he decided to check on her. Entering the kitchen, he saw Xiaoxiao busy by herself, truly a woman capable of managing a household. "Why have youe?" Yang Ming didnt respond and directly went to help Xiaoxiao with the fire. "..." This temperament, cant we just have a peaceful conversation? "Then help me chop those ribs," Xiaoxiao thought, why not utilize freebor if its avable? "Chop them this big" Receiving Xiaoxiaos order, Yang Ming began to chop noisily. "Scald this with water!" "Rinse this multiple times!" "..." "..." The kitchen echoed with Xiaoxiaos directives. Yang Ming wasnt upset, just did as he was told, thinking he shouldnt let her get too tired, now that he was home to help. Xiaoxiao, working on the sauerkraut and feeling blissful, asionally burst into song. Around our area, everyone is from the Northeast Around our area, Korean Ginseng is a local product Around our area, pork stewed with vermicelli Around our area, everyone is a living Lei Feng ... Listening to the strange lyricsing from Xiaoxiaos mouth and the peculiar tune, Yang Ming unexpectedly felt that this kind of life was not too bad. Perhaps influenced by the atmosphere, Yang Mings mood also improved,pletely letting go of the issue with his younger brother. Xiaoxiao, immersed in singing, finished the dish, and as the song came to its climax, she suddenly shouted, "Cuihua, bring out the sauerkraut!" "..." Cuihua? Whos she calling? Chapter 80: If my fourth brother can’t do it, can I?

Chapter 80: Chapter 80: If my fourth brother cant do it, can I?

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming brought the dishes to the table, but no one in the family dared to pick up their chopsticks. The reason was that both daughters-inw had just stated that the food had a strange taste. Still, Yang Dong ate it graciously. "Third sister-inw, this is really delicious!" "What is this called again?" "Youre amazing, you could probably sell this in a restaurant!" "This vor, it goes so well with rice!" "..." As he chewed, Yang Dong talked. After spending so much time together, he and his third sister-inw always seemed to find themselves talking more. "This is something I pickled with Chinese cabbage, called sauerkraut. Eating a pot of this during winter is just so delicious! You should grab more meat, it tastes even better dipped in this." As Xiaoxiao spoke, she passed the garlic sauce she made to Yang Dong. "Hmm, this is tasty." Yang Dong kept eating andmenting as he dipped his food in the garlic sauce. Seeing the interaction between his wife and his younger brother, Yang Ming felt an unpleasant emotion stirring inside. When would he and his wife ever talk like that? "Come on, everyone, eat up!" Seeing that no one was moving their chopsticks, Xiaoxiao promptly urged them. After all, a Northeastern Chinese winter dinner table couldnt be without sauerkraut! Yang Ming was the first to pick up his chopsticks. Xiaoxiao, watching him, felt he knew the score. Wasnt a sham marriage all about putting on an act for others? After eating, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming went back to their room. Xiaoxiao had been thinking about hiring someone to chant Buddhist scriptures and cook lunch. She had considered giving these jobs to rtives, so she hadnt asked the Vige Chief to find someone. She wasnt familiar with the rtives, so she thought it best to ask Yang Ming. "Id like to find someone to watch the yard at night, and someone else to cook lunch. Its best if its someone from our own family. You know our rtives better, who do you think would be suitable?" "For cooking, how about Great Aunt? She has a real knack for it. For watching the yard, we can use Fourth Brother!" Actually, his suggestion to have Fourth Brother take the job was also driven by his selfish motives. Their family would be better off keeping things as they were for now; if it really didnt work out, theyd deal with it then, but not yet. "Fourth Brother? No, that wont do!" Xiaoxiao hadnt even thought about it before she decisively refused. She felt that Fourth Brother was already tired from a days work and needed a good nights sleep, especially since at fifteen, he was at the age where a young mans body was growing. But to Yang Ming, her words had a different meaning. He thought she didnt want Fourth Brother to leave. "If Fourth Brother wont do, am I suitable then?" Yang Mings face had turned cold, and after dropping that remark, he wanted to hear her response. Because it was dim in the room at night, Xiaoxiao didnt see Yang Mings dark and gloomy facial expression. Even if she had, she probably wouldnt have thought much of it, as Yang Mings face was usually expressionless, except when it twitched asionally. "Youre so smart, why didnt I think of that! This solution is perfect, it solves all the problems." Yang Ming could use watching the yard as a pretext to live separately from her, which would be ideal! So, in high spirits, she even praised Yang Ming for his intelligence,pletely unaware that Yang Mings mood had turned ice cold upon hearing her response. "Then you can start moving over there tomorrow." "..." She indeed chose for Fourth Brother to stay over herself. Yang Ming didnt speak, and the conversation ended like that, with both of them washing up and going to sleep. The next day, the workers arrived, and Great Aunt was enlisted to cook the midday meal; everything at work was on track. That evening, Xiaoxiao discovered that it was Fourth Brother who had moved over to keep watch over the yard, not Yang Ming. What was going on? How could Yang Ming go back on his word like that? After a few days of getting along and the good impression beginning to build, it was instantly gone. Negative rating! Negative rating! Chapter 81: Shocking Secrets!

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Shocking Secrets!

The deadline for returning the books was rapidly approaching; however, because she had been busy all along, Xiaoxiao had only copied three of them, with two still untouched! "Yang Ming, there are two more for you to copy, they must be returned in a fortnight! You need to hurry up, okay?" Xiaoxiaos tone wasmanding, brooking no refusal from Yang Ming, and he was in no position to refuse anyway, given his change of heart and backtracking. Meanwhile, Xiaoxiao busied herself arranging her bras and panties. Shed promised her older sister-inw and second sister-inw to make them and had been dragging her feet. Now, with some free time, she could finally get to it, and she was eager to pick up her old trade againstarting with a bit of practice. But she hadnt been at it for long when she heard someone approaching from outside. "Second sister-inw, second sister-inw, something terrible has happened!" The person arrived with swift steps, flurriedly entering the main house. Recognizing the voice as her aunt by marriages, Xiaoxiao quickly got off the kang, wondering what had happened this time. Yang Ming followed closely behind her. Upon entering, they saw their mother sobbing pitifully while their fathersplexion was also rather bleak. What on earth was going on now! "Third child, Xiaoqiu is in trouble! What should we do?" The moment the mother saw Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming enter, she clutched Yang Ming and cried breathlessly. "Auntie, what happened?" Yang Mingforted his mother, then turned to inquire about the news from his aunt by marriage. "News came from my natal family, saying Xiaoqiu is having a difficultbor. The child has not been born after two days, they fear she might not make it!" The aunt by marriage quickly ryed the message she had brought. Xiaoxiao felt utterly confused upon hearing this. Difficultbor? And who was Xiaoqiu? Then she heard her aunt by marriage exim, "Hurry and go over, maybe you can still see her for thest time!" Listening to this, Yang Ming said just one sentence to Xiaoxiao, "You wait at home!" Then he rushed out the door along with his parents. Xiaoxiao was left behind,pletely unclear about the situation. She hastily asked her aunt by marriage who Xiaoqiu was, and unexpectedly unearthed a shocking secret! Xiaoqiu turned out to be Yang Mings sister, Yang Qiu, who was fifteen years olda twin, along with Yang Dong. Yang Ming also had another sister, Yang Xia, who was seventeen. Yang Mings grandfather, while he was alive, had done the unthinkable; the girls born in Yang Mings generation were sent away to be child brides. The absurd reason, which to Xiaoxiao seemed like an enormous joke, was that when Yang Mings grandfather was thirty, a soothsayer from Jianghu had prophesied that to ensure prosperity in their lineage, his granddaughters had to be sent away, hence Yang Mings aunts and nieces were left unharmed, but his sisters suffered the fate! Xiaoxiao was bbergasted upon hearing this, while her aunt by marriage spoke of it with profound sorrow, for her two daughters had also been taken away in simr fashion. Xiaoxiao then found it oddhow could it be that her generation in the Yang Family only consisted of males? Impossible, and utterly unscientific! Didnt her own extended family have a girlherself? "Auntie, how is Xiaoqius husbands family?" "Ah..." That meant her inws were no good. Xiaoxiao thought for a moment. With difficultborsting two or three days, there was still a chance that Xiaoqiu could survive if they focused on saving the mother. This wouldnt do; she had to go. Given her inws guileless nature and Yang Mings schrly disposition, they would probably end up just collecting a body. She therefore said to her aunt by marriage: "Auntie, our Yang Family has so many men. Call all of them; we must go. If the inws are lousy, having more of us might intimidate them. Perhaps we can still save Xiaoqius life!" "I fear theyll be too scared to go." "..." Was the other party some kind of terrifying demon? No time to waste! She ignored her aunt by marriage and, after getting the address, she immediately left the house! Chapter 82 Brothers, Charge

Chapter 82: Chapter 82 Brothers, Charge

Wang Family Vige A carriage rolled into the entrance of the vige, packed to the brim with barely enough room to sit. On it, a girl and ten strappingds! This sight left onlookers agape with astonishment. "Madam, how do I get to Wang Ergous house?" "Go straight down this road, make a left, and its thest house on the end," the woman replied hurriedly, frightened by the sight of all the burly men. "Thank you, madam." Xiaoxiao quickly got back into the carriage to leave, as rescuing someone was urgent. She left behind a crowd abuzz with discussion. "They are heading to Wang Ergous house?" "Since when did they have such rtives?" "They dont look like rtives, more like theyre here to settle scores!" "Look at that bunch, each one tall and powerfully built!" "Lets go, lets go, lets hurry over and watch!" "..." "..." The carriage hadnt reached Wang Ergous house when they saw from afar people fighting! Xiaoxiao looked over and what did she see? Good heavens, it was her husband on the cheap! She had never expected that Yang Ming, the schr, could be so violent, an aspect of him worthy of a second look. Damn, it was three against one, and Yang Ming was at a disadvantage. The inws were at the side, pulling at the fighters and crying. Oh, Xiaoxiaos temper red. "Brothers, go get them." Upon hearing Xiaoxiaosmand, the strongmen leaped out of the carriage and rushed towards the three aggressors. As Yang Ming fought, he suddenly noticed a grouping to his aid, and before he knew it, he was being pulled away from the fray. As he wondered what was happening, he caught sight of his wifes face. What was she doing here? "Leave them to handle this, we need to go!" Without giving Yang Ming time to think, Xiaoxiao dragged him inside, with the inws following closely behind. Behind them, a massive brawl unfolded, shocking the onlookers who hade for the spectacle. "Quick, go and fetch the Vige Chief." A voice called out from within the crowd. Xiaoxiao didnt care who wasing. On their way there, she had already instructed the men to subdue their opponents, no need to maim or kill. Xiaoxiao pondered; Yang Ming and the others had arrived earlier than her and hadnt entered yet because they were denied entry. Yang Mings argument had turned to a fight, and it was fortunate that she had brought reinforcements. Finally, they entered the house. "Who let you in?" An old man, seeing the neers, immediately began to scold and shout, "Get out now!" "Wheres Yang Qiu?" Xiaoxiao didnt care who this man was; the only thing on her mind was to quickly find Yang Qiu. Giving birth was no joke; she had said that giving birth at fifteen could be fatal, and now it was really happening - a difficultbor! "Speak! Where is Yang Qiu?" Yang Ming grabbed the old mans cor like an enraged lion, his thoughts consumed by the worry that his sister might not make it. It was the first time Xiaoxiao had seen such an expression on Yang Ming, his normally unchanging face now showing one of both worry and anger for his sister. "Theyre beating up someone, beating up someone, somebody help!" "Someone is breaking in and going after my old mans life!" As he said this, he sat on the ground wailing, ying the victim. He was determined to bring all three of his sons inside. By this time, the fight outside had ended, and ten stalwart men brought the old mans three sons inside, walking them in while warning, "Nobody move, behave!" The old man on the ground was dumbfounded by the scene before him. Xiaoxiao surveyed the situation inside the house; something was definitely amiss. There was no sight of women, which was strange! With a pregnant woman in the house, there should be midwives anddies bustling about. Xiaoxiao had a sinking feeling that something was wrong. "Search the ce!" Chapter 83 Yang Qiu in the Cellar

Chapter 83: Chapter 83 Yang Qiu in the Cer

Xiaoxiao had never imagined that she would find Yang Qiu barely clinging to life in the cer. Looking at the cold and dpidated ce where the girly quietly, seemingly devoid of any sign of life, Xiaoxiaos heart ached immensely. "You relentless bastards, give me back my daughter! Give her back! Ah! Ah!" The mother-inw immediately burst into tears, her cries piercing the heavens. The usually soft and weak mother-inw hadpletely broken down, and the father-inw, a grown man, also shed tears of pain at the sight of his daughter in such a state. As for Yang Ming, seeing his sister in this condition, he was stunned into soulless disbelief. Only Xiaoxiao remained calm; she pushed aside the old midwife blocking Yang Qiu and checked for her breathing. To Xiaoxiaos surprise, there was still breath. Perhaps she had merely fainted from exhaustion, and there might still be hope for her. She immediately shouted to Yang Ming: "Yang Ming, quick, take your sister out, shes still breathing!" At this moment, Yang Ming, hearing Xiaoxiaos words, finally snapped back to reality. His sister was still alive, not dead. He hurriedly stepped forward and carefully picked up his sister as Xiaoxiao had instructed. His fifteen-year-old sister, at the verge of childbirth, felt so light in his arms, seemingly not even ny pounds. How miserable her life had been these past years! His eyes reddened, his vision blurred with teardrops, until finally, two clear streams of tears ran down his cheeks. "Who are you people? You cant take away my daughter-inw, my grandson hasnt been born yet!" An old midwife stepped forward to stop them, followed by two other women, likely her daughters-inw. Heh, shes nearly gone, what about "your sister"? "Hold them." Xiaoxiao immediately signaled the strong men she had brought, and the women finally calmed down. The old midwife, who had just been pushed away by Xiaoxiao, was now cowering in a corner, utterly frightened. This was the worst "job" she had taken on in her years of practice; never had she delivered a baby in a cer. It was a first for her, but this family was notoriously dishonorable, so she had no choice but to do it against her better judgment, worried that it might ruin her reputation as a midwife foreverno one would dare to seek her services afterward! "Are you the midwife?" Xiaoxiao quickly asked, as Yang Qius life was still dependent on the midwife! "Yes... yes, I am," the midwife replied, shaking with fear. "Hurry up and follow, my sisters life is in your hands." Hearing these words, the midwife was utterly terrified. How heavy a responsibilityit was a matter of life! Yet seeing the seriousness of the group, she could only obediently follow along. Yang Ming carried his sister into the house, and Xiaoxiao swiftly made her way onto the kang, spread out a nket, and directed him toy down Yang Qiu. Then she turned to the midwife and asked, "Whats the situation? Why cant the babye out?" "The baby stirred too early due to inadequate months, a premature birth. The family insisted on saving the little one, which led to this dy!" "We now need to save the mother. Is there any chance of saving her?" "To save the mother, Ill need to help push the baby out when she gives birth. But she no longer has the strength!" Hearing this, Xiaoxiao quickly turned to her inws and said, "Dad, mom, stop crying. Theres still hope for my sister. Go to the kitchen quickly and make some food for her, some sugar water. She doesnt have the strength to give birth!" Upon hearing that their daughter might still be saved, the two elders immediately busied themselves following Xiaoxiaos instructions. Outside the room. "Let me go, you people will not end well!" "Im going to report you all, you cant kill my grandson!" The old midwife continued shouting, giving Xiaoxiao a headache. Xiaoxiao opened the door and said: "Keep yelling, and Ill sew your mouths shut!" Suddenly, it was quiet inside the house. All mouths were closed, fearing she might actually sew their mouths shut. Chapter 84: The Adult Saved the Day

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: The Adult Saved the Day

Xiaoxiao returned to the room and suddenly noticed that Yang Qius eyebrows furrowed slightly. Xiaoxiao was ecstatic; Yang Qiu might be waking up. She was conscious. This must have been the pain of contractions waking her, she thought. A friend had told her that childbirth contractions were extremely painful,ing in waves. She had to take this opportunity to wake her up and get her to eat something quickly. "Yang Qiu, listen to me, I am your sister-inw from your maternal family. Your mother, your father, and your brother are all waiting for you outside. You must wake up..." Xiaoxiao kept saying, hoping to awaken Yang Qiu. She saw tears falling from Yang Qius tightly closed eyes. She had heard her; she was lucid. Xiaoxiao couldnt be happier. "You need to wake up quickly and eat something so you have the strength to give birth!" "Dont be afraid, we will take you away from your inws and bring you back to your own home. No one will bully you again..." Xiaoxiao continued her earnest efforts, even causing the midwife beside her to fight back tears. At that moment, the mother-inw had already prepared sugar water and brought it over. As soon as she came in, she yelled at Yang Qiu: "Xiaoqiu, I am your mother! I am the mother who gave birth to you and raised you. Its my fault I have no ability. I let your grandfather send you away! Sob sob!" Finally, Yang Qiu opened her eyes and said weakly, "Mother?" "Yes! Drink quickly! You need strength! Ill go get you something to eat right now!" The mother-inws hands shook with excitement, and she managed to feed a bowl of sugar water to Yang Qiu with trembling hands. Then she hurried out to get more food! "Dont be afraid, dont talk, and dont cry. Save your strength, understand?" Yang Qiu kept silently weeping. Just as she started to speak, Xiaoxiao covered her mouth with her hand. Seeing Yang Qiu like this, Xiaoxiao thought it best to conserve her energy; there was still a major battle ahead. Later, the food that the mother-inw brought was fed to Yang Qiu. "Lets start the delivery!" The midwife shouted. Xiaoxiao also started to get nervous; it was her first time witnessing a live childbirth. She was incredibly scared. "Inhale, exhale! Inhale, exhale!" "Dont shout loudly, save your energy!" "When I tell you to push hard, push harder! Give it one big push!" "Alright, start pushing!" "I see the head!" "Push harder!" "..." "..." The midwife was directing while also pressing on Yang Qius stomach. Yang Qiu let out a cry of "Ah" and passed out. The child was born! But there was no crying. After several attempts, there was still no cry. It seemed that the baby might not have made it. "The child is not breathing!" "What?" Xiaoxiao had been prepared to prioritize the mother, but hearing that the child had not made it still made her feel such a pity. It was a living life, after all. "Quick, check on the mother!" "The mother is fine; theres no major blood loss, she just fainted!" After hearing this, Xiaoxiao finally rxed a bit. At least the mother was alive. Afterwards, several people started to take care of Yang Qiu. Only then did Xiaoxiao step out of the room. As soon as she left, Xiaoxiao began to vomit. She had been truly frightened by the sight of childbirth, the sight of the child, as purple as could be and as small as a puppy, lifeless, making her feel sick to her stomach! Yang Ming saw Xiaoxiaoe out and immediately came forward to support her, "Are you alright?" "Im fine, the mother is safe!" Yang Ming let out a sigh of relief after hearing this, relieved that his sister was finally out of danger. Xiaoxiao, whose nerves had been taut, finally felt a sense of relief. She scanned the room, and noticed, huh? Why are there so many people? Chapter 85: She is Bought by Me

Chapter 85: Chapter 85: She is Bought by Me

By then, a crowd had already gathered inside the house, and only because of the restraint imposed by ten strong men was everyone waiting for the delivery to end. "Vige Chief, it was her who brought these people here. Look, theyve beaten up our entire family!" At first, the old man pointed at Xiaoxiao and shouted at another elderly man. "That wretch is fine, but wheres my grandson?" Only the old woman was still concerned about her grandson. Xiaoxiao realized that the old man was Yang Qius father-inw, and the old woman was his mother-inw. They had actually summoned the vige chief. "Vige Chief, my sister was having a difficult birth, and they wouldnt let us in, so we had to force our way in. We apologize for any offense." Before Xiaoxiao could speak, Yang Ming protected her behind him and started exining to the Vige Chief. "What in the world is going on here?" At this moment, the Vige Chief was also afraid; scared by those ten strong men, he didnt want to get involved in trouble, but he couldnt avoid this significant issue. "My grandson, what about my grandson?" The old woman struggled to her feet, trying to rush towards Yang Qius room. Xiaoxiao immediately said, "The child didnt survive!" "What did you say? Give me back my grandson, give back my grandson." The news drove the old woman mad, and she lunged at Xiaoxiao to grab her. Startled by this sudden turn of events, Xiaoxiao still reacted quickly enough for Yang Ming to block the assault, and the crowd managed to pull the crazed woman away. However, Yang Mings face was scratched, leaving a bloody mark. "You lot of cursed creatures, I will report you to the government office!" The old woman continued to cry and scream! Xiaoxiao scoffed disdainfully: "Its not clear yet who will sue whom! I will use you of attempted murder!" "Vige Chief, when we came here because my sister was giving birth, they wouldnt let us in. We suspected something was wrong, and rightly so. We found my sister in the cer. Who gives birth in a cer? If we had note, my sister would have died! Isnt that attempted murder?" At this moment, Yang Ming was also furious, determined to seek justice for his sister. "How dare you! Well give birth wherever we choose. What business is it of yours? We wanted to save our grandson, and wouldnt you do the same?" The onlookers were shocked upon hearing this. The Vige Chief found himself in a tough spot. After all, it is not his ce to intervene in the decisions of childbirth and who gets protected! Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao was infuriated: "We dont care about that, but could you please exin the premature birth and the injuries on Yang Qiu?" Once brought up, the crazed woman shut her mouth, and the family members all avoided eye contact, refusing to mention it! "Who here is Wang Ergou? If hes sensible, hell write the divorce papers immediately!" It was then that a man in his twenties stood up: "I wont divorce! I bought her! I can beat her if I want!" It turned out that Yang Qiu was beaten into prematurebor by her own husband! This was inhumane. Yang Qiu would eventually die in this family; she must be saved. "Its your choice, go to court or divorce!" Although Wang Ergous family were scoundrels, they were also afraid of going to jail. The cells at the government office were no ce for humans. It was their fear that led them to choose the cer, hoping to deal with her death quietly if it came to that. They never anticipated being discovered! The old man thought it over; unable to face jail, he then said, "We can divorce, but you must pay Silver. We paid a good sum for her originally!" Chapter 86 Don’t be afraid, we’ll take you home

Chapter 86: Chapter 86 Dont be afraid, well take you home

"Alright, how much do you want?" Xiaoxiao thought that any problem that could be solved with money wasnt a problem at all. If a person was gone, they were gone forever, and no amount of money could bring them back! "One hundred taels!" the old man shouted aloud. Those present gasped at the figure; one hundred taels was a significant sum, and this family didnt look wealthy from their appearance. "One hundred taels? Why dont you just rob someone?" Xiaoxiao truly hadnt expected that a farmer would dare to ask for such an exorbitant amount. She had thought twenty taels would suffice. "Could you perhaps ask for less? We truly dont have that much silver." The grandmother, not knowing when she had appeared, was wailing as though she were pleading with someone. Oh dear, couldnt she just hold back from causing amotion? Momentum! Momentum! Just like that, it was gone! Yang Ming saw the helpless look on Xiaoxiaos face and knew his mother was speaking out of turn. He quickly pulled his mother aside and whispered, "Dont talk for now." Then he addressed the old man, "For all the vigers and the Vige Chief to witness, twenty taels of silver to redeem the indenture contract. Otherwise, well have to take this before the authorities!" The Wang Family was also calcting, thinking to ask for as much as they could get. With the money, they wouldnt have to worry about not being able to afford a wife for Er Gouzi, but looking into Yang Qius eyes, they feared they might indeed have to face the county government office. "Twenty taels wont do, at least fifty taels! My grandsons life is also worth something!" Wow, talk about thick-skinned, truly shameless, Xiaoxiao thought, eager to end this ordeal. Yang Qiu was still waiting for them! Fifty taels it would bethese people had to be able to stomach that. They would deal with themter. And so: "Fine, fifty taels it is." People around couldnt help but sigh again at this; this family must really be wealthy, they thought, even though it wasnt apparent. Xiaoxiao immediately took out a fifty tael silver note and, in the presence of the Vige Chief and the vigers, retrieved the indenture contract. Since it was a matter of servitude, there was no need for a divorce paper; they could just re-register at the county government office. Yang Ming, seeing Xiaoxiao casually pull out fifty taels of silver, was quite puzzled; he had initially thought to agree to twenty taels and then go back to scrape the rest together. So he asked in a low voice, "Where did you get the silver?" "I embezzled public funds!" "..." By now, Yang Qiu had woken up. Listening to the noises outside, she was silently shedding tears. "My girl, stop crying. Its not good for your health to cry during confinement." "Its all good now, youre going home. Your family hase to get you. There are plenty of good days ahead!" "Your sister-inw is really amazing; without her, you might not have made it!" "..." The midwife advised her persistently and with a heavy heartshe truly pitied the girl. And with that, the matter came to a close. The onlookers, seeing there was no more excitement to be had, all went back home. Xiaoxiao also let the ten strong men go back first. "Vige Chief, a little token of gratitude for your help. Please find us a cart and prepare some quilts; we have to take my sister home. We cant let her get cold!" Whilst saying this, Xiaoxiao handed over two taels of silver to the Vige Chief. The Vige Chief, upon seeing the two taels of silver, knew it was more than enough for the task. He swiftly went to make the arrangements, and soon the ox cart arrived. s, on such a bitterly cold day, to endure this hardship right after giving birth was unfortunate, but they had no choicethey had to leave this ce. Xiaoxiao found Yang Qius clothes, then entered the house with Yang Ming. "Dont be afraid, were taking you home." Xiaoxiao wrapped Yang Qiu up warmly and had Yang Ming carry her onto the ox cart. The family then left the Wang Familys vige like that. Chapter 87 The First Time Going Home

Chapter 87: Chapter 87 The First Time Going Home

As soon as they entered the vige, they noticed that the other three brothers of the Yang Family were anxiously waiting at the entrance. They had just heard the news and were too desperate not to wait at the vige entrance. "Lets talk when we get back home," said Old Master Yang. Seeing his daughter in such a state this time, he was initially panicked and did not know what to do. However, when he saw that the third daughter-inw had gone, he inexplicably felt that she would surely be able to save his daughter. Thats why he kept silent the whole time, and indeed, the third daughter-inw seeded! Once the family arrived home, Yang Qiu was arranged to stay in the fourth sons room, lying on the kang (traditional bed-stove), her heart incredibly heavy. This was the first time she hade home. Being sent away to be a child bride since she was a child, she had endured countless beatings. At first, she thought that the family despised her for being a girl, butter she learned that she was sold by her family to be a child bride. She was filled with hatred, wondering why her family had sold her. Later, as she grew older, she inadvertently discovered that her family had tried to find her numerous times, only to be turned away at the door by her inws. Slowly, she understood the reasons for being sold and stopped hating her parents, onlymenting why she wasnt born a boy. She thought she was surely going to die this time and that she would finally be free, but to her surprise, her family descended from the heavens and gave her hope! She had finally returned home. "Dad, I see that my little sister is covered in wounds. We need to find a doctor to take a look at her quickly!" Yang Qiu was lost in thought when she heard her third sister-inw utter these words. "No!" she frantically said, trying to get up as tears uncontrobly flowed. "You lie down quickly, dont move." Xiaoxiao immediately stepped in to stop Yang Qiu, who was alreadycking strength; she shouldnt be moving around. "A doctor must take a look! You have so many injuries!" Yang Qiu did not speak but kept crying non-stop, leaving Xiaoxiao truly at a loss as to why she was acting this way! It was the eldest sister-inw who pulled Xiaoxiao aside and whispered a reminder, "Third little sister-inw, is it possible that little sister is afraid of a doctor seeing her body? After all, doctors are all men!" Only then did Xiaoxiao realize the problem. In modern times, there are many male gynecologists; is someone in her condition still concerned about this? How on earth do the minds of the women here work, and whats the best way to persuade her? "Dad, why dont you and the others go have some dinner? We women will stay behind to have a good talk with little sister." Having said that, she signaled Yang Ming to lead everyone out for dinner. Yang Ming knew that it was indeed not appropriate for them to stay and talk at this time, so he left. "Yang Qiu, how are you feeling right now?" "These external injuries arent a big deal; Ive gotten used to them, so theres really no need to see a doctor." Everyone felt extremely heartbroken upon hearing this, evident that the numerous new and old wounds showed she was often beaten. How had such a young girl managed to endure? Xiaoxiao thought to herself, this young girl had been tormented so badly. Since she didnt want to see a doctor, they wouldnt insist, in order to preserve herst bit of dignity. "Alright, we wont see a doctor. Well do as you wish. How about we buy some medicine for external wounds, and the third sister-inw can help you apply it, okay?" "Mm!" Yang Qius tensed body finally rxed; she felt at ease, her breathing gradually steadied, and she slowly fell asleep. After everyone had dinner, the mother-inw stayed to take care of Yang Qiu, while the others went back to their rooms to rest. As soon as Xiaoxiao returned to her room, she received words of gratitude from Yang Ming. "Im really thankful for what you did today!" His thankfulness was genuine; without her, he had no idea what the oue would have been! "If it werent for you hiring ten strong men..." "..." Strong men? Chapter 88: Big Brother-in-Law, Little Brother-in-Law

Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Big Brother-in-Law, Little Brother-in-Law

Xiaoxiao was at a loss for words. Where would she hire ten strong men? This misunderstanding was serious. "They were not hired strong men!!!" "They were your eldest uncle, your younger uncle, our Zhong family men!" "Impressive, right?" Fortunately, Wang Family Vige was just next door to her parents home. Due to the time crunch, Xiaoxiao had just passed by her parents home and called out. The response was impressive, everyone showed up. She felt quite proud of herself. Having a group of brother-obsessed brothers and sister-obsessed brothers was really something, even though they did look quite fierce. "..." Yang Ming had never expected this. He thought those people were hired and to meet his elder and younger uncles under such circumstances was really embarrassing! Considering how much Xiaoxiaos family had helped, "Lets go to your parents house tomorrow and thank them." "Thanks... theres really no need! Were pretending, and its best if you see less of my parents!" Xiaoxiao spoke from her heart. If they hadnt met at the start, it was best to keep it that way since she didnt know when she would leave. After hearing this, Yang Ming felt uneasy. Was she determined to leave? She wouldnt even let him meet her family? He was also frustrated inside, You dont want me to meet them, but I insist on meeting them. "Tomorrow well go to your parents house. Its settled!" "Hey!" Xiaoxiao was just about to speak. "Itste, lets sleep. Well leave first thing tomorrow!" "..." The next morning, after informing their family, the two of them headed to Xiaoxiaos parents house. It was Yang Mings first time visiting Stone Vige. In their custom, the groom does not need to visit; the bride is directly sent to the grooms house with a bridal sedan chair. Since they were going to her parents house, Xiaoxiao still prepared gifts, bringing the kimchi and pickled vegetables she made herself. Upon entering the house, they immediately saw two elders seated at the head of the table. "Son-inw Yang Ming, greeting my father-inw and mother-inw." Yang Ming greeted them with a very polite bow and sped hands. However, the two elders were not impressed as they did not like Yang Ming, the poor schr. If it werent for their daughter insisting on marrying him, they would have preferred to keep her with them for a few more years. "Hmph!" Mr. Zhong snorted disdainfully. Seeing this, Xiaoxiao quickly tried to smooth things over, pouting and saying, "Dad, dont be like that. I chose my husband myself. If you dont like him, that means you dont like me, hmph!" The two elders then softened because no one was more important than their daughter. During lunch, those ten strong men showed up, and Yang Ming made a toast to each, thanking them. Yang Ming seemed like a nerdy schr, but his public rtions skills turned out to be quite good. Seeing that there was no need to worry, Xiaoxiao also felt relieved and began to eat heartily. Midway through, an extra piece of meat appeared in her bowl. Yang Ming had added it. "..." They were a fake couple after all, just putting on an act, but wasnt Yang Ming going overboard? "Eat more! Its for two people!" "..." Wasnt this acting a bit too much? Everyone at the dinner table was stunned when they heard Yang Mings words, "Two people?" It was the mother-inw who asked. "Son-inw, what do you mean by two people?" "Were expecting!" Yang Ming said shyly! Aside from Xiaoxiaos mother, who was deep in thought after hearing this, everyone else at the table was overjoyed; they were determined to have a grandchild this time. Mr. Zhong was even more delighted, "Daughter, put in some effort, make sure its a girl, ha! Its all up to you now!" "..." Hey, hey, hey! Isnt it a bitte to exert any effort now? Whether its a boy or a girl was decided from the start, right! Chapter 89: You’re not here, whose child are you carrying?

Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Youre not here, whose child are you carrying?

The men were drinking, but Xiaoxiaos mother grew restless. She saw Xiaoxiao finish her meal and immediately pulled her away from the table and into the room. "Sweetheart, did you get your period?" "..." Why is she asking again? Didnt they say I was pregnant? How could a pregnant woman still get periods! "I havent!" "No period? Then what child are you carrying?" Xiaoxiaos mother grew even more worried when she heard this! "..." Huh, Xiaoxiao was confused. Isnt not having a period a sign of pregnancy? How does not having one suddenly mean the opposite? "Sweetheart, you must be mistaken. What are we going to do, your inws will be so disappointed!" "..." "Look at your husband, he was so happy when he said he was going to be a father!" "..." Cough! Cough! Without the memories of her original self, Xiaoxiao had vomited and hadnt gotten her period, so she assumed something must have happened with Yang Ming before their marriage. Moreover, since Yang Ming did not deny it upon his return, she foolishly believed it. Shepletely forgot to check first and confirm. Maybe she was just having stomach troubles. Such a careless fool she wasimagine the jokes if it turned out she was not pregnant! The whole vige was almost aware that she was. "Mom, why do you say that Im not pregnant?" "Didnt you say you havent gotten your period? You havent had it for fifteen years, so what baby could you possibly be carrying? Ive never heard of a girl who can have a child without ever having a period!" "..." How could she forget that? Being fifteen and not having started her periods was quite normal, but, is it really true that a woman cant get pregnant without having periods? She felt clueless as she hadnt looked into this in the modern world! However, if she really wasnt pregnant, that would be wonderful. So, excited, she pulled her mother, "Mom, lets hurry to the hospital, oh, no, mom, lets go find a doctor!" As they passed through the outer room, Old Father Zhong spotted them, "Where are you two off to!" "Were going to Li Chuntaos house. Oh, you guys just keep eating; dont worry about us." Xiaoxiao said this as she pulled her mother out, found a bullock cart, and headed to the towns clinic, feeling very anxious along the way. Clinic Xiaoxiao and her mother waited in line for a while and finally it was their turn. "Doctor, Id like to check if I have a positive pulse." "Youngdy, stretch out your arm please!" Xiaoxiao did as instructed, extending her arm for the doctor, who felt her pulse. After a while, the doctor said, "Miss, Im sorry, its not a positive pulse." Sorry? Not at all sorry, knowing that she wasnt pregnant, she was more relieved than ever. They paid the consultation fee and happily went home. Seeing her daughter so happy, her mother grew worried. How were they going to exin this to her son-inw? What were they going to tell the inws? Xiaoxiao, noticing her mothers concern, said, "Mom, dont worry, Ill exin everything to them. You just act like you dont know anything!" The two returned home in the afternoon. Upon arriving, Xiaoxiao began to pack her clothes. She decided to take them back with her, considering constantly buying new ones was expensive. This way, she could save some money. "Sweetheart, didnt I tell you? You are still young. Its best to be together in the marital chamber after you get your period. Didnt I ask you to discuss it with Yang Ming?" Xiaoxiaos mother felt heartbroken thinking about her daughter being so young and yet consummating the marriage. Huh! Whats this situation? From what Mom said, was her original self still a maiden when she got married? And what about her so-called husband happily iming the baby upon hearing of the pregnancy? Xiaoxiao was utterly baffled! Chapter 90 Yang Ming, Let’s Get Divorced

Chapter 90: Chapter 90 Yang Ming, Lets Get Divorced

On the way back, Xiaoxiao couldnt stop thinking about the matter. She just couldnt understand how she, clearly still a maiden, could have been mistaken as pregnant, and what was even more baffling was that someone actually acknowledged the child. She had to figure this out! She needed to ask Yang Ming. That evening, both of them returned to their room. Xiaoxiao voiced out the confusion in her heart! "Yang Ming, why did you acknowledge the child? Did I really carry your baby?" "..." How should he answer? He hadnt consummated their marriage with her, and she knew it! He thought she wouldnt ask since she must have assumed the child was someone elses, but she had asked after all. "I am clearly still a virgin, we havent consummated the marriage, how could I possibly have a child?" "When everyone was saying I was pregnant, I naively believed it! I thought I carried your child! Do you think Im aplete fool now?" "What did you say?" She was still a maiden? The child was just a fabrication! She thought the child was his? He felt an inexplicable surge of excitement. "What what, Im asking you why you acknowledged the child!" She was really fed up with this blockhead. Yang Ming thought that it would be impossible to keep this hidden, it would be better to tell the truth. "Because my fourth brother said he wanted to marry you, everyone misunderstood, thinking that the two of you had gotten together, and that you were pregnant with his child." Heh, that little brat, really knew how to stir up trouble! He dared to say anything! "Im sorry, I imed the child was mine to prevent a scandal from besmirching our family; I misunderstood you!" Hehe, hehe, how wonderful, they cant have a scandal? She had been wholeheartedly devoted to this family, only to end up in such a predicament, with nobody believing in her innocence, how wonderful indeed! Perhaps what hurt her more was that her own nominal husband actually thought so too. "Yang Ming, lets get divorced!" Xiaoxiaos heart felt dead, she was truly hurt! Upon hearing Xiaoxiaos words, Yang Ming felt extreme panic inside. He was terrified, feeling that his wife really was about to leave him. As if possessed, he stepped forward and held Xiaoxiao tight in his arms, saying repeatedly, "Im sorry, Im sorry, lets not divorce, lets not divorce!" Xiaoxiao, startled by this sudden embrace, tried to break free, but she couldnt escape his hold. Yang Ming was afraid that after his wife broke free, she would never pay attention to him again, so he held on with all his might to prevent her from leaving. At that moment, Xiaoxiao broke down, feeling wronged for herself, she cried bitterly in Yang Mings arms until she cried herself to sleep, exhausted. Yang Ming ced the sleeping Xiaoxiao into the bed, covered her carefully with the quilt, and sat there without sleeping, quietly watching her. Seeing his wife cry her heart out, his own heart was in anguish, a feeling he had never experienced in his twenty years. When Xiaoxiao mentioned divorce, he was so scared, his heart pounding as he held her. He didnt want to lose her, he thought he might have developed feelings for his own wife. In just these few days! The next day, Xiaoxiao woke up to find Yang Ming sitting by her side, as if he hadnt slept all night. "Wife, can we not divorce?" Wife? Who? How had he suddenly changed his ways? Its all just an act! "I was truly wrong, I shouldnt have distrusted you!" "Dont leave, okay?" "..." Why this sudden depth of feeling? No, she wasnt used to it! "Ive prepared the wash water for you!" "..." Can you not? Thats a footbath, not for washing ones face! "Ill help you wash your face!" "..." Xiaoxiao, unable to take it anymore, said: "Get out!" Chapter 91: I Heard, You Want to Marry Me?

Chapter 91: Chapter 91: I Heard, You Want to Marry Me?

In the morning, Xiaoxiao went to the rental courtyard; she still had such a big mess to deal with. As soon as she arrived at the entrance of the courtyard, she saw Yang Dong working in the yard. She waved at Yang Dong and gestured with her fingers for him toe over, meaning "youe here." When Yang Dong saw Xiaoxiao making that gesture, he felt that something was not right, as if Xiaoxiao was angry again. "I heard you want to marry me?" Xiaoxiao raised the corners of her mouth, asking with a smile that wasnt quite a smile. "Hehe, hehe, I was just talking nonsense! Sister-inw, dont take it seriously! Dont take it seriously!" Yang Dong said with a silly grin, scratching his head! "I heard Im carrying your child?" "That wasnt me who said that! It was the second sister-inw, so I was so angry, I said I would marry you!" Yang Dong raised his voice a bit as he looked up. It turned out to be the big mouth of the second sister-inw bbering nonsense. Xiaoxiao thought as much; the second sister-inws loose lips were indeed the cause of great conflicts, utter nonsense. She used to always ask her for information, but it seemed that the information she got was not necessarily true! Unreliable! "You rascal, lets see if you dare to spout nonsense again next time!" Xiaoxiao said and then smacked Yang Dong on the head, causing him to cry out, "Sister-inw, I was wrong, I was wrong! Stop hitting, ouch, it hurts!" "Learn your lesson, dont you know troublees from the mouth?" Having said that, Xiaoxiao let go of Yang Dong and walked towards the inside of the courtyard. It was necessary for her to have a serious talk with the chatty second sister-inw. Yet, she did not expect that someone just happened to pass by the courtyard gate by coincidence. "Second sister-inw,e out for a sec." Xiaoxiaos face was as cold as ice. "What is it, younger sister-inw?" The second sister-inw came trotting out, thinking it was something good! "How do I usually treat you, second sister-inw?" "Pretty good." "And how am I towards this family?" "That goes without saying, youre great! Whats gotten into you today, younger sister-inw?" "If theres nothing wrong, dont gossip about others all the time, stirring up trouble. Watch your mouth, be careful that troublees from it!" "..." Before the second sister-inw could reply, she turned around and walked away! She was not someone who engaged in fights with others. She couldnt bring herself to speak harshly to the family members with whom she had been living for over a month since her arrival. The custom-made work uniforms had arrived, and the workers were all back on the job, everything proceeding in an orderly fashion. Recallingst night, Xiaoxiao felt utterly embarrassed that she had been held by that blockhead Yang Ming, and that he had even cried in her arms; she felt her cheeks heating up unconsciously. How on earth did she manage to fall asleepst night? As she was thinking, she saw Yang Ming enter the courtyard. What was he here for this time! "Wife, why did youe over without having breakfast?" "..." Its none of your damn business whether I eat or not! "Wife, I brought breakfast for you!" "..." Yang Ming dragged Xiaoxiao into the house and pushed her down onto a chair. "Wife, please eat!" "..." Im not eating your sister, I get annoyed just by seeing you! But, she didnt stop talking because honestly, she was really hungry. She didnt want to mess with her own stomach! Unbeknownst to her, she ended up eating all the food Yang Ming had brought. Yang Ming was clearing away the dishes, feeling happy inside. His wife hadnt mentioned divorce again and had eaten all the food hed brought, which was great. He was a very simple man, not knowing how to get along with his wife, unsure with whom to discuss it. "Wife, lets go back!" "Dont talk to me!" "..." His wife had spoken only two sentences to him since waking up that morning, one was "get out," and the other was "dont talk to me." What was he supposed to do? Chapter 92 I’m Really Not Your Daughter-in-Law

Chapter 92: Chapter 92 Im Really Not Your Daughter-in-Law

On the way back, neither of them spoke until they got home. "Wife..." "Dont call me your wife!" Xiaoxiao felt it was necessary to make something clear, and that was that she was not his wife. "..." In the previous days, Yang Ming had never called her his wife, and he barely even used her name when speaking to her, always keeping his words few and sentences short. Now his constant use of "wife" felt so odd; could it be that he felt guilty over this misunderstanding and now wanted to treat her as his wife? She didnt need that kind of charity. Besides, she wasnt the wife of his original self. "Wife..." Xiaoxiao felt a headacheing on from Yang Ming calling her "wife," so she grabbed a book from the table and hurled it at him, shouting out, "Stop calling that, Im really not your wife!" Yang Ming fell silent, picking up the book that had hit him and bounced to the floor, and put it back on the table. His eyes were empty, a look of dejection on his face, as he turned and walked towards the doorway. Xiaoxiao had been too impulsive, regretting her actions the moment she threw the book; her words seemed a bit harsh! But hadnt she suffered verbal attacks from Yang Ming when she first arrived? In the end, she softened, "My name is Zhong Xiaoxiao, please just call me Xiaoxiao." Yang Ming hadnt reached the door when he heard his wife utter these words. He lifted his head, his eyes finally regaining focus, showing a look of surprise. Could he now call his wife by her name? Was this not a good start? "About the divorce..." Before Xiaoxiao could finish, she heard a loud crash, Yang Ming had copsed onto the floor! What in the world? How could he just copse like that? Xiaoxiao immediately went over to check on him. "Yang Ming, whats wrong with you?" Yang Ming struggled to prop himself up, saying, "Im fine." "What do you mean fine? You cant even stand and have fallen over, yet you say youre fine. We need to find a doctor right away!" Xiaoxiao was anxious; how could such a big man fall ill all of a sudden, and he seemed seriously sick. "No need; Ill just lie down in bed. Its just a fever!" Yang Ming really didnt want to trouble his wife; he had bruised his leg on a rock during a fight. Because things were urgent that day, he didnt care, and only treated it secretly at night. The next day he went to his wifes parents house for drinks, and then he stayed up all night. Maybe thats why he got a fever, thinking him, a big man, getting sick was so embarrassing. "What? You have a fever?" Fever was not a joke; reaching forty degrees could fry his brain. Xiaoxiao immediately touched Yang Mings forehead with her hand; it was indeed burning hot! She immediately helped Yang Ming onto the bed and left him with a "Wait here!" before running outside without a second thought. Yang Ming, seeing his wifes worried expression, felt a warmth in his heart; she really did care about him. She truly was a good and kind person. After leaving the house, Xiaoxiao went to the rented courtyard to find Yang Dong and told him to rush to town to get medicine for reducing fever. Then she returned home to boil water; she needed to cool Yang Ming down physically as quickly as possible. After preparing everything, she carried the basin into the room and soaked the washcloth, wrung it out! She was about to hand it to Yang Ming to wipe his body when she found him already drowsy and almost asleep. This was awkward! What to do now? Without cooling him down he could really get brain damage! Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth, Damn it, and started to undress him! Chapter 93 So Embarrassing Without Underpants

Chapter 93: Chapter 93 So Embarrassing Without Underpants

Its just a mans body, isnt it? She had seen plenty on TV and at the swimming pool. Just strip! Take it off directly! Fortunately, Yang Ming had only left ayer on before getting into bed; otherwise, it would have been a tough job for her to undress him. "Im not trying to take advantage of you, okay? You have a fever, and I need to cool you down!" With great efficiency, Xiaoxiao stripped off Yang Mings shirt. She hadnt realized until she removed it and got a shockYang Ming had a nice build, pretty solid material there! A six-pack! How did this gentle schr get into such good shape! "Nice physique. A nine out of ten!" Given Yang Mings appearance, he was certainly her type! But... he was too young, she didnt want to be a cougar. Hey, what was she thinking about! So Xiaoxiao wiped down Yang Mings body, cool as a cucumber, quickly finishing with his upper body. However, when it came to wiping his lower body, Xiaoxiao became uneasy: "Oh my, hes not wearing any underwear, so awkward!" Xiaoxiao quickly found a piece of clothing to cover him, her heart thumping twice as fast. She was terrified. She quickly regted her breathing, patted her flushed cheeks, and told herself, "Zhong Xiaoxiao, get a grip!" Then she continued to remove Yang Mings pants! To her dismay, she discovered a wound on Yang Mings thigh; her heart skipped a beat. Upon unwrapping it, she saw what appeared to be a deep cut, probably from a bad knock. It would have required many stitches if this were modern times. In this era, however, they could only wait for it to heal naturally. No wonder he had a fever. "Did you get this injury during the fight? You got hurt; why didnt you say anything?" While wiping him down, Xiaoxiao had already noticed many bruises on his bodythe opponent had been pretty ruthless! It seemed necessary to deal with those people a bit earlier. Yet Yang Ming really had endurance, walking around as if his leg wasnt injured at all! Xiaoxiao quickly finished wiping him down and got up to leave. She needed to get alcohol to disinfect the wound and also retrieve Yang Qius external medicine. "Ill be right back; Im just stepping out for a moment." After Xiaoxiao left, Yang Ming opened his eyes. He was extremely nervous, his heart pounding away. He had regained consciousness when his wife started taking off his clothes. Listening to her mutter to herself, he suddenly didnt want to wake up! Now that his wife had seen everything, he felt a burning shame all over. Thankfully, his wife covered him up with a thick jacket. Otherwise, if she had seen how his body reacted, his reputation would be destroyed. As he was thinking this, his wife returned. "Youre awake!" "Hmm!" "Dont move yet; Im going to disinfect and apply medicine to the wound." "..." What is disinfection? "Ive sent the fourth brother to buy the medicine. Hell be back soon. Ill use a cloth to apply a coldpress to your forehead for now. It should make you feel better!" "Hmm!" "Later on, you should wipe your body down a few more times to bring down the fever. Remember to drink plenty of hot water!" "Thank you, Xiaoxiao!" Its about time her cheap husband caught on. Calling her Xiaoxiao was much more pleasant to the ear. Soon, Yang Dong came back with the medicine. Xiaoxiao busied herself preparing the medicinea real challenge for her, having never taken up Chinese medicine, let alone preparing drugs. After Yang Ming drank the medicine, he went back to sleep. It wasnt until the middle of the night that the fever finally subsided, allowing Xiaoxiao to rx. The next day, when Yang Ming woke up, it was quitete. He didnt see Xiaoxiao but instead found a note she left on the table. "Gone to County town! Back in the afternoon!" What was she doing in the county town? Could it be she was looking for Big Brother Chu? Chapter 94: I Only Have Xiaoxiao as My Wife

Chapter 94: Chapter 94: I Only Have Xiaoxiao as My Wife

As Yang Ming thought this, he hastily got dressed and was just about to leave when his mother came in. "Third son, where are you off to? Your wife had me save some food for you, and this medicinal soup has just been prepared!" Yang Ming took the bowl and gulped down the soup in one breath, not caring whether it was bitter or hot. "Hey! Slow down, careful its hot!" "Mother, I have something urgent to attend to, I must go!" Not waiting for a response from his mother, Yang Ming didnt even eat his meal, leaving behind these words as he rushed out the door. "Eh? You havent eaten your rice yet!" Yang Mings mother called out to her sons retreating figure, only to see him disappear quickly through the front gate. She had no idea what the emergency was, this being the first time shed seen her usuallyposed son so flustered. At this moment, Yang Ming could not be bothered with his weakened body, enduring the pain in his legs as he walked briskly. He didnt take an ox cart; as a grown man, he had always relied on walking. The only time he ever took one was to spare his wife from fatigue, and besides, he didnt have much money on him. Just as he stepped out of the hospital gate, he heard Hehuas voice. "Big Brother Ming!" Hehuas heart blossomed with joy upon seeing Yang Ming, as he had been staying at home recently, giving her more chances to see him. But it was as if Big Brother Ming didnt hear her, continuing on without turning his head. She persistently ran after him, blocking his way, "Big Brother Ming, wait for a moment, I have something to tell you." In fact, Yang Ming had heard Hehua calling him from the start, but his mind was preupied with thoughts of his wife, so he had no desire to stop. Unexpectedly, Hehua dared to step forward and block him. He had no choice but to speak, "What is it!" There was Hehua, with a blushing face, speaking in a timid voice, "My mother has agreed to your proposal, Im waiting for you toe and ask for my hand in marriage!" Before Yang Ming could reply, Hehua turned and ran off quickly, leaving him standing there, stunned. Yang Ming snapped back to reality and chased after her, "Hehua, Im already married; its impossible for me to marry you." Upon hearing this, Hehua immediately burst into whimpers. It had taken her so much effort to get her mothers approval, and she was finally able to marry Big Brother Ming. She wanted to tell him immediately, only to be rejected. "Big Brother Ming, I dont mind being the second! Please marry me!" She was desperate, crying and pleading. If it werent for her mothers opposition, she could have already married Big Brother Ming, and she couldnt believe he would refuse her. "Are you worried that your sister-inw wont agree? Ill go and plead with her! Shes a good person, she will definitely agree." "..." He had not wanted to hurt Hehua, which is why hed put it gently, not expecting her to still cling to hope, so greatly misunderstanding that she wouldnt mind being the second wife, even willing to plead with Xiaoxiao. Initially, he hadnt nned to marry her; it was all her mothers doing. He had even been grateful that Hehuas mother had disagreed, or he would have been powerless against his parents and the matchmakers decision. Now years had passed, and Hehua was still fixated on marrying him. "Hehua, find someone else to marry. I will never marry you in this lifetime! Zhong Xiaoxiao is the only wife I will ever have!" With that, he strode away, in a hurry to reach the county town as it was already quitete. Heartbroken by his words, a vicious thought crossed Hehuas mind. She had overheard the conversation between that ugly freak and Yang Dong; if Big Brother Ming refused to marry her, then she would ruin his precious wife. She was determined to make Big Brother Ming return to her side. She had no other options left! Chapter 95 I’m here to return a favor

Chapter 95: Chapter 95 Im here to return a favor

Xiaoxiao went out early in the morning; in fact, she had wanted to visit the county town to find Yang Ming since she brought Yang Qiu back. She had appropriated funds, but she had been dyed due to being busy these past few days. Yui Restaurant "Uncle Wang, has the Young Master arrived yet?" Xiaoxiao began to inquire as soon as she reached the restaurant. "He hasnte today!" "Send someone to find him, then Ill go to the kitchen and cook something tasty for you all." As soon as Shopkeeper Wang heard that there was new food, his eyes lit up, "Miss, what is the tasty dish youre making?" "Its a secret, just keep your stomach empty, ha, it will be ready soon." After saying that, Xiaoxiao headed towards the kitchen. Inside the kitchen, everyone got excited when they saw Xiaoxiao because she always brought something delicious that drew customers back to the restaurant. As soon as Xiaoxiao entered the kitchen, she got to work, preparing a dish of sauerkraut stewed ribs. She asked the kitchen helpers to watch the dish as it finished, while she went to wait for Yang Ming. As soon as Chu Lian received the message, he rushed over without stopping. He thought Yang Ming had returned home several days now withouting back, and he didnt know what the situation was. They both had children already, and he could only step back, especially since his feelings were unrequited. The moment Chu Lian reached the private room, he saw Xiaoxiao waiting there, "What do you need me for?" He didnt even know how to address her now! "I brought you a new dish; the kitchen will serve it soon!" Chu Lian was quite pleased to hear that. She was specially bringing him food? He hadpletely forgotten that even if it was a new dish, it was to be sold to the restaurant and wasnt specially for him. "Actually, I came to tell you that Ive misappropriated fifty taels of public funds!" "..." "Some issues came up at home, and I was forced to touch those fifty taels of your silver in a moment of urgency." "But rest assured, I never like being in debt to others, so today Im here to repay a debt of gratitude." "..." She certainly did know how to settle ounts! After a while, the sauerkraut was served. "Try it; this is made with Chinese cabbage and is called sauerkraut." "Im not a professional cook, so I can only make simple dishes. Later on, you can have your chefs work on several more recipes! For instance, meat stewed with sauerkraut, ribs stewed with it, andrge bones too. Sauerkraut stir-fried with meat, with shredded potatoes, and then youve got the filling for dumplings, buns, and pancakesah, just go and figure it out!" Meanwhile, Chu Lian enjoyed the dish as he listened to Xiaoxiao, realizing there were so many ways to prepare it. "How shall we coborate this time? ording to what you said, taking shares?" "Lets skip it this time. Consider it a repayment for your generosity; Ill sell the recipe to you for fifty taels. Dont think Im asking too much; if I were to partner up seriously, I would make much more than this!" "..." She was not one to forsake benevolence for gain; she was genuinely a good person, and fifty taels meant nothing to him! "Also, Id like to switch the production rights. You make the spicy cabbage yourselves, and Ill focus on the sauerkraut. After all, hauling arge quantity of fruit to my vige is troublesome." "Alright, well do as you say!" The two amended the contract, and seeing that it was gettingte, Xiaoxiao hurried to return home. "Let me escort you!" "No need, I can go back by myself!" "No, let me find you a bullock cart for your bodys sake!" "..." Huh! This embarrassing rumor had reached Yang Ming as well; had the pregnancy been spread all the way to the county? "Hehe, have you heard about it?" "Mhm, the people who went to pull the spicy cabbage said you were pregnant!" "Hehe, thats a misunderstanding, theres nothing, nothing at all." Xiaoxiao waved her hand in embarrassment and left. Chu Lian was left standing there stunned! A misunderstanding? She wasnt pregnant? Chapter 96: Miss, You Really Are a Divine Doctor

Chapter 96: Chapter 96: Miss, You Really Are a Divine Doctor

Xiaoxiao came outside and saw Yang Ming waiting at the restaurant. "Why did youe!" "Im here to pick you up!" Yang Ming stood at the door of the private room, listening to the faintughter inside. Jealous, he wanted to rush in, but reason made him leave, afraid that entering would anger his wife further. "..." Whats with him? Hes arrogant just after a fever has gone! But she was genuinely surprised that Yang Ming hade to pick her up. "Since youre here, lets go to the medical clinic and check your injuries!" "Alright!" "..." Why is he talking less now, wasnt he cheerfully calling me wife before? The two of them then arrived at the medical clinic, where they could hear heart-wrenching cries from inside: "Doctor, please, I beg you to save our young master, please, help us!" A little old woman, kneeling on the ground, was pleading while holding a three-year-old child in her arms. "My medical skills are modest; youd better seek someone more capable!" The doctor was also helpless, regretful that he couldnt treat the child. Yet the woman wouldnt give up and kept kowtowing, "Please, my young master just choked on food and cant breathe, how can it be untreatable? Please save her!" The attendant at the medical clinic had already begun to drive them away: "Olddy, you should hurry to another medical clinic! We cant help here!" The elderly woman had no choice but to walk out, still carrying the child. "Wait a moment!" Yang Ming didnt expect that it was his wife who had shouted. Why did she speak up when others were urgently needing help? "If its just choking, perhaps I can try." "Really?" The old woman clung to Xiaoxiaos words like a lifeline. "I can only try; Im not sure it will work." "Thank you, thank you so much." The old woman didnt stop bowing her head in thanks. Xiaoxiao picked up the child. Holding the childs cheeks with one hand and the back of the childs neck with the other she ced the child face down over her knee and gently patted the childs back. (Please do not imitate this; it is for the purposes of the story only) "Cough! Cough!" Soon the child coughed and vomited something. "It should be okay now!" Xiaoxiao saw that the child had spat out the foreign object and she breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing the child was alright, the woman hurried forward to hold the child, asking how the child was feeling. Seeing that the child was indeed alright, she said, "Youngdy, you truly are a Divine Doctor! I must tell our miss to reward you! May I have your name?" "No need, no need, it was just a helping hand!" This moment, witnessed by the surrounding crowd, earned Xiaoxiao their praise. "Such high medical skill!" "The child was just deemed hopeless, and now shes alive, truly miraculous!" "..." Seeing his wife like this, Yang Ming felt an indescribable pride; they were praising his wife! No wonder she took such good care of himst night, she also knows medical skills! Xiaoxiao doesnt really know any medical skills! This was just a modern emergency procedure, something anyone could do! "Yang Ming, lets go! Its time for your doctors visit!" Lost in thought, Yang Ming was jolted back to reality by his wifes words and quickly followed her. "Doctor, please take a look at his leg and check why he had a recurring fever yesterday." Xiaoxiao finally felt relieved learning that Yang Mings condition was not serious and that he just needed to apply medicine and rest for recovery. "Youngdy, I have a request; could you teach me the method you just used?" This was a chance to save lives, and of course, Xiaoxiao was willing to share without reservation! Chapter 97 Rumors Arise

Chapter 97: Chapter 97 Rumors Arise

On the way back, they rode in an ox cart, as Xiaoxiao thought it wise for Yang Ming, with his injuries, to walk as little as possible. Her use of preserved vegetables to repay a favor was also not without consideration. Since they were already discussing divorce, she wouldnt be staying in this family for long, and the preserved vegetables wouldntst much longer either. Soon, she could withdraw directly and make long-term ns once she returned to her parents home. But as soon as they entered the vige, they noticed people pointing and whispering about her and Yang Ming. What was going on? Faint voices reached Xiaoxiao and Yang Mings ears. "Did you hear? The child Yang Mings wife is carrying is his brothers!" "Look at them, acting as if nothings wrong!" "The rumor has spread everywhere; it might be true. Who would make up such a story, described so vividly?" "I knew it! I always saw those twoing and going together!" "..." "..." Yang Ming hadnt expected that this misunderstanding had just cleared up, yet it had still reached the vigers ears. Just as he was about to confront them, Xiaoxiao held him back. Thinking that they would do whatever his wife decides, the two of them went home amidst the vigers pointing and whispering. Who could it be? Who started this rumor? No one outside the family knew of this misunderstanding. After the argument with his second sister-inw that morning, could it have been her? The moment they arrived home, Xiaoxiao shouted into the house: "Second Sister-inw,e out here!" At that moment, the second sister-inw was cooking in the kitchen. Startled by Xiaoxiaos yelling, she wondered what was going on. They had just had a row that morning, and now this! Upon hearing themotion, everyone in the family also came out. "Second Sister-inw, did you start these rumors? I clearly warned you this morning." Seeing the situation worsening, Old Master Yang immediately stepped forward and asked, "Third daughter-inw, what rumors?" "Theyre saying Im carrying the child of my fourth brother-inw!" Upon hearing this, the family stayed silent, pondering. The secret was out; what to do now? "Third Sister-inw, it wasnt me who spread it. I love to gossip, and I talk with the family, but I never discuss our private affairs with outsiders!" "Is it really not you?" "Truly, it wasnt me. If I talked to outsiders, Id be damned! I want to see who is responsible for this and trying to me me." As the second sister-inw spoke, she made for the door. Xiaoxiao saw that she might have misunderstood her second sister-inw and quickly stepped forward to stop her. "Second Sister-inw, dont bother. Its a non-issue; let them talk!" A non-issue? The family became even more confused upon hearing this. Old Master Yang then nced at Yang Ming, signaling him to exin what was going on. "Dad, Xiaoxiao isnt pregnant; theres nothing between her and my fourth brother." "..." Relief washed over the family. Thankfully, nothing had happened. The past days tension due to this matter had been a strain on them. Now, with nothing amiss, the young couple could continue living their lives in peace. "Third daughter-inw, what shall we do about this?" Old Master Yang was at an impasse. "Theres always someone talking behind the scenes, and no one who doesnt speak ill of others in front; there are rumors every day, which cease when ignored," Xiaoxiao left those words and returned to her room. Yang Ming felt that his wifes words were very sensible. He had indeed been mistaken beforenarrow-minded and too concerned about his reputation. So he assured his family not to worry, and only then did they settle down. The incident lingered for two days, but Hehua couldnt sit still. She noticed that the spreading rumors hadnt affected her Brother Ming or his wife, nor had the family suffered any consequences! Feeling out of options, she had no choice but to seek out Zhong Xiaoxiao. "Third sister-inw, I have a favor to ask of you!" "..." Chapter 98: Not Getting a Divorce, Dragging You Down with Me

Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Not Getting a Divorce, Dragging You Down with Me

Xiaoxiao hadnt expected Little Qingmei to throw caution to the wind for love and came to confront her, admiring her courage. Werent people supposed to be conservative here? This girl was too bold! "What do you want from me?" "I want to ask you, can you divorce Brother Ming? Make it happen between me and Brother Ming." Hehua looked pitiful, and she was so pretty that even Xiaoxiao was almost deceived by her looks. Make it happen? She did want to make it happen; they were already discussing the divorce! "You and Yang Dong already have children, please let go of Brother Ming and make it happen for us! Please!" As Hehua spoke, she began crying pitifully as if someone had wronged her. "..." Mentioning the children was fine, but once they were brought up, Xiaoxiaos temper red. Who was the scoundrel who had spread those rumors! It couldnt have been someone from her family; it had to be someone outside. Who bore a grudge against her? Xiaoxiao nced at Little Qingmei, could it be her? If it was her, that was incredibly malicious, and she couldnt tolerate it! "Thats a rumor, totally unfounded! Yang Dong and I have nothing going on, and we definitely dont have children!" "Impossible? You clearly talked to Yang Dong that day! I heard with my own..." In her anxiety, Hehua blurted out, then quickly covered her mouth! Indeed, it was her. So much for Little Qingmei, Xiaoxiao had always wanted to help her, but her intentions were too vile! She was not going to divorce now, shed drag this out to the death. "Ill listen to Yang Ming on this matter!" What kind of people were they? Without waiting for Hehua to speak, Xiaoxiao stormed back into her room, fuming. Yang Ming was copying books when he saw his wifeing back. He was about to say something when he noticed the ferocious look in her eyes: "Keep your Little Qingmei in check, from now on, if she annoys me, Ill hit her each time I see her!" "..." Little Qingmei? Who? Hehua? How could she be considered a childhood sweetheart? While Yang Ming was thinking this, he saw his wife climb onto the kang (a traditional heated bed) and start her needlework,pletely ignoring him. Xiaoxiao got onto the kang and continued working on the trousers. Those trousers were for Yang Ming, and thinking back to that day, it was embarrassingly awkward. Furthermore, the idea of a man not wearing trousers sharing the same kang seemed incredibly risky. Angrily, she cut the cloth in her hands, muttering: "No divorce, Ill drag this out to the death. Drag you all out." Yang Ming was bewildered by his wifes nonsensical attitude when he suddenly heard her muttering this sentence. The words no divorce thrilled him immensely. Great, she didnt want to divorce him. His mood drastically improved, his lips involuntarily curling up further and further, then he continued copying his book. Xiaoxiao was speechless, she was so angry and yet he was that happy? Her lips started twitching! This man definitely had issues! "Hmph! What are you twitching your lips for?" "Xiaoxiao, when you say no divorce, do you mean it?" "..." Eh! Was he thinking about a divorce? "No divorce, no divorce, Id rather die than divorce! Ill drag this out to death! Are you happy now?" Xiaoxiao was fuming and her words were spiky, sarcastic! She didnt mean any of it seriously. It was just for the sake of venting. But when Yang Ming heard Xiaoxiaos firm response, he felt ecstatic, beyond words to describe his feelings at that moment! Yang Ming climbed onto the kang, grabbed Xiaoxiaos hand, and said earnestly, "Right, we wont divorce! Not even if we die!" "Hmm!" Eh? What had she agreed to? Chapter 99: The Elderly Child Summoned

Chapter 99: Chapter 99: The Elderly Child Summoned

"Little Three, your grandma wants you and your wife toe over!" Both were hand in hand, feeling awkward, just as they heard the voice of his mother outside and immediately let go of their hands. "Got it, well be there in a bit!" The two nced at each other afterward. "Hehe!" "Hehe!" Xiaoxiaos mood was disturbed by Yang Mings sudden hand-grabbing, and she was no longer as angry as before. She got off the kang, got ready, and headed out with Yang Ming. Why was the old child summoning her again? Could it be because of the rumors? She had just managed to soothe the old child herself! It was all Little Qingmeis fault! As she thought about it, Xiaoxiao red at her bargain husband another time! It was all his fault! And so, Yang Ming got red at by his wife again, feelingpletely innocent! They arrived at the great aunts house quickly. "Grandma!" "Grandma!" "Girl,e on in, hop on the kang, its warm!" Xiaoxiao immediately took off her shoes and climbed onto the kang! She started chatting with her grandma. "..." Yang Ming stood on the floor, just watching his wife chat with his grandma, feeling neglected again. Why was he always treated like air in front of his wife? "Girl, are you pregnant?" The olddy held Xiaoxiaos hand and asked! She too had heard the rumors that Xiaoxiao was expecting. "Grandma, thats a misunderstanding, just rumors, I dont have a child yet! Theres nothing going on with the fourth brother, you can rx!" "Good, good! Your standards are high, why would you settle for a rough guy, dismissing a schr?" "..." Grandma, thats a bit harsh, your grandson Yang Dong is also quite good. "So, when do you n on having one?" "..." No matter the era, one cannot change the family pressure to marry and have children. It was Yang Ming who quickly stepped in to smooth things over, "Grandma, theres no rush on this, Xiaoxiao is still too young. Having a baby at fifteen is still too dangerous. Xiaoqius recent childbirth really scared her!" "..." So, he knew all about it! "Alright, just focus on taking good care of your health for now, andter you can have a healthy, chubby boy for grandma!" "Yes, grandma, rest assured, I will make sure she eats well when we get back, and get her all plump and white." The mention of this seemed to make Yang Ming very happy, he even became more talkative. In the olddys eyes, this grandson of hers was finally catching on! "..." Hey hey hey, all plump and white, that doesnt sound like something a bargain husband would say. "How has Xiaoqiu been these days?" Unexpectedly, the olddy brought up this matter. Since Xiaoqiu returned, rtives had gradually been visiting to check on her. Everyone was excited about her return, as she was the first girl from the Yang Family to make it back home, triggering a mode of doting over daughters in the Yang Family. They extended all their love for daughters and sisters to Xiaoqiu, which helped heal her wounded heart a little. "Ah, its all that old mans fault, if only he could bring all the granddaughters back!" "..." Whats the situation here, no news of the other girls? She suddenly remembered, Yang Qiu had been sold. Could it mean that he had sold all the girls, under the guise of sending them out as child brides? No wonder when they divided the family property, the other sons were able to get enough money to build their houses! With just a farm, where else could the money havee from! Such a major crime of human trafficking would surely provoke severe retribution in the vige, wouldnt it? One could drown in the spit of angry vigers, but it seemed like the Yang Family was undisturbed by it all! Chapter 100: Famous? What Did She Do Again?

Chapter 100: Chapter 100: Famous? What Did She Do Again?

Xiaoxiao became more and more curious about what was going on! When she got home, she asked Yang Ming, and after hearing the answer, Xiaoxiao waspletely shaken. It turned out that trafficking in this ce was quite normal, and many people from their vige also went out to buy wives! Although it was considered normal, Yang Mings grandfather still found it disgraceful, so he used a cover-up. "How did you find Xiaoqiu then?" "It was still the folks from Si Shenniangs maternal family who helped because Xiaoqiu has a red birthmark on her hand, which is easy to recognize, and the family didnt change Xiaoqius name!" "..." Those rascals were really shortsighted, but even if they had changed her name, the mark on her hand would still be recognizable. Xiaoqiu was indeed fortunate in her misfortune; it was good that murder was illegal here, or else it wouldnt have been possible to scare them! "Then why didnt you buy a wife?" Xiaoxiao, as if possessed, blurted out the question. "Cant afford it!" "..." So he actually wanted to buy one! Cant afford it? Was it that expensive? The topic was really too heavy. Xiaoxiao wanted to ask about the situation of another sister, but seeing Yang Mings gloomy face, she couldnt bring herself to ask. Not long after, she heard someone approaching outside. Xiaoxiao immediately went out to check. "Second sister-inw, second sister-inw, great news, truly great news!" As soon as Xiaoxiao heard this, it was Si Shenniang again; she always had lots of news! "Si Shenniang, whats the good news?" "Yang Mings wife, youve be quite famous now!" "..." Famous? What did she do this time? "My maternal family sent another letter, saying how a fierce girl led ten strong men over there and sorted that family of deadbeats out, thrashing them soundly! They must be talking about you! I heard that before you guys they acted like grandsons!" "..." They didnt really fight, right? They acquiesced, persuaded by reason if you ask me; how wildly exaggerated this tale is! "Hehe, Si Shenniang, sorry, that was indeed me!" "Well done! Now lets see who else dares to bully our Yang Family folks." Si Shenniang said, looking very proud. Si Shenniang, thats the Zhong Family nobody dares to mess with, okay! The Yang Family men were too scared to go! "Come on,e on,e on, go find your mother!" Saying this, Si Shenniang pulled Xiaoxiao into the house. "Second sister-inw, retribution hase, my maternal family says that the deadbeats family has lost everything and were beaten, and apparently it was quite serious. They must have offended someone..." "Finally, someone has taken care of them; that family in the vige always defaulted on their debts, bullying the vigers. Now its over, and they initially wouldnt even let us see Xiaoqiu..." As soon as Si Shenniang entered, she started chattering non-stop like a machine gun! Xiaoxiao listened on the side! She hadnt even made a move, how did the other party end up ruined? Who did it? Thinking over and over, it couldnt be the schr, could it? Xiaoxiao quietly slipped out and returned to her own room. "I hear Xiaoqius inws have lost all their money!" "And were beaten terribly!" "Who do you think did it?" As Xiaoxiao spoke, she watched the schrs reactions; seeing not a hint of surprise, as if he had expected it, he then uttered "the evil doer will always get his due" and just continued copying books. What a show off! Looking at him, it was definitely him! This schr really acted fast; who would have expected a frail schr to be so capable! Yang Ming continued copying, thinking it was best to keep knowledge of this matter limited. He had recently met some people at the county gambling house and asked them to set up a trap. If only they had taken care of them earlier, his sister wouldnt have... Chapter 101 What Can You Do to Me?

Chapter 101: Chapter 101 What Can You Do to Me?

Hehuas Home "Did Yang Ming say he would marry you?" The moment Hehuas mother entered the house, she asked her daughter Hehua. Hehua was not young anymore; if she didnt marry soon, the daughters-inw in the family would have opinions. They had always wanted to find a wealthy family, which is why they had dyed until now. Hehua dared not answer, fearing that if she admitted she had been rejected, her mother would truly marry her off to that old man as a concubine! She still had a chance; she couldnt give up yet. "I did go and see, Yang Ming is always following his wife around like a shadow; their rtionship seems good," her mother said. "Youre not deceiving me, are you? If you ask me, youd better hurry and marry into the Li family of the county. You could eat well, drink well, and never worry about clothing! It took us several years to find such a family." Hehuas mother had never liked Yang Ming; his family was poor, even though things were a bit better now, they were still far inferior to the rich Li family of the city. Besides, they were offering a hundred taels; no other girl was worth that much! Now that Yang Ming disagreed, it exactly matched her own wishes! This way her daughter couldnt me her for not agreeing to Yang Ming! "Mother, no, I want to marry Brother Ming, he will agree!" Hehua said angrily before mming the door and going inside. "You dare m doors? Tomorrow, Ill have the matchmakere over to discuss this. You have no say in the matter." Seeing her daughter like this, Hehuas mother was very angry. Keeping her daughter had led to enmity; she had to marry her daughter off to a wealthy man, and however, she was still her daughter; she wasnt as important as a son. Hehua thought her mother was just speaking out of anger and wouldnt really have someonee so soon, but, unexpectedly, the matchmaker really visited the next afternoon. Hehua was terrified when she saw her and sneaked off to Yang Mings house: "Second aunt, where are Brother Ming and Third Sister-inw?" "They both went to the rented courtyard..." Before Yang Mings mother could finish speaking, Hehua ran off like a shot. At that moment, the rented courtyard was peaceful until suddenly, loud pounding on the door was heard. Everyone looked up and out, wondering who was in such a hurry! Yang Ming quickly went to open the door, only to find Hehua throwing herself at him, hugging him tightly, "Brother Ming." Then she started crying loudly. Yang Ming, caught off guard by this sudden embrace, managed to react only momentster, shoving Hehua away and stepping back, harshly saying, "Hehua, please have some dignity!" "Brother Ming, just marry me, I really like you a lot!" But Hehua, not giving up, still went forward to grasp Yang Ming. "..." Everyone seeing this scene was shocked; Hehua was too bold, with his wife still around, and in front of so many people! This was utterly shameless! Xiaoxiaos face turned green when she saw this, "Goodness, Little Qingmei! Look at you, Yang Ming, Im utterly humiliated. I did say it, if you provoke me again, Ill hit you every time I see you." Without waiting for Yang Ming to speak, she moved quickly forward and pped her. "This p is for spreading rumors about Yang Dong and me." Before Hehua could react, Xiaoxiao hit her again with the back of her hand, "This p is for coveting my husband!" Seeing his wife truly angry, and now that she had even started hitting people, Yang Ming immediately said, "Hehua, Ive already made it very clear. In this lifetime, I only have Xiaoxiao as my wife!" "I dont believe it, it must be because of her; she doesnt agree to a divorce, does she?" Hehua pointed at Xiaoxiao, yelling loudly at Yang Ming! At this moment, Xiaoxiao also became enraged, "I will not divorce, what can you do to me!" Chapter 102: You want to be the boss? Only over my dead body.

Chapter 102: Chapter 102: You want to be the boss? Only over my dead body.

Hehua didnt care what Xiaoxiao was saying; she kept looking at Yang Ming, waiting for his reply. Yang Ming sighed. He thought Hehua was truly crazy. He had wanted to leave her some dignity, but she went so far as to point at his own wife. "It has nothing to do with her; I just dont like you." Hehua cried even harder upon hearing this. Xiaoxiao found it very strange. In the past, when Hehua cried, she would whimper as though she was faking it, but this time she was wailing. It seemed she was genuinely upset! But too bad, who asked her to offend her! "I dont believe it, I dont believe it." Suddenly, there was a ng, and as she spoke, Hehua knelt down in front of Xiaoxiao, "Third sister-inw, please, just agree to let Brother Ming marry me! Ill work like a horse or an ox in return for your kindness!" "Do you think I would help you out, considering our past conflicts?" Xiaoxiao really hadnt expected the girl to kneel down; had she no pride left for the sake of a man? "I was wrong. I only wanted to spread rumors so you and Brother Ming would divorce and he would marry me, Im sorry, Im sorry, Im willing to be a concubine now, please!" "..." By this time, everyone had stopped their work and came out to watch the excitement. Everyone heard Hehuas words very clearly. So, it was Hehua who had started the rumors. "Was it Hehua who made up that story?" "I knew it. Look at how affectionate our boss and his wife are!" "Hehua is shameless to think she could marry our boss!" "She even dared to say shed be willing to be a concubine, which girl would want that!" "..." "..." Everyone was discussing it, and by this point, Xiaoxiao didnt know what to say. Little Qingmei, where was your brain? Willing to be a concubine too? Continuing to cry, Little Qingmei said, "My mother wants me to marry as a concubine to Officer Li from the city. That old man is over fifty, how can I marry into that family! The matchmaker has alreadye to our house, its toote if I wait any longer, please..." Hehua was crying even harder, unwilling to get up as she begged Xiaoxiao. Seeing this, almost everyone felt their hearts soften. Which eighteen-year-old girl would willingly marry a man over fifty? Xiaoxiao, still angry, hadnt expected it to be like this. No wonder Little Qingmei was acting so out of character today. Women in ancient times really were pitiful. If monogamy were the norm, wouldnt all this be avoided? But no matter how pitiable she was, it couldnt negate the fact that she spread rumors about her. The grudge was well established! "You want to be a concubine? Over my dead body!" Xiaoxiao shook off Hehua, left those harsh words, and walked out of the courtyard and back home. After Xiaoxiao left, the second sister-inws temper red. She had heard that it was Hehua who had spread the rumors, and she was furious that she had been misunderstood by her younger brother and sister-inw because of Hehua. She went up and started to fight with Hehua, "Thatll teach you to spread rumors. Dream on thinking you can marry our youngest brother!" The second sister-inw was very strong, and before anyone could react, she had messed up Hehuas hair, pped her face, and pinched her body. People quickly pulled the two apart. "Hehua, I have never liked you, and I will never marry you!" After saying this, Yang Ming left too; he needed to hurry back and check on his wife. Hehua sat there alone, crying her heart out. She was finished. Brother Ming wouldnt marry her, and her actions had ruined her reputation. The more she thought about it, the less she wanted to live; she couldnt marry an old man. Before anyone could react, Hehua ran towards the entrance and fiercely banged her head against the door. In the nick of time, the door opened, and Hehua plunged into the arms of a man, who said: "He doesnt want to marry you, but Ill marry you!" Chapter 103: Don’t you dislike me too, and yet you married me!

Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Dont you dislike me too, and yet you married me!

Yang Ming, upon returning home, saw his wife quietly working on her needlework. "How much Silver?" "..." What Silver? Yang Ming was puzzled as he looked at Xiaoxiao. "The dowry, of course! You think you can marry someone without spending Silver? You think everyone is like me, getting married without spending a dime!" Xiaoxiao kept working, continuing to question. She had heard that she was sent there for free, no money spent! She truly was a loss! "I dont even like her, I wont marry her! Besides, arent you supposed to be dying?" Yang Ming looked at his wife, remembering how he hadnt given a dowry when he had married her and had made her suffer. "You didnt like me either, but you still married me!" "..." Indeed, his wife was speaking the truth, and he had no words in response. "Hey, do you really want me dead?" "I dont." "If you dont marry her, shell end up married to that old man! Can you bear that?" "Someone will marry her!" "..." Eh? Who? May as well love whoever, Xiaoxiao didnt expect Little Qingmei to be out of the picture so soon. Did that mean the talk about not leaving didnt count anymore? The next morning, Xiaoxiao was stunned by the beautiful scene outside. "Wow! Its beautiful!" she eximed as she hurried outside! The world was a white expanse, the ground, trees, and houses all draped in thick snow, shimmering under the sunlight, incredibly beautiful! It had been so many years since shed seen such thick, white snow. In the city, any snowfall neversted; cars would turn it ck and mucky, and it melted away quickly! She hadst seen it like this back in the countryside during her school days, which was over a decade ago. As she walked on the thick snow, listening to the crunching sound, she was overjoyed! "Lads,e out, its snowing!" Xiaoxiao gave a loud shout! Several youngsters quickly dressed and came out! "Lads, Third Auntie will take you to build snowmen and have a snowball fight. Hurry up, lets gather the snow in this yard and make a big snowball!" Xiaoxiao, followed by the three youngsters, started working diligently,pletely the leader of the pack. At that moment, when Yang Ming came out, he saw his wifes joyful smile; she seemed to really like children. Under Xiaoxiaos lead, they soonpleted a snowman! The youngsters were running circles around the snowman, unable to contain their joy! Xiaoxiao even started to sing. Snow, every piece of it Builds the fate between you and me My love exists because of you Your hand touches my aching heart ... Yang Ming stayed there quietly, watching them y and listening to his wifes singing, taking in each lyric that came from her lips. He was distracted. A snowball hit him suddenly, prompted by his wifes voice: "Little ones, make snowballs, lets all gang up on Third Uncle. Aim for the face! See who can hit him the most!" "Okay, okay!" The youngsters, following orders, busied themselves making snowballs to throw at Third Uncle. Upon hearing this, Yang Ming was stunned; what was he supposed to do, stand there and be hit? Should he run? Join in? He felt quite embarrassed! Smack! Another snowball hit him! "Hahahahaha!" His wifesughter came again; well, hed just stand there and take the hits if it made his wife happy! "Yang Ming, are you silly? Are you made of wood? Fight back! Snowball fighting is fun only when you fight back!" Hearing his wifes words, Yang Ming truly joined the fight, andughs filled the small courtyard incessantly. People inside the house, hearing themotion, couldnt help wanting to join, but s, they were all too old and didnt have the couples audacity! However, they had never seen this side of Third Uncle before! Chapter 104 You’ve Seen It All!

Chapter 104: Chapter 104 Youve Seen It All!

It really had entered the hibernation period once it snowed. The hunters would no longer venture deep into the forest, and those who were working away from home had all returned, getting ready to celebrate the New Year at home; they would resume work only after the spring. Now, only the women in the small courtyard were earning, which made everyone else quite envious. One morning, Yang Ming brought up an issue, "Were running low on firewood, arent we? Ill find some people to go up the mountain and get some these next few days!" "..." She had forgotten such an important matter. Xiaoxiao really felt like she was the only one thinking about everything, truly stressing her brain. Take the firewood, for instance; it was supposed tost till spring, but she had burned through it before the heavy snow had even passed. The ce where they stored pickled vegetables couldnt be too cold; otherwise, it would freeze the jars and crack them. The pickled vegetables themselves couldnt be too frozen either, so they had to slightly heat the room. Luckily, Yang Ming had reminded her; it seemed this makeshift husband of hers was somewhat useful after all. Previously, it had always been Yang Dong reminding her, but now the roles had changed. However, given her scatterbrained nature, she indeed needed someone by her side. "We really do need to store more, but with the snow so thick, can we still chop firewood?" Xiaoxiao still had some doubts; if the snow dyed the firewood chopping, then she would bepletely doomed. "It is tough, but its not impossible to chop!" "Then lets hire some people, give them thirty wen a day; the weather really isnt great for working." "Hmm!" Yang Ming, saying this, went out to find people, and before long, he had gathered a group of over ten young men! When everyone heard they could earn thirty wen for a days work chopping wood, they were thrilled and came cheerfully. Just as Yang Ming was about to lead the group away, he saw his wife waving at him! He walked over to his wife. Xiaoxiao: "Is the mountain dangerous, are there any fierce beasts?" Yang Ming: "Well just chop on the outskirts, not going deep into the forest, so we wont encounter any!" Xiaoxiao: "Then theres no need for you to go, youre just a delicate schr!" Yang Ming: "Whether Im delicate or not, havent you already seen! Didnt I earn a score of nine?" Xiaoxiao: "..." Yang Ming: "Are you worried about me?" Xiaoxiao: "..." Yang Ming: "Wait for me toe back; maybe Ill bring you a rabbit!" Having said that, Yang Ming led the group into the mountain, leaving Xiaoxiao alone, dumbstruck. Ah! Ah! Ah! What had she just heard? She had already seen it! Scored a nine? So he had heard everything, then was he awake that day? Awake, yet he let her wipe his body with such difficulty; thinking about that days embarrassment made her face heat up again, how utterly humiliating. That dead Yang Ming, stinking Yang Ming, aplete sly fox, not honest at all. She had to add a new rule to her life codes, and that was to stay away from Yang Ming! "Whos worried about you? And catching a rabbit for me? Do you think Im a child?" Xiaoxiao muttered to herself as she went inside the house. Walking up the mountain, Yang Ming pondered. Just now, he didnt know why he had teased her like that, inadvertently revealing that days incident. He had no idea what she would think now; remembering the day his wife had undressed him made his face also start to heat up. Anyway, his wifes reaction just showed she was worried about him, which felt great! The more he thought about it, the better his moodnning definitely to catch a rabbit to entertain her. "Yang Ming, move it!" "What are you thinking about? Youre about to fall behind!" "Why is your face so red? You got this cold just from stepping out?" "..." "..." Embarrassed by everyonesments, Yang Ming quickly caught up with the group, "Coming!" Chapter 105: Men Who Have Never Seen Underwear are Truly Frightening

Chapter 105: Chapter 105: Men Who Have Never Seen Underwear are Truly Frightening

As dusk approached, a group of people returned in a whirlwind, bringing back quite a bit of firewood, and Xiaoxiao paid them their wages. Yang Ming truly did not break his promise and actually caught a rabbit and, to everyones surprise, a squirrel as well. Xiaoxiao was thoroughly impressed; squirrels are so difficult to catch, always scurrying and leaping around, and he managed to catch onedefinitely not a feeble schr! "Yang Ming, do you sell pine nuts here?" "What are pine nuts?" This wife of his is really strange, arent they from the same town? Yet she keeps saying you and yours? "Its a kind of dry fruit. Didnt you catch a squirrel? Wherever there are squirrels, there are pine trees, and the seeds of pine trees are the pine nuts!" "We dont sell them!" How does his wife know so much! In her heart, Xiaoxiao resolved to go up the mountaine spring; the mountain might have a lot of good things yet to be discovered! It might even be better than cooking! Slogging all day over a few inauthentic dishes to earn money is indeed hard! Plus, her family used to take care of Bao Mountain when they lived in the countryside, so she knew a little bit about it. "Xiaoxiao,e look at this little rabbit!" Yang Ming brought the rabbit over to his wife. He thought girls would all like such fluffy little animals, but seeing his wife immediately turn her face away with a look of disgust, he inexplicably felt a bit hurt. "You dont like it?" "..." Could she tell him she is indifferent to animals? Eating meat is one thing, but keeping them is another! "You can sell this rabbit and squirrel as your personal stash of money!" "..." Personal stash? Does his wife disdain him for having no money? Seeing Yang Mingsck of reaction, she wondered if she was too direct in her speech, a bit harsh, so she quickly exined, "Im quite afraid of animals!" So that was it, his wife doesnt like animals. What does she like then? He guessed he could sell them, and with the money saved up, he could buy her something she likes! After dinner, the two of them went back to their room, and Xiaoxiao brought out the underwear she had made, "I made these for you, change into them!" Yang Ming looked at those little things with corners and was confused about what they could be. But hearing that his wife had made them for him, he felt delighted, holding them in his hands without letting go. "Change into them quickly, Ille back in a while." Xiaoxiao didnt wait for Yang Ming to reply before she left! She went to see Yang Qiu first, to chat with her for a while, nning to return when it was time to sleep! But when Xiaoxiao came back, she found Yang Ming still holding those underwear, what, was Yang Ming a pervert? "Why havent you put them on?" "You havent told me what these are, how should I wear them?" "..." Xiaoxiao was truly at a loss; men who have never seen underwear are really scary. Xiaoxiao took them and demonstrated, "See these two holes? Stick your legs in here, pull them up, and youre good! These are worn close to the body, called underwear! You should change and wash them every day, I made five pairs for you! They are all washed and ready!" "..." His wife made him clothes and even washed them? "Im going out to the washroom! Hurry up and change!" Xiaoxiao said and went out to the washroom. Honestly, she didnt want to make underwear for a man, but the thought of a man who doesnt wear underwear sleeping on the same bed always felt somewhat improper. After washing up, "Are you done? Can Ie in now?" "Im done!" "Xiaoxiao, thank you." "Whats there to thank me for, this is what I do professionally!" "The size is just right, I didnt expect you to know my measurements!" "..." Xiaoxiao nced at Yang Mings lower body! Measurements? It sounded as though he was talking about that measurement! She... she didnt know! "..." Yang Ming saw the look in Xiaoxiaos eyes and immediately realized, his wife must have gotten the wrong idea! Chapter 106 I want to eat noodles tonight

Chapter 106: Chapter 106 I want to eat noodles tonight

The next morning, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming went to the rented courtyard early. Ever since Little Qingmeis incident, she hadnt left the house for the entire day yesterday, and she had no idea how things had evolved. As soon as they arrived in the courtyard, the female workers gathered around, "Did the owner hear about it?" "Hear about what?" Xiaoxiao was puzzled. Had something big happened in the vige again? She had only been inside for one day! Her sister-inw had been much quieter recently and hadnt gossiped with her, so she was really out of the loop! "Its about Hehua. I heard her deal to be a concubine for the rich Li family fell through!" "Isnt that a good thing?" She wouldnt have to marry an old man after all. Anyway, forcing a girl in the prime of her youth to marry a man as old as her father felt quite wrong! "It was your rtive who messed it up!" "..." Huh? Who? Xiaoxiao instinctively nced at her nominal husband, who seemed unsurprised. No wonder he had confidently said someone would marry her the other day. Could he be behind this? Xiaoxiao suddenly shivered. What kind of man had she married? He seemed so dangerous! "It was Yang Wei from your third uncles family! Surprising, right? No one expected the simpleton to do something so significant!" "Cough! Cough!" Impotent? Who came up with such a talent, to pick such a name. Its worse than calling him Yang Ergou or Yang Sangou! "Owner, are you okay?" Everyone thought Xiaoxiao was shocked to learn that the disrupter was a rtive of her own. Little did they know she was just trying not tough at the name. "Lets all get back to work. From now on, no more chitchat in our courtyard! Any more gossiping and Ill dock your pay." Hearing the owner say this, everyone closed their mouths and dispersed to continue their work, daring not to speak any further. After getting everyone settled, Xiaoxiao turned to her nominal husband and said, "Yang Ming, I feel like Ive finally made the headlines! The main character of the gossip has changed! Haha!" "..." What headlines? His wife keeps saying new words he doesnt understand. But she seemed very happy. But then he saw his wifes serious face, as if she was interrogating him, "Spill it! Did you do this?" "..." Whats all this about? "Is Yang Wei your emergency backup?" "..." "But is it really okay for you to trick your own rtives like this?" "..." "Hehua is so pretty, even I was almost charmed by her looks!" "..." Yang Ming just listened to his wife talking nonstop, feeling that she must have misunderstood something again! What on earth was going through his wifes head? "Yang Wei has liked Hehua for many years now!" "..." Oh! This... Xiaoxiao suddenly had great respect for the young people here. Even she, a modern person, felt inferior in matters of the heart! Actually, Yang Ming hade to the courtyard today specifically to bring his wife and check that everything was normal. With no major issues, he needed to go up the mountain to chop firewood, so he said to Xiaoxiao, "Xiaoxiao, Im off!" "Yeah! How many days will it take?" "Three or four days should do it, then well have enough firewood!" "Sounds good, be careful!" "Yeah! Dont worry! Maybe Ill even catch..." He remembered, his wife didnt like animals; better not say it. "Im going now!" "Yeah!" "Oh, I want to eat noodles tonight!" Yang Ming left this message behind as he walked away. "..." Noodles? Why would he want to eat noodles out of the blue! Chapter 107 Happy Birthday to You

Chapter 107: Chapter 107 Happy Birthday to You

Xiaoxiao went home in the afternoon, thinking about her cheap hubbysment about wanting to eat noodles. The man was being pretentious now, wasnt he? He had never been this difficult when eating cornbread every day in the past. Just a few days of delicacies and he lost all sense of direction. The mother-inw was already preparing in the kitchen, and as soon as Xiaoxiao came back, she joined her there. "Mom, lets make some noodle dishes tonight, Yang Ming said he wants to eat noodles!" "Sure, whatever he wants to eat, Ill make!" Mother Yang agreed, now that life was better, whatever the children wanted to eat, they could have. But when had her own son be so picky? "Daughter-inw, whats the date today?" "The twentieth of November, I think!" "Oh dear, today is my third sons birthday, thats why he wanted to eat noodles!" eximed the mother-inw, pping her thigh! "..." Her cheap husbands birthday? If it was his birthday, he should have just said so directly. "But weve never celebrated it before! For birthdays, we should have white wheat noodles, which we never had in our house before!" "..." Well, thats sort of pitiful. Never mind, since its his birthday, lets prepare something special for tonight! "Mom, Ill cook tonight." "Okay, you do it, your cooking tastes good! My third son just wants to eat what you make! He didnt even tell his own mother!" "..." Mother-inw, why does it sound like youre jealous? In the evening, Yang Ming came back from the mountains, having settled the wages with everyone, and as soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw his wife carrying dishes into the house. "Go wash your hands now, were just waiting for you, birthday boy!" Upon hearing his wifes words, he quickly went to wash his hands. Did his wife know that today was his birthday? After washing up, Yang Ming came inside and saw that everyone was already there, waiting just for him. "Happy birthday, Uncle Three!" "Happy birthday, Brother Three!" "Happy birthday, Third Brother!" "Happy birthday, my third son!" "..." Happy birthday? What a novel phrase! That must be something his wife taught them! As soon as Yang Ming took his seat, Xiaoxiao immediately gave several little ones a meaningful look! Following the order they had received, the children immediately started to sing, something Auntie Three had taught them while cooking. "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you..." The childish voices sang, and the adults listened while pping along to the rhythm, all taught by Daughter-inw Three. They found it fresh, and even more so, they envied it, for this Daughter-inw Three really cared deeply for their Third. As soon as the song ended, everyone apuded enthusiastically. "All right, lets all dig in, I need to go to the kitchen and make noodles for the birthday man!" Right after that, Xiaoxiao headed straight to the kitchen, and Yang Ming, looking at a table full of delicious dishes and recalling the earlier performance, was deeply touched. "Son, all of this was prepared by your wife." "Your wife is truly excellent. Youve seen it these past days, havent you? Theres no need for us to say anything more." "Have a good life with your wife." "Dont let her down!" "..." "..." As soon as Xiaoxiao stepped out, old Father Yang began to enlighten his son. Such a good daughter-inw, he better not let his son ruin things again. "Dad, I know, dont worry!" "Okay then, lets start eating. Your wife said to eat our fill!" Upon hearing his sons promise, old Father Yang was so happy that he immediately told everyone to start. In the kitchen, Xiaoxiao was rolling out noodles by herself, thinking as she rolled. She used to be someone who just stretched out her hand for clothes and opened her mouth for food, and now suddenly, she had be her cheap husbands old mama? Thats not scientific! Chapter 108: It’s So Hard Just to Hold Hands

Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Its So Hard Just to Hold Hands

After dinner, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming headed back to their room. As soon as they entered, Yang Ming grabbed Xiaoxiaos hand and looked into her eyes solemnly, saying: "Xiaoxiao, thank you for today!" Xiaoxiao was startled by Yang Mings sudden move, she jerked her hand away and took a few steps back. "Its nothing!" What was up with her cheap husband? Ever since she mentioned divorce, he started to act oddlyfirst hugging her, then calling her wife, and now grabbing her hand twice. Even if she wasnt the sharpest tool in the shed, she could tell something was off. Was her cheap husband nning to actually settle down with her and be a real couple? No, no, no, this was too dangerous! Xiaoxiao immediately set up a dozen guards in her mind against him. Xiaoxiao vigorously shook her head, thinking in this manner, when she heard her cheap husband say again, "You havent said it yet!" "Said what?" "Happy Birthday!" "..." Say what! "Whats with you being so melodramatic, am I supposed to give you a birthday present or something?" "A birthday present?" "Hey! You really want one, huh? No! No! No!" Such a greedy man! Xiaoxiao mmed the door and went out to wash up. Yang Ming was left alone in the room, he looked at his own hand carefully, thinking about how he had just held his wifes hand, which was soft and small. As he thought about it, the corners of his mouth involuntarily curled up, but then dropped again. Because he remembered his wife did not want to hold hands and had jerked away from him. Now he truly regretted running away from the bridal chambernow even holding hands seemed so difficult. Yang Ming continued with his usual mountain climbing for a few days, while Xiaoxiao helped out in the rented courtyard. Due to Xiaoxiaos guarded stance, their rtionship remained lukewarm, which made Yang Ming feel quite depressed until payday arrived at the end of the month. "Everyone, stop your work for a moment, ha! Today were paying out wages first! Its been twenty days of work; its time to smell the money!" Xiaoxiao called everyone over, jokingly; payday was, of course, everyones happiest time! Everyone lined up to receive four hundred wen each. "I never thought I could earn Silver!" "Exactly, exactly, its really hard for us women to find work outside!" "We really owe it to the boss!" "..." "..." Everyone sighed and thanked one by one. After dinner that evening, Xiaoxiao handed out wages to her family as usual! "Sister-inw, we dont need it, right? We havent separated households! You be in charge of the family! Just keep the money!" Bosss wife felt embarrassed and reluctant to take the money. But, upon hearing the elder sister-inws words, the second sister-inw became anxious, she wanted that Silver! "You should all take it. If youve worked for it, you deservepensation! Keep it for your own pocket money!" "Im managing the family, but cant attend to everything and buy all your needs. Sometimes youre also hesitant to ask, and thats not good. So, keep the money, buy whatever you need yourself!" Xiaoxiao was not the type to manage every penny and oversee everything; she couldnt care less about managing such details! Then Yang Mings father spoke up: "Since the third daughter-inw has said so, you should take it." "Yeah!" Everyone agreed immediately, happy to take their money. It was the first time they had earned Silver and held it in their own hands in many years! After returning to the room, Xiaoxiao heard Yang Ming ask: "Why dont I have any?" Chapter 109: The Competitor Appears

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: The Competitor Appears

Actually, Yang Ming wasnt really after the wages; his rtionship with his wife hadnt improved, so he was just picking a quarrel for the sake of it! "You didnt do much work either!" This stingy husband was really too much; he hadnt done much and still expected to be paid? "Didnt I go up the mountain to chop firewood? Isnt that used for the workshop?" "..." She had indeed forgotten about this, so she counted out 150 wen and gave it to Yang Ming, "Here you go!" "..." That hadnt been his intention; he just wanted to talk to his wife, how could he be so clumsy! The next day, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao went to the town; it had been two months and it was time to return the books! Upon returning home, they discovered everyone looking glum. "What happened?" Big brother Yang Chun said, "Younger sister-inw, what do we do? Someone else is buying up cabbages too, four wen per jin, we didnt get any cabbages today!" "..." So, apetitor had appeared. She hadnt expected it to happen so quickly, and the first batch of pickled vegetables hadnt even hit the market yet. Was someonepeting with them in making spicy cabbage? "How much inventory do we have left?" "About 200,000 jin!" That was a relief. She had decided to switch to pickling vegetables as the process wasnt asplicated as making spicy cabbage, and since it had to be pickled for over a month before selling, she had asked Da Jin Tui for capital, increasing the production of pickled vegetables, and consequently, they had more in stock! She thought the cabbage nearby mustve been almostpletely bought up, so she said, "Lets buy from other towns!" "And the price?" "If we really have to, well also go to four wen!" But the second day, her elder and second brother came back with furrowed brows and troubled faces, "Theyre buying cabbages in the outer towns too, and the price has gone up to five wen a jin!" "..." Now they were really challenging her! She had to think hard about what to do next! Who was the opponent exactly? Should she discuss with Da Jin Tui? Seeing his wifes distressed appearance, Yang Ming asked, "How many cabbages are we short of?" "Fifty thousand!" At most a hundred thousand, but she was afraid Yang Ming wouldnt be able to handle it, so she said fifty thousand. Besides, there werent many days left to make pickled vegetables! After the New Year, it would be toote! "Leave it to me!" "What can you do?" "Just wait for my news! Take all the silver we have!" Xiaoxiao inexplicably felt that Yang Ming could handle it and handed over the remaining five hundred taels of capital to him. Yang Ming, together with three other men from the family, set out. But five days went by with no word from the four brothers, and the price of cabbages in the entire county had been driven up to thirty wen per jin, more expensive than rice! Xiaoxiao was getting restless, and everyone at home was as anxious as a pot of boiling porridge, fearing something had happened to the four brothers. Da Jin Tui must have already been aware of the situation, but he hadnt contacted her, which she found very strange. "Who wouldve thought cabbages could be so expensive. We might have been better off not selling at the start!" "How much did your family sell for?" "We sold ours at fifteen wen, shouldve waited some more!" "My family got twenty wen!" People in the streets and alleys of the county were having these conversations, asking how much each had sold for, with those who sold for less regretting it, stirring up a cabbage craze! At home, they continued making pickled cabbage as usual. Another five days passed, and the price of cabbages in the entire county had been inted to an astronomical sixty wen, with the New Year almost upon them and still no word from the four brothers, Xiaoxiao was filled with regret! She shouldnt have let them go! Chapter 110: Awesome, Brother!

Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Awesome, Brother!

County Town "Young fe, do you buy cabbages here? Were from another county and heard that cabbages are pricey around here, so we specifically brought a cartload over!" An old farmer called out to Yang Chun, tugging a cart of cabbages. "We do, uncle, we do! Come with us straight back!" Yang Chun was overjoyed upon seeing someonee to sell cabbages and immediately tried to take him along! "Hold up!" Unexpectedly, he was intercepted again. It had been like this for days, so he hadnt managed to buy any cabbage at all. "Brother, they offer low prices, bute with us, we offer sixty cents a pound!" "Uncle, well give you sixty-five cents! Come with me!" Yang Chun went all out too. "Ill give seventy cents!" "Ill give seventy-five cents!" "Ill give eighty cents!" "..." "Cant afford it now, can you, brother? Lets go." Yang Chun just watched as the old farmer walked away with the other guy! A silly smile appeared on his face, finally, he could go home. It had been ten days! Yang Chun and Yang Gang reached the previously arranged spot and waited a while until Yang Ming arrived. "Third brother, youre good, that old farmer act was so convincing!" "I almost didnt recognize him!" "Big brother, second brother, lets go. The fourth brother is waiting, and the cabbages are already back!" At this moment, Yang Ming couldnt wait to fly back, having not seen his wife in ten days. The group quickly joined up with Yang Dong. Yang Gang was shocked to see the line of wagons; the third brother was truly impressive. He immediately stepped forward, lifted the cover, and seeing the neatly stacked cabbages, was overjoyed, continuously muttering, "Awesome! Awesome!" "Alright, lets get going! Save the celebrations for when were home." Speaking thus, they drove the wagons away! Yui Restaurant "How are things now?" Chu Lian sat leisurely in a private room, sipping tea, waiting for the result; unexpectedly, Dongfeng Restaurant, to prevent him from selling spicy cabbage, had started buying up cabbages at high prices. "Young Master, cabbages have gone up to eighty cents a pound, but that Yang Ming has pulled back and taken the cabbages home!" "He pulled back so soon? Send someone down there, stir the pot!" Free Silver, cant miss out, lets see how long Dongfeng Restaurant can hold out! Meanwhile, Xiaoxiao was in the courtyard working with everyone when she heard her sister-inw, Guangguang, running in breathlessly. "Third aunt, theyre back, theyre back!" Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao quickly dropped what she was doing and ran to the door, only to see many wagons heading their way, covered with nkets, undoubtedly carrying cabbages! Seeing Yang Ming waving at her from afar, Xiaoxiao just stood at the doorway, watching, waiting, smiling. Hed done it! Hed really done it! Upon arrival, everyone hurriedly started unloading. It was bustling work till evening before they paid off the wagon team and they departed. After dinner, when they entered the house, Yang Ming handed something to Xiaoxiao, "Here, this is for you!" "What is it?" Xiaoxiao opened it and saw... it was the five hundred taels of Silver he had taken, returned intact? Perplexed, she then heard Yang Ming say, "On the way back, we hauled an extra cartload, eighty cents a pound, sold it to the fool who tries to mess with you!" "..." This is profiteering! Impressive, my brother! "Yang Ming, youre truly amazing, absolutely incredible!" Xiaoxiao said, giving Yang Ming a big thumbs up! Chapter 111: Slap Slap Two Big Mouths

Chapter 111: Chapter 111: p p Two Big Mouths

His wife praised him! His hard work over the past ten days was not in vain, and when he left, he was quite nervous in his heart. After arriving in Lin County, he had his eldest and second brother stay there to pretend to buy cabbage, but the real aim was to drive up the price! He went with his fourth brother to Lin County to buy cabbage. Luckily, Lin County wasnt affected, so it seemed that those opposing his wife were only active in their own County. He didnt have time to investigate who was opposing his wife, as bringing back the cabbages was the top priority. Thankfully, he didnt disappoint his wife! "Yang Ming, your bath water is ready, hurry up and get cleaned up!" Yang Ming had indeed exhausted himself for his own business, looking scruffy, his schrly imagepletely gone! "..." Yang Ming then remembered his own unkempt appearance! He had been scorned by his wife and immediately obediently went out. With a ssh, he sat down in the bathtub, and while he was washing, he suddenly remembered that... this was his wifes own bathtub, and his wife had actually let him use it! Soaking in it, as soon as he thought about it having been used by his wife, he began to... let his imagination run wild! But he was indeed too tired, and he unknowingly fell asleep in the tub; he hadnt slept well for ten days! Xiaoxiao was listening from inside the house, wondering why there was no movement, not even the sound of water. "Yang Ming, Yang Ming." Xiao Xiao called out twice, but no one answered, "Yang Ming, are you done washing?" Still no response. This man couldnt have drowned, right? No good! Xiaoxiao immediately went out to the exterior room! Oh my, what did she see? Yang Mings head had already slid into the water. She quickly stepped forward, pulled on Yang Mings arm, and with two "smacks," she pped Yang Mings face, "Yang Ming, wake up!" Yang Ming was awoken by these two sudden ps, and he suddenly stood up, not expecting toe face to face with his wife in such a bare state! Before he could react, he heard his wife scream, "Ah, Yang Ming, are you a pervert?" Another pnded on his face, then a loud bang, the door mmed shut! The other room went silent! It was then that Yang Ming realized what had happened! He had been pped by his wife! How unjust! Was his wife embarrassed? But her embarrassed look was quite fierce! He then resumed washing and was about to get out when he realized he had forgotten to bring clothes. Should he call his wife, or not? Burdened by this dilemma, he stayed in the tub! "Yang Ming, are you sick?" "..." "Is your leg better, or have you developed an addiction to soaking?" "..." "Now, immediately, quickly, get out for this youngdy!" "..." "If this youngdy lets you use my bathtub again, Ill take your surname!" She let him use it because she saw how tired he was, persuading herself she would have to scrub the tub inside and out afterward. Allowing him to use it even once was already the limit, she might as well consider it a favor returned! Xiaoxiao kept telling herself. Hearing his wife seemed angry, Yang Ming finally spoke: "Xiaoxiao, um... I forgot my underpants!" "..." Hmph, underpants turned out to be a big mistake, letting him bring them up whenever he liked to y the rogue! But there was no helping it, she still had to deliver them. When could she ever retire from this motherly role? Reluctantly, Xiaoxiao picked up Yang Mings change of clothes, opened the door, and tossed them onto the nearby table, without looking at Yang Ming! Yang Ming: "..." Chapter 112: You are my daughter-in-law

Chapter 112: Chapter 112: You are my daughter-inw

Yang Ming got dressed and scrubbed his wifes bath bucket inside out until it was squeaky clean. He even washed the clothes he had changed out of and hung them up neatly before finally entering the room. As soon as he walked in, he saw Xiaoxiao sitting at the table, busily writing something. Before he could even sit down, she handed him somethingit turned out to be silver. "Here you go, a total of one hundred and twenty-five taels!" "..." Why was she giving him silver? "Its the money for the fifty thousand catties of cabbages!" "..." Seeing that her cheap husband was not taking the silver, as if he really disliked the idea, Xiaoxiao continued, "Ive said it before, one should be rewarded for their efforts. This is what you deserve for reselling the cabbages!" "..." "Keep it, keep it for when you marry a wife in the future!" Yang Ming hadnt expected his wife to say that, actually telling him to keep it for marrying a wife. It seemed his status as the husband was quite unsteady, at risk of being discarded any moment! "You are my wife!" With those words, Yang Ming climbed into bed, dropped off to sleep, and soon enough, began to snorehe was genuinely exhausted! Watching Yang Ming like this, Xiaoxiao realized that she hadnt heard him snore these many days. He must have been truly worn out. "Fine! In light of your hard work, Ill forgive what happened just now!" Afterwards, Xiaoxiao went to take her bath, and she saw that the bath bucket was all tidy and clean, which made her think even more highly of her cheap husband. Time flew by, and it was the day she had fixed to collect the pickled vegetables from Big Golden Leg. True to his word, Big Golden Leg arrived bright and early with the cart full of pickled vegetables. Since the price of cabbages had skyrocketed, naturally, the price of pickled vegetables had risen sharply too. Big Golden Leg had made another fortunereaping the benefits without doing much! Dongfeng Restaurant A portly old man, in a fit of rage, smashed his teacup to the ground! "This is your grand solution to deal with Yui Restaurant?" "What am I supposed to do with so many cabbages, huh?" "Are you trying to squander all of your old dads coffin money?!" "Cough! Cough!" While scolding, the old man started coughing, clearly agitated by his brilliant son. "Quick, stop buying cabbages. Go find someone who can make spicy cabbage! Do you want cabbages to rot in our house?!" "Get out of here now! Youre such a waster!" The man in question was the owner of Dongfeng Restaurant. He had fallen ill from the stress of the news. He knew his restaurants standing pretty well. Dongfeng Restaurant could barelypete on even footing with Yui Restaurant in this county. Yui Restaurant had establishments in other counties, something Dongfeng Restaurantcked. Hed been lucky that a semi-apprentice of the Imperial Kitchen chef had fallen into his hands, allowing him to hold his own against Yui Restaurant across the way. But who would have thought, his young and hot-headed son wanted to stand against Yui Restaurant, concocting such a schemewhat a foolish child! Yui Restaurant "Did that old fellow find out?" Chu Lian asked with a wicked grin, having hoped to continue draining the old mans wealth. "Mhm, theyve stopped buying cabbages." "Alright, weve earned enough as well. Lets call it quits. Its unheard of to inte cabbage prices to one hundred wen per catty!" This cabbage incident had somehow gone by without Zhong Xiaoxiao seeking his help, which surprised him. But then again, yes, she had Yang Ming at her side now! However, the first batch of pickled vegetables had already hit the market, and he anticipated seeing her soon. Although he hadnt nned onpeting with his brother, looking at her wouldnt hurt, right? Chapter 113 Yang Wei Enters the Game

Chapter 113: Chapter 113 Yang Wei Enters the Game

Uncle Threes House "Son, you can marry anyone but not that Hehua!" Every time Auntie Three thought about the recent uproar, it upset her. Why did her son have to fancy Hehua, who was always clinging to Yang Ming? "Mom, let me handle this. The whole vige knows Im going to marry her, you cant disagree now." He had liked Hehua for so many years and had only just mustered the courage to propose. "Son, even if I agree, consider whether we have the silver. Hehuas mother is asking for a hundred taels, not just one. Even if I sold our pots and iron, we couldnte up with that much!" Hehuas reputation was already tarnished, and her mother, thanks to the meddling of Yang Wei, demanded a betrothal gift of a hundred taels, dead or alive. A hundred taels were enough for her son to marry quite a few beautiful brides! "Ill sort this out myself!" Yang Wei dered, then stormed out. But within a few days, trouble arose, and Auntie Three came running for help. "Yang Ming, Yang Mings wife, you muste and see, a menacing gang is trying to take Yang Wei away!" What was going on? Wasnt Yang Wei known as a simpleton? How did he get involved with these thugs? Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming quickly went to Auntie Threes house to assess the situation. Upon arrival, they saw several burly menand Xiaoxiao hadnt brought anyone for back-up. They were already at a severe disadvantage in terms of intimidation. "Who are you people, and why are you taking Yang Wei away?" Since they were there to resolve the issue, Yang Ming immediately demanded an exnation. "Who are we? Ask him yourself," one of the toughs said as he forced Yang Wei to kneel with his hands twisted behind his back. "Big Brother Ming, I... I just borrowed a hundred taels of silver from them!" "What?" Yang Wei was such an honest and straightforward man; why would he borrow silver? "But theyre insisting that I sold myself to them and are trying to take me away!" Yang Wei was now utterly confused, not even sure what was happening. He had barely had the money before it was snatched back, and now they were iming hed sold himself to them! Auntie Three was dumbfounded and copsed on the ground, wailing, "I knew that Hehua would bring disaster! Demanding a hundred taels, now what do we do?" Only then did Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming understand; Yang Wei intended to marry Hehua, and her family demanded a hundred taels as a bride price. Lacking the amount, he had resorted to a usurious loan! "Auntie Three, stop crying, the main thing now is to prevent them from taking Yang Wei away!" Xiaoxiao quickly helped Auntie Three up; the situation had to be dealt with. "Were not bullying by numbers; its all clearly written in ck and white on this paper!" Yang Ming took a look at the contract, which clearly stated that Yang Wei willingly sold himself without any mention of the hundred taels. Yang Wei, being illiterate, had been deceived. Here, a contract was thew. If these men wanted to take Yang Wei, even the government office couldnt intervene. This was a loss Yang Wei had to swallow, and without money, there seemed to be no way to resolve it. At that moment, Xiaoxiaos eyes darted around, thinking of a solution. Did they really have to settle this with money? Or could they make a scene and adamantly deny everything? Or grab the contract and eat it? But she was also afraid of those burly men. She had no martial arts skillswhat if they beat her? She now fully understood how others felt when she showed up with a group backing her. "What can be done to keep Yang Wei from being taken away?" "Easy, easy, just trade it for the pickled cabbage recipe!" "..." It turned out that they were after her all along. This trap was set too cleverly; it couldnt be resolved with money! There was no choice but to fight, even if it meant taking a beating! She refused to believe that, having traveled through time, she could be beaten to death. Chapter 114: Playing the Finger-Guessing Game

Chapter 114: Chapter 114: ying the Finger-Guessing Game

No, getting beaten was not in her nature. Xiaoxiao had a sudden stroke of inspiration, it was still best to get them drunk first, buy some time and find someone toe help. "Big brothers, look howte it is already. Youvee from far and havent eaten yet, right? How about I show you my cooking skills? We can talk about the pickled cabbage while we eat?" The burly man thought for a moment, "Alright then, serve us some good food and drink, and be quick about it." "You got it! Ill get right on it!" Xiaoxiao quickly signalled to Yang Ming with her eyes to follow her, then she dragged Third Auntie out the door. "Wife of Yang Ming, what do we do now!" As soon as Third Auntie was outside, she grabbed Xiaoxiao anxiously. "Third Auntie, dont panic. Theyre here for the pickled cabbage recipe, they cant do anything to Yang Wei!" She couldnt give away the recipe or hand over the person. With no one else at home since Third Uncle and the rest had gone to sell tofu, the only option was to stall for time and call for help. "Yang Ming, go home and bring all the best food you can find, and as much wine as possible. Were going to get them drunk first. Find some paper, and Ill look for an opportunity to switch out the indenture contract!" "Third Auntie, you go find people. If all else fails, having more people will make it easier to do something. If ites down to it, well fight. When youve brought people back, dont rm them, just keep them waiting at the neighbors house!" Before long, Yang Ming had brought back the food. Xiaoxiao was busy in the kitchen, and Third Auntie had alsoe back with help, getting everyone arranged. The table was set and once the meal was ready, Xiaoxiao hurried to organize the burly men to sit down to eat. "Big brothers, sorry for the wait. Please, take a seat for the meal! Weve prepared good wine for you!" Xiaoxiao said, showing them a jug of wine. The men looked at it and sniffed, "Good wine! Smells pretty good too! Just seems a bit little." "Big brother, theres more, dont worry. Youll have enough," Xiaoxiao assured them. The burly men started to eat and drink, making quite some noise with their eating. "Big brother, howe you dont y finger guessing games while drinking? Its much more fun that way!" "Finger guessing game? Hows that yed?" the leader asked. "Finger guessing, thats when two people extend a hand and either show a fist or one to five fingers, representing the numbers from zero to five..." Xiaoxiao carefully exined to them how the game worked, needing them to lose and drink until they were confused. "Got it yet?" "This is fresh, lets hurry and try it out!" the burly man said excitedly. Xiaoxiao didnt care about maintaining adylike image anymore, cing one foot on a stool. "Brothers!" "Heads of Five!" "Big brother, you lost, let me fill your cup." Xiaoxiao poured the wine as she spoke, and the burly man downed it in one gulp, "Another round!" "Smooth and Six!" "Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea!" "Little sister, its your turn to lose,e on!" Xiaoxiao took the drinking cup and emptied it in one go, "Another round!" "..." "..." The other burly men had also started finger guessing, the room filled with their loud and high-spirited voices. Third Auntie and the others stared dumbfounded, not daring to make a sound, as Yang Mings wife drank with the men as if she were one of them. Watching his wife drink one cup after another, Yang Ming stepped forward to rece her, "Im fine, dont worry about me, Im the type who can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk!" "Sister, you truly are a heroine among women! Come on, another round!" "..." Clearly, the wife was drunk now, as she was already treating the men as brothers! "Big brother, my wife has had too much to drink. Let me y the finger guessing game with you," Yang Ming offered. "You? A delicate schr, do you think you can handle it?" the burly man looked at Yang Ming with disdain and said. Suddenly, Yang Ming, just like his wife, ced a foot on the stool, "Lets go!" Chapter 115: Girl, Are You Playing Me?

Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Girl, Are You ying Me?

"Hey brothers!" "Hey, top fighter!" "..." Xiaoxiao really didnt expect her makeshift husband, who looked so refined, to be so down-to-earth now. This was perfect, as it gave her a chance to fish for information. "Big brother, your punch is excellent! You learned it after just one demonstration, youre so clever. My cousin Yang Wei isnt as good as you, he would help others count money even if they sold him!" "Hahaha, with a brain like mine, its not just talk. Your cousin is no match, no match at all." The big man said as he waved his hand and continued to y punching games. "Big brother, please tell your little sister how you got such a smart head and easily tricked him. Id like to learn too." "Hahaha, isnt it just because he cant read? I trick one after another. Dont you see, sister, Im literate. If not for..." The big man seemed to fall into a reminiscent mood afterward, his expression growing serious. "..." Is this... a man with a story? She thought so, this leader spoke differently from others, didnt mumble! Xiaoxiao saw the man seemed tipsy, "Big brother, could I take another look at that indenture contract, to see how you tricked him?" "Take it!" The big man thoughtlessly pulled it out and handed it to Xiaoxiao, then continued to y punches with Yang Ming, apparently quite drunk by now. Xiaoxiao took the indenture contract, and the onlookers widened their eyes, holding their breaths, fixated on the paper in Xiaoxiaos hands. Seizing the moment as the group drank hazily, Xiaoxiao quickly swapped it with another piece of prepared paper, then handed it back to the big man, "Big brother, here you go, you really are something!" Then she gave a thumbs up, "Youd better keep it safe. If it gets lost or damaged, it wont count anymore, right?" "The sister thinks of everything, I must keep it safe. I havent even registered it at the government office yet!" Immediately after, the big man carefully tucked the swapped useless paper into his chest. Seeing this, everyone held their breath. The matter of the indenture contract was finally settled. Once the contract was in her hands, Xiaoxiao quickly signaled to Auntie San to call the people waiting at the neighbors house. About ten people rushed into the dining room, startling the few burly men eating, who then sobered up from their drunken stupor. "Sister, whats this about?" Seeing this, the big man got angry and grabbed a weapon. "Big brother, no hard feelings, we just hope youd leave!" "Leave? Sister! Youre ying games with me! Without the form, Ill take Yang Wei!" The lead big brother directly signaled the other burly men to grab Yang Wei! "Sorry, but you cant take him, and theres no form either. First, check the indenture contract in your hand! Now look at what I have in mine?" Xiaoxiao, with the posture of a proud queen, wasnt afraid at all now. The contract was swapped, they outnumbered them, and she wasnt scared of a fight. "You switched them?" The burly man checked the paper in his hand, his fist tightening ever more, while the other tough guys also got ready to fight, waiting for the leadersmand. The tense atmosphere hung between them, just when Xiaoxiao thought they would have to fight because she had offended these men, suddenly there was a p, initiated by the lead big brother. "Sister, big brother admits defeat!" Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, and the issue was resolved perfectly. "I recognize you now, sister. If you need anything in the County, mention Wang Kui, no one dares to say they dont know me!" "Thank you, Big Brother Wang, my name is Zhong Xiaoxiao!" "What? The girl who led ten tough guys into Wang Family Vige?" "Exactly!" Chapter 116: The First Time Sneaking a Kiss from the Daughter-in-Law

Chapter 116: Chapter 116: The First Time Sneaking a Kiss from the Daughter-in-Law

"Hahaha, no wonder indeed, Im totally convinced and ept my defeat gracefully! Farewell!" With those words, Wang Kui and his sturdy men up and left. The group had finally gone, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. The dozen or so people who had been brought in to help also went back. Now it was just the family left. Third Aunt stepped forward and grabbed Yang Weis ear, hitting him repeatedly, "You good-for-nothing child, even selling yourself! Look at you, how old are you now, huh? Why cant you give me some peace of mind..." "Mom, I really know I was wrong! I admit my mistake!" "This time youve sold yourself to your cousin Ming, go and be their ox and horse!" Third Aunt was getting angrier the more she thought about it. Her son was such a disappointment. If it werent for Yang Ming and his wife, their household would be finished. They owed them a huge favor now. Seeing that there was no serious trouble, Yang Ming also took Xiaoxiao and left. "Yang Ming, I never expected you to be so good at finger-guessing games!" "..." "How about we have a drink? Topare our skills?" "..." His wife could really hold her liquor and even wanted to drink with him! Before he could reply, she was already out preparing for it. Soon, she returned with alcohol and something to nibble on, leaving Yang Ming dumbfounded. Xiaoxiao filled the sses, "Come on, hurry up!" Yang Ming had no choice but to go along with his wife. It was not easy to finally have a conversation with her. "Brothers are the best, haha!" "To the champion five!" "..." "..." The two of them started drinking turn by turn, one cup after another. Xiaoxiao hadnt drunk for a long time. She used to be a great drinker. She really enjoyed this session, but she had forgotten she was from another time. The original body had never drunk alcohol, and she had already consumed quite a bit now. Drinking with Yang Ming like this, she truly had too much and started to talk nonsense. "Eh! My dear husband! Why are there two of you?" Xiaoxiao rubbed her eyes. "..." Dear husband? Him? His wife was indeed drunk, seeing double, "Xiaoxiao, youve had too much. Let me help you to the bed to rest for a while!" "Hmph, its no use bringing a few more! Ill kick away as many ase!" "..." "When I earn money, Ill hire a bunch of men to serve me!" "..." Yang Mings face turned dark. So this was what his wife really thought? Was he so inadequate that she needed a bunch of men? Her words truly struck him. With a gloomy face, he continued to listen to his wife babbling, spouting a lot ofints about him. "Forget it, I better marry for love. Find someone I like who also likes me back!" Xiaoxiao kept on mumbling as shey on the table, and while talking, she fell asleep. Yang Ming quickly picked her up and ced her on the bed, tucking her in properly, then just watched her, his dark face gradually softening. Looking at his wifes flushed little face, he suddenly really wanted to kiss her. Thinking this, his heart began to beat faster, so fast that he almost heard the thumping sound. He brought his face close to hers, then moved back, forward again, and back again, repeating the process like a fool. Finally, his lips touched his wifes forehead. Like a child, he nted a quick kiss and swiftly pulled away. This was the first time he had kissed his wife. Although it was stolen, he felt a great sense of satisfaction. He remembered her recent words, "Find someone I like who also likes me back." He decided to wait, wait for the day when his wife would love him back. Chapter 117: Haha, Don’t Take Drunken Words Seriously

Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Haha, Dont Take Drunken Words Seriously

Xiaoxiao just slept from broad daylight all the way to the next morning. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw her bargain of a husband. "What do you want to do?" "..." Was he a wild beast? Such strong wariness. "I dont want to do anything, lets get up and eat!" Xiaoxiao saw the porridge that was ced there, still steaming hot. It seemed to have just been brought in. She definitely drank too much yesterday, got really drunk. She didnt bber any nonsense, did she? "That... I was really drunk yesterday, I didnt talk nonsense, did I?" Xiaoxiao nced at her bargain husband somewhat guiltily and asked. Even when sober she might talk in her sleep, not to mention the possibility of talking nonsense when drunk. "No!" "..." Good, good, Xiaoxiao immediately patted her chest in relief, but then her bargain husband gave her a bombshell, "Just that you said you wanted to kick me out and find a bunch of men to take care of you!" "..." Xiaoxiaos entire being felt awful, she really dared to say anything, didnt she? Although what she said was the brutal truth, she shouldnt have said it to his face. "Hehe, you cant take the words of a drunk person seriously, hehe, cant take them seriously." Xiaoxiao kept shaking her little hand, insisting she didnt mean it, ming the alcohol for ruining everything. "Dont drink in the future!" "Yes, yes!" Xiaoxiao immediately kept nodding her head. She dared not anymore! If she identally got drunk and did something to her bargain husband, that wouldnt be good. Yesterday was an emergency situation, and she revealed her drinking trait C once she started, she couldnt stop. The buzz hit, and she even dragged her bargain husband for another round, totally embarrassing herself. However, this bargain husband really overturned her understanding of him. He looked like a refined person, but he joined her in the drinking games! And he even outdrank her. "Yang Ming, when are you going to the Academy?" "..." Was this her trying to rush him off? "In a little more than a month!" "Yang Ming, after this incident, Ive had an idea. I think everyone in our family needs to learn how to read!" Having been here for more than two months, busy with earning money, she had forgotten such a crucial matter. Yang Weis incident reminded her that everyone must learn to read so as not to be cheated. "Lack of education is truly terrifying, Yang Weis incident really sounded an rm for us!" "Hmm!" "Acquiring knowledge can change a persons destiny and broaden ones horizons. Learning is endless! Each person can also discover their own strengths in the process of learning." The wife always spoke very philosophical words, making him feel inferior; it seemed that all the years spent in studying had been in vain. "Hmm, I can teach them at home recently." "After the New Year, I want to send the three kids and the fourth brother to study." "Okay, well do as you say." Just eight days until New Years, the work of renting out the small courtyard was also nearing its end, and the pickles had all been prepared. "Everyone, stop your work ande here." Xiaoxiao gathered everyone to announce the matter of taking a holiday. After hearing her call, everyone gathered together. "Well finish the work for thendlord today, and from tomorrow well start the holiday. Everyone can go home and have a good New Years." "In a while, Ill distribute the wages. We will pay a whole months sry of six hundred wen as a New Years bonus. Everyone has worked hard these days." Some of the female workers began asking, "Landlord, will we have work to do after the New Year?" "Once the pickle work is done, there wont be other tasks. But rest assured, if I get other jobs, Ill find you!" After listening, everyone felt at ease: "Then thank you, Chapter 118: This is My Husband

Chapter 118: Chapter 118: This is My Husband

In the evening, Xiaoxiao sat at her desk, writing and calcting. She had been busy for two months, and there were many ounts to review before she could go and settle them with Da Jin Tui. "Yang Ming, I need to go to Yui Restaurant tomorrow to settle ounts with the boss. Are youing?" Xiaoxiao just asked casually, as she had grown ustomed to including Yang Ming in everything she did. "..." Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao had spent a peaceful month together, but the inevitable was bound to happenhe needed to tell Chu Lian that he couldnt be in love with his wife. "You dont want to go?" Xiaoxiao noticed Yang Ming hadnt responded. Was something wrong? "Im going!" Upon hearing Yang Mings answer, Xiaoxiao continued with her ounting, feeling sore in her shoulders, neck, and wrists. She asionally moved her neck and massaged her shoulders with her hands. Yang Ming watched her sympathetically; she was too tired. "Do you have any ns for next year?" "What ns?" Was he asking about whether she would stay or not? Did he want to divorce again? "Oh, dont worry. Except for Hehua, who has issues with me, I wont stop you from being with other women!" "..." Could his wife be less sensitive? He clearly wasnt asking about that. "I was asking if you n to continue working with Yui Restaurant next year or if you have other ns?" "Oh, next year I n to focus on farming. We can discuss the cooperation in the fall." His wife wants to farm? He was surprised; his wifes delicate appearance didnt seem to fit farming, but she had already aplished so many things nobody else could, so she surely could do this too. "But actually, I still want to open a little shop and sell things! Maybe sell underwear and stuff!" Xiaoxiao started fantasizing again. Selling food wasnt her strength, but managing what she was currently doing was already pretty impressive! "..." Remembering the underwear she made for him, which was indeedfortable, easy to wear, and convenient, he wondered if people would be embarrassed to buy such things. But since she liked the idea, he thought about keeping an eye out for a shop space for her! The next day, the two of them went to Yui Restaurant together. "Uncle Wang!" "Oh, youve arrived. And who is this?" he asked upon seeing Yang Ming. "This is my husband, Yang Ming!" Yang Ming decided he wanted to go out with his wife more often, because every time she introduced him, he got to hear her say, "This is my husband!" "Hello, Shopkeeper Wang!" Yang Ming immediately greeted him. Although he was friends with Chu Lian, he had never been to Yui Restaurant with him before because he couldnt afford it and didnt want his friend to pay for him. "Uncle Wang, is the Young Master around?" "The Young Master has gone back to his main family home for the New Year. He might not return for two months!" "..." Two months? That long! Now what? How could they get the money? "However, he instructed me to settle your ount." "Great! Then, Uncle Wang, please have a look at the ledger!" Da Jin Tui was really considerate he didnt forget to have her ount settled even though he was away! Shopkeeper Wang took the ledger and carefully checked it. He didnt expect her ounts to be so detailed, although Xiaoxiao just did them as a cash ount. "The Young Master said the pickled vegetables are all done, and we can settle the full ount now. Welle and pick up the rest when its time." "Thats great!" After calcting, they received a total of six hundred silver taels, which was more than Yang Ming had expected from their share of the profits. The two of them took the silver note and left Yui Restaurant. "Yang Ming, lets go!" "Where to?" "To exchange the silver note, of course. I love the real gold and silver!" Chapter 119: Yang Ming, You’re So Handsome

Chapter 119: Chapter 119: Yang Ming, Youre So Handsome

So the two of them arrived at the bank, exchanged for six hundred taels of silver, but just as they stepped into the alley, they were surrounded by five ruffians. Not good, they had encountered a robbery, and she definitely didnt want the silver they had just obtained to fly away! What to do? As she thought this, she saw her makeshift husband protectively move her behind him and whisper, "As soon as I start fighting, you run!" Xiaoxiaos eyes widened, she was panicking now. There were five of them, andst time Yang Ming was at a disadvantage even against three, and now it was even worse. "Hand over the silver if you know whats good for you!" The young thug brandished a stick, pping it into his hand repeatedly, shouting aggressively. "Who sent you? Do you perhaps recognize Wang Kui?" Yang Ming thought it was worth mentioning Wang Kui; maybe they could avoid disaster. "Wang Kui? Were not in the same league as Wang Kui!" The thugpletely disregarded Wang Kui, seeing that Xiaoxiao and him did not seem intent on handing over the silver, "Brothers, lets go!" "Run fast!" Yang Ming, seeing the situation, immediately pushed Xiaoxiao and shouted, then faced the five ruffians head-on. Xiaoxiao hadnt even had time to react before the sounds of scuffling began. At that moment, one of the thugs was already heading towards Xiaoxiao, his club raised high. "Xiaoxiao, be careful!" Before she knew it, Yang Ming hade up to embrace Xiaoxiao, using his own back to take the blow for her. Perhaps driven by the desire to protect his wife, Yang Ming became incredibly strong at that moment, able to fight against five, and in a lull, he pulled out a sharp knife from his bosom and struck at an opponents arm. Bright red blood seeped through the enemys clothes, causing them to scream "Ah ah" in agony, echoing throughout the alley. Xiaoxiao was astounded, wondering when her makeshift husband had hidden a knife! He was too cool, like a hero saving the beauty. Seeing their bloodiedrade, the other thugs eyes turned bloodshot, and they charged at Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming again. But Yang Mings resurgence made Xiaoxiao unafraid. She rushed to help Yang Ming, taking advantage of the enemys unpreparedness, lifted her leg, and kicked hard between the thugs legs, "Ill make you regret having descendants!" "Ahh!" The thug, hit by Xiaoxiaos kick, immediately dropped his stick, clutching his groin, hopping around on the spot. "Thats for daring to think about robbing Zhong Xiaoxiao, dont you know I prefer silver over life when ites to huge sums of money!" Xiaoxiao kicked several men in quick session, seeing them all clutching themselves. She then grabbed Yang Mings hand, "Yang Ming, run fast!" The two dashed out of the alley, panting heavily as they ran a good distance before stopping, seeing that no one was in pursuit. "Xiaoxiao, are you alright?" Once they stopped, Yang Ming urgently inquired, afraid she might have been hurt. "Impletely fine. Yang Ming, quick, check if the silver has fallen!" After all, it was a huge sum of money! "..." He had been beaten up like this, and his wife was still worried about the silver! He was less important than silver, "The silver is all here!" "Yang Ming, when did you start carrying a knife!" "Hmm, its for self-defense!" Actually, after being powerless in front of those deadbeats and brawny men those previous times, he felt useless, as if all his muscles were for nothing, only good for taking hits, not giving them. He wanted to protect his wife, so he had been secretly practicing some fighting techniques and had gotten a knife for self-defense. He hadnt expected to use it today, but facing five against one, if it werent for his wifes help, he would have been at a disadvantage again. It seemed he needed to train more once he got back! "Yang Ming, you were so cool! Absolutely amazing, Im starting to admire you!" "..." Cool? Amazing? Yes, he understands admiration! His wife was beginning to like him! Chapter 120 The Invisible Tycoon Wang Xiangxiang

Chapter 120: Chapter 120 The Invisible Tycoon Wang Xiangxiang

"Yang Ming, lets get going!" "Hmm!" Just as they were about to leave, they were suddenly surrounded by a few house servants from who knows where. "What do you want to do?" Xiaoxiao immediately went on alert. Its not fair to y with people like this. Just because I have six hundred taels of silver on me, why does that attract so much attention? At that moment, an elderly woman came over, "Miss, its a misunderstanding, it was me. I got anxious and sent the house servants to stop you!" "Granny, its you! You really scared me. I thought it was a robbery!" Xiaoxiao recognized her. Wasnt this the granny from that day at the clinic! "Miss, my youngdy is over there, she specifically wants to express her gratitude for the young masters lifesaving grace!" "No need, it was nothing!" "Please, my youngdy is waiting over there. You see..." Xiaoxiao then quietly discussed it with Yang Ming, and finally, they decided to go. There was an extravagantly decorated carriage over there. Xiaoxiao saw it and thought, another rich person, who could it be this time? "Miss, the girl who saved the young master is here." The elderly woman immediately reported. The person inside the carriage heard this and lifted the carriage door, stepping out. "Sister Wang!" "Xiaoxiao!" Xiaoxiao truly didnt expect that this "big thigh" would turn out to be Wang Xiangxiang, the shopkeeper of the towns Cloth Shop and a hidden tycoon. "I really didnt expect it was you who saved my brother." "Haha, what a coincidence, what fate!" "Yes, yes, yes, its fate! I need to thank you. Lets go eat!" Just like that, Xiaoxiao and the two others headed to Yui Restaurant for a meal. Seeing that his wife had finally found a female friend she could chat with, Yang Ming didnt want to intrude, so he didnt join them in the private room but waited in the lobby instead. Wang Xiangxiang indeed was a tycoon, ordering quite a few signature dishes. It turns out that Wang Xiangxiang was the daughter of a prominent family in the County, specifically in the cloth business! At twenty years old and still unmarried, she was managing the Wang Familys business on her own after her parents had passed away, making her a truly remarkable woman. The reason she hade to town that day was purely for business inspections, not as a shopkeeper, but rather the behind-the-scenes big boss. "Xiaoxiao, eat up, this restaurants signature pickled vegetables, this spicy cabbage, and these sugar-coated sweet potatoes!" "..." "I wonder whos so brilliant to havee up with so many delicious dishes!" "..." "Just a while ago, even the in cabbage was selling for a hundred wen per jin!" "..." Xiaoxiao didnt know what to say. Should she feel proud? Being praised right to her face. "Xiaoxiao, look at you, it wasnt you, was it!" Wang Xiangxiang, always adept at reading people in business, immediately sensed something was off and tentatively asked. "Hehe, it was me! You tter me!" "It really was you? Youre too amazing!" Upon confirmation, Wang Xiangxiang immediately grabbed Xiaoxiaos hands, excitedly eximed. "..." Xiaoxiao looked at Wang Xiangxiangs demeanor, quite simr to her own, all excited and bubbly, hardly like the daughter of a prestigious family. "Xiaoxiao, Ive seen that you have a keen interest in fashion as well. How about we coborate sometime!" Xiaoxiao had indeed been wanting to get back to her own profession. Now that she had met Wang Xiangxiang, she didnt need to cling to anyone anymore; she truly felt a connection with Wang Xiangxiang. "I really do know a bit about it!" Xiaoxiao shared her idea of selling undergarments, and they hit it off immediately, nning to start after the new year. Chapter 121: Could I Possibly Lead You Astray?

Chapter 121: Chapter 121: Could I Possibly Lead You Astray?

After saying goodbye to Wang Xiangxiang, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming went homeughing; she finally secured that six hundred taels of silver. As soon as they got home, Xiaoxiao organized a family meeting, the main purpose of which was to distribute silver. "Yang Ming and I have brought home the silver we earned! Six hundred taels!" Xiaoxiao excitedly ced the silver on the table. Everyone was surprised when they heard Xiaoxiaos words; then they saw the silver on the table, six hundred taelsit was a lot of silver! Previously, they wouldnt even spend so much in a year. "Are you all happy? So! I am going to give you all some pocket money now!" Xiaoxiao continued speaking; she was very happy as they no longer had to live frugally! "Thirty taels for eldest brothers family, thirty for the second brothers, thirty for me and Yang Ming, thirty for the fourth brother, thirty for Xiaoqiu, and thirty for father and mother." As she spoke, Xiaoxiao handed out the silver, "The remaining four hundred and twenty taels will be kept for the School, next year we will still need this as capital to earn more silver." The family hadnt expected Xiaoxiao to casually hand out thirty taels as pocket money, truly unable to change hervish spending habits. "Sister-inw, I really shouldnt have it, I didnt do any work." At this point, Xiaoqiu said bashfully; she had just returned and hadnt been able to help around the house at all, so she felt embarrassed to take it! "This is pocket money, not wages. Werent the wages already distributed to everyone else? You werent given any at the time!" Xiaoxiao said seriously, and she was right. Yang Qiu was just bashful, without this push, she wouldnt have epted it. "Besides, a girl needs to be pampered, she can buy whatever she wants, do whatever she wants! By the way, do you want to study? I will send you to the girls School!" "..." The family all thought to themselves that the Zhong Family really raises their girls well, indeed much better than they did. "Id rather not go!" "Go on. And the fourth brother, the three little ones, next spring everyone is going to school! What do you think, Yang Ming?" Xiaoxiao unknowingly always sought Yang Mings opinion when she spoke, not even realizing it herself. "Yes, let them all go! Just like you said, knowledge changes destiny. Its not about taking exams, but having education and manners is always good!" His wife truly made sense. At this point Yang Dong was not pleased, "Im not going, I need to do business with my sister-inw!" Yang Dong was right beside Xiaoxiao, who, hearing his reluctance, pped his back, "How can you do business if you cant read? Want to end up like Yang Wei, selling yourself off? Eh? You know how to count? Can you handle money?" Yang Dong didnt dare to argue after being told off; his sister-inw was right, "Then you dont need to give me thirty taels! I wont use it!" Xiaoxiao pped him again, "You blockhead, keep it for taking a wife, buy her gifts, pamper your wife!" When the family heard Xiaoxiaos words, they all burst intoughter and Yang Dongs face turned red. Yang Ming suddenly realized hearing these words why his wife wanted him to save up some private moneyit was right; he needed to earn money to spend on his wife, to pamper her. "Sister-inw, the others going to school is fine, but my Guangguang shouldnt go, right? What can a girl learn?" The eldest sister-inw, a very traditional woman, thought that girls didnt need education. "Eldest sister-inw, whats wrong with a girl? Girls can also aspire to be as great as men! Dont worry, I can handle our Guangguang, how could I steer her wrong?" "..." The bravado of this youngest sister-inw! With her temperament, letting her guide, surely Guangguang wouldnt be a properdy! Chapter 122 She even thinks she’s gone too far!

Chapter 122: Chapter 122 She even thinks shes gone too far!

In the evening, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming returned to their room and busied themselves with heating the kang and washing. After a while, Yang Ming sat down at the table to read. Although he appeared calm andposed, he was actually on pins and needles. Todays event made him realize the dangers they faced. He knew he had to be more careful in the future and protect his wife. Xiaoxiao watched Yang Ming focus on his studies and thought to herself that he must really love learning. She assumed he must need quite a lot of money for it, so she decided it would be better to give him the Silver. She really didnt want to manage his money for him. So, she took out one hundred twenty-five taels and ced them on the table in front of Yang Ming. "You better manage the Silver yourself!" "..." How was his wife still thinking about that Silver? He handed it back to her, as he didnt need that much money. Xiaoxiao, seeing this, handed it back to him, and Yang Ming pushed it back to her again. After several back-and-forths, Xiaoxiao became furious and pped him on the back, "Dont you need money for your studies?" Suddenly, Yang Ming grunted. This... Xiaoxiao then realized something was wrong. They had fought today, and Yang Ming taking on five men by himself meant he must have been injured. She felt she had been too harsh, never once asking about his condition after the fight. Even if they werent a real couple, as friends, she should have shown some concern. "Are you injured?" "Just a minor injury, its nothing!" "No, let me have a look!" "Really, theres no need!" "Let me see!" "..." "..." The two of them went back and forth until Yang Ming, unable to refute his wife any longer, reluctantly took off his shirt for her to see. When Xiaoxiao saw it, the traces from the beating were shocking, some areas even showing bruises. If it werent for Yang Mings strong physique, he could have broken bones! Xiaoxiaos heart skipped a beat, a surge of panic rising, "Dont move, wait, Ill go see if theres any leftover medicine fromst time with Yang Qiu." Saying this, she dashed out the door. Yang Ming was left shirtless, not knowing whether to put on his shirt or not, as his wife had ordered him to wait. She had finally started to think of him, creating an illusion in his mind that perhaps he didnt even need medicine for the pain to go away. Xiaoxiao soon returned, prepared a basin of hot water, soaked the washcloth, wrung it out, and was just about to wipe Yang Mings back when he spoke up. "I can do it myself!" "Can you reach your back?" "..." Though familiarity makes things easier, and she had wiped his back before, it still felt daunting since Yang Ming was awake. Xiaoxiao hesitated, then, gritting her teeth and stomping her foot, she proceeded to wipe his back. She carefully helped wipe his back, and then bit by bit applied the medicine. Maybe it was the nervousness, but her cheeks were slightly red, and her hands trembled a little. She didnt feel like her usual carefree self. At this moment, Yang Ming was facing away from Xiaoxiao, but he could feel the softness of her hands and hear her somewhat heavy breathing. She must be nervous, and so was he. "All done. Put on your shirt," she said. "Okay!" "From now on, speak up if somethings wrong. Dont keep silent." "Okay!" "Im sorry about today!" "..." "I should have asked about your injuries right away." "Its okay!" Yang Ming turned around with a smile, brimming with contentment. "..." Huh! What did she see? The cheap husband of hers actually smiled! A toothy one at that, and he finally looked less pained! But that smile, it was definitely electrifying, absolutely toxic! "Keep the money. Youll need it for your studies, you cant just keep asking me for money." "Okay!" Chapter 123 Mysterious Man Visits

Chapter 123: Chapter 123 Mysterious Man Visits

The next day was the twenty-third of the twelfth lunar month, and it was time for Little New Year. Every household was busy with a major cleanup and preparing for the New Year, with a stronger scent of festivity in the air. After breakfast, a steady stream of people began arriving at the house. The New Year hadnt even arrived yet, but there were so many visitors. "Schr Yang, help our family write another pair this year!" "Schr Yang, we raised a pig this year, help us write one for the pigsty!" "Schr Yang, write mine first!" "..." These were people looking for Yang Ming to write couplets. It turned out that every year, Yang Ming wrote couplets for the vigers, who would bring their own red paper, and he charged five copper coins for each pair. Hmm, this was a way to make some money. After Yang Ming had written for a while, he saw Xiaoxiao looking bored beside him, so he said, "Do you want to try writing?" Xiaoxiao immediately waved her hands and hurriedly shook her head. She was actually quitezy and would avoid work if she could, "No, I wontpete with you for your job." "..." While the writing was in full swing, suddenly a luxurious carriage stopped at their front door. Xiaoxiao, hearing the sound, wondered who it could be. She only knew two wealthy people, and neither had ever visited their home. A man dressedvishly alighted from the carriage, entered the courtyard, walked into the house, and before even approaching, he said, "Brother Yang, still earning Silver by writing, eh? No more cleaningtrines? Hahaha!" What was happening? The visitor was looking for Yang Ming, but why did he mock as soon as he entered? Could it be that he was looking for trouble? Yang Ming was concentrating on his writing when the arrogant voice interrupted him, prompting him to look up. By now, the onlooking vigers had also heard the derogatory remark about cleaningtrines, which was embarrassing for Yang Ming. "So its Brother Li. What brings you to my humble abode today?" Seeing the interaction, Xiaoxiao quickly stepped forward, "My fellow vigers, we have a guest at home. Ill help you write the couplets another day. Please, everyone, go back home for today!" The vigers could tell that the visitor might be up to no good, so they all headed home. With the vigers gone, Yang Ming, although he found the man distasteful, knew he had to be a host now that the man hade to his house, "Brother Li, its simple here, please have a seat!" The man nced around the house with a look of disdain, "Brother Yang, didnt you make Silver selling spicy pickled cabbage? Why is this house still so shabby? Is this even fit for humans to live in?" Xiaoxiao could barely stand to listen anymore; she had decorated it herself, so how could it be unfit for humans? Just as she was about to step forward, Yang Ming held her back, "You, go fetch some water for our guest." "Alright!" Xiaoxiao answered, and as she was about to step out, the man spouted more nonsense, "No need for that, your water probably isnt fit for humans to drink! Ill pass!" Hey, Xiaoxiaos quick temper redpletely, "If you dislike it here, then scram! Who do you think you are, acting like a lord? Speak if you have business, and cut out the sarcasm!" "You... you... you..." the man spluttered, pointing his finger at Xiaoxiao, "How utterly vulgar!" It was the first time someone had dared to speak to him like that, and a woman at that. She really didnt know what was good for her! "I might be vulgar, but thats better than spouting filth like you." "You... you..." The man continued pointing at Xiaoxiao, then at Yang Ming, "This is the infamous wife you married!" "Brother Li, if you have no business here, please leave my humble home!" "Brother Yang, you..." "Also, my wife is not an infamous person! Please, make yourself at home!" Yang Ming then opened the door, waiting for the man to leave. Chapter 124: Not Embarrassing at All

Chapter 124: Chapter 124: Not Embarrassing at All

"Hmph! Yang Ming, dont fail to appreciate my kindness!" The man hadnt expected to be driven out by Yang Ming, and he stormed out the door, with his attendant quickly following suit. "..." Who on earth is this guy, utterly nonsensical! "Young master, young master, wait a moment! Please wait!" The attendant chased after him all the way and boarded the carriage with his young master. "Young master, we came here to ask for help, not to start a fight!" He was nearly frantic on the side, constantly trying to catch his young masters eye with signals, but to no avail! They had clearlye to ask for help, yet his young master just couldnt let go of his superior attitude. As soon as they entered, before they could even discuss the matter at hand, they were chased out. "Hmph, when have I, Li Fugui, ever begged anyone? What bad idea are youing up with this time!" "..." Am I to me now? If it werent for your needless insistence on opposing Yui Restaurant and hoarding all that cabbage at home, would we even be here asking for help? Li Fugui had never imagined that the spicy cabbage was made by that Yang Mings family. Yang Ming had always seemed carefree and untroubled at the academy, and his family was poor too, so Li Fugui had never thought highly of him. Yet, unexpectedly, there came a day he had to ask for help. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. The old man at home hadid down thew: if he didnt handle this well, the family assets would go to his illegitimate brother, "So what do we do now!" "..." What was he doing just now, and now hes asking me! "Young master, perhaps we should..." The attendant leaned closer to Li Fugui, whispering into his ear, suggesting a n of action. Upon hearing the suggestion, Li Fugui disyed a mischievously sly smile, "Ha ha ha, good, lets go with that!" And so, the carriage left Yang Family Vige. Yang Familys Home "Yang Ming, who do you even know, such a clear lunatic that guy! Coming here with all his nonsensical aggressiveness!" As soon as the man left, Xiaoxiao hurriedly inquired. "..." That Li Fugui was always causing trouble for him at the academy, which he ignored, but it was strange to find him at his house, "He was my schoolmate, the Young Master of Dongfeng Restaurant in the county town." "Could it be?" "Could it be?" The two of them said in unison, obviously thinking along the same lines. "Dongfeng Restaurant and Yui Restaurant are arch-rivals, and he must be the one who bought all that cabbage. Hes stockpiled too much and cant sell it, so now hese here looking for the spicy cabbage recipe!" Xiaoxiao blurted out her thoughts, "But why does he act so high and mighty when he clearly needs help? He must be really sick in the head!" "In any case, the recipes for spicy cabbage and sauerkraut have already been sold; theres nothing for him here!" Yang Ming said, though he was still very worried, knowing that others aside from their family could make them. "Xiaoxiao, if I clean thetrines, would you be embarrassed?" Yang Ming felt that the matter of cleaningtrines would now be known throughout the vige and the word would spread today; he no longer feared gossip but worried whether his wife might look down on him. "..." Xiaoxiao hadnt taken it seriously at all and was surprised Yang Ming cared so much about her opinion. "Whatever work one does deserves respect! Theres nothing shameful about earning money with ones own hands. The fact that youre not afraid of hardship or filth shows that you are this!" Xiaoxiao said, raising her thumb to Yang Ming, "A real man!" The words from his wife always warmed his heart, allowing him to constantly hear the thumping sound from within his chest. Chapter 125: Yang Ming, Can You Sing?

Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Yang Ming, Can You Sing?

The next day, the entire household started a major cleanup and began preparing for the Spring Festival, and Xiaoxiao was incredibly busy but having a st. That evening, as Xiaoxiaoy on the traditional Chinese heated brick bed, she asked, "Yang Ming, can you sing?" "No!" "What if I teach you?" "..." What was his wife up to now? He genuinely had never sung before, but the songs his wife sang, they really were charming. "You cant be serious. Hey, let me ask you, do you think the fourth brothers personality is wooden?" Yang Ming thought for a moment and nodded. It was typical of the people in his familyreserved, somewhat stiff, awkward, and shy. "But on the first day that the fourth brother and I sold candied hawthorn together, he sang and even pitched the candied hawthorn to people well. Dont you think hes be much more outgoing now?" "..." Was she talking about the fourth brother? The fourth brother sang? Hard to imagine, but indeed, the fourth brother had be much more talkative now. "During the New Year, everyone should be cheerful, and that cheerfulness calls for performances. I need a male partner to sing a duet with me. If you wont sing, Ill ask the fourth brother." Xiaoxiao, if nothing else, was bold and optimistic. This was her first Spring Festival here, and without any g event, they had to entertain themselves. Moreover, she was curious how her nd husband would sound singing, and what it would be like if he danced alongha ha! It was almost unimaginable. "Ill sing." When Yang Ming heard that his wife would be singing with the fourth brother, that wouldnt do; that spot had to be his. The two of them started singing in the room. At first, Yang Ming felt very shy, his voice was soft, and he struggled to project. But after a while, he got much better at it. "Yang Ming, get up, lets get off the bed." "Why get off the bed?" He wasfortable lying there; why did his wife want to get off the bed now? "Of course, to dance! This duet isnt just about standing and singing; we need to dance." "..." He regretted agreeing now. Singing was already a stretch, and now dancing? For a big guy like him? It was too embarrassing, "Cant we skip the dancing?" "No way, absolutely not, we must dance, or Ill go find the fourth brother!" "Dont! Ill dance!" Yang Ming found himself led by the nose by his wife, and off the bed they went. "Come on, twist like this!" "This way, this way!" "..." "..." "Ha ha ha, Yang Ming, youre really stiff, cant move at all!" "..." Xiaoxiao, seeing Yang Mings awkward dance moves, grew happier and louder,ughing nonstop. In the room of Yang Familys second son, Yang Gang "This is really embarrassing," the second sister-inw said with flushed cheeks to Yang Gang, giggling. "What on earth are you talking about!" "Havent you heard the noise from the third brothers room? Those two are busy!" "Really?" Upon hearing this, Yang Gang immediately sat up and perked up his ears. "He he, it seems the third one isnt up to it, I vaguely heard something about being too stiff, not knowing how to move and such. Thats really embarrassing. You, as his brother, must give him a good lesson tomorrow!" Yang Gang felt his wife made sense this time. The men of the Yang Family couldnt afford to fail at this! The following day, after breakfast. "Third brother,e here a moment, your second brother has something to tell you!" "Sure!" Yang Ming then followed Yang Gang outside. Once outside, Yang Gang took hold of Yang Ming and whispered in his ear. Yang Ming was puzzled; since when did his brother whisper like this? What couldnt be said out loud? But after hearing it, he was bewildered. What on earth was this about! Chapter 126 Yang Ming, Keep Your Word

Chapter 126: Chapter 126 Yang Ming, Keep Your Word

Yang Ming kept thinking about what his second older brother had said, and he was restless all day. How was he going to talk to his wife about this? Now, it was hard enough to even hold her hand, let alone... He decided to give it a try, maybe his wife actually liked him. At bedtime, Yang Ming took advantage of the time his wife was washing up to move his nket next to hers, hoping she would understand the hint! As soon as Xiaoxiao finished washing up and entered the room, she was stunned to see the two nkets close together. Damn it, she had been getting along so well with Yang Ming these past few days that she had let her guard down again! She hadnt realized at all that Yang Ming could be doing this because he liked her. When Yang Ming saw his wife enter the room, his palms started sweating with nerves, and his voice trembled as he called out, "Xiaoxiao..." "Yang Ming..." Yang Ming, excited by Xiaoxiaos response and feeling that she didnt seem to reject him, stepped forward to reach for her hand, but was met with a ssh of cold water, "Yang Ming, do you remember what you said on our wedding night?" "..." He had said he wouldnt touch her, he had promised shed remain a widow, and now he really felt like pping himself. "So, a promise is a promise," said his wife, pointing at the nket and elongating her words, "quickly... take it away!" Yang Ming was left speechless by Xiaoxiaos blunt response, and dejectedly moved his nket away, sensing the irritation in his wifes tone. Well, there would be other chances in the future. Xiaoxiao hadnt expected her husband-of-convenience to actually want her! It had really scared her. Luckily, he was a simpleton, easily dealt with in just a few words. With him being like that, he definitely wouldnt force himself on her, so Xiaoxiao still felt quite secure. But being tantly rejected by his own wife like that, wouldnt that be too much of a blow to someone? Whatever, she needed to protect herself first. Xiaoxiao got into bed and tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Should she bring up the topic of divorce again? It had to be said that staying here was the safest for her, since going back after a long time could reveal that she had time-traveled. Although she hadnt tried to hide it at first, it would still not be good over time. But if things continued like this, that wouldnt do! Fortunately, her husband-of-convenience would go to the Academy next spring, so she just needed to tough it out a bit longer. "Yang Ming, An Quan cant stay in the rented courtyard much longer!" "..." "His room has been taken by Yang Qiu, hell have nowhere to live when hees back." "..." "How about, when hees back, you share a room with An Quan, and I with Yang Qiu, just to make do for now, what do you think?" "..." Shes suggesting living separately in disguise, that wouldnt do; not sharing a bed is one thing, but living apart is a no-go. Having over-thought things the night before, Xiaoxiao overslept the next day. As soon as she got up, she heard amotion outside. Stepping out, Xiaoxiao asked, "Mother, whats going on?" "Oh, third sons wife, you sure think things through!" "..." What had she done this time? "An Quan has no room to live in when hees back, and third son said you suggested turning this big kitchen into a room for him!" "..." "Thats a good idea, since every house has a stove now and we dont need the big kitchen anymore." "..." This husband-of-convenience must be a schemer, toe up with such a way just to outy her! "Mother, its the dead of winter, can we even build a kang? Where can we get the earth now, isnt it all frozen?" "Third sons wife, you dont need to worry about that, third son has it all arranged!" "..." What else could she say? Chapter 127: What’s the Point of Grabbing a Bunch of Old Ladies?

Chapter 127: Chapter 127: Whats the Point of Grabbing a Bunch of Old Ladies?

On the twenty-fifth of the twelfth lunar month, the Vige Chiefs family butchered a pig. Early in the morning, quite a few people had arrived, all waiting to buy some meat for the New Years feast. Xiaoxiao was no exception, "Auntie, Ill take the ribs and the big bones!" "Yang Mings wife, theres hardly any meat on those, why do you want those? Take some of this meat over here, its so fatty its dripping with oil!" The Vige Chiefs wife meant well, trying to persuade her to take some better cuts. "Auntie, thats what I like. Please save them for me. Oh, and the pigs tongue, ears, and trotters. Right, give me about twenty pounds of the lean meat, and another twenty pounds of the belly pork, and twenty pounds of pure fat, then..." Xiaoxiao pointed at the pork, begun to make one request after another, almost wanting to bring the whole pig home. Next year, she definitely needed to raise a couple of them herself. "..." The vigers were all stunned. It was their first time seeing Xiaoxiao shop like this. They usually only bought a couple of pounds for the New Years celebrations, but here was the Schrs wife, practically hauling half a pig back home in one go. They couldnt help but think she was buying too much, evidently, the workshop had made them a good amount of silver. Whatever the Schr nned to do next year, they would follow, with everyone thinking along those lines. "Auntie, did you save the pigs blood?" Xiaoxiao suddenly remembered that pigs blood, when stewed with sour vegetables, was delicious! "No, we didnt save it. Its not really useful, so we threw it out." "Oh, what a pity! Pigs blood is so tasty!" "You can eat pigs blood?" "Actually, you can make pig offal taste really good, I just dont like it, and dont know how to cook it." "..." How could the Schrs wife have such a strong stomach, daring to eat anything! They turned to look at Schr Yang Ming. "Uncle, chop off that pigs foot, my wife wants it." "Save that pigs tongue for my wife." "..." Again, everyone was astonished. When had Schr Yang Ming be like this? Normally, he was the image of a studious schr, not very talkative, quite different from the coarse men and old women. But now, he was pretty much the same, constantly referencing his wife, making the young maidens and other wives rather envious. Soon all the meat was distributed, and Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had indeed taken the lions share, nearly half of the pig between them. They had just paid and were about to leave when they saw a crowd outside, making quite amotion. "Vige Chief, Vige Chief! Please, you have to stand up for us!" "Vige Chief, youre ourst hope!" "..." "Everyone quiet down and let one person speak. What exactly happened?" The Vige Chief, seeing the situation, immediately came out to take charge, fearing something had happened. "Vige Chief, my daughter-inw was taken away!" "..." "My wife was taken too!" "..." Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming watched from the side, wondering what was going on. Who would be abducting a bunch of old women around the New Year? Could it be that a ring of woman traffickers had surfaced in their vige? Just then, a voice rose from the crowd, "Why do I feel like all those taken away were the women workers for Schr Yang Mings family?" "Eh? Now that you mention it, its true!" "Lucky us for not being chosen back then!" "Who knows what trouble has arisen!" "..." "..." The situation was already chaotic, and the onlookers were discussing it without any fear of making matters worse. Having heard this, the families of the women workers seemed to find their backbone and immediately surrounded Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming, "Schr Yang Ming, Schrs wife, you must take care of this!" Chapter 128: You stay, everyone else leave.

Chapter 128: Chapter 128: You stay, everyone else leave.

"Everyone, please remain calm. I will head to the county town to investigate, and if its indeed rted to the workshop, I will definitely give everyone an exnation!" Having left these words, Yang Ming hurriedly left with Xiaoxiao. Xiaoxiao was also very anxious. The female workers had been taken away; she didnt know if her sisters-inw were still at home. Upon arriving home, she found that the eldest sister-inw was there, but the second one was not. This was troublesome. If the second sister-inw had been captured, the recipe for the spicy pickled cabbage was definitelypromised. The female workers had only been making the spicy pickled cabbage for a few days and were not too clear about the method; only the sisters-inw knew it. "Yang Ming, this must be the work of that stupid ssmate of yours! Even a fool could figure it out." "..." How could something so serious be soical when his wife mentioned it? "Yang Ming, lets report this to the officials! So many people being taken, this is a crime!" Xiaoxiao didnt know what the local government office was like, having had no chance to deal with them since arriving. "That wont do, the local magistrate is a corrupt official. If the government office gets involved, the other party just needs to pay them off with silver, which would be to our disadvantage." "..." Why are there corrupt officials everywhere? Money talks, she thought, wanting to earn lots and lots of it to crush them, "So what do we do now?" "Well head to the Dongfeng Restaurant first!" At this time, the female workers had been brought to a small courtyard in the county town. Everyone was frightened, not knowing whom they had offended. There they waited in the room, until suddenly, the door opened and a man walked in. "Why is it you? When you came to my home looking for my younger brother, I even showed you the way! Why have you captured us?" The second sister-inw recognized the man as the one who was looking for Yang Ming. "As long as you tell me the method of making spicy pickled cabbage, I will release you." The female workers, upon seeing someone enter, were shaking with fear. Hearing that the man wanted the recipe for the spicy pickled cabbage, they calcted amongst themselves; they hadnt been involved in the making for long, it was primarily the two daughters-inw of the Yang Family. If the second daughter-inw were to reveal it, then it had nothing to do with them. Therefore, one of the female workers spoke up, "We didnt follow through with making the spicy pickled cabbage, we dont really know how. You should ask her; shes the one who made it! Please let me go!" she said while pointing at the second sister-inw! Once one spoke, a second followed, then a third, "Yes, yes, ask her, I dont know, please let me go." The second sister-inw never imagined that these people, scared as they were, would betray her so quickly. "I see, then you tell us! After you do, I will let all of you go!" Li Fugui was saying this when he saw his subordinate casually walk in. "Young master, theres something we need to discuss. Lets step outside." He was thoroughly convinced by his young masters actions; he had only suggested that information might be obtained from the female workers. But, then his young master stupidly captured them all. It was the same with the purchase of the cabbages before; all his own presumptuous actions, stupidly carried out. "Whats the matter?" After the two stepped out, "Young master, if you tantly capture people like this, if the lord finds out..." "I havent been tant, have I? Didnt I bring them here to this small courtyard?" "..." Communicating with his young master was so difficult. Capturing eleven people in one go was pretty tant, wasnt it? Now all the vigers would know; why couldnt he have covertly taken just one person? Inside, the second sister-inw watched the situation outside; the two men were whispering and seemed to be discussing something. After a while, they came back in and pointed at her, "You stay, the rest of you can go!" Chapter 129: Visiting the Li Residence

Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Visiting the Li Residence

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming made their way to Dongfeng Restaurant, but they didnt find Li Fugui there. "What shall we do now?" Yang Ming said, "Lets go to the Li Residence!" So, the two of them arrived at the gates of the Li Residence, which was Xiaoxiaos first visit to such a grand household. She had no idea what the inside of a rich familys home looked like. As soon as they approached, a house servant came out, speaking disdainfully, "What do you want? Get lost!" Were they being looked down upon? Their clothes clearly didnt resemble those of beggars, for goodness sake. Its true what they say, like master, like servantjust like that Li Fugui. "Please announce us. Say Schr Yang Ming requests an audience with Master Li!" "The Schr, eh? Alright, I will inform him right away!" The house servants tone changed entirely when he heard the title Schr, and he hurried off to deliver the message. "..." That change of attitude was too swift. "Yang Ming, do you know Master Li?" "I do not!" "You dont? Then whats all this about?" Xiaoxiao gestured toward the direction the house servant had gone. "Im just borrowing the title of Schr for the moment." "..." Is the status of a Schr really that high? To be treated with such respect? Maybe she could asionally use her title of Schrs wife then! Soon, the house servant returned, "My master is waiting inside. Schr Yang, please follow me!" Guided by the house servant, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming entered the residence. Walking through it, the ce was indeed not much different from what one saw on television; the dwelling of the wealthy sure was splendid. "Schr Yang, pleasee inside!" The house servant led Yang Ming and the others into a room, then closed the door and left. "Im fortunate to meet Master Li today. This is my wife," Yang Ming introduced. "Master Li, good day!" "Schr Yang, Madam Yang, please take a seat. Xiaohong, bring some tea!" Master Li seemed very polite. "May I inquire as to the reason for your visit today, Schr Yang?" "To be frank, I indeed have a pressing matter. Today, eleven women from our vige have disappeared, all from the hot pickled cabbage workshop!" "Are you suspecting me..." Master Li mmed the table, "Servants, show them out!" "Master Li, please calm your anger! I am not suspecting you. Its just that your son visited our vige, and I wanted to talk to him to get some information, but I couldnt find him anywhere!" Before Master Li could respond, Yang Ming continued, "Of course, I do not suspect him either. Since hes not from our vige, we just need to rule out his involvement. After all, the lives of eleven people are no small matter!" Xiaoxiao listened quietly on the side. These schrs really talked in a roundabout way. Why not just get straight to the point instead of all this flowery talk? It was quite awkward. Master Lis anger subsided somewhat after hearing this. He knew that Yang Ming was being considerate by not spelling it out explicitly. "I understand. I will look for my son!" "Servant!" Following this, someone came in. Master Li whispered some instructions, and the person leftprobably to investigate the matter. Seeing this, Yang Ming believed that results would soon follow and was just about to rise and take his leave when Master Li posed a question. "Is that hot pickled cabbage made by you?" "Indeed, it is!" "And the pickles?" "They are also made by my wife!" "Madam Yang has amendable skill!" eximed Master Li, not expecting such craft toe from the hands of a farmers wife. "You tter me, Master Li!" Xiaoxiao responded with a smile. "To speak frankly, the purchase of the cabbages was done on my sons own initiative. By the time I found out about it, it was toote. Now, I indeed need the recipes for the hot pickled cabbage and pickles to handle these cabbages. Schr Yang, could you possibly assist me with this?" Chapter 130: Lying Without Even Blushing

Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Lying Without Even Blushing

"Master Li, the recipes for spicy pickled cabbage and sour cabbage have already been sold to Yui Restaurant. Our family is just helping them with the production!" "Is there really no other way?" "This..." "Schr Yang, speak freely, theres no harm!" "Even if you knew the recipe, its toote; youve seen for yourself, we have stopped making the sour cabbage! The reason weve stopped is because if we make more, it will just spoil and rot away!" "And what about making the spicy pickled cabbage?" "Theres an ingredient in the spicy pickled cabbage that currently only Yui Restaurant has. Even if you knew how to make it, you couldnt replicate it!" Xiaoxiao listened to all this from the side, impressed with how capable her husband was at spinning lies without even a blush or a skipped beat, speaking so confidently that she herself almost believed him. But even if he had managed to fool this old fox, could her sister-inw really hold her ground? She was quite skeptical. "To minimize losses, my suggestion is to sell your cabbages to Yui Restaurant as soon as possible. They have outlets in other counties too, so if our county has excess supply, they can transport it elsewhere. Its surely better than letting it go bad here!" Just as they were talking, the person who had been sent to gather information came back, whispered to Master Li, and then withdrew, "Schr Yang, the house servant who went to gather news said that your son is currently at Dongfeng Restaurant; you can find him there." "Thank you for your help, Master Li. I shall take my leave." Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao thus left the Li Residence, not empty-handed; that Master Li would surely order Li Fugui to release those female workers, given his shrewdness he would not allow his son to do something so foolish! "Yang Ming, you sure are something, lying without even turning red!" "..." "That old fox tricked us, Li Fugui isnt even at Dongfeng Restaurant." "So lets wait around here. Once the Li Residence makes a move, well follow!" "Eh? Theres going to be another move? Didnt they just make a move? Will we be able to wait for them?" "Lets just try our luck!" "..." Sure enough, after a short while, Master Li left the house with a house servant. He got into his sedan chair, and Xiaoxiao and the others followed behind him feeling incredibly nervousthis was her first time tailing someone! They trailed all the way to a small courtyard, and before they even entered, they heard Li Fuguis screams. "You shrew! Gentlemen settle disputes with words, not violence!" "Ah!" "Help!" "Ah!" "..." "..." What in the world was going on? Was the kidnapper being beaten up by his captive? While she was wondering this, they heard her sister-inws loud voice, "You still want the recipe? Ill beat you to death first!" "..." When Master Li entered the courtyard, he saw his own son being chased around and hit by a woman, with his attendants trying to intervenewhat a fool he had for a son, unable to handle even a woman, "Quickly, separate them!" The house servants stepped forward and broke up the fight. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming also entered the courtyard. Upon seeing them, Master Li said, "You followed me!" Yang Ming stepped forward, "I was merely anxious to rescue someone, my apologies for the offense!" "Hmpf," Master Li waved his hand dismissively, "Take your people and leave!" Seeing the opportunity, Xiaoxiao quickly went up to her sister-inw and whispered, "What about the others?" "They left a while ago!" Her sister-inw pped her hands together as if she hadnt had enough of the fight. "We should leave quickly; this ce isnt safe to stay." The three of them hastily left the courtyard. Once outside, "Sister-inw, what do you mean the others left? Where are they?" "Those cowards sold me out! Every single one of them, pah!" "..." So everyone had conspired to sacrifice the sister-inw? That was really Chapter 131: In conclusion, your classmate is an idiot.

Chapter 131: Chapter 131: In conclusion, your ssmate is an idiot.

The three of them found a bull cart, and upon arriving home, they saw that their house was packed with people; it turned out that the ten female workers who had returned early were all waiting for them there. "Boss, youre back!" "Boss, about todays events, please dont me us." "We really had no choice!" "We did put our thumbprints on the agreement, afraid of losing five hundred taels of silver, which is why we pushed the me onto your sister-inw!" "..." "..." On the way back, those ten female workers felt that by shifting the me onto someone else, they might have saved themselves, but they also wondered if the boss would still hire them for work in the future. They had acted out of fear, and so they all waited together. "How dare you show your faces at my home! Ah?" The sister-inw confronted these people with anger, "You ungrateful lot, without our family, would you have earned any silver?" "Without a second thought, you sold me out! If I hadnt made it back today... if I hadnt made it back... youd all better leave! Get out!" The sister-inw, saying this, began to push the group of female workers out. "Ladies, it was because someone wanted to learn how to make spicy pickled cabbage and sauerkraut that you were taken. I apologize for the scare. Since everyone is alright, lets go home for today!" Yang Ming, seeing that his sister-inw was losing control, quickly told everyone to leave. "Boss, we really didnt mean it, please dont take it to heart!" "Then well head back first, we are truly sorry!" "..." "..." Only after hearing Yang Mings words did the female workers leave the Yang Family courtyard. After they had gone, the sister-inw copsed to the ground in a daze. "Sister-inw!" Xiaoxiao immediately went to help her. "Little sister-inw, sob, sob," the sister-inw cried, holding onto Xiaoxiao. There had been no issue, but seeing those people, she lost control, filled with fear. This was her first time facing such a situation and she was truly afraid that she couldnt hold on! Xiaoxiao held the sister-inw, gently patting her back, consoling her, "Cry it out, youll feel better after crying." Xiaoxiao truly began to see her sister-inw in a new light. Typically a loudmouth who loved to gossip, when it came to matters of her own family, she managed to keep her mouth shut C something Xiaoxiao herself might not have been able to do. That night, Xiaoxiaoy on the heated brick bed, by now ustomed to chatting with Yang Ming under the covers. "Yang Ming, is your ssmate a bit dim-witted? Is there something wrong with his head?" Xiaoxiao sat up and pointed to her temple. "How so?" "Think about it, only a fool would buy cabbages at a high price! Who harms themselves in an attempt to deal with others?" "..." "And this time, why did he abduct so many people? It would have been better to quietly approach one or two people and tempt them with money, wouldnt it? Doing it all without anyone noticing." "..." "And if he wasnt dim-witted, how could it be that he didnt get the recipe but ended up being beaten by the sister-inw?" "..." "And that time, he was supposed to be pleading with you, right? But with that performance, I cantpliment him. So, to sum up, your ssmate is an idiot!" "Hmm, you make a good point!" "However, what about Yang Weis issue? That doesnt seem like something a fool could do, does it?" Xiaoxiao then scratched her head, somewhat confused. "..." My wifes analysis is correct. Could it be that besides Li Fugui and Old Master Li, theres someone else who wants this recipe? Chapter 132: The Deflated Li Fugui

Chapter 132: Chapter 132: The Deted Li Fugui

After Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming left the yard, Master Li roared at his own son, "Are you trying to kill your father with anger? Youve truly lost my face; now people have evene knocking at our door!" Li Fugui, chased and beaten by the Yang Familys second daughter-inw, was in disarray, with his clothes a mess and his hair tousled. Just as he was picking himself up to tidy his appearance, he heard his father bellow anothermand, "Get back to the residence immediately!" After saying that, Master Li huffed coldly and didnt wait for his son, boarding his sedan chair to leave on his own. Upon returning to the Li Residence, Lady Li immediately came forward to greet him, helping to remove his overcoat, "My lord, who has upset you again!" "Hmph, who else but your fine son!" Lady Li hadnt expected her son to have stirred his fathers anger again, "My lord, please calm down, Fugui is still young!" "Still young? Is twenty still young? Its all because you spoil him; he dares to do anything now! He even dares to seize someone on his own authority; does he think he is the government office?" After listening, Lady Li fell silent. Previously, when their son caused trouble, they turned a blind eye as long as it was minor. But this time, he had truly made a grave mistake. While they were talking, Li Fugui arrived home. As soon as he entered the room, he saw his mother winking and whispering at him, "Your father is fuming right now; go back to your room and study! Dont provoke your father any further!" Li Fugui grunted in acknowledgment and was about to leave when he heard his fathers voice, "Stand right there!" He immediately turned around, lowered his head, and called out, "Father!" "Do you even remember Im your father?" Master Lis anger surged at the sight of his good-for-nothing son. "Do you now dare to abduct amon girl?" "Father, wasnt I doing it for that pickled cabbage recipe?" Li Fugui still didnt realize where he had gone wrong, thinking that all he had done was for the sake of the restaurant. Hearing this only fueled Master Lis anger further. He saw his eldest son as utterly hopeless, someone he could no longer rely on, "You no longer need to run the restaurant! After the new year, you will study diligently at the academy!" "Father!" Li Fugui, upon hearing his fathers ns, feared that the restaurant would be handed over to his illegitimate brother. That was uneptable, so he argued, "Havent I done all this for the good of the restaurant? What have I done wrong to be no longer allowed to manage the restaurant?" His son remained unrepentant, causing Master Li to cough in anger twice, "For the good of the restaurant? You were ready to risk the entire family fortune! Truly, a fine son you are." Turning to Lady Li, hemanded, "Wife, find a matchmaker right away to arrange a proper marriage for him. Its time for him to continue the Li Family lineage." He had lost hope in his son and wanted to ensure the family legacy through grandchildren as soon as possible. Upon hearing this, Li Fugui immediately became anxious, "No way, I dont want to get married so soon!" "Hmph, dont think I dont know about your affair with that Little Maid. Theres no room for discussion on this matter!" After speaking his peace, Master Li retired to his chamber to rest. "Mother!" "s! Just follow your fathers ns. If you keep opposing him like this, there wont be a ce for the two of us in this house anymore!" "But..." "Do you really want to hand over the family fortune to your illegitimate brother? If you dont obey, dont me me if I sell off that Little Maid." This time, Lady Li sided with Master Li. She knew what her son had been up to recently, and if things continued as they were, the illegitimate son would surely take her sons ce. She could not allow that to happen. Chapter 133 Yang Ming, Hurry...

Chapter 133: Chapter 133 Yang Ming, Hurry...

Li Residence, Separate Courtyard A man sat leisurely by the stove, sipping tea, listening to a servant reporting news. "Eldest Young Master, today the Eldest Young Master had all the people from Yang Family Vige captured, and the master got angry and forbade the Eldest Young Master from managing the restaurant anymore!" "Hmph! The dummy, I thought I could stillpete with him; I even found Wang Kui. Unexpectedly, he himself disappointed the old man!" "The master has asked madam to find a matchmaker for the Eldest Young Master to get married!" "Oh? Is the old man in a hurry to cultivate the next generation?" "Even if hes cultivating the next generation, its already toote, very soon this household will be the ..." "Dont talk nonsense, go now!" Time swiftly moved to New Years Eve, which was Xiaoxiaos first Spring Festival since she arrived here. Early in the morning, everyone at home started getting busy, starting with pasting couplets. Xiaoxiao wrote couplets for each room and pasted them up, very festive. "Yang Ming, the Fu character should be hung upside down!" "Huh?" "Fu arrives, Fu arrives, its correct to hang it upside down." "..." His wifes whimsical ideas were indeed many. Just thinking about having to perform a skit with herter made him feel uneasy, knowing the family would tease him about it, but he couldnt ignore his wifes words. "Yang Ming, what are you thinking about? Its all crooked!" "Oh, oh!" After finishing the couplets, he heard his wife say, "Yang Ming, quickly go and gather firewood in each room!" "Didnt we just gather some yesterday? It should be enough!" "Gather wealth, gather wealth, our family will make a fortune next year! We also need to gather some tonight! Dont forget!" "..." His wifes random doctrines! But still, he obediently went and gathered more. Aftering back inside, he heard his wife say, "Yang Ming, quickly sweep the floor and take out the trash! We cant do itter!" "Why is that?" "Oh, of course, its so we dont sweep away the households good fortune and wealth! Have you never celebrated New Year?" "..." He waspletely convinced by his wifes bizarre exnations! Whatever his wife asked him to do, he would do without questioning anymore, since what his wife said was always right. "Yang Ming, wash up quickly, you cant do it in the evening!" "..." "Yang Ming, quickly change into your new clothes!" "Yang Ming, hurry..." "Yang Ming, hurry..." Did his wifes family have so many customs for New Year? Why didnt his family have these traditions? Perhaps it was because his own family was too poor? But having his wife during New Year felt wonderfully good! By noon, the women in the family were busy in the kitchen, especially since they prepared an abundance of food due to Xiaoxiaos presence. Thanks to the recent good meals, his sister-inws cooking skills had greatly improved. The meal was prepared quickly. They started with the fireworks, which were simple just to make some noise, and it was great they could get them. The family sat around the table to start the New Years Eve dinner, "Come,e,e, fill up for thedies too!" Xiaoxiao began pouring drinks for everyone, and Yang Ming joined her to help serve drinks. "Dad, its New Year, why dont you say something?" "..." Yangs dad didnt expect his daughter-inw to ask him to speak. Each New Year, they just ate, no talks; he wasnt good at it. The family looked at Yangs dad collectively, waiting for him to speak, "Well, dad doesnt really know what to say. How about, daughter-inw, you say something on behalf of dad?" "Exactly, daughter-inw, your dad isnt good with words, why dont you speak?" The mother-inw immediately helped Yangs dad out. "Me speak? Alright then!" Chapter 134 Happy New Year

Chapter 134: Chapter 134 Happy New Year

Everyone was looking at Xiaoxiao, waiting for her to speak. Yang Ming didnt even blink, eager to hear what his wife would say and whether she would mention him! "Well, everyone, please raise your sses. Lets toast to a Happy New Year!" "..." "Hurry up already!" It was then that everyone raised their sses, following Xiaoxiaos lead, "Happy New Year!" Thedies, drinking for the first time, were all quite bashful about it. "I wish everyone good health, prosperity, and to make a fortune every year! Come on! Lets clink our sses." After the clink, Xiaoxiao downed her drink in one gulp, and everyone else did the same. "Well, lets start eating then! We still have a show during the meal!" "..." A show? How different it was celebrating the New Year with the third daughter-inw, but it felt more festive this way, and everyone was grinning from ear to ear. The kids were already itching to perform upon hearing this; they had been rehearsing with their third aunt. Xiaoxiao saw how eager the little ones were and found them adorable, "You kids, start from the youngest, okay!" Yang Liuliu, the youngest in the second sister-inws family, stood up and sang "Happy New Year." She was the smallest, and her tune was not yetplete, but she was not nervous at all and felt fabulous, "Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Wishing everyone a Happy New Year..." After finishing, she even said, "Quick, p your hands, quack quack." While speaking, she was also mimicking the action of pping. This made everyoneugh joyfully, pping their hands and quacking in approval! Now it was Yang Shu from the eldest sister-inws familys turn, "I will recite a poem for everyone. I want to be an educated person, just like Uncle Three." "..." Everyone was shocked after hearing this; the kid was so young, yet he spoke of bing an educated person. Had the third daughter-inw taught him this? "Hoisting the hoe at noon, sweat dripping to the earth below..." Then it was Yang Guangguangs turn from the eldest sister-inws household, "I wish grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, and little auntie a Happy New Year, prosperity, and Ill sing a song too!" "Happy pond nts dreams that turn into oceans; eyes and mouth wide both sing loud and clear; lend me wings so small I can fly towards the sun; I believe miracles are upon us,..." The little ones joined in too, singing "La..." The room filled with the childrens singing voices made the adults feel as if they had regressed in years, filling them with vitality. After the kids finished singing, they all stretched out their hands, saying together, "Wishing you riches, hand over the red envelopes!" "..." The adults were taken aback, they hadnt prepared for this. Xiaoxiao quickly pulled out three big red envelopes from her pocket, which the kids took with joy. "Fourth brother, its your turn!" Yang Dong was busy eating, watching, listening, and enjoying himself when suddenly the third sister-inw called on him. What was this about? What did he know? He didnt know any poems, and there was only one song he could sing. Might as well go for that one, he thought, getting up, "They say candied haw is sweet, but the sweetness hides a sour taste..." "..." The family was hearing the youngest son sing for the first time and was astonished. Yang Ming was even more shocked that his brother didnt shy away C he just got up and sang. Was this still his shy brother? Ever since his daughter-inw joined the family, everyone had be more cheerful. She had infected the whole family with her spirit, which was wonderful. After Yang Dong finished singing, Xiaoxiao handed him a red envelope, "I have one too?" "Of course, you do! Youre not married yet; youre still a child!" "..." They were the same age; how was he still a child? Chapter 135: Threw a Flirty Glance

Chapter 135: Chapter 135: Threw a Flirty nce

"Yang Qiu, its your turn!" "Sister-inw, Id rather not, I... I cant." Yang Qiu said, feeling very embarrassed. Xiaoxiao saw that the girl had been bullied into being so introverted, she decided not to make things difficult for her and thought that she needed to take her out more in the future to help her be less timid. "Alright, if you dont want to perform, then dont. Here, take this!" "This..." "Take it quickly, you and the fourth brother are the same!" Yang Qiu epted the big red envelope and felt warmth in her heart, her eyes even getting a bit moist. It was her first time experiencing the New Year like this, with such an atmosphere and these kinds of family members, and it felt really good. "Next, its mine and Yang Mings turn!" Xiaoxiao stood up with Yang Ming to get the handkerchiefs they had prepared earlier. When they saw that Yang Ming also had a handkerchief, the family was puzzled. "Third brother, what are you up to! Why are you holding a handkerchief like a maiden, haha," Yang Dong burst into uninhibitedughter. "Old fourth!" Yang Dad called out to stop him, curious to see how his third son would change under the influence of his daughter-inw. Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao started their performance, "In the first monthes the New Year, on the very first day of the year, every family gathers, the young pay respects to the elder..." As they sang, they twirled around, shocking everyone so much their jaws nearly hit the floor. They had expected the third son to recite a poem with literary ir like Yang Shu had, but instead, here he was, twisting and turningwas this really their third son? The young ones were delighted, pping and cheering. Yang Ming felt like he had lost all face; he had never done anything like this in front of others, not even in front of his family. Following his wife, he thought he must have gone crazy. Xiaoxiao, on the other hand, was enjoying herself more and more, and at the end of the sketch, she even threw a flirtatious look at Yang Ming. Electrified, Yang Mings face turned red to the root of his neck, and he immediately sat back down in his original spot. How could his wife do such a thing in front of so many people! Couldnt she have kept it to their room? The ever-so-oblivious Xiaoxiao didnt notice Yang Mings reaction at all. She had only thrown the seductive nce because the act required itto act professionally in a sketch, you need proper eye contact and interaction! Without a care, she continued to liven up the atmosphere, "Second sister-inw, second brother, its your turn now!" Yang Gang immediately said, "I dont know how either! Wife, why dont you go ahead!" The second sister-inw was also in a fix, as she didnt know how either, but she still said, "Then Ill share a funny story. That day, I saw Yang Ergou at the east end of the vige step in dog poop, and he was chased by that dog until he fell on his big butt!" "..." There was silence from the family members. What was this second sister-inw talking about? They were eating their meal! It would have been better if she hadnt spoken at all. Only Xiaoxiao almost choked withughter. "..." This third daughter-inw really was different from the others. Xiaoxiao was amused by the name "Yang Ergou"so there really was someone with that name! And after the second sister-inws story about Ergou stepping in dog poop and then getting chased by the dog, she just couldnt hold herself back. The elder brother and sister-inw, as well as the father-inw and mother-inw, didnt have an act to perform afterwards. Xiaoxiao thought that for a family that didnt talk much and didnt like to put themselves out there, they did quite well. The meal was enjoyed immensely by all because with Xiaoxiaos inclusion, they had an unusual reunion dinner. The table was filled withughter, and the men drank their fair share of alcohol, though the women only had a little. Chapter 136: Whoever Eats It is the Fortunate One

Chapter 136: Chapter 136: Whoever Eats It is the Fortunate One

After dinner, the women gathered around to make dumplings with sauerkraut pork and cabbage pork fillings. Xiaoxiao sneakily wrapped five copper coins inside. When the time came to wee the God of Wealth that evening, "There are five dumplings with copper coins inside, be careful when you eat them, so you dont bite your teeth!" "..." Just as everyone was about to put the dumplings in their mouths, they heard this and all paused. "Why put copper coins in them?" everyone asked, puzzled. Yang Ming was already used to it, his wife had many quirky ideas during the New Year, and this was just the tip of the iceberg! He thought, get used to it, just get used to it. "..." Xiaoxiao was resigned, they acted like it wasnt New Year at all, doing nothing, "Try your luck, whoever gets one is the lucky one." Was there such a custom? After hearing this, everyone started picking dumplings to see which ones had copper coins, all hoping to be the lucky one. "Dont pick, whoever gets one, gets one." Xiaoxiao immediately intervened to stop anyone from picking. Then everyone began eating normally, and soon a muffled grunt was heard from Yang Ming. Everyone looked his way, and Yang Ming spat out a copper coin. "Yang Ming, youre the first one to get one, impressive, youre the lucky one." Xiaoxiao immediately pped and cheered. Yang Ming thought to himself, could he possibly be unlucky having married Xiaoxiao? He was extremely fortunate, and he felt very content. Seeing the third brother seed so quickly, everyone else hurriedly ate, hoping to be the next one. There were still four copper coins left. In the end, it was Old Man Yang, Yang Qiu, Yang Dong, and Yang Guangguang who got them. Everyone else got theirs normally, but Yang Dong got his because he ate vigorously, consuming twice his usual amount of dumplings, which left him quite stuffed. This made everyone burst outughing. After all, it was already past the New Year celebration, and here he was, soon to be married, yet still acting like a child. Xiaoxiao, however, didnt eat a single dumpling but only ate vegetables. Yang Ming noticed andter that night, brought her a te of dumplings to bed, concerned she might be hungry. "Xiaoxiao, I saw you didnt eat much earlier. Here, have some, and eat them if you get hungryter!" "I dont eat dumplings!" "..." He was puzzled, since she used to eat dumplings before. As he was wondering, he heard his wife repeat herself. "Oh, actually, I cant eat pork dumplings on New Years Eve!" "Why?" He suddenly became curious. "..." Could she say it? It was a modern-day tradition passed down from her ancestors, "Actually, its because our ancestors from the Zhong Family were fleeing famine and when they crossed a river, their boat sank, but they were saved by a pig. Our ancestor then vowed the Zhong Family would not eat pork dumplings on New Years Eve for generations." "..." "Just like that, sounds crazy, right? But we really have always abstained from eating them on New Years Eve! Its fine other times." Ha ha, ha ha, she herself found it absurd, but it was indeed a longstanding family tradition and practice. "Not crazy! Ill fix you something else to eat." He really didnt find it crazy, everyone has their own traditions. "No need, dont trouble yourself, I already ate a lot today." She really hadnt eaten lightly; a girl, eating as much as a man, her body clearly had gained ten pounds already. "Im going to lie down now, feeling sleepy. Dont turn off the lights tonight, we need to keep them on all night!" "..." "Its a custom to keep the lights on all night during New Year, dont save on candles!" "..." Chapter 137 Mmm, it’s my first time

Chapter 137: Chapter 137 Mmm, its my first time

"Xiaoxiao, wait a minute before you go to sleep!" Just as Xiaoxiao was about to climb into the kang bed, she heard her make-do husband call out to her. What could it be, "Whats the matter?" She saw Yang Ming take out a quite unique little box from his bosom and hand it to her, "This is for you!" "..." This... couldnt be the legendary New Years gift, could it? A bit of a surprise! Could that blockhead have actually done something so significant? Xiaoxiao received the box that looked like jewelry packaging and quite special at that. It couldnt possibly contain gold or silver treasures, could it? When had her make-do husband bought this? Xiaoxiaos eyes, greedy like those of a treasure hunter, widened. Upon opening the box, she found a pair of earrings, made of silver. They were not particrly exquisite, but in such a backward ce, they were considered quite unique. Xiaoxiao had her ears pierced, but she didnt wear earrings because she wasnt ustomed to wearing silver. This was a habit left from modern times, where she was allergic to anything other than gold, so she had developed a habit of only wearing gold jewelry. Could it be that her make-do husband noticed she wasnt wearing any earrings and bought them for her? Was he such a thoughtful man? "When did you buy them?" Xiaoxiao really wanted to know. "Last time, when we were shopping for New Years goods, I saw you bought a bracelet for your mother, and I thought you didnt have any earrings, so I picked these out." Could he say that he went back specially for them? And that he had taken a long time to choose, only settling on this pair, just to give them to his wife as a New Years gift? "Thank you!" So, it was a casual purchase during the New Years shopping. She didnt know why, but she felt a little disappointed. "Do you like them?" "Uh-huh!" Looking at her make-do husbands clumsy demeanor, Xiaoxiao nodded, feeling it would be rude to reject a gift outright. She put the earrings back in the box, about to put them away, when she heard her make-do husband say, "Let me help you put them on!" "..." Huh? What kind of plot twist was this? The atmosphere felt strangely off! Before Xiaoxiao could reply, Yang Ming took the box, removed the earrings, walked up to Xiaoxiao, carefully brushed her hair behind her ears, and began to help her put on the earrings. He was so nervous, his hands were shaking, and the more nervous he got, the harder it was to find the holes in her ears. He fumbled for quite some time! Then he heard his wife yelp, "Ouch!" "What happened!" Yang Ming asked in a panic, and his hands stopped moving. "That... Ill do it myself! It hurts a bit!" Her make-do husband couldnt find the earhole and kept jabbing randomly, hurting her so much that she couldnt help but cry out after enduring it for so long. A perfectly good mood was thoroughly spoiled. "Oh, sorry, I hurt you!" He really was so clumsy, failing even to put earrings on his wife! "Its okay, its okay, youve never helped someone with this before!" Xiaoxiao waved her hand, while she took the earring, felt for her ear, and was about to put it on, she heard her make-do husband say. "Yeah, its my first time!" "Tssk!" Xiaoxiao was so startled by hisment that she poked her ear again. "..." First time, first time, ah! Ah! Ah! Could he phrase it in a less suggestive way? Did her ear have a grudge against him? After putting on the earrings, Xiaoxiao climbed onto the kang and, recalling the recent scene, her face flushed red in an instant! She... she... what on earth had she and her make-do husband just said? She was going crazy. A little pain? Did I hurt you? First time? OMG! This make-do husband was definitely toxic! Chapter 138: Come up, I’ll carry you

Chapter 138: Chapter 138: Come up, Ill carry you

This is no way to y, she was already thinking dirty thoughts, Xiaoxiao quickly adjusted her emotions and got into bed. "Xiaoxiao, Happy New Year." "..." Hehehe, "Happy together, happy together!" This cheap husband of hers had a good-looking face, and damn, his voice was so pleasant to hear. Could she admit that more than a face lover, she was a voice lover! If this kept up, as the eldest sister, she might very well lose control and fall for the young man! It had nothing to do with love. That would be a big mistake. The first day of the new year was a day for families to visit each other and exchange New Years greetings. Early in the morning, people began visiting, and Xiaoxiao had prepared plenty of snacks to serve the guests. There were also lots of kids, and the three little ones in her family, because they could sing the New Year song, became the childrens leaders, ying together with everyone. The house was constantly filled with the childrens singing, intriguing the visitors who came to offer New Years greetings. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were also busy, first at the neighbors houses, then at the homes of uncles and aunts, staying at each ce for a while. They were tired enough by the end of the day, barely having a moment to rest, Xiaoxiao even felt her face freezing in a smile. The second day of the new year, the house was quiet because it was the day daughters and sons-inw returned to their mothers home. All the married young men in the vige set out, taking their wives back to their maternal homes, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming included. They took lots of big and small packages but had no ox cart avable, so they had to walk since everyone wanted a vehicle that day. Xiaoxiao deeply regretted not buying a vehicle earlier, grumbling as she walked, "Why didnt we buy a car first?" "..." While walking, Yang Ming heard his wife mutter this. Was his wife tired from the walk? "Come on, Ill carry you!" he said, squatting down and waiting for Xiaoxiao to climb on. Xiaoxiao was lost in thought when she saw her cheap husband squatting in front of her. What was this, was he going to carry her? "Come on!" "..." Huh! Really! Xiaoxiao quickly waved her hands, "No need, lets keep going. Its already tough enough carrying all these things." She walked on ahead. The two of them might as well keep their distance! Besides, who was being foolish here, her or him? In this icy snowy weather, carrying someone could end in a clumsy tumble! Thus, the two of them continued their way to Stone Vige. As soon as they entered the house, they saw the old couple waiting for them. "Dad, Mom, Happy New Year." Xiaoxiao immediately went forward and gave the old couple a big hug, after all, they looked just like her own parents, and silently in her heart, she wished her real parents a Happy New Year. "Son-inw wishes father-inw and mother-inw a Happy New Year." Yang Ming stepped forward, still holding the big and small packages, and bowed, looking quiteical! "Hmm!" Old Mr. Zhong still had a big issue with his son-inw. Originally, when he heard his daughter was pregnant, he thought about letting bygones be bygones, but then she wasnt pregnant after all, and his hopes for a granddaughter vanished. Furthermore, hearing about the tough times his daughter endured in the Yang family vige made him even less fond of this son-inw, who seemed not to care enough about his daughter. "Daughter, son-inw,e warm up on the kang!" Xiaoxiaos mom saw her husband giving the cold shoulder again and quickly stepped in as the peacemaker! "Mom, just a moment!" Xiaoxiao turned to Yang Ming and said, "Yang Ming, put down the stuff quickly!" Yang Ming, since entering the house, had been holding onto everything, not daring to put it down. His father-inw was quite difficult to please, but fortunately, his wife was looking out for him! Chapter 139 She’s Great, I Really Like Her

Chapter 139: Chapter 139 Shes Great, I Really Like Her

Yang Ming set down his things, and saw Xiaoxiao begin to rummage through them. "Dad, this wine is for you!" "These pastries are for my little nephew!" "This outfit, for my brother!" "Mom, these two silver bracelets, one for you and one for sister-inw!" "And these other snacks, Mom, take them to the kitchenter." Xiaoxiao had sorted through everything she had brought, her natal family was already well-off, so instead of giving silver, she bought food and other necessities. "Girl, its fine that youe, but why buy all this, such a waste!" Xiaoxiaos mother became worried upon seeing this, her daughter was already known for being spendthrift, and now she was acting like this in front of her son-inw, how could this be eptable? "Mother-inw, its not a waste, this is what a junior should offer as a token of respect!" Yang Ming quickly joined in, perceiving his mother-inws intent. Upon hearing Yang Mings words, Old Master Zhongs expression finally softened, "Olddy, go cook, let our daughter learn some cooking skills with you, the son-inw and I will be fine here!" Xiaoxiaos mother, hearing the old mansmand, promptly took her daughter to the kitchen. The family patriarch wanted to have a talk alone with the son-inw, and had shooed them away. Xiaoxiao didnt intervene; let them talk about whatever they wanted to discuss, after all, she had seen that her father was powerful and on her side. Yang Ming and Old Master Zhong were left alone in the room, Yang Ming was somewhat nervous, what could his father-inw possibly want to talk about in private? "Ahem! Ahem!" Old Master Zhong coughed twice, clearing his throat, "I heard you left my daughter at home the day after the wedding?" Old Master Zhong also knew about the rough times his daughter had faced these past few days, how hard it must have been, and if the son-inw were to treat her poorly, how much more aggrieved she would feel. "..." How could he respond? He already knew he was wrong and regretted it deeply. "Father-inw!" After he spoke, Old Master Zhong suddenly smacked the table. "..." Why get angry before he even said anything? Yang Ming was thinking about how to reassure his father-inw when he heard Old Master Zhong say, "We are all country folks here; who are you being so proper with?" "..." Yang Ming was stunned on the spot and then finally realized, "Father-inw, oh, no, Dad! Your son-inw knows his mistake!" "Hmm!" Old Master Zhong nodded, then continued, "Our Zhong Family isnt that kind of unenlightened family! If you still dont like my daughter, you can divorce, and Ill take her back and support her." Divorce? He was just trying to scare Yang Ming! Given how his daughter stubbornly insisted on marrying Yang Ming, a divorce would be difficult! The wedding was over, and he could only hope his son-inw would treat his daughter better. Besides, they couldnt divorce; if they did, his daughter would be drowned in a sea of spit. "Dad, I dont want a divorce; I will definitely treat Xiaoxiao well from now on, you can be assured!" His wifes family wanted a divorce, his wifes natal family wanted a divorce, it seemed he really wasnt that desirable. "Hmph, youd better keep your word!" "Yes, Dad, I promise." After receiving his son-inws promise, Old Master Zhongs tone finally rxed. He still had to think about his daughters well-being, "Xiaoxiao is still young, straightforward in nature, but shes not a bad person, shes just naive, and thats our Zhong Familys doing! Just bear with her." "Dad, Xiaoxiao is great, I really like her!" "Then live your life well!" "Yes!" Yang Ming heard his father-inws approval and immediately agreed. Before long, the meal was ready. Since brother and his family hade home, the four of them had a joyful dinner together. Yang Ming kept calling, Dad and Mom, which left Xiaoxiao in a daze; what had happened after talking with her dad that everything turned out this way? Could it be that her father had switched sides so quickly? What happened to the promised might? Chapter 140: Um, I Won’t Touch Her

Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Um, I Wont Touch Her

Last night, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming didnt go back to their own home, but stayed at her parents ce. It was the first time for both of them to stay at her parents houseXiaoxiao after traveling through time and Yang Ming as the new son-inw. "Yang Ming, what was that all about? At the dinner table just now, you kept calling them dad and mom so affectionately." Xiaoxiaos curiosity was piqued because she noticed that her dad wasnt as averse to Yang Ming anymore. There must be something up with that. "Oh, your dad said Im a country bumpkin and I shouldnt call them father-inw and mother-inw. I should call them dad and mom. When Xiaoxiao heard this, she pped her thigh withughter. Recalling Yang Mings manners, she found it hrious. Her dad was too funny, "Exactly, when have I ever called your parents mother-inw or father-inw with such grand titles? Hahaha!" The more Xiaoxiao talked, the more sheughed, "You with your all fancy and proper father-inw and mother-inw! It sounds so awkward, hahaha." "..." Is it that funny? Isnt that how everyone addresses them? Why does it all change when its the wifes family? Besides, it was also his first time having inws! "My dad meant that calling them dad and mom would be more intimate." "..." Is that so? While he was thinking, they heard a knock at the door. "Daughter, son-inw, are you two asleep yet?" It turned out to be Xiaoxiaos mother. Xiaoxiao immediately went to open the door, "Mom, no, whats up? Is something the matter?" "I need to have a word with your husband!" "..." Whats going on here? Her dad just had a talk, and now her momsing to chat. Xiaoxiao was utterly confused, "Yang Ming, my moms asking for you!" Yang Ming didnt expect his mother-inw toe looking for him, and he was also perplexed. So, he stepped out. What on earth did his mother-inw want to talk about? Xiaoxiaos mother didnt really want toe over either, but hearing the loud noises from her daughters room, she was anxious. The heart of a mother ached. It was all that damn old mans fault for talking so long without addressing the important issues. Now she, a woman, had to bring up such a delicate topic. Just the thought of it was mortifying. "Son-inw, dont take this the wrong way after I say this, but as a mother, Im doing this for your own good." "Sure, mom. Go ahead!" "Xiaoxiao hasnt reached the age of hairpinning at sixteen yet. Could you possibly..." [Out of necessity for the plot, lets set the age at 16; please dont delve too deeply, as after my research some ces consider it 15, others 16.] "..." "She hasnt even had her menstrual period yet!" "..." Yang Ming hadnt expected his mother-inw to talk about this, and although she hadnt said it outright, he understood, "Mm, I wont touch her." After Yang Ming returned to the room, he felt a bit down. Even if he wanted to touch her, his wife wouldnt allow it, and now even his mother-inw was intervening in this matter. But maybe his mother-inw was right. Xiaoxiao was yet to have her hairpinning ceremony, too young, and he had perhaps been too eager. When Xiaoxiao saw Yang Minge back, she could tell he seemed quite downcast. What had her mom said? He had been so upbeat after talking to her dad! "Yang Ming, what did my mom want from you?" "..." How should he answer that? His mother-inw said she was not ready to be touched and he couldnt tell her that. Oh right, her mom also mentioned her menstrual period! "Mom said you havent had your period!" "..." Geez, her mom is such a mans man for being able to bring up such a topic! Even she felt embarrassed. "Right, what is a period?" "Pfft!" Xiaoxiao was drinking water when she heard her bargain husbands question and instantly sprayed it out! Could her bargain husband be any more innocent? Hes so old and still clueless about this stuff. Hed even tried to make a move on her before, and she seriously doubted his ability. The more Xiaoxiao thought about it, the more she figured her bargain husband probably really didnt know. She chuckled with a heh heh and just couldnt stopughing. "..." Is it really that funny? So, what exactly is a period? Chapter 141 Fainting

Chapter 141: Chapter 141 Fainting

On the third day of the first lunar month, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming rushed home, only to find nobody there. "Yang Ming, where has everyone gone?" Xiaoxiao found it very strange. "Lets go check the rented courtyard." When they arrived at the courtyard, they sensed that the atmosphere was off. As soon as they entered, they heard sobbing. Their parents and Yang Qiu were all crammed into Yang Dongs room. What on earth was going on? Therey Yang Dong, motionless, as if deep in slumber. Could it be that he was on hisst breath? She had only been away for one day! Anxiously, Xiaoxiao stepped forward and felt Yang Dongs breath. Thankfully, he was still breathing. "Mother, what in the world happened?" "Third Son, Third Daughter-inw, youre back atst. We cant wake up your fourth brother no matter how hard we try!" "..." Unable to wake him? A healthy person wouldnt sleep so deeply. Something was definitely wrong, terribly wrong. It was as if he had been drugged into unconsciousness. Xiaoxiao felt unsettled, as though some disaster was looming. Exchanging a nce with Yang Ming, they silently agreed to inspect everything inside the courtyard. The courtyard seemed normal, with nothing out of the ordinary. Just as they were about to return to the room, Xiaoxiao suddenly tripped over something. Yang Ming immediately went to help her. "Xiaoxiao, are you all right?" "Im fine, Im fine." Xiaoxiao quickly waved her hand. Looking down, they saw a scattered small paper packet. "Yang Ming, what is that?" Alerted by her voice, Yang Ming picked up the packet, examined it, and took a whiff, furrowing his brow. Just as he was about to speak, he heard his mothers shout, "Third Son, Third Son, hurry, your fourth brother has woken up!" Yang Ming quickly tucked the item into his pocket and went into the house with Xiaoxiao to ask what happened. "Fourth Brother, whats up with you?" "Why are you all here? Ive just woken up from sleep! Eh, Mother, Im so hungry!" Yang Dong rubbed his head, feeling confused; it was still a bit sore. "..." It seemed their fourth brother was fine and probably didnt know anything. They couldnt get any information out of him. "Father, Mother, since theres nothing wrong, why dont you all go back? Xiaoxiao and I will take care of the courtyard!" After the four people left the courtyard, "Yang Ming, whats going on with fourth brother? Why do I feel like he was unconscious?" "Hmm!" "What exactly was in that packet we found just now!?" "Xiaoxiao, we might have been sabotaged. Your fourth brother was drugged. Someone might have tampered with our pickled vegetables. That packet just nowit was rat poison!" "..." Rat poison? That was lethal stuff. With all those pickled vegetables, if they were all poisoned, how much silver would they have topensate! Then her hard work for the past two months had been for nothing. Despite her easygoing nature, she was after all a woman. Even though she had anticipated this oue, the shock overwhelmed her, and she passed out on the spot! "Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao!" "Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao!" Seeing his wife suddenly copse, Yang Ming caught her and kept calling her name incessantly, but she wouldnt wake up. Panicked and unable to think of anything else, he carried her straight to their own home. "Father, Mother, Father, Mother!" The family was inside the house having a meal with the fourth son when they heard the voice of their third son and sensed something was wrong. They immediately went out, only to see their son carrying his wife into the house. "What happened!" "Father, quickly find someone to go to town and fetch a doctor! Xiaoxiao has fainted!" "..." How could she faint just like that? Chapter 142: Furious Attack on the Heart

Chapter 142: Chapter 142: Furious Attack on the Heart

"Ill go!" Yang Dong stood up immediately upon seeing his sister-inw like this. "You just woke up! Can you manage?" Yang Mings mother immediately asked with concern. "I am fine. We should hurry to find a doctor for the sister-inw!" he said hastily and rushed out the door. Yang Mingid Xiaoxiao on the kang, found some quilts to spread out, and tucked her into the bedding, "Mother, heat water, cook some food, just in case Xiaoxiao can use it when she wakes up." Upon hearing this, Yang Mings mother quickly got busy with Yang Qiu, and Yang Mings father also left the house. Leaving Yang Ming alone, he held Xiaoxiaos hand, never expecting that this matter would hit her so hard. The person who usually handled everything with ease, the incredibly strong person, also had a fragile heart. Yes, she was ultimately a woman, and she would have her gentle side too. It was all because he was too weak that his wife had to pretend to be strong. At that moment, he resented his own ipetence. If only he were stronger, this would not have... He decided to study hard and strive to pass the examinations to achieve official status. He was very afraid. What if she never woke up? That fear was even worse than the prospect of divorce! "Xiaoxiao, please wake up soon!" "Xiaoxiao, once you wake up, everything will be up to you!" "Xiaoxiao, I like you!" "..." "..." He called out to her, talked to her repeatedly, but she did not hear. Outside, Yang Mings mother who was heating water heard her sons words, tears welling up in her eyes. Her foolish son, ah, he had finally fallen in love for real! "Third brother, third brother, the doctor is here!" Yang Dong called out as soon as he arrived at the doorstep. Yang Ming immediately went out to wee the doctor into the house, "Doctor, please help quickly, my wife has been unconscious and has not woken up!" "Do not panic, I will take a look now," the doctor followed Yang Ming to the kang, with the attendant following behind. Yang Ming presented Xiaoxiaos arm for the doctor to feel her pulse. The doctor gave Xiaoxiao a look, his eyes flickering, took her pulse for quite a while before finally letting go. "Ah!" The doctor shook his head and sighed deeply. Frightened, the family thought Xiaoxiao had contracted some serious illness, "Doctor, whats the matter?" It was then that the doctor came to his senses and afterwards said, "No serious harm! She just fainted due to acute distress. Shell recover with some medicine!" "When will she wake up then?" "After taking the medicine, she should wake up soon, but..." "But what?" Yang Ming, seeing the doctor shaking his head and sighing again, felt it couldnt be that simple and thus asked anxiously. In fact, the doctor recognized Xiaoxiao as the young woman who hade to him to check for a joyous pulse. He had wanted to tell her back then that she was overworking her body to the point of depletion and needed to recuperate, but before he could say it, she, upon not hearing it was a joyous pulse, happily left, and now, as expected, she was in trouble. "But she is suffering from overwork and physical depletion, and needs to recuperate!" What? Overwork? Hearing this, Yang Ming felt even more distressed. What kind of life had his wife led at her own home, and what kind of life had she led sinceing to their home, how could she not be exhausted? "Actually, she hade to me for a consultation before this!" "..." So the wife had already gone for a consultation on her own. She knew about her own body, yet still worked so hard; it was truly foolishly heartbreaking. Then the doctor called for the attendant, wrote two prescriptions, and handed them to Yang Ming, "This one, take twice daily for three days. This one is to recuperate the body, take once daily for a month. Send someone with me to get the medicine!" Chapter 143 Everyone in the Family Is Aware

Chapter 143: Chapter 143 Everyone in the Family Is Aware

"Doctor, my younger brother has been drugged with sleeping powder," Yang Ming said anxiously. "Please examine him again, to see if theres any serious harm!" The family was surprised to hear Yang Mings words; it turned out that this morning, there was a reason why Xiao Yang Dong couldnt be woken up, no matter how much they tried. Upon hearing this, Yang Dong himself was quite baffled. No wonder he had felt such a headache and dizziness upon waking, "Big brother, whats going on?" "Lets take his pulse first. We can discuss this matterter," the doctor suggested. After examining Yang Dong, the doctor said, "Theres nothing serious, no need for medication." Once it was confirmed that he was alright, the family finally breathed a sigh of relief. Since there was no serious issue, Yang Dong would still need to take the trip to get the medicine. Just as Yang Dong stepped out of the door, he ran into the eldest and second brothers, who had just returned from their maternal home. They had been wondering who had arrived, seeing the ox cart at their doorstep, never expecting it to be the town doctor. They overheard the situation with Xiaoxiao at the doorway, and after the doctor left, they all hurried into the third brothers room to visit. The Yang family patriarch realized that something significant must have happened. Otherwise, the fourth son wouldnt have been drugged, and the third daughter-inw wouldnt have fainted from anxiety! "Xiaoqiu, you stay with the children and look after your sister-inw. Everyone else,e out with me to the main house," he instructed. "Yes!" Yang Qiu responded, realizing that her father had a significant matter to discuss! The family gathered in the main house, and as soon as they were inside, the Yang family patriarch couldnt wait to ask, "Third son, tell me the truth, what exactly happened? How could your younger brother have been drugged? Why did your wife faint from anxiety?" "Father, if I tell you, you all mustnt get agitated. Xiaoxiao fainted because of hearing about this very issue!" The family, sensing the gravity of the situation, nodded in agreement, silently reminding themselves not to get too worked up upon hearing the news. "The fact is, my younger brother was drugged so that someone could poison our Sauerkraut with rat poison!" This issue couldnt be hidden forever; the family had to know about it sooner orter. "What!" The news struck the family like a bolt from the blue. Just as life was getting better, how could someone sabotage them like this? "Has the sauerkraut been poisoned?" Yang patriarch asked urgently. "Most likely. Whatever sauerkraut is left, its all contaminated. We havent examined it closely yet because Xiaoxiao fainted," Yang Ming reflected, guessing that even if the sauerkraut wasnt poisoned, it was likely ruined. Who would dare sell it? What if something happened! "What do we do now?" Yang Mings mother began crying when she heard the news. The others, upon hearing this, also looked distressed. How much silver would they lose? This was a significant problem, and no one knew what to dothe only person who usually had ideas was still lying unconscious. "Lets report it to the government office!" At this moment, Boss Yang Chun spoke up. "Report to the government? Which farmer wasnt sent back with a beating? That government office is a ce where silver talks! Without silver, dont even think about going there!" Yang Gang, the second oldest, pointed out. His wife immediately scolded him after hisment, "Are you dumb? Dont we have silver now?" "Enough, everyone stop arguing. And you, mother, stop crying and adding to the confusion. Lets wait for the third daughter-inw to wake up, and then well follow whatever the third son and his wife decide," the Yang patriarch interjected. With the fathers word, everyone fell quiet. "Father, whether Xiaoxiao wakes up today or not, I am going to report it to the authorities tomorrow!" "Alright, go ahead. Now, go back and take care of your wife. Everyone else, head back to your own rooms!" With that, the family dispersed. Yang Ming returned to his room, allowing Yang Qiu and the others to leave, as he wanted to keep watch over his wife alone, waiting for her to wake up. Chapter 144: Administering Medicine

Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Administering Medicine

Yang Ming just watched Xiaoxiao, whoy there quietly, breathing steadily, like a sleeping beauty. Whenever he thought of the doctors words, "Overwork has depleted her body," he felt an immense heartache. Why hadnt he noticed? In his memory, his wife was always singing and dancing, carefree and happy; it turned out she had hidden everything in her heart. "Big brother, how is sister-inw? Ive brought the medicine back!" Just as he was thinking, he heard Yang Dongs voiceit turned out that Yang Dong had brought the medicine back. "She hasnt woken up yet, give me the medicine, and you should rest too!" "No, let me do it! You watch sister-inw." "Thats not necessary, youre tired too. Go get some rest, just tell me which is which medicine!" "Alright then!" Yang Dong informed his elder brother about the medicines and then went back. Yang Ming took the medicine and started to prepare it in the outer room. He first made sure the medicine fora was ready and hurried into the room to feed his wife. The medicine was very hot, so Yang Ming took great care, blowing on it repeatedly, ensuring it wasnt too hot before he began to feed his wife. But as he ced the spoon to his wifes lips, her tightly closed lips refused to part. Yang Ming tried several times, but the medicine spilled down from the corners of her mouth, making a mess around her lips, chin, and neck. He hurriedly loosened her cor and saw her exposed, pale corbone. It was the first time he saw a womans corbone, and he swallowed nervously. With shaking hands, he used a facecloth to gently wipe his wifes face. After wiping her face, he continued to try to feed her, but the result was the same. His wife didnt take a single bite, and all of the medicine ended up on her neck. Yang Ming was desperately worried. What to do if his wife refused to take her medicine? He wanted to pry open her mouth but was afraid she might choke. At a loss for what to do, a spark of inspiration struck him as feasible. So, he took a sip of the medicine himself. He kept the medicine in his mouth, then his face drew nearer and nearer to his wifes until their lips met. He gently parted his wifes lips and finally managed to feed her the medicine. After one sessful attempt, he was not as nervous and clumsy anymore. In a short while, he had fed her the entire bowl of medicine. His wife had finally taken the medicine, and he felt a weight lift off his chest, hoping she would wake up soon after taking it. Thinking back on what he had just done, his face turned beet red, the blush spreading to the base of his neck. Not only had he kissed his wife, but he had also... Even as darkness fell, Xiaoxiao hadnt woken up. During this time, many family members hade to inquire and had left feeling downcast upon learning she hadnt awoken. Yang Ming, on the other hand, didnt eat or drink anything, tending to his wife with his clothes still on, waiting for her to wake up. Unbeknownst to him, it had gotten veryte, and hey beside Xiaoxiao and fell asleep. Xiaoxiao was awakened by hunger, and as she slowly opened her eyes, she saw Yang Ming lying beside her. She immediately tried to sit up, intending to set up a defensive line, but shecked the strength. It took a great effort just to sit up, and she let out a weary "hiss." But Yang Ming heard her, and seeing his wife sitting up, he was overjoyed and held her tightly in his arms, saying, "Youve finally woken up!" But then he heard his wifes weak and cold voice, "Let me go." He let go disappointedly, "Im sorry, I was just so happy to see you awake, I got carried away. It wont happen again!" Chapter 145 Yang Ming, I Think You Might Have Been Deceived

Chapter 145: Chapter 145 Yang Ming, I Think You Might Have Been Deceived

"What happened to me?" Xiaoxiao only felt weak and her mouth was bitterly dry. Had she taken medicine? "You fainted during the day! You have already seen the doctor," he replied. "..." Fainted? Wait! During the day? "Ah!" "Whats wrong, where does it hurt?" Yang Ming suddenly heard his wifes scream and thought she was in pain again. "The pickles? Were they drugged?" Hearing his wifes response, Yang Ming finally felt relieved. As long as she was okay, nothing else was more important than her! "Hmm, dont think about that now, just focus on getting better!" "No need, Im just hungry right now. Ill feel energized after eating! I only couldnt stand dealing with Silver during the day, but Im fine now." "..." His wifes health was still in such condition, yet she was thinking about that money, "The doctor said you are overworked and your body is depleted. You need to recuperate!" "My body is depleted? Me? Are you joking?" "Thats what the doctor said!" "Have you ever seen someone who gained ten pounds still being considered depleted?" What kind of doctor did they consult! Perhaps a quack. "..." "Im thirsty, give me a ss of water." Her mouth was so bitter that she desperately needed water. Yang Ming got Xiaoxiao some water, and she gulped it down immediately, which made her feel somewhat better. "Im hungry, get me something to eat, thank you." She really didnt want to boss Yang Ming around, but she was feeling incredibly weak. Yang Ming immediately went to get food. His mom had already prepared some and was keeping it warm in the pot, ready for Xiaoxiao to have a warm meal once she woke up. "Eat more!" "..." Did he think she was a pig? He brought two bowls! Besides, how could a sick person eat so much right after waking up? While she was thinking, she heard her stomach grumble. Xiaoxiao touched her belly, feeling a bit embarrassed, and then started eating. But just after one bite, she heard another rumble. Xiaoxiao looked at her stomach. That definitely wasnt her stomach growling. She turned to look at Yang Ming, who was bowing his head as if to hide something. "Pfft!" It turned out to be the cheap husbands stomach rumbling. Could hunger be contagious? It seemed he hadnt eaten all day while taking care of her, probably starving, "Lets eat together!" Both of them started eating together, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious. After eating, Xiaoxiao continued to lie down, while Yang Ming began cleaning up the dishes and then went to brew some medicine. There was still some tonic medicine she needed to take! Xiaoxiao could already smell the foul medicated brew inside the house. It must be for her to drink. Didnt she already drink that? Why did she need more? It wasnt long before Yang Ming brought in the herbal soup. Xiaoxiao saw the ckish mixture and disyed a face full of disgust! "Drink it quickly, this is for your health!" "..." That quacks prescription? Why couldnt she believe her body was depleted, "Yang Ming, I think you might have been deceived." "..." "Look at this, and this, Ive gained weight. Our diet is so good, with meat in every meal, how could I be depleted?" Xiaoxiao argued while grabbing her arm and thigh, pinching her flesh to show Yang Ming. "..." Yang Ming was startled by his wifes behavior; he had never seen a womans arms and thighs before, and recalling his wifes corbone, his heartbeat involuntarily sped up, bing inexplicably nervous and unable to look. Xiaoxiao saw Yang Ming turn his head away and only then did she realize. "..." Seriously? It was just showing an arm! Such innocence is almost extinct! Chapter 146, You Win, I Give Up

Chapter 146: Chapter 146, You Win, I Give Up

Just as Xiaoxiao was thinking about the rarity of a pure-hearted husband, she saw him thrust the medicine bowl at her again, "Drink it quickly!" "..." Persistent as ever, she didnt know what to say to him anymore. "I wont drink it, its too bitter! And Im not sick at all!" How could she, a person who struggles with taking medicine, ever drink it! Besides, she really didnt feel her health was sufferingshe had gained a full twenty pounds! That must be a sign of a quack doctor. "Drink it quickly!" Yang Ming simply wouldnt listen, just holding the medicine bowl steady, convinced that his wife had fainted because she was in poor health, and she must be treated. "I said no!" So, the two of them reached a deadlock. Xiaoxiao really didnt want to drink it, she hated being controlled by others, she had always done as she pleased, and she would definitely not do something she didnt want to do. She had clearly expressed her wishes, but Yang Ming was still urging her to drink. She was so angry she didnt know where the strength came from, but with a wave of her hand, she knocked the medicine bowl to the ground. Listening to the sound of the medicine bowl shattering, the argument came to a halt, and the room went suddenly quiet. She watched as her cheap husband squatted down to clean up the broken bowl and the spilled medicine, then left the house. "..." What was he doing now? She heard the sounds of fire being made in the outer room, apanied by the asional waft of the scent of medicineher whole being felt upset. Why was her cheap husband still persisting? That smell of the medicine made her want to vomit. The medicine was finally ready, and Yang Ming brought it into the room, just like before, presenting it to his wife, "Drink it quickly!" "..." Couldnt he change his lines? She was tired of hearing the same sentence over and over again! "I wont drink it! Take it away!" Why wouldnt his wife agree to drink the medicine? If she didnt, how would she get better? Yang Ming thought hard and decided he had no choice but to use the method from before? No, it wouldnt work; she was awake now, and she was so adverse to him, she would never allow it. Maybe scare her a little then. "If you dont drink it, Ill feed it to you just like before, and then youll drink it!" "..." Before? How on earth did she drink the medicine before? She was unconscious, she didnt know anything, "How did you feed it to me before?" "Mouth to mouth!" "..." Xiaoxiao immediately covered her mouth with both hands in shock! Mouth to mouth? Her first kiss of so many years had vanished like that? And it had happened without her even being conscious, what was the taste of her long-anticipated first kiss? "Yang Ming, you bastard!" "So, will you drink it now?" "..." Xiaoxiao felt she had never been so easily defeated, but considering her cheap husbands persistence in making her take the medicine, it really was possible he would continue in the same way. So she conceded, "You win, I give in." Xiaoxiao took the medicine bowl, pinched her nose, and gulped it down in one go, "Cough, cough!" It really was too bitter, she truly felt like vomiting, the medicine causing her to keep coughing. When she looked up, she saw her cheap husband handing her a piece of rock candy, "Here, eat this! Itll take the bitterness away!" "..." A p followed by a sweet date, what a tactic. Because her first kiss was gone, she found everything about Yang Ming displeasing now, even though she knew that he was doing this for her own goodshe was still very angry. "Yang Ming, without my permission from now on, you are not to kiss me, not to hold my hand, not to hug me. In short, you are not to have any physical contact with me, please stay at least two meters away." "..." He had been rejected by his wife so thoroughly, how much must she dislike him, to ask him to stay two meters away! Chapter 147: Better Safe Than Sorry

Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Better Safe Than Sorry

"Yang Ming, lets talk about the poisoning incident!" After eating, Xiaoxiao felt energized and thought it necessary to discuss who couldnt stand to see their family do well. "Its veryte, lets sleep first, you need to rest!" "..." Suddenly, her cheap husband just blew out the candle, got on the kang bed, and fell asleep, leaving Xiaoxiao puzzled. Oh well, he had taken care of her all day and was tired too. Lets talk tomorrow then, Xiaoxiao thought, as she too drifted off to sleep. Early the next morning, family members gradually came over, and seeing Xiaoxiao awake and no big deal, they finally felt relieved. This incident had also greatly shocked everyone; seeing that the third daughter-inw was awake, they all gathered together to think of a solution. "Third sister-inw, Im sorry, its all because I was sleeping so deeply, otherwise this wouldnt have happened..." Yang Dong felt very guilty since he knew about the incident, wondering how he hadnt noticed anything! "Its not your fault!" Who could she me? She had too good an opinion of human nature, thinking that not having unreasonable people meant there were no sneaky, malevolent ones around. In this lock-less ce, she had only thought of having someone watch the yard. Why hadnt she thought of getting a couple of dogs to guard the gate as a reminder? Sometimes her brain was ridiculously slow. "Now the question is, who put the poison? Whos envious of our family prospering?" Silence fell over the family; they had lived in this vige all their lives, always been honest people, had good rtions with the vigers, never quarreled or fought with anyone, and really couldnt think of anyone who would harm their family. "Xiaoxiao, I n to report this to the government office so they can investigate! Poisoning is no small matter!" "Hmm, but its only the fourth day of the month now; will the government office send someone?" She also wondered when the government office resumed work after the New Year, and wasnt it said to be full of corrupt officials interested only in money? "Hmm, lets try it. As long as the government office agrees to handle it, it might expose the culprit!" "What about those pickles? What should we do?" It wasnt a small amount, and Xiaoxiao felt a headacheing on just thinking about it. "Third younger sister-inw, cant we try using rats? If the rats dont die, then surely its safe for us to eat it!" At that moment, the second elder sister-inw, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. "Right, what if some werent poisoned? With so many jars, could they all be poisoned? If some are safe, wouldnt it be a waste to throw out all those pickles?" "Yes, so many jars, if they all had poison, that would require a lot of rat poison!" "..." "..." As everyone analyzed back and forth, Xiaoxiao suddenly saw the lightright, that would require a lot of rat poison! Maybe they could start by investigating the poison used. "Better safe than sorry; even if it doesnt kill someone, we couldnt bear it on our conscience." "Dont worry, wait till spring. I will find a ce to dispose of the pickles," Yang Ming understood what his wife meant, "Right now, we need to hurry to notify Yui Restaurant topensate with Silver, then track down the person who administered the poison." "Yang Ming, lets go to the small courtyard again and see if we can find any clues!" Xiaoxiao said as she got up to get off the kang; she couldnt lie down any longer. "Youre still not well!" Yang Ming immediately held his wife back, not letting her get off the kang. "..." "The medicine will be ready soon, eat it first!" "..." "After you eat, Ill let you go!" "..." Seeing the couple like this, the family members didnt say anything more and quietly left. Chapter 148: Spread Throughout Every Street and Alley

Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Spread Throughout Every Street and Alley

Xiaoxiao took her medicine, and the two of them returned to the rental courtyard. There was nothing out of order in the house, everything was the same as they had seen yesterday. They went over to the courtyard wall and examined the interior and exterior areas, discovering numerous footprints on the snow piles. Xiaoxiaos eyes lit up, "Yang Ming, look!" Yang Ming analyzed for a moment, "There are many footprints, and theyre disordered. There must be at least three people." "And the footprints arerge, they must be mens." But other than the footprints, no other clues were left behind, and Xiaoxiaos bright eyes soon dimmed again. "Xiaoxiao, dont get upset! There will be a way, that packet of medicine is a clue! We can start the investigation from that medicine!" Seeing his wifes disheartened look, Yang Ming was worried she might despair. "Yeah, lets go to the county town!" Xiaoxiao also came to terms with it. Since the incident had happened, they had to find a solution. They had to visit Yui Restaurant, and although their bill was already settled, the incident had urred there; if they could not find the person who had poisoned the dish, they would have to makepensation. The two of them hired an ox cart and arrived at the county town, but before they could even reach Yui Restaurant, the streets and alleys were already buzzing with rumors. "Did you hear? The pickled vegetables at Yui Restaurant were tainted with rat poison." "I heard that too. We cant buy from them anymore, what if we end up dead!" "Who could be so heartless to do such a thing?" "It must be someone who cant stand to see Yui Restaurant doing well!" "..." "..." What exactly was going on? The Yang Family had not divulged the poisoning incident, and even the vigers did not know about it yet. How had it spread throughout the county town already? There had to be something amiss. "Yang Ming! It looks like someone is targeting Yui Restaurant, and we just got embroiled in it!" "Lets first go to Yui Restaurant; maybe they have some countermeasures." With that, the two of them made their way to Yui Restaurant and upon arriving, they were invited into a private room by Shopkeeper Wang. "Uncle Wang!" "Shopkeeper Wang!" "If you hadnte, I was just about to go to Yang Family Vige. This morning, the whole town was abuzz with the news that our restaurants pickled vegetables had been poisoned. Whats going on?" Shopkeeper Wang was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, as this was a significant incident that could damage the restaurants reputation, and the Young Master was not around. "Shopkeeper Wang, to be honest, we discovered that someone had poisoned the pickled vegetables yesterday, and thats why wevee today." "It seems someone is specifically targeting Yui Restaurant; otherwise, the news wouldnt have spread all over the streets before we had a chance to tell anyone!" "..." Shopkeeper Wang pondered for a moment. Such a significant matter was beyond his decision-making authority, "I will notify the Young Master about this immediately." "Notifying him will be toote, we must report this to the authorities!" The Young Master was out of town at the moment, and with the slowmunication, a round trip would take at least several days. "Right, we must report this to the authorities! Did you know that our County has a new County Magistrate?" "..." When had this happened? They hadnt received any news, but at least it wasnt that corrupt official who did nothing but take bribes. For them, this change was good news. "The new County Magistrate is said to be an honest official, and he might actually be able to help us," Shopkeeper Wang said, somewhat reassured by the thought. "I heard he just arrived and will take office tomorrow!" It seemed as if the heavens were on their side; Xiaoxiao felt hopeful upon hearing this. "Shopkeeper Wang, rest assured, if we cant find the person who put the poison, our Yang Family willpensate in full," Yang Ming still mentioned the matter ofpensation, after all, that was why they hade. "Young Master Yang, theres no rush on that. The priority now is to find the person who poisoned the vegetables and resolve the current situation," said Shopkeeper Wang. Chapter 149: The New Official Sets Three Fires

Chapter 149: Chapter 149: The New Official Sets Three Fires

The next day, Yang Ming brought Xiaoxiao to the county government office. He hadnt wanted his wife toe, as she hadnt fully recovered yet, but she insisted. Xiaoxiao had never been to the government office either and was curious to see what it was like. Upon arriving at the entrance of the government office, she saw tworge stone lions, so lifelike that it was indeed impressive for that era. At the entrance was arge drum, seemingly there for the purpose of beating when making an usation! Just as Yang Ming was about to pick up the drumstick, his wife said, "Let me do it!" Xiaoxiao was very curious and wanted to give it a go. "Yang Ming, is there any particr way to beat this drum?" "Just beat it directly." "Alright." Xiaoxiao took the drumstick and swung her arms, striking it several times, which was quite tiring. "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" It wasnt long before a government official came out, "Have you brought the writtenint?" "..." Huh! They need a writtenint? A petition? "We have!" Yang Ming handed over the writtenint to the official, who said, "Wait!" and went inside. "Yang Ming, when did you write this? What did you write?" Xiaoxiao really hadnt expected making an usation to be so troublesome! "While you were sleeping! I just wrote about the incident with the medicine!" "..." In a short while, the official came back out, "You may enter now." Xiaoxiao followed Yang Ming into the government office. Upon entering, they saw two rows of government officials standing at attention, "Majestic... imposing..." Oh my goodness, its terrifying! There was a loud "ng," and she heard, "Who is beneath this hall, and for what reason have you beaten the drum?" "Schr Yang Ming pays his respects to the Magistrate." Xiaoxiao watched Yang Ming and followed his lead, "Commoner Zhong Xiaoxiao greets your honor, the Benevolent Judge!" Benevolent Judge? Hmm, thats a nice term, but... Suddenly there was another "ng," "Woman below, why dont you kneel upon seeing this official?" "..." Ah, jeez! With all this banging on that piece of wood, its scaring me half to death, and now I have to kneel too? Ive never knelt before anyone in my life, and Im noting again. While thinking this, she immediately knelt down anyway. She couldnt afford to offend the County Magistrate. And yet, her husband, the Schr, evidently didnt have to kneel, probably due to his title. It truly was a case of parisons are odious." "For what reason have you beaten the drum?" "..." Xiaoxiao was already at a loss for words. Hadnt they already handed in the writtenint? Was this really an upright official? Not the least bit amiable, could it be a case of a new official taking office with zeal? "My family produced sauerkraut that someone poisoned with rat poison. I request the Magistrate to do us justice and find out who the perpetrator was." The County Magistrate didnt say a word, but took the writtenint and started to read it carefully. Sauerkraut? Was it the talk of the town yesterday, and today someone has already reported it? My first case upon taking office is so serious! "This is the rat poison left by the perpetrator! Perhaps it can be used to track down the culprit." Seeing this, the County Magistrate signaled the official to take it, "This official will dispatch someone to investigate promptly! You may return home and wait for news." "..." Huh? Thats it! I havent even spoken, just knelt down briefly! "This Schr thanks the Magistrate!" Yang Ming said as he helped Xiaoxiao to her feet, "Thismoner thanks your honor, the Benevolent Judge!" They left the government office like this, "Yang Ming, do you think the Magistrate is reliable? Why do I feel so uncertain about it?" "Its his first case since taking office; he should take it seriously! Lets go home and wait for news," Yang Ming replied. And just like that, they went home to wait. Indeed, news arrived the very next day, as a government official came to their door! Chapter 150: Xiaoxiao, how is Yang Ming treating you?

Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Xiaoxiao, how is Yang Ming treating you?

"This... I didnt expect the County Magistrate to work so efficiently." He first took the government officials to look at the rented courtyard, then examined the footprints left in the corner of the wall. Luckily, there had been no wind or snow these days, and the scene hadnt been disturbed. "Has your family offended anyone recently?" The family thought and thought, then unanimously shook their heads. "Think harder, have you had conflicts with anyone?" The family still unanimously shook their heads. "Alright, well first visit the neighbors ande backter," the government official said as he walked out. "Then Ill trouble you, Brother Official!" Xiaoxiao followed the government official to see him out, with Yang Ming following behind her. "Xiaoxiao, how is Yang Ming treating you?" "..." Just as they stepped out, the Brother Official threw out this question, leaving Xiaoxiao stunned. What was this situation? The tone of his voice sounded like that of an acquaintance. "Such a big issue and you didnte to me? Dont worry, Ive got this covered!" he dered, then stepped out the front door. "..." While Xiaoxiao was still puzzled, she saw her makeshift husband staring at her, had he heard it too? Misunderstanding! She knew nothing about it! Yang Ming indeed had heard it. It turned out his wife knew the leading government official, but why pretend not to know him? The government official had even called his wife by her name! He felt somewhat uneasy. The government official visited many households. Everyone was surprised; their vige had an incident that even brought the government official to their doors. "On the night of the second day of the new year, did any strangers enter the vige?" "Officer Sir, that day was the day daughters-inw return to their parental home. Many sons-inw came to the vige!" "Who in this vige do you think might have a feud with Yang Erzhus family, or even bear a grudge?" "That would be Hehuas family. Hehua wanted to marry Yang Ming, Yang Erzhus third son, but he refused!" "Besides her family, anyone else?" "Oh yes, theres another, that day the entire viges women workers making sauerkraut were arrested. If youre talking about a feud, surely it must be the person who got them arrested." "On the night of the second day, did you hear any disturbances?" "Not that!" The government official visited many houses, and the results were simr, all pointing to those two having a grudge against the family. Thus, he returned to Yang Mings home. "Brother Official, did you find out anything?" Xiaoxiao immediately inquired, perhaps the person who poisoned them was seen by a neighbor that night! "You all, even your neighbors can see who holds a grudge against you!" Xiaoxiao being naive was one thing, but how could the family she married into also be so oblivious about with whom they had enmity. "..." The neighbors could see it too? Who in the world couldnt stand their familys prosperity? The whole family was puzzled. "Who arrested the woman worker?" "..." That lunatic? He got beaten up after arresting someone, could he really pull off something as major as poisoning? It didnt seem likely, but suspecting him wasnt unreasonable given the past feuds between Dongfeng Restaurant and Yui Restaurant. "It was the Young Master of the Countys Dongfeng Restaurant, Li Fugui." She replied, though she was perplexed inside. "Another person who holds a grudge against your family is Hehua, who wanted to marry your husband!" "..." Huh? She hadnt seen thating. To think a rivalry over a man would escte so much, but could Hehua really be that malicious? "Well head back now. We need to check the pharmacy to further confirm who it really was!" Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao saw the government official out, then returned to their room. A chill filled the air, "Who is that government official?" "..." Chapter 151: Turning Hostile on a Dime

Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Turning Hostile on a Dime

Hehe, hehe, who is that person? Only a ghost knows. But theres a saying that holds true, having connections in high ces makes things easier, and even though its just a low-ranking official, its still better than none, right? This shameless husband of hers actually dared to ask her; how should she respond? She could throw a tantrum and adamantly deny everything. After all, she truly didnt know him. "I dont know him!" "..." Shes lying! She clearly knew he had heard everything; why would she so brazenly im not to know him? Could it be that the person was someone he shouldnt know about? Just the thought of the other person being a man and calling her by her name made him unbearably jealous. "Who is that government official?" "..." Hearing this voice, Xiaoxiao felt a shiver run through her body. So cold, really cold. She realized that whenever her cheap husband kept repeating a question, it was a sign that he wouldnt give up until he got what he wanted. After being together for so long, she always lost miserably in these situations; it was truly baffling. Refusing to admit wasnt going to work, so she might as well say she knew him. But, who in the world was that person? Oh, heavens, she wanted to know as well! "Oh, I remember now! Hehe! Hehe!" "Who is it?" "..." Who should she say it was? The person seemed to be very familiar with her past self. Judging by the tone, it seemed like their rtionship was quite good. Xiaoxiao imagined various possibilities, fully absorbed in her thoughts, nodding and shaking her head from time to time. "..." Who is it really, is it that hard to answer? "Oh, I remember now, it seems like someone I knew before, but its been so long I dont remember their name!" "..." Shes lying! The other party had clearly asked how good he was to her; it must be someone they both knew well. Seeing that her cheap husband wasnt speaking anymore, Xiaoxiao thought he probably wouldnt ask again, so she ignored it and went about her work. She should, after all, be able to answer him. That in itself was giving him face; she had every right to refuse to answer. The way she was being so cautious now wasnt like her, Zhong Xiaoxiao, at all. But at this moment, Yang Mings face had turned as dark as coalhe still hadnt figured out who that person was! Asking was the same as not asking. Not long after, Xiaoxiao spoke to Yang Ming again because she truly wondered who had poisoned the pickled vegetables. "Yang Ming, who do you think is sabotaging our family?" But what answered her was silence. "Yang Ming, Im talking to you!" Yang Ming still didnt reply, as if he hadnt heard. What on earth was going on with him, "Yang Ming, Yang Ming!" Xiaoxiao called out a few more times. "Hmm?" Yang Ming was preupied with the previous matter and hadpletely lost focus. He came back to his senses only when he realized his wife was calling him. "Im asking you, do you think its Li Fugui or Hehua responsible for this?" After thinking for a moment, Yang Ming shared his thoughts, "Between the two of them, Li Fugui is more likely!" "But I think its Hehua!" She believed there was some truth in the saying hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, and Hehua indeed hated her bitterly. "Impossible." "Why is it impossible?" She didnt expect him to dismiss the idea outright without a second thought. How much did he trust Little Qingmei! She felt inexplicably angry! "Hehua isnt a bad person!" "So you mean Im the bad one then!" As if she was the viin, the one ruining their match made in heaven. "Youre not bad!" "Hmph!" Xiaoxiao left in a huff, mming the door behind her. "..." Yang Ming was left alone,pletely baffled by the situation. He had only given his analysis based on the facts; why had his wife be so upset all of a sudden! Chapter 152: It’s Him, It’s Him!

Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Its Him, Its Him!

A certain drugstore in the county town A group of government officials entered the drugstore, causing panic in the main hall as people thought something serious had happened. Upon seeing this, the shopkeeper immediately stepped forward, "Arrest Officer Guan, what brings you here? May I know what important matter brings you to our drugstore?" "Tell me, is this rat poison sold by your drugstore?" Arrest Officer Guan said as he took out the rat poison Yang Ming had turned in and handed it to the shopkeeper. The shopkeepers eyes flickered when he saw the drug. Was this about the widely discussed poisoning case? Indeed, the poison had been sold by his drugstore. Could he be implicated? Thus, "Arrest Officer Guan, this rat poison is verymon; any drugstore would have it. Its not necessarily sold by our store!" "Is that so?" Arrest Officer Guan was almost certain it was this ce, since after visiting many drugstores, he learned that only this store sold that kind of poison. So, he waved to the other officials, "Take him to the prison for interrogation!" "Eh, Arrest Officer Guan, lets talk this over. Ill have the attendant look into it!" The shopkeeper hurriedly called over the attendant who sold the medicine as he heard they were about to make an arrest. "Some days ago, indeed, someone bought a lot of this kind of rat poison!" the attendant recalled. "Do you remember that person? Do you have any record of the sale?" Arrest Officer Guan felt the investigation was close to being resolved. "Theres no record, but that person was quite unique! A man, he limped as he walked!" "Take him back, and draw a portrait!" Back at the county government office, it wasnt long before the painter had finished the portrait, which Arrest Officer Guan promptly took to the Yang Family vige. "Officer, have there been any developments in the case today?" "Hmm, Madam Yang, your family should identify this person. This is the man who bought arge amount of rat poison," Arrest Officer Guan said as he took out the portrait. Xiaoxiao took the portrait and scrutinized it carefully; it looked familiar yet she couldnt recall who it was C but she was sure it was someone close to them. "Dad, take a look, do you know this man? He looks familiar, but I cant remember," Old Man Yang took the portrait and, in the end, shook his head. The portrait was passed around among the family members, with everyone looking closely to identify the poisoner. While the family was carefully trying to figure out who the man was, Yang Ming was watching Arrest Officer Guan, noticing that he had called his daughter-inw Xiaoxiao in private, but now in front of others, he referred to her as Madam Yang. The more he thought about it, the more suspicious he felt about this man. "Son, take a look!" Yang Ming did not respond. "Son!" Xiaoxiao noticed, not only did he daydream when she called him, but when his father called, he did too. What was going on with him, had something happened to her bargain of a husband? "Yang Ming!" "Hmm?" "Dad is calling you to take a look at this portrait!" "Oh!" Yang Ming took the portrait and studied it closely, "Xiaoqiu!" Being addressed by her brother, Yang Qiu became extremely nervous, realizing her brother had recognized the man. "Isnt this Wang Ergou?" "..." Wang Ergou? Xiaoxiao felt the name sounded familiar and was puzzled when suddenly, "Its him, its him, his evil spirit lingers, he has sought us out, he wont leave me alone! He wont!" Terrified, Yang Qiu began trembling. Suddenly, as if mad, she ran out crying and screaming. Seeing Yang Qius reaction, Xiaoxiao finally came to a sudden realization, wondering how they could have forgotten such a person. Wasnt he already taught a lesson? It seemed they hadnt been hard enough on him! Chapter 153: Stay Away from My Wife

Chapter 153: Chapter 153: Stay Away from My Wife

"Xiaoxiao, you and the others go check on Xiaoqiu first; Ill handle things here," Yang Ming said, fearing more trouble might ensue, he hurriedly instructed his wife and the others to follow. "Okay!" Xiaoxiao promptly led a group of women to find Xiaoqiu, knowing the perpetrators identity meant an arrest was inevitable. After seeing Xiaoxiao lead them away, Yang Ming turned to the arrest officer Guan and said, "This person is from the Wang Family vige, his name is Wang Ergou, and indeed, he has had issues with my family!" "Alright, well head to the Wang Family vige to make the arrest, and we will notify you when its time for the trial," the arrest officer Guan said as he started to leave. "Thank you, arrest officer Guan!" As they reached the main entrance, Yang Ming felt the urge to ask a question, "Arrest officer Guan, may I have a word with you?" "You all go ahead and wait for me at the entrance of the vige," said the arrest officer Guan, who didnt expect Yang Ming to seek a private conversation, so he told the other government officials to go on without him. Yang Ming thought about how to phrase his question. It felt impolite, but the thought of another man calling his wife by her name was unbearable, "My wife mentioned that you know each other?" "Yes, I know her." "..." To his surprise, the man admitted it without hesitation, "I heard you calling her by name." "Yes! What about it?" "..." How could he ask what about it? How could one openly call another mans wife by her name? Seeing that the officer appeared unconcerned, Yang Ming grew somewhat angry, "She is my wife! You cannot simply call her by her name!" "..." Arrest officer Guan remained silent, just looking at Yang Ming, who seemed to have misunderstood the situation. It appeared that Yang Ming wasnt as indifferent to Xiaoxiao as he thought. Deciding to tease Yang Ming a bit, he said, "Didnt I call her Madam Yang?" "..." Yang Ming felt speechless and annoyed, "In any case, I hope you stick to your duties, arrest officer Guan, and keep your distance from my wife!" After saying this, he turned to walk back into the yard but then heard a heartyugh from behind. "Hahaha!" "..." Was he being mocked? "Brother-inw, didnt Xiaoxiao tell you who I am?" "..." Brother-inw? Yang Ming looked up sharply. Since when did Xiaoxiao have another brother? Just how many brothers did she have? Following that, arrest officer Guan patted Yang Ming on the back, "Look here, brother-inw, although its not unheard of for cousins to marry, you see, Im already in my thirties, with kids nearly as old as Xiaoxiao. Arent you overthinking this a bit?" "..." Yang Ming suddenly stood stunned. Indeed, arrest officer Guan looked well into his thirties while Xiaoxiao wasnt even sixteen yet. What was he thinking, letting jealousy cloud his judgment? He was only twentycould he really not stack up to someone in their thirties? Had he lost even that bit of self-confidence? "So youre her cousin. I apologize; it was a misunderstanding on my part!" Yang Ming quickly apologized, having embarrassed himself in front of the arrest officer. "Brother-inw, I understand, I get it. If a man called my wife by her name, Id be ready to throw punches too, and yet youre here arguing about it. You really are a schr, hahaha!" "..." Throw punches? None of Xiaoxiaos maternal family seemed to be easy to handlethe rtives on her fathers side were already formidable enough, and now it turned out those on her mothers side were no different. "Alright, Im off. Leave the case to me," said arrest officer Guan before departing. Yang Mings mood suddenly lightened, and he quickly entered the courtyard. He needed to find his wife. Chapter 154: Gone Crazy

Chapter 154: Chapter 154: Gone Crazy

Xiaoxiao and the others arrived at Yang Qius door, knocked several times, but received no response, "Yang Qiu, wereing in!" They pushed open the door and entered the house, only to see Xiaoqiu sitting on the kang, alternately crying andughing, with a nk expression, clearly not normal. "My girl, please dont scare mom! Whatever it is, dont keep it to yourself. Tell me!" The mother-inw was frightened by Xiaoqius behavior, crying out, hoping to bring her dazed daughter back. "Xiaoqiu! I am your sister-inw, look at me! Do you recognize me?" "Xiaoqiu! I am your second sister-inw!" "..." Hearing everyone calling her, Xiaoqiu held her head with both hands, squatted there, her body trembling continuously, repeating these words: "Donte near me!" "Dont hit me!" "I was wrong!" "I wont dare again!" "Please!" "..." Seeing this, Xiaoxiao immediately realized that Xiaoxiao had been mentally stimted, depressed, and had lost her senses. How could Wang Ergous family have treated Yang Qiu like this? She was terrified when she heard that they were the ones who drugged her; she was scared to the bone. The women were at a loss, only Xiaoxiao remainedposed, "Mom, Yang Qiu might have suffered a mental shock; she has gone mad. Lets take her to the county town right away!" "Who are you saying has gone mad? Youre the one whos mad; my daughter is not mad!" The mother-inw vehemently defended Yang Qiu, refusing to believe her daughter had gone mad. "Mom, Yang Qiu is sick, she needs treatment!" Xiaoxiaopletely understood the mother-inws feelings, but ignorance couldnt prevail, the illness had to be treated. "No, my daughter is not sick. This is our familys affair, not yours! Leave!" "..." The mother-inw was being irrational now, even wanting to drive her away as if she really wanted to intervene! But Yang Qiu was such a pitiful young girl, Xiaoxiaos heart softened, "Mom, this will dy Yang Qius recovery." "No, my daughter is not going anywhere. If the neighbors find out, she will be ruined!" "..." The mother-inw was beyond reasoning now, Xiaoxiao decided to go out and look for Yang Ming. As soon as Xiaoxiao stepped outside, the sisters-inw began to persuade, "Mom, please listen to your youngest daughter-inw!" "All of you go away; youre all in cahoots with her, wanting to see my daughtere to harm." "..." This was the first time the sisters-inw heard the mother-inw say such harsh words, indicating that she might also be mentally unwell. Outside Yang Ming entered the courtyard cheerily, his heart finally at ease. As soon as he entered, he saw his wife rushing toward him. "Yang Ming, hurry, your sister has gone mad. I want to take her to the county town, but mom is making a huge fuss and disagrees." "What did you say?" Yang Ming hadnt expected this situation to drive his sister mad. Without waiting for Yang Ming to respond, Xiaoxiao ran to the Main House to find her father-inw and the others, "Dad, you guys shoulde and see! Yang Qiu is sick! I want to take her to the county town, but mom disagrees." This was a major issue, and the whole family had the right to know. If everyone shared the same view as the mother-inw, then she would have nothing more to say. When the men of the house heard about this serious matter, they all crowded into the room and were heartbroken to see Yang Qius condition, recalling that she had just begun to experience better days. "Old woman, what are you doing!" Her daughter was sick like this, and yet you still prevent her from seeing a doctor? "My daughter is not mad; they just cant stand to see my daughter well!" The mother-inw turned her head and pointed at the three daughters-inw, her face disying a venomous hatred. "..." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao thought, oh my goodness, so the mother-inw was not just targeting her but also the sisters-inw had taken the hit. Chapter 155 Sorry

Chapter 155: Chapter 155 Sorry

"Damned old woman, I see youre the one who cant stand to see the girl well, if she doesnt get treated, her life is pretty much over!" Old Yang had never imagined that after living a lifetime of so many years, he would still end up causing such chaos in his old age; it was like he was getting more and more muddled as he lived. "How can I not want my girl to be well? If shes seen by others when she goes out, then shes really finished. Those three are nothing but troublemakers!" Before anyone had a chance to react, they saw the father-inw p the mother-inw across the face. "I think youve lost your mind,shing out at anyone in sight! What did the three daughters-inw do wrong? Why cant you appreciate whats good?" The whole family was dumbfounded; this was the first time they had seen Dad hit someone, and it was their mother he had hit. It seemed Dad was truly angry this time. The mother-inw, shocked by the sudden p, sat down with a thud and began to cry woefully. "What should we do? My poor girl, she hasnt lived many good days, and if this gets out, how will she live in the future!" "Stop crying. How shall we live? Once shes cured, well take care of her. Let others say whatever they want!" Old Yang scolded his wife again. This situation was already troubling enough, and his olddy was only adding to his worries. All three daughters-inw were so good. "Bosss wife, second brothers wife, third brothers wife, your mother has be obsessed and failed to see the light for a moment; dont hold it against her. Xiaoqius illness must be treated!" What could the three daughters-inw say? Their own daughter was insane, fearing others would find out, assuming no one had good intentions. No matter what, the parental heart is to be pitied across the world. "Given Xiaoqius current state, its not convenient to take her out, and what if she runs away again? We should call a doctor toe to us instead!" Once Dad spoke, everyone agreed that he made sense, and they unanimously decided. In the end, Boss Yang Chun went to the county town to fetch the doctor. It was the afternoon when the county doctor arrived. The verdict was that the madness was caused by distress. The doctor prescribed some medicine and performed acupuncture, stabilizing her condition; she just needed to avoid further stress. Only then did everyone breathe a sigh of relief. After the doctor left, Yang Mings mother finally recovered from the shock of Yang Qius madness. She felt extremely ashamed for the harsh words she had said to the three daughters-inw. The old man had told her that realizing her mistake was the key to correction, and with daughters-inw as good as they were, they would surely forgive her. "Bosss wife, second brothers wife, third brothers wife, I truly lost my sanity just now and made a mistake. Xiaoqius illness must be treated, and I wrongly med you. Please forgive me." The mother-inw had atst seen the light. How could they not treat such a serious illness just to avoid public ridicule? That would be the real harm to Yang Qiu. Seeing the mother-inws sincere apology, the daughters-inw epted her apology, and the family harmony was restored, with the mother-inw finally breaking into a smile through tears. That day had exhausted everyone with the ordeal of Yang Qius situation, and early on, everyone went back to their rooms to rest. Upon returning to his room, Yang Ming was filled with distress. His wifes illness hadnt yet been cured, and she had to busy herself with family matters and endure being spoken to like that by his mother; he thought she must be feeling very upset. "Xiaoxiao, Im sorry about today, I apologize for my mothers actions." "..." "And about yesterday, I dont know why you were angry, but Im sorry!" "..." Yesterday? Why was she angry again? "Also, regarding the poisoning incident, theres already some leads from my cousin! Dont worry too much, just rest well!" "..." Cousin? What cousin? Chapter 156: Cleaning Up

Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Cleaning Up

After leaving Yang Family Vige, Arrest Officer Guan hurried nonstop to Wang Family Vige to apprehend Wang Ergou with all his might. The vigers usually loved a spectacle; they had observed without fail when that burly man entered the vigest time, but this time was different, the arrivals were government officials. Even if they loved spectacles, they all tightly closed their doors and windows, afraid to leave their homes. Seeing that no one came out, Arrest Officer Guan had no choice but to knock on doors to inquire. The residents who were knocked on bravely opened their doors, cautiously asking, "Officer Brother, whats the matter?" "Which way to Wang Ergous home? Please lead the way." "Officer Brother, could you possibly..." Before the viger could finish, "Hurry up, dont dy the officers business!" Seeing this, the viger had to keep quiet and quickly lead the officials to Wang Ergous home, scared and preferring not to meddle. Upon reaching the entrance of Wang Ergous home, the viger who pointed out the way immediately dashed back to his own house, as its better to mind ones own business. Before they even entered the courtyard, Arrest Officer Guan and his team faintly heard a womans cries and screams. What was going on? With a gesture from Arrest Officer Guan, the officials entered the small courtyard, where they saw a man gripping a womans hair, punching her over and over, while the other family members just watched from the side as if it was an everyday urrence, not one person stepping forward to intervene. "Separate them!" shouted Arrest Officer Guan upon seeing this, which finally startled the people in the house. The officials stepped forward to stop the violence, and the woman was finally rescued. "Who among you is Wang Ergou!" Hearing the officials question, the family all gave shifty looks, not daring to answer. "He is!" The woman who had just been beaten stood up the moment she was rescued and pointed at someone in the crowd who had been watching, using all her strength. Arrest Officer Guan followed the womans pointing and saw a man with a slovenly appearance. He then gave the order, "Take him away!" Upon hearing that the officials were going to take him away, Wang Ergou shouted madly, "What right do you have to arrest me! Let me go, let me go!" But it was no use; the officials still subdued and took Wang Ergou away decisively. "Officer Brother, are you here because of that rat poison incident!" The woman who had been beaten spoke up at this moment, seeking her revenge. When Arrest Officer Guan heard this, he sensed that the woman knew much more, "Continue!" "I want to report, the poisoning was done by the four masters of this household! Xiao and I are close sisters, and I wanted to go tell her, whichnded me this beating!" "You ruinous woman, Ill beat you to death!" The man who had been beating her earlier, upon hearing this, immediately approached the woman, vowing to beat her to death. Seeing the man was about to start hitting again, Arrest Officer Guan immediately intervened, swiftly subduing the man, "Nobody move, take them all away!" Upon orders, the officials subdued and took all four people away, saving the woman from further abuse. As the officials left Wang Family Vige, the vigers who had been hiding at home came out, and the ce exploded into chatter, all of them happy. "Those fouryabouts have finally been caught." "Karmic retribution!" "Never let them out again!" "..." "..." After making the arrests, Arrest Officer Guan locked the four people in the big prison and dispatched a government officer to Yang Family Vige the next day to report the news. Yang Ming and his family were very happy when they heard the news; they had finally found the poisoner. The heavens were just, the wicked had met with karmic retribution atst. Xiaoxiao was surprised when she received the message, the efficiency of the government office was incredibly fast, having wrapped up the whole situation! Indeed, a new officer had made a clean sweep, but how did the other party not flee? Could it be theycked the funds? Chapter 157: Ascending the Hall

Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Ascending the Hall

In the evening, Yang Ming asked Xiaoxiao, "Are you going to the court proceeding tomorrow?" "I just... wont go, Id have to kneel! That was the first time Ive ever knelt in my life!" In fact, it was the same in her previous life, who wants to kneel unnecessarily! "..." If she doesnt want to go, then fine, he didnt want his wife to kneel either, even though it is customary to kneel before an official! However, the next day, as Yang Ming was leaving, "Wait for me! Ive thought it over, I should still go, lest you be treated unfairly!" "..." What could he possibly have to lose by going! But this showed that his wife cared about him! So the two of them went to the government office, and before they even entered, they saw Arrest Officer Guan, who, upon seeing Yang Ming, patted him on the back and said, "Yang Ming, dont worry, the new County Magistrate is a good one!" "..." Xiaoxiao was surprised. Since when were these two on such friendly terms? The court session was convened shortly after, and Magistrate Li summoned Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao to the court; Xiaoxiao only then learned that the new magistrates surname was Li! All they heard was the gavel bang, "Bring the used to the court!" "..." Xiaoxiao was startled, shivering. Could they please stop banging that wooden block? It was frightening her. Wang Ergou and his three sons were pushed into the court. "Who stands before the bench?" "Your humble servant Wang Ergou greets the esteemed Magistrate!" "Your humble servant... greets the esteemed Magistrate!" "..." "..." "On the night of the second day of the New Year, where were you and what did you do?" "Your honor, we were all at home that day! We didnt go out!" "Yes, yes, we were all at home." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming knew they were unwilling to confess, and they wondered how the new Magistrate would handle the case! "Bring the witness to the court!" Oh? There is a witness; it seems the County Magistrate had prepared well. A man in his twenties stepped into the court, "Attendant Cao Liang greets the County Magistrate." "Cao Liang, identify the people standing there!" The attendant turned to look at the group of four, eventually pointing at Wang Ergou and said, "Its him. Hes the one who bought rat poison from our pharmacy. I cant be mistaken." Wang Ergou, realizing he had been recognized, immediately became agitated, "Youre talking nonsense!" "Bang!" The gavel sounded again, "Take the witness down! Bring the family of the used to the court!" The woman from the previous day who had been beaten walked slowly to the front; she was Wang Ergous sister-inw. "Tell us everything you know." "Yes, your honor, I am a woman from Wang Family Vige, the wife of Wang Huzi and Wang Ergous sister-inw. They were plotting to poison Yang Qius familys pickled cabbage at home, and I overheard them! I wanted to go warn the family, but was discovered, and have been beaten at home ever since. Please, Magistrate, I beg for your justice." Another pitiable person, just like Yang Qiu. One could tell by looking at her face and the way she walked that her injuries were severe. "Wang Ergou, do you have anything to say?" "I deny it, its a setup!" "How dare you, Wang Ergou, with both witness and physical evidence present, you still dare to deny?" "What physical evidence?" "The physical evidence is the rat poison left at the scene." "That wasnt left by me, your honor, its a miscarriage of justice!" This was all circumstantial evidence; in this ce, there was no such thing as fingerprints or anything of the sort. What were they to do? Xiaoxiao was contemting this when the gavel sounded again. "Guards, administer twenty beatings!" "..." Eh? Was this coercion to make a confession? Was this the so-called upright official? Doing well, are they? After several beatings, they suddenly heard, "Your honor, your honor, Ill confess, Ill confess, please stop the beatings!" "..." Eh? It actually worked? So they were going to confess just like that? Chapter 158: Confession

Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Confession

"Stop!" Magistrate Li called out to the government official, "Now confess truthfully!" Wang Ergou, after being struck several times, kept groaning in pain before slowly getting up and kneeling down, "Magistrate, I confess, I bought the rat poison!" "Why?" My wife was taken by them, and I couldnt bear it; I just wanted revenge. I bought rat poison to harm them." "Detail the process of how you administered the poison!" "On the second day of the month, I went with my dad, my eldest brother, my third brother..." "Second brother, you..." Wang Huzi broke in, panickingthis would implicate them all. "Silence!" Magistrate Li banged the gavel again, and Wang Huzi dared not speak further, his eyes filled with hatred and utter disappointment towards his younger brother, believing they were all doomed. "Continue!" "Yes, sir, I went with my dad, my eldest brother, and my third brother to Yang Family Vige. At midnight, we climbed over the wall. We first used Sleeping Powder to knock out the people inside, then we poisoned the pickled vegetables!" "Did you poison all the pickled vegetables?" Wang Ergou thenughed heartily, "I did, not a single one was spared! I even felt that wasnt enough revenge!" By now, Wang Ergou had nothing to fear, having confessed everything. "ording to reports from the government official, you lost all your money, so where did you get the money to buy the poison?" Xiaoxiao was listening silently and was surprised that the magistrate picked up on such details. Indeed, they were out of funds, werent they defeated terribly? Being beaten meant they couldnt produce any money, so where did the fundse from? "My eldest brother provided it, ask him about the origins!" Wang Huzi had not expected his younger brother would betray him so thoroughly; they were utterly ruined and had no choice but to confess. "Magistrate, I confess!" Wang Huzi said, then emphatically knocked his head on the floor. "..." Was there more to this? "The money was from the Young Master of Dongfeng Restaurant in the county; he said he would give us a hundred taels of silver after the job was done, but we have not received those hundred taels yet; we were also deceived." "..." How could this involve Li Fugui? Was Li Fugui really foolish enough to expose himself by hiring someone to poison the food? "Big brother, what hundred taels?" Wang Ergou nced at his father and third brother, who seemed not at all surprised. "..." Xiaoxiao realized that Wang Ergou was unaware of the silver issue; it seemed he had been used as a pawn. "Before the New Year, as I walked on the street, a house servant approached me, saying that if I sabotaged the pickled vegetables, after the deed was done, the Young Master Li Fugui of Dongfeng Restaurant would give me a hundred taels of silver; we are having problems even eating, so I..." "Big brother, did you deliberately mention Yang Qius family in front of me to make me harbor hatred and seek revenge?" Wang Ergou then understoodhe had been manipted by his elder brother, but still couldnt believe it and wanted to confirm. "Hmph! Its your fault for being foolish; you took the bait after just a few words!" Upon hearing his elder brothers words, Wang Ergou, as if mad, attacked Wang Huzi; he had been thoroughly deceived by his entire family. "Silence! Silence! Separate them!" The gavel had been struck countless times in this court, and Xiaoxiao was already immune. "Do you happen to know the Young Master from Dongfeng Restaurant?" Magistrate Li turned and asked Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming. "Your Honor, the Young Master Li Fugui of Dongfeng Restaurant indeed had attempted to obtain that pickled vegetable recipe but had not seeded," Yang Ming answered truthfully. "Seize Li Fugui!" Chapter 159 Arresting Li Fugui

Chapter 159: Chapter 159 Arresting Li Fugui

Li Residence Upon receiving themand, arrest officer Guan led a group of government officials straight into the Li Residence to apprehend someone. The house servant by the door panicked upon seeing the officers and quickly tried to intercept them, asking, "Government officer, brother, whats happening? Please allow me to inform them first." One of the government officials swung his arm, pushing the house servant far away, "Stand aside, dont dy the government officers duties; we are here to arrest Li Fugui!" Upon hearing that the Eldest Young Master was to be arrested, the house servant scurried to the front hall to report to Master Li. Master Li and his wife were leisurely warming themselves by the fire in the bedroom when they heard the house servants report, and quickly made their way to the hall, only to discover the government officials already waiting there. Master Li, calm andposed, "Arrest officer Guan, good to see you well. May I inquire why you have personally intruded upon my home today?" "Master Li, sorry for the offense! The Magistrate requests your son to appear before the court; we would appreciate it if you would let your sone out to avoid us having to search for him." "..." What on earth did his son do? Could it be the previous incident involving an arrest? Now that the government officers hade knocking, it truly was a blow to his dignity. Master Li was furious, yet he didnt show it on the outside, "Arrest officer Guan, what crime has my sonmitted that warrants your personal attention to arrest him? Please inform me." In the County, Master Li was a man of stature, and his words naturally carried weight. Therefore, arrest officer Guan said, "Master Li must have heard about the poisoning case causing an uproar in the County town, right? The perpetrator has been caught; we are here to arrest the person behind the scenes!" "Cough! Cough!" Fugui was the mastermind behind the scenes? Master Li choked and coughed several times, covering his chest with his hand, shocked by how bold Fugui was. "Arrest officer Guan, could there be some misunderstanding? My son has been at home recently and has never gone out. How could he be involved in a poisoning case?" "Whether hes involved is not for us to say, just bring the young master out quickly ande with us!" Seeing that arrest officer Guan was determined not to rest until someone was taken into custody, Master Li sent someone to call Li Fugui out. As soon as Li Fugui came out, arrest officer Guan waved his hand, and two government officials immediately restrained Li Fugui. Seeing himself overpowered by the government officials, Li Fugui was clueless about what was happening and struggled desperately, "What are you doing? Let go of me, let go of me!" "Take him away!" Arrest officer Guan saw that much time had already been wasted, "My apologies, Master Li; with this, I take my leave." Li Fugui was taken away just like that, shouting the whole time, not knowing why he was being arrested, "Let go of me, on what grounds are you arresting me!" After the government officials left, Mrs. Li, grasping Master Lis arm, began to cry out of anxiety, "Master, what shall we do! You must save him! Hes our only son." "Hmph! Look at what your well-raised son has done! Last time it was an arrest, and now he dares to poison someone?" Mrs. Li continued to cry, "It cant be, it cant be, my son would never do such a thing." "Could the government office have wrongfully used him? Let him stay in jail. I do not acknowledge him as my son," said Master Li, flinging his sleeve and leaving, not caring whether his wife fell from being pushed away, as he went back to his room. Mrs. Li was left alone, with the words "Let him stay in jail" echoing in her mind. No, she had to save her son; even if he had killed someone, he was still her sonher only son. Hurriedly, she went back to her room, took out her years of savings and jewelry, determined to bribe her way through, to save her son. Chapter 160: Breaking into the Dungeon

Chapter 160: Chapter 160: Breaking into the Dungeon

Li Fugui was thus brought before the grand hall. When he arrived at the grand hall and saw Yang Ming standing there, he didnt know why he and Yang Ming had such deep hatred to appear in court, "Yang Ming, why is it you!" At that moment, the gavel sounded, and the Lord County Magistrate began to question again, "Who is present below the court?" Seeing this, Li Fugui knelt down and kowtowed, "This humblemoner Li Fugui pays respect to the Lord County Magistrate." "Are you aware of your crimes?" "My lord, what are you referring to?" "Have you once kidnapped people from Yang Vige because you wanted the recipe for spicy cabbage and sauerkraut?" Li Fuguis eyes widened upon hearing this, then he turned to look at Yang Ming. It was allst years news, and he hadnt mistreated those people, so why were they still going to court? Yang Ming was really too petty. "Indeed, there was such an incident, but I did nothing to them!" "Do you recognize this person?" the magistrate asked, pointing at Wang Huzi below the court. Li Fugui looked at Wang Huzi, thought for a moment, and had no recollection, "I do not recognize him." "You dont recognize him? But he said you instructed him to sabotage the sauerkraut at Schr Yangs house!" "What?" Li Fugui raised his head suddenly, then he realized that it was about the highly publicized poisoning incident on the main street! "This is nder! This matter has nothing to do with me. I dont know this person at all, let alone ordered him to poison anyone." The magistrate then asked Wang Huzi, "Wang Huzi, he denies it, do you have evidence that he instructed you?" "I have evidence. They said they would give a hundred taels after the job was done, and a written agreement was made! That document is the evidence." Saying this, he took off his shoe and pulled out a piece of paper. "Submit the evidence!" The magistrate took the paper, gave it a flick, looked at it with distaste, then handed it to the government official, "Let him verify the handwriting." The paper was brought before Li Fugui by the government official. Li Fugui was stunned upon seeing it; it was his handwriting, but he had never written it. He immediately pleaded, "My lord, I have been falsely used, please discern the truth!" Seeing Li Fugui deny his crimes, the magistratemanded, "Someone, find people who know Li Fugui and verify the handwriting!" "My lord, Li Fugui and I were ssmates; I recognize his handwriting." Yang Ming took the paper, and he also wanted to know whether it was really him, but the result was, "My lord, this is indeed Li Fuguis handwriting!" "Yang Ming, you..." Li Fugui was at a loss for words, the handwriting was indeed his, but being pointed out by Yang Ming on the spot, he still felt some resentment, "My lord, although this is my handwriting, I have never written it, please discern the truth!" "Dont try to deny it; you caused us all to be arrested, and you havent paid us the hundred taels yet! We are the ones you deceived." Upon hearing Li Fugui deny it, Wang Huzi immediately became anxious. If he implicated someone else, it might reduce his own guilt, so he clung to it fiercely. "With both witness and evidence gathered, he is to be imprisoned, to be dealt withter!" "My lord, I am wronged, I have never written such a thing! My lord!" No matter how much Li Fugui shouted, he was still taken away by the government officials. Subsequently, Wang Huzi and his family of four were also taken back to prison. "The case is now clear and the criminals have been imprisoned!" "Yang Ming thanks the lord. Regardingpensation, I would like to speak with Shopkeeper Wang from Yui Restaurant, after all, the sauerkraut belongs to Yui Restaurant; we were only in charge of safeguarding it!" "Very well, I will send someone to invite Shopkeeper Wang. After closing the case, we will also inform you." "Thank you, my lord!" Chapter 161 Yang Ming, Our Silver is Saved

Chapter 161: Chapter 161 Yang Ming, Our Silver is Saved

Xiaoxiao just returned with Yang Ming, feeling that the courtroom was entirely Magistrates one-man show. There was no ce for her to disy her skills; her only role seemed to be kneeling. She really didnt want to go there anymore, finding it terribly difficult tomunicate with that kind of person. She was more suited to being a humble farm girl. "Yang Ming, if you ever be an official, dont be so haughty! You must speak nicely!" "..." Haughty? What does that mean? "I dont like that kind of official!" "Then what kind of person do you like?" If his wife didnt like that kind of person, what did she like? After thinking for a moment, Xiaoxiao said, "Well, how to put it! They should at least be approachable and down-to-earth, yeah, just kind and amiable people." As she spoke, Xiaoxiao thought of Magistrate Li with a face full of disdain, "Ugh, anyway, he just had a stern face the whole time, as if everyone owed him eight hundred silver. Dont like! Scary enough to kill a person, shouldnt he at least have a smile?" "..." Hearing Xiaoxiaos words, Yang Mings eyes rolled. He felt like his wifes description of having a stern face and being scary was about him. No wonder his wife disliked him so much. A smile, then? He should try smiling for his wife. Thinking this, he genuinely tried to smile and wondered internally, Is this how I should smile? After finishing talking and seeing that her cheap husband hadnt responded, Xiaoxiao looked back and caught sight of his forced smile. Xiaoxiao suddenly had a shiver up her spine, imagining what it would be like if Yang Ming took the stand with that smile after bing an official... She quickly shook her head. Oh my, if Yang Ming became an official, he better keep a straight face the whole time because his smile is truly frightening. "Yang Ming, stop smiling! Lets get going!" No matter what, the one who poisoned was caught, so she wouldnt have to pay any silver. This was seriously great news. If she had lost that silver, it would have been the death of her. After walking for a while, "Yang Ming, hahaha, hahaha, hahaha!" "..." What is his wife doing? Why suddenlyughing non-stop? "Hahahaha!" Xiaoxiao couldnt help butugh heartily at the thought of saving her silver. She felt she had to share her joy with someone, couldnt contain it at all. "What are youughing at?" "Hahaha, Yang Ming, weve saved our silver, no need to pay for it!" "..." Thats it? His wife really wore her emotions on her face, but he very much liked her just the way she was. "Yang Ming, I am so happy. Now is the perfect time to go shopping, lets go!" Xiaoxiao said and pulled Yang Ming toward the shops on the street. "..." Was his wife hungry or something? Wanting to eat her fill? Yang Ming had be ustomed to being bossed around by his wife, much morefortable than at the beginning. Since his wife was hungry, they should eat. With that, he followed her lead. Once they arrived, Xiaoxiao switched into shopping mode. "Shopkeeper, weigh out three pounds of this for me." "Shopkeeper, Ill take five pounds of that!" "Shopkeeper, wrap this up for me!" "Shopkeeper, let me have a look at that!" "..." "..." Yang Ming followed behind, the packages piling up on him. Werent they supposed to eat their fill? Why then did the shopping go on non-stop? When exactly were they going to eat! No wonder his wife cherished her silver so much. If they continued shopping like this, the silver probably wouldntst a few days! Chapter 162: Yang Ming, What Do You Think?

Chapter 162: Chapter 162: Yang Ming, What Do You Think?

He felt that to provide for his wife properly, he had to do something; she seemed to really enjoy the feeling of buying things. As soon as Xiaoxiao arrived home, she shared the good news with her family. Everyone was extremely happy to hear it, and the tension they had been feeling was finally relieved; they no longer had to worry aboutpensating with silver. Xiaoxiao then began distributing gifts to everyone, and the many packages she had bought were quickly dispensed. That night, when the couple returned to their room, Xiaoxiao copsed onto the kang, finally able to rx. She was genuinely tired. Yang Ming saw this and his heart ached for her, "You bought so much. Why didnt you get anything for yourself?" Yang Ming truly hadnt expected that his wife, burdened withrge and small packages, would remember everybody in the family and leave nobody out, except for herself. "Oh, I dontck anything right now, so I didnt buy anything!" " ..." Did his wife reallyck nothing? His wife was reluctant to buy things for herself and had brought all her possessions from her parents home, but she was generous when it came to his family. Lying on the kang, Xiaoxiaos mind settled, and she began to think about the case from earlier that day. She found many aspects questionable. "Yang Ming, will you also be a magistrate after you pass the examination in the future?" Yang Ming thought for a moment, "Not necessarily!" "Oh!" "Whats the matter?" "Its just that being an official doesnt seem easy. What if you judge a case incorrectly? Its so pitiful for the people who are wrongfully used!" " ..." His wife was showing empathy. "Yang Ming, what do you think?" Xiaoxiao thought that if Yang Ming couldnt see any issues, he probably shouldnt be an official. "What?" "The case from today!" "There were indeed some questionable points in todays case!" Hearing such a response, Xiaoxiao became interested, "Quick, tell me!" " ..." Was his wife really this interested in solving cases? "Questionable point one, the magistrate did not investigate the house servant mentioned by Wang Huzi." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao quickly nodded, "Mm, mm." "Questionable point two, its againstmon sense for that house servant to report his own name!" "Mm, mm!" This husband of hers was on the right track, for even she had figured it out. If her husband hadnt, then what was the point of pursuing schrly honors? He might as well return home and farm thend. "Questionable point three is that Li Fugui never confessed!" "Mm, mm, mm!" Xiaoxiao kept nodding; she felt the same way. "Yang Ming, does that mean Li Fugui could very possibly have been wronged?" "Mm, very likely. Hes been trapped by someone else." When Xiaoxiao heard this, she became anxious, "Then why did you affirm at the scene that the handwriting was his? Arent you harming people?" " ..." At the time, he had simply been telling the truth; he didnt want to harm anyone, and he had also believed that it was Li Fugui. "So what do we do now? Is it easy to overturn a case judged by the magistrate?" Although she was concerned about the silver, they couldnt wrong an innocent person. "Ive only just thought of these questionable points myself. The magistrate should think of them too, and probably wont reach a verdict so quickly!" Indeed, she had only thought of these points afterwards. It seemed justifiable that a mistake could have been made in the chaos of the courtroom. But unexpectedly, news came the next day: the case had been closed, and Wang Ergou and his family of four had been sentenced to military service. Li Fugui, due topensation issues, was still being held in the county jail, awaiting his turn for military service after thepensation issues were resolved. Xiaoxiao was speechless. How could this new magistrate rush to close the case so hastily? Was this truly the upright official they spoke of? This was clearly a careless County Magistrate. Chapter 163 Going Out Separately

Chapter 163: Chapter 163 Going Out Separately

Li Residence Master Li said he wouldnt concern himself with his son, but in reality, he still sent people to gather information. "Master, the young master has been thrown into prison, awaiting disposal!" "What?" Master Li mmed the table in agitation, gasping for breath uncontrobly. Before he could catch his breath, he heard the urgent shouts of a house servant from outside, who ran while shouting, "Master, master, its bad, the government officials havee again!" Master Li copsed on a chair, his heart sinking to the bottom, this was the end. Arrest officer Guan walked into the front hall, "Master Li." "Arrest officer Guan! How fares my foolish sons case?" Master Li steadied his breath, bracing himself mentally, and asked arrest officer Guan. "I am here precisely for this matter. To settle it, fifty thousand taels of silver and exile to the army." Only to hear a loud ng, Master Li fell straight toward the ground, but in the nick of time, was caught by arrest officer Guan. "Master, master!" The house servant, seeing his own master fall, hurried forward to take over, continuously shouting, "Someonee quick, the master has fainted! Someonee quick!" Inside the bedroom The doctor was taking Master Lis pulse, his expression grave, continuously shaking his head. Madam Li, seeing this, was anxious in her heart; her son was already in prison, and now her husband too might be no more. Seeing the doctor stop taking the pulse, Madam Li immediately asked, "Doctor, how is my husband!" "Madam Li, Master Li has been shocked. He is old and cannot withstand such shocks. He must not be subjected to further stress, otherwise..." the doctor kept shaking his head. "Otherwise what?" "He doesnt have much time left! However, as long as he doesnt endure further stress, he can still live out his natural life." Upon hearing this, Madam Li felt relieved as long as he was well cared for and not stressed. She immediately arranged for the servants to fetch and boil medicine. It was not until the evening that Master Li regained consciousness. Madam Li had been waiting by his side. Seeing her husband wake up, she said, "Master, how do you feel? Ill get you some water!" As Madam Li was about to fetch the water. "Summon everyone from the second household. I want to separate Fugui to make his own way," Master Li said weakly. The water pitcher fell to the ground with a ng, sshing hot water all over Madam Li, who, oblivious to the scalding water, eximed, "Master, what are you saying?" "Madam, dont me me. Im doing this to preserve our home. Fifty thousand taels! We only have a few taverns, we cant afford to pay that amount of silver!" Upon hearing this, Madam Li wept incessantly. What to do, abandon their son? She immediately knelt down in front of him, gripping Master Lis arm, "Master, are you really going to abandon our son? We only have one son!" Master Li, shaken by Madam Li, coughed continuously, hardly able to breathe, "If you dont agree, then you may separate with Fugui as well!" Madam Li remained silent. She had grown ustomed to a life of luxury and couldnt bear those harsh days. She needed to rely on her husband, and only by staying in this household could she have a chance to save her son. Master Li couldnt withstand the shock, and if she continued to disagree and made a scene, she feared that she could not save either her husband or son, so she finally said, "I understand, master. I will follow your decision!" Soon, all the family members were gathered, and Master Li instructed, "Ive called you here to tell you that I have separated Li Fugui to make his own way. Give him the cabbages in those storehouses and that small courtyard west of the city. From now on, whatever trouble he gets into has nothing to do with our family." Thus, Li Fugui became the scapegoat cast out by his family, waiting in the dungeon to be sent to the army. Chapter 164: Don’t Wait for Me Anymore

Chapter 164: Chapter 164: Dont Wait for Me Anymore

County Government Office Backyard Upon learning that Li Fugui had been sentenced to join the army, Yang Ming immediately rushed over, hoping to persuade the Magistrate to reconsider the case. Yet, the Magistrate paid him no heed, leaving Yang Ming no choice but to visit him in the backyard. "Student Yang Ming pays his respects to the Magistrate." "Schr Yang need not be overly formal. The case has been settled. Is there anything else Schr Yang wishes to discuss?" "I believe there are many doubts surrounding this case, and its very possible that Li Fugui was framed. Could Your Honor reconsider?" "..." Was he implying that he had judged the case incorrectly? Anger red up in his heart. Had he not been a Schr, he would have already driven him out. "How so?" "Your Honor, the key to this case is the house servant mentioned by Wang Huzi. We should find this house servant and verify the facts before reaching a verdict!" After hearing this, Magistrate Li stood up, angered by this challenge to his first case since taking office. "A poor schr dares to question my judgment? The evidence in this case is irrefutable; theres no need to investigate further. Guards, show the guest out!" Yang Ming did not expect this response from the Magistrate and realized he was being dismissed. It seemed unlikely that the case would be overturned, so he had no option but to take his leave. After Yang Ming left, a beautiful girl around fourteen or fifteen years old emerged from the inner room, speaking with a voice as gentle as water, "Father!" The Magistrate softened his tone upon seeing his daughter, speaking affectionately, "My daughter, what brings you out here?" "Father, who was that man just now?" "That was Yang Ming, just a poor Schr. Youre a youngdy of good family; its best not to inquire too much. Head back now." The girl obeyed her fathers words and returned, yet she etched the name Yang Ming into her heart. Walking on the street, Yang Ming contemted what to do next when he overheard the bustling gossip. "Have you heard? The Young Master of Dongfeng Restaurant has been thrown into jail!" "Its said to be due to the poisoning incident!" "I have thetest news: to save Dongfeng Restaurant, the owner has disowned the Young Master, iming its a splitting of the family, but in reality, he has cut ties with him!" "..." "..." County Government Office Jail Li Fugui, holding the deed of servitude brought by the house servant, was devastated. It was unimaginable that he would fall from grace so quickly. His family had abandoned him! Lifting his head, he let out a hollowugh as tears streamed down his face. "Li Fugui, you have a visitor!" His parents had never visited, only sending a house servant. Who else in the world woulde to see him? The more he thought, the more despair he felt. "Young Master, Young Master!" At the sound of the voice, Li Fuguis eyes widened with surprise and joyit was her, she hade to see him. He quickly got up, and as soon as they met, they held each others hands tightly. "Xiaotian, is it really you?" "Its me, its me, Young Master, are you alright? Have they been beating you?" As soon as Xiaotian entered, she saw her disheveled and haggard young master and immediately started crying out of pityfor he had never endured such hardship. "Im fine. How about you? Has my mother been unkind to you?" "The Lady has not mistreated me; she gave me the indenture contract. She said she would find a way to rescue you, and then we can run away together." His mother had note, but she had sent his Xiaotian. Could he truly walk out of this jail cell sessfully? His conscription was imminent. His gaze dimmed, "Xiaotian, thats wonderful, youre free. Leave this ce quickly and stop waiting for me! Find someone who will treat you well and live a good life." Chapter 165 It Wasn’t Me

Chapter 165: Chapter 165 It Wasnt Me

"Hurry it up! Just say a couple of words!" Before even a few words were spoken, the government official came to hurry them along. "Young Master, dont say such things, Ill wait for you toe out." Xiaotian turned to leave with a heavy heart, she didnt want to hear such words; she only wanted to follow the Young Master for the rest of her life. "Why do you torment yourself like this!" Li Fugui watched Xiaotian leave with heartache, thinking of his own body, bruised and battered, could he really end up together with Xiaotian? At Yang Mings home As soon as Yang Ming arrived home, Xiaoxiao handed him a cup of water, "Yang Ming, how did it go, what did the County Magistrate say?" Yang Ming drained the cup in one gulp, "The case is closed, theres no chance for an appeal!" "..." Whats going on with this county? One corrupt official leaves, and another confused magistrate arrives! How are themon people supposed to live? "To avoidpensating with Silver, Lord Li has already disowned Li Fugui, its said theyve severed ties!" "..." Lord Li is truly ruthless; for the sake of money, hes given up on his own family. How pitiful Li Fugui is. Xiaoxiao felt her mood dip. No longer certain, her typically assertive self now doubted, having inadvertently harmed an innocent person by reporting to the authorities, "Yang Ming, did we make a mistake?" "We didnt make a mistake, the ones at fault are the magistrate and the person who framed Li Fugui." Noticing his wifes self-reproach, Yang Ming consoled her, "Dont overthink it, we were just specting. What if it was really him? Lets do this, lets go visit him in the prison tomorrow! Well ask him face to face!" "Right, right, right, that fool, he will surely tell the truth!" Consoled by this thought, Xiaoxiao found relief. The next day, in the County Government Office prison "Li Fugui, someones here to see you!" The government official shouted. Who could it be? Could it be Xiaotian again? Li Fugui stood up excitedly, but the moment he looked up, he saw two people he didnt want to see. His eyes filled with hatred, he roared, "What are you doing here? To gloat at my misfortune? Leave! I dont want to see you!" Having said this, Li Fugui sat down on the ground and ignored Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao. Xiaoxiao observed the prison environment: gloomy and damp, with a straw mat on the ground. Li Fugui no longer held any semnce to the Eldest Young Master of the past; his clothes were stained with blood, likely a result of not confessing and instead being beaten up in this cell. Probably, Li Fugui now harbored a deep hatred for them. "Brother Li, I came to ask you one thing, did you really do it?" Li Fugui sat there with his eyes closed, offering no response. "If it was you, your crimes are monstrous, but if it wasnt you, we will try to help you!" Li Fugui slowly opened his eyes. Help him? How? The case was already decided, he had been abandoned by his family, he was about to be sent to hardbor. Even if he could get out, what could he possibly do? "Yang Ming, you all go back!" Li Fugui spoke as if he had lost all will to live, having given up on everything. "Just leave it be." Seeing Li Fuguis state, Xiaoxiaos temper red. She stepped forward, grabbed the bars of the cell door with both hands, and shouted, "Li Fugui, I despise you. A man should stand tall and own up to his actions; if he did it, he did it, if he didnt, he didnt. Who are you crying and whining for? If youve been wronged, dont you want to exact revenge on your enemy? Dont you want to take back everything that belongs to you?" Li Fugui, stirred by Xiaoxiaos words, suddenly looked up. The person who framed him? Who could it be? Take back everything that belongs to him? "Yang Ming, lets go!" Xiaoxiao said, pulling Yang Ming away, but behind them came the voice of Li Fugui. "It wasnt me!" Chapter 166: Imperial Decree Arrives

Chapter 166: Chapter 166: Imperial Decree Arrives

Yui Restaurant A group of mounted government officers stopped at the entrance, and after dismounting, they filed into the restaurant, causing the diners to halt their actions in rm, thinking something serious had happened at Yui Restaurant. A voice rang out, "Imperial Decree has arrived, Yui Restaurant receive the decree!" Upon hearing this, everyones jaws almost dropped. An Imperial Decree was no small matter, and they had never encountered such a scene before. They immediately knelt down to worship and quietly awaited the contents of the decree. "By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees, Yui Restaurants spicy cabbage and pickled cabbage are to be designated as national dishes, to benefit the people! Let it be known!" "Thank the Emperor!" Shopkeeper Wang had also never received a decree before. Since the owner was not present, he had to receive it himself. He was puzzled; the main branch of Yui Restaurant wasnt even in their county, so why was the decree issued here? After the group delivering the Imperial Decree had left, the diners immediately erupted into amotion. "My goodness, its really an Imperial Decree!" "Shopkeeper Wang, congrattions! The pickled cabbage has be a national dish!" "I must buy some national dishes; it would be so prestigious to serve it when guestse over!" "Yes, yes, yes, shopkeeper, give me a jar!" "Give me two jars!" "..." "..." This news hadpletely overshadowed a poisoning incident; they had long since put their fears of being poisoned out of their minds. It was a national dish, an honor bestowed by the Emperor; owning it would definitely enhance their prestige. Those who had made purchases immediately began notifying their rtives and friends. Before long, the news that spicy cabbage and pickled cabbage were designated as national dishes had spread throughout the streets and alleys. Everyone was rushing and squeezing to buy the spicy cabbage and pickled cabbage. The leftover stock that no one dared to buy due to the poisoning incident was nowpletely sold out. Shopkeeper Wang couldnt stop smiling; he had been worrying about how to sell off these pickled cabbages, but now the issue had been resolved with a single Imperial Decree. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had just left the prison when they saw this scene on the street. Xiaoxiao really couldnt help but give a thumbs up to Da Jin Tui; who exactly was he? She felt hopeless about their situation, but he had resolved it with just one decree. Now thinking about it, having status truly made things easier. Comparisons can truly kill, and Li Fuguis case was a clear exampleso remote yet dominated by just one magistrate. "Yang Ming, its really good to be an officer!" she couldnt help but exim. "..." Does his wife fancy the life of an officer? "Really, its nice to have shade under arge tree, and having connections makes things easier!" "..." "If only one could be both rich and powerful!" After hearing this, Yang Ming felt a mix of emotions; he was just a farmer and couldnt give anything to his wife. "Xiaoxiao, I will try my best!" "..." Try his best at what? He nned to try his best to pass the exams, earn money, and be a person with both power and wealth. The two then walked to Yui Restaurant. "Uncle Wang, is everything sold out?" "Youre here, yes, everythings sold out, no more worries now." Shopkeeper Wang couldnt contain his joy, continuously beaming with happiness. "Uncle Wang, I have something to discuss today!" "Sure, lets talk in the private room." So the three of them headed to the private room. "Whats the matter?" Yang Ming began to speak. Since overturning the case was not an option, at least for now, he wanted to help solve the issue ofpensation. "Shopkeeper Wang, about the affair of Li Fuguipensating fifty thousand taels, youve heard that hes been disowned by his family. Now, all he has left is that cabbage. Could he use the cabbage as apensation for now? For the rest, when autumnes, we can help him make pickled cabbage and use an equivalent amount of pickled cabbage topensate?" Chapter 167: You Didn’t Expect That, Did You?

Chapter 167: Chapter 167: You Didnt Expect That, Did You?

Actually, based on the original capital, it would not result in a great loss of Silver, but the pickled vegetables belonged to Yui Restaurant. Due to the hype over cabbages, the price of the pickled vegetables skyrocketed, peaking at five hundred wen per catty. Now that the price of cabbages has returned to normal, the price of pickled vegetables remains high due to scarcity, never dropping! As a result, the finalpensation reached the astronomical sum of fifty thousand taels. After hearing this, the Shopkeepers face grew solemn, the joy he had just disyed now gone, "This is a major issue, one I cannot decide on alone. I must report to the Young Master before making a decision." "Shopkeeper, here is a letter, please hand it to your Young Master!" "This... Alright then!" The Shopkeeper took the letter, which amounted to an agreement. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming, seeing that the matter had been spoken for, departed, left to await news. "Yang Ming, what exactly did you write in that letter?" "I only wrote about Li Fuguis matter, hoping he would show leniency and ept my proposal." Xiaoxiao truly had not expected her humble husband to take Li Fuguis matter to heart. He had already been convinced of Li Fuguis innocence and even prepared a letter for help. Yet, just the night before, he hadforted her with the possibility of it being Li Fuguis doing. Heh, is this truly a considerate man? She felt an inexplicable warmth inside her! Li Residences side house "Young Master, the pickled vegetables have been dered a national dish; the poisoning incident can no longer affect them," spoke the confidant of the second young master of the Li Residence. "Hmph! Thats lucky for them!" Li Fuyou clenched his teacup harder and harder, a trace of resentment shing in his eyes. "Second Young Master, its said the old masters health cant endure any further shocks. Should we..." "Hmph, that old man has a really hard heart, doesnt he? Abandoning his eldest son, choosing the family fortune instead. My brother is truly pitiable!" Li Fuyou put down his teacup and stood up to leave. "Second Young Master, where are you going?" His confidant followed him out. Li Fuyous lips twisted into a sinister smile, "Where? Of course, to see my dear father!" Old Master Lis bedroom "Second Young Master!" The servants, upon seeing the arrival of the second young master, all bowed in greeting. "You all may leave now!" "Yes, Second Young Master." The servants did not dare to contravene the second young masters order and retreated. Li Fuyou saw the old man lying on the kang, his usualplexion gone, probably aggravated by his eldest son. Should he, the second son, add fuel to the fire? "Fuyou hase!" Old Master Li felt a surge of emotions upon seeing his second son, realizing he had always supported his eldest son but neglected the second. Li Fuyou approached, and while Old Master Li was caught off guard, he slipped a prepared pill into Old Master Lis mouth, forcing him to swallow it. "Cough! Cough!" Old Master Li immediately started coughing violently, and just as he tried to speak, he realized he could not make a sound. Amidst his shock, the second son spoke up. "My dear father, do you want to know why the eldest brother was thrown into prison?" Old Master Lis eyes widened. What was Fuyou talking about? Wasnt Fugui imprisoned for poisoning? "It was me! I did it! I set him up! Hahaha, you never saw iting, did you!" "..." "And theres something else you didnt expect! Youre about to die! And your fortune will soon be all mine! Hahaha!" "..." Old Master Lis mouth opened wide as he desperately tried to speak, but all that came out were futile squeaks. His body began to convulse, his face turned bright red with strain, and tears streamed down uncontrobly! Chapter 168: Double Demise

Chapter 168: Chapter 168: Double Demise

Li Fuyou saw the state of Old Master Li and was not yet satisfied, "Was there something you wanted to say? Too bad! You cant speak anymore! Haha!" "..." "The fault lies only in your own cruelty, but this is for the best. It spares me the trouble of driving my elder brother out of this house." "..." "Oh, and once you die, I will also throw the first wife out into the streets!" Old Master Li listened to his second sons shocking words, full of regret, but it was toote. He struggled in vain, growing weaker and weaker, until atst he couldnt even close his eyes and thus departed from this world with eyes wide open, never to see again. "Someone helpmy father is dying!" When Li Fuyou saw his father had stopped breathing, a ferocious smile appeared on his face, and he shouted loudly for the servants who had been waiting outside to hurry into the room. Seeing that the old master had drawn hisst breath, all the servants knelt down and wept, unable topose themselves. They then heard the chilling and ominous warning from the second young master, "Nobody is to speak of todays events, or you will meet the same fate." The servants, terrified, trembled uncontrobly, quickly nodding their agreement and began to prepare for Old Master Lis funeral. And so, in the absence of Lady Li, the Li Residence underwent aplete transformation, changing hands in her absence. Meanwhile, Lady Li was using the silver she had gotten from selling her jewelry, trying to find someone to save her son. Not daring to go against Old Master Lis wishes, she secretly sought out connections on her own. "Madam Wang, you must help me, my sister. He is my only son." "Lady Li, its not that I dont want to help, but the County Magistrate has just taken office and I havent established a good rtionship with him yet! If it were the previous magistrate, it would be much easier to take care of this, wouldnt it?" After reaching out to many well-knowndies, she was met with the same response. Eventually, she had no choice but to return home, disheartened, only to see white mourning banners at the gate. She rushed into the courtyard like a madwoman. "Old Master, Old Master." As soon as she entered the courtyard, she saw the coffin and hurriedly pried off its lid, only to find Old Master Li lying inside. "Old Master, Old Master, how could you leave us like this, what are my son and I to do now!" Lady Li clung to the coffin, her cries heart-wrenching. "Sister, what can you do? Naturally, you and your son must leave together!" It was then that a woman, supported by Li Fuyou, came outit was Li Fuyous mother. Seeing this, Lady Li seemed to understand everything, and she screamed at them, "You will not die well, you will not die well, it must be you, it definitely must be you!" "Someone, take off whatever valuables she has on her!" Several maidservants came forward and snatched away the silver from Lady Lis hands, "Xiaohong, you!" Lady Li pointed at one of the maidservantsa personal maid Xiaohong was to her. "Madam, I am sorry!" Tears shimmered in Xiaohongs eyes, but she had no choice, as she too needed to survive. "You lot, throw her out." After the silver was seized, Li Fuyous mother spoke again. No matter how much Lady Li screamed and wept, it was to no avail. She was discarded from the Li Residence like trash. The Lady Li outside the great doors sobbed without end. With her husband gone and her son beyond help, ustomed to a life of luxury, she had no courage to endure hardship. The more she thought, the less she felt she could go on, and so she gathered all her strength and charged with ferocity at the great door of the Li Residence. At this moment, Li Fugui in the prison cell was still unaware that within a single day, both his father and mother had passed away, leaving him an orphan, without father or mother. Chapter 169 Release from Prison

Chapter 169: Chapter 169 Release from Prison

"Madam, young master, Li Fuguis mother just died by crashing into the front gates." Upon seeing the original madam dead at the entrance, the house servant immediately went to report. The Li Residence had changed hands, and thus the servants had all changed their appetions. Li Fuyou thought for a moment, "How inauspicious! Carry her in!" "Son, shes already dead, why carry her in? Just throw her away!" Li Fuyous mother asked, not understanding. A cunning smile appeared on Li Fuyous face, "Keep her, she still has her uses!" Afterward, the Li Residence grandly arranged the affairs for thete Lord Li and his wife. Li Fuyous reputation as a filial son spread through the streets and alleys, letting people know that apart from the useless Eldest Young Master, the Li Family also had a capable and promising Second Young Master the Li Family couldnt fall with the support of Second Young Master. A few dayster, Yui Restaurant received a carrier pigeon message from Chu Lian, agreeing to Yang Mings proposal, and Shopkeeper Wang immediately went to the county government office to discuss thepensation matter with Magistrate Li. Yui Restaurant agreed to use cabbages to settle the ount directly, and Magistrate Li had no objections whatsoever; he couldnt wait to settle this case. As soon as Shopkeeper Wang took charge of the cabbages, he instructed his staff non-stop to prepare kimchi in full force, taking advantage of everyones eagerness to buy the national dish and dispose of all the cabbages. County Government Prison Li Fugui was sitting on the floor of the prison cell, barely able to hold on. This was no ce for humans; it was foul and dirty, the food was hard to swallow, and he had to endure beatings. When had he ever suffered like this? In his moment of despair, he saw a government officialing, "Li Fugui, you can leave now!" Li Fugui quickly stood up, "Officer, can I really leave now?" The official spoke impatiently, "Yes, yes, hurry up and go. Youre lucky to have such a good brother!" "..." A good brother? Could it be Fuyou? Had he saved him? That quiet brother? Fugui was overjoyed to be getting out. He walked out of the cell, breathing in the fresh air outside, feeling as though he had been reborn. Just as he was about to take a step, he hesitated. Where should he go now? He had been disowned by his family; he was alone now; he had nothing. "Big brother!" As he was contemting, he heard Li Fuyous voice. Turning around, he saw his brother hade to pick him up. "Second brother, thank you. I never expected that you would be the one to save me in the end!" His gratitude was sincere. After the incident urred and his own parents abandoned him, it was ironically his unassuming brother who saved him. "Big brother, how did it feel inside?" "..." Why did second brothers tone not sound friendly? "I originally wanted to have you sent to the army, but I felt that wasnt satisfying enough. Its better to let you experience the suffering of the living world!" "What do you mean?" Li Fugui, hearing Li Fuyous words, disyed a look of terror. He couldnt believe his ears. What was he hearing? "It means exactly what it sounds like. Oh, right, your parents are dead! Ive taken back the house I gave you. Now you really have nothing! I want to see how you, the Eldest Young Master, are going to live now without anything!" Li Fuyou continued provocatively. Parents dead? To hear such news was like a bolt from the blue. Although he harbored hatred towards his parents for abandoning him, he didnt wish them dead! "Li Fuyou, what on earth are you saying?" Li Fugui, furious, stepped forward and grabbed Li Fuyou by the cor. He didnt believe it, not a single word. How could his parents be dead? Chapter 170: Learning the Truth

Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Learning the Truth

"Dont believe me? Go back and see for yourself!" Li Fuyou said disdainfully. Right, he had to go back, to confirm it himself. He released Li Fuyous cor, dragged his injured body, and desperately ran toward the direction of the Li Residence. As soon as he reached the front door, he saw the white mourning streamers hanging high. Just as he was about to enter the estate, he was stopped by a house servant, "Thedy has ordered that you are not allowed to enter the Li Residence!" "Who is thedy?" He couldnt believe it. He couldnt even enter his own home, and even a house servant could stop himthis servant, one he had often bullied in the past. Even Li Fugui had fallen to this day. "Go, go, go, dont block the way, otherwise, youll be beaten out with sticks and clubs!" "How is my father?" Li Fugui persisted. If he couldnt enter, he at least wanted to get some news. "The master has long been dead. Go, go, go, hurry up and leave!" the servant answered with impatience. Hearing such a response, Li Fugui had to believe it even if he didnt want tohis parents were truly dead. He walked the streets heartbroken, not knowing where to go. Reflecting on the recent events, he had a sudden realizationhe had been calcted by his half-brother! A scheme that left him with nothing, his family destroyed. Li Fuyou returned to the Li Residence. "Son, why did you even release him? He could have just been left to rot in jail!" She was growing ever more iprehensible to her son. Was it necessary? It cost so much silver to bribe the magistrate. "Being in jail would be too easy for him. I want him to taste what its like to live without money!" Li Fuyous heart had bepletely twisted. He had grown up being bullied by his older brother and now sought revenge, to torment Li Fugui! He wanted to see how an Eldest Young Master could live without money and power. He intended to make his life worse than death. Li Fugui, disconste, roamed the streets, wandering aimlessly until nightfall. Suddenly, he remembered the words of Yang Mings wife, "Avenge yourself, take back everything!" A new rity shone in his eyes. He had to survive, take back everything from the Li Residence. The first step was to find a ce to stay, to settle down first. He decided to seek out his friends. He arrived at a friends house, "Please announce me. I need to see your Eldest Young Master. Just say its Li Fugui." The servant went inside to announce him, but soon came back out, "Our young master is not here! You should leave." He had no choice but to leave and head to another friends house, "Please announce me. Im looking for your Young Master. Tell him Im Li Fugui." After waiting a while, he received the same response, "Our young master is not here!" He visited ten friends houses in a row and got the same answer. Not a single one was willing to see him. Thinking back, he used to be as close as brothers with these friends, always treating them at Dongfeng Restaurant. He now hated himself. What had he been doing all these years, what sort of fair-weather friends had he made when none were willing to help in times of trouble? The harsh reality hit him hard again. He had no ce to stay, penniless. How was he supposed to survive? He was too tired, too hungry, unable to walk further. His injuries exhausted him, and his heart was even more fatigued. He sat down by the roadside, closed his eyes, and thought that he might just freeze to death. "Young Master, Young Master, I finally found you!" He faintly heard a womans voice. He slowly opened his eyes and saw that familiar face. He thought this must be an illusion before death, allowing him onest glimpse of Xiaotian. Then he closed his eyes again, smiling contentedly. Chapter 171

Chapter 171: Chapter 171

"Young master, youre finally awake! Youve been unconscious for several days; you scared me to death!" Xiaotian eximed with overwhelming joy upon seeing Li Fugui awake. After opening his eyes, Li Fugui saw Xiaotian, who was anxious about him. He hadnt died; he had survived. He weakly asked, "Where are we?" "This is a small courtyard I rented; its a bit cramped, but it should do for now, young master!" Xiaotian said with an embarrassed but sweet smile, fearing that the young master wouldnt befortable living herepared to where he used to stay. Seeing Xiaotians smile, he felt she was like the first light piercing through the darkness. She was the savior sent from heaven for him. She was such a good woman; he really didnt want to burden her or make her suffer with him. Thinking this, he tried to get up and walk toward the door, but his body was too weak, causing him to stagger. Seeing the young master like this, Xiaotian quickly supported him, "Young master, do you need to relieve yourself? I have prepared a chamber pot for you!" Li Fuguis face turned red with embarrassment. Relieve himself? He wanted to leave! He shook off Xiaotian forcefully and said sternly, "Leave me alone, I need to leave this ce." "Young master, where would you go, you are still ill, covered in injuries!" Xiaotian didnt heed Li Fuguis resistance; she immediately supported him. Li Fugui was seriously ill; how could he just leave! "Dont touch me, who do you think you are to me? Youre just a servant I bought. You have no business in my affairs." Li Fugui spoke these heart-wrenching words through clenched teeth. He couldnt afford to be soft-hearted. Hearing Li Fuguis words, Xiaotian was stunned. Tears fell from her eyes like pearls with their strings cut. Yes, who was she to him? She was just a servant he had bought. Seeing her tears fall one by one from her face, his heart ached tremendously. His Xiaotian, silently crying like an abandoned kitten, pitiful to the extreme. But he had no choice; he had to leave, he couldnt drag her down. He turned his head, forcing himself not to look at her again, and moved step by step towards the main gate. He felt his legs were heavy as if they weighed a thousand pounds, and the road ahead seemed unendingly long. Thinking of never seeing Xiaotian again, his heart twisted in pain, his blood turning to tears overflowing from his eyes. Goodbye, my Xiaotian, my most beloved woman. His hand touched the gates handle, ready to push it open and leave. Before he could exit, a pair of warm arms tightly embraced him from behind. "Let go!" He really couldnt bear to refuse harshly and squeezed those two words out from between his teeth, using his hands to pry Xiaotians fingers one by one; he had to leave, but the hands he had just pried off embraced him once more from behind. A gentle voice came from behind him, "Young master, please stay, okay?" Li Fugui didnt respond, didnt turn around, fearing that the wall he had just built around his heart would copse, fearing he would agree. "Once you recover, lets run away far from here!" Li Fugui remained silent; the voice behind him stopped. He really wanted to turn around and see how she was, probably heartbroken. He felt the hands gradually releasing their grip from behind. She finally gave up. That was good; this was the oue he wanted. Just as he was about to leave, he heard a fierce shout, "Li Fugui! If you dare to leave, Ill die and let you see if I dare!" "..." Chapter 172 Where You Are, Xiaotian Is There

Chapter 172: Chapter 172 Where You Are, Xiaotian Is There

Li Fugui was stunned on the spot when he heard Xiaotians roar; it was the first time he heard her call him by name and the first time he heard her shout so loudly. The Xiaotian he knew always spoke gently, softly, and with shyness. Xiaotian didnt bother with Li Fugui anymore, and angrily entered the house. Leaving Li Fugui standing there, Xiaotians questions had left him unsure of what to do; he wanted her, he didnt want to leave her! As he was thinking this, another roar came from inside the house, "Li Fugui, get in here now!" Faced with this Xiaotian, he could not afford to think further; his legs moved as if on wheels, and he quickly entered the house. "Lie down quickly." Hey down ording to Xiaotians instructions, like a child who had just done something wrongextremely obedient. Seeing that the young master had finally settled down, Xiaotian breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled knowingly, "Young master, youre seriously ill. Lets focus on your recovery, and not think too much, okay? Here, drink your medicine!" The gentle Xiaotian had returned; she fed Li Fugui the medicine spoon by spoon. Li Fugui merely opened his mouth, waiting for Xiaotian to feed him,pletely forgetting he had hands that could hold a spoon and that he wasnt so disabled that he couldnt drink his medicine on his own. After finishing the medicine, Li Fugui expressed his inner thoughts, "Xiaotian, I have nothing left. Im no longer the wealthy Eldest Young Master, and I cant give you anything anymore! Will you still follow me?" Xiaotian looked at the young master earnestly and said, "Young master, we can earn money with our own hands, and live our modest life. It may not be as wealthy as your previous life, but dont you think living on the money we earn ourselves is more satisfying?" Earning money with his own hands to support himself? Could he truly do that? In recent years, he hadnt learned anything besides writing a few characters. Then he remembered the words of Yang Mings wife, "Take revenge with your own hands, and take back everything." His fists clenched tighter and tighteryes, he had to take revenge, he must take revenge. "Xiaotian, I cant run away with you. I must stay here. I want to take revenge and take back the Li Family." Seeing the young master like this, Xiaotian felt heartache. He had fallen from the high status of the Li Familys young master to an ordinary citizen struggling with basic sustenance. Could he really endure? "Wherever you are, young master, Xiaotian will be there too. Xiaotian will be with you." Xiaotian knew she couldnt do much herself; she couldnt take revenge for him or regain everything for him. All she could do was to stay by his side and take care of everything for him. "Thank you, Xiaotian!" Ultimately, hepromised; thinking since he couldnt leave, he would try his hardest not to be a burden and would strive to give her a good life. After taking his medicine, he fell into a deep sleep, and when he woke up again, it was night. Xiaotian was looking after him, helping him eat and take his medicine, but it was gettingte, and he noticed she still hadnt gone to sleep. "You should go to sleep now!" Xiaotian smiled sweetly, "You sleep first!" "..." Li Fuguiy with closed eyes, feeling the presence of Xiaotian beside him; it gave him immensefort. As hey there, it suddenly urred to him: Xiaotians leased courtyard seemed quite small, so small there was only a kitchen and a bedroom. No wonder she was reluctant to sleepit was because there was nowhere for her to sleep. He saw a nket on the long couch over there; she had been sleeping there these past few nights. She was kind in a way that made ones heart ache, just like when they were children, "You should sleep on the kang, its big enough for both of us." Chapter 173: Three Years Later, We Get Married

Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Three Years Later, We Get Married

"Im fine, young master! You go to sleep first!" She knew the young master meant well, but she couldnt do it. He had not yet married her, and she could not share a bed with him. She even felt it was against ethics to sleep in the same room. "Xiaotian, I am no longer the young master as you call me, call me Fugui!" He no longer wanted to hear those two words, feeling that they were a mockery of how foolish he had been all these years. Besides, he liked hearing Xiaotian call him by his name, even though she had been rather fierce just now. "Young master, I..." She hesitated, having be ustomed to the title, and truly had not meant to yell at him earlier. "Call me by my name!" "..." "Call me Fugui!" "Fugui!" Xiaotian, seeing the young masters persistence, reluctantly uttered softly. In fact, she felt joy in being able to call him by his name. "Get on the kang," Li Fugui thought. Xiaotian had been caring for him and sleeping on a chair all these days; she must be very tired and needed a good rest. "Fugui, I..." Li Fugui could see her concern. She was right, no woman should lightly get on a mans kang, "Dont worry, I wont do anything to you." "Fugui, thats not what I meant." With the young master speaking to this extent, she obediently did as told, spreading the quilt from the chair on the kang andid down beside him. His beloved womany beside him, his heart thumping wildly. He had always wanted to marry her, but their statuses, one a young master, the other a maid. Now he was no longer a young master, and she was no longer a maid; could they really be together? He felt there would be no other woman like Xiaotian who would choose to stand by his side when he had nothing, she sacrificed her reputation just to take him in. He had found it difficult even to hold her hand before because she cared much about reputation, but now she even hugged him and shared a bed for his sake. "Xiaotian!" "Hmm?" "My parents are no longer alive, I now need to observe mourning for three years!" "Hmm!" "After three years, we can get married. Is that okay?" "Hmm!" Having heard Fuguis words, Xiaotian fell asleep sweetly, knowing she would definitely wait till that day. Lying on the kang, Li Fugui listened to Xiaotians steady breathing, knowing she had fallen asleep. He then got off the kang, moved the quilt back to the chair where Xiaotian had slept, and decided he would sleep on the chair from then on, so as not to make Xiaotian ufortable. The next day, Li Fugui woke up to find no sign of Xiaotian, which panicked him. He didnt know where she could have gone and waited a long time before he saw her return. "Kept you worried, huh? Ill go cook now." Xiaotian came home and went to see Fugui straight away. "Where did you go!" "I...I didnt go anywhere!" "..." Xiaotian wasnt good at lying; whenever she lied, she would stutter. He wondered where she really went without letting him know. "Tell me quick!" "I..." "You cant fool me, you stutter whenever you lie!" "Fugui, I went to work, washing clothes at Official Wangs house!" "..." Li Fugui quickly grabbed Xiaotians hand, noticing how red and chafed they were from long immersion in cold water, "Xiaotian!" "Fugui, Im fine, this is nothing!" Xiaotian then ran into the kitchen. She needed to quickly cook and prepare medicine for Fugui. Li Fugui watched Xiaotian go and wondered, was he really right to have stayed? Chapter 174 Nothing is More Important Than His Xiaotian

Chapter 174: Chapter 174 Nothing is More Important Than His Xiaotian

Xiaotian was busy in the kitchen like this, cooking meals and preparing medicine, and afterward, she served the young master his food. "Fugui, rest well at home!" "Where are you going again?" "..." "No lying!" "Fugui, I... Im going to work in the kitchen at Zhao Residence." Xiaotian knew she couldnt hide anything from the young master; it had always been this way since they were children. "..." She had to go work again; it was all his burden dragging her down, not knowing if she would be humiliated outside, and these thoughts made him feel bitter inside. "Fugui, Im used to doing these tasks in the Li Residence, and the maids I knew from before helped me get the job, dont worry." "Okay!" Xiaotian seemed to see his concerns, and that must be why she said thoseforting words; she truly was a kind woman. After Xiaotian left, Li Fugui, too, dressed neatly and went out. He couldnt let Xiaotian be the only one going out to work to support him; he was a man, and it was his duty to go out. He dragged his ailing body to the bookstore in the county. Now, apart from being able to write a few characters, he really couldnt think of anything else to do! But years of luxury made it hard for him to start. He lingered at the entrance of the bookstore for a long time, finally gathering enough courage to step inside. "Shopkeeper, Id like to take up copying books!" But before the shopkeeper could respond, he heard a harsh voice. "Oh! Isnt this Li Familys Eldest Young Master?" "Indeed! What happened to make you dress like this? You look like a beggar!" "You want to take up copying books? Werent you the one who despised it the most?" "Are you still going to the Academy this spring?" "What for? He looks like a beggar now; where would he get the silver to go to the Academy?" "..." "..." A few schrs surrounded Li Fugui, taunting and mocking him without restraint. Li Fugui felt utterly ashamed, remembering how he had used this very matter to taunt Yang Ming before. Now it was his turn, and retribution hade so swiftly. He blushed deeply, feeling almost unable to show his face. The once high and mighty was now a figure of contempt. He lifted his leg and walked towards the door; he had to leave quickly. "Eh! Leaving just like that? Werent you going to copy books?" "What, do you still look down on copying?" "Now youre even worse than those who copy books! Hahaha!" "You cant even support yourself now, can you!" "..." "..." Li Fuguis step suddenly halted. Yes, what was he here for? He was here to reduce Xiaotians burden; how could he flee in such a dejected manner. He had already endured the pain of his familys ruin and the loss of their propertywhat was a little humiliation? Now, nothing was more important than his Xiaotian. He turned around, disregarding everyones gaze, and walked back to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, may I take up copying work? I can do it!" The people who had just mocked him were momentarily stunned. Was this still the Li Familys Eldest Young Master from before? "Psh, how boring!" A few schrs, feeling that they had mocked enough, walked out of the bookstore, still talking as they left, "Li Familys Eldest Young Master has fallen so low that he has to live off copying books now!" Li Fugui, having heard too much, had be numb. He didnt bother with those people and instead continued to ask, "Shopkeeper, may I?" The bookstores shopkeeper, who certainly recognized Li Familys Eldest Young Master, was perplexed by such a disy from him, sensing that perhaps Li Familys Eldest Young Master was about to change. Chapter 175 The Infatuated Young Master Li

Chapter 175: Chapter 175 The Infatuated Young Master Li

County Town "Have you heard? The Eldest Young Master of the Li Family got out of jail!" "Yeah! I heard that as well, he was saved by the Second Young Master of the Li Family, he really has a good brother now." "From what I know, the Second Young Master has been diligently working for the Li Family these past years. He took care of everything when old Mr. Li passed away, and is now managing the Dongfeng Restaurant quite efficiently." "I heard the Second Young Master asked his older brother to return to the Li Family, but the Eldest Young Master wasnt grateful and ran off with a Little Maid! Do you find that ridiculous or not?" "..." "..." Li Fugui had be a popr topic of conversation after meals; Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming could easily find out about Li Fuguis recent situation without asking. Learning that Li Fugui was out, Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief, no matter what, Li Fugui was saved from being conscripted into the army. If they were to save him, they truly wouldnt be capable of doing anything; they were just ordinary farmers who had no connection to the government office. It was already impressive they could help with thepensation issue. But what was this about running off with a Little Maid? "Yang Ming, whats this about a Little Maid?" "I only know a little bit!" "Out with it!" Xiaoxiao was in the mood for gossip. This bargain husband doesnt talk much in a day, but he seems to know quite a lot! "He seems to have a childhood sweetheart, one of their servants. Li Fugui seems to really like that maid of theirs, and he didnt even get married by the age of twenty because of her." "..." Is this... could he be a romantic? That Li Fugui? She found it so hard to believe! A rich Young Master who was always so insouciant, so arrogant in his speech, with his nose in the air, seemed like the epitome of stubborn youth, "Is this true?" "It seems to be true. I heard that when his friends went out to have fun, he never went to ces like the Brothel! Plus, there havent been any asions where he was seen interacting too much with any youngdies." "..." She seemed to catch onto a word and immediately asked, "Have you been to a Brothel?" "..." Whats with his wife now? They were clearly talking about Li Fugui, and now the conversation turned to him, "No, I have not." "Are the girls in the Brothel pretty? What about their figures? And their chests, are they big?" "..." Whats with all these questions from his wife? So forthright in the middle of the street, its quite awkward, and besides, he has never been there. He doesnt even dare to look at his own wife, how could he look at anyone else? In fact, Xiaoxiao was just thinking, the people in this ce are so conservative, making bras and underwear might not have a market here, but the women in a Brothel are different, they rely on that for a living! Maybe she could start from this aspect to open up a market. But unexpectedly, Yang Ming didnt respond, and only then did she realize, could it be that he was thinking about the women in the Brothel? She suddenly felt ufortable. Xiaoxiao: "Did you really go there?" Yang Ming: "I didnt!" Xiaoxiao: "Youre lying!" Yang Ming: "Im not lying to you!" Xiaoxiao: "I dont believe you!" Yang Ming: "I dont even dare to look at you, how would I dare to look at anyone else?" Xiaoxiao: "..." Upon reflection, her bargain husband wouldnt even dare to look at her arm and didnt even know about her monthly cycle; surely, he wouldnt go to such a ce. She felt inexplicably very cheerful and tugged at Yang Ming, "Lets go! Were going to the Bookstore!" "..." Yang Ming was utterly confused; his wifes mood changed faster than the weather. So, off they went to the Bookstore. As soon as they entered, they saw the scene of Li Fugui being humiliated by several schrs. Yang Ming wanted to step forward, but was stopped by his wife. They quietly moved aside and witnessed the entire ordeal. Chapter 176: Down-to-Earth Young Master Li

Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Down-to-Earth Young Master Li

The shopkeeper at Bookstore didnt give Li Fugui a hard time, but instead gave him the job of copying books. Li Fugui thanked him and then left the Bookstore. Xiaoxiao, witnessing this, noticed that Li Fugui, after his stint in jail, had changed. He was no longer so aloof; he had be more down-to-earth. Now that he was earning his own money, she truly admired him. As the two of them left the Bookstore, they wanted to offer him help, so they called out to Li Fugui, "Brother Li, please wait." Li Fugui was carrying the materials he had gotten from the Bookstore, feeling very pleased. It was the first time in his life that he had taken on work to earn money. He thought Xiaotian would certainly be happy to hear it, but unexpectedly, someone called out to him from behind. When he turned around, he saw the two people he least wanted to encounter. He knew Yang Ming hade from Bookstore as well, surely having seen him just being humiliated, probablying over tough at him. When he thought about how if it wasnt for them reporting him to the authorities, he wouldnt have gotten into trouble, his hatred grew. But he didnt leave. Instead, he stopped, "Is there something you need?" "Brother Li, where are you staying now?" "Whats it to you?" He thought that his being kicked out of his home must have be a joke by now. "Is there anything I can help you with?" Yang Ming genuinely wanted to help, but Li Fugui was not receptive. "No need!" "..." Seeing that Yang Ming had nothing more to say, "If theres nothing else, Ill be going." With that, Li Fugui walked away, and Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming did not follow. Maybe this was for the best. Their rtionship had always been bad, to say the least. Offering assistance rashly would surely be rejected by Li Fugui. Li Fugui returned to the rented courtyard and put his things in the room. Seeing that it was gettingte, and knowing Xiaotian would be returning home tired and hungry, and then having to cook for him, he felt a pang of distress and, as if possessed, made his way into the kitchen. Xiaotian arrived at the entrance of their home only to see thick smoke billowing from the kitchen. Fearing a fire had broken out, she ran toward it, shouting, "Fugui, Fugui!" But when she entered the kitchen, she saw Fugui beside the stove, trying to light the fire in a clumsy andical way. Looking around, the kitchen was in such disarray it appeared as if it was being dismantled. Hearing Xiaotians voice, Fugui felt happy. He thought he didnt want to be apart from her for even a moment, "Xiaotian, youre back!" Xiaotian, upon seeing Fuguis face grimy as if it were painted, felt both sorrow and joy. She was sad that the Eldest Young Master had to cook for himself, yet happy to see that Fugui was finally facing reality and had begun to work hard. "Fugui, let me teach you!" She had intended to do it herself, but seeing such effort from the young master, she thought it was necessary to let him finish cooking this meal. "This fire, you need to manage it like this, like this, like this." "For the rice, you need to add water. Its only eatable once the water is in!" "You cut the cabbage into chunks like this, try it!" Like this, the two of them cooked dinner together in the kitchen, withughter asionally echoing through the space. Li Fugui felt this might be the happiest moment of his life. Atst, the meal was ready, "Xiaotian, have a taste, how is it?" He was eager for Xiaotian to try it and see how it tasted! Xiaotian took a bite. The vor was mediocre, but it was the young masters first time cooking, "Fugui, its very good already! Well practice more from now on!" Li Fugui tried a mouthful. He had enjoyed so many delicious foods, and this was the first time he had tasted something so poor, but remembering his current circumstances, he knew he had no right to waste food anymore, so he swallowed the dish anyway, "Xiaotian, I will definitely be able to make delicious food in the future!" Seeing the young master like this, Xiaotianughed. The young master had really changed, he was different now. Chapter 177: Releasing the Tiger Back into the Mountains Brings Endless Troubles

Chapter 177: Chapter 177: Releasing the Tiger Back into the Mountains Brings Endless Troubles

Li Residence "Young master, Li Fugui has gone to the Bookstore to pick up the book copying work!" Li Fuyous confidant immediately reported to his master upon receiving the news. "So soon? I thought he would take a few days to recover from his illness!" Li Fuyou was taken aback, he really hadnt expected that good brother to get back on his feet so quickly, was it because of that little maid? It seems the blow wasnt severe enough! "Young master, should we...?" Li Fuyou revealed a sinister smile, then spoke, "No need, let him copy for a few days first. You go cut off the little maids sources of ie!" "Yes, young master." Yang Family Vige, Yang Mings home "Yang Ming, Li Fugui had it pretty bad this time, if we get the chance, we should still help him out." "..." His wife was so kind to everyone, but their rtionship with Li Fugui was terrible. However, he felt she was right, he wanted to help too, "Mhm!" "You hear whats spreading down the main street! I can tell theres something fishy about it." "What fishy business?" "That second young master of the Li family! Hes clearly seized the family property and still received praise, dont you think its strange?" "..." "Li Fugui must have be a casualty in the fight for the estate. With him being such a simpleton, how could he vie for any property!" "..." Was Li Fugui really that bad? His wifes words painted him as utterly worthless! "But the second young master made a mistake!" "What mistake?" "Havent you heard the saying, A tiger released back into the mountain will be a perpetual threat? It remains to be seen if Li Fugui is that tiger! But judging by his performance today, I think he has the potential to be one!" "..." Just a moment ago, Li Fugui was belittled to nothing, and now he has the potential to be a tiger? "That second young master must be some kind of twisted psychopath!" "Whys that?" He realized his wife had a knack for analyzing problems as if she had experienced many things, and it seemed everything she said made sense. "He could have just let Li Fugui join the army and be done with it! But he had him released, theres only one reason for thathe wants Li Fugui to suffer all the miseries of the world under his watchful eye, and without a doubt, he will put obstacles in his way at every turn! Isnt that a twisted mind?" Upon hearing his wifes words, Yang Ming felt they made a lot of sense. "Lets wait and see how things unfold. Well help if we can, but with the second young master being so dangerous, wed better not get involved!" Yang Ming also had his concerns, for such a dangerous person, it was better for his wife to keep her distance. The poisoned pickles incident thus came to an end, and the greatest satisfaction came from knowing that the family who bullied Yang Qiu had been enlisted and couldnt return. Xiaoxiao started researching vests and underpants these past few days, as the partnership with Wang Xiangxiang would begin after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and she had to show some real skills. Although she couldnt draw other designs, she could draw underpants. "Yang Ming, make me a charcoal pencil; I need to draw a few designs!" "..." She could draw? He was curious to see what she would sketch! But when he saw them, he was taken aback; they looked so much like the underpants she had made for him! "Whats this on the side?" he asked shamelessly, pointing at the drawing! "Oh! These are womens underpants, the couples matching type! Its something the husband and wife wear together, a pair!" Xiaoxiao replied nonchntly. "..." Husband and wife? A pair! His eyes unconsciously nced at his wife; was she wearing them? Chapter 178

Chapter 178: Chapter 178

Xiaoxiao spent several days with her two sister-inws, fiddling with her sample underpants. With the help of the two, the designs all became beautifully crafted, and since they added embroidery, each piece was exquisitely handcrafted. Holding the underpants in her hands, Xiaoxiao thought, these arent just underpants, theyre practically works of art. Although she didnt contribute much, the credit all went to her sister-inws. The bras proved more difficult to make because there was no 3D contoured sponge, so for those with smaller busts, the end result wasnt as perfect as those in modern times. But it was still leagues better than the traditional bodice, so it should be fine. "Eldest sister-inw, second sister-inw, hurry up and try them on; I want to see how they look!" "..." How could their younger sister-inw be so shameless, asking them to try on such intimate things in front of her; they were too embarrassed, "Younger sister-inw, you should try them on yourself!" "Ohe on, you two try them on, I cant see the effect on me." What she said was true; she hadnt quite developed yet, probably ate bloomer. "..." "Hurry up! Once you put them on, keep them on. Show them to eldest brother and second brother tonight!" Xiaoxiao urged them, teasingly suggesting. Unable to argue with her any longer, both blushed deeply as they tried on the garments for Xiaoxiao to evaluate. Seeing the result, Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously, delighted, "Beautiful, beautiful, I didnt expect you two to be so shapely despite being so slim!" Her brothers were truly lucky men! Seeing the fabulous figures of her sister-inws, Xiaoxiao couldnt help but let her imagination run wild. The two were so embarrassed by herments they quickly covered up with their clothes, "Younger sister-inw, they look good for sure, but arent they too embarrassing to wear? Can they even be sold?" Xiaoxiao was brought back to reality, "They might not sell among ordinary farming households, but among wealthy families, the wives and concubines, and to thedies of the brothel. After all, they all want to capture a mans heart!" Xiaoxiao was speechless at her own statement; these items were essential in modern times, yet here theyd be tools for capturing mens hearts. What were the real objects actually used for? "..." Both sister-inws calcted in their minds, how much their younger sister-inw knew for her age. Once the samples were ready and the sister-inws were about to leave, Xiaoxiao quickly stopped them, raising her eyebrows yfully, "Hey, you havent taken the mens version for eldest brother and second brother! Use them tonight, okay?" The two hurriedly grabbed the mens underpants and scurried off, not wanting to be teased by their younger sister-inw any longer. Xiaoxiao was in a great mood. Her sister-inws were truly reserved! They were married and yet so bashful, whereas she, only in a sham marriage, wasnt embarrassed at all. That evening, Xiaoxiao perked up her ears, wanting to catch any sounds from the second sister-inws room to see if her product worked as intended. Their room was next to hers, but she wouldnt be able to hear anything from the eldest sister-inws room even if she tried. Yang Ming was reading his book, then noticed his wife sitting there, craning her neck as if she was listening for something from the second sister-inws room, "What are you listening to?" "..." She hadpletely forgotten there was someone else in the room with her. She quickly waved her hands, "Nothing, nothing." Then she buried herself under the covers, covering her head with the nket and giggling to herself, worried about losing face if her affordable husband found out she was eavesdropping. "..." The next morning, after breakfast, Yang Ming was called away by his second brother, "Youngest brother, your wife knows quite a lot, that thing is pretty good! You like it too, dont you?" What was his second brother talking about? What was good? What did he like? Chapter 179: Dressing Up for Men to See

Chapter 179: Chapter 179: Dressing Up for Men to See

Yang Ming learned from his second brother that Xiaoxiao had actually sent them those things. He suddenly realized, no wonder his wife was eavesdropping at the corner of the wall the previous night. Did his wife have this kind of hobby? After the two returned to their room, "Yang Ming, what did the second brother ask you to do?" "He said the things you sent are very useful!" "..." Huh! What had she sent again? She was totally clueless. "What about the matching set for couples? The elder brother and the second brother both received one; howe I didnt?" Xiaoxiaos hands stopped moving. It hit her like a bolt of lightning; she instantly understood what Yang Ming was referring to when he mentioned the gift for his second brother. So it worked? The second brother and his wife had...! The second brother really liked it! Maybe her invention could indeed open up a market. Her mind started to wander again. "..." His wife didnt answer, just kept grinning foolishly. What was going on with that, "Do we have one?" Xiaoxiao snapped back to reality, "You wish!" "..." He had expressed his palpitations so many times; why couldnt his wife understand? He felt let down once again. "Yang Ming, Im going to the county town to find Wang Xiangxiangter, and you better note!" "Why not?" "Its all womankind matters; theres no need for you, a big man, to get involved." "Its okay, Ill wait for you outside!" "..." She had recently discovered that this cheap husband of hers was like a sticky burr impossible to shake off! In fact, Yang Ming just wanted to spend more time with her because he was going to the Academy again soon. The two of them thus reached the county town by oxcart, and suddenly Xiaoxiao remembered something crucial she hadnt done. "Yang Ming, I have a task for you!" "What is it?" "While I go to see Wang Xiangxiang, you go buy an oxcart. Our family must own an oxcart now!" Xiaoxiao would be of no use going herself, as she didnt know how to choose an ox, and she didnt like the stench of so many oxen together. She only cared for the oue; being able to ride in an oxcart in the end was all that mattered. "Mhm! Okay!" Yang Ming dropped off Xiaoxiao at thergest Xiangxiang Cloth Shop in the county town and then took the silver to pick out an oxcart. "Xiaoxiao, youre here!" Wang Xiangxiang immediately came out to greet her upon seeing her. "Sister Wang, happy new year!" "Happy New Year, happy new year,e inside quickly!" The two quickly went into the inner room. Without any small talk, Xiaoxiao immediately took out the samples, "Take a look!" Wang Xiangxiang held the samples, both shocked and delighted, grabbing the bras and panties, "Xiaoxiao, these are so beautiful!" "Hurry, pick a set for me, I want to try!" Saying that, she began to undress in front of Xiaoxiao. "..." People sure do have different personalities. Her sisters-inw at home were terribly shy, but Wang Xiangxiang didnt hesitate; as soon as she said shed undress, she did so. Xiaoxiao swiftly handed over a set that looked about the right size. "Xiaoxiao, how do I wear this, help me put it on!" At that moment, Xiaoxiao felt like a sales associate, helping with the clothes, except that these garments were bras, and she even finished up by kindly adjusting Xiangxiangs bust shape! After helping Xiangxiang into the garments, Xiaoxiao felt like she suffered ten thousand points of damage. Aside from her ownck of bust, the otherdies were all amply endowed, and she felt a mix of envy and resentment. "Xiaoxiao, it looks beautiful, really beautiful!" "Selling these to the madams and concubines of wealthy families, as well as to the women of the brothels, okay?" "Thats perfect, Ill handle this! They will definitely want to buy the garments to wear for their men!" "..." Wang Xiangxiang really knew her stuff; such a sharp person! Could this actually be someone from this era? Shes not shy at all! Chapter 180: Yang Ming, We Finally Have a Car

Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Yang Ming, We Finally Have a Car

Wang Xiangxiang put on her clothes, and the two began discussing various details. "Everyones body size is different, and there are quite a few sizes. Ladies underwear can be divided into three sizes: for those under 140 jin, and for those over that, we can offer custom orders." "As for bras, we can currently only make a standard cup size but lets start with four sizes for the band. In general, they should fit up to 140 jin, and we can offer custom orders for those who arerger. If someone wants thicker padding, that can also be custom ordered." "As for these matching sets, in addition to selling to general customers, we can also specifically target newlyweds. We can even make them in bright red, symbolizing good fortune." "Lets start with a small batch to test the market and see which sizes are more popr. Then we can increase the quantityter!" "If we want to sell them at a higher price, we could offer unified packaging, like an embroidered cloth bag with our own brand name, and all products could also feature our ownbel, making them high-end and ssy!" "..." "..." Wang Xiangxiang was listening more and more in awe at Xiaoxiaos sophistication. Upon seeing the various unique sketches, her delight was beyond measure, and she immediately decided, "Ill get the Embroiderers and Painters right away." Since Xiaoxiao only knew how to make bras and panties but couldnt design the patterns herself, professional Embroiderers and Painters were needed toplete the prototypes before she could mass-produce the finished products. This time, the two were partnering up, with Wang Xiangxiang covering all costs and Xiaoxiao in charge of production, while Wang Xiangxiang handled sales. Wang Xiangxiang had a knack for sales and had the connections, basically sparing her any worry. In the end, they agreed on an even profit share. With all issues resolved, Xiaoxiao walked out the door and saw Yang Ming waiting there. "Yang Ming, did you buy the ox cart?" "Over there!" Yang Ming pointed to a corner. Finding the direction pointed by Yang Ming, Xiaoxiao scurried over and circled the ox cart, "Not bad, not bad! Yang Ming, we too have a cart now!" Seeing his wifes joy, Yang Mings mood also lifted. He climbed onto the ox cart, grabbed the rope, and said, "Come on up." "Yang Ming, have you ever driven an ox cart before?" "Never!" "..." So he was just going to drive it like that? What if he ended up taking her into a ditch? "Come on up, I wont take you into the ditch!" "..." Does this cheap husband have mind-reading abilities? Xiaoxiao got on the ox cart and heard Yang Ming say "yah" and the ox cart actually started moving. This...it was quite the vehicle-owner vibe. He drove rather steadily, did this cheap husband teach himself? After travelling a short distance, Yang Ming thought it best to ask his wife about the situation, "How did the talk go?" "Well, all went well, an even split." "Why involve a partner? Wouldnt it be better for you to do it yourself?" "Weck both money and connections. Doing it alone would make it very hard to sell. At times like this, one must find someone with both money and connections; it makes the work much easier!" "..." The wife speaks so sensibly. The couple soon entered the vige, but they encountered vigers again. Xiaoxiao couldnt understand why everyone was out strolling in such cold weather. "Schr Yang, howe youre driving the ox cart yourself?" "Is this a new purchase of yours?" "How much silver did that cost?" "Impressive!" "..." "..." Why did buying an ox cart turn her into the centre of attention again? She had always been low-profile, right? Didnt several other families in the vige have ox carts? Perhaps the ox cart was an expensive item? Chapter 181: Third Sister-in-Law, What is This?

Chapter 181: Chapter 181: Third Sister-in-Law, What is This?

"Yang Ming, how much silver did that ox cart cost in total?" "Thirty taels." "Thats not too much, then, so why has it be the center of attention again?" Xiaoxiao muttered quietly. "..." Youre correct, my wife, although thirty taels is enough for an ordinary family to spend for several years. As soon as the couple reached their doorstep, the whole family gathered around. This was an ox cart, something their family hadnt even dared dream of before, and now they had simply gone and bought it. "Third brother, is this ours now?" Yang Chun asked in surprise and joy. "Yes, its ours now, just bought it!" "How much silver was it bought for?" Yang Gang also joyfully joined in, continuously stroking the ox. "Thirty taels!" "Uncle, can we sit in it?" Several little ones were already eagerly trying, all wanting to sit in the new ox cart. "Everyone get on, everyone get on!" Xiaoxiao immediately agreed, lifting the little ones up onto the ox cart one by one. Just an ox cart had made everyone so happy, what about when she brought up starting a workshopter? She had alreadypletely forgotten how excited she had been herself when she first saw the ox cart. Everyone marveled at the ox cart for a good while, before finally settling the cart and everyone went inside. As soon as they entered the house, Xiaoxiao reported her intention to start a workshop to her parents, "Dad, mom, these past few days, my sisters-inw and I have been tinkering with making bras and briefs in the house. You know about them, right? Today, I took them to the countys Xiangxiang Cloth Shop. Weve partnered with them: we produce, and they sell, splitting the profits fifty-fifty." "..." The old couple werepletely bewildered. They were unaware of what the three daughters-inw had been up to these past few days. The elder brothers recalled their wives wearing those items, and their faces turned red. The sisters-inw lowered their heads. It was awkward for them to discuss such matters with the elderly, indeed ufortable. Yang Qiu was further out of the loop, busy taking care of the three little ones. Only Yang Dong, blunt as always, said, "Third sister-inw, why didnt you include me in the business venture?" "..." Xiaoxiao was baffled, realizing that evidently no one knew. Xiaoxiao immediately went back to the room, brought the sample andid it on the kang for everyone to see. Seeing the products, the elder brothers and sisters-inw couldnt help but remember those intimate details, their faces blushing red, thinking how their third brother and his wife were shamelessly bold. Only Yang Dong, still confused, held up the briefs, "Third sister-inw, what is this thing?" "Actually, these are what we wear inside. This bra reces the womens bellyband, and these briefs rece the pants we wear. Theyre very useful." Yang Ming exined. After hearing this, the elder brothers and sisters-inw silently gave their third brother a big thumbs up in their minds. Spending time with his wife had made him bold too, unashamed, something they couldnt even bring themselves to discuss. Xiaoxiao really wanted to give her clever husband one hundred and twenty thumbs up for the excellent exnation. Indeed, a child that can be taught. "Dad, mom, Im going to open a workshop specifically for making these, and Ill hire embroiderers to work there." Although Yangs father was still confused, Yangs mother understood and saw clearly, "No way!" "Mom, whats wrong?" "No, how can we make something so shameful? If other families find out that our family makes these, how will we ever hold our heads up, especially you, third daughter-inw? This was your idea, wasnt it? They will spit at you, they will nder what goes on between you and the Saner Room. This is definitely not okay!" "..." Chapter 182: Upright and Aboveboard Legitimate Spouses

Chapter 182: Chapter 182: Upright and Aboveboard Legitimate Spouses

Xiaoxiao still thought too simply, the people in this ce are so conservative, and what her mother-inw said wasnt without reason. She used to not care about those rumors, but she still valued this matter a lot. But with the arrow on the bow string, she had to shoot, the contract had already been signed, and she really wanted to do this, so what should she do? As she was struggling with this, she heard her cheap husband speak up, "Mother, I approved this." In this family, aside from listening to Old Father, Yang Mings mother listened to the third son, and since the third son was firm in his agreement, she had no choice but to close her mouth, but her face was still full of worry. "Mother, dont worry, were cooperating with others, we can say its something were doing for someone else, and no one will gossip about it." Yang Ming continued to persuade his mother-inw. "Sigh, mother is just worried about you! Afraid that people will gossip, even you agree, what can Mother say!" Old Father Yang had been silent all along, watching his wifes reactions, really fearing that she would make a fuss again like she did with Yang Qius incident. If she made a fuss again, their mother-inw/daughter-inw rtionship really could develop a crack. Fortunately, his wife didnt disappoint him. "You guys make the decision on this matter yourselves, your father and I have no objections," Old Father Yang subsequently spoke up, expressing his agreement. Xiaoxiao had thought that convincing her family about a matter rted to honor might be difficult, but she didnt expect that her cheap husbands few words would settle it all. Later in the evening, inside Xiaoxiao and Yang Mings room "Yang Ming, thank you, ha!" She really owed it to her cheap husband today; she hadnt expected him to support her so much. "Its nothing." He wasnt a fool, he could see that his wife really liked doing this, unlike making pickled vegetables, as her face showed pleasure when she worked on those items. He must support the things his wife liked to do, even if it led to rumors, what did that really matter? "Yang Ming, what if people gossip about our private matters because of this?" "Let them gossip; were married, not like we arent married. Isnt that very normal?" "..." Huh, he made a good point, leaving her speechless. How could she forget such an important matter? She and her cheap husband were legally married; not doing that would actually be abnormal if they said it out loud. Suddenly, Xiaoxiao saw the light, let others say what they wanted; they were openly and legally married. Having figured it out, Xiaoxiao went on with her own activities in the room, doing some yoga, singing, relying on these to rx and relieve stress. But just after a few movements, Xiaoxiaos mind froze, and her actions also paused. "Yang Ming, if I make bras and panties, will you think Im shameless?" "..." Did his wife realize this only now? Any normal person would feel embarrassed, but his wife never hesitated, always casually talking about breasts and buttocks without minding. Seeing her cheap husband not speaking, did that mean he agreed? Did her cheap husband think she was shameless? She felt inexplicably angry, "Yang Ming, do you think Im a promiscuous woman for making those things?" "I dont know." "..." He actually said he didnt know; so, that meant she was promiscuous? Thats how he saw her? She grabbed something nearby to throw at Yang Ming, but then she heard him say something that petrified her on the spot. "About that matter, we havent done it yet, how would I know!" "..." Xiaoxiao felt as though a herd of horses had just flown past her eyes. Why did her cheap husband always speak so straightforwardly and yet make her thoughts run wild? Chapter 183 Sleepless Night

Chapter 183: Chapter 183 Sleepless Night

"Xiaoxiao, Im going to the Academy tomorrow!" "..." Xiaoxiao had not yet recovered from Yang Mings earlier words when she heard this statement. Her eyes paused, "Is the school term starting so soon?" "..." The term had started on the fifteenth of the first month, but because he had been worried about his wife coborating with Wang Xiangxiang, he had asked for a few more days off. There wasnt much of a holiday to begin with, and he had taken leave before, telling his wife that it was a holiday and she had believed him; he did not exin further afterward. "Yeah, I need to go to the Academy. Take good care of yourself at home." "Mm, mm." Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously, a smile she couldnt hide spreading across her face. She had been longing for the day her dear husband would go to the Academy. "..." Yang Ming, seeing his wifes reaction, felt an indescribable sense of loss. Was she so eager for him to leave? Had their days together not endeared him to her at all? "When will youe back?" Xiaoxiao felt it was better to ask clearly, in case he might suddenly return and give her a fright. "Ill be back on the first and fifteenth of each month." Yang Ming felt the longer he stayed with his wife, the less he wanted to part ways, but there was no helping it. He had his own affairs to attend to and couldnt always depend on his wife. He already felt he was not worthy of her, so if he couldnt be strong now, at the very least he shouldnt neglect his studies. After getting a response, Xiaoxiao nodded to show she understood and then got up and off the kang (a traditional Chinese bed). "What are you doing?" Why was his wife getting off the kang just like that, in the middle of the night? What was happening? "Im going to help you pack your things." Upon hearing his wifes words, Yang Mings heart warmed a little. His wife still cared for him. "Yang Ming, are you taking all these books?" "Yes, take them all." And so Yang Ming watched his wife busying herself here and there, packing up his bags for him. He felt so good having a wife like her. "Yang Ming, how many sets of clothes should you bring?" "Three sets should be enough." "Yang Ming, should we bring a gift for the teacher?" "Its not necessary." "..." This dear husband of hers was too honest. The teacher seemed to be quite good to him; it would not do to neglect the social niceties. Subsequently, Xiaoxiao left the room and prepared a small jar of homemade spicy cabbage and pickled vegetables for Yang Ming. "Yang Ming, I havent prepared anything else, but this spicy cabbage and pickled vegetables are homemade. You can gift them to the teacher; no one can fault us on that." "Okay, Ill take them then." His wife had thought everything through so thoroughly. He had never considered bringing a gift for the teacher, indeed his social graces were not on par with hers. Once everything was packed, "Xiaoxiao, if you have errands in the county town, you cane visit me at the Academy if you have time." Yang Ming believed his wife certainly wouldnt visit him purposely, but stopping by if she happened to be in town should be okay, right? "Mm, I will go see you then." Xiaoxiao promised and then climbed onto the kang to sleep. Yang Ming, listening to his wifes even breathing, knew she had fallen asleep. His eyes filled with adoration, he couldnt resist his impulse and gently kissed her red lips. His face flushed with affection, his heart pounding, he felt his light kiss hadnt been satisfying, so he took the boldest action he had ever taken. He moved his quilt from the foot of the kang to her side andy down next to her, extending his arm to move her head onto his shoulder. He held her like that, daring not to move an inch, fearful of waking her. He thought he might not fall asleep at all that night. Chapter 184: Xiaoxiao, I’m Leaving

Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Xiaoxiao, Im Leaving

Yang Ming held his wife in his arms, indeed spending the whole night without sleep, and got up early the next day before his wife awoke. When Xiaoxiao woke up, she heard sounds from the outer room and knew Yang Ming hadnt left yet. She got up and put on her clothes, but as soon as she did, she felt a pain in her neck. She pressed it with her hand, quite puzzled. How on earth had she slept the night before that she had managed to give herself a stiff neck? Looking at Yang Ming who entered the room, his eyes were bloodshot, as if he hadnt slept at all. Nheless, he seemed to be in a good mood. He was probably eager to leave. After holding his wife all night, how could Yang Ming be in a bad mood? After entering the room, he said, "Xiaoxiao, I helped you bring in the firewood and filled the water jar. When youve used them up, ask your fourth brother to help you; dont do it by yourself." He wanted to help out, so his wife could have less to do. By now, he had no doubts about his wifes rtionship with her fourth brother, and to avoid making her tired, he had also asked his brother-inw for help. Having settled everything, Yang Ming stood up, "Xiaoxiao, Im leaving!" "Mhm!" Xiaoxiao nodded. "..." Her eyes were dark and shining, blinking, as if they were saying, hurry up and leave. He felt as if he understood, and he really hoped he hadnt. "Ill be back on the first day of next month, wait for me." "Mhm!" And so, Yang Ming left the room under Xiaoxiaos gaze, went to bid farewell to his parents, and finally left the yard. He really was gone. As soon as Xiaoxiao saw he had truly left, she whooped for joy and started jumping around, "Oh my goodness, hes finally gone!" Xiaoxiao rolled around on the kang several times, unable to hide her happiness. Atst, she had sent away the sticky pest; she no longer had to awkwardly stay in this room. During the day, after being spread by her sister-inws shouting, the news that Xiaoxiao was seeking an embroiderer had gotten around. There was no need for them to promote it any further. "Have you heard? The Schrs wife is hiring female workers again?" "Yes, Ive heard. This time shes hiring an embroiderer, and as long as the embroidery work is good, any age will do." "I heard this time theyll be paid by the piece!" "Thats great, the more work you do, the more Silver you earn." "They still have to test their embroidery skills, though!" "..." "..." Everyone talked about how extraordinary the Schrs wife was. She had created work opportunities for them, and the young maids and wives in the vige stopped going out. They all practiced their embroidery at home, hoping to pass the test and be embroiderers to help with family expenses. "Sister-inw, whenever I think about how those people betrayed usst time, I get angry. Is it possible not to hire them?" "..." Hey, the sister-inw still remembers the grudge fromst time! "Alright, well do as you say." Xiaoxiao readily agreed, though it was because of their familys pickled cabbage that people were caught, betraying the sister-inw for self-protection seemed dishonorable. This time, Xiaoxiao wouldply with her sister-inw and give those people a bit of punishment. "I thought you wouldnt agree." She felt displeased inside and mentioned it casually, not expecting her sister-inw to agree so readily. "Mhm, who let them be so unrighteous to you, sister-inw?" Since her sister-inw had suffered such a grievancest time, she naturally had to be appeased this little bit. Anyway, it didnt matter who was hired. After being busy all day, Xiaoxiao returned to her room at night to start the fire, boil water, and tidy up. After everything was done, she climbed onto the kang. But once shey down, she felt the room was eerily quiet. Why did she feel so unustomed to it? Chapter 185: She Actually Suffered from Honorable Insomnia

Chapter 185: Chapter 185: She Actually Suffered from Honorable Insomnia

Xiaoxiaoy on the heated brick bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She felt an emptiness in her heart, a touch of loneliness creeping in. She told herself it was just a matter of getting used to it, that things would be better tomorrow. Groggily enduring until dawn, she got up with a pair of red eyes. It was Yang Mings first day away, and she had gloriously suffered from insomnia. That made no sense. She was usually heartless, falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow with excellent quality of sleep. After eating, with nothing to do during the day, Xiaoxiao curled back up in her room to catch up on sleep. "Younger Sister-inw, Younger Sister-inw!" Just as Xiaoxiao had barely drifted off, she heard her second sister-inws voice, "Whats the matter, Second Sister-inw?" "Someone from town is here. Hurry up ande out!" Someone from town? Who could it be? Xiaoxiao quickly dressed and left the room. "May I ask who you are?" "Madam Yang, I am from the Xiangxiang Cloth Shop in the county town. Our boss has already hired the embroiderers and painters and asked me to pick you up." "..." That was an unrivaled efficiency in getting things done, with even a car to pick her up and drop her off. The treatment was just too high. "Alright, wait for me for a moment." Xiaoxiao hurried back to her room to pack, having not expected to go to the county town so soon. Should she go visit Yang Ming as promised, and if so, what should she bring? She was somewhat flustered, rummaging through chests and cabsa sign she didnt even notice herself being slightly off. "Younger Sister-inw, are you ready? Youve been a long time, and they are waiting," Second Sister-inw started to urge her again. Younger Sister-inw was normally quite prompt, so why was she dawdling now? "Iming." In the end, Xiaoxiao dithered for ages but left home without bringing anything, thinking she would just buy whatever was needed in the county town. Thus, Xiaoxiao took the private car to the Xiangxiang Cloth Shop in the county town. "Sister Wang." "Xiaoxiao,e in quickly. Take a look at the embroiderers and painters Ive hired!" Wang Xiangxiang was also an impatient person, getting things done as soon as she said them. The talent was in ce in less than two days. Looking at the embroidery works brought by the embroiderers, they were simply in another league. She had thought her eldest and second sister-inw were quite skilled, but the professionals were on a different levelso vivid and lifelike. She was thoroughly impressed by her own insignificance. Then looking at the various patterns drawn by the painter, if she gave a little guidance based on what she had seen in the modern world, they could definitely produce beautiful lingerie. "Sister Wang, are the materials for all these ready?" "Dont worry, everything will be in ce within five days!" Wang Xiangxiang assured her, thumping her chest confidently. "..." She admired those who had great wealth; they could get things done quickly. "What about your side? Do you have many who can do embroidery work?" Wang Xiangxiang was also concerned. The craftsmanship of country folk couldntpare to the maids of big households in the city, but thankfully they had samples, which made it much easier to follow. "Sister Wang, dont worry about my side, were just waiting for the samples and the fabrics to arrive!" She also couldnt afford to be the weak link. Shed have to hurry and select some embroiderers once back. "Xiaoxiao, why dont you stay at my house? In the next few days, lets try to get the samples done!" Wang Xiangxiang suggested. "..." Seeing that Xiaoxiao didnt respond, Wang Xiangxiang continued, "Are you worried that your husband wont allow it?" "Oh, no, no, hes not at home right now, hes gone to the Academy!" "Then its..." "Its just that my family will worry. How about this? Starting tomorrow, Ille over every day, and we can work on the new designs here! Lets not work on them today; I still have something to doter." After setting things with Wang Xiangxiang, she left the Cloth Shop and headed to the streets, unaware that her heart had already flown to the Academy. How could she have the mood to think about lingerie designs? Chapter 186: A Day Apart Feels Like Three Autumns

Chapter 186: Chapter 186: A Day Apart Feels Like Three Autumns

Academy Yang Ming, while holding a book, kept getting distracted. He felt that if this continued, he wouldnt be able toplete his studies, let alone support a wife. Yet he couldnt help but think of his wife, now truly understanding the sentiment his married ssmates spoke of: a single day apart felt like an eternity. "Yang Ming, someone is looking for you outside!" "..." Who could it be? He had just left home, so it couldnt be his family, could it? Filled with curiosity, Yang Ming walked out to the academys entrance and saw the small figure. He wondered if he was simply hallucinating from his intense longing; otherwise, how could he be seeing his wife? "Yang Ming, over here!" He heard that familiar voice and saw his wife waving at him with a sweet smile. It really was his wife. He hadnt been mistaken. Bursting with joy and unable to contain his happiness, he quickened his pace, almost breaking into a little run. "Xiaoxiao, are you cold? How long have you been waiting?" As soon as Yang Ming reached Xiaoxiao, he began to inquire, worried she might have been waiting too long or gotten cold. The moment she saw Yang Ming, her heart leaped with joy. Although she hadnt realized it herself, she said, "I just got here, Im not cold." "Why are you here?" Yang Ming had been thrilled to see his wife at first, but upon regaining hisposure, he felt something wasnt quite right. He had left home just yesterday; why had his wifee to find him? Could there be some emergency at home? She had eagerly waited for him to leave, surely she wouldnt havee to see him just like that! "Isnt that what you said, toe see you if I was in the county? I had business at the Cloth Shop today, so I thought Id stop by." "..." Although it was just a side trip, his wife had remembered his words and actually came to see him. "Heres some food I bought for you. You can take it back and share it with your ssmates." "These are papers and brushes I got for you; youre bound to need them. I didnt buy you any books because I wasnt sure which ones you needed." "Here are some washing items. Starting a new year at the Academy, you might as well have a new set, right?" "..." "..." Listening to his wife list the things she prepared for him, Yang Ming felt an indescribable warmth in his heart. Having a wife was truly wonderful. "Yang Ming, study hard and make daily progress." Xiaoxiao felt that Yang Mings studies were not something she needed to worry about, but she still wanted to offer encouragement. "Mhm." "If anything happens, eithere home, or send word to the family." "Mhm." "Heres twenty taels of silver that I forgot to give you earlier. You might need it for school, and dont skimp on meals." Exactly how much school was going to cost, Xiaoxiao wasnt sure, so she decided to give him twenty taels for now. "..." His wife seemed to have no concept of money, handing over twenty taels just for meals. "That wont be necessary, I have silver on me. Take it back; keep it for yourself." Yang Ming pushed the silver back to her. Xiaoxiao didnt argue. Every time the subject of silver came up, her husband acted like this, seemingly reluctant to ept the money. Fine, she thought, next time shed just put it straight in his bag. "Yang Ming, I should be going," said Xiaoxiao, having delivered everything and with seemingly nothing left to say. "..." So soon? He hadnt gotten enough time with his wife and yearned to keep her with him, but how could he broach the subject? "Oh, right, Ill be at Xiangxiang Cloth Shop for the next few days..." Before Xiaoxiao could finish, Yang Mings eyes lit up, finally finding an opportunity to see his wife more, "Then for the next few days, Ille to the Cloth Shop to meet you at noon; well have lunch together!" "..." Chapter 187 My Daughter-in-law

Chapter 187: Chapter 187 My Daughter-inw

Having sent his wife away, Yang Ming returned to the Academy with all the gifts and parcels, and the thought of seeing his wife over the next few days brought a smile to his face. His ssmates, seeing Yang Mings return, crowded around him, "Yang Ming, look at you, just back and already youve had visitors." "And brought back so much stuff." "My wife." Before his ssmates could even ask, Yang Ming volunteered, as if he was the only one among them with a wife. "..." A group of ssmates were stunned. Yang Ming used to hate mentioning his wife; whenever the others talked about their wives, he always ignored them and even had a bitter look on his face. Now, just a few monthster, look at that smile on Yang Mings face; where was the bitterness? He was clearly showing off, showing off his good wife. Yang Ming didnt mind their reactions, he took out the food his wife had mentioned and shared it with everyone, saying in a good mood, "This is from my wife for you guys." "..." No one expected that Yang Mings wife would bring them food, and they all epted it, one by one. They all wondered just who Yang Mings wife was, how she had managed to tame him so quickly and thoroughly? As they ate, they mused about what an interesting person she must be. "Yang Ming, tell us, how did your wife tame you?" Yang Ming paused, trying to figure out where to begin. Eventually, he decided he really liked everything about his wife. The corners of his mouth uncontrobly curved up, creating a pleasant arc. Seeing Yang Ming not responding but looking quite pleased, the others grew more curious, "Is she, perhaps, rather impressive in that respect?" "..." Hearing such talk, Yang Mings face immediately turned serious, and the tips of his ears reddened slightly. What were they saying? How could they, as schrs, openly discuss such matters? It was indecent. Seeing Yang Mings reaction, everyone wisely shifted the subject. "Yang Ming, what else did your wife bring you?" "Nothing much, just some toiletries, and pens and paper." Seeing his ssmates changing the topic, hisplexion rxed a lot. Since Yang Ming hade back, everyone had noticed that he used to use very rough paper and pens, but now he was using far better quality ones. Plus, the snacks they had just eaten were quite expensive. They had heard that Yang Mings wifes family was very wealthy, and it seemed to be true. "Yang Ming, does your wife have any sisters? Hook us up!" Deep down, they all thought that even if a woman was unattractive and had a bad reputation, there were still advantages as long as her family was wealthyit would at least allow them to continue their studies. Plus, seeing how happy Yang Ming seemed, his wife probably wasnt as bad as the rumors said, and they felt a bit envious. "No, shes the only girl in her family, all the rest are boys." "..." After a bit of joking andughing, the group dispersed. Yang Ming waited and waited, and finally, the next day at noon, arrivedthe time he had arranged to have lunch with his wife. He was just about to leave when a ssmate stopped him, "Yang Ming, lets go. Time for lunch." "No thanks, today at noon Im having lunch with my wife." Yang Ming said and walked out even faster, leaving his ssmates behind him. "..." The rest were left to look at each other, Yang Ming was really... always talking about his wife now. Chapter 188 Keep it down, you two

Chapter 188: Chapter 188 Keep it down, you two

Xiaoxiao felt quite good after parting with Yang Ming that evening and even had a sound sleep. She thought the insomnia the night before must have been due to not being used to it yet. Early the next morning, Xiaoxiao sought out Yang Dong, "Fourth Brother, could you rush the ox cart for me these next few days? I need to go to the County." "Mm, Third Sister-in-Law, Im on my way." And so the two of them made their way to the Xiangxiang Cloth Shop in the county. "Fourth Brother, Ive got to be here for the whole day. Why dont you head back home first? I can take the ox cart back by myself tonight!" "No need. I dont have anything else to do, so I might as well wait here." "Why dont you go stroll around the streets?" Xiaoxiao felt that asking Yang Dong toe was a mistake. She would have been better off paying for the ox cart herself. She was truly stubborn and couldnt shake off her old habitsshe was the type who wouldnt take public transportation once she had her own car. "Theres nothing much to look at, Ill just wait here. You go on with your business." Yang Dong ended up staying, sitting there waiting nonstop until noon, when Wang Xiangxiang offered to take them out for lunch. Xiaoxiao declined, "No, thank you. My husband said he woulde over at noon and take us out for lunch." "..." Recognizing that her husband wasing, Wang Xiangxiang tactfully refrained from insisting any further. Yang Ming was already waiting outside, and just the thought of seeing his wife these next few days lifted his spirits involuntarily. Upon spotting his wifeing out, he immediately went up to greet her, "Xiaoxiao..." Before he could finish speaking, he saw Yang Dong follow behind her and his face darkened in an instant. But Yang Dong was clueless about the situation, "Third Brother, where are you taking us for lunch?" Yang Ming didnt respond, instead he turned to ask Xiaoxiao, "Xiaoxiao, what do you feel like eating?" "Lets go for noodles." Xiaoxiao thought theyd better not dine at a restaurantit was quite expensive. They might as well eat something simple to tide them over. The three of them ended up at a noodle shop and ordered three bowls of shredded pork noodles. Actually, the taste wasnt bad at all. Hand-pulled noodles are indeed much tastier than dried ones. Xiaoxiao enjoyed her meal thoroughly, Yang Dong even more so, devouring his food ravenously, while only Yang Ming seemed to have difficulty swallowing his food. He kept feeling that it wasnt easy to get a meal with his wife, so why did they have to bring the Fourth Brother along? "Third Sister-in-Law, without me this time, how will I ever get to do business again?" "..." Yang Dong obviously had this matter on his mind constantly. He might seem easy-going usually, but he became a different person when it came to business. "You? Start by learning to read!" "I can already recognize about a hundred characters now." "..." A hundred characters isnt much; even modern children under two can do it. Hes already proud of his hundred or so characters, "Come back when you can recognize three thousand." "Three thousand? How much is that?" Yang Dong, still eating, asked nonchntly! "You dont even know what three thousand is and you want to do business? Whos really doing the business here, you or the business itself?" "..." Yang Ming had been dark-faced from the start, but his mood grew even darker upon hearing his wifes words. They were outside, and she was speaking her mind without reserve. Xiaoxiao and Yang Dong didnt mind at all and continued their conversation, while the patrons at the other tables looked at the three of them with a peculiar gaze. Feeling the staring eyes of others, Yang Ming lost his appetite. He kicked both his wife and younger brother under the table, gesturing for them to keep it down, to lower their voices. But just after he kicked them, he heard both of them say in unison, "Why are you kicking me?" "Why are you kicking me?" Yang Ming couldnt help feeling that his younger brother and his wife were bing more and more alike, which made him helpless. On the surface, he remained calm, "Keep your voices down, you two." "..." Chapter 189 Stay in the Academy Honestly

Chapter 189: Chapter 189 Stay in the Academy Honestly

Xiaoxiao then looked around and realized everyone was staring at them with strange looks. Whats going on here? Was it because the conversation she had with Yang Dong was too loud? She immediately lowered her voice, "Yang Ming, for the fourth brother and the three little ones, where do we n to take them for their enlightenment education?" She had wanted to send Yang Qiu as well, but given her condition, it was better not to. It would be more stable for her to stay at home and do some embroidery work with them. "For enlightenment, just send them to the town. There is a specialized teacher for enlightenment there." "To the town, thats great! This way, they can alle home to sleep. I thought we would have to send them to the county town!" Xiaoxiao had been worrying. If, like Yang Ming, they all had to stay in the county town, they would have had to rent a ce there; and with several people, it would be easier to look after them. Fortunately, it was just to the town, not too far away, so they coulde home to stay. "..." Aside from him, she seemed happy about anyone going home to sleep. As Yang Ming thought this, he heard his younger brother say something like, "We can still go home to stay even if its in the county town." "..." What is the fourth brother talking about? Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming both looked up at Yang Dong in unison. "We have an ox cart now! Although its slow, our home is close to the county town, a round trip is just about one and a half hours." Thinking that his older brother and sister-inw didnt understand, Yang Dong exined it specifically again and even sighed at the end, "If we had bought a horse carriage, it would be even faster!" "..." Hey, hey, hey, what is Yang Dong talking about? Xiaoxiao felt that taking Yang Dong with her had been a huge mistake. It had been so hard for her husband to finally get out to live here; she didnt want his words to be the reason they went back to staying at home. One and a half hours would be three hours round trip, just on the road. What a joke, are they kidding? Could they even study at all? Having heard this, Yang Ming started to see his younger brother in a better light. Since their home wasnt far from the county town, he could also go home to stay asionally. His previously dim expression started to gain some color. "Thats not possible. Spring nting ising up soon. The ox cart needs to be used for work. Theres no time to haul you around." Xiaoxiao immediately dismissed the idea. No way was she going to let her husband get off too easy and return home to stay. "..." He hadnt even mentioned wanting to go back to stay, and his wife had already rejected the idea. She really seemed unwilling to live with him, "I dont need the ox cart." "No, youre not walking either. Just stay put at the Academy!" "... " "You would waste an hour and a half just traveling every day. Your ssmates would have an extra hour and a half over you. How could you possibly catch up with them in your studies? Do you still want to study properly or not?" "..." She made a good point, but he felt that he could focus on his studies more if he went home and watched over his wife rather than staying at the Academy missing her. "So when do we n to take them for their enlightenment?" It had be a habit for Xiaoxiao to consult Yang Ming on everything, but then she realized that he was studying now and she couldnt bother him with everything. Without waiting for Yang Ming to speak, she added, "Never mind, Ill take them myself. You dont have to take any more leave, just focus on your studies." "..." What could he say? Indeed, he shouldnt take any more leave. Having taken so many days off, the teacher was already quite angry, so he could only agree. "Alright, thank you for your trouble." Xiaoxiao and Yang Dong continued their conversation without any dy in eating their noodles; both had finished their meal, but Yang Ming had hardly touched his., "Whats wrong, dont you like these noodles?" "..." It wasnt that he didnt like them. How could his wife not understand! "Eat up, dont waste it. Wasting food is shameful." "..." Chapter 190: Why are you staring at my husband?

Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Why are you staring at my husband?

The wife had spoken, and waste was shameful. Under his wifes watchful gaze, Yang Ming finished the remaining noodles, and the three left the noodle shop. He escorted his wife and younger brother back to Xiangxiang Cloth Shop. After seeing his wife enter, he stopped his younger brother, "Yang Dong, wait a second." Yang Dong was just about to enter the Cloth Shop when he heard his elder brother calling him. He turned around, "Big bro, whats up?" "Are youing tomorrow?" "Of course, Ille as long as sister-inw is here." "..." So he wouldnt be able to spend time alone with his wife for the next few days? That wouldnt do; his perfect opportunity was being disrupted by his younger brother. "Donte tomorrow." Yang Ming said, his face darkening. But Yang Dong failed to grasp his brothers intention, rejecting him outright, "That wont do, sister-inw said she wants me to escort her in these next few days." "..." Yang Ming felt his younger brother was as thick as a nk, too obedient to his wife, iprehensible, and had no choice but to say, "Fine, go on in." Yang Dong entered Xiangxiang Cloth Shop like that, ready to keep waiting on sister-inw. On her end, Xiaoxiao had no idea that her dear husband was racking his brains trying to craft opportunities to be alone with her. "Xiaoxiao, how did youe up with this?" Wang Xiangxiang asked as she looked at the mens shorts Xiaoxiao had created. She was particrly curious about Xiaoxiaos mind, how it was capable ofing up with such unique items, especially when she saw the peculiar front design. "..." How could she answer that, when it wasnt even her own idea? Who knew which great person invented bras and panties? "Actually, my husband hurt his leg, and long underpants are inconvenient for applying medication," Xiaoxiaoughed as she made up an excuse. Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiangs face showed envy, "You and your husband have such a good rtionship." "..." Did they? Xiaoxiao didnt feel it, "Its alright, I guess." "Dont be shy, I can tell," Wang Xiangxiang, who dealt with many people, saw a lot, and she noticed from their first meeting that Xiaoxiaos husband really treasured her. "What are you looking at my husband for?" "..." Wang Xiangxiang was taken aback. Xiaoxiao was quite good in many respects, but why did she seem so clueless about this? Wasnt the point that her husband couldnt take his eyes off her? "So, how did youe up with this womens version?" Seeing Xiaoxiaos reaction, Wang Xiangxiang quickly changed the subject. Xiaoxiao thought for a moment, "Mainly because regr underpants are toorge, and washing them every day, they dont dry easily. These panties are much easier to wash and dry!" After finishing her exnation, the more Xiaoxiao thought about it, the more she felt it made sense. Perhaps the person who designed underwear had the same idea. "And this bra?" "..." What was she supposed to say about that? Saying anything about shaping the bust or preventing sagging wouldnt be believed. Ah, right, that would do, "Because my chest is too small." "..." Wang Xiangxiang waspletely convinced; Xiaoxiaos mind really did work differently. Xiaoxiao might as well have exined about shaping the bust and preventing sagging. Her answer only made Wang Xiangxiang more curious, So Xiaoxiao really came up with this idea to draw her husbands attention. The sun quickly set, and Xiaoxiao and Yang Dong prepared to leave. As soon as they exited the door, they saw Yang Ming waiting at the entrance. "..." This... Xiaoxiao had a bad feeling about this. "Big bro, why are you here again?" Yang Dong, oblivious to the atmosphere, asked. "..." Again? Couldnt hee if he wanted to? Chapter 191: What Went Wrong?

Chapter 191: Chapter 191: What Went Wrong?

"Ill go home with you." "..." Was her husband out of his mind? They had just agreed earlier that day, and now he was changing his ns just like that. Had he been going to school like this? Did he take his studies so lightly? It was impossible to imagine him passing any exams! Xiaoxiao immediately retorted, "You are breaking your word!" "..." He knew she would be angry. Yang Ming didnt say a word and walked straight to the ox cart, climbed in, and started preparing to drive the cart, then turned his head, waiting for Xiaoxiao and Yang Dong. "Sister-inw, lets go." Yang Dong didnt care about the issue at all. Someone was helping him with the cart, and he was happy about it, then he also climbed into the ox cart. "..." Xiaoxiao felt that these two taciturn fellows were surely sent by heavens to annoy her. She reluctantly got into the ox cart as well, remaining silent throughout the journey. Soon, the ox cart reached home, just in time for dinner. Everyone saw that the third brother had returned, puzzled, but no one voiced their questions. After dinner, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming entered the house. Xiaoxiao still remained silent, busying herself with her own work. Its not like silence was unique to him; she could be silent too. Yang Ming saw his wife ignoring him. Did his wife really despise him that much? Had he made a mistake? Was it so wrong that he just wanted to be alone with his wife? He tentatively called out to his wife, "Xiaoxiao." But all that responded to him was silence. He called out again, "Xiaoxiao." Still, no sound came from his wife. "Wife." "Who is your wife!" "..." His wife had responded, but it might have been better if she hadnt, as she was always dismissing their rtionship. "I was wrong!" he admitted. "What did you do wrong?" "..." What had he done wrong? Was it wrong because he hated being apart from his wife too much, and thats why he figured since his wife was using the ox cart to go to the county this week, he might as well hitch a ride home to stay, and then return when the ox cart wasnt needed? "What did you do wrong?" His wife asked again. He felt he hadnt done anything wrong, but keeping his wife from getting angry was the priority, "I shouldnt have gone back on my word." "What else?" "..." What else? What else had he done wrong? "I shouldnt have followed you home to stay." "What else?" "..." How could one mistake lead to so many? He really couldnt think of anything else. "Youre wrong because you are wasting your life." "..." How was staying home wasting his life if he was in good health? "Time is money, time is life. By not using your time to study well and wasting it on the road, arent you wasting your life?" "You really dont take your studies seriously. Do you think passing exams is so easy? With your inconsistent efforts, its impossible for you to seed! Do you think youre a genius or that other students are fools?" "While you waste your life, other students have already far surpassed you, aiming for greatness. And you still think about passing exams? You must be dreaming!" "Your father and mother, the whole family has been scrimping and saving just so you can go to college. Is this how you repay them?" "If youre not willing to study, then dont waste the money, just go back home to farming!" "There are plenty of others in the family who want to go to college; they dont need you." "..." "..." The more Xiaoxiao talked, the more agitated she became. Every time she thought about her husband neglecting his studies, she grew infuriated. She didnt even realize that she considered Yang Mings neglect of his studies to be much more important than whether he lived with her or not. Chapter 192: The Cheap Husband Runs Away from Home Again

Chapter 192: Chapter 192: The Cheap Husband Runs Away from Home Again

Yang Ming was left speechless by his wifes words, and he felt utterly ashamed. He had always been diligent in his studies, knowing the hardships of his family and that he could not let them down. But now, what had he done? His love for his children had even made him incapable of settling down to read. He was wrong, terribly wrong. He felt that such behavior would make his wife look down on him even more, and hate him even more. He grabbed his things and walked out the door. He was going back to the academy, even if it was dark. He felt too ashamed to stay in the same room with his wife any longer. He had to go back, to study hard. As for his wife, to separate or not, she would still be his wife. It was only a matter of time, he thought, as he did not stop his pace. Xiaoxiao was in the midst of speaking when she saw Yang Ming heading toward the door. She hadnt even finished her sentence, "Where are you going sote at night?" But Yang Ming did not reply to her. It was as if he hadnt heard at all, and he just walked away, disappearing from Xiaoxiaos sight. Left alone in the empty house, Xiaoxiao calmed down and thought about what had just been said. Had she perhaps been too harsh? In reality, Yang Ming had been making an effort. She had seen that he would read as soon as he had free time and often stayed upte. Xiaoxiao thought Yang Ming had just stepped out for a moment and would be back soon. She decided to soften her tone when he returned. But after waiting for a while and still not seeing him return, could this be the start of a separation? Had he gone to Yang Dongs ce? These chaotic thoughts tumbled through her mind as she fell asleep in confusion. The next day, as soon as she stepped out, Xiaoxiao saw Yang Dong and signaled him over, "Come here, Fourth Brother." When Yang Ming saw his third sister-inw calling him, he immediately went over, "Whats up, Third Sister-in-Law?" "Where is your third brother?" "I havent seen him, ah!" "Didnt he stay at your cest night?" "Third Sister-in-Law, what are you talking about? Why would my third brother stay at my ce when he has his own?" "..." He hadnt stayed at Yang Dongs ce? Then where had he been all night? Could he have run away from home again? Xiaoxiao returned home with a grim face. Wow, her husband is quite something, running away from home as if its his habit, a bad habit thats been indulged! Lets see how I deal with him during lunch. After washing up and having breakfast, Xiaoxiao went to the county. This time, she didnt ask Yang Dong to apany her; she decided to take the ox cart instead, as asking Yang Dong to wait all day would be too troublesome. Upon reaching Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, everyone got busy again, but Xiaoxiao was absent-minded and kept making mistakes. Whether she cut the fabric wrong, sewed the trouser legs together, or pricked her finger, something would always go astray. Wang Xiangxiang noticed Xiaoxiaos situation and thought something must have happened at home, "Xiaoxiao, are you alright? If theres trouble at home, go back first." "No, its nothing! Im fine!" Xiaoxiao felt she might be sick, her mind preupied with her husbands issues all morning. The dejected look on Yang Mings face when he left haunted her relentlessly. She feared her harsh words had crushed him. If he couldnt recover from that, she would be the sinner of the family. Xiaoxiao took a deep breath, thinking that anyway shed have lunch with her husband soon, and they could talk then. She quickly immersed herself back into work. But when lunchtime arrived, Xiaoxiao waited a long time, and despite further waiting, her husband did not show up. Xiaoxiaos face turned as ck as the bottom of a pot. So be it, hes so ruthless. Why should I bother worrying about him, so fragile and unable to withstand a blow? If he gives up, so be it. Chapter 193: Xiaotian with No Way Out

Chapter 193: Chapter 193: Xiaotian with No Way Out

"Xiaotian, this is your pay for the past few days; you dont need toe tomorrow." Xiaotian had just finished washing clothes at the home of Wang the merchant when she heard the butler drop this bombshell. Tears sprang from her eyes instantly. She and the young master really needed the money; without her job, how would they survive? "Butler, I really need this job, please, talk to them again for me." "Xiaotian, its not that I dont want to employ you; its the masters decision, and Im powerless. Take the money and go quickly." Xiaotian reluctantly headed home. Once there, she pretended to be calm, not wanting to worry the young master. If she couldnt wash clothes, she could still try working in the kitchens at Zhao Residence. But when she arrived at the kitchens at Zhao Residence, she was immediately pulled aside by a fellow maid. "Xiaotian, have you offended someone?" "Not that I know of." Xiaotian was naive and very diligent. Having been under Li Fuguis protection in the Li Residence, the people she met hadnt been that malevolent, so she had no idea someone might be causing her trouble. "Ill tell you the truth, you cant work here anymore. The master has spoken." "What?" She hadnt expected to lose even this kitchen job. "Xiaotian, you must have offended someone. Ive asked around, and it seems like someone in the county has spread the word not to hire you." "..." What was her fellow maid talking about? Not allowing her to be hired? "This is your pay for the past few days, Xiaotian. Its not that I dont want to help you, but we are all just servants and Im powerless. Youll have to fend for yourself." Carrying the money her fellow maid had given her, Xiaotian walked down the street, extremely heartbroken, tears streaming from her eyes like springs. She didnt know what to do. Could it really be as her fellow maid said, that shed never find waiters work again? She didnt believe it; she had to try. What if someone was willing to hire her? Their current situation didnt allow her to just eat without working; they had to survive, they absolutely needed money. She began asking around the street if there was any work she could do. "Shopkeeper, are you hiring any help? I can do anything." "Theres a dishwashing job in the kitchen. A helper just quit;e with me." "Okay." Xiaotians eyes brightened, thrilled. Someone was willing to hire her, and she was going to earn money again, but her joy didntst long. "Right, whats your name?" "Im Xiaotian!" Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper paused, his expression changing. "Miss, Im sorry, I got it wrong; the kitchen doesnt need help after all." "Shopkeeper, I can do anything." "Miss, please leave; we really dont need help." Disheartened, Xiaotian left. She tried a few more ces, but it was always the same result. They were willing to hire her until she said her name, then they all refused. Xiaotian panicked. What was she supposed to do? She couldnt find any work! She could no longer help share the young masters burdens; instead, she had be a liability to him. The more she thought, the more desperate she became, weeping silently, her eyes red. How was she going to exin this to the young master? The young master didnt want to leave, he wanted to reim the Li Family, he wanted revenge, but she couldnt help him anymore. Tired from crying, she stopped, wiped her tears away, and a resolute look reced the despair in her eyes. She couldnt be a burden to the young master; the only thing left for her to do was to leave him. "Young master, Im sorry." Chapter 194: Xiaotian, Come Home with Me

Chapter 194: Chapter 194: Xiaotian, Come Home with Me

Xiaotian walked down the street with a determined mind, waiting for the work hours to pass before heading home to avoid being noticed by the young master. As she wandered aimlessly, she suddenly heard someone calling her from behind. "Xiaotian, Xiaotian, is that you?" The approaching voice sounded very anxious. Who could it be? Xiaotian turned around, puzzled, and her eyes widened in shock the moment she saw who it was. Why was it him? Was he still alive? "Xiaotian, it really is you. I thought I would never see you again in my lifetime." The neer was a man about twenty years old who, upon seeing Xiaotian, grabbed her hand and asked anxiously. "Its been seven years, youve grown up into a beautiful young woman." Xiaotian immediately pulled her hand away and stepped back. "Xiaotian, are you doing well now?" The mans face was filled with excitement as he looked at her. Xiaotian looked up, gazing at the man, and said joyfully, "Brother, youre not dead?" "Yes, I didnt die. I thought I would, but heaven let me survive." As Xiaotian looked at the man, memories seemed to flood back, and tears welled up in her eyes again. She was happy that he was alive. "Xiaotian, where have you been sold to now? Ill help you buy back your freedom." He had been searching for her for seven years and was about to give up when he unexpectedly found her here. Xiaotian smiled with relief, content to see him alive, "No need, I am free now." "Really? Who helped you buy back your freedom?" "My previous master returned the indenture contract to me." "Your buyer is truly a good person. I need to thank him." "No need, she has already passed away." "Oh, so are you alone now? Ill take you home immediately." "Thats no longer my home." That home, left behind seven years ago, she no longer wished to return, especially since she now had only the young master in her heart. "Xiaotian, I apologize to you on my mothers behalf for selling you back then. We were framed and forced to leave the Guo Residence. I fell ill, and without any money to treat me, my mother had no choice but to sell you." Guo Feng was the son of Lin Countysrgest cloth shop owner, Guo. Seven years ago, amidst a rivalry among concubines, Mrs. Guo took Guo Feng and Xiaotian away from the Guo Family. As Guo Feng had always been frail, he fell ill on the way, and Mrs. Guo, having no money, was forced to sell Xiaotian, who was then bought by Mrs. Li and Li Fugui who were visiting Lin County. Only after Guo Feng was treated did he learn that Xiaotian had been sold. Over the seven years, he continuously searched for her but found no news. He also resented his mother for selling Xiaotian. "Yes, I understand, I dont me her. As long as you are alive, my being sold was not in vain." "Xiaotian, look, what is this?" Guo Feng said as he pulled a chain out from around his neck. "This was left to you by your parents. I found it and have kept it with me all this time, hoping one day to return it to you. Look, your name is engraved on it." Xiaotian took the chain, which was just a worn rope with a wooden pendant hanging from it. Her name was carved on the wooden pendant, the only thing her parents had left her. "Thank you!" She was very happy to be able to wear the chain again. "Xiaotian,e back home with me." "..." "Ive been looking for you all these years, and Ive been waiting for you. I will marry you with a grand procession, you were meant to be my wife." Chapter 195 Sorry, I Can’t Go Home with You

Chapter 195: Chapter 195 Sorry, I Cant Go Home with You

She indeed used to be his wife, bought from the human trafficker by Madam Guo, intended to bring joy to the ailing Guo Feng. During her years at the Guo Residence, she and Guo Feng grew up together, and Guo Feng was very kind to her. Guo Feng had known from his childhood that Xiaotian was the wife his mother had bought for him, but at that time, she was too young, only seeing Guo Feng as an elder brother, and she always called him brother as well. After she turned ten, she was bought by Li Fugui, whose kindness towards her was no less than that of Guo Feng. By then, she was growing up and seemed to understand the emotions between a man and a woman, and such kindness gradually made her lose her heart. Her heart was too small, so small that it could only hold the young master and no one else. "Im sorry, I cant go home with you, I am free now, no longer your wife," she said. Guo Feng, seeing such a resolute Xiaotian, felt extremely disappointed. It had not been easy for him to find her. "Xiaotian, you..." Before Guo Feng could finish, Xiaotian continued, "I used to see you only as a brother, and now I have someone I like." "..." Only as a brother? She has someone she likes? Yes, so many years have passed, she was now seventeen or eighteen, old enough to marry. Only he was still desperately waiting, rejecting all the women the matchmaker chose for him. Who is the person she likes? He needed to stay here and find out everything, he wanted to bring Xiaotian back to his side. "Is that man good to you?" "He is very good, besides you, he is the best person to me in this world." "..." Xiaotian didnt deny his kindness towards her, should he feel fortunate? "Brother, Im going back now, dont try to find me again." Xiaotian, regardless of Guo Feng behind her, walked straight towards her home. Guo Feng just watched as Xiaotian walked away. He had a feeling that if he let her go this time, he might never find her again. Just as he was about to step forward, Xiaotian came back to him. His heart leapt with excitement. Had Xiaotian changed her mind? "Brother, I cant marry you, but I have a favor to ask of you right now." Xiaotian felt like she had reached a dead end, but she really didnt want to leave the young master. She had to shamelesslye back; perhaps Guo Fengs status could help her. "What is it?" "I offended someone in this county and cant find a job. Do you have any connections here? Can you help me find a job?" "..." Who had she offended? Was it a very important person? Why would there be a conflict with a woman? "Brother, can you help me? I really have nowhere to turn, and I desperately need to earn some money." "Lets go have a meal, and you can tell me about it while we eat." Guo Feng didnt agree immediately; he wanted to take her out to eat first and then ask for details. "Alright." Xiaotian felt a glimpse of hope and followed Guo Feng. They headed to Yui Restaurant. Li Fuyou had juste out from Dongfeng Restaurant when he saw Xiaotian and a man enter Yui Restaurant. "The drama begins," he said with a sinister smile, sitting in his sedan chair, heading towards Li Fuguis rented courtyard. Li Fugui was inside the house copying books when he heard the noise outside. Thinking it was Xiaotian returning, he immediately went out the door, but to his surprise, he saw Li Fuyouing in. "What are you doing here?" "I came to see how my dear brother is doing." "Then you can leave!" "Come on, Ive brought you some news," "I dont want to hear it." "Its about that little maid!" "..." Xiaotians? What happened to Xiaotian? Chapter 196 - 197 Guo Feng’s Persuasion

Chapter 196: Chapter 197 Guo Fengs Persuasion

Yui Restaurant Xiaotian and Guo Feng entered the private room, where Guo Feng ordered a table full of delicious dishes. "Xiaotian, you eat quickly, I remember when you were little, you loved peanuts the most." As Guo Feng spoke, he helped Xiaotian with the dishes, but Xiaotian felt that even the tastiest foodid in front of her was hard to swallow. All she could think about was that if she couldnt find a job, she would be a burden to the young master, and then she would really have to leave him. "Brother, you eat, Im not hungry!" Seeing Xiaotian like this, Guo Fengs eyes were full of heartache, seeing her eyes swollen from crying, he was burning with anxiety, wondering who was giving her such a hard time. "Xiaotian, tell me, what exactly happened?" "Brother, its nothing, I just need to find a job now, can you help me?" Guo Feng was the young master of thergest Dyeing Workshop in Lin County. He hade to deliver fabrics to Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, and given his rtionship with Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, he should be able to help Xiaotian find a job. However, if Xiaotian had really offended someone here, how could he feel at ease leaving her here? "Xiaotian, it seems you are really at your wits end, otherwise you wouldnt ask me for help, not with your childhood temperament!" "Brother, I..." "Quickly tell me, perhaps I can help you. Even if you dont say anything, I will still go out and inquire about it. Its just a matter of time." Xiaotian knew that Guo Feng was speaking the truth. Rather than letting him hear those unfounded rumors, it was better for her to tell him the genuine situation in the Li Residence. So, she told Guo Feng everything about how Li Fugui was framed, how both her parents died, and how Li Fuyou seized their estate. After listening, Guo Feng asked, "Is this Eldest Young Master of the Li Family the one you care about?" "Yes." He thought so too. Every time Xiaotian mentioned the Eldest Young Master of Li Family, the heartache in her eyes was evident. He felt a profound jealousy. That Li Fugui was very much like him in his younger days, a pitiable person, yet, no matter how pitiable, he could not take Xiaotian away from him. He had survived being alone since he was thirteen; Li Fugui, now twenty, should manage as well. He thought to himself, Eldest Young Master of the Li Family, I apologize, but I must take Xiaotian away. Youre on your own now. "Xiaotian, forgive my bluntness, but staying here will only make you a burden to the Eldest Young Master of the Li Family." Xiaotian had thought that seeing Guo Feng might give her some hope, but it turned out that Guo Feng thought the same. "If the Second Young Master of Li Family wants to deal with the Eldest Young Master, he will inevitably eliminate everyone around him. Staying here will only hinder his endeavor to reim the Li Family." Guo Feng thought if the Eldest Young Master of the Li Family truly cared about Xiaotian, he would leave her after the incident; he needed to use this perspective to persuade her. "Staying by his side will only be an obstacle to his revenge. Hasnt there been an instance where he wanted to leave you?" Xiaotian looked startled and nodded. "Thats right, he feels that having you with him will only distract him. If you truly care for him, leaving him is actually helping him." Xiaotian, being quite naive, was swayed by Guo Fengs persuasion, feeling that she had only one path to leave, which she was already considering. "Xiaotian, even if you change your name and hide, the Second Young Master of Li Family will find you. Soe with me. Only under my protection, can you avoid the Second Young Masters targeting and not cause trouble for the Eldest Young Master." "Dont worry. You are justing home with me; I wont force you to marry me!" After hearing Guo Fengs words, Xiaotian, feeling as if there were no other options, nodded in agreement, "Yes, Ill go back with you." Chapter 197 - 196 What’s wrong with Xiaotian?

Chapter 197: Chapter 196 Whats wrong with Xiaotian?

Li Fugui raised his head and asked anxiously, "Xiaotian, what happened to Xiaotian?" "I cut off the work she found! She cant afford to support you anymore," Li Fuyou said slowly and deliberately, a malicious smile on his face that he didnt bother to hide, waiting to see Li Fugui explode in anger yet remain powerless. "Li Fuyou, you!" Li Fugui was infuriated by Li Fuyous words. Whatever grudges they had, Fuyou could take them out on him, why did he have to target his Xiaotian? He lifted his fist and swung it towards Li Fuyous face. But the punch never reached Li Fuyou; it was blocked by one of his loyal henchmen. Li Fuyou waved his arm, signaling his cronies to let Li Fugui go, then continued, "Do you want to keep listening? Hear what exactly I did to that Little Maid?" "..." Li Fuguis eyes reddened with rage. He didnt dare listen any further, afraid to hear that his Xiaotian had been bullied. He felt that Li Fuyou had gone mad, his brother, who hardly ever spoke, when did he be like this? "Dont worry, that Little Maid is someone youve touched, and to touch her myself would be to dirty my own hands!" "..." Why did he have to insult his Xiaotian? His Xiaotian was so wonderful, the best woman in the world. "Li Fuyou, what deep hatred do we have between us? You already have the entire family fortune, what more do you want?" He really couldnt understand, what still dissatisfied his brother to the point of driving one to despair. Li Fuyou thought for a moment, "Deep hatred? None!" "..." "Just want to bully you a bit, who asked you to bully me when we were kids? You should taste the feeling of being bullied!" "..." Just for that? Li Fuguis thoughts drifted back to their childhood, in the vast Li Residence he was the only child, feeling very lonely and desiring a ymate. He was ecstatic when he found out he had a brother and wanted to bond with him. So, he went to y with his brother, but his brother ignored him. To get his brothers attention, he did many strange things. They were just childrens games, never did he expect his brother to hold a grudge until now. He now greatly regretted provoking him back then, subjecting his Xiaotian to such trials. "What will it take for you to leave Xiaotian alone?" "I have already let her go. I just made sure she couldnt find work, didnt really touch her." "..." Couldnt find work? Wasnt that forcing her? "However, just because I let her go doesnt mean others will. That Little Maid has run off with a rich young master, think about it, what do you think will happen?" Li Fuyou showed a wicked smile, "You are the eldest son of the Li Residence, and you know very well what those young masters could do, no need for me to borate." "..." Of course, he knew, his friends never treated maids as human beings. His fists clenched tight, veins appearing on the backs of his hands. His Xiaotian, was she bullied? How then could she go on living? "She did it all to provide for you, you should be very grateful for her sacrifice!" Li Fuyouughed heartily, feeling that this was just the right amount of torment for his brother, then he left the courtyard. Li Fugui was left alone,pletely despondent, his mind filled with Li Fuyous words. His Xiaotian, bullied while trying to support him, could she withstand it? No, he couldnt let Xiaotian find out he knew everything, he couldnt let her feel ashamed, she wouldnt survive that. Chapter 198: Let’s Sleep Together Tonight

Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Lets Sleep Together Tonight

After Li Fuyou left, Li Fugui returned to the room, listless and dispirited. He had no heart for copying books anymore and just sat there, wanting to search for Xiaotian but clueless about where to start. All he could do was wait. Having waited for a long while without seeing Xiaotians return, his fear intensified. Xiaotian had gone off with some young master, but where? Could she still return? He felt utterly useless and was filled with regret. Why had he chosen to stay in the first ce? He regretted not epting Yang Mings help. If only he knew which young master it was, he would risk his life to tear him limb from limb. He tried to calm himself down; he couldnt let Xiaotian see his distress. So, just like usual, he went to the kitchen to cook, waiting for Xiaotian toe back. With a heart heavy with sorrow, Xiaotian walked home. She had agreed with Guo Feng to leave the next day, and she wanted to take onest look at the young master before departing. As soon as she arrived home, she saw the young master busily working in the kitchen, "Fugui." Upon hearing her, Li Fugui turned with a look of joy, "Xiaotian, youre back." He looked at Xiaotian, saw her swollen, tear-stained eyes, and knew something must have happened to her, but he couldnt ask, he didnt dare. "Xiaotian, take a seat, the meal will be ready in a moment." Li Fugui feignedposure, turned back to continue cooking, his eyes already reddening. He could no longer tell if it was the smoke stinging them. Xiaotian just sat there, watching the young master busily at work. In just a few days, the young master had learned to cook on his own. She thought, he should have no issues living by himself now, right? She should be relieved, right? It wasnt long before the meal was ready. "Xiaotian, take a taste. See if Ive made any progress?" Xiaotian took a bite, her head bowed, tears swirling in her eyes. She held them in, not wanting the young master to notice, "Mmm, delicious!" "If its delicious, have some more." Li Fugui kept adding more dishes to Xiaotians bowl. "Okay." The two of them ate in silence, their emotions overshadowing any taste the food could have had. After finishing the meal, Li Fugui felt Xiaotian surely couldnt bring herself to speak of her plight; he had to break the ice. "Xiaotian, I think... perhaps you shouldnt go to do helpers work anymore. Just stay at home. You can write, so you could copy books at home. Ill go out and look for other work in the next few days. Perhaps I can even find work teaching children to read." "..." Why would the young master say such a thing? Did he know about her being fired? "Yes, Ill listen to you." Seeing Xiaotian like this, Li Fugui didnt know how tofort her. If he spoke up, it would mean he knew everything. He had to feign calmness and carry on copying books as usual, saying no more. The night was eerily quiet, Xiaotians movements in the kitchen crystal clear to his ears. She was bathing in the kitchen, washing over and over again, the sound of water sshing against her body, apanied by sporadic sobs. She was crying. Just what had that young master done to his Xiaotian? He dared not imagine, he dared not ask. He punched the bed hard, feeling an unprecedented sense of powerlessness. Xiaotian stopped crying, got herself sorted, and then entered the room. She began to spread out the bedding, cing Fuguis beside hers, then shey down. "Fugui." "Hm?" "Lets sleep together tonight." "..." Li Fuguis eyes widened in disbelief. What was she saying? Sleep together? As in that together? Chapter 199: The Last Night of the Two

Chapter 199: Chapter 199: The Last Night of the Two

Xiaotiany in bed waiting for Li Fugui, well aware that once she left with Guo Feng, she might never be able toe backshe would have to leave the young master forever. She couldnt be a burden to the young master; she could only depart. Perhaps by following Guo Feng she would still have the opportunity to help the young master. The thought of having to leave the young master, possibly never to be together with him again in this lifetime, caused her heart immense pain. So painful that she couldnt stop crying during her bath earlier. She had decided: she wanted to give her very best, her everything, to the young master. Lying in bed, she turned her back to the young master, not daring to look at him. After waiting for a while, she saw no movement from the young master, nor heard his voice. Could it be that the young master despised her now? Could her behavior have led him to think she was not a good woman? Even if that was the case, she was resigned to it. She sat up and slowly began to unbuckle her clothing and take it off, leaving herself wearing only her undergarment, "Fugui, is this okay?" Li Fugui still hadnt recovered from Xiaotians earlier words when he saw her undressing. He had only suspected, but now, seeing Xiaotian like this, he fully understood what she was attempting to do! "Xiaotian, youre not this kind of person!" His expression was grave, and he was disappointed; his Xiaotian had never been like this, although he longed for her greatly. Hearing these words, Xiaotian felt an extreme sense of grievance. The young master must be disappointed in her, he must look down on her. At this thought, her tears uncontrobly began to fall, pitter-patter. Li Fugui, seeing this, was filled with heartache. He wished his Xiaotian would always smile, never cry. He stepped forward, covering her with the clothing again, kissing away her tears, "Xiaotian, I cherish you greatly. Lets save the wedding chamber for when we marry, shall we?" But Xiaotian did not reply; she only cried harder, as if they had to consummate their rtionship today no matter what. This made Li Fugui suddenly recall the issue he had been worried about and trying to conceal. The young master who took Xiaotian away must have bullied her, or else Xiaotian wouldnt be acting so out of character today. Li Fuguis heart ached terriblyit was all his fault. If it had not been for his being framed, Xiaotian wouldnt have... Could it be that Xiaotian, fearing he would reject her after learning the truth, was acting this way? What should he do now? He felt that doing such a thing to Xiaotian at this time was tantamount to bullying her. His Xiaotian should not have to suffer such treatment again. As he was struggling with the thought, he felt Xiaotians embrace from the front, her body pressing tightly against his chest. His heart felt like it was about to leap out of his throat, his arms suspended in mid-air, uncertain what to do. Should he push her away or ept the embrace? He felt that whatever choice he made, it would be the greatest insult to Xiaotian. Seeing the young master motionless, Xiaotian lifted her head from his chest, began to unbuckle his clothing bit by bit, and said meekly, "Fugui, let me tend to you." Li Fugui felt an aching tenderness for such a Xiaotian, making it impossible for him to refuse. Whether she had been bullied or not, he would marry her; she was the kindest woman to him in this world and his favorite. He did not stop Xiaotian from undressing him and instead leaned down, kissing Xiaotians face bit by bit, as one would treat a precious treasure. Chapter 200 Xiaotian’s Sudden Departure

Chapter 200: Chapter 200 Xiaotians Sudden Departure

Xiaotian hadnt slept all night after the incident. Before the young master awoke, she ced the letter she had written in advance on the table, along with her cherished ne and a silver note of one hundred taels, which she had requested from Guo Feng out of fear that the young master wouldnt make it through. After making sure everything was in order, she left without a trace. Having experienced the pleasures of the flesh for the first time, Li Fugui slept soundly through the night. By the time he woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. He threw off the covers and stepped down from the bed, only to spot the red imprint Xiaotian had left behind. What was this? Xiaotian hadnt been mistreated; she was still the unblemished Xiaotian. He was ted, and got up to go outside. But Xiaotian was nowhere to be seen, and his heart skipped a beat as if forewarning of some misfortune about to unfold. He hurried back to his room and found the items Xiaotian had left on the table. He quickly picked up the letter, his hands trembling. "Fugui, please forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye. I dont want to be a burden to you. Forgive my actionsst night. I fear that once I leave, we may never see each other again. The ne was the only thing my parents left me; Im leaving it with you as a keepsake. The silver note is for you to use in times of need. Do what you wish and dont look for me." Li Fugui held the letter, his body swaying as if about to fall. So this was the truth of the matter, it was all a misunderstanding. His Xiaotian, whom he had just won, was about to be lost to him forever. Like a madman, he ran out of the door onto the streets, desperate to find her. But his efforts were in vain, she was nowhere to be found. Helpless, he sought out people he used to know and eventually came across a friend, "Brother Wang, I need your help with something..." But before he could finish his plea, he was cut off by Wangs words, "Go away, you beggar. Hurry up and leave." The man had clearly recognized him, yet he dismissively walked away after uttering those words, leaving Li Fugui utterly abandoned with none willing to help. Returning disheartened to his rented courtyard, Li Fugui discovered people removing items from his house. "Who are you? What are you doing?" An old woman emerged from the house, "Ah, Young Master Li, youre back. Hurry up and pack your things to leave." "Leave? Why?" It never crossed Li Fuguis mind that he would be evicted. This was the only ce carrying his and Xiaotians memories; he couldnt leave. If he did, Xiaotian would truly be untraceable. "Ive sold the house to someone else, so you better move out quickly." "To whom have you sold it?" "Humph, I might as well tell you, its been sold to the Li familys second young master." Li Fugui felt as if he had been struck by lightning. Li Fuyou was cutting him offpletely, not even leaving him a ce to stay. How cruel he was. Li Fugui went inside to gather his things, but as soon as he entered, he saw someone holding Xiaotians silver note and ne. "What are you doing? Give me back the silver note and ne!" Li Fugui lunged forward to grab the items from their hands, but a few men overpowered him. "What silver note? Where did this silver notee from? Does it have your name on it?" Li Fugui struggled to his feet to wrestle them back, only to be stopped again by the men who then started beating him. He was beaten until he could barely move, and they didnt even let him collect his belongings; they just threw him out onto the street. "Hey, give me that ne," Li Fugui cried out with a gush of blood, shouting at them. Everything else was dispensable, but the ne was non-negotiable; it was the only thing Xiaotian had left him. The door opened, and they flung the ne and his tattered possessions right into his face. "A worthless ne, whats so precious about it?" Chapter 201: We Haven’t Consummated the Marriage, It’s Impossible to Be Pregnant

Chapter 201: Chapter 201: We Havent Consummated the Marriage, Its Impossible to Be Pregnant

Yang Mings Home As usual, Xiaoxiao finished dinner and returned to her room. Lately, her mood hadnt been great, and she ate less than before. She felt like Yang Ming had stood her up; he didnt show up for several days at noon, and she was a bit upset. She had just entered her room when she heard her second sister-inws voice, "Third sister-inw, can Ie in?" "Come in." What could second sister-inw want at thiste hour? To her surprise, not only did her second sister-inw enter, but her eldest sister-inw was with her. "Eldest sister-inw, second sister-inw, whats the matter?" Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled. Second sister-inw nudged the eldest one with her elbow, "You ask her." The eldest sister-inw, not usually one to talk much, but being the boss among them, it was her ce to ask. "Third sister-inw, weve noticed youve been distracted these past few days, and youre not eating much. We came to see if something was wrong." "..." Was she really that obvious? "Eldest sister-inw, second sister-inw, thank you for your concern, Im fine." "You can stop pretending, youve been quite abnormaltely!" Second sister-inw obviously didnt believe her, bluntly speaking her mind. "..." How was she abnormal? "Oh dear, you havent been eating much these days, and you always return to your room early. Could it be that youre expecting? Too embarrassed to say?" Second sister-inw looked like she suddenly understood everything. "..." Second sister-inw, this again? Cant you think of anything else? Why does everything have to be about what might be in her stomach? "Second sister-inw, Im not." "Not what, its been a good while since your husband came back, maybe you are, considering the warmth you two share every night!" "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless once more, how could second sister-inw be so shy about wearing a bra and panties, yet talk about this as if it were everyday gossip. Besides, what was second sister-inw talking about? There was no warmth between her and Yang Ming; it had always been cold. "No, we must see the doctor first thing in the morning, cant have a mix-up likest time. Ill make your second brother go to bed early so we can go to the doctor early." Second sister-inw said as she headed for the door. This was a big deal and she needed to take it seriously, especially since she made a mistakest time. Xiaoxiao immediately stopped her, "Second sister-inw, theres no need to go, Im truly not pregnant." "Youre not a doctor, how would you know." Second sister-inw didnt listen at all and continued to the door, struggling to get away. In her urgency, Xiaoxiao blurted out, "We havent consummated the marriage, its impossible for me to be!" "..." Second sister-inw froze, not consummated? Then what had they been doing in their room these days? Could it be that her husband was impotent and had never seeded? She looked at Xiaoxiao differently now, feeling sorry for her. It hadnt been easy for her to marry a schr, and yet he wascking in that area. "Third sister-inw, you..." The eldest sister-inw found it strange, "You havent consummated the marriage? But when they said you were pregnant, why didnt you deny it?" "..." How was she supposed to answer? How would she exin this lie? "I was too young, I didnt really understand these things. I thought you could get pregnant just by being married, even if you hadnt consummated it, hehe." Xiaoxiao had a foolish smile on her face and cursed herself countless times inside. Why bring up the consummation when going to the doctor wouldve been enough! "..." Both the eldest and second sister-inw didnt know what to say, wondering why she hadnt been better educated about such matters before getting married. "Eldest sister-inw, second sister-inw, its enough that just the two of you know about this. Please dont tell anyone else, especially not our parents." Xiaoxiao felt helpless; after admitting they hadnt consummated the marriage, she couldnt turn the lie around and could only ask them to keep it a secret. Both sisters-inw nodded, thinking that they definitely couldnt tell the old folks about their brothers impotence. Chapter 202: Scholars are Humans Too, They Also Need to Coax Their Wives

Chapter 202: Chapter 202: Schrs are Humans Too, They Also Need to Coax Their Wives

"Little sister, if its not about that, then whats been going on with you these days?" The eldest sister-inw asked with concern. "..." Should she say it? If she didnt, she felt she would suffocate. Her mood was so oppressive every day, and she really wanted to talk to someone about it, but didnt understand what was wrong with her. "Its just Yang Ming stood me up. He said wed have lunch together these past few days, but he never showed up." Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and finally spoke her mind, feeling relieved. "..." Thats it? Thats hardly a big deal. So what if he didnte? It seems this little sister really has a thing for the third brother. Despite his shorings, shes so enamored with him. "Pfft, hahaha!" The second sister-inw couldnt help but burst intoughter at Xiaoxiaos behavior, finding her pouting and looking angry quite adorable. Its just too bad that the third brother isnt up to par, "Thats what youve been upset over for days?" "Standing me up is a minor thing?" Xiaoxiao pouted, clearly unhappy. "Hahaha! Eldest sister-inw, look at her." The second sister-inwughed incessantly, foreseeing a challenging future for the third brother. "Little sister, if he didnt go, then he didnt. Dont starve yourself over it. Maybe hes been busy at the Academy, right? Hesing back on the first of next month anyway!" Xiaoxiao was clearly not swayed by the eldest sister-inws words. "Then why dont you go see him tomorrow and ask?" Seeing the little sister like this, the second sister-inw stoppedughing and put forth a suggestion. "Go see him? Im supposed to be aloof!" "..." Aloof? Whats that supposed to mean? The little sister was using words they didnt understand. "So what do you want to do? Youre not seriously expecting him to apologize to you, are you?" The second sister-inw said offhandedly. But Xiaoxiao nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, "Second sister-inw, thats a great idea." The second sister-inw hastily responded, "Little sister, do you really expect the Schr to apologize to you?" "Whats wrong with the Schr? The Schr is human too, he needs to coax his wife." The words escaped Xiaoxiaos mouth without thought, but as soon as she said them, she froze, face turning as red as a cooked shrimp. What was she saying? She had unwittingly cast herself as the budget husbands wife, and her face burned with embarrassment. "Right, right, youre the Schrs wife, he should pamper you. Let us, your sisters-inw, coddle you on behalf of the third brother, okay?" The second sister-inw teased as she saw the red-faced little sister. "Schrs wife, dont be angry." The second sister-inw said while performing a gesture of respect, something she must have picked up from somewhere. "..." The eldest sister-inw, seeing theical manner of the second sister-inw, also chuckled along. "Alright then, since the eldest and the second sister-inw have pleaded on his behalf, I wont be angry anymore," Xiaoxiao dered, feigningposure to cover up her earlierpse. "Now that Im fine, you should hurry back. The eldest and second brothers must be waiting, hmm?" Having been teased, she was determined to get back at them someday. She ushered the eldest and second sister-inw out the door. After sending off the eldest and second sister-inw, Xiaoxiao took a deep breath. She could only feel that her heart rate was irregr. What had she been doing these days? Behaving like a petty woman, throwing a tantrum when it was clear he had been driven off by her, wasnt it normal not toe for the meal? And still, she couldnt let it go. She felt her intelligence was obviously not keeping up, having learned to be unreasonably demanding. Was this proving that saying, "A woman in love has a negative IQ"? Was she in love? Had she fallen for the budget husband? At this moment, her mind was a mess. What was liking someone even supposed to feel like? Not long ago, she was still earnestly teaching her younger brother, but when it came to herself, she was totally confused. Chapter 203: Third Brother, Are You Not Quite Up to Par?

Chapter 203: Chapter 203: Third Brother, Are You Not Quite Up to Par?

Boss Yang Chuns room "Hubby, I need to talk to you about something." Bosss wife was never one to gossip about others, but this was a serious matter that concerned the continuation of their family line through their youngest brother. She had to speak up. "Whats up?" "The wife of our third brother said that she and the third brother havent consummated the marriage yet. It seems like third brother has some issues in that department." "What did you say?" Boss Yang Chun suddenly sat bolt upright upon hearing this. The third brother having issues in that department was a big deal. "Lets not tell Mom and Dad about this yet. Tomorrow, go buy some medicine at the pharmacy and send it to him, let him get some treatment first." "Mhm, Ill go first thing tomorrow morning." At Yang Gangs room "Hubby, whats going on with you? Did you not teach third brotherst time? Howe he still cant do it?" "What are you talking about?" Yang Gang was pondering inwardly, was it about that? Hed taught him quite thoroughlyst time! "Today, the wife of the third brother said they still havent consummated the marriage! Either you taught him very poorly or our brother has issues doing the deed." "Ill go ask him about it tomorrow." Third brother not being able to do the deed? That was a serious matter, he had to clear things up. "Dont tell Mom and Dad about this yet." "Mhm!" At this moment, Xiaoxiao had no idea that her single remark about not consummating the marriage had led everyone to the wrong conclusion, thinking Yang Ming was impotent. The next day, as if they had coordinated it, both the oldest and second brothers disappeared from the house. At the Academy "Yang Ming, someones looking for you outside!" In just a few days, another visitor hade to see Yang Ming. His ssmates envied him, it must certainly be his wifeing to see him again, "Brother Yang, is it your wife?" "..." Yang Ming ignored them and walked out, puzzled about who it could be. Whoever it was, it couldnt possibly be his wife; she probably didnt want to see him! Once he reached the Academys entrance, he saw his second brother, "Second brother, what happened? Is there trouble at home?" Yang Gang pulled his third brother aside, "Third brother, whats the matter with you? Didnt I teach you thoroughlyst time? Howe you still havent consummated the marriage?" "..." How did second brother find out they hadnt slept together yet? "Who told you?" "Who else? Your wife, of course!" "..." Why would she say such things? "Third brother, tell the truth to me, are you having issues? If you are, we need to act fast to treat it. You still need to carry on the family line!" "..." Yang Mings face turned as ck as could be, "Second brother, stay out of this matter, please go back. Theres no problem on my end." After sending his second brother away, Yang Ming returned to the Academy with a dark face. But not long after, "Yang Ming, someones looking for you!" "..." Who could it be this time? When Yang Ming arrived at the Academys entrance, he saw his eldest brother, "Big brother, what brings you here?" "I just went to the pharmacy to get this medicine for you; take it quickly!" "..." Whats with the medicine? What kind of illness did he have? "Whats this medicine for?" "Sigh! Its to treat your problem. You know, you should have told us about such a big issue. If it werent for your wife telling us, wed have no clue!" "..." His wife said he had a problem? "Take it quickly, Dad and Mom dont know, Big brother secretly bought this medicine for you." "Big brother, Im not sick, please go back." Yang Chun forcefully handed the medicine to Yang Ming, "Get treated quickly. Your wife is upset over this at home! She hasnt eaten for days!" "..." What in the world was going on? His wife had turned their private matters into a family-wide issue? And shed been iming they hadnt consummated the marriage because of his ipetence? His wife hadnt eaten for days because he supposedly wasnt able? What kind of nonsense was that? Yang Mings face darkened like the bottom of a pot. He resolved to show her once and for all whether he was capable or not! Chapter 204 I Think I Might Like You a Little

Chapter 204: Chapter 204 I Think I Might Like You a Little

After wrestling with her thoughts all night, Xiaoxiao got up with huge panda eyes, still unable to understand what exactly it meant to like someone? Could she really have developed feelings for Yang Ming over time? Could she like a young guy? Considering her actual age, she thought she should be setting her sights on older men. She told Yang Dong that when you like someone, your heart races when you see them. Should she give it a try? Test it? With such questions in mind, she spent the whole morning at Xiangxiang Cloth Shop in a daze. Finally, she decided to look for Yang Ming at noon; she wanted to unravel the answer. As soon as noon arrived, she couldnt wait to leave Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, and as soon as she did, there was Yang Ming, waiting for her outside. The moment she saw Yang Ming, she felt overwhelmingly happy. Before she even had the chance to grasp his hand to check her heartbeat, her heart was already thumping wildly. She thought, there was no need for confirmation, it seemed the answer had already revealed itself. She wasnt sure if this kind of test was reliable, but it certainly felt different from before. If it wasnt liking, at least there must be some fondness, right? "Xiaoxiao." "Hmm." "..." His wifes mood didnt seem very high; she must still be angry. "I came because I want to ask..." Yang Ming, who couldnt stand being misunderstood, couldnt wait until evening to return home. He had to ask what was going on right away, so he came at noon. Just as he was about to speak, he was interrupted by his wife. "Why havent youe these past few days? Do you know I was waiting for you?" Calmly collecting her emotions, Xiaoxiao looked up and asked him about the problem that had been pent up for days. Why did she feel a bit aggrieved? "..." Wait for him? Wait for what? "Didnt you say we were supposed to eat together every day these past few days?" "..." Yang Ming suddenly realized, he had indeed said they would dine together. However, following the scolding from his wife, he felt too ashamed to see her and had not shown up, voluntarily giving up the chance to be with her. "Im sorry, I forgot!" "..." He actually forgot, she pouted, showing her displeasure, "Then you need to make it up to me; were having a big feast today." "Hmm!" And so, the two of them wound up at Yui Restaurant, even opting for a private room. It really was a bit of a splurge, as they ordered several dishes. Yang Ming felt that he was really not up to par when facing his wife. He hade with the intention of questioning her, but now he couldnt seem to find the words. "Yang Ming." "Hmm?" "Im really sorry for yelling at youst time." Yang Ming hadnt expected his wife to bring up theirst conflict. Thats just how she was, straightforward and never keeping things bottled up inside, "Its nothing; I think you were right. I was in the wrong." Xiaoxiao extended her hand in a handshake gesture, revealing a sweet smile, "Then lets shake hands and make up." Seeing his wifes hand extended, he also reached out, and their hands sped together, "Hmm!" At Yang Mings response, Xiaoxiao immediately let go, "Then lets start eating." "Hmm, lets eat." The two of them began to eat in silence. Xiaoxiao felt she could almost hear her own heartbeat because of their recent touch. She thought she might be done for. "Yang Ming, I think, I might like you a little!" Thats what she thought, and thats what she said. That was her personality. Upon hearing his wifes words, Yang Mings head shot up, his eyes full of shock. He thought he must be hallucinating; he thought he had just heard his wife say she liked him? "Do you like me, even a little bit?" Chapter 205: She’s Digging Her Own Grave

Chapter 205: Chapter 205: Shes Digging Her Own Grave

Seeing that her cheap husband did not respond, she felt disappointed. Wasnt she good enough for him to fall for her? Her ideal of love was that of two people in mutual affection, sharing their thoughts and feelings. She knew Yang Ming had decided to live his life with her, but that was not love. And she had only been moved by her feelings, which was probably still too far away from love. She might have been a bit impulsive just now, she decided to confirm her own feelings before making a move. It wouldnt be toote to start her offensive after she was certain. So, she changed her tune and said, "Hehe, I was just joking, you got fooled by me, didnt you? Thats what you get for standing me up! Just a little punishment." Xiaoxiaoughed "hehe", but her eyes betrayed her disappointment. Yang Ming was still caught up in the joy of the moment and hadnte back to his senses when he heard his wife say such things. His face darkened, feeling thoroughly yed. She always spoke without thinking, and he had really believed her just now, so much so that he had been too excited to reply. His expression turned solemn, tinged with anger, as he asked the question he had been unable to ask before, "Tell me, whats this about not consummating the marriage?" "..." What consummation? Had the news that brokest night already reached Yang Mings ears so quickly? Who on earth spread it? "How did you know about it?" "Never mind how I found out, why did you say that?" He really wanted to hear her exnation. For such a sensitive issue to be spoken by her, and besides, it wasnt him who didnt want to consummate the marriage; it was her refusal. "My sister-inw was saying I was pregnant again, and I said I wasnt, but she didnt believe me and insisted on calling a doctor. I couldnt persuade her otherwise, and in my anxiety, I blurted out that there had been no consummation, so how could there be a pregnancy." Xiaoxiao spoke quickly, but Yang Ming heard her loud and clear, "Why did they say you were pregnant again?" "Because I havent had an appetite these past few days and havent eaten much." "..." She hadnt eaten much these past few days? Big Brother had said she was angry and hadnt eaten much. Could it still be because of that previous incident? "Then why did you have to say I was impotent?" He really found this question hard to ask. Not consummating the marriage was one thing, but to say he was impotent! "What do you mean youre impotent?" Xiaoxiaos eyes widened. What was this cheap husband talking about? Yang Ming grimly recounted the mornings events, "Because you said we didnt consummate our marriage due to my impotence, this morning the second brother came to question me whether it was true or not, and big brother directly brought me the medicine for curing impotence!" "Hahaha!" Xiaoxiao couldnt help bursting outughing on the spot, "Sorry, sorry." "Finishedughing? Isnt all this your doing?" Yang Ming said sternly. "..." What was all this about? She had only mentioned theck of consummation and said nothing about his impotence. The imagination of her sisters-inw was too rich, and even her brothers-inw were involved, showing how much importance they attached to the issue. "That was not what I said. I only mentioned that there was no consummation, everything else was their own conjecture. You cant me me for this." Still, she could imagine how furious he must have been at the time. Nothing was more taboo for a man than being said to be impotent. Impotent or not, he had to prove himself. Not only had he been called impotent, but he had also been given medicine for it. "..." So she was still making excuses after letting this situation go public? Her mere pulse check had stirred up such a fuss! "Tonight, Ill let you know whether I am really impotent or not." "..." Xiaoxiao shuddered, feeling that her cheap husband was very dangerous at the moment. Had she dug her own grave? Chapter 206 An Unexpected Encounter with Li Fugui

Chapter 206: Chapter 206 An Unexpected Encounter with Li Fugui

Yang Mings words made the atmosphere incredibly awkward, but luckily, the suddenmotion in the main hall provided a distraction, as if someone was causing trouble, "Xiaoxiao, you go ahead and eat, Ill go out and have a look." "Mm." Xiaoxiao felt it was better for her discounted husband to step out as she needed to calm down, to soothe her rapidly beating heart. As Yang Ming spoke, he walked out the door, not expecting to see someone in the main hall that he would have never imagined. The departure of Xiaotian nearly drove Li Fugui to the edge of copse. Driven out, he had truly lost his mind, with the single obsession of finding Xiaotian. Whenever he saw a woman, he would approach her, calling out Xiaotians name, and if it wasnt her, he would walk away. Perhaps subconsciously, he wandered into Yui Restaurant. Because he was searching for Xiaotian, he disturbed every woman in the main hall who was having a meal. "Ah! What are you doing?" The harassed women immediately screamed. The men dining with them, seeing their wives being molested, immediately stood up and threw a punch at Li Fugui, "Where did this beggare from, daring to molest my wife? Ill beat you so badly youll be searching for your teeth on the ground." Li Fugui seemed to feel nothing, muttering, "Not Xiaotian," then moved directly to the next table, approaching the women there as well. After harassing several tables of dining women and getting beaten up each time, he seemed to not care and continued on his quest. At this point, someone sensed something was amiss, "Stop beating him, everyone. I think hes actually looking for someone, not molesting people!" Upon hearing this, everyone began to watch Li Fugui more closely, "It does seem so, indeed he seems to be looking for someone. He keeps saying its not Xiaotian." "Then the person hes looking for must be called Xiaotian. Is Xiaotian a man or a woman? Does anyone here know them?" People shook their heads, indicating they did not know Xiaotian. "Xiaoer, this person seems not quite right in the head. Better ask him to leave, the person hes looking for isnt here." "Alright, alright, sorry everyone. Ill get rid of him straight away!" Uponing over, Xiaoer grabbed Li Fugui, signaling him to hurry out. While being dragged away, someone in the crowd recognized Li Fugui. "Eh? Doesnt this person look a lot like the Eldest Young Master from Dongfeng Restaurant?" When they heard this, everyone looked over, "Hey! Dont say that, it really is Li Familys Eldest Young Master. How did he end up like this, like a beggar, unrecognizable." "Heard he ran off with a Little Maid, howe he looks like hes gone mad now?" "Could it be that the maid hes been looking for all this time is that one?" "Poor guy, surely hes been abandoned by that maid." "..." "..." Everyone murmured among themselves, specting about how Li Familys once-glorious Eldest Young Master had fallen into such a poor and wretched state, and to their shock, had seemingly gone mad, providing the town with a new tale to discuss over meals. Yang Ming initially did not recognize Li Fugui, and only after hearing others did hee to the realization. He was astonished, it had only been a few days, and yet the man had changed so. "Xiaoer, this is my friend, Ill take him inside," said Yang Ming as he pulled Li Fugui along, but Li Fugui did not follow willingly. He looked around as if he was still searching. "Ill take you to find Xiaotian," Yang Ming said, forced to lie to coax him to follow. "Really? Do you know where Xiaotian is?" "Mm, just follow me." Li Fugui, receiving an affirmative answer, nodded and followed Yang Ming into a private room. As soon as he entered the room, Li Fugui quickly walked up to Xiaoxiao, grabbing her hand, "Xiaotian." "..." Chapter 207: That’s My Wife

Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Thats My Wife

"..." Xiaoxiao waspletely frightened by Li Fuguis actions. Isnt this Li Fugui? What does he mean by grabbing her hand? And who is Xiaotian? She immediately turned her head to look at Yang Ming, pouted, and asked with her eyes, whats going on here? Yang Ming felt like crying but had no tears. Had he just attracted a rival in love? He hadnt even held his wifes hand many times, and he immediately separated Li Fuguis and his wifes hands with a dark face, then turned to his wife and said, "Li Fugui has gone crazy." Xiaoxiao felt as if she was struck by thunder. What was her husband talking about? Gone crazy? Why is it so easy for everyone to go crazy? She thought about it, in modern times she had a neighbor who, because of working away without being formally hired, got obsessed over just two thousand yuan, and was sent to an asylum for treatment. Peoples hearts are really unpredictable, better to not take things too heartily. Thinking that Li Fugui was framed and spent time in jail, lost his inheritance, and with both parents dead, his life fell from heaven to earth, its normal for him to have gone crazy. But why didnt he go crazy at the time, and only became crazy afterwards? Was his brains processing that slow? "What do we do now?" "Im not sure about the specific situation, lets take him to the medical clinic first. This craziness needs to be treated," Yang Ming thought. Given Li Fuguis current plight, it was probably his brothers doing, and surely no one else would want to take care of him. He came across him and could not just stand by and watch him suffer. As the two were discussing, and just as they began strategizing, Li Fugui, after being pulled away by Yang Ming, wandered toward the door muttering persistently, "Not Xiaotian, not Xiaotian." Seeing Li Fugui like this, Yang Ming immediately shouted, "Where are you going?" Li Fugui didnt stop but continued to murmur, "Not Xiaotian, not Xiaotian." "..." Yang Ming had just been regretting whether he had invited big trouble for himself, but upon hearing those words, he instantly felt relieved, as long as Li Fugui didnt mistake his wife for his Xiaotian. "Xiaoxiao, lets go. We need to take him to the medical clinic." Seeing the situation, Xiaoxiao knew there was no point in eating anymore, since she was almost done, and followed Yang Ming out, "Yang Ming, do you need to ask for leave from the Academy?" "..." His wife really cared about him. He had forgotten all about asking for leave. Not attending sses without a valid reason was a big no-no. "Well go to the Academy first, then to the medical clinic." On the way, Li Fugui kept looking around, approaching any woman he saw, which frustrated Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming. "None of these are who youre looking for, were taking you to find Xiaotian now." It took some effort, but they finally calmed Li Fugui down. The three of them arrived at the Academys gate, "You guys wait here for me, Ill go in and ask for leave, ande straight out." "Yes, hurry up." Xiaoxiao really hoped Yang Ming would hurry. Li Fugui was acting abnormally, and she truly feared what he might do if he went crazy, as she couldnt handle him. The two waited at the Academys gate, but before Yang Ming coulde out, several students approached. "Isnt that Li Fugui? Whats he doing at the Academy?" "Oh, and who is this woman? Couldnt she be the legendary Little Maid?" "To look like that and to obsess over her, neglecting your inheritance to follow her?" "..." "..." The students got more and more excited as they spoke, but Li Fugui remained expressionless and indifferent. Xiaoxiao couldnt stand it anymore. Why were there always such people? All their studying was for nothing. Just as she was about to step forward and scold them, she heard her husbands voice. "Thats my wife!" Chapter 208: Treating Illnesses in the Medical Clinic

Chapter 208: Chapter 208: Treating Illnesses in the Medical Clinic

Those people had never actually seen Yang Mings wife before; these past few days in the academy, they had only heard that Yang Ming now cherishes his wife dearly, seeing him now confirmed it was true. Seeing Yang Ming arrive, everyone tactfully walked away. Hearing Yang Mings words, Xiaoxiao felt her heart tremble once more. Why did she love hearing this so much now? "You both are alright, dont mind those people, lets go," Yang Mingforted his wife, leading them to the medical clinic. After waiting in line for a while, it was finally their turn. As soon as they entered, the doctor recognized Xiaoxiao, "Miss, its you!" "..." Xiaoxiao thought for a moment. It was the clinic they had visited before to save Wang Xiangxiangs brother. She suddenly felt uneasy. Should they havee here? Was the medical skill adequate? "Miss, have you forgotten me? Last time, you taught me first aid. Do you remember?" Xiaoxiao did not respond, still considering whether to switch clinics. Which clinic had treated Yang Qiu at homest time? That doctor seemed more reliable. Seeing his wife distracted again, Yang Ming took her hand and said to the doctor, "Doctor, we remember. I was there too; thisdy is my wife." "Oh, oh, please sit down. Who is the patient?" The doctor hurriedly covered up his earlier embarrassment, realizing calling her Miss was impolite; no wonder she didnt respond. "Doctor, my friend has suffered a shock, and his mind isnt quite right. Please see if you can treat him." "Come here, let me check the pulse first." But before he could take the pulse, Li Fugui headed outside, still searching for Xiaotian. He reverted to his initial state; each woman he saw, he approached. Yang Ming immediately pulled him back, "Those people are not Xiaotian. I will take you to find him shortly." Then, turning to the doctor, "Doctor, look, this is the state he is in now. He just wants to find the person he mentions, ignoring everything else." "Come here, lets take your pulse first." Yang Ming pressed Li Fugui onto a chair to take his pulse. After a while, "Doctor, how is it?" "Mydy, would you step outside for a moment?" The doctor didnt answer Yang Mings question but spoke to Xiaoxiao instead. "..." What is it that couldnt be discussed, necessitating her to leave the room? "Xiaoxiao, you go outside and wait for us. The doctor must have something confidential to say; Ill tell you about it when we get home," Yang Ming whispered to his wife. "Okay." After Xiaoxiao left, the doctor began, "His pulse is quite weak. I asked your wife to step out mainly to check his injuries. I suspect he has both external and internal injuries." "..." External injuries? Could the injuries from the prison not have healed? Just now at Yui Restaurant, those people did not hit him hard; there shouldnt be any injuries. Yang Ming helped the doctor examine Li Fugui, discovering both old and new injuries. "Doctor, this..." "These are not serious issues; all can be treated." "Doctor, can his mind be treated as well?" "His issues are not in his mind, but his heart. If he finds the person he is talking about, all will be well. His obsession is too deep. I suspect that person did something that he cannot let go of." "..." "I will prescribe some medicine for treating both external and internal injuries, plus some to stabilize his heart. But it is mainly up to your family to care more and help him move on from this obsession." "Okay, thank you, doctor." Chapter 209: Bringing Li Fugui Home

Chapter 209: Chapter 209: Bringing Li Fugui Home

"Yang Ming, how is it? What did the doctor say?" Xiaoxiao asked immediately as she saw Yang Ming and the otherse out. "Lets go home first, its not something I can exin in a word or two." "..." Cant exin it? It seems this illness isnt easy to cure, just going home? Could that work? It truly is a hot potato, "Lets stop by Xiangxiang Cloth Shop first, I need to say something to them." "Okay." The three of them went to Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, took care of some business, and then quickly hired an ox cart to rush home. Aside from seeking Xiaotian, Li Fugui didnt utter a single word at other times, staying very quiet, which made Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming feel somewhat relieved. "Yang Ming, just tell me already, Im dying of anxiety." Xiaoxiao couldnt wait until they got home to talk, she was eager to know the result of the doctors visit. "His head is fine, its a heartache." "..." She had guessed as much; Li Fuguis behavior wasnt at all that of a fool. This meant his mind was fine, he just shut himself off in his own world, possibly recognizing no one but the person he mentioned, ignoring everything else as if it didnt exist. If that heartache could be resolved, he should recover, but who is this person he constantly talks about? Who has he been pondering so deeply about, forgetting everyone else and remembering only her? "The doctor said his heartache is rted to the person he talks about. That person must have done something he cant let go of. Finding that person might just resolve the heartache, and he could get better without further treatment." "Then we should hurry and find out who that person is." "No need to look further; if Im not mistaken, that person is likely the Little Maid hes been fond of for many years." "..." Xiaoxiao suddenly understood. She thought it made sense; could someones mind really take such a long and winding path? He didnt go mad when hit with such blows before, so why would heter? Could it be something had happened with the Little Maid? Could it be that he was abandoned by the Little Maid? If so, years of unrequited love followed by betrayal would drive anyone mad. "Yang Ming, but to be honest, Im afraid this is beyond our control. Were just farmers, with no connections; itll be hard to find people." After thinking it over, Xiaoxiao realized that this ce was not like the modern world, if someone actually left, it would really be difficult to find them. "Yeah, so we can only take him home first." "..." Does my inexpensive husband need to be so kind-hearted? Although she felt sorry for Li Fugui, their rtionship didnt seem to have reached such a level. "Yang Ming, have you considered that if we cant find that person, his illness might never heal? Who will care for him if we bring him back? Will the family agree to it? Even if the family agrees, how long can we take care of him?" "But if we dont take him home, he might end up without anyone to care for him." "..." Li Fugui, oh, Li Fugui, how poor must your fate be for no one but your less-than-friendly rtion, Yang Ming, to be willing to take care of you. "Alright then, lets take him home, and I will take care of him. However, you must go to the academy tomorrow. You cannot neglect your studies." Xiaoxiaos heart softened in the end; to save a life is more meritorious than building a seven-tier pagoda. Moreover, Li Fugui wasnt an exceptionally bad person. Initially, if they hadnt gone to the authorities, he might not have fallen to such a state so fast. Although it wasnt their direct cause, there was an indirect connection. "Okay," Yang Ming nodded and agreed. His wife would have to take on the burden. He knew she would take in Li Fugui; his wife was tender-hearted and kind, unable to bear seeing others in distress. Chapter 210: One is not enough, how come another one has come back

Chapter 210: Chapter 210: One is not enough, howe another one hase back

Dusk was approaching when the eldest and second sisters-inw had just finished cooking the meal, they heard the sound of an ox cart, surely, Xiaotian and his wife were back. The second sister-inw looked outside and saw, to her surprise, that Xiaotian had also returned. Xiaotian and his wife had been throwing tantrums justst night, but Xiaotian must have really been something, he surely pacified her. She happily went out to greet them, but as she approached, she vaguely spotted another person behind them. Getting a closer look, wasnt that the man who had captured them? The second sister-inws face soured, "Xiaotian, Xiaotians wife, why have you brought him here..." Before she could finish, she saw Li Fugui advancing to grab her, shouting, "Xiaotian." This scared the second sister-inw so much that she swung a punch at him, "Dare to take liberties with your elder sister, havent you been beaten enough yet?" "..." Xiaoxiao was at a loss for words and quickly pulled the second sister-inw away, whispering, "Second sister-inw, dont hit him, his mind isnt quite right at the moment, hes mistaking you for someone else." It would be best if Li Fugui did not go out in the future, grabbing the hand of any woman he encounters. In such a conservative era, he would be beaten to a pulp, not to mention, even in modern times, you cant just grab someones hand when you see them, otherwise the reputation of being a big pervert would definitely stick. "Not Xiaotian, not Xiaotian." Li Fugui then mumbled to himself again. The one thing to be grateful for now was that Li Fugui hadnt mistook anyone for Xiaotian. If he started to see everyone as the Xiaotian he was calling out for, that would be even more difficult to handle. Upon hearing this, the second sister-inw turned to look at Li Fugui and could see that he indeed seemed a bit off, "Xiaotians wife, whats going on? Why have you brought such an abnormal person into our home?" "Well, hes sick, so hese to our home to recuperate for a while." She couldnt just say he would stay in their home indefinitely. If she did, what would the family think? To take in a freeloader, and one who had past grievances with their family at that, not just any freeloader, but a problematic one who would want to care for him? "What are you saying? Xiaotians wife, this isnt right." "..." She knew it, aside from her and Yang Ming being foolish enough to agree, others would likely not be so foolish. The second sister-inw grabbed Xiaoxiao and walked toward the house, speaking as they walked, "Xiaotians wife, no offense, but our house already has one person who might go off at any moment. Isnt it enough with one? Why bring back another? When the two get together, can there be anything good?" "..." Huh? She hadnt considered that at all. But Yang Ming had taken on this responsibility. If they couldnt stay at their house, there was no alternative. "It should be fine." As long as Yang Qiu wasnt further provoked, she was now just like a normal person. Besides recognizing Xiaotian, Li Fugui never bothered with strangers; once he saw that they werent Xiaotian, there would be no further interaction, so there shouldnt be any problems. After everyone entered the house, except for Yang Qiu who was still ying with the three little ones in another room, everyone gathered inside. Yang Ming directly exined the situation to everyone. "Dad, Mom, eldest brother, second brother, eldest sister-inw, second sister-inw, youngest brother, I wont be home for a few days. Please help Xiaoxiao take care of Li Fugui, she might not be able to manage on her own." "Dont worry, third brother," Old Master Yang dered, and the others nodded in turn. No one objected? Aside from the second sister-inws earlier concerns, the others just agreed like that? Xiaoxiao silently retracted her earlier thoughts, otherwise, the whole family would really be a bunch of fools. "Alright then, lets serve the rice, its time to eat." Yang Qiu entered the house with the three little ones for dinner, and as soon as she did, Li Fugui approached again, "Xiaotian." "..." Xiaoxiao was already immune to it; she had seen this scene many times. He was bound to say soon: not Xiaotian. "Xiaotian, Ive finally found you!" "..." Huh? Why did the lines change? Chapter 211: See, Something Happened, Didn’t It?

Chapter 211: Chapter 211: See, Something Happened, Didnt It?

The whole family was dumbfounded. What on earth was happening? Hadnt they just said that Li Fugui would soon realize he had mistaken someone else for his acquaintance? Upon seeing this, Yang Ming immediately went to pull Li Fugui away, "Shes not Xiaotian, youve got the wrong person." Xiaoxiao was scared half to death by this situation. If Yang Qiu got so frightened that he became ill, it could turn the entire household upside down. Thankfully, for now, Yang Qiu seemed normal. Li Fugui, as if he hadnt heard Yang Mings words, continued to drag Yang Qiu outside. "Im not seeking revenge anymore, Ill take you away, lets leave this ce, I dont want to be apart from you, lets go far away from them and nevere back." Yang Qiu was startled by this unexpected development, then hurriedly struggled free, "Who are you? Let go of me." "Im sorry, Im sorry, did I hurt you? Let me see." Li Fugui immediately loosened his grip and turned to check her for injuries, worried that he might have hurt her. Seeing she was all right, he continued, "Xiaotian, lets go, Ill take you away from here." "Im not called Xiaotian, Im called Yang Qiu." Yang Qiu did not realize this man was not mentally stable; she just thought he had mistaken her for someone else and immediately denied it. But Li Fugui didnt believe a word Yang Qiu said. "Have you been hiding your true name?" "I havent changed my name, I am Yang Qiu, this is my home." Yang Qiu continued to exin very politely and patiently to Li Fugui. "Okay, okay, Yang Qiu is a good name, from now on well go by Yang Qiu. If you want to stay here, then Ill stay with you." "..." Seeing the interaction between the two, everyone was at a loss for what to do next. Since Yang Ming had brought this man, everyone looked at him in unison. Xiaoxiao came over to Yang Mings side and whispered, "Yang Ming, what do we do now? Li Fugui seems to have mistaken Yang Qiu for Xiaotian." "Its fine, lets all have dinner first." "..." What kind of situation is this? Seeing Yang Mings demeanor, he didnt seem to be in a hurry. Could it be that they want Yang Qiu to pretend to be Xiaotian to treat Li Fuguis condition? As Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao were the pirs of the household, and both seemed to think it was not a big issue, the family didnt say anything further. They quickly went to serve the meal, getting ready to eat. Xiaoxiao also went to help serve the meal, only to notice her sister-inw casting a meaningful nce at her, "Look, didnt I tell you something would go wrong?" "..." How could she have anticipated such a turn of events? Li Fugui hadnt taken anyone else for Xiaotian, so why did he change his tune with Yang Qiu? She waspletely baffled. After they served the meal, Li Fugui kept putting food on Yang Qius te, "Xiaoqiu, eat up, be careful not to scald yourself." "..." He changed how he addressed her quickly, calling her with such familiarity. Yang Qiu didnt know what to do and looked to her older brother for help. Yang Ming nodded, and only then did Yang Qiu keep silent and start eating. While eating, they heard Li Fugui offer, "Whatever you want to eat, Ill make it for you tomorrow." "..." Was this the same Li Fugui they knew? The sharp-tongued, proud Li Fugui? He seemed to have turned into a perfect gentleman. Had Li Fugui and Xiaotian always interacted like this? It felt like the family was being force-fed an unpleasant dose of affection. Watching the scene unfold, it was nothing like Xiaoxiao had imagined. If he had been abandoned as the Little Maid suggested, his reaction after finding her shouldnt have been like this. Xiaoxiao waspletely bewildered by Li Fuguis behavior. Chapter 212 Speculations by the Two People

Chapter 212: Chapter 212 Spections by the Two People

After the meal, Li Fugui was arranged to stay in Yang Dongs room, where medicine was prepared, and Yang Qiu had to watch over him until he drank it. Only then did everyone return to their own rooms to sleep. Seeing Li Fugui treating Yang Qiu like this, Xiaoxiao couldnt help feeling a sense of foreboding! Once she and Yang Ming returned to their room, she immediately asked her makeshift husband why he didnt intervene just now, letting those two interact as they had, "Yang Ming, what are you really thinking?" "Xiaoxiao, why do you think out of so many people, Li Fugui mistook only Xiaoqiu?" Yang Ming asked Xiaoxiao with a serious expression. "..." Why? She had been so preupied with Li Fuguis illness, afraid that it would frighten Yang Qiu, that shepletely overlooked this question. Prompted by Yang Ming, she thought about it and then suddenly looked up, "Could it be..." "The reason could very likely be that Yang Qiu really resembles the Xiaotian that Li Fugui mentioned," Yang Ming shared his spection, "Tell me, why would Yang Qiu look like that Xiaotian?" "..." Yang Qiu and Yang Dong are twins, shouldnt they be the ones who look alike? How could she look like someone else, "Could it be you think Xiaotian and Yang Dong were switched at birth?" "..." At a time like this, why was his wife not catching on faster? He shook his head. "Yang Qiu and our fourth brother are twins, so why is one named Yang Qiu and the other named Yang Dong? Were they born in winter or autumn?" She had long wanted to ask this question. "They were born in the winter. Originally we thought there was only one child and named him Yang Dong, but then it turned out there were two, and without knowing what else to call them, we had Yang Qiu since we already had Spring, Summer, and Winter in the family." "..." That seemed rather arbitrary, "You were also born in the winter, howe you arent named Yang Dong?" Only Yang Gang and Yang Ming in the family had not been named after the seasons, could it be that these two were not truly part of the family? Neither a prince nor a high-born gentleman, right? This was typical of time-travel plots, perhaps she was encountering one herself, and Xiaoxiaos gaze towards her makeshift husband changed again. "..." How could he know? The names parents chose were often arbitrary, and if he knew his wife was fantasizing about him being a prince or a noble lord, hed go mad. It was possible for anyone except him because he resembled his father a lot, "Lets focus on the matter at hand!" Emma, Xiaoxiao had digressed inadvertently again, quickly steering the conversation back to the main issue. If two people look alike and theyre not clones, then its very probable that they are blood rtives. Could it be, "Are you suggesting that Xiaotian could be the daughter that the Yang Family sold away?" Yang Ming nodded, his wife had finally understood. His heart was indescribablyplex at the moment; perhaps it really was the case. After thinking it over, if they resemble each other to such an extent, "Yang Ming, it could be Yang Xia!" "How so?" He also hoped it was his biological sister Yang Xia, but there was more than one child who had been sold away. "I think children born from the same father and mother should resemble each other more than those from other rtives," she reasoned, considering the gic factors. "Lets not tell the family about this yet since its just our spection. What if we are overthinking it?" Yang Ming thought it best to find the person and confirm before speaking, to avoid disappointing the family. Moreover, Li Fugui might not have mistaken someone else for Xiaotian due to resemnce; perhaps they were overthinking it. "Understood!" "Now, only Li Fugui holds information about Xiaotian, so I was thinking..." "You want Yang Qiu to pretend to be Xiaotian and probe Li Fugui for information?" Yang Ming nodded. "Absolutely not, you cant risk your own sister for the sake of one who isnt even confirmed!" "..." Chapter 213: Yes, I will only marry you in this lifetime

Chapter 213: Chapter 213: Yes, I will only marry you in this lifetime

"Yang Ming, this might just be a coincidence, or maybe Li Fugui didnt mistake her for someone else just because they look alike. You shouldnt risk your own sister over this uncertainty." He knew his wife was right, but he couldnt help thinking about it. What if it was true? He didnt want to miss any chance. How had he risked his own sister? It was merely to draw out information. "Li Fugui is too good to Xiaotian. What if Yang Qiu pretends to be Xiaotian and ends up falling for him?" "..." Yang Ming stared, speechless. Could Yang Qiu really fall for him? He hadpletely overlooked that possibility, always thinking about how to extract information about Xiaotian from Li Fugui. If his wife hadnt reminded him... "Yang Qiu is too young. Given her past circumstances, Im sure no man has ever treated her well. Even knowing Li Fugui is ill, she might still fall in love over time." His wifes analysis made sense, but was Yang Qiu really too young? After all, his wife was the same age as Yang Qiu, and they had been together for a while. Why hadnt she fallen for him yet? "What if Xiaotianes back? What will you do then? You cant be thinking about having both of them, can you?" "..." Seeing her husband remain silent, could it be that he really was considering having both women? Well, it wasnt a monogamous society here, so such thoughts werent unusual. But Yang Ming thinking this way was uneptable to her. Xiaoxiao then climbed into the bed and snuggled under the covers, ignoring Yang Ming. She was angry. "..." Yang Ming listened to his wifes words and was seriously analyzing them, only to see her getting under the covers, turning her back on him. What now? "Having two wives might be okay for others, but not for you." While puzzling over her behavior, he heard his wife say that. He felt a surge of joy in his heart. Was his wife hinting that she wanted him to marry only her? That was his intention too. "Yes, I will marry only you in this lifetime." Xiaoxiaos lips curled up and her mood lightened. Yang Mings words sounded like a love deration. How wonderful it would be if it were true. She turned to face him and continued, "Yang Qiu is still too young. Shell definitely find someone one day who will stay by her side forever." "Yes." Forever with someone? He wanted that with his wife too. "But, wow, I never expected Li Fugui to be such a romantic fool, to be so good to Xiaotian that even I got jealous." "..." His wife was jealous? Should he then learn more from Li Fugui in this regard? "Its like ingesting a ton of dog food!" "..." Dog food? What random thing was his wife talking about? "Anyway, youre returning to the Academy tomorrow. Dont worry about this situation for now. Ill see how things unfold and keep you updated." "Yes." It seemed they would just have to take things one step at a time. Seeing his wife turn away again, not uttering another word, was this her cue to sleep? "Are you going to sleep?" "Yes, Im tired after the entire day, sleepy. You should sleep early too." "Yes." Yang Ming undressed, climbed into the bed, and lifted a corner of his wifes nket to slip under. Feeling his movement, Xiaoxiao suddenly sat up, "What are you doing?" "What can I do? Didnt we agree? Tonight, youll see if I really can or cant." "..." Xiaoxiaos heart thudded wildly. How could he still remember that? Chapter 214: Xiaoxiao, Just Once

Chapter 214: Chapter 214: Xiaoxiao, Just Once

Just as Xiaoxiao was drifting away, she saw her makeshift husbands face getting closer and closer to her own, about to touch, when she suddenly pushed him away, "Yang Ming, you cant do this." Xiaoxiao was truly frightened by Yang Mings actions. She felt that today, Yang Ming was serious. Although she liked Yang Ming a bit, it didnt mean they could progress so quickly. She was still underage. Moreover, she couldnt ept that Yang Ming didnt like her yet still wanted to be intimate with her. However, what she didnt expect was that Yang Ming had no intention of stopping. Instead, he grabbed her shoulders with both hands, rendering her unable to move, as his face kept nearing hers. Her heart felt like it was about to leap out. If she didnt think of something quickly, it would really be over. In her panic, she shouted, "Yang Ming, Im still too young. At least wait until Im sixteen." "..." Yang Mings hands paused and then released her. How could he have forgotten? He had promised his mother-inw that his wife was too young and that he couldnt hurt her just for a moment of pleasure. He had really been muddled by anger from earlier. If his wife said sixteen, then he would wait until she was sixteen. Besides, her sixteenth birthday wasnt that far off. Seeing Yang Mings hands leave her, Xiaoxiaos hanging heart finally settled. She had survived the danger. "Alright, I wont touch you anymore." Hearing Yang Mings words, why did Xiaoxiao feel a bit disappointed now? Her mindset waspletely different from earlier. If it werent for the fact that her original self was too young, and childbirth might be dangerous, she might actually have jumped on him. "But I want to sleep holding you." "..." That? Oh well, let it be then, just consider it a small perk for herself, "Okay." She agreed? He had just said it casually, not expecting her to actually agree. Now he could hold his wife openly. The two of themy under the same nket, Yang Ming using his arm as a pillow for his wife, holding her shoulders. He ced her hand on his waist, and they looked every bit the loving couple. Their hearts were pounding in unison, surprisingly at the same rate, and theyy like that for a long time, unable to fall asleep. Xiaoxiao only felt her makeshift husbands chest was very hot. Oh dear, he couldnt possibly be sick, she thought. Just then, she saw her makeshift husbands hand grasping her own, his voice very deep, "Xiaoxiao, just this once." "..." The next day, they woke up early. Xiaoxiao felt a soreness in her wrist and, thinking back tost night, her face turned red. What had they ended up doing? "Xiaoxiao, are you going to Xiangxiang Cloth Shop today?" "No, I told them yesterday that I need to choose an embroiderer at home today." "Okay, if you need anything, remember to find me at the Academy. Youve worked hard on Li Fuguis matter." "Okay, dont worry." "Remember to tell my older and younger sisters-inw that I did well." Yang Ming was in a very good mood, beaming, not forgetting to remind his wife. "..." Hearing Yang Mings words, Xiaoxiaos face flushed even more. It seemed he really cared about this. He had tired her hand out, but who would specifically go and tell others about that? She wasnt foolish. Seeing his wifes red face, was she feeling shy? Yang Mings lips curved up, and thinking back tost night, his face also turned slightly red. Although he hadnt truly won his wife over yet, it had been a good start. "Im off, you sleep some more. You must be exhausted from yesterday." "..." Chapter 215: Indescribable by Pen and Ink

Chapter 215: Chapter 215: Indescribable by Pen and Ink

Second brother Yang Gang got up to go to the outhouse and just so happened to see Yang Ming walking out. He waved at Yang Ming, "Third brother,e here a moment." "..." Called by his second brother again, it definitely wasnt anything good. True enough, when he got closer, he heard his older brother whispering, "Third brother, you say theres nothing wrong with you, so did you and your wife consummate your marriagest night?" "..." How could his second brother be like a woman, always nosing into peoples business in their rooms? What was he to say? A sudden inspiration struck him, his brow rxed, and the corners of his mouth turned slightly upward. This was his chance to gain an advantage. He nodded and said softly, "Yeah." Upon hearing Yang Mings affirmative answer, he got excited. Finally, it seemed something had happened between the third brother and his wife. He knew it! There couldnt be anyone in their Yang Family who couldnt perform, "How does it feel?" "..." Could second brother please behave? He asked so explicitly. Moreover, what happened between him and his wife surely wasnt something to be shared with others, "Its beyond description." "..." This third brotherasked about his feelings, and he even brought up literary expressions. Forget it, hed better go back to the room and talk with his wife, "Alright, you go to the Academy, Im going back to sleep." Yang Ming watched as his second brother returned to his room. The matter of his wedding night with his wife would definitely be ryed to his sister-inw, who couldnt keep a secret, and she would undoubtedly tell the eldest sister-inw, who would certainly inform the eldest brother. Thus, by responding affirmatively to his second brother, the rumors of his impotence would be dispelled. He looked towards the room where his wife was, a smile flickering across his blushing face. He hadnt expected thatst night his wife wouldnt reject him; he had thought hed get beaten. Considering how things went with his wife, she surely couldnt escape now; the consummation of their marriage was just a matter of time. He had no idea that his wife was actually a time-traveler; such matters were trivial to her. Even if they had consummated their marriage, she could still run away if his performance was unsatisfactory. Inside Yang Gangs room The moment Yang Gang returned to the room, he dove into the nkets and cuddled up to his wife. "Dont move. Just sleep." His wife, half-asleep, swatted him away with one p. "Wife, no more sleeping. Ive got news C I ran into third brother just now. He and his wife had their wedding nightst night." "What?" Her eyes popped open, now fully awake, "Are you serious?" "Theres no falsehood in this. Third brother confessed it himself. If you dont believe it, you can go ask his wife." As his wife mulled over this, she decided to check it out when she got up; soon, she drifted back to sleep Just as Yang Ming predicted, as soon as it was light, the second sister-inw, upon seeing the eldest sister-inw, blurted out, "Eldest sister-inw, it seems that third brother and his wife consummated their marriagest night." "Really?" "Theres no lying in it. My room is next to third brothers. I heard everything clearly." The second sister-inw couldnt help but embellish the story. "..." Just the night beforest, she also said she heard everything clearly, but that turned out to be false. Seeing that her eldest sister-inw didnt believe her, the second sister-inw changed her im, "Well actually, third brother himself told Yang Gang." "Then why the nonsense about you hearing it yourself? Arent you ashamed?" The eldest sister-inw said before she went back into her room; she needed to inform Yang Chun that there was no need to buy medicine for third brother anymore. Not long after, the eldest sister-inw came back out, "Being the first time for third brothers wife, we should prepare something nutritious to eat for her." When they finished preparing the food, they saw Xiaoxiao waking up, "Third sister-inw, no need toe out, just lie down and rest. Well bring the food to you." "..." What is this situation? Its not like she is ill. Chapter 216: She’s Going to Date?

Chapter 216: Chapter 216: Shes Going to Date?

The elder and second sisters-inw didnt care about Xiaoxiaos reaction at all, they just pushed Xiaoxiao into the house, and the meal was brought in directly. "Elder sister-inw, second sister-inw, am I sick?" Xiaoxiao looked at them confusedly, asking while pointing at herself,pletely unaware of what was happening. What were these two up to now? "Dont be embarrassed, weve all been through it. Feeling sore all over, arent you? Just rest for now," the second sister-inw said while raising her eyebrows, hinting that she understood it all. "..." Sore all over? She only felt a slight soreness in her wrist, and it was almost healed, she could move it freely. The elder sister-inw added, "Sister-inw, we are genuinely happy for you." "..." Xiaoxiao was getting even more confused by what her sister-inws were saying. "Elder sister-inw, second sister-inw, what are you talking about? What happened to me? Why are you happy for me?" "What else could it be? Its about you and Yang Mings wedding nightst night. We were actually worried about Yang Ming not being up to par. Just the night beforest, I felt sorry for you, but now its all good," said the second sister-inw straightforwardly, genuinely finding happiness for Xiaoxiao. Hearing this, Xiaoxiaos face turned beet red. She rememberedst nights events, but to the two sister-inws, the wedding night seemed a confirmed fact. Xiaoxiao didnt know what to say. If she denied it, it would appear as if Yang Ming was incapable. She couldnt mess things up further, so she decided to go along with it. "Elder sister-inw, second sister-inw, how did you find out aboutst night so quickly?" Xiaoxiao asked, her face still flushed, needing to know who the instigator was. "Hahaha, sister-inw, you cant me us. We were really worried that Yang Ming might not be capable, scared he wouldnt have children, so we were just more concerned," they exined. "..." Here, not having children seemed to be a big deal, but even if Yang Ming were healthy, that couldnt guarantee children. It also depended on her, she hadnt even gotten her period yet. When was it going toe? What if she really was infertile? Would Yang Ming then have children with someone else? Xiaoxiao hadnt realized she was already considering having children with Yang Ming. "How exactly did you find out anyway?" "..." The second sister-inw hesitated, afraid to speak. If she told her that Yang Ming had spread the news, would Xiaoxiao be mad? Seeing Xiaoxiaos demanding expression, she decided she might as well take the me. "Actually... I overheard it." Elder sister-inw: How did this end up as nonsense? Xiaoxiao: Theyre lying, there was no noise at all. Xiaoxiao didnt press further, sure that Yang Ming had divulged this to prove his manliness. Usually so quiet, who knew he was such a schemer. "Elder sister-inw, second sister-inw, Im fine. You can go back first." "Alright, well head back first. Theres nothing much to do at home anyway, you just lie down and rest," the two said as they left. Xiaoxiao was left alone, eating the meal, being served, why not eat if its free. While eating, Xiaoxiao started giggling, recalling the events fromst night. Yang Ming had been so daring, even grabbing her hand and causing amotion, and she was bold enough to agree. She thought, perhaps she liked Yang Ming more than just a little bit. Isnt there a saying, a woman onlymits when shes in love? Was she falling in love? Isnt dating usually starting with holding hands, kissing, and hugging? Why did the sequence change when it came to her? Chapter 217: Clichés

Chapter 217: Chapter 217: Clichs

Xiaoxiao had finished eating when she stepped out and saw Li Fugui sticking close to Yang Qiu, which was really not a good sign. Wasnt it said that Li Fugui would get better once he found the person he was talking about? Why wasnt he showing any signs of improvement, but instead seemed to be getting worse? She had said that the doctor wasnt reliable, merely prescribing some medicine and calling it a day. The doctor who treated Yang Qiu with acupuncture had managed to control him; perhaps they should try consulting that doctor. So, she went to seek her elder brother, Yang Chun, "Big brother." "What is it, third sister-inw?" "I want to ask you to find the doctor who treated Yang Qiust time to check on Li Fugui." "Okay, Ill go right now." Due to Li Fuguis situation, Xiaoxiao decided not to invite the Embroiderer over today. She went to the Vige Chiefs house first and rented a different courtyard that she had seen before, leaving the previously rented one because the sauerkraut had not yet been dealt with. After securing the courtyard, she had several people from her family clean it up since the fabric had already arrived and they needed to start work once it was delivered. She then went home to wait for the doctor to arrive. She looked at Li Fugui and Yang Qiu, who were copying books. Li Fugui was writing and Xiaoqiu was grinding ink; this scene was simply too much, so harmonious. With an injury on his body, he acted as if nothing was wronghow could mens bodies be like this. "Xiaoqiu, dont worry. Once Ive copied the books, well have Silver." "Mm." "You wont have to go out to work in the future, Ill provide for you." "Mm." Yang Qiu simply did not know how to continue the conversation and just kept agreeing. Listening to this, Xiaoxiao thought that Li Fugui was really good to that Xiaotian, so good that she was even jealous. She figured she might try chatting with Li Fugui to see if she could get him to reveal anything. So she approached him, "Li Fugui, you write quite well." Li Fugui did not respond, as if he hadnt heard her. "Li Fugui, do you still remember who I am?" Li Fugui still did not answer. "..." This was awkward; it felt like she was performing a monologue. "Li Fugui, Im Xiaotians sister-inw." Only then did Li Fugui look up, decisively saying, "Xiaotian has no rtives, you cant fool me." "..." Being an orphan only made it more likely that he was Yang Mings sister, "Nobody is born an orphan; everyone has parents and rtives." "..." "How old is this Xiaotian youre talking about?" Li Fugui thought for a moment, then protectively ced Yang Qiu behind him, "Youre sent by Li Fuyou to spy, leave, you wont bother Xiaotian again." "..." Could it be that Xiaotian was taken away by Li Fuyou? "Li Fugui, look properly, the person behind you is not Xiaotian." "Impossible, I couldnt mistake my Xiaotian." "..." His Xiaotian? How indirectly was this making her feel like she was feeding a dog? "Fine fine fine. You didnt mistake your Xiaotian, then ask her if she remembers how old she is?" Xiaoxiao said, urgently winking at Yang Qiu to cooperate. Seeing the signal, Yang Qiu hurriedly spoke, "Fugui, I cant remember, how old am I actually?" "..." Oh Yang Qiu, why did you call him Fugui? That really wasnt good; it seemed necessary to talk to Yang Qiu alone. "Xiaotian, oh no, youve changed your name, Xiaoqiu, forget what I told you alone, we wont talk to her." "..." How did this idiot be so clever at this moment, turning everyone but Yang Qiu into the enemyhow was she supposed to extract any information about Xiaotian now, would they really need Yang Qiu to pretend? While she was contemting, she saw Li Fugui pointing at her, "Youre here to gather information, leave." "..." Fine, if she had be the viin, could she not just leave? Chapter 218: Why Not Give It a Try

Chapter 218: Chapter 218: Why Not Give It a Try

Xiaoxiao left the room, anyway, those two were copying books, and nothing major could happen for the moment. She needed to go back to her room and think everything over from the beginninghow had things be soplicated? In the end, Xiaoxiao concluded that the crux of the mattery with Li Fugui. As long as Li Fugui was cured, all the problems would be solved. Yang Qiu would not be mistaken for Xiaotian, and the situation with Xiaotian would also be clear. The key to curing Li Fugui was to find the real Xiaotian, but for a peasant household, searching for a person was exceedingly difficultit looked like a dead end no matter how they saw it. Xiaoxiao racked her brain until it ached. If Xiaotian really was Yang Xia, then her cheap husband would be very happy. Thinking of her cheap husband, a clever smile appeared in Xiaoxiaos eyeshmm, even if it was a dead end, they had to break through it. In the afternoon, her eldest brother Yang Chun came back, "Third sister-inw, the doctor has arrived." "Ah, Ill be right there." Xiaoxiao immediately went out after hearing this. This doctor was reliable; maybe they wouldnt even need to find Xiaotian to cure Li Fuguis illness! Li Fugui really worked hard for Xiaotians sake, copying books all day long, which moved Xiaoxiao. After entering the room, she quickly pulled Yang Qiu aside and whispered, "Xiaoqiu, thats the doctor to treat Li Fugui. Tell him its to look at his injury. Before, we said we would bring Xiaotian with us, and thats why he agreed to treatment. Now that weve found you, he might not listen to us anymore." "Okay," Yang Qiuplied and walked over to Li Fuguis side, "Fugui, you have an injury. Ive invited a doctor toe take a look." Li Fugui heard Yang Qiu and stopped writing, smiling and agreeing, "Okay." They sat down, and the doctor began to take the pulse. Everyone waited nervously, and it was not long until the doctor had finished. Xiaoxiao immediately asked, "Doctor, how is it?" "Lets talk outside." "..." Li Fugui didnt recognize them anymore. Talking outside or inside made no difference; he couldnt understand either way. Though she thought this, Xiaoxiao obediently followed him out to the main house. "On the way here, I heard about it. Youve already sought doctors for this injury. The main issue is that this person is not quite sane, right?" "Yes, doctor, do you think he can still recover?" Hearing him ask this way, Xiaoxiao felt that the doctor was reliable after all, getting straight to the point without rehashing the injuries Li Fugui had suffered. "What happened to him that caused him to be like this, do you know?" "We dont really know. Its just a spection that the woman he loved left him. He loved deeply and couldnt bear the blow, and he became obsessed with searching for that woman. Butter, after meeting my little sister, he started to mistake her for that woman." "So, that woman is the key!" "..." She had just praised him, but now why did this seem so ominous? This was going round in circles like the previous doctors. The key was Xiaotianit was obvious even from thinking with ones toes. "ording to the pulse diagnosis, this man has no actual illness. His condition isnt the same as your little sisters previous illness. He doesnt need to take any medicines for this kind of treatment, and acupuncture is unnecessary as well." "..." "He is just like a normal person now. Finding that woman is key. Have you checked his belongings to see if you can find any clues?" "..." Li Fugui brought very few things with him. How could she have forgotten to check them? Perhaps there was something left by Xiaotian among them. "However, I have a method that might be worth trying!" Chapter 219 Xiaoqiu’s Decision

Chapter 219: Chapter 219 Xiaoqius Decision

"Whats the method?" Xiaoxiao was excited, it seemed that this doctor was reliable, at least he could offer some advice. "Have you heard of the saying, fight poison with poison?" Fight poison with poison? "Reenact the event that urred, let him be stimted once more, and maybe hell recover. But there are no guarantees, so I say its worth a try." After seeing off the doctor, Xiaoxiao couldnt stop thinking about what the doctor had said, about reenacting the events. But what exactly had happened at that time, nobody knew, which made it difficult. How to reenact it? Xiaotian wasnt around, and the doctor clearly meant for Yang Qiu to y Xiaotian. Wasnt this just going back to the initial state? Its a deadlock, a dead end! Forget it, lets not treat the disease. There was never a disease in the first ce; better to go find Xiaotian instead. Once found, hell naturally recover. While Li Fugui was only there for a day and Yang Qiu was unlikely to be swayed, Xiaoxiao decided to seize the moment to talk to Yang Qiu. Thinking so, she did just that and called Yang Qiu to her room that evening. "Sister-inw, whats the matter? I need to hurry back, Fugui is still waiting on his medicine!" Yang Qiu asked urgently, as someone needed to watch over there, unable to leave. "..." Xiaoxiao was surprised, how could she mention Fugui right in front of her, "Xiaoqiu, why are you even calling him Fugui now?" "Oh, sister-inw, its Li Fugui, he insisted that I call him that, and after a day it just stuck." "Sister-inw wants to remind you, you must not fall for Li Fugui." Xiaoxiao thought it best to speak directly. Beating around the bush too much might be too confusing. Yang Qiu said nothing but lowered her head, her tears dripping down. She felt she would never find someone who treated her well in her life, and she wasnt worthy of falling in love. She thought her sister-inw must think the same to have brought it up. Xiaoxiao caught sight of Yang Qius tears. No way, just a day and its like this? Xiaoxiao was utterly baffled. Realizing her emotional slip, Yang Qiu quicklyposed herself, "Sister-inw, dont worry, I understand. With what happened to me before, Im not fit to find someone new anyway." It seemed Yang Qiupletely misunderstood her point, "No, Xiaoqiu, thats not what I mean. You can like anyone you want, just not Li Fugui." "Why?" Yang Qiu looked up, puzzled. She knew that Li Fugui mistook her for someone else. She had no intentions towards him; she just pitied him. "..." How should she exin this? Never mind, she had always been straightforward, "Because Li Fugui is very likely your brother-inw." "Brother-inw?" Yang Qiu widened her eyes. How could he possibly be her brother-inw? "That Xiaotian is very likely your actual older sister, Yang Xia, so you cannot like him." "..." That sister, Yang Xia, happened to meet such a kind man, which made her envious as her sister seemed luckier than her. "Your brother-inw and I are just guessing, and we havent told anyone in the family. You shouldnt mention this to anyone either." "So thats why you asked him today how old Xiaotian is, right?" "Yes, because Li Fugui fell ill, we couldnt drag any information about Xiaotian, and we cant even find her. So we simply cannot confirm whether Xiaotian is Yang Xia." "Sister-inw, Ill go and probe for information. Dont worry, I definitely wont develop feelings." It was only her who could gather news about her sister in this family, finally finding some usefulness for herself. Chapter 220: Surname Xia, Named Xiatian

Chapter 220: Chapter 220: Surname Xia, Named Xiatian

Yang Ming returned to the Academy, feeling rather good throughout the day, as he and his wife had finally made some progress. His lips asionally curved into a smile, which appeared quite bizarre to onlookers. By evening, Yang Ming thought he might inquire about Xiaotian by talking to Li Fuguis former ymates, so he went to Dongfeng Restaurant, trying his luck as he had heard they often gathered there. "Xiaoer, which private room is Young Master Wang in? I was invited by him," Yang Ming said, testing the waters with this inquiry. "Young master, right this way." As expected, they were dining here; it seemed his luck was not bad. Xiaoer knocked on the door, and Yang Ming followed him inside, causing everyone to be stunned upon seeing him. "Brother Wang, Brother Li, Brother Zhao, apologies for my sudden visit without invitation," he said. Wang, Li, and Zhao were all surprised. Yang Ming usually didnt bother with their crowd. Why had he shown up uninvited today? They werent really in the same circles and seldom spoke to each other. Only Li Fugui usually teased Yang Ming among them. "Well, look what the wind blew in, Schr Yang! Please, have a seat," Young Master Wang said, breaking the ice. Realizing it was better not to refuse since he was asking for a favor, Yang Ming sat down, "Brother Wang, I came today because I need a favor." "..." No wonder, he thought, they usually didnt mingle. But what could be so important that he would lower himself to seek out theirpany? "Brother Yang, its our first time gathering like this. Lets have a few drinks first," Young Master Wang decided to tease Yang Ming a bit. "..." Knowing he probably wouldnt get any information if he didnt drink, Yang Ming agreed, "Alright, lets have some drinks." The three hadnt expected Yang Ming to agree so readily. As everyone filled their cups, Yang Ming suggested, "Drinking straight is boring, lets y a drinking game." "..." A drinking game? Whats that? "A drinking game is..." Yang Ming exined the rules of the game to everyone. Now intrigued, everyone was eager to try it out. "Quick, quick, lets try it!" "Five leaders, cheers!" "Brothers, cheers!" "..." "..." Thus, everyone began drinking enthusiastically and decided not to mess around with Yang Ming anymore. Seeing an opportunity, Yang Ming said, "I wanted to ask about that little maid from Li Fuguis family." "That little maid? What about her do you want to know?" "The more detailed, the better." "Well, we dont know much, really. Li Fugui treasures that maid a lot, and we dont even know what she looks like. If you ask me, she must be quite attractive, otherwise why doesnt Li Fugui go to the brothel like we do?" Li said, drinking and ranting by the side. The information was more or less the same as he already knew, "Do you know about her current situation? "Currently, she must be in a dire situation." "Brother Li, what do you mean by that?" "The second young master of the Li Family has spread the word throughout the county not to hire that little maid." "..." So thats how it was; Li Fugui had indeed been pressured into this situation by the second young master of the Li Family. "Whats the name of that little maid?" "Her surname is Xia, named Xiatian. The second young master of the Li Family mentioned it, no one named Xiatian or Xiaotian should be employed." Hearing this name, Yang Mings fists clenched tighter and tighter. Xiaotian and his sister Yang Xia both had the character Xia in their names; this could not be a coincidence. That Xiaotian must be his sister. Chapter 221: The Little Maid Runs Away with the Rich Young Master

Chapter 221: Chapter 221: The Little Maid Runs Away with the Rich Young Master

Yang Ming, anxious to find out Xiaotians whereabouts, was not willing to let any opportunity slip and continued to make inquiries, "Do you know where that Little Maid is now?" "We really dont know that," Li Fugui shook his head, and so did Wang Young Master. Yang Mings face turned gloomy and quite unsightly; just as he felt disappointed, he hadnt expected Zhao Young Master to speak up, "I know about that." Li Fugui and Wang Young Master both turned their gaze sharply to Zhao Young Master. They both didnt know about this matter, so how did hee to know it? Zhao Young Master lifted his head as if he had stumbled upon some significant secret, "Havent you heard? I thought you both knew!" Li Fugui and Wang Young Master, puzzled, asked in unison, "Know what?" "The rumors around town, of course. Theres a rumor going aroundtely that the Eldest Young Master of the Li Family eloped with a Little Maid, abandoning all his family wealth. But unexpectedly, the Little Maid couldnt handle hardships and ran off with another wealthy young master." "..." The faces of both men fell instantly. What kind of rumor was this? Could it be credible? The two of them immediately objected, "That rumor surely cant be trusted. Where has Li Fugui ever abandoned his family wealth? Anyone with a brain knows that it was taken away from him." "And that Little Maid, being of servant origin, what hardships cant she bear? Where did you hear such nonsensical things?" "Even if thats not credible, the part about the Little Maid running off with a wealthy young master cant bepletely unfounded," Zhao Young Master, refused to ept his friends denial, and continued. "..." Having heard that, the two men were no longer sure. "If thats the case, then Li Fugui is really to be pitied, having lost everything, even the Little Maid he liked has left." "Pity didnt move you to help him." "You didnt help either. You even called him a beggar and told him to go away." "Wasnt I just afraid of catching the eye of the Li Familys Second Young Master? Daring to step forward? My family is but a small household that supplies vegetables to Dongfeng Restaurant. If I were to offend him, would my family still have a way to survive?" "Enough, enough, enough. Lets not speak ill of each other. In the end, we all abandoned a friend for fear of offending the Li Familys Second Young Master." "..." "..." Wang Young Master, Li Fugui, and Zhao Young Master had a few drinks and thoroughly aired their grievances, revealing a lot to each other in front of Yang Ming. As they continued to talk, Yang Ming saw he wouldnt learn anything new and stood up to take his leave, "Brother Wang, Brother Li, Brother Zhao, I have matters to attend to today and must take my leave first. Lets get together another day." "Sure, sure, you go ahead if you have things to do. Next time well y some drinking games again. You know, your skills at the game are quite something, much better than just drinking dry like us." Yang Ming folded his hands in salute, "Then, I bid you farewell." Having said that, he left the room. He owed a debt of gratitude to his wifes teachings about the drinking game; without it, he truly wouldnt have known how to get along with these people so quickly. His wife really had her ways. No matter what, today he had learned some news. That Little Maid was named Xiaotian, and she might indeed be his sister, Yang Xia. But did she really run off with a wealthy young master? Li Fuguis reaction upon seeing Yang Qiu was clearly one of affection, not hatred! Yang Ming returned to the Academy, lying on the brick bed. Having had a little to drink, and thinking about the events of the previous night, his mind was filled with his wifes face. He missed his wife and wondered how she was doing, whether she was thinking of him Chapter 222: He’s Her Husband, Who Else Would He Like If Not Her?

Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Hes Her Husband, Who Else Would He Like If Not Her?

Xiaoxiao lying on the kang was indeed thinking about Yang Ming. She was pondering how to initiate her strategy to make him like and love her. But she was too ugly, making Yang Ming like her probably wouldnt be easy. "Ah, what to do, what to do." Xiaoxiao held the quilt and kept sighing. However, it didnt take long before Xiaoxiao stopped sighing. Her mood brightened up, and she shed a triumphant smile. How could she forget? Her biggest trump card was that Yang Ming was her husband, her husband, her husbandwho else would he like if not her? She decided to defend her status, eliminate all the women around her cheap husband, ensuring hed only have her by his sideand with this thought, she contentedly went to sleep. Early the next morning, Xiaoxiao went to find her sister-inw. "Sister-inw, do you know where I can buy milk?" "Milk?" What was this younger sister-inw up to now? "Yes, the milk from cows!" exined Xiaoxiao. Surely it couldnt be, they didnt even know what milk was? "We dont have cows in our vige." "..." Huh, were cows so undervalued that no one kept them? That was really strange. "Think about itif a cow is pregnant, whos going to work?" "..." That made sense, she was left speechless. Yang Familys vige was so poor. There werent many cows to begin with, and they relied on them for all the work. She then asked, "What about honey?" "You can buy honey in the city, but its quite expensive." Hearing that honey was avable in the city made Xiaoxiao so happy she couldnt close her mouth. She was really worried that her sister-inw would say she had to get it from a beehive herselfthen she wouldve broken downpletely. "Younger sister-inw, that milk, did you want to drink it?" "Oh, no need, no need, honey will do," Xiaoxiao hurriedly waved her hand, indicating she did not want to drink it but to apply it on her face, and honey alone would suffice. "If you want to drink, let your elder brother buy some from another vige." "No, really not necessary." "Should your elder brother buy the honey then?" The sister-inw thought, perhaps this younger sister-inw needed a good tonic? Indeed, she needed nourishment. "No need, Ill just buy some when I go to the city next time, Im not in a hurry to use it." Xiaoxiao thought to herself that the sister-inw was really too kind to her. No question about itwhen she got it, everyone could apply it and whiten their skin. After eating, Xiaoxiao and her sisters-inw went to the rented courtyard they had agreed to use today to invite the Embroiderer and have everyone bring their embroidery for selection. The women who had previously worked on pickling cabbages also came. "Boss, I really didnt expect there to be work so soon, weve all been practicing at home. Look at this embroidery," one said. "Yeah, boss, look at mine," said another. "..." The women workers were all eagerly talking to Xiaoxiao, thinking their prior work experience gave them a closer rtionship with her, making the others hesitant toe forward. Seeing this, Xiaoxiao thought it was a perfect opportunity to set an example to prevent such urrences during hiring in the future. "Im sorry, I cant hire you this time. Ill speak inlythe reason is thatst time you betrayed my sister-inw, leaving her behind. I need people who are united," she said. "..." No one expected that, "Boss, can you give us another chance? We really didnt mean to do itst time. We were just too scared." "Really no, you can go back." Seeing this, the others inwardly shuddered with fear. In the future, they would have to be careful while workingthey absolutely couldnt betray the Embroiderers wife nor offend her. Chapter 223: Xiaoqiu’s Test

Chapter 223: Chapter 223: Xiaoqius Test

Aftering out of her sister-inws room, Xiaoqiu was very excited because she had received news about her sister. Although her sister-inw wasnt certain, she believed strongly in her words. That she could return to this family was all thanks to her sister-inw. She felt her sister-inw was a person who could do anything. That Xiaotian must be just like her sister-inw had described, her sister Yang Xia. Wanting her sister toe home as soon as possible so the family could reunite, she resolved to exert every effort. The next day, while her sister-inw and the others went to select Embroiderers at the rental courtyard, Xiaoqiu decided to test Li Fugui. She went to Yang Dongs room and found Li Fugui still copying books. Such seriousness for her sisters man really seemed like a good man, making her quite envious. She thought even if Li Fugui was good to her, she could not have feelings for him; her heart had long been dead. She had been married, had children, and her life was destined to be alone. When Li Fugui saw Xiaoqiu arrive, his eyes filled with joy, "Xiaoqiu, youvee." "Yeah." She hade to pry information, but upon seeing him, she didnt know where to start, thus she hesitated. Seeing Xiaoqius troubled look, Li Fugui was worried, thinking something had happened. He asked anxiously, "Whats wrong, Xiaoqiu? Are you unhappy, did they bully you?" Xiaoqiu shook her head, not knowing how to respond. Seeing this, Li Fugui became even more anxious. He grabbed Xiaoqiu, intending to leave, "If you are unhappy here, lets leave." Seeing Li Fuguis reaction, she felt that if her sister coulde back, they would definitely be very happy. She immediately broke free, took a deep breath, and thought that this was her chance to probe, "First let go, I dont want to leave." "Whats wrong then?" Li Fugui asked anxiously. Thinking about how Li Fugui knew her sister was an orphan the day before, Xiaoqiu decided to start from this angle, "Im just missing mom and dad." "..." Li Fugui paused for a moment, not speaking, as if he was thinking about something. Li Fugui had suddenly be silent? Did this approach not work? While she wondered, she heard Li Fugui speak, "Xiaoqiu, why dont we go look for your parents?" "Do you know where my parents are?" "I dont know." "Then how do we find them?" "Dont we have a token?" "..." Xiaoqiu was both excited and disheartened. A token? Could it really be her sisters? Their family was so poor, how could they possibly have a token for proof; she had none, she only had the name and a birthmark. "What token?" She had to confirm what the token was. Li Fugui took off something from around his neck and handed it to Xiaoqiu, "Using this, maybe we can find your parents." Yang Qiu took the chain described as a token. It was a tattered chain that could not be more damaged, sporting a wooden pendant. Xiaoqiu carefully examined it, and when she flipped the pendant over, she suddenly widened her eyes. "This has your surname engraved on it, one Xia character." Seeing that Xia character, Xiaoqiu was overwhelmed with emotion, tears streaming down her face. Although she didnt recognize many characters, she could recognize the ones from spring, summer, autumn, and winter because they were her family members names. That Xia character on it made her absolutely certain; it had to belong to her sister Yang Xia. Seeing Xiaoqiu crying, Li Fugui thought she was feeling sentimental about her parents. He helped Xiaoqiu wear the chain, pulled her into his arms, and held her tightly. He gently patted her back over and over,forting her, "Dont be sad, we will definitely find your parents." At that moment, a roar erupted, startling everyone, "What are you doing?" Chapter 224 The Furious Xiaoxiao

Chapter 224: Chapter 224 The Furious Xiaoxiao

After selecting an embroiderer and returning from the rental courtyard, Xiaoxiao and the others decided to first check on Li Fuguis situation. As soon as they entered, they saw two people embracing. This was outrageous. Xiaoxiao immediately became furious and bellowed, "What are you doing?" The older and second sister-inw were also dumbfounded by the sight. What in the world was happening? Xiaoxiaos shout alerted everyone in the house; they all thought that something must have happened to the wife of the third brother and rushed into Li Fuguis room. Xiaoxiaos roar brought Yang Qiu back to reality. She had been immersed in confirming Xiaotians identity and was crying with excitement, oblivious to the fact that she was in Li Fuguis arms. As soon as she recovered her senses, she pushed Li Fugui away and hurriedly exined, her voice filled with injustice, "Sister-inw, youre mistaken. Its not what you think." Xiaoxiao didnt believe it at all. What was Yang Qiu doing? In just two days, she was already in Li Fuguis arms? Xiaoxiao was livid and yelled at Yang Qiu again, "Yang Qiu, shut up." Yang Qiu cried even harder. Her sister-inw was angry. She had onlye to extract some information; she didnt expect to end up embracing someone. Seeing Yang Qiu being scolded, Li Fugui immediately protected her behind him, "What are you doing?" "What am I doing? Im going to beat you." Xiaoxiao said while walking towards Li Fugui. She pped him hard, catching everyone in the room off guard. Everyone gasped at the sight. How could the third brothers wife be so hot-tempered? How could she hit someone just like that, even daring to p a man? They couldnt help but worry for the third brother. Li Fugui was stunned by this sudden p and covered his face with his hand, "What right do you have to hit me? Why are you yelling at Xiaoqiu?" "What right? The right that you were holding Yang Qiu, thats why I hit you!" It was only at this point that the people who came inter learned that it was Yang Qiu and Li Fugui who were embracing. This was a big deal. "Why cant I embrace her? Im going to marry her. We agreed long ago that wed marry in three years." At this moment, Old Master Yang became furious. How could his daughter disgraced herself like this, getting involved with someone in only two days, "Xiaoqiu,e out here." Upon hearing her fathers words, Yang Qiu immediately broke free and followed Old Master Yang out of the room. Seeing her husbands anger, Yang Mings mother followed them out, fearing for her daughters condition. "Xiaoqiu, Xiaoqiu." Li Fugui, fearing that Xiaoqiu would be wronged, also started heading for the doorway. The already cramped little house was inplete chaos. "Stop him." Seeing Li Fugui trying to leave, Xiaoxiao immediately shouted towards the doorway. The elder and second brother, seeing the state of their younger sister, dared not disobey and promptly stopped Li Fugui inside the house. Li Fugui, unable to break free, had to halt. "You want to marry Xiaoqiu?" "Yes, Im going to marry her." "You have no regrets?" "Absolutely no regrets!" Xiaoxiao let out a coldugh and delivered a second p to Li Fugui. He really deserved it, "Youll regret it to the grave." "I will never regret it. How could I possibly have regrets? She is the woman I love most in this life," Li Fugui asserted with his head held high, his tone decisive. "But the one you were just embracing is Yang Qiu, not Xiaotian." "She is my Xiaotian," he insisted. "She isnt," Xiaoxiao was dumbfounded by the sheer absurdity, feeling like she was arguing with a sick person. She continued yelling, blurting out, "Shes Yang Qiu, possibly Xiaotians biological sister." "..." "You want to marry your own niece?" Chapter 225: Little Sister, Whose Little Sister?

Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Little Sister, Whose Little Sister?

Everyone in the room was shocked by that statement. A sister? Whose sister? Li Fugui was overwhelmed by Xiaoxiaos shout; he only felt a terrible headache and heartache, continually holding his head and squatting in the corner, his body twitching. "Third sister-inw, what did you say about a sister? Whose sister?" At this point, elder brother Yang Chun couldnt hold back anymore and voiced the question that was in his heart. Only then did Xiaoxiao snap back to reality. Oh no, there were so many people in the room, how had she forgotten? She always blurted things out without thinking, and she regretted it terribly. If Yang Ming found out, he would definitely scold her. She had spilled the beans on something that wasnt even confirmed yet. "Fourth brother, you watch over Li Fugui here. Well step outside," Xiaoxiao said as she walked out the door. Elder brother, elder sister-inw, second brother, and second sister-inw all hastily followed, eager to know the truth. They went straight to the elders room in the Main House, and as they entered, they saw Yang Qiu crying there. Had her father-inw said something to her? Xiaoxiao walked over, took Yang Qiu into her arms, and spoke soothingly, "Yang Qiu, stop crying, third sister-inw is looking out for you. Li Fugui is ill; he mistook you for someone else. You cant be with him. Eventually, youll meet someone who truly loves just you, Yang Qiu." Yang Qiu was frantic inside. Was shepletely misunderstood? Did third sister-inw think so poorly of her? Third sister-inw had already warned her, how could she still be attracted to him? "Third sister-inw, can we talk outside?" "..." "If theres something to say, say it here. In our family, we dont whisper behind each others backs," Yangs father was still angry and didnt permit them to go outside. Today, everything had to be rified. Not allowed to speak privately, what was she to do? Reveal the truth? Third sister-inw had expressly instructed not to say anything to dad and mom before everything was confirmed and until someone was found. As she hesitated, unsure of how to proceed, she heard her elder brothers voice, "Third sister-inw, can you exin clearly whats going on? Whose sister is Xiaoqiu exactly? Im quite confused." "..." What? Elder brother knew about this too? "Third sister-inw, you just implied that Xiaoqiu is Li Fuguis aunt?" Second brother Yang Gang followed up with a question. "..." Second brother knew too? Xiaoqiu looked at third sister-inw, confused. Did everyone know? Should she speak out? As their father listened to this conversation, he realized his children were definitely keeping a big secret from them. "What exactly are you hiding? Dont you think of us old folks anymore?" Since it was already mentioned, might as well speak it out, after all, if it wasnt Yang Xia, things would merely go back to how they were before Yang Xia existed. "We suspect that the Xiaotian mentioned by Li Fugui is our Yang Xia," Xiaoxiao finally spoke out, hoping Yang Ming wouldnt me her. "..." The family was stunned. Could this be true? The elderly couple was incredibly excited. Had they found the daughter they had been thinking about for seventeen years? Yangs father asked in a trembling voice, "Third daughter-inw, are you sure?" "Not sure, which is why we didnt dare tell you, fearing your disappointment. We just think Li Fugui might have mistaken someone, purely because Yang Qiu looks like Xiaotian. So, we specte it might be our Yang Xia, which is why she resembles her." Hearing this, the elderly couple became extremely disappointed. Just because someone looks alike doesnt mean they are the same, Yangs father sighed repeatedly, feeling the hope was slim. At that moment, Yang Qiu spoke up, taking off the ne around her neck and handing it to Yangs father, "Dad, do you recognize this ne?" Chapter 226: It’s Our Xiaoxia

Chapter 226: Chapter 226: Its Our Xiaoxia

Old Man Yang took the ne, overwhelmed with emotion, his hands trembling nonstop. How could he not recognize it? He would never forget this ne for as long as he lived; it was the one he had personally put on Yang Xia when she was born. At that time, he happened to be out working and had just received his wages. Thinking that his wife was about to give birth, he decided to buy something to bring back. He came across the ne at a stall and was told by the seller that it had the character "Xia" on it. Since he had named the child Yang Xia, he bought it. Only Yang Xia had a ne because, during the births of the other children, he hadnt gone out, so he hadnt thought of buying anything to bring back. Old Man Yang was still lost in his memories, remembering the baby with the chubby cheeks, when tears unknowingly welled up in his eyes, moistening them. Yang Mings mother saw the ne and her reaction was even more intense; she cried nonstop, clutching Old Man Yangs arm, excitedly repeating the same phrase over and over, "My childs father, its our Xiaoxia, its our Xiaoxia..." "Yes, my olddy, its our Xiaoxia." Old Man Yang responded with a shaky voice to his wife. Seventeen years had passed, and this was the first time he had heard anything about his daughter. He thought he would never hear it, even on his dying day. Seeing their parents reaction, the whole family was thrilled. They hadnt expected the mad Li Fugui to actually bring news of their sister. It seemed that taking him in had been the right decision after allgood deeds do get rewarded. Although they had agreed to shelter him, they couldnt deny there had been reluctance in their hearts. "Dad, Mom, this is great; finally, theres news of Yang Xia." "Yes, your sister was just a baby when you were little; you even held her." "Hehe." Boss Yang Chun scratched his head and chuckled foolishly. He was genuinely very happy. "Dad, did I ever get to hold her?" Yang Qiu, the second son, also became interested. "You were too young then; we didnt dare let you hold her." "Hahaha..." "..." "..." The room was no longer filled with the deathly stillness from before but now had bursts of heartyughter. Everyone was immersed in the joy of learning that Xiaotian was Yang Xia, chatting away happily for almost an hour. But a single question shattered this harmonious atmosphere, "Where is Yang Xia now?" "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless. Why did her sister-inw have to bring up such a mood-dampening topic? Couldnt she let them be happy for a bit longer? Sigh, but what her sister-inw was saying was the truth, after all. Sooner orter, it had to be addressed; avoiding it wouldnt solve anything. After hearing the words of the second sons wife, the family fell silent. They had been so happy to know that Xiaotian was Yang Xia, yet they had overlooked this critical issuewhere was their Yang Xia now, and was she doing well? "My daughter-inw, how much do you know about Xiaotian? How has she been these past years?" Old Man Yang asked anxiously. "Dad, Xiaotian must have had it good these years." "Really?" Old Man Yang was slightly incredulous. After all, another of his daughters had undergone terrible hardships in recent years, and the thought of Yang Qiu also pained him deeply. "Yes, she has been working as a maid in Li Fuguis household. Ive heard she is extremely cherished by Li Fugui. From his behavior toward Yang Qiu, you should have some idea. You just heard Li Fugui say they had agreed to marry in three years time. That must have referred to Xiaotian, not our Xiaoxia, right, Xiaoxia?" As Xiaoxiao spoke, the family all turned to look at Yang Qiu, and Old Man Yang became particrly anxious, "Xiaoxia, what exactly is going on between you and that Li Chapter 227: The Passive Xiaoqiu

Chapter 227: Chapter 227: The Passive Xiaoqiu

Upon learning that Yang Qiu and Li Fugui were together, Old Mr. Yang was already disappointed with his daughter. Now that he realized Xiaoqiu was actually Yang Xia, he knew he had to prevent Yang Qiu and Li Fugui from being together; how could two sisters share one husband? "Father, theres really nothing between me and Li Fugui," said Yang Qiu aggrievedly, wondering how to exin herself so her family would believe her. "You better be telling the truth, or youll face consequences." Old Mr. Yang didntckpassion for his daughter; he just feared she would get hurt again her prior wounds had been deep enough. Tears welled up in Yang Qius eyes as she clutched Xiaoxiaos clothing corner in distress. "Sister-inw, you believe me." Seeing Yang Qiu like this, Xiaoxiao didnt know what to say, fearing the girl had taken the wrong path. If someday Li Fugui recovered, he would not ept Yang Qiu; she would be the only one hurt. "Its not that I dont believe you. Tell me how you ended up in each others arms!" "I went there today to fish for information about that ne, always thinking it must be my sisters. By the time I snapped back to my senses, I had been embraced; I really hadnt thought about it like that." "..." So that was it? No wonder the ne was on Yang Qiu had she misunderstood Yang Qiu? But what was the crying aboutst night when she said she couldnt like Li Fugui? Xiaoxiao was utterly confused, worried that Yang Qiu was developing feelings this could mean interfering in anothers rtionship. "Last night when I said you couldnt like Li Fugui, you started crying," she remarked. Yang Qiu stayed silent, crying even harder, leaving the family perplexed. "..." Was her silence because she had hit the mark? Had she fallen for Li Fugui after all? "Sister-inw, I..." Yang Qiu stammered, unsure how to begin. Listening to his daughter-inw and observing his own daughters reaction, Old Mr. Yang sensed trouble brewing. "Your sister-inw is asking you a question. Answer her." Yang Qiu wiped her tears with a handkerchief, finally voicing her deepest fears, "Im distraught because Ive been married and had a child. Who would want me now? Sister-inw must think the same, which is why she warned me. I just felt so awful I couldnt hold back the tears, but theres really nothing between me and Li Fugui." "..." Xiaoxiao hadnt expected Yang Qiu to be so pessimistic. So what if she was married or had a child? She was only fifteen, with many years ahead and every right to choose happiness. "Yang Qiu, I never thought that way. I warned you against liking Li Fugui because he is your brother-inw, but I never said you couldnt like someone else. Youre still young, and theres a long road ahead. You will marry again!" "Would anyone want to marry me?" Yang Qiu felt her sister-inw was justforting her. How could she possibly remarry? No one would want her. "Of course! Our Yang Qiu is so beautiful. You will definitely find someone who loves you reciprocally. When the timees, Ill help you prepare a splendid dowry for your wedding." Hearing her sister-inws words, Yang Qius eyes brightened, no longer dull. A blush tinged her cheeks as a smile slowly formed; she felt maybe she could find someone just as her sister-inw had said. "If you find someone you like, tell me. Ill help you make sure hes right, and then we can strategize on how to win him over." Upon hearing Xiaoxiaos words, waves of thoughts stirred in the familys hearts. Their sister-inw was plotting something big even strategizing to win someone over. Could she be forcing a marriage just like she did? Chapter 228 The Sober Li Fugui

Chapter 228: Chapter 228 The Sober Li Fugui

Li Fugui, having been yelled at by Xiaoxiao, was crouched in the corner, hands covering his head, motionless. After a long while, he finally stood up. His eyes cleared, but there was added sadness in them. He remembered everything now. Xiaotian had given him the best she had to offer, and to avoid burdening him, chose to leave without saying goodbye. But what had he himself done after Xiaotian had left? He had mistaken another woman for her, albeit only for two short days, but he felt that he had failed Xiaotian and had to leave this ce. He began packing up his meager possessions; he was going to find his Xiaotian. Yang Dong, seeing Li Fugui like this, wasnt sure what to do. What illness had this man sumbed to now? As he was thinking this, he saw Li Fugui exit the house. This was trouble. His sister-inw had asked him to keep an eye on him. "Where are you going?" Li Fugui didnt answer and headed straight for the main gate. Yang Dong panicked and hurriedly shouted toward the Main House, "Sister-inw, its bad, Li Fugui has left." The family, upon hearing Yang Dongs shout, quickly went out to pursue him. In this cold weather, where could he go alone? Besides, only he knew about Yang Xias situation. They couldnt let him leave! "Li Fugui,e back!" Xiaoxiao shouted after stepping outside. But Li Fugui didnt listen at all, he continued walking forward without turning his head. He had to leave immediately. How could he face that person named Yang Qiu? That was Yang Mings sister. "Big brother, second brother, restrain him and bring him back inside." Seeing how resolute Li Fugui was, Xiaoxiao had no choice but to be tough. There was no reasoning with someone acting like a patient. "... " When Li Fugui heard Xiaoxiaos order, he thought to himself how fierce Yang Mings wife was; she had just pped him twice. Right, he had been too hasty earlier and forgot to take back the chain from Yang Qiu. That was the only thing Xiaotian had left him. He turned around and was just about to head back when Yang Mings two brothers picked him up together. He struggled. This family was all the same, all so violent. "Put me down; I can walk on my own." But Yang Chun and Yang Gang didnt listen to Li Fuguis words at all. Thinking he was still ill, they followed their younger sister-inws order and carried him back inside. Li Fugui, set down again, looked at everyone in the room and also saw Yang Qiu, the person he had mistaken for someone else. He didnt want to face her, but he had to. He motioned with his hand, asking for the object, "Give me back the chain." "... " "Its the only thing Xiaotian left for me." "... " What was going on? Li Fugui was speaking to Yang Qiu with a cold tone, a tone that was no longer the caring one from before. Was he no longer mistaking Yang Qiu for Xiaotian? Could it be that he hade to his senses? Xiaoxiao voiced her thoughts, "Li Fugui, are you well now?" "Yes." "... " The family hadnt expected that Li Fugui woulde to his senses from Xiaoxiaos beating and yelling, a fortunate mistake that aplished good. Seeing that Yang Qiu was unresponsive, Li Fugui bowed towards her, "Im sorry, I mistook you for someone else these past two days. I only have Xiaotian in my heart, and I am very sorry for the trouble I caused you." Seeing Li Fugui like this, Yang Qiu disyed a radiant smile. "My sister really didnt see the wrong person, brother-inw." "... " Upon hearing this "brother-inw," Li Fugui suddenly looked up. Brother-inw? Was she addressing him? Chapter 229: Don’t Go, You Have No Funding

Chapter 229: Chapter 229: Dont Go, You Have No Funding

Li Fugui looked at everyone inside the house with confusion. "Li Fugui, is that ne really Xiaotians?" Xiaoxiao thought it was still best to confirm the identity, lest they celebrate in vain because of a mistake. "Yes, it was left to me by Xiaotian. She said it was the only thing her parents left her." "How old is she this year?" "Seventeen, not yet eighteen." Upon hearing this answer, everyone could no longer hide their excitement. Just now they had only seen the ne, but now, with Li Fuguis words, it waspletely certain that Xiaotian was indeed their familys Yang Xia. "Werent you going to marry Xiaotian?" "Yes." Li Fuguis heart pounded with anxiety at Xiaoxiaos question. What was this wife of Yang Ming going on about with such an odd question? "Then thats settled. Yang Qiu didnt call you brother-inw wrongly, thats your young aunt." "..." "Thats your father-inw and mother-inw, thats your elder uncle, and your second uncle. Do I need to introduce everyone to you one by one?" "What exactly are you saying?" Li Fugui became more and more confused as he listened. Why couldnt this wife of Yang Ming speak inly? Why did she have to speak in such a strangely sarcastic tone? "Still dont get it? Xiaotian is the long-lost younger sister of Yang Ming. We are Xiaotians maternal family." "What? How is that possible?" Li Fugui felt like he had heard a huge joke. Such coincidences simply dont happen. He had known Yang Ming for several years and had never heard about a long-lost sister. "The ne, and the resemnce of Yang Qius face, are the proof." Upon hearing this, Li Fuguis gaze froze for a moment. Eventually, even if he didnt want to believe it, he had to. The ne indeed was left by Xiaotians parents, and as for Yang Qius appearance, although not exactly the same, did bear a strong resemnce. Could it really be that Xiaotian was Yang Mings sister? He was shocked by the sudden news. He could hardly believe that things could be so dramatic. When he was at his wits end, it turned out to be Xiaotians maternal family who helped him. Could this be destiny guiding Xiaotian back to her family? Did his Xiaotian finally have a family? But where was she now? Did she still have a chance to return to this family? His gaze then darkened; so it was his young aunt that they had mistaken for his Xiaotian. This made it even more difficult for him to face. How was he to face Xiaotians maternal family? He picked up his bundle and stood up, ready to leave. He couldnt stay here a moment longer. "Are you still going to leave?" "Yes." "Where will you go?" "I am going to look for Xiaotian." "Where will you look?" "I dont know." "..." Xiaoxiao was at a loss for words. How could Li Fugui be so thoughtless? One couldnt find someone just by rushing around aimlessly. She asked, "Where exactly has Xiaotian gone? Wasnt she with you?" "She was afraid of being a burden on me, so she left without saying goodbye. I have no idea where she went." As he spoke of this, Li Fuguis eyes were filled with sadness and pain. Upon receiving this news, the family became extremely disheartened. It seemed that their Yang Xia was still hopelessly lost. "..." Xiaoxiao hadnt expected things to turn out this way. Xiaotian, just like the people from the old Yang family, had a kind heart. She then said, "Dont leave. You dont have the means." "..." "You dont have a penny to your name. You probably wont get far, and even before you find Xiaotian, you might die." "..." He was aware of his dire situation, but what could he do? He just couldnt face Yang Qiu. Chapter 230 Uncle, I Agree to Stay

Chapter 230: Chapter 230 Uncle, I Agree to Stay

"Youre covered in injuries right now, you should at least heal your wounds before we talk about anything else." Xiaoxiao thought that Li Fugui had nowhere else to turn, staying here was the best choice. They shouldnt rush into finding people; its truly not easy to find someone in sea of people. They must n carefully and she hadnt even told Yang Ming about this yet. Li Fugui didnt reply, but looked at everyone in the room instead. Seeing their sincere gazes, he didnt know how to choose. He knew very well that he had no other options. When he looked at Yang Qiu, his gaze quickly shifted away. He felt that even though he had no other options, he still had to leave. He knew about everything that happened in thest two days; because he was ill, Yang Qiu was forced to spend time with him. She was a kind girl, just like Xiaotian, and he feared that staying would lead to misunderstandings with Yang Qiu, making further interactions awkward. He lifted his foot and continued to walk outside, saying, "When I find Xiaotian, Ill bring her back." Xiaoxiao didnt expect that after her plea, Li Fugui still didnt get it. She had no choice but to take a harsher approach and she yelled out again, "Li Fugui!" The whole family gasped. The daughter-inw of the third child was going to blow her top again. Li Fuguis steps halted. What was this Yang Mings daughter-inws issue, acting like a tigress, how many times had she yelled at him in just one day? "If you leave, donte back. Once we find Xiaotian, were marrying her off to someone else. Were Xiaotians family; we have the final say on whom she marries." Xiaoxiao said this with a guilty conscience, unsure if it could really intimidate Li Fugui. Li Fugui was stunned. If Xiaotian really returned to this home, marriage had always been a matter decided by parents and arranged by matchmakers since ancient times. If they disagreed, he really wouldnt be able to marry Xiaotian. No, Xiaotian couldnt marry someone else, she could only marry him. He hesitated, struggling internally whether or not to stay. He looked at Yang Qiu again, truly afraid that the recent events had caused her to misunderstand. He couldnt hurt Xiaotians family. Xiaoxiao caught Li Fuguis reaction. Assuming that Li Fugui intended to leave because he was afraid of Yang Qiu, she shouted at him again, "Rest assured, our Xiaoqiu doesnt fancy you. Just take care of yourself." "..." Li Fuguis eyes widened, he couldnt believe that Yang Mings wife could read his thoughts. Xiaoxiao continued to provoke, "You dont have confidence in yourself? Afraid you might fall for Yang Qiu?" Li Fugui got irritated by this remark and immediately retorted, "Impossible, I only like Xiaotian, and I will only marry Xiaotian." "Then stay to prove your sincerity," Xiaoxiao argued. "If you stay, once we find Xiaotian, well marry her to you. My word is my bond." "Are you serious?" Li Fugui wavered, but such a decision wasnt solely up to Yang Mings wife. Just then, a deep elderly voice spoke, it was Yangs father, "Its true, I will make the decision on this matter for you." Li Fugui hadnt expected this, was he being acknowledged by his future father-inw? If he stayed and found Xiaotian, could he really marry her? This was what he had always dreamed of, he was incredibly excited inside, "Uncle, I agree to stay." Seeing Li Fugui agree to stay, Xiaoxiao sighed in relief. Speaking was a skill; fortunately, Li Fugui was a fool whod believe anything, "Dont think its going to be easy staying here. Whatever you are told to do, you do, understand?" Hearing this, Li Fuguis body trembled involuntarily. Why did he feel like he was bing Yang Ming wifes servant? Chapter 231: The Free Teacher

Chapter 231: Chapter 231: The Free Teacher

"Starting tomorrow, youll be responsible for teaching the three little ones and Yang Dong how to read," Xiaoxiao said to Li Fugui. Since they had decided to stay in this family, they had to contribute. Otherwise, who would support him for nothing? Yang Dong, feeling aggrieved upon hearing this arrangement, asked, "Third sister-inw, I have to learn from him?" He could tolerate living under the same roof, but if the man became a teacher, wouldnt he have to defer to him at every turn? He felt like his status would be lowered. After all, being a teacher was a distinguished role. "What? A free teacher, if you dont use it, you waste it. Do you really want to go to town and give your silver to someone else?" "Then Ill learn from him," Yang Dong quickly agreed at the mention of silver. If they all went to town to study, that would cost so much silver. Third sister-inw was right; free things should not be wasted, especially when he was eating their food. Li Fugui was bewildered. He had just agreed to stay here when Yang Mings wife assigned him work, and it was to look after children no less! Hed never interacted with kids before. Thinking of the ruffians he had taught over the years, he trulycked confidence. He felt apprehensive. Seeing Li Fuguis expression, Xiaoxiao wondered if he was dissatisfied with her arrangement. "What, you got a problem with that?" "No." Now, Li Fugui was afraid just hearing the tone of Yang Mings wife. She was too fierce; how could he dare to object? Sure enough. "Even if you have an objection, its useless. No opposition will be epted. Besides teaching them, youll have to teach the others in the house too, but the main focus is still on the three little ones and Yang Dong." "Understood," Li Fugui nodded in acknowledgement. Although Xiaoxiao appeared nonchnt, she was inwardly thrilled. She had been worrying about the childrens education, and now that problem was solved without having to pay any silver! Anyway, Li Fugui had recovered from his sickness, and he used to be the Eldest Young Master. But this ce was the countryside, and apart from a bit of literacy, it was doubtful he could be of much other help. She had found him a job, and he should be quietly pleased about it. Turning to her parents-inw with a softer tone, Xiaoxiao spoke,"Dad, Mom, please dont worry. Its better now than before. We didnt have any news in the past, but now we know Xiaotian is Yang Xia. Its only a matter of time before we find him." Even if searching was hard, she had to reassure her family. They could only take one step at a time with the search; she had to discuss it with Yang Ming. "Hmm," Old Yang knew full well that finding people was difficult, but he still responded. He knew his third daughter-inw wasforting them. The family talked for a long time, mainly because everyone was so eager to know about Xiaotians past. Li Fugui stayed behind and told them a great deal. When talking about Xiaotian, Li Fugui was like a box of chatter opened wide. He spoke non-stop, remembering every little detail as clear as day. Whenever he brought up Xiaotian, his eyes seemed to speak, bright and shining. Listening by the side, Xiaoxiao observed Li Fuguis animated spirit when mentioning Xiaotian. This wasnt simply fondness; it was clear deep affection. After a long time, the family left the main house to start preparing dinner. As they stepped out, Xiaoxiao pulled Li Fugui aside and whispered, "Dont underestimate this job as a free teacher. Its an opportunity for you to show your worth in front of your future father-inw. Make good use of it." After speaking, Xiaoxiao went to help her sister-inw with dinner preparations. "..." Li Fugui stood there in a daze, alone. An opportunity to show himself? So she was looking out for his best interests after all? Chapter 232: I’m not afraid of a god-like opponent, I’m afraid of a pig-like teammate.

Chapter 232: Chapter 232: Im not afraid of a god-like opponent, Im afraid of a pig-like teammate.

At dinner, old man Yang said to Yang Chun, "Boss, you should make a trip to the county town tomorrow and tell your third brother that Xiaotians matter is Yang Xias business." Just as Xiaoxiao was eating, she stood up at once when she heard this, identally hitting her leg against the stool. She let out a hiss of pain, then loudly said, "Dad, Ill go." "..." The family, seeing the reaction of their third daughter-inw, couldnt help but wonder; it was just her going after all. Was there a need to get so worked up? All flustered and clumsylook, she even bumped into something. Xiaoxiao chuckled, her actions just now were indeed a huge embarrassment. As soon as she heard dad ask big brother to tell Yang Ming, she became anxious; she wanted to see Yang Ming herself and tell him about it in person. She tried to act calm, quickly sat down, and covered up her previous activity, saying, "Im going to Xiangxiang Cloth Shop tomorrow anyway, so theres no need for big brother to make a special trip." She felt that what she said was perfect and airtight, that nobody would tease her for wanting to see Yang Mingbut sometimes, instead of fearing a godlike opponent, one should fear pig-like teammates. "Third sister-inw, didnt we agree to choose an Embroiderer tomorrow? Howe youre heading to Xiangxiang Cloth Shop now? If you go, who will choose the Embroiderer?" Xiaoxiaos face turned red in an instant. Her second sister-inw sure picked the perfect time to expose her; what a straightforward and blunt sister-inw she was, "I forgot, I just remembered now, were not choosing Embroiderers tomorrow." "How could you forget that? Ive got to let them know tomorrow," second sister-inw continued, oblivious to the situation. "..." But the others had seen through the charade; the third daughter-inw was making excuses to see their third brother, especially those who had just learned about the couples recent wedding nighteach had their thoughts about it. A wedding night is not without its significance, just look at how clingy the two are to each other. In the end, it was old man Yang who came to the rescue, "All right then, Boss, theres no need for you to go, let the third daughter-inw go by herself." "Sure, got it, dad," replied Boss Yang Chun. Xiaoxiao thus escaped a close call, and after eating, she quickly returned to her room. She had truly lost her head earlier, getting so agitated for what? It wouldnt have been a big deal if big brother had goneanytime wouldve been fine for her to go. But no matter what, the task of visiting Yang Ming was now hers, and she was overjoyed. The thought of seeing her husband the next day brightened her spirits immensely. After washing up, shey on the bed, pondering what to wear the next day. She sat up suddenly, pulling out all her clothes from the wardrobe andparing them one by one. It took her a long time to make a choice. She then sat down at the table and picked up the bronze mirror, finding herself hard to look at in the reflection. Her hair, now long, was a tangled mess. At the age of fifteen, her skin wasnt bad, but her bare face was not very attractive. Should she buy some cosmetics tomorrow to change herself up a bit, at least pluck her eyebrows or something? She also wondered what she should bring Yang Ming the next day. Should she make him a love-filled homemade lunch? Before she knew it, it waste at night. Xiaoxiao eventually dozed off foggily, waking up the next morning with dark circles under her eyes, and her condition was far from great. In the end, she set out with her appearancepletely unchanged. She knew Yang Ming had sses in the morning, so first, she bought some food and supplies for him and didnt go to the Academy until noon. Chapter 233: Held by the Princess?

Chapter 233: Chapter 233: Held by the Princess?

Academy As soon as the noon ss was dismissed, "Yang Ming, someone is looking for you." Everyone saw that someone was looking for Yang Ming again and had gotten used to it; they were no longer as interested as before, since Yang Ming had been sought after so often recently. Yang Ming stood up and walked out the door, his heart pounding. Who could it be? Could it be his family again? Perhaps something had happened to Li Fugui. With such doubts, he walked outside and soon saw his wifes petite figure from a distance. His heart leaped with joy. His beloved wife hade, and this was their first meeting since thest incident. Though it had only been a couple of days, thinking about that night made his face feel hot and a bit embarrassed. "Yang Ming." Before he could get closer, he heard his wifes call and quickly approached her, "Xiaoxiao, youre here." "Mm." The truth was, Yang Ming wasnt the only one embarrassed; Xiaoxiao was too. Her face was red, although it was so cold that it was hard to tell. "Are you cold? Lets go find a ce to eat and warm you up," said Yang Ming, seeing his wifes flushed cheeks, sure she must be freezing after waiting for him for so long; he spoke tenderly. "Not cold at all." Indeed, she wasnt cold; she was just embarrassed. "What would you like to eat?" "Lets go to the private room at Yui Restaurant. I have something important to tell you," Xiaoxiao said seriously, which made Yang Mings imaginations run wild. "..." What could make his wifee all the way herecould it be about that time he asked her to use her hand, and now she wasing to settle the ount? Did she want a divorce again? At this moment, Yang Mings intelligence waspletely offline. His brows furrowed, and his face turned ashen. He didnt dare to ask. The two of them remained silent all the way to Yui Restaurant. Xiaoxiao had no idea that she could scare her husband cheaply just by looking serious. She was also wondering why her cheap husband had suddenly stopped talking the entire way; he had been fine just a moment ago. After they arrived at the private room and aside from ordering from Xiaoer, Yang Ming remained silent, not saying a word even after the food was served. Hey, whats wrong with him? Xiaoxiao got angry. She had eagerlye to see him, and even her family had teased her about it. She didnte to see his grumpy face. "Yang Ming." "..." Here it came, his wife was finally going to speak. "Dont you want to see me?" "..." "Why do you have such a sour face?" "..." His wifes expression was terrifying, very angry. What exactly was she going to say? "Then Im leaving, goodbye." Seeing her cheap husband not responding, she stood up and walked towards the door. She hade with good intentions and high spirits only to be ignored and faced with his sullen look. Seeing his wife like this, Yang Ming waspletely panicked. He stood up and ran to pull her back, "Xiaoxiao, dont go." "Let go of me." Xiaoxiao was still furious and wouldnt listen to Yang Ming. Yang Ming still held onto his wife firmly; seeing her so angry, he felt if he let her leave now, it would bepletely over. "Let go!" Xiaoxiao shouted loudly, struggling fiercely. Seeing his wife like this, Yang Ming was out of options; if it continued this way, his wife might actually leave. Desperate, he bent down, and in a swift move, he lifted her horizontally in his arms, "Wife, lets eat first." Xiaoxiao waspletely stunned, being carried in a princess hold unexpectedly; and he had just called her wife again. Chapter 234 Are You Sure?

Chapter 234: Chapter 234 Are You Sure?

Seeing that his wife had fallen silent, he carried her back to the stool, intending to put her down, but why did he find it so difficult to let go? As he thought this, he actually did just that, standing there holding his wife, unwilling to put her down, as if time itself hade to a halt. "..." At this moment, Xiaoxiao came to her senses and realized she was still in Yang Mings arms. What should she do, should she try to break free? But she had already tried that, and it didnt seem to work very well, she couldnt overpower Yang Ming. Moreover, she had never experienced a princess carry before. Forget it, she thought shed just wait for Yang Ming to put her down on his own, but as she waited, it felt like a long time had passed and Yang Ming showed no signs of letting go. She felt like she couldnt hold on much longer, her dangling arms didnt know where to rest, and the posture was very unttering. Acting impulsively, she reached up and unconsciously wrapped her arms around Yang Mings neck, resting her head against his chest, finding the mostfortable position. Yes, this was the right way, the true princess carry. Feeling his wifes soft hands around his neck, and her small head resting on his chest, Yang Ming felt his blood boiling. He quickly set his wife down on the stool, not sparing any gentleness; he needed to calm down. At that moment, Xiaoxiao got startled by his sudden move, thinking, Damn, a true princess carry didnt evenst three seconds; Yang Ming definitely dislikes her! It wasnt that he disliked her as a person, but maybe he thought she was too heavy. The good mood from being carried princess style and being called "wife" vanished in an instant. Xiaoxiao sat there, silent, not touching her chopsticks, ignoring Yang Ming; she, too, needed to calm down. Yang Ming sat beside her, his heart a tumultuous sea, clueless about what his wife meant, only aware that she looked unhappy, very unhappy. He pretended to beposed, picked up his wifes chopsticks, and began to pick food for her, after selecting a good amount, he passed the chopsticks to his wife, "Eat up, its getting cold." Xiaoxiao acted as if she heard nothing, ignored him -- she wouldnt bother with him, she had been proactive and yet faced rejection, not joyful, very not joyful. Seeing that his wife wasnt eating, Yang Ming didnt know what to do; he was naturally clumsy and not good at coaxing his wife. "If you wont eat, Ill feed you." He thought that was the only move he could make, it seemed to work every time, his wife was very afraid of this move. But to his surprise, he heard his wifes affirmative answer, "Mhm!" His hand holding the chopsticks paused; his wifes reaction was off,st time his wife had clearly said, You win, I give up. and then obediently took her medicine, why was her response different this time? What should he do? Should he really feed his wife? "Hurry up." "..." His wife was even urging him to feed her quickly, he felt that today his wife was very unusual. Xiaoxiao, maintaining a calm exterior yet feeling quite unsettled inside, thought she was being incredibly bold today, even letting her bargain husband feed her; would he do it? Just as she was thinking this, she saw her bargain husband pick up a piece of food with the chopsticks, she was about to open her mouth in anticipation. "Are you sure? Feed you with my mouth?" "..." Chapter 235: Feed Me Quickly

Chapter 235: Chapter 235: Feed Me Quickly

"Are you sure? Feed with the mouth?" "Im sure," Xiaoxiao answered quickly. She thought her cheap husband was beating around the bush too much. Just feed her already, why all the nonsense and questions about certainty. "..." Wait a minute. Feed with the mouth? Did she mishear something just now? Shouldnt it be normal to feed with a spoon or chopsticks? Her cheap husband was not ying by the rules, entangling her in his game, and now that she had caught on, her face instantly turned red. Yang Ming was equally unsettled. He hadnt expected his wife to agree so readily to be fed with the mouth! That wasnt his intentionhe just wanted to scare her into eating. What now? Really do it with the mouth? Although he had fed her with his mouth before, she had been unconscious at the time. But now it was differenthis lively wife was right there in front of him. Coming back to her senses, Xiaoxiao saw her cheap husband still not making a move and felt a coldness in her heart. She knew it; she was being rejected again. How much did he dislike her, after all? She pouted, breaking the silent and awkward atmosphere, "Feed with the mouth? Keep dreaming." Upon hearing this, Yang Mings heart, which had been hanging in suspense, inexplicably rxed. He was really scared; he was extremely afraid of touch, as his bodys reaction hadnt subsided yet. However, Xiaoxiao captured this behavior keenly, as she was very attentive to peoples actions and expressions. Indeed, Yang Ming didnt want to feed her with his mouth. Indeed, her feelings for him were one-sided. And after he had clearly been holding her hand previously, she thought cynically that all men think with the lower half of their bodies. But even so, Xiaoxiao was a cockroach that couldnt be squashed, for she knew her own heart. She decided to win over her cheap husband and initiated all modes of flirting. She didnt believe that under her onught, her cheap husbands heart wouldnt crumble. She wanted to make him be the first to say he liked her. So she said, "Come on, feed me." "..." What was with his wife now? Hadnt she just said he was wishful thinking? His recently settled heart was on edge again. "Use a spoon, use chopsticks." "..." Watching his wife pout, Yang Ming knew she was still angry. He didnt say a word but picked up the spoon and began to feed her, mouthful by mouthful, as she instructed. "I want to eat this." "..." "I want to eat that." "..." Yang Ming felt his wife was acting unusually today, but whatever it was, she was eating, and he would feed her whatever she asked for. As Xiaoxiao ate, she thought if she really could win over her cheap husband, hed be like a loyal dog. Look, wasnt he obediently feeding her? Xiaoxiaos mood gradually improved. From time to time, she licked her lips with her tongue. Hm, the food was indeed tasty. But this simple action of licking her lips caused Yang Mings throat to tighten, and he swallowed hard. He felt this meal was dragging on forever. "Im done eating; its your turn," Xiaoxiao said, having been only focused on enjoying herself and forgetting that Yang Ming hadnt eaten yet. She saw him swallowing saliva and thought he was hungry or drooling with appetite, so she quickly let Yang Ming eat. It must be said, despite her observant nature, she was utterly clueless about emotions. "I have something important to tell you after you finish eating." "..." Here ites, was she going to settle scores with him? How could he continue eating with that on his mind? Chapter 236 Uncle Three is a Sister Complex

Chapter 236: Chapter 236 Uncle Three is a Sister Complex

Yang Ming ate, his emotions fluctuating wildly. His wife asking him to feed her didnt seem like she was looking for a confrontation over the previous issue. What could be so serious to make his wife act this way? Could it be... His mind finally cleared, and his intelligence returned with it. Impatient to finish eating, he blurted out, "Xiaoxiao, is it about Li Fugui... " "Hmm." Upon hearing Xiaoxiaos affirmative response, joy flickered across Yang Mings brow. So, he had been worrying over nothing; his wife wasnt there to settle scores. His mood inexplicably improved. He began to eat more quickly, feeling that the meal now tasted much better than before. Seeing Yang Mings reaction, Xiaoxiao wondered what was going on with him. Mentioning Li Fugui seemed to make him happier than seeing her. Could it be she was less important than that Li Fugui? She felt as though she had taken ten thousand points of damage. Why wasnt he speaking anymore? He was enjoying his meal so much. Didnt he want to know about Li Fuguis condition? Or could it be he already knew? Who could have been so loose-lipped to tell him before her, "You already know?" "Know what?" "..." He knew nothing; then why the joy, "About Li Fugui!" "..." He suddenly realized. Could he admit that his joy had caused him topletely forget Li Fugui, "Yes, what about him?" "He got better." "What did you say?" Yang Ming looked up sharply, shock mingled with confusion in his eyes. It had only been two days; how could Li Fugui get better so quickly, "How did he get better?" "I hit him." "..." As expected, he knew it couldnt just be a spontaneous recovery. So, his wife had hit him. What had Li Fugui done to provoke his wife, who was usually so calm, "What did he do?" "Nothing much, just found him hugging Yang Qiu." "What?" They were hugging in just two days? His veins throbbed with rage, and he stopped eating to stand up, ready to confront Li Fugui, "Lets go, were heading home right now." "..." Emma, the look on her bargain husbands face was even more terrifying than before. Was he angry because his sister was hugged? Is he an overprotective brother? "He dare bully my sister!" "..." Emma, indeed an overprotective brother, and with a temper fiercer than hers. Seeing her bargain husbands clenched fists, she felt she could almost hear the knuckles crackingan omen far more daunting than her own p. How could Li Fugui be okay after that? It was lucky Yang Ming wasnt at home at the time. She immediately stopped her bargain husband from storming out, "Dont overreact. Didnt I take care of it by hitting him? Besides, theres nothing between him and Yang Qiu. You can rx." Yang Ming turned to look at his wife. Thats right, she must have handled everything at home beforeing to tell him. He then returned to his seat, somewhat calmer, "How badly did you hit him?" "Not too bad, just pped him twice." "Thats a bit light." For hugging his sister, two ps surely wouldnt suffice, would they? "..." It was a good thing he wasnt there then. Xiaoxiao really feared for Li Fugui. Li Fugui, oh Li Fugui, you better pray for luck, your brother-inw is an overprotective brother. "Thats not the main point!" "..." "The main point is that Li Fugui confirmed Xiaotians identity after regaining consciousness." "Is it my sister Yang Xia?" His excitement was palpable, fearful of a negative answer. "Yes, the whole family knows about it now, and they sent me to tell you." Chapter 237 I’ve already promised your sister to him.

Chapter 237: Chapter 237 Ive already promised your sister to him.

Having received affirmative response, Yang Mings heart leaped with joy. Just as he had suspected, that was indeed their familys Yang Xia, "I think so too." "Hmm?" "The information Ive gathered these past two days leads me to believe that Xiaotians surname is Xia, and he is called Xiatian. I dont think its a coincidence." "..." So, her cheap husband had not been idle after returning to the county but had continued to gather information. It was clear how much he valued this matter, "Did you find out anything else?" "They say he left with a rich young master. I dont know if its true or not." "..." What? That cant be right. She had guaranteed it with a pat on her chest. How could Xiaoxiao still run away with another man? She spoke with a hint of dejection, "Li Fugui is staying with our family." "Mm, he doesnt have anywhere else to go now. For now, let him stay at our home." This might be the best solution right now, for if his brother could push Xiaotian to such an extent, he probably wouldnt let him off easy either. "Its not about staying temporarily; its about staying permanently with our family now." "..." Yang Ming didnt understand. What was his wife talking about? The man was getting better, staying at their home was only temporary, he would have to leave eventually. "I have already promised your sisters hand in marriage to him." "What?" He felt as if a bang went off in his ears. "Your father also agreed." Upon hearing such news, Yang Ming felt as if lightning had struck him. His sister was betrothed to someone else after just two days of not seeing her? His expression turned serious,ced with agitation, "I disagree with this, its too hasty." "..." Her cheap husband seemed to really like saying "I disagree," wasnt it good for lovers to end up together? Moreover, even his father had agreed, what reason did he have to disagree? "Your opposition is ineffective." Looking at his wife in such a state, Yang Ming couldnt help but wonder why she was being so foolish this time. He spoke softly, "This wont do, Xiaoxiao." "Whether it does or not, Li Fugui has agreed." "Li Fugui actually agreed?" "Why wouldnt he agree? Hes more than happy!" "..." Li Fugui had actually agreed. So all his deep affection was a lie, wasnt it? How could everything change in just two days? He was utterly panicked, "Yang Qiu absolutely cannot marry Li Fugui." "Wait, who did you say?" "..." "When did I say I was giving Yang Qiu to Li Fugui?" "Not Yang Qiu?" "Not Yang Qiu. Im talking about Xiaotian. We promised Li Fugui that if we found Xiaotian, we would agree to their marriage. Thats why he stayed." "..." Yang Ming didnt know what to say, his wifes words had taken him by surprise. He had thought that her reference to staying in their home meant marrying Yang Qiu. "Ah!" Seeing Yang Mings puzzled eyes, Xiaoxiao suddenly realized her mistake and eximed, "Sorry, I didnt make myself clear." "Its me who didnt understand." Their gazes met, and Xiaoxiao giggled, making Yang Ming also smile. Oh, this wife of his! "Yang Ming, so how do we find him?" "Lets start by looking around nearby." "Sigh, we dont have any connections. It seems quite difficult to find him." Xiaoxiao sighed, finding someone wasnt easy. People were like ants on the ground, swarming everywhere, where to begin the search? Yang Ming also knew clearly it was a matter of taking each step as it came. Maybe one day, Xiaotian woulde back looking for Li Fugui. As he was thinking this, he heard his wifes voice. "If only Big Golden Leg was here, that would be great." "..." Big Golden Leg? Who was his wife talking about? Chapter 238 Husband Wife

Chapter 238: Chapter 238 Husband Wife

Yang Mings face darkened. Who was his wife thinking about? She even nicknamed someone "Big Gold Leg." "Who is Big Gold Leg?" "Ah, you mean Big Gold Leg? Hes the Young Master of Yui Restaurant. You havent met him. Ill introduce you two when theres a chance. Hes a person who..." Xiaoxiao replied nonchntly, discussing Big Gold Legs character, utterly oblivious to her husbands feelings at the moment. Upon hearing his wifes reply, Yang Ming felt terrible. So, she had been thinking about Big Brother Chu Lian, and Chu Lian had also been thinking about him. If he werent there, then the two of them... His wife even had a nickname for Big Brother Chu Lian? He felt inexplicably jealous. His wife only called him by his name. Was that a bit distant? "Why do you call him Big Gold Leg?" "Because hes rich. Wealthy people are called Big Legs, and since hes particrly wealthy, hes called Big Gold Leg." "..." Though the exnation wasnt great, he still felt jealous that Chu Lian had a nickname and he didnt. "What about me, do I have a nickname?" "..." Oh! His nickname was Cheap Husband, how could she admit that? She said guiltily, "No... none." Seeing his wifes evasive eyes, he inexplicably wanted a name that only his wife would use for him. "From now on, you dont have to call me by my name." "..." Oh, then what should she call him? "You can call me Dear!" "Calling you Dear wont do, but I can call you Hubby." Xiaoxiao immediately objected. "..." Hubby? That sounds awful. "Can we pick something else?" "..." This silly man, does Hubby sound that bad? Its a term of endearment. "Just say if you will allow it or not. Its your exclusive title." "..." Exclusive title? "Fine, Hubby it is." Xiaoxiao chuckled, "You can also stop calling me by my name." Upon hearing this, Yang Ming couldnt hide the joy in his eyes. Could he also use a special name for his wife? "You can call me Wifey." "..." Wifey? Hubby and Wifey, does that mean the names match each other? "Wifey." "Hmm." "Hubby." "Hmm." The two called each other and responded, both giggling foolishly. The atmosphere was wonderfully harmonious. Yang Ming felt particrly selfish at that moment. Even if his wife and Big Brother Chu Lian were meant to be together, it was not eptable. His wife could only be his. Because he was so smitten with his wife, he couldnt let her go. "You are my wife; you cant think about other men." "..." She was thinking about other men? Big Gold Leg? She had almost forgotten him, sent him far away to Shanxi. Had it not been for searching for Xiaotian, she likely wouldnt even have remembered that man. Could it be that her Cheap Husband was jealous? However, she loved hearing her Cheap Husband say those words as it was a deration of his rights over her. She could not show weakness; she had to stake her im too. She tilted her head up slightly, her lips curling lightly. "You are my Hubby, and you cant think about other women either." "..." Hearing this, Yang Ming came to a halt. His wife could actually say such a thing. Did that mean the same as for him? He could only be hers. "Hmm!" He nodded in agreement. Yang Ming felt that he had be someone unlike himself at that moment. He really wanted to hug her again. His body moved involuntary, but he was suddenly stopped by his wifes shout, "Ah, Hubby, lets go, or youll bete for this afternoon." Chapter 239: The Reluctant Farewell

Chapter 239: Chapter 239: The Reluctant Farewell

Yang Ming felt that time had passed so quickly, and whether he liked it or not, it was time to leave. The two packed up, settled the bill at the Yui Restaurant, and took a different route home. On the way back, Xiaoxiao talked a lot about the past two days, giving her "husband" a rough idea of what had happened. "So, thats how things are. When you go back in a few days, dont be harsh on Li Fugui," Xiaoxiao thought it best to give him a heads up, hoping he wouldnt start a fight as soon as he returned. "Yeah, dont worry, I wont hit him." "..." She just didnt quite believe that. "Xiaoqiu is a bit down, but you can rest assured that I n to take her with me more often from now on, to get her out and about and meet more people." "Yeah, thanks for taking care of Xiaoqiu." "Just focus on your studies, dont worry about home. These are all things I bought for you to eat and use. You should go inside now." It had only been a few days, yet his wife had bought him another bunch of things to eat and use. He felt incredibly lucky to have married her; she was perfect both inside and out and handled everything so well. "Wife, thank you." Hearing the word "wife," Xiaoxiao chuckled with delight, her heart blooming with joy. It felt as sweet as honey. Although her stand-in husband didnt yet understand the significance of this word, once she conquered him and made him genuinely fall for herto say he loved herthats when she would tell him. "No need to thank me, Im your wife after all." Yang Ming felt his wife was quite different now, and he liked this version of her even more. "If you need anything,e find me at the Academy. Ill be heading back there in a few days." "Okay." "I should go in now." "Okay, husband, goodbye." Xiaoxiao waved her soft little hand, voicing the sweetest words. Holding his things, Yang Ming walked towards the gate, looking back every few steps. He was reluctant to go in. Watching this, Xiaoxiao wondered if her efforts were starting to show some effect. "Go on inside, Im leaving now." "Okay." Finally, with reluctance, the two parted ways. Yang Ming returned to the Academy, and Xiaoxiao went to Xiangxiang Cloth Shop. As soon as she entered, Wang Xiangxiang greeted her cheerfully, "Xiaoxiao, youre here atst! I was just about toe looking for you." "Whats happened?" Xiaoxiao was puzzled. Shed only been away for two days. "Ha ha, look at how Imughing. What could have possibly happened? If anything, its good news." "..." Wang Xiangxiang talked just like her, always beating around the bush, but Xiaoxiao found herpany easygoing and enjoyable. "The fabric has arrived. Come take a look." "So soon?" Xiaoxiao hadnt expected that Wang Xiangxiang would be true to her word and have the fabric delivered so promptly. "Thats right, my friend is very reliable. Actually, I had ns to introduce you." "A man or a woman?" "A man." "..." Huh, Wang Xiangxiangs friend was a man? "Hes the Young Master of the Dyeing Workshop. Weve known each other for many years because of our families connections." "So, youre childhood sweethearts, then? No wonder youre not married yet." Xiaoxiao teased Wang Xiangxiang, implying she understood the situation. "Ha ha ha, we cant really call it childhood sweethearts. His real childhood sweetheart is his wife," Wang Xiangxiang said with augh. Married? Seeing no hint of heartache in Wang Xiangxiangs demeanor, Xiaoxiao realized she probably had it wrong. "He had to leave in a hurry this time because he found his long-lost wife and rushed back home." "..." What is this ce, where people keep losing sisters and wives? Long-lost? That must mean shes quite old, right? "Lets not talk about that. Come take a look at the fabric. I n to send it to you tomorrow." "Alright." Chapter 240: Change Hairstyle

Chapter 240: Chapter 240: Change Hairstyle

The fabric quality was all top-notch, and Xiaoxiao felt she really made the right choice to coborate with Wang Xiangxiang. She didnt have to worry about anything. "Sister Wang, Im going to buy some face powder and rougeter, are you free? Lets go together." Xiaoxiao didnt quite understand the makeup here and thought it best to find someone who did. She couldnt risk buying something bad and ruining her face. "You dont usually wear that stuff." "Hahaha, Im looking to change up my image, you see. Im not quite up to scratch in the looks department." What she cared about most was not wanting to look too ugly in front of her budget husband. "..." Wang Xiangxiang looked Xiaoxiao over and then wondered if it might be a bit toote, "Your hairstyle is what doesnt make the cut." "..." Eh? This hairstyle was the one she was most satisfied with. It looked so much better than when it was tied up, which was why she had cut it in the first ce, although it had grown long enough to tie up again. Could it be that her taste was the problem? "In that case,e with me, lets get you a makeover." Having said that, Wang Xiangxiang grabbed Xiaoxiao and headed out. "..." Xiaoxiao hadnt quitee to terms with what was happening when she was already being ushered away. "Sister Wang, where are we going?" "Youll see when we get there." The two arrived at the brothels entrance. Xiaoxiao was instantly taken aback; a brothel... for two women? But she was genuinely curious to see what it was like inside. "Haha, dont be surprised. There have to be people everywhere, right? Otherwise how would they do business." "..." That made a weird kind of sense. And so they strode boldly in. "The top girl, Mudan." "..." Requesting the top girl right off the bat, how much money would that cost? Xiaoxiao was suddenly nervous. Did she have enough money on her? She better not get stuck unable to leave. "Dont worry, its on me." "..." Was she that transparent? She felt like a country bumpkin touring the Grand View Garden, but why did this invitation feel so awkward, like she was being treated to a visit to a prostitute? Following Xiangxiang, Xiaoxiao entered the top girl Mudans room. As they made their way, she realized there was nothing special about the brothelher curiosity faded. Upon entering, a gentle voice greeted them, "Sister Xiangxiang." "..." Sister Xiangxiang sounded so much more pleasant than the Sister Wang she used. Upon hearing the voice, Xiaoxiao looked over and indeed, there was a ssic beauty worthy of the title of top girl. Wang Xiangxiang went straight in, "Help her with her hair." "..." So this was about getting a new hairstyle? But if it was just hairstyling, why not open a salon or something? Why at this brothel? "Who is thisdy?" Mudan saw that Xiangxiang had brought someone, which must mean an important guest. "She made that brassiere youre wearing," said Wang Xiangxiang nonchntly. Upon hearing this, Mudans gaze toward Xiaoxiao changedshe hadnt expected the maker of such an item to be this unremarkable-looking woman. "Hello, my name is Zhong Xiaoxiao. You can call me Xiaoxiao." "Hello, you can call me Mudan." After they got acquainted, Xiaoxiao sat down and waited for Mudan to work on her hair. "Your hair, if we put up the back and cut the front shorter, it will look more refreshing." "..." Was this kind of styling even possible? All she had thought about was long hair and short hair, but Mudan seemed quite the professional. And sure enough, it didnt take long for Mudan to finish the hairstyle. Xiaoxiao took the bronze mirror and looked my goodness, she really suited ssical hairstyles. With the essories added, absolutely gorgeous. Xiaoxiao was delighted. If her budget husband could see her now, heehee, "This is too pretty. Quick, teach me how you did this." Yes, yes, she had decided. This would be her hairstyle from now on. Chapter 241: Makeup

Chapter 241: Chapter 241: Makeup

"You see, I told you your hairstyle wasnt up to par. Now do you believe it?" Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously at Wang Xiangxiang, "Yes, I believe it, I believe it. We really need to find a professional." Mudan looked at them, both acting like children, both so spirited, and she envied them deeply. "Actually, if your hair was a bit longer at the back, it would be even better to style." "Yeah, Ill keep it growing," Xiaoxiao thought to herself, thankful that she had been too busytely to impulsively cut it. Otherwise, she wouldnt have been able to enjoy such a beautiful hairstyle. "Next, youll learn how to style your hair. But first, lets do your makeup." "..." Xiaoxiao, seeing that it was time for makeup, was even more excited because her previous hairstyle had amazed her, so she assumed her makeup would be just as good. But when she saw Mudane over with a razor de, she freaked out. What was this for? Surely they werent going to shave her face? "Well shave your eyebrows first, then draw them on!" "..." What? Her beautifully natural eyebrows needed to be shaved? That wouldnt do at all; a simple shaping would suffice. She had just been toozy to do it before, but she knew how to trim them. She took the razor de, "Ill do it myself." Xiaoxiao faced the bronze mirror, carefully trimming, and in no time, a pair of lovely eyebrows appeared on her face, making her look more spirited. Both Wang Xiangxiang and Mudan were stunned. They were used to shaving and then drawing, but they hadnt thought it could be done this way, both natural and attractive. "Xiaoxiao, youre really good at this," Wang Xiangxiang couldnt help but praise. "When my eyebrows grow back, you can do mine." "Sure, let your eyebrows grow out," Xiaoxiao chuckled, thrilled with her own transformation. "Whats next? What do we do?" "First, wash your face, then well apply some rouge and face powder." "Oh, okay." Xiaoxiao immediately followed the instructions, curious about the rouge and face powder here; she knew how to apply makeup, just not ording to these particr methods. Upon seeing Mudan bring over a strange-looking box, apparently containing the rouge and face powder, and opening it to find various powders, Xiaoxiao had her doubtsapply it directly to the face? My goodness, could that work? Xiaoxiao was skeptical. But wanting to look good, she decided to give it a try. Please forgive her vanityits only natural for a woman to want to look appealing. Fortunately, the process was straightforward, simr to modernpact and blush. Once she knew which was which, she watched once and could use it on her own thereafter. Thest touch was the lipstick; the color was quite bright, and Xiaoxiaos pout looked good with it on. Facing the mirror, Xiaoxiao was lost in her reflection. She realized her features suited a ssical style; this makeover made her many times more stunning than before. While she hadnt reached the level of a beauty, she was still presentable enough to go outwho could me her with such a weak foundation? "What? Surprised by your own beauty?" Wang Xiangxiang joked. She really hadnt expected Xiaoxiao to look this good with a makeover. Hearing Wang Xiangxiangsment brought Xiaoxiao back to reality, "Haha, it looks good." "..." Not humble at all. Xiaoxiao was never one to be demure, "Quick, Im going to wash my face, and then Ill do it myself." "..." Xiaoxiao quickly did her makeup, leaving Wang Xiangxiang and Mudan in continuous awe. After just watching once, she had learned to apply her own makeupand it was just as good as theirs. "Haha, hows that? Not bad, right?" "..." It was more than just goodit was fantastic. "Youre incredibly talented. Are you sure youve never used this before?" "..." Of course, she had used makeup before, just not these exact products. "Okay, lets move on to hairstyling." Chapter 242: Miss, Are You Looking for Me?

Chapter 242: Chapter 242: Miss, Are You Looking for Me?

"Actually, there are a few more hairstyles that would suit you nicely. Do you want to try styling them?" "Of course, yes, I want to learn them all." Sticking to the same hairstyle all the time is too monotonous, having a variety is better. Mudan styled a few more hairstyles for Xiaoxiao, and Xiaoxiao learned with such concentration that she mastered them in no time. Before, she never paid attention to this stuff; she knew how to do makeup, but she hardly ever applied it. With a cellphone andputer forpany, she wouldnt waste time on such things, but now things were different, now she had plenty of time. Moreover, she was about tounch her offensive; it wouldnt do to have a poor appearance, she needed to increase her odds of sess. "Where can I buy all these? Ill go out and get some myselfter." Her original goal was to buy rouge and face powder, but she got sidetracked. However, this was also good; it saved her the trouble of trying to figure out how to use them on her ownter. "Take these, consider them a gift for our meeting." Mudan packed up the rouge and face powder and handed them to Xiaoxiao. "..." Huh? Are there freebies included? Xiaoxiao didnt ept them, immediately pushing them back toward Mudan, "I cant ept this. Youve already taught me so much, how can I take more from you?" "Just take it." "No way." The two of them tugged back and forth, the package moving to and fro between them, until Wang Xiangxiang couldnt stand it anymore and directly said, "Xiaoxiao, if she is giving it to you, just take it. Otherwise, well have to go out and buy itter." Seeing Wang Xiangxiang insist, Xiaoxiao didnt push it any further. She could reciprocate with giftster; shes never liked being in anyones debt, "Okay, fine, Ill take it then. Thank you, Mudan. Ill bring you a gift when I have the chance." "No need to reciprocate. The bras and panties you made were a huge help for me; this is nothing!" Mudan said, her cheeks blushing. "..." Huh? Does that mean the bras and panties sessfully attracted men? Despite what she said, that wasnt her intention for making them. Seeing it was gettingte, Wang Xiangxiang and Xiaoxiao left the brothel. As soon as they were out, Xiaoxiao immediately asked, "Sister Wang, that Mudan..." "Yes, its just as youre thinking. Thanks to your bras and panties, she regained her position as the top girl." "..." What could she say to that? It worked? If she made a batch of proper ones and sold them to the brothels, wouldnt there be even more potential for development? "Sister Wang, about the silver from earlier, Ill give it back to you." The top girl was rather expensive, and just like that, fifty taels were gone without doing much; indeed, it wasnt a ce for the poor to frequent. "Forget it, I said it was my treat. If you really want to repay the favor, juste up with more styles of underwear." Wang Xiangxiang said teasingly with augh, "That silver was well spent. Just look at you now; if your husband saw you, he might not even recognize you." "..." Not recognize her, could that be? Should she let him seeter? Would it give him a bit of a shock? "Alright then, I wont be polite about it, Ill make more styles to repay you. Not having to spend silver makes me even happier!" As they walked, Xiaoxiao continued chatting, and the two of them went to the grocery store to buy honey before parting ways. After separating from Wang Xiangxiang, Xiaoxiao couldnt contain her excitement and wanted to show her husband right away how she looked, so she headed to the Academy, though it was getting veryte. Academy "Yang Ming, someone is at the gate looking for you." "..." With the sky almost dark, it couldnt possibly be family. Yang Ming came to the gate with a puzzled heart. As he approached and saw only a beautiful woman at the gate, it must be her, but why was this woman dressed in clothes just like his wifes? Although he was perplexed, he still asked, "Miss, are you looking for me?" "..." Chapter 243 She Said She’s Your Wife

Chapter 243: Chapter 243 She Said Shes Your Wife

Xiaoxiaos eyes widened in shock. Was this really necessary? It was getting a bit dark, but it wasnt like she had transformed into a celestial beauty. A closer look and she was still the same person. Her fluttering eyes blinked at her bargain husband. Her pouting little red lips smiled, showcasing two cute dimples, hoping he would recognize her. But, to her disappointment, "Miss, are you looking for me?" Yang Ming, seeing that the woman wasnt responding and kept staring intently at him with a smile, felt quite uneasy. He immediately asked again. "..." Xiaoxiao waspletely frustrated. How could her bargain husband still not recognize her? The difference really wasnt that significant. Could it be that he had face blindness? Seeing Yang Mings puzzled expression, Xiaoxiao got a mischievous idea. She decided to tease Yang Ming by pretending to be another woman to see how he would react. She picked up a handkerchief, pretending to be very shy, covered half of her face, and intentionally used a very soft, gentle voice. "Young Master Yang, since our hurried parting, this youngdy has missed you terribly and didnt know what to do. Today, I havee just to see you." Upon hearing the womans voice, Yang Ming, in addition to being surprised, scowled, his face dark as coal. What was this woman talking about? He didnt recognize her at all. He had just been pondering how this person looked a bit like his wife. Now, hearing her voice, he immediately dismissed that thought. It definitely wasnt his wife. "Miss, you have the wrong person." Yang Ming turned and walked away, feeling like he had encountered someone not quite right in the head. He didnt want to get entangled with another woman. As her bargain husband walked away, Xiaoxiao quickly stepped forward and hugged Yang Ming from behind, "Young Master, the youngdy hasnt mistaken you. That day, you even held my hand..." "Miss, please behave yourself." Yang Ming immediately pried Xiaoxiaos hands off, showing no mercy and harshly shoving her aside. Leaving behind nothing but those words, he dashed into the Academy. "..." She wasnt done ying yet. Why did her bargain husband run off? Watching him sprint so fast he nearly tripped and fell was truly amusing. She hadnt realized he could be so adorably funny. But what now? Should she just leave? She couldnt let him go without knowing it was her. She wasnt willing to give up. So, she found an Attendant Student and asked him to call Yang Ming out. Unexpectedly, she couldnt even get him called out, "Miss, Yang Ming said he doesnt know you. Please leave quickly." "..." What should she do now? "Please, help me call him one more time." The Attendant Student, seeing how Xiaoxiao kept pleading, really couldnt bear to refuse. So he went inside again. Upon returning, he advised Xiaoxiao, "Miss, you should go. He wonte out." "..." Was there really no hope? An idea shed in her mind. Turning to the Attendant Student, she raised a finger and pleaded, "Little brother, please, just onest time." Seeing Xiaoxiaos demeanor, the Attendant Student helplessly shook his head, "Okay, but really, this is thest time." Inside the Academy Yang Ming, seeing the Attendant Studenting back, said impatiently, "I really dont know her. Just have her leave, and if you see her again, dont bother telling me." "She wanted me to ry a message. If you still wonte out after hearing it, then shell really leave." "..." Still a message? Even with the message, he wouldnt go out. He didnt know that person, and what if he got entangled? "She said shes your wife." The Attendant Student was puzzled. What was a wife? Chapter 244: Beautiful, Really Beautiful

Chapter 244: Chapter 244: Beautiful, Really Beautiful

Hearing the Attendant Students words, Yang Ming felt his heartbeat quicken, his hands clumsy, and his mind in a daze. The woman imed to be his wife didnt that make her his bride? He charged breathlessly to the entrance, gasping with unsteady breath, and arrived in front of Xiaoxiao. Without saying a word, he intently stared at Xiaoxiao, scrutinizing her from head to toe. His face was full of surprise and excitement. It was truly his bride. His bride could actually be so beautiful; beautiful to the extent that he hadnt recognized her. Seeing her husbands reaction, Xiaoxiao wondered if she had startled him silly. She waved her hand in front of her husbands eyes, "Husband." "Wife, is it really you?" "..." How could he still be doubtful, who else would call him husband? It seemed he really had lost his senses, "Do I look good?" "Beautiful, truly beautiful." Love filled Yang Mings eyes, impossible to hide, as he openly praised how beautiful his wife was genuinely beautiful, not falsely so. Upon hearing Yang Mings words, Xiaoxiao felt overjoyed. Her efforts all afternoon had not been in vain; she had not even gone home just to show herself to Yang Ming, and now it was about to be pitch-dark. Yet recalling Yang Ming not recognizing her tinged her mood with gloom. Once, a friend had shared a video of a group of people dancing, wearing the same outfits and performing the same movements. No one could recognize who she was, but her husband knew instantly which one in the corner was her that must be true love, surely. Thinking this, she felt true love was still quite far between her and Yang Ming. She poutingly sulked, feeling a bit jealous of her friend, "But you didnt recognize me at first." "..." His wife was so beautiful, he had never thought it was her; how could he dare stare at another woman like that, "Im sorry, it got a bit dark, I couldnt see clearly." "..." Could it be that Yang Ming had been staying up reading, turning himself nearsighted? That exined why he hadnt realized it was her. With that thought, she felt much better, realizing she needed to provide him with more candles in the future to protect his eyes. "Calling for you, but you didnte out, made me wait for so long. And now, it has gotten dark." Even though Xiaoxiao felt better, she continuedining,pletely unaware that her significant transformation had been why her husband hadnt dared to recognize her. "Im sorry, lets go home." "..." Wait, she was justining, not meaning that, and she quickly waved her hands, "No need, I will find a car to go backter." "Its dark already, and you on your own, I cant be at peace." Where would he find peace, knowing a woman was walking alone at night especially when his wife had be so beautiful now? Was her husband being considerate of her? This thought brought a smile to her face. Perhaps she should let him escort her; walking alone at night was indeed frightening, "Then, lets go home." When they decided to go home and started looking for a car, they couldnt find one, possibly because it was toote. Xiaoxiao grew anxious. Were they supposed to walk home? That would take two hours, and she had grown unustomed to walking after always taking cars. Moreover, walking at night felt more frightening, even more so than in a car, especially in the countryside with no streetlights, eerily quiet. "What should we do? Walk back?" "Yes, dont be afraid, Im here." Hearing Yang Mings words, Xiaoxiao inexplicably felt a sense of security, and the two of them walked along the pitch-dark country road. Chapter 245: Meeting You, So Lucky

Chapter 245: Chapter 245: Meeting You, So Lucky

But the road was really dark, and difficult to navigate, relying solely on the moonlight, they could barely make out the path under their feet, so the two of them didnt walk quickly. "Wife, are you tired?" Yang Ming had already slowed his pace, but seeing that his wife was still having difficulty keeping up, it seemed like she was about to fall behind. "Not tired." She just felt it was too dark, and the path uneven, afraid of falling, which was why she was so slow. "Lets walk slower." Yang Ming thought it best to slow down even more, so his wife could keep up, and that way, she wouldnt be so tired. "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless at his words, couldnt he be a bit more sensitive and let her lean on him? What a blockhead C where had his earlier courage to carry her gone? After walking a bit further, Xiaoxiao felt this pace was not sustainable; at this rate, theyd take forever to reach home. She raised her hand andtched onto Yang Mings arm, saying with a smile, "Walking this way will be faster, without holding on, Im afraid Ill fall." Feeling his wifes arm tighten around his, Yang Ming only felt his heart tremble once again, his wife was actively getting close to him, "Yeah, hold on to me." Only then did their pace pick up, Xiaoxiao, arm in Yang Mings, felt in high spirits, as if they were a couple; so, this was what it felt like to have her boyfriends arm around her, "Husband, let me sing you a song." "Yeah." Yang Ming felt his wifes mood was especially good today; was it because she was looking better? She indeed looked very beautiful. "Ahem." Xiaoxiao cleared her throat, "The songs name is Little Luck." "Yeah." "I hear raindrops falling on the green grass, I hear the distant ss bell chime, but I do not hear your voice calling out my name earnestly..." Xiaoxiaos singing voice echoed along the countryne, and Yang Ming felt the sound was incredibly beautiful; some of the lyrics were even more so, how could his wife think of such beautiful lines, to meet you was such luck, he really did feel very fortunate. "Is it nice?" At his wifes inquiry, Yang Ming came back to his senses, "Its nice." "To encounter you was such good fortune... youre the luck I wish to keep the most, the words to this song are written so well," Xiaoxiao marveled. "..." Initially, Yang Ming got excited, thinking his wife was talking about him, only to realize it was the song lyrics, but indeed the lyrics were beautifully written, "Yeah, you wrote it very well." "..." This was a big misunderstanding C she hadnt written them, okay! The two walked a bit more, and this time Xiaoxiao truly felt tired and couldnt walk any further. She wanted to stop, and this time Yang Ming wasnt so slow to catch on. He stopped in front of her and crouched down, "Come on, Ill carry you." "..." Eh? What was her usually unperceptive husband thinking, finally getting it? In the past, she would have never allowed herself to be carried when she was unaware of her feelings, but times had changed, and this was a good opportunity, Xiaoxiao climbed straight onto Yang Mings back. Yang Ming felt over the moon, his wife looked so good today, and she let him hold her, let him carry her; when had they stopped maintaining a distance of two meters from each other? Xiaoxiao, being carried, was absolutely thrilled; this wasnt her initiating it, he offered to carry her, sheid on Yang Mings shoulder, rubbing and nuzzling from time to time, finding the mostfortable position. Yang Ming, feeling the constant nuzzling, felt as if there was a fire burning inside; he really wanted to reach home fast. Chapter 246: Exchange my heart for yours, only then realizing the depth of our memories

Chapter 246: Chapter 246: Exchange my heart for yours, only then realizing the depth of our memories

Yang Ming walked on with his wife on his back. However, after a short while, he felt his wifes body slipping. If he didnt hitch her up, she would fall off. He cautiously tipped his wife upward, nearly brushing her bottom inadvertently. His heart thumped wildly, terrified she might discover this and leap off his back. Momentster, seeing that his wife remained motionless, he felt relieved and continued walking. He sensed he could no longer hide his love today and wanted to boldly express it. He didnt know where things had gone wrong. He had shown his love through actions before, given her a token of love, held her hand proactively, and even hugged herall these clear gestures had been rejected mercilessly. Hepletely forgot that his wife hadnt refused when helping him with her hands. Now, he felt there was only onest resort leftspeak out. His wife seemed not as cold as before; perhaps there was hope. Summoning his courage, he said, "Wife, theres something I want to tell you." "Mhm." At this point, Xiaoxiao was clueless that her cheap husband was about to confess. Resting on Yang Mings back, she murmured to herself, slightly shifting her body, already dozing off. But it was precisely her murmuring and subtle movements that made him think she was awake. Yang Mings heart rose to his throat; he was about to do it, to express his love to his wife. He took a deep breath, "Exchange my heart for yours, only then realizing the depth of our longing." After speaking, he waited in silence, hoping his wife would reconcile with him. Yet, he was met with quietness. He had failed again, faced with a silent rejection, and was extremely dejected. Carrying his wife, he walked on without saying another word, feeling incredibly heavy-hearted. His mind nk, he didnt even notice when vigers, carrying torches, spoke to him as they passed by on the way into the vige. "Schr Yang,ing back sote?" "..." "Who are you carrying on your back?" "..." Seeing Schr Yang walk away without responding, the vigers were perplexed. Although the torch gave off insufficient light, they could tell he was carrying a woman on his backand certainly not the Schrs wife. The Schr carrying another womante at night? This was big news. Paying no mind to their own affairs, they all went straight home. At this moment, Yang Ming was still dazed, unaware that his behavior had led to yet another misunderstanding. Because it was already dark, he didnt disturb his family. Instead, he carried his wife directly back to the room, unaware she was sleeping. He spoke to his wife, "Come down, were home," before gently setting her down on the kang. Startled awake by the sudden movement, Xiaoxiao opened her eyes and eximed, "Ah, are we home already? Husband." "Mhm." Yang Ming answered with a dark expression on his face and then left the room to tend to household work. He started to prepare the firewood, heat the kang, and cook. Although rejected, he still had to do chores for his wife; he didnt believe she could fail to see his good side. Xiaoxiao, still baffled, wondered why her cheap husband seemed so down. Could it be that he resented her weight? For carrying her too long? But she was sure she wasnt heavy. She rose and stepped outside, leaning against the doorframe, watching her cheap husband busying himself. Well, he did seem like a good family man. It was quite rare to see a man in these parts doing such chores. "Husband, do you think Im very heavy?" "..." Chapter 247: Then I’ll Have to Hold You in My Sleep Later

Chapter 247: Chapter 247: Then Ill Have to Hold You in My Sleep Later

Yang Ming, holding firewood in hand, abruptly paused. He looked towards his petite wife. Was the wife heavy? Not at all, lifting her felt light as a feather, it seemed she needed to eat more in the future, "Not heavy." "..." She also felt he wasnt heavy, so what was up with him, suddenly feeling so moody? Never mind, perhaps men are like women, having those few days each month. Xiaoxiao stopped pondering and came out, washed her hands, picked up the ricedle to scoop rice, and busied herself as well, "If we work together, itll be faster." "Hmm." Both of them busied themselves cooking, and soon everything was ready. During the meal, Yang Ming was still not very talkative, his mood noticeably low. Xiaoxiao couldnt stand it anymore, she used to ignore his words, but now her husbands mood swings directly tugged at her heart. After eating, having cleaned up everything, Xiaoxiao couldnt bear it any longer, "Honey, whats wrong, you seem down. Did something happen on the way?"> "..." She still asked if something happened? Was he supposed to bring it up again to be ruthlessly rejected again? He didnt want to, perhaps the timing wasnt right, he said dejectedly, "Nothing happened." "..." Seeing her husbands demeanor, it was unlikely that nothing had happened, something must have urred, he just wasnt saying. Xiaoxiao climbed onto the heated brick bed, made her bed, andy down. She was racking her brain, trying to figure out what could have gone wrong today. Suddenly a thought popped into her head, thinking it over, perhaps there was just one thing that might have upset her husband. Yang Ming sat at the table, his mind not on reading today. He was grappling with himself, wondering whether to ce his nket at the foot of the bed or next to his wife whenying it. Should he persist annoyingly once more? "Husband." Just as he was struggling, he heard his wife calling him, he raised his head, looked at her, "Hmm?" "Im sorry." "..." He was surprised, why was his wife apologizing out of the blue, was it for rejecting him? He did not want to bring it up again, hisplexion soured, "Dont mention it, I dont want to hear it." Although her husband didnt want her to talk, she still wanted to say, "Today, I shouldnt have pretended to be another woman." "..." Yang Mings gaze flickered, was this what his wife wanted to discuss? Why did she pretend to be another woman? He frowned, pondering the question, but to Xiaoxiao, it was clear, indeed, it was this that had upset her husband. "I didnt mean to, it was just that you didnt recognize me, and I thought it would be fun to tease you for a bit." "..." Was it not to test how he would react to another woman? Even if that hadnt been her intention, the result had suggested as much, he said with some disappointment, turning it into a question, "It wasnt a test?" "Really, it wasnt, you have to believe me." Xiaoxiao sat up, giving Yang Ming an innocent look. "Then were you satisfied with my performance?" Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously, "Satisfied, satisfied. Facing another woman, you didnt falter, you just ran away, couldnt even shout out, truly my good husband." "..." So, did he pass the test? Seeing her husband wasnt speaking, Xiaoxiao got down from the bed, grabbed Yang Mings arms, and shook them coquettishly, "I wont do it again, can you forgive me, please?" Yang Mings face broke into a yful smile, he thought it was a good opportunity to be stubbornly affectionate with his wife. His arm encircled his wifes waist, "Then I want to hold you while we sleep a bitter." "..." Chapter 248

Chapter 248: Chapter 248

Oh my God, Xiaoxiao felt her brain wasnt functioning properly. Was she digging herself another hole to jump into? What was even happening? Her bargain husband was so bold, daring to say such words. Should she agree? Actually, the request wasnt too unreasonable. Suddenly, as her bargain husband looked at her, she slightly lifted her heels, tilting her head up high to look back at him. Time seemed to stand still. She slowly closed her eyes, feeling as if she had no resistance when facing the person she liked. Even though she hadnt confirmed whether her bargain husband liked her or not, she was about to give in. At this moment, Yang Ming was still waiting for Xiaoxiaos response. To let or not to let him, she even closed her eyescould it be she was so tired she fell asleep? Little did he know about his wifes intention. Muchter, he cursed himself countless times, realizing he had been incredibly stupid, and not just ordinary stupid, but monumentally stupid. Seeing the bargain husband making no move, Xiaoxiao slightly lifted her eyelids, trying to sneak a peek at what he was doing. Seeing him, Xiaoxiao wondered, what did this mean? Yang Ming saw his wife begin to open her eyes, so he asked again, "Come on, do you agree or not?" Xiaoxiao felt so infuriated by his words that she felt like spitting blood on the spot. Hadnt she just wasted her time closing her eyes? Wasnt her eptance obvious enough? She had clearly already agreed, hadnt she? It really wasnt a willing deal. She immediately broke free, puffing with anger as she yelled at Yang Ming, "No, no, no, the important things must be said three times." Hearing this, Yang Ming felt that this was the second merciless rejection he had faced today. He directly stuffed Xiaoxiao under the covers,manding her, "You are my wife." Ones own wife, this cant be done, that cant be done. To think, in the whole of Dazhao Country, he was the only one, aughingstockit affected his male pride. "..." Xiaoxiao, silent upon hearing this, obedientlyy in bed, watching Yang Ming spread the nket, get under the covers, and lie beside her. She thought her bargain husband might continue to be rough, but he didnt; he really just covered himself with the nket and went to sleep. Internally, Xiaoxiao giggled to herself. What a foolish man, a clumsy man, but then she thought, if he really didnt want her, did it mean he truly didnt love her? Xiaoxiaos little mind began to wander with wild thoughts again. Anyway, she was the indestructible cockroach, considering it a benefit for herself. Even if he didnt love her, she wasnt afraidshed make him fall for her, she had plenty of ways. This time, she wasnt shy anymore, she confidently sought out the mostfortable position to sleep in. Just sleep, who couldnt do that? Lying there, shefortably slept, even tossing and turning a few times,pletely ignoring her bargain husband beside her. It wasnt long before she turned over again, but this time her head was pinned down by her bargain husbands arm. All she heard was his deep and slightly impatient voice, "Sleep!" "Oh, okay, okay," Xiaoxiao said softly. And like that, the twoy quietly together. The night was very still, so quiet that Xiaoxiao felt as if she could hear her own heartbeat, thumping, thumping, thumping... Yang Ming was also having a hard time; he could distinctly hear his own heart beating as well. Time passed slowly, and before long, the unexpected still happened. Chapter 249

Chapter 249: Chapter 249

They say impulse is the devil, and she had truly been blinded by love just now, almost giving herself away. Thats not how you seduce someone. Without having conquered her nominal husband, getting him to confess his love for her first, such actions were inappropriate, even with the use of hands. She had already made a mistake once and couldnt continue making mistakes; it would make Yang Ming think she was too casual. His heart grew more deste, and somewhat spitefully, he said, "You are my wife." "..." Didnt she know she was his wife? She had almost sumbed just now because she liked him, but Yang Ming didnt like her yet, how could he treat her as a tool for that purpose? She stared into Yang Mings eyes and asked solemnly, "Do you know the significance of doing this kind of thing?" "..." Significance? "This kind of thing should be done by two people who like each other." Yang Mings eyes lost their gleam. Yes, he really liked his wife, which was why he had acted that way, but he had just expressed his affection and was rejected. Clearly, his wife did not like him; she definitely would not engage in such an act with him. He didnt speak but got up quickly to dress and walked outside. Seeing Yang Ming like this, Xiaoxiao felt certain he did not like her. She had made things so clear, yet Yang Ming hadnt expressed his liking for her. The revolution was not yet sessful;rades still had to strive. "Where are you going?" "Im going to the outhouse." "..." Was he going to resolve it by himself in the outhouse? What if someone at home found out? That would be terrible. "You better handle it here in the room." "..." What was his wife talking about? Asking him to resolve it in front of her? Didnt he already feel embarrassed enough? He didnt stop walking, feeling that he needed to quickly escape this ce, "Mind your own business." He stood in the yard, feeling the cold wind, needing to calm down. "Little brother, what are you doing out here? You scared me." "..." Why did he run into his second brother again? How unlucky! "Its nothing, Im going inside now." Xiaoxiao heard the noise outside and felt uneasy. Was his self-solution discovered? She had told him not to go out. He just wouldnt listen. Disturbed by his second brother, Yang Ming had no choice but to go back into the room. He didnt know what to do. Should he pretend nothing happened and just lie down to sleep? He was still hesitating when he heard his wifes words. "Um, maybe you shouldnt hold me while sleeping anymore. Lets sleep separately like we used to," she said. "Okay." He replied in an extremely dejected tone, then he moved the nket to the end of the bed andy down himself. Xiaoxiao thought holding each other in sleep might lead to mistakes, so it was perhaps for the best. She fell into a deep sleep. The next day, just as it was getting slightly light, Xiaoxiao woke up. She was thinking that her bargain husband surely had to leave early again. She opened her eyes and screamed, "Ah!" The yelling woke Yang Ming immediately, and he asked, "Wife, whats wrong?" "You, you, you, why are you still in my bed?" "..." "..." Oh no, he had been caught. How had he overslept? Chapter 250: Sorry, Just Woke Up Confused

Chapter 250: Chapter 250: Sorry, Just Woke Up Confused

In the second brother Yang Gangs room "Whats going on, I think I heard our younger sister-inw calling out. I cant just ignore it; I have to check on her." Upon hearing his wifes words, Yang Gang quickly pulled his wife back under the covers, "Whats there to see? The third brother hase back." "Huh? When?" "Saw him when I got up to peest night." "The third brother is really something, hasnt he had a moments rest all night?" "Cut the chatter; am I not impressive too?" The couple started moving again under the covers. But not long after, "Mom, I need to pee." Yang Gang threw back the covers, gasping for air, "This kid really disrupts things. Hurry up and go pee." At this moment, Xiaoxiao was still unaware that her scream had led to another misunderstanding with her second brother and sister-inw. Yang Ming had actually run into her covers again and was grabbing her weapon, which was embarrassingly tiny. Awoken by his wifes scream, Yang Ming immediately sat up with her, realizing he had just grabbed something very soft on herhis wifes chest. He really hadnt meant to. Seeing the mischievous nce from her husband, Xiaoxiao quickly covered her chest with both hands, ring at Yang Ming, "What are you looking at?" Yang Ming scratched his head, trying to hide his embarrassment, "Sorry, I was still groggy from sleep." "..."Sleep groggy into my covers? Stop kidding." "Its gettingte. You can sleep some more. I need to leave now." Saying this, Yang Ming quickly got up and dressed. He needed to leave fast, otherwise he wasnt sure how to deal with his wifes calctions. Seeing how swiftly Yang Ming was moving, Xiaoxiao didnt bother to settle scores and called out to his retreating figure, "Arent you going to eat?" "No need." Only a loud bang of the door was heard as he left in such a rush. Xiaoxiao was left alone in the room. Was he avoiding her? Scared she would confront him about what just happened? "Haha, luckily he ran off quickly." Xiaoxiao was in a great mood alone in the room. She felt incredibly cheerful whenever she was with her soon-to-be-husband; it must be the sweet feeling of being in love. However, todays incident made her overlook a significant problemher t-chested figure. Fortunately, nothing serious happened yesterday, because with such a slight figure, she was practically a child. This bodys growth was terribly slow; never mind the missing periods, her chest wasnt growing either. She used to not care, but now, she really did care! She decided she needed to do something about it, nning to massage herself daily from now on. Right, and shed also drink soy milk every day. She recalled a news story about a man who grewrger breasts from daily soy milk. Maybe it would work for her too? Well, it was worth a shot anyway, just in case when the time came to get serious with Yang Ming, she didnt want to be, well, disappointingly small. She decided she would ask her aunt to get her some soy milk, and with these random thoughts, Xiaoxiao drifted off to sleep again. At this time, Yang Ming was on his way back to the county town. His mood wasnt as bad as yesterday. Being rejected didnt matter; after all, she was his future wife. He was determined to persevere until he won her over. Just look, he had held his wife close allst night. This morning Xiaoxiao got upte again; perhaps she was tired from walking backst night. The family was now used to her sleeping in; no one called her to get up. She slept until the sun was high in the sky when suddenly she heard her sister-inw calling, "Young sister-inw, are you up yet?" "Im up, sister-inw,e in. Whats up?" The sister-inw hurried into the room, "Its terrible, a big problem has urred!" "..." Chapter 251: You said I could stand it

Chapter 251: Chapter 251: You said I could stand it

"Sister-inw, whats happened?" As soon as sister-inw entered the room, she dragged Xiaoxiao aside andforted her, "Sis, I must say, dont get upset, you must hold on." "..." Could it be rted to her? It must be something big for her to need to hold on, "Mm, go on, I can withstand it." "Its, its..." Sister-inw hesitated to start, stammering. "Sister-inw!" Seeing Xiaoxiaos anticipating look, she thought she couldnt keep it hidden; sooner orter, Xiaoxiao would find out, so she said, "Its about your husband." "What happened to Yang Ming?" When Xiaoxiao heard it was about her husband and that she had to be strong, thinking something serious had happened to Yang Ming, she became anxious. Before sister-inw could continue, her body started to sway, her heart ached unbearably, possibly loving Yang Ming more than she realized. "Sis, I havent even said it yet." Sister-inw hurried to support Xiaoxiao. Xiaoxiao, supported to sit down, said weakly, "Go on, I can handle it." "..." Sister-inw thought to herself, this is what she calls withstanding? She hadnt even started, and she was already losing it. "Well, its actually not a big deal, depending on how you look at it." "Sister-inw, just tell me, are you trying to drive me mad?" She was genuinely anxious. Yang Ming had just left in the morning and now trouble; could it be an ident on the road? "Actually, everyones been saying thatst night your husband entered the vige with a woman on his back, a pretty one, not our viges Hehua then it must be Chunmei. They say he might be thinking of marrying again, the rumors are quite bizarre." Sister-inw said it all in one breath. After finishing, she looked at Xiaoxiaos reaction, fearing some adverse response, to find her utterly still. She continued tofort her, "Sis, dont worry, even if he wants to marry again, our parents must agree. Rest assured, were here to support you." "..." A woman on his back into the vige? Wasnt that her? Xiaoxiaos heart finally settled, relieved that Yang Ming was alright, scared for a moment before. Hearing sister-inws reassurances, Xiaoxiao burst intoughter, confusing her. "Hahaha!" "..." Whats with thisughter, "Sis, whats wrong with you? Have you lost your mind?" "Youre the one whos lost it, haha." Xiaoxiao stopped the loudughter and instead giggled quietly. "Sis, they say your husband might have another woman, and here you areughing?" Xiaoxiao assured sister-inw, "He cant have another woman; he can only have me." "I was also skeptical, but your brother-inw saidst night your husband stood in the yard refusing to enter the house. Could it not be because hes fretting over how to exin the other woman to you?" "Hahaha." Upon hearing sister-inws words, Xiaoxiaoughed even harder, realizing thatst night Yang Ming was just standing in the yard; she thought he had been caught in the outhouse. Could standing in the cold wind really put out the fire? This skill is too smart, way better than a cold shower. "Sis, can you stopughing? I am worried for you. Considering how close you two were this morning, your husband doesnt seem the type to have another woman. I just dont get it, sigh!" "..." How did they get close? What is sister-inw talking about, could it be this mornings noises? "Sister-inw, can you stop eavesdropping all the time?" "I honestly didnt eavesdrop; its just that your own voice was too loud." "..." Ah, what kind of soundproofing does this house have? She needed to move houses, and definitely not live next to sister-inw. Chapter 252: Don’t Go, Let’s Talk

Chapter 252: Chapter 252: Dont Go, Lets Talk

"Sister-inw, wait here for me for a moment," Xiaoxiao thought it best to let her sister-inw see her makeup transformation; after all, she would have to present herself well before meeting others in the future, and the family should get used to it first. "Eh? Third sister-inw," the second brothers wife looked bewildered as she watched the third sister-inw leave and thene back. After washing her face, Xiaoxiao sat at the table, took out the bronze mirror, and beganbing her hair over and over with ab. The second brothers wife was truly getting anxious, "Third sister-inw, its an emergency, why are you still so leisurely and unconcerned?" "Haha, its nothing, actually, the person Yang Ming was carryingst night was me, thats why Im not in a hurry." "Pfft!" Upon hearing this, the second brothers wifeughed out loud, clearly not believing a word. "Third sister-inw, youre covering for the third brother! Everyone says the woman he carried was beautiful, definitely not a schrs wife." "Are you saying Im not pretty, sister-inw?" "You know whether youre pretty or not, dont need me to say it." "..." Did her sister-inw have to be so blunt? Okay, she admitted she was not good-looking, her sister-inw was right. "I knew you wouldnt believe me, thats why I asked you to wait." "Wait for what?" the second brothers wife was puzzled. "Wait for me do hairstyle and makeup." As she spoke, Xiaoxiao took out the rouge and face powder as well as the hair essories given to her by Mudan. "Third sister-inw, when did you get all these things? They mustve been expensive," she eximed upon seeing the items. "Oh, just got them yesterday, a new friend gave them to me." "..." Third sister-inw sure is impressive, befriending powerful people who give away such valuable gifts so casually. Xiaoxiao then started fiddling with her makeup in front of her sister-inw, letting her witness the transformation bit by bit until the sister-inw was so shocked she couldnt speak, "Third sister-inw, you..." With her makeup done, Xiaoxiao smiled and gave her sister-inw a look, "Do you believe me now? Yang Ming really did carry mest night." "Third sister-inw, you look so beautiful, I almost didnt recognize you." Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Xiaoxiao felt even more confident. They say a persons looks are 30% natural and 70% grooming, and that really seemed true. She had thought herself to be quite good at dressing up before, but now realized that her confidence had been blind. "Not hiding anything from you, I went to find Yang Ming looking like this yesterday. He didnt recognize me and ran off scared. It took calling him several times before he was willing toe out of the Academy." "Did third brother really do that?" "Yes, thats why I trust him so much, he wouldnt go after other women behind my back. Rx, rx." Now the second brothers wife really believed her and burst outughing, "I was wondering why the third brother was so busy this early in the morning. Turns out it was you, third sister-inw, youve be so pretty!" "..." How big of a misunderstanding can this be? She refused to believe that her sister-inw thought she and Yang Ming were "up to something." As if she and her second brother didnt have any thoughts of their own. With a mischievous smile in her eyes, she teased, "Sister-inw, dont always talk about me. What were you and second brother up to this morning? Dont act like I dont know." The second brothers wife blushed at these words and hurriedly said, "Third sister-inw, Ive got things to do, Ill go first." Then she rushed out the door. "Sister-inw, dont go, lets share tips," Xiaoxiaoughed heartily after the sister-inw left, sure from her reaction that she and the second brother had indeed been "busy." When it came to gossiping about others, the sister-inw could do so without turning a hair, but when it was her turn, she was so shy, which was really amusing. Xiaoxiao now knew how to tease her sister-inw! Chapter 253: You’ve Said It All, Whether It Should Be Said or Not

Chapter 253: Chapter 253: Youve Said It All, Whether It Should Be Said or Not

After my sister-inw left, Xiaoxiao was alone tidying up the house, feeling over the moon. Truly, appearance can boost ones mood. But not long after, she heard her sister-inws voice again, "Third younger sister-inw!" "..." Didnt her sister-inw panic and run away? Why had shee back? When Xiaoxiao went out to see, her whole family was standing in the yard, scrutinizing her closely as if she were some kind of monster, Xiaoxiao was speechless. Her sister-inw had really given her a good promotion outside, huh? Well, alright then, it saves her the trouble of exining to each er on. Xiaoxiao waved to everyone with a smile, her dimples showing, "Hehe, hello everyone." "Old thirds wife, its really you?" her mother-inw asked incredulously. "Mom, its me," Xiaoxiao nodded. The family, upon receiving Xiaoxiaos confirmation, still couldnt believe it. How had the third sons wife suddenly be beautiful? Had their third son struck gold? Not only beautiful but also able to earn money. Seeing the excited look on everyones faceswas it really necessary? She hadnt really be more beautiful; it was just the effect of her hairstyle and makeup, barely presentable at best. With poor fundamentals and no option for stic surgery, there wasnt much she could do. But in everyones eyes, an ugly person suddenly looking like this was deemed extraordinarily beautiful, so its impossible not to be astonished. "Mom, I told you so, the third sister-inw looks so much better now, and you didnt believe me. I saw her doing her makeup with my own eyes just now," the second daughter-inw boasted proudly. "Mhm, mom believes you now, mom believes you," the mother-inw was indeed excited and happy. The three little ones were even more thrilled, running around Xiaoxiao, pping their hands and chanting, "Third aunt is so pretty, third aunt is so pretty." Li Fugui said to the three little ones, "You kids, mind your manners, mind your manners." In his heart, he was quite surprised as well. He hadnt expected Yang Mings wife to look that good all dressed up, though she still fell a little shortpared to his own Silver. "Yes, teacher," the three kids immediately quieted down upon hearing Li Fuguis words and obediently gathered beside him. "..." Xiaoxiao hadnt expected this Li Fugui to appear quite teacher-like, but was this really good? Wasnt he just restricting the children? It seems a serious discussion about childrens education would be needed sometime. "Well, Ill be like this from now on, everyone just get used to it, haha," Xiaoxiao said. "Right, right, just be like this, you look really good." "..." Why was her sister-inw more excited than she was? "So that rumor from outside is not to be trusted. Last night, Yang Ming came home carrying me, not another woman. Everyone can rest assured, Yang Ming wont go after younger girls." After hearing this, the whole family nodded and went back to their own rooms. Only the sister-inw stayed behind, her voice subdued andcking the previously excited tone, "Third younger sister-inw." Xiaoxiao saw her sister-inws hesitant look, wondering what was going on now, "Mhm?" "Theres something Im not sure whether I should say." "Youve already said what should and shouldnt be said, so spit it out already." "Its actually about your second brother. As soon as he heard that the third brother was carrying some other woman and intended to keep a mistress, he was so anxious that he went to the county town, iming he wanted to teach the third brother a lesson." Having said her piece, the sister-inw turned tail and ran back to her roomfearful of the third younger sister-inw getting angry. Leaving Xiaoxiao alone in the yard, she felt a cold breeze whisk by. What in the world was going on! Was her second brother the hot-tempered type? Chapter 254: You Might as Well Not Do It at All

Chapter 254: Chapter 254: You Might as Well Not Do It at All

Yang Ming, still at the Academy, had no idea that his loss ofposure in front of the vigers the day before had caused such a big misunderstanding. He had only just arrived at the Academy when his second elder brother called him out. As he got to the entrance of the Academy, before Yang Ming could say anything, Yang Gang punched him in the back. "Ah!" Yang Ming cried out from the punch, "Second Brother, why are you hitting me?" His second brother had never hit him before; what was going on? "Hitting you is letting you off easy." "Can you at least exin whats going on, Second Brother?" He pulled his brother away from the Academy entrance and towards the street. "Youre embarrassed now? Ashamed to be seen in front of the Academy, huh?" Yang Gang said angrily, as Yang Ming led him away. The two walked into an alley not far from the Academy, "Second Brother, how have I embarrassed myself?" Seeing his younger brother seemingly clueless of any wrongdoing, Yang Gang was livid, "Whats with you? Werent you all cozy with your Sister-inw yesterday?" "..." They had been cozy alright, so much that he ended up outside in the cold. As he was recallingst nights events, he heard his second brother continue, "So why the need to find a little one?" At this point, he was baffled, "Wait? Second Brother, who are you saying wants to find a little one?" "Who else could I be talking about? Its you were discussing, isnt it? The whole vige is buzzing about it, saying youre looking to take a concubine, whether its Hehua or Chunmei. You might as well remain unmarried rather than messing around outside, chasing after women." "..." He was looking to take a concubine? Hehua or Chunmei? He had no idea, and who was Chunmei? "Second Brother, whos feeding you nonsense? None of this is true." His second brother was even suggesting that he should remain unmarried. "You still deny it? I was wondering why you were loitering outside sotest night instead of going inside your house. Turns out you didnt know how to face your wife, huh?" "..." The more he listened, the more confused he became; what was Second Brother even talking about, "If you dont rify, Im going back." Yang Ming said this and tried to walk back, but was stopped by Yang Gang, "What, cant take a few words from your Second Brother now? Getting angry?" "What do you want me to say? I dont know where youre getting your information, but theres nothing to it. I cant even handle my own wife, how would I have the heart to marry someone else?" "..." Yang Gang fell silent upon hearing his younger brothers words. What was he talking about? He cant handle his own wife? "Younger Brother, what are you saying about not being able to handle your own wife? Are you saying that you..." "..." Irritated by his brother, he slipped up, "No, what I mean is that my wife is formidable. One is more than I can manage, let alone two." Yang Gang thought for a moment, "That makes sense. Your wife does have a fierce temper. No one can match her. You havent seen it; she can p Li Fugui without even blinking." "..." Yang Mings heart ached. From his second brothers response, it seemed like the matter had been smoothed over. "But what aboutst night? You were carrying a woman into the vige. Let me tell you, stay away from other women. Our family are not the type to marry two wives." "..." Carrying a woman into the vige? Wasnt that his wife? Yang Ming felt like crying without tears, "Second Brother, the woman I carried yesterday was my wife." "How is that possible, your wife isnt that good-looking." "..." Yang Ming red straight at his brother, asserting firmly, "If you dont believe me, ask when you get back." "Really?" "Really." Yang Gang pped Yang Mings back again, "Then why didnt you say so earlier? Alright, you go back and study hard." After scratching his head, he scampered off in a jiffy. Yang Ming was left standing there alone, sighing and shaking his head. If it werent for him, he would be studying peacefully right now! Chapter 255: She Was Watched Like That

Chapter 255: Chapter 255: She Was Watched Like That

Xiaoxiao had her meal and then went with her elder and second sisters-inw, along with Yang Qiu, to the rented courtyard, intending to continue hiring the embroiderer. Upon arriving at the courtyard, they discovered someone was already waiting for them. No one noticed Xiaoxiao and her group because they were engrossed in some juicy gossip. "Chunmei, I heard thatst night Schr Yang carried you back to the vige on his back?" "Dont you start spreading rumors. It wasnt me he carried, and I still value my reputation." Xiaoxiao saw a young girl, her face turning bright red as she retorted angrily, probably around fourteen or fifteen years old, and truly a beauty in the making. She could be the viges second beauty after Hehua. "Look at you blushing! Still iming it wasnt you, huh? If Schr Yang did take you in, it will be your good fortune, with so many people eyeing him!" "Thats them, not me, I dont want to be someones minor wife, and besides, Im about to be betrothed to someone else," the young girl said indignantly. "Really? Betrothed to whom? I havent heard about this." "Im not telling you all. Just know its definitely not Schr Yang." The little girl didnt want to continue the conversation and turned her head, only to see Xiaoxiao and her group, "You guys are here." Upon hearing Chunmeis words, everyone finally noticed that Xiaoxiao and her group were already in the courtyard. "You guys were having a lively chat. My husband ns to take a concubine, and I had no idea?" "..." Everyone fell silent upon hearing this, thinking to themselves, "Who is this person, iming to be her husbands wife?" Then someone realized, "Are you the Schrs wife?" "Yes, thats me." Xiaoxiao nodded. Surprised, everyone looked at Xiaoxiao as if she were a monkey, giving her a thorough once-over, "It really is." "..." Xiaoxiao was truly speechless. Were the people of Yang Vige all face-blind? Her changes werent that significant, were they? "Howe youve be so pretty? Almost didnt recognize you?" "..." How could she change? It was the makeup. "About the rumor that my husband is taking a concubine, I feel it necessary to rify a few things." Xiaoxiao hadnt expected such a small change to cause so much trouble, but once it was cleared up, she could look forward to beautiful days with her cost-saving husband. "The person my husband carriedst night was me. So all the rumors about him taking a concubine are false. With me around, he wouldnt possibly take a concubine. Those of you nning to marry your daughters to my husband should better drop that thought." "Did you hear that? I told you it wasnt me." Hearing Xiaoxiaos words, Chunmeis eyes lit up, and she repeated the statement, making sure the others didnt spread more rumors. "Ha, Schrs wife, we were just joking." Afterward, everyone quickly took out their embroidery for Xiaoxiao to inspect, hoping not to upset Xiaoxiao and lose their jobs. After examining the embroidery, Xiaoxiao found it satisfactory and decided to keep them, "This is just a preliminary screening, since its not clear how capable you are. Once the fabric arrives, and we start the real production, well see whose craftsmanship stands out."" The group then dispersed, but it wasnt long before Xiaoxiao noticed that the rented courtyard was swarming with people, packed threeyers deep inside and out. Men and women, old and young, they werent there to apply for the embroiderers role but specifically to see her. Xiaoxiao held her forehead with both hands; was she really being ogled like this? She wasnt a circus monkey. Hearing everyone whispering about her, Xiaoxiao found it too noisy and shouted, "Everyone, quiet down!" The murmuring stopped at that moment. "Have you seen enough? Yes, its me. The Schrs wife has be prettier, and you can go back and spread the word." Upon hearing Xiaoxiaos words, the crowd dispersed en masse. Before long, the news that the Schrs wife had be prettier had indeed spread throughout Yang Vige. Chapter 256: Curious Baby Wang Xiangxiang

Chapter 256: Chapter 256: Curious Baby Wang Xiangxiang

In the afternoon, several carriages rolled grandly into Yang Family Vige, stirring up everyone in the vige as they gathered and discussed. "This must be for the Schrs wife again." "Yes, for sure. No one else in our vige knows wealthy people." "Look at what theyre hauling." "..." "..." At that moment, the coachman got down from the carriage, "Excuse me, how do I get to the small courtyard newly rented by Schr Yang for thedy who sews?" "..." It really was for them; the vigers were about to respond when they heard several childish voices. "This way, this way, we know, we can show you," several little kids said happily, running ahead. The coachman followed slowly by horse carriage and soon arrived at the rented courtyard. "Thank you, kids." "Youre wee." The children ran off again, delighted. Upon hearing the noise, Xiaoxiao and the others immediately came out to greet them. When Xiaoxiao reached the entrance, she was stunned, "Sister Wang, why did youe here in person!" "I wanted toe and see your ce, of course." "..." Shes still a bundle of curiosity. "You guys start by bringing the fabrics inside," Wang Xiangxiang instructed. The servants began to bustle about, and in no time they had moved all the fabrics inside and arranged them properly. Xiaoxiao introduced her family to Wang Xiangxiang, "This is my eldest sister-inw, my second sister-inw, and this is my little sister-inw, Yang Qiu." "..." Wang Xiangxiangs gaze paused on them, feeling that Yang Qiu looked especially familiar, as if she had seen her somewhere before but couldnt recall where. She greeted everyone, "Hello, my name is Wang Xiangxiang, Im Xiaoxiaos friend." After the introductions, Xiaoxiao said, "Sister Wang, why dont you stay at our home tonight? Dont leave." Wang Xiangxiang winked at Xiaoxiao, smiling, "I was just waiting for you to say that. I wasnt nning on leaving anyway." "..." This temperament, how simr it is to hers. Xiaoxiao decided to have the people that Wang Xiangxiang brought stay as well to help guard the fabrics overnight. She hadnt bought a watchdog yet and didnt want another pickled cabbage incident to ur. Wang Xiangxiang agreed to it. So they all went back to Xiaoxiaos home, and everyone started to busy themselves with making dinner. This was the first time such an esteemed guest had visited their home. After meeting the two elders, Wang Xiangxiang became restless and began to inspect the courtyard thoroughly. She truly was a curious soul. "Sister Wang, its just the countryside, whats there to see?" "You dont understand, its my first time in the countryside." Wang Xiangxiang didnt pay any attention to Xiaoxiao, her eyes kept wandering around the yard, as if she were trying to discover something new. "..." She truly is a sheltered youngdy, never having been to the countryside before. At that moment, the sound of children reciting aloud echoed from the yard, "The Standards for Being a Good Pupil and Child, the sages teachings; first, be filial and fraternal, next, be careful and trustworthy..." "Are these your children? Theyre very studious," Wang Xiangxiang was surprised. She hadnt expected that one could hear the clear recitation of childrens readings even in the countryside. Xiaoxiaos family was indeed different. She contemted whether to have her younger brother experience life in the countryside. "They are the children of my eldest and second brother-inw." "Lets go take a look." Following the sound, Wang Xiangxiang made her way to the room where Li Fugui was. She gently pushed the door open. She saw a man who looked like a schr, head bowed, holding a book, seriously teaching the children to read aloud. Apart from Xiaoxiaos husband, was there another schr in Xiaoxiaos family? As she was thinking this, the man raised his head and looked at her. The moment she saw him, her eyes widened in shock, "Its you!" Chapter 257: The Relationship is Indeed Uncommon

Chapter 257: Chapter 257: The Rtionship is Indeed Umon

Xiaoxiao waspletely dumbstruck by Wang Xiangxiangs reaction. Did these two know each other from before? When Li Fugui saw Wang Xiangxiang, his reaction was just like hers, equally astonished. Upon hearing Wang Xiangxiangs question, he still opened his mouth, "Miss Wang, its me." "Dont talk to me, I dont know you." Wang Xiangxiang no longer had the cheerful spirit she had upon arrival and, huffing with anger, turned around and walked away. "Hey, Miss Wang..." Li Fugui wanted to call her back, but she had already walked far away. He shook his head helplessly and sighed. Seeing this, Xiaoxiao immediately followed Wang Xiangxiang, feeling very puzzled. What was really going on between these two? "Sister Wang, do you know him?" "I certainly do not know him." "..." Wang Xiangxiang was obviously furious, speaking in a very strange tone, "Seeing the way you two reacted, it seemed like you had a special rtionship." "Us two?" Wang Xiangxiang pointed at herself, then gestured towards the direction where Li Fugui was, still with a sarcastic tone, "Our rtionship is indeed quite special." Xiaoxiaos mind was racing. What kind of special rtionship could a man and a woman possibly have? It usuallyes down to dumpees and dumpers. Could they have had a fling in the past? "We are sworn enemies who cannot share the same sky," Wang Xiangxiang said, her eyes sharp as she confronted Xiaoxiao with those chilling words. "..." Xiaoxiao had no idea what to say. Oh, Li Fugui, Li Fugui, how many people had you offended in the past? Even the hearty Wang Xiangxiang could be your enemy. "Sister Wang, forget about him. Lets go to the kitchen and see what delicious things we can make. Ill show you my skills in a bit." Xiaoxiao, pulling Wang Xiangxiang along, hurried to find something to do to lighten the mood. "Whos thinking about him? I certainly am not," Wang Xiangxiang said, following Xiaoxiao into the sister-inws house. "..." Thats it, thats it. They must have had a past together. Could it be that Li Fugui isnt perfect after all? Well, who doesnt have a past? Without a proper kitchen, cooking was a bit cramped when many people were involved. The sister-inws ce was designated for cooking, while the main house was for preparing the dishes. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang was still not in high spirits, Xiaoxiao tried to make small talk, "Sister Wang, do you cook?" "I definitely do not. Cooks prepare meals in my home." "Dont you want to learn? As the saying goes, if you want to catch a mans heart, you first have to catch his stomach." The bosss wife listened from the side. This wife of the third son sure talked a good game without any embarrassment, even though Wang Xiangxiang was not yet married. After hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang thought it over, "That seems reasonable. Is it because Im too mannish that nobody wants me?" Xiaoxiao eyed Wang Xiangxiangs figure, curvy in all the right ces C a true woman. Her personality might indeed be quite masculine, simr to her own, but shed never admit that. Thats not being mannish; thats being straightforward. "Sister Wang, thats not being mannish, its being straightforward. Besides, youre left over because youre too outstanding. Its a whole different levelpared to those who are left over for being less than average." "Is that so?" Xiaoxiao and the bosss wife nodded in unison, "Thats right, its true. Trust me." Watching the dishese out of the kitchen, Wang Xiangxiangs mood improved. The eyes of a food lover only see the food C haha, this saying couldnt be truer. After sending some food over to the tenants in the rental courtyard, everyone brought the meals to the main house, ready to start dining. The family members took their seats in turn, already ustomed to their own ces, and paid no attention to the seating arrangement. At that moment, Li Fugui entered the room and saw his spot next to Wang Xiangxiang. He felt awkward. Just as he was about to sit down, he saw Wang Xiangxiang stand up. "I dont want to sit with you." Chapter 258: She’s Also Curious

Chapter 258: Chapter 258: Shes Also Curious

Everyone in the family was astonished by Wang Xiangxiangs words, unsure of what to do next. At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang realized she had been rude. She was a guest, how could she make such a fuss? She hung her head like a child who had done something wrong, "Im sorry, I was rude." Then she sat down. Xiaoxiao quickly came out to ease the awkwardness, "Li Fugui, you and Xiaoqiu switch ces." Li Fugui, feeling helpless, swapped ces with Xiaoqiu, and the family then began to eat. After the meal, Li Fugui found an opportunity to speak with Wang Xiangxiang, "Miss Wang, may I have a word with you, please?" "No." Wang Xiangxiang, without turning back, walked away again. Li Fugui had no choice but to return to his room, he just wanted to apologize for being rude earlier, why was it so difficult? Xiaoxiao arranged for the people renting the small courtyard to have nkets delivered. Fortunately, life had improved, and she had bought new nkets for her family; the old ones were just enough to spare. After finishing, she called Wang Xiangxiang back to the room, "Sister Wang, our home has no guest room, Im afraid you will have to share with me tonight." Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang became excited, "Hurry, I havent yet seen your room. Its your newlywed chamber, isnt it? I must take a good look!" "..." Curious baby, how new could a new room be? Its all the same, all mud-built houses. When they entered the room and saw the arrangement of Xiaoxiaos ce, Wang Xiangxiang was amazed, "Xiaoxiao, your ce is nice. Its different from your sister-inws. Isnt this furniture style from the popr shop in the city?" Xiaoxiao smiled and held her lips, "Hehe, its nothing, just squandering away when I first got married." "Then you are quite the squanderer, this furniture is expensive. Look at this house, your husbands family is quite poor, arent they?" "..." Wang Xiangxiang really guessed it, hitting the nail on the head, "Um, I used my own dowry at that time, spent five taels." "What? Five taels, that cheap? How is that possible?" Wang Xiangxiang couldnt believe it. The furniture that was so expensive in the city, and Xiaoxiao said she only spent five taels, how did she manage that? "..." "Are you close to the furniture seller?" Wang Xiangxiang began to specte again. "..." How should she exin? Their rtionship wasnt that strong, just an employer rtionship, "Just ordinary." "Ordinary and still so cheap?" "Well, actually, I designed most of the furniture styles there." "What?" Wang Xiangxiang grabbed Xiaoxiaos hands and screamed as if she had discovered a treasure, "How are you so amazing?" "..." "I cant believe I have such an amazing friend, who can sew clothes, cook, and even deal with furniture." "..." Saying that made her bashful, she wasnt a professional, just imitating others, barely scratching a living, "Sister Wang, please let go, dont get too excited, okay?" Only then did Wang Xiangxiang release Xiaoxiaos hands, "Haha, I always feel I have met a very incredible person. Go on, tell me, what else can you do?" "..." What else could she do, she couldnt do anything, really! "Sister Wang, lets wash up, we can talk more in bedter." "Right, right, right, well talk all night." "..." The two quickly washed up and got into bed. Xiaoxiao gave Wang Xiangxiang the nkets, and covered herself with her husbands cheaper ones, hehe, she felt so good under the nkets, this was the first time she was using them. "Xiaoxiao, design some new furniture for me too." "..." Still thinking about that, huh, "Well, you first tell me about you and Li Fugui." "Can we not mention him? Ill tell you anything else," Wang Xiangxiang was a bit troubled. "Just about him." Xiaoxiao was determined to know, because she was also a curious baby. "Well alright, this could be the dark spot of my life, you mustnt tell anyone." Chapter 259: The Blind Date

Chapter 259: Chapter 259: The Blind Date

Reflections from the Past Three years ago, Wang Xiangxiang was different from now. At that time, she was being visited by matchmakers, but she didnt want to enter a marriage blindly. Therefore, after each matchmakers visit, she would make a point of observing the prospective suitor before making any decisions. This time was no exception. The suitor was the young master of Dongfeng Restaurant, Li Fugui. She decided to observe first and see what kind of person Li Fugui was. She arrived at Dongfeng Restaurant and chose a rather secluded spot to sit down, maybe she would encounter him, who knew. Before long, she noticed a man who looked fairly decent talking to the shopkeeper who was treating him with much respect. Could that man be Li Fugui? As she was sizing up the man, she realized that he was also looking her over. And not only that, but he also walked over to her. Just as she was wondering why, she heard him speak very politely, "I am the young master of this ce, Li Fugui." "..." So he really was Li Fugui. "Are you Wang Xiangxiang?" "Yes." Wang Xiangxiang hadnt expected Li Fugui to approach her to talk. Could it be that he also knew about the matchmakers visit to her house to propose marriage? "Not very good-looking, Im not interested." "..." Wang Xiangxiang was shocked by this abruptment, herplexion turned instantly pale. How could he say such a thing. "If you dont want to feel embarrassed by being rejected, just go home and tell the matchmaker you disagree," Li Fugui said before turning to leave. Wang Xiangxiang was really angry. Even if she wasnt a ravishing beauty, she was still quite attractive. To be belittled and rejected before she could even get a word in! She grabbed a cup of water from the table and sshed it towards Li Fugui, "Do you think youre that handsome? Im not interested in you either." Li Fugui, wiping his clothes, retorted, "You... You shrew, how dare you ssh me!" "I sshed it at you alright! Lucky for me I came here today, or I would have been deceived by the matchmaker, who praised you to the skies, all lies." "I was deceived by the matchmaker too. She told me that you were demure and gentle, look at you, acting like a man, who would fancy that." "Who are you calling a man?" "Im talking about you. Anyway, theres no way Im going to marry you, just give up on that idea." "I would rather marry a pig or a dog than marry you. Youre the one who should give up on that idea." Reflecting on the past, Wang Xiangxiang spoke indignantly, "Xiaoxiao, can you believe it? Are we not sworn enemies? He humiliated me in public, called me a man. And the matchmaker, what was she thinking, praising him endlessly, and then seeing him in person, its just not the same. Thats why you shouldnt go into a marriage blindly." "What happened afterward?" "What could have happened? Obviously, I went home and told the matchmaker right away that I disagreed with this match." Xiaoxiao really hadnt expected the world to be so small, that the two of them could have been arranged to meet, to think they even had such an episode. No wonder Wang Xiangxiang reacted like that when she saw Li Fugui. Could it be that these past few years, Li Fugui had been rejecting all the women the matchmaker chose for him for the sake of Xiaotian? She couldnt help but exim, "Li Fugui is truly a good man, isnt he." "Xiaoxiao, what did you say? After how he treated me, hes still a good man?" "Wang Xiangxiang, its not just you hes targeted, he might treat all the women the matchmaker brings to him that way." "Why?" Wang Xiangxiang was perplexed. "Wang Xiangxiang, let me tell you a story about a man with unwavering love, and maybe then youll understand," Xiaoxiao offered. Chapter 260: Wang Xiangxiang Moved to Tears

Chapter 260: Chapter 260: Wang Xiangxiang Moved to Tears

After that, the two of themy in bed while Xiaoxiao recounted the story she had heard from Li Fugui about him and Xiaotian to Wang Xiangxiang. As Xiaoxiao was speaking, she suddenly heard sobbing from within the quilt. Why was she crying now? "Sister Wang, whats wrong?" "Wuu wuu wuu." Reminded by Xiaoxiao, Wang Xiangxiangs sobs grew louder, and she spoke between tears, "Xiaoxiao, the story you told was so touching, I just couldnt help myself." "..." Really? She was moved to tears? Wang Xiangxiang truly was a person of deep emotion. "Xiaoxiao, are there really people who are so passionately devoted?" Wang Xiangxiang asked with an envious expression on her face. "Of course, there are! You know one yourself!" Wiping her tears with her hand, Wang Xiangxiang asked, puzzled, "Who?" "Li Fugui." "How is he passionately devoted!" Wang Xiangxiangs tone changed at the mention of him. "..." Fearing that she would judge with her own feelings, thats why Xiaoxiao chose not to mention Li Fuguis name when telling the story, instead referring to him as a devoted man. "The devoted man I was just talking about is Li Fugui. So, he really wasnt targeting you. He has rejected all women for his Xiaotian over the years." "Wuu wuu wuu." "..." Her crying grew even louder. "Sister Wang, please stop crying. Do you actually like Li Fugui?" "Who likes him?" "Then whats all this crying about?" Xiaoxiao waspletely baffled by Wang Xiangxiangs tears. "Im just very touched! Dont worry, keep going with the story." "..." Xiaoxiao continued telling the story, rifying Xiaotians identity and why Li Fugui stayed at their house with utmost rity. The two talkedte into the night, and both got up the next day with red and swollen eyes. After breakfast, Li Fugui still went to find Wang Xiangxiang, "Miss Wang, may I have a word with you, please?" "Uh-huh." This time, Wang Xiangxiang agreed. The two went to the courtyard, and Li Fugui was the first to speak, "Im sorry for the way I treated you three years ago and I want to apologize. I truly didnt mean to." Wang Xiangxiang hadnt expected that Li Fugui had been wanting to talk to her just to say this. It seemed he was indeed a decent man. "Was it because of Xiaotian that you treated me that way?" Li Fuguis face showed shock, "You know about that?" "Uh-huh, Xiaoxiao told me everything." "..." Yang Mings wife really does tell everything to others, "Im sorry, for treating you that way back then, causing you embarrassment." Wang Xiangxiang smiled helplessly, "Youre really terrible at handling things. If you had just told me directly, it would have been fine. There was no need to humiliate me." "Im sorry, I was afraid that it wouldnt work." "..." Did she seem that hard to talk to? "You think too highly of yourself. Even if you had said nothing, I wouldnt have been interested in you; youre not that good-looking." "..." "However, considering your deep devotion, I ept your apology and I guess I can forgive you." "Thank you." "I actually really want to meet this Xiaotian who has made you so utterlymitted." Upon hearing this, Li Fuguis gaze dimmed, and his face showed a look of heartache; he no longer possessed the ability to go find Xiaotian now. Wang Xiangxiang saw this and thought about how beautiful it would be for lovers to end up together. Suddenly, she really wanted to help them, "Li Fugui." "Hm?" "Ive decided to help you find Xiaotian." Li Fuguis eyes lit up, and he looked at Wang Xiangxiang excitedly. But Wang Xiangxiang suddenly started joking, "No need to thank me. After all, you said Im like a man, so its normal to be interested in Xiaotian." "..." Chapter 261: On the first day of the month, my husband returns, I am not available.

Chapter 261: Chapter 261: On the first day of the month, my husband returns, I am not avable.

Wang Xiangxiang had wide connections in the county, and with her help, they might indeed find Xiaotian. The family felt like they had found hope upon hearing this and thanked Wang Xiangxiang profusely. Wang Xiangxiang felt somewhat embarrassed by the attention and told Xiaoxiao in private, "Actually, I can only try finding him around this county, so dont be disappointed if we cant find him." "No, no, were already very thankful that Sister Wang is willing to help," Xiaoxiao said earnestly. She hadnt expected this serendipitous encounter would lead to Wang Xiangxiang volunteering to help. It seemed that Li Fugui was indeed a lucky man. "Xiaoxiao, how is the search for embroiderers going, when can we start production?" "The search is almost over. We dont need to find many from the start. As for production, lets pick an auspicious day." Xiaoxiao thought this was akin to a business opening and wondered if they should set off firecrackers or something simr for good luck. She had be superstitious now and didnt want to encounter any mishaps like when they had made pickled vegetables before. "Alright, how about the beginning of next month? Its not that far off." "..." The beginning of the month? Xiaoxiao shook her head, "No, the first is definitely not going to work." "Whats wrong? Isnt the first a good day?" Blushing slightly, Xiaoxiao said, "My husband will be back on the first, and I wont be avable." "..." Is this about spending time with the husband? Thats obviously a different attitude from a few days ago, "Then lets make it the second!" Xiaoxiao thought for a moment. The Dragon Head Festival was on the second day of the second month, a day for haircuts. That would be fine, as long as it wasnt the first day. "Okay, then the second it is." With the production start date set, what remained were the small preparatory tasks: ordering long tables and benches to facilitate everyones cutting work. These simple tasks could be taken care of in a few days, and they had already hired a viger who was a carpenter to do them. Wang Xiangxiang had prepared all the cutting tools, rulers, needles, threads, and the like, and the designs were also ready. They nned to produce ten different styles to begin with, and it seemed everything was set for them to start production. In the afternoon, Wang Xiangxiang prepared to leave. "Xiaoxiao, I truly dont want to go. Your home is so warm and lively, unlike mine, which is rather quiet." "If you dont mind the noise, you could always stay with us," Xiaoxiao offered. Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs envious look, Xiaoxiao felt that small households had their benefits. Large households came with their drawbacks; few people and its lonely, too many and there are endless schemes and battles over the inheritance. Now she felt fortunate to have transmigrated into this family. "But that wont do, if I stay here, where will your husband live?" "..." Oh right, where would her husband live? She hadnt wanted to share a room with him before, but now she didnt want to be apart from him. Seeing Xiaoxiaos silence, Wang Xiangxiang continued to tease her, "I think you cant wait for me to leave, so I dont get in the way of you two." Xiaoxiao, now red-faced, hurriedly said, "No, no, Sister Wang, there are so many ces to stay, anywhere is fine." "Pfft!" Wang Xiangxiangughed out loud, waving her hand dismissively, "Alright, enough jokes. Im leaving now. Ill be imposing on you again in the future, haha." Wang Xiangxiang said this as she climbed into the carriage and told the coachman, "Lets go." After sending off Wang Xiangxiang, Xiaoxiao felt she had changed. She too could have a day like today. Before, no matter how much others teased her, she remained unaffected, but now, just a little teasing could make her blush. Its all to me on her bargain of a husband C would she have changed like this otherwise? Chapter 262: Her Weakness Exposed Because of Two Dogs

Chapter 262: Chapter 262: Her Weakness Exposed Because of Two Dogs

The night shift duties this time were handed over to Yang Dong and Li Fugui. Xiaoxiao had learned fromst time that two were always better than one. She asked Yang Dong and Li Fugui, "Is it okay for you two to stay in this room?" Li Fugui nodded his head, as he had no objections, nor dared to raise any. Having a ce to stay was good enough for him now, what more could he expect? But Yang Dong felt differently. "Sister-inw, there are so many kang beds. Cant we each have our own room? Do we really have to stay in the same room?" Yang Dong, thinking about sharing a room with Li Fugui, showed a face full of disgust. That man had too many rules. "..." Seeing that Xiaoxiao did not respond, Yang Dong pulled Xiaoxiao aside and whispered, "Sister-inw, I really dont want to share a room with him. He has too many rules and always bosses me around." "..." Xiaoxiao, puzzled, asked, "What has he bossed you about?" "Not letting me get on the kang if I dont wash my face or feet, and also making me recite the Three Character ssic before bed. I cant take it." Xiaoxiao pped Yang Dong on his back, "You dont even wash up and you think youre right? Hes doing it for your own good. You wont develop good habits; see if your future wife lets you on the kang." Li Fugui watched from the side, thinking how fierce Yang Mings wife was, always ready to strike. Yang Dong, unconvinced, replied, "A wife is a wife, he is him." Hey, this kid, I was thinking, sharing a room isnt really suitable for two grown men. But now it seems best they stay together to help Yang Dong get rid of his bad habits. Really, its not to say that Li Fugui is utterly useless; the lifestyle habits developed from a well-established family are quite admirable. Having Yang Dong recite books? It seems Li Fugui is really taking teaching to heart. "No discussion, with so many things around, theres no space. Plus, its just one kang, not like were sharing a nket." Li Fugui heard every word that Xiaoxiao said, realizing that Yang Mings wife was not only fierce but also blunt. Hed better keep his distance in the future. Yang Dongs suggestion failed, and he sullenly organized the few things he had brought over. Before long, barking echoed throughout the courtyard. It was the watchdog Yang Chun had bought; Yang Dong immediately ran to check it out. "Younger sister-inw, the dog you asked me to buy is here,e out and have a look," Yang Chun called out from inside the house. "Okay, Iming," Xiaoxiao responded to him from outside but was reluctant to actually go out. She stared straight at Li Fugui, and he felt a chill as she stared, sensing that Yang Mings wife definitely had something for him to do, "Whats the matter?" "Hehe,e out with me." "..." Was she afraid of dogs? Where had all that fierce andmanding presence gone? Not giving Li Fugui a chance to refuse, Xiaoxiao pushed him ahead of her, hiding behind him herself. She was genuinely terrified of dogs. s, her weakness was going to be exposed because of two dogs. When they reached the courtyard, Xiaoxiao peeked out; there were two big dogs, one ck and one yellow, bothrge and loud. Truly scary, they were perfect as watchdogs. The two dogs, leashed by their older brother, were barking vigorously, obviously ufortable with the arrival in a ce full of strangers and in need of some adjustment. Just as she was thinking this, suddenly the dogs, as if having discovered something, broke free from their restraints and fiercely pounced towards her and Li Fugui. She could not duck in time, fell back in fright, shut her eyes, and started screaming loudly, "Ah! Ah!" Chapter 263: Did Her Identity Get Discovered by Two Dogs?

Chapter 263: Chapter 263: Did Her Identity Get Discovered by Two Dogs?

Everyone was startled by the sudden situation and couldnt react in time, except for Li Fugui, who was closest. He stepped forward to block but was knocked to the ground by therge dog. In the midst of the chaos, Xiaoxiao thought she was done for, but, to her surprise, therge dog didnt pounce on her. Instead, after knocking down Li Fugui, it got up, ran to Xiaoxiaos side, circled around her, wagged its tail, and was extremely well-behavedan undeniable contrast to its previous ferocious demeanor. Everyone was truly shocked by this scene; the two dogs were clearly trying to curry favor with Xiaoxiao. Xiaoxiao was utterly confused; she was admittedly scared of dogs, wasnt she? Yet, these dogs were trying to please her. What was so different about her body? If there was anything unique, it was only her soul from the 21st century. Could her identity have been discovered by these dogs? Are animals so perceptive? But then she thought, snorting, that even if they had discovered it, it was uselessthey couldnt speak, and she was still very safe. Xiaoxiao stood up and dusted herself off, wanting to test the dogs to see if they would listen to hermands. She waved at them, "You two,e here." "..." Everyone else was speechless. Just moments ago, she was terrified and screaming, and now she was ordering the dogs around. But, to their surprise, the dogs appeared to understand and indeed moved closer to Xiaoxiao. "Sit." "Eldest brother, Yang Chun, these are dogs we just met; how could they..." Yang Chun hadnt finished his sentence when both dogs obediently sat down. "Stand up." The two dogs obediently got up again. Everyones eyes were wide open, jaws dropped at the sceneit was unheard of and unseen, bizarre. Dogs they had just met were listening so attentively to Xiaoxiao alone, and these were not just any dogs but tworge, fierce ones, not newborn puppies. Xiaoxiao couldnt feel too awesome; was this her unique ability, a transmigration perk? She was practically bubbling with joy. Did this mean she didnt have to fear dogs anymore? It must be said, she thought too soon. The dogs merely took a liking to her. Later, she would still be terrified by other dogsall the screaming and chaos, unable to escape her fate of fear. She threw herself towards the two dogs, hugging them, patting their heads, and tugging their ears, treating them like toys,pletely forgetting her fear. "Third younger sister, be careful. What if they attack you again?" Big brother Yang Chun still worriedly reminded her. "Hahaha, no worries, no worries; see, arent we ying nicely?" "..." Xiaoxiao felt she was about to redeem her past humiliations. Was this akin to having strong supporters by her side? From now on, with her left and right hands by her side, who would dare to mess with her, haha. Li Fugui watched Xiaoxiaos reaction, his expression changing by the moment, some smiles hiding knives. He felt that Yang Mings wife seemed a bit off her rocker. He really needed to stay as far away from her as possible in the future. "Ive decided. From now on, youre called Dahuang, and youre called Xiaobai," she dered to the dogs. "Third sister-inw, that ones a ck dog." "I know." "Then you say its name is Xiaobai." "Yeah, so?" "..." They felt that Xiaoxiao had been weird since meeting the dogs, nearly impossible tomunicate with. "Im going to take Dahuang and Xiaobai for a walk. Ill be back soon." "..." Chapter 264: One Man, Two Dogs, Eavesdropping Openly

Chapter 264: Chapter 264: One Man, Two Dogs, Eavesdropping Openly

Carrying her spirits high, where should she wander off to now? Ah, thats right, head to Aunties ce to get some soy milk, She needs to grow up, grow up, grow up, no more appearing so little in front of her beloved husband. As she walked, she suddenly noticed two people ahead, a man and a woman, seemingly arguing about something? Couldnt these two find a quieter ce for this? Should she go forward or not? Maybe not, Xiaoxiao thought, and silently turned her head, but suddenly a phrase carried by the wind reached her ears. "You havent given up on Brother Ming yet?" "..." This voice sounded so much like Yang Wei, Brother Ming? That must be Yang Ming! She gestured hush to her dogs, "You two, no barking." Then she walked closer with her dogs, it appeared the two were Yang Wei and Hehua, and Hehua still carried a torch for Yang Ming. Xiaoxiao wanted to hear more. So there she was, a person with two dogs, squatting on the roadside, tantly eavesdropping. "Yes, I have liked Brother Ming for many years!" Hehua really hasnt given up; Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth, holding back her temper, and continued to listen. "Hehua, Ive liked you for many years too. Brother Ming is already married; why dont you give up and consider me?" This Yang Wei is of the same stubborn type as Hehua, still not giving up though she clearly doesnt like him. "You dont understand. When I was a child, Brother Ming saved me. Since the day he saved me, Ive decided to marry him." What? Hehua is so persistent about marrying her low-priced husband just because he saved her? Unnecessarily rescuing people? Look, now its a mess, clung onto him and couldnt shake him off for years. "Brother Ming saved you, I didnt know that." Yeah, yes, ask her, she also wants to know what really happened. "It happened when I was five years old." What? Five years old? Wasnt that more than a decade ago? Yang Ming was still a little kid then. "That day when I was ying outside, I was surrounded by a group of geese on my way home." What kind of scenario is this? "I was very scared, a goose pped onto me, pecking my face until it bled. He happened to pass by, saved me, and drove away the geese." Xiaoxiao waspletely baffled. So it was Hehua who had been attacked by a flock of geese, and the cheap husband happened to pass by and help scare the geese away. She said she really didnt understand the world of small kids. "Just for this, you want to marry him?" Look, not only her; even Yang Wei didnt get it. "Yes." "Well then, I have to tell you, the person who saved you wasnt Brother Ming at all!" What, what? What kind of plot is this? "Impossible, I saw it clearly at that time." "Did you really see him clearly? Your face was all bloody from the geese, you were dazed." The way this sounds, Yang Wei seems to know more about it. "How do you know?" Exactly, exactly, how does he know? Its like he saw it with his own eyes. "Because the person who saved you was not Brother Ming, the one who drove away the geese was me." This really was a dramatic twist. So it turns out Yang Wei has been quite beleaguered; Hehua mistakenly loved the wrong person. "This cant be possible." "Its possible. You can go home and ask your mother." Xiaoxiao didnt listen further; she quietly left with the two dogs. Sometimes, the fate between two people is really strange, so strange that even with a misconception, one day they might recognize each other. Perhaps those two could really end up together after all. Chapter 265 Life Is Just So Melodramatic

Chapter 265: Chapter 265 Life Is Just So Melodramatic

The next day, Xiaoxiao still went to her aunts house, determined not to give up until she had some soy milk; it was her number one priority in life,mitted to the great cause of breast enhancement until the end. But when she arrived at her aunts house, she found it eerily quiet with nobody aroundin broad daylight, where could everyone be? It was impossible for there to be not a single person. With no other choice, Xiaoxiao was about to leave when she heard noisesing from the adjacent room. Xiaoxiao was overjoyed; so there were people after all. As she approached and was about to open the door, she heard a woman moaning from inside. "..." Xiaoxiao felt as if a flock of crows had flown over her head; although she had no experience herself, she knew exactly what was going on inside. Why would someone be getting it on in the middle of the day? She decided it was better to just leave quietly; it might be her cousin and his wife "handling affairs." Xiaoxiao didnt know why her hearing had suddenly be so acute, but just as she was about to leave, she heard a mans heavy breathing from inside, "You smell so good; I fancy you a lot." Xiaoxiao shuddered all over, feeling goosebumps all around; big brother was reallyying it on thick, not forgetting to express his fondness for his wife even during such moments. Xiaoxiao felt so embarrassed that she decided it was best to leave; otherwise, who knows what else she might overhear that she shouldnt. And indeed, as fate would have it, she overheard something else. "Hehua, my lotus flower." What? The woman inside was Hehua? Xiaoxiaos eyes widened in shock; did this mean the man inside was Yang Wei? She could hardly believe it; just yesterday, Hehua was acting coy, dering her liking for Yang Ming, and now she had really ended up with Yang Wei? Their rtionship had progressed too fast; she was struggling to keep up with their pace. She had thought they would need some more awkward time beforeing together; who knew real life could be so melodramatic? It seemed the two were really getting close to making things official. Regardless, it meant that Hehua was out of the running and wouldnt go after her cheap husband again, which was indeed something to be happy about. Xiaoxiao quickly left the courtyard, her heart pounding as though she had just done something naughty, and she reached the main gate. "Yang Mings wife, what brings you here?" "Ah." Xiaoxiao was startled by her aunts sudden speaking and cried out. "Why are you so jumpy?" "Aunt, Ive got something to discuss with you. Lets walk to my house." Xiaoxiao said as she pulled her aunt away; she didnt want them to walk in on the couple, it was better to divert her aunt. "Whats the matter that cant be said inside? Why must you go to your house?" "Lets go, lets go." Seeing Xiaoxiaos insistence, her aunt finally followed her home. Once home, her aunt continued asking what the matter was, but it wasnt anything serious; Xiaoxiao just wanted to get her out of the way for the couples sake. Xiaoxiao pped her forehead; how could she forget her grand purpose? She had beenpletely distracted by Yang Wei and Hehuas episode. "Actually, I just wanted to buy some soy milk to drink." "Just that? You dont need to buy it; you can have it every day if you want." "Aunt, I want the whole family to drink soy milk every morning, so I really should pay." "That so? Alright then, give whatever amount you feel is right. From now on, every morning Yang Wei will deliver a bucket of soy milk to you." "Deal!" And with that, the soy milk arrangement was settled; she was ready to work hard for her noble cause. Even if it didnt work, it was nutritious and drinking it couldnt hurt. Chapter 266 Whose IQ is This Anyway?

Chapter 266: Chapter 266 Whose IQ is This Anyway?

The next day, Yang Wei really did bring over a bucket of soy milk, and as Xiaoxiao was seeing him out, he said, a bit embarrassed, "Third sister-inw, thank you for yesterday." "..." Xiaoxiao only felt incredibly awkward, she had been caught red-handed. "That..." Xiaoxiao really wanted to remind them that what they were doing was wrong, and what if it resulted in a lost life? Couldnt they follow proper procedures and start with proposing for marriage? "Third sister-inw, what do you want to say?" "You really do like Hehua, right?" Oh heavens, why couldnt she speak properly? Yang Weis heart couldnt be more sincere, there was no need to ask; she was just stating the obvious. "Yeah." Yang Wei nodded affirmatively. "Then you should propose, its not good to continue like this." "Proposing is a no-go, her mother insists on one hundred taels." As soon as Yang Wei mentioned the one hundred taels, his expression became very somber. Last time, because of that amount, he nearly sold himself. "..." Given Hehuas tarnished reputation from previous events, it was impossible for her to marry into a decent family, so why ask for such an exorbitant price? "What are you nning to do then?" "Were thinking of having a child first." "..." What now? Theres such an approach? Shotgun wedding? Is this ce that progressive? Wouldnt an unwed pregnancy lead to being drowned in a pig cage? "Yang Wei, if she gets pregnant before marriage, wont Hehua be drowned in a pig cage?" "We wont drown her in a pig cage, we dont have a river here." Thank goodness, thank goodness, luckily theres no river here. Since theres no drowning in a pig cage, it seems this ce is quite advanced. "But they would burn her." "..." Isnt that just as bad? Xiaoxiao was scared into a cold sweat by Yang Weis words, "Then what are you even trying to do!" "Were thinking of telling Hehuas mother before anyone finds out, that way she would agree." "..." Xiaoxiao was truly speechless. Who came up with such a brainless idea? What if they were discovered before they could tell Hehuas mother? Wouldnt Hehua be burned then? "Yang Wei, this seems really dangerous. Why dont you think it over some more?" "Third sister-inw, I really do want to marry Hehua, but theres no other way." Yang Wei said, sighing,pletelycking the vitality of a young man, "Speaking of which, third sister-inw, could you please help me?" Seeing Yang Wei like this, Xiaoxiao was also in a dilemma. Should she help or not? She and Hehua had serious grievances in the past. Yet, seeing Yang Wei and Hehua like this, she couldnt bear it. If they truly ended up together, it would be a good thing. Perhaps for the sake of being rtives, and for the fact that Hehua wouldnt bother Yang Ming in the future, she could try toe up with a solution? "You go back first. Let me think about this for a while." At Xiaoxiaos words, Yang Wei immediately perked up, "Eh, then thank you, third sister-inw. Ill wait for good news at home." And with that, Yang Wei left. Xiaoxiao felt like she had just had a brain fart, agreeing to help like that. She was truly making trouble for herself, taking on a hot potato. She was just too soft-hearted. Maybe tomorrow she would tell Yang Wei that theres no good solution and be done with it. With this thought, she went inside, "Younger brothers wife, howe theres so much soy milk?" "The whole family will drink it. From now on, every morning, the whole family will drink a bucket of it." "Younger brothers wife, this stuff is just like water, why dont we just drink water?" Xiaoxiao started to lecture, "The nutrients in soy milk are plentiful. It contains rich protein, its good for the body when consumed. Children will grow taller, women will beautify, men will..." "..." Enough, well drink it, okay! Chapter 267: Perhaps There is a Way

Chapter 267: Chapter 267: Perhaps There is a Way

Dahuang and Xiaobai were really good, very understanding of human nature. With them around, Li Fugui and Yang Dong could go home for breakfast without having to make a special trip. After breakfast, Xiaoxiao took Dahuang and Xiaobai out for a walk and unexpectedly ran into Aunt Hehua halfway through. Aunt Hehua seemed to be in a good mood, "The Schrs wife is walking the dogs." "Yeah." Xiaoxiao nodded in agreement and walked past Aunt Hehua, but as she passed, a sudden idea struck her. Perhaps there was a way to make Aunt Hehua eager to marry off Hehua, although the n required her to y the viin. She turned back with the dogs and called out to Aunt Hehua, "Auntie, wait a moment." "Whats happened?" Aunt Hehua stopped, thinking Xiaoxiao had something to tell her. Xiaoxiao linked arms with Aunt Hehua in a disy of closeness, but her words were provocative, "Has your Hehua found someone yet? After that incident before, her reputation has really tanked. She must be having a hard time finding someone, right?" "..." Aunt Hehua was initially pleased when Xiaoxiao linked arms with her, but upon hearing her words, she felt like she could not maintain herposure. Before she could even speak, Xiaoxiao continued. "Dont even think about Yang Ming from our house. With me here, he definitely wont marry her. I dont know why youre still keeping her. Shes just wasting food at home!" "Whether my Hehua finds someone or not is none of the Schrs wifes business." Aunt Hehua pulled her arm free. She turned to leave, not wanting to continue the conversation with Xiaoxiao. But Xiaoxiao held onto Aunt Hehuas arm, preventing her from leaving, and continued talking while still holding her arm, whispering close to her ear. "Im not worried at all. Im just waiting tough at Hehuas misfortune. You know, even if you find her a match in a wealthy family, she will be sent back. Not only will she be brought back, but youll also have topensate the family with money." Upon hearing this, Aunt Hehuas eyes widened in shock, her face confused as she stared at Xiaoxiao. Xiaoxiao leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "Dont you be in disbelief. Youre telling me, a non-virgin bride wouldnt be returned? If you deceive the grooms family, paying them off would be the least of your worries, maybe your whole family will suffer for it too." "What nonsense are you spouting!" Aunt Hehua yelled in anger,pletely incensed by Xiaoxiaos words. She did not believe a word Xiaoxiao said. Xiaoxiao quickly covered Aunt Hehuas mouth with her hand and then pretended to look around, "Keep it down, will you? Do you want the whole vige to know Hehua isnt a virgin anymore, hmm?" Aunt Hehua nodded, her voice quiet, whether the story was true or false, todays conversation absolutely couldnt be overheard by others. Xiaoxiao released her hand and continued, "Whether Im talking nonsense or not, just go home and ask your Hehua. I advise you to marry her off quickly. Its still decent that she has suitors now. Just dont wait until she ends up pregnant and it turns into a bigger scandal. Im honestly trying to help you out." "Who told you this?" Aunt Hehua still harbored some disbelief after hearing Xiaoxiaos words. How could her daughter possibly... "Theres no wall that doesnt have cracks, you cant hide anything unless you do nothing at all," Xiaoxiao said with a sneer, releasing Aunt Hehua. Without waiting for Aunt Hehua to respond, Xiaoxiao continued walking with the dogs. Emma, I dont know if thatll work but if Aunt Hehua isnt too foolish, she should have understood what I meant. If this doesnt work, theres nothing else I can do. Ive done my best. Chapter 268: Accomplishing Good Deeds

Chapter 268: Chapter 268: Aplishing Good Deeds

Two dayster While walking her dog again, Xiaoxiao noticed a group of people gathered together, seemingly discussing something. She pretended not to care but was all ears. "Hey, have you heard? Hehua and Yang Wei are getting married." "What? Really? Can the Yang Family afford a hundred silver taels?" "What hundred silver taels? It only cost five taels." "What? Had I known it was just five taels, I would have proposed too." "Give it a rest. Even if you offered a hundred taels, they still wouldnt choose you!" "Hahaha." The crowd burst intoughter. Xiaoxiao didnt continue listening and went home with her dog. So those two were set. Did this make her an indirect matchmaker? Five taels was eptable, though more expensive than her. As she reached her doorstep, she heard Yang Weis voice, brimming with joy, "Third sister-inw, Im getting married!" "..." Yes, yes, the whole vige knows by now; youre so happy, everyone hase to greet her. As they walked to the courtyard, Yang Wei waved towards Hehua at the door of the house, "Hehua,e here." Hehua had been watching the entrance. Knowing Xiaoxiao had returned, she stood at the door, fidgeting awkwardly. Xiaoxiao approached with Yang Wei. She courteously invited, "Hehua,e on in." Upon hearing Xiaoxiaos invitation, Hehua felt less nervous and followed inside, saying, "Um." Once inside, they found the third sister-inw and their families were there, chatting together. Xiaoxiao also sat down and started eating sunflower seeds, listening to the conversation. "Is the wedding date set yet?" "Yes, its set for the fifteenth of next month." Xiaoxiao almost choked; their pace was too fast. Isnt getting married aplicated affair? Dont they need to prepare wedding garments and quilts? Is half a month enough? Whatever, its not her concern anyway. She continued eating seeds when Hehua came over, bowing her head sheepishly, and said, "Third sister-inw, I have something to tell you. Can we talk outside?" "..." What does Hehua want? She had already let her off. They were going to be rtives, and there was no need to stir up trouble, "Sure, lets go to my room." The two went to Xiaoxiaos room. Xiaoxiao sat down, crossed her legs confidently, "Speak, what is it?" "Third sister-inw, I came to thank you. Without you, Yang Wei and I might not have been able to marry at all." "..." Oh? She was wrong. She thought Hehua was here to provoke her. Well, considering she is with Yang Wei now, why would she provoke her? She gets nervous around anyone rted to Yang Ming. "Its nothing; I was also helping myself since you kept pestering my husband." She indeed had her own motivesresolving all the unnecessary romantic interests around her cheap husband. Seeing Xiaoxiao still harbored feelings about past issues, Hehua raised her small hand desperately, making a swearing gesture. "Third sister-inw, if I ever have improper thoughts about third brother again, may I suffer a terrible fate." "..." Why is she swearing oaths now? Seeing Xiaoxiao silent, tears started swirling in Hehuas eyes, "Third sister-inw, please believe me." Xiaoxiao looked at Hehua; her gaze seemed genuine. If she stopped pursuing Yang Ming, they werent really enemies anymore. With that thought, Hehua didnt seem so annoying anymore. "Alright, stop swearing. I believe you. Just be happy with Yang Wei from now on." Hehua, wiping her tears away, smiled, "Okay." Chapter 269: Picking Up My Husband with the Dog

Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Picking Up My Husband with the Dog

Having sent off Aunt Three and her family, Xiaoxiao finally felt the world had quieted down, copsing onto the kang. Even Yang Wei and Hehua had made it official, when would she and her makeshift husband get there? Was she on the path of pursuing her husband? Usually, men chase women, but why did it have to be her, a woman chasing a man? Could she really be that unfortunate? Counting the days, her makeshift husband should be back soon. These past few days felt like years, feeling quite lonely, Xiaoxiaoy there, counting her fingers, "Ah!" Suddenly, she screamed and sat up, after sitting up she started counting her fingers again. She quickly got off the kang, fetched some water to wash her face, and dressed up. "Sister-inw, whats wrong with you?" Second Sister-inw happened to hear Xiaoxiaos voice in the yard and so she entered the house. "Sister-inw, why are you washing up and dressing up again? Didnt you do all that this morning?" Xiaoxiao, sitting at the table and applying makeup, replied, "Im going to the County soon." "At this hour, what are you going to the County for?" "..." Could she not ask? Of course, she was going to meet her makeshift husband, "Second Sister-inw, do you need anything? Ill bring it back for you." "I dontck anything. You still havent answered, what are you doing in the County?" "..." She really was getting tired of Second Sister-inws incessant questions, but fine, shed just say it and see whats so shameful about visiting her own husband, "Yang Ming has a day off tomorrow, Im going to pick him up shortly." Second Sister-inwughed, "Haha, no wonder youre dressing up again." "..." Xiaoxiao continued applying makeup. Tease away, thoroughly mock her, but when she gets the chance, shed definitely meddle in Second Brothers affairs. Suddenly, Second Sister-inw gasped, "Oh my, Sister-inw, you better not go." "Why not?" "Dad sent Fourth Brother to pick up Third Brother. I saw him going to fetch the ox cart." "What?" Xiaoxiao immediately stood up and ran outside, not caring about her half-finished makeup. She really saw Yang Dong harnessing the cart and she stepped forward to stop him, "Fourth Brother, stop harnessing the cart. Theres no need to go." "Sister-inw..." Yang Dong, seeing Xiaoxiao, pointed at her face, astonished and unsure of what to say. "Dont make a fuss. Im still applying makeup. Im telling you, theres no need to pick up Third Brother. Did you hear me? You must not go." With amanding tone, Xiaoxiao frightened Yang Dong into nodding repeatedly, "Oh! Oh!" "You must not go, okay!" Xiaoxiao repeated her instruction before heading back inside to continue her makeup. Meeting her makeshift husband to bring him home, what an excellent opportunity to flirt. How could she miss it? She had to make herself look beautiful and then wait at the Academys gate so that when her makeshift husband came out, the first thing hed see would be her. Would that scene move him? Xiaoxiao felt her heart fluttering just thinking about it, eagerly anticipating their meeting. After dressing up, Xiaoxiao went to the rented courtyard and decided to take Xiaobai with her, who could act as a bodyguard. To meet her makeshift husband, Xiaoxiao was indeed determined, there were no carts left to the County, and she had to walk with Xiaobai, a journey that took two hours. She finally made it in time to wait at the Academy gate before sses ended. "Xiaobai, when you see him, dont bark at him, okay?" "Woof! Woof!" "Hes my husband, the person I love." "Woof! Woof!" Passersby witnessed such a scene, a woman and her dog at the Academy gate talking, which was quite the sight. Chapter 270: She Was Hit On

Chapter 270: Chapter 270: She Was Hit On

At the Academy As ss had just ended, Yang Ming was tidying up his books and pens when he heard his ssmates chatting leisurely. "Hey, let me tell you something interesting." "What is it?" "Theres a woman talking with a dog at the entrance of the Academy, and they are really hitting it off." "Really?" "Could there be any doubt? I saw it myself when I came in, she was talking to the dog, and the dog was responding." "Thats really strange. Should we go out and take a look?" "Yes, lets go see." The speaker turned and asked Yang Ming, "Yang Ming, are youing?" "Ill pass; I need to return to my ce to pack up some things, Im going home soon." Seeing Yang Ming decline, the group immediately crowded out the door, very interested in the scene of a person talking to a dog; they all went to watch the excitement. Yang Ming shook his head as he watched everyone leave. He wasnt in the mood for such excitement, and besides, it was just a woman; what was there to see? He needed to rush back to his ce to pack and go home; he hadnt seen his wife in days and was missing her terribly. Outside the Academy Xiaoxiao saw peopleing out from the Academy and guessed it was about time; Yang Ming would probably be out soon. She said to Xiaobai, "He should being out soon. You need to be good and not frighten him, understand?" "Woof! Woof!" Xiaobai wagged his tail in agreement. A woman and a dog stood there, eyes fixed on the great gates of the Academy. The schr who had seen them before said to everyone, "See, I didnt lie to you, did I? She really is talking to the dog." Everyone had seen it and was quite curious about the scene, even more curious about the woman. "She looks pretty. I wonder whose daughter she is? Is she married?" someone began to show interest in Xiaoxiao. "She looks quite young, probably not married given her appearance." "Standing here, she must be waiting for someone." "Maybe shes waiting for someone from our Academy." "Hmm, makes sense." While they were actively discussing, a man had already started to hit on her. "It looks like we can only dream!" a few sighed. Xiaoxiao waited left and right but Yang Ming was nowhere to be seen, beginning to regret not finding an Attendant Student to go in; why did she have to stage a surprise? Just as she was about to approach the gate to find an Attendant Student, a man blocked her way. "What do you want?" Xiaoxiao said snappily, her patience worn thin by the waiting, and besides, anyone other than her beloved was like air to her now. The man, taken aback by Xiaoxiaos attitude, still said, "Guanguan cries the ospreys, on the islet in the river. The modest, retiring, virtuous, youngdy: for our prince a good match." "..." What was with this guy, spouting a poem all of a sudden? "Speak if you have business, dont recite poetry out of nowhere." "I merely wish to make your acquaintance, miss." "..." Xiaoxiao then realized she was being hit on. Could it be that she still looked presentable? "But I dont want to know you." The man felt humiliated in front of his friends after hearing Xiaoxiaos blunt rejection. Hed run out of patience for pretenses. Switching from his previously refined appearance, he now wore a menacing smirk, "Dont dismiss the niceties before facing the consequences; being favored by me is your blessing." "Who do you think you are? Looking like a toad and yet you unt it as a badge of honor!" "You!" Angered by Xiaoxiaos words, the man raised his hand to p her. Xiaoxiao was not scared, just as she opened her mouth to call for Xiaobais help, she saw someone firmly grasp the mans wrist. The moment she saw him, Xiaoxiaos eyes lit up, sweetly calling out, "Husband." Chapter 271: Proving That His Wife Is His Wife

Chapter 271: Chapter 271: Proving That His Wife Is His Wife

Yang Ming had never expected that the woman who was the topic of their earlier conversation for chatting with a dog would turn out to be his own wife. Didnt she dislike animals? Had he known it was his wife, he would have followed her out immediately instead of waiting for so long. And toe outside only to see his wife being bullied was absolutely intolerable. He shook off the mans arm with fury and said, "Brother Wang, what are you doing?" The man, upon realizing that it was Yang Ming, felt a bit conflicted. Despite the good time theyd had drinking and ying finger-guessing games thest time, it wouldnt stop him from pursuing this woman. "Brother Yang, stay out of this. Ive set my sights on this woman." Hearing this, veins throbbed on Yang Mings forehead, and a surge of anger shot up within him. He didnt care whether it was outside the Academys entryway or how crowded it was, he punched the man in the face. By now, a growing crowd of onlookers had gathered, and seeing themotion, Master Zhao and Master Li immediately stepped in to hold back Master Wang. "Dont hold me back. I must take this woman with me today." Yang Ming clenched his fists, his voice filled with anger, "You try taking her." Master Zhao tried to calm Master Wang down, "Brother Wang, let it go. There are plenty of women out there." "No way." Master Wang felt his face had been utterly lost today; he had to regain his dignity. Master Li also tried to persuade him, "Brother Wang, since Yang Ming has taken a liking to that woman, let him have her. Ill find you a more beautiful er." Xiaoxiao, seeing the crowd growing, worried about the impact it might have on her husbands studies. She reached out from behind and grasped Yang Mings clenched fist. "Husband." Yang Ming felt his wifes hand, and his rage began to subside. He rxed his clenched fist and instead, held his wifes hand tightly, "Dont be afraid." Xiaoxiao felt that Yang Ming was so handsome at that moment, holding his hand, she felt so secure. "Yes, Im not afraid." Master Wang saw that not only had Yang Ming hit him, but he was also showing affection to the woman right in front of him, which was an utter humiliation for him. "Yang Ming, dont meddle in other peoples business." "...Meddle?" He was meddling? That was his wife, "You harass my wife, and Im being lenient by just hitting you." Hearing this, Master Wang covered his stomach andughed loudly, so hard that it hurt, "Yang Ming, talk big all you want. Shes your wife? I might as well say shes mine." Not only did Master Wang disbelieve him, but none of the onlookers did either. They knew that Yang Mings wife was ugly, and this woman was beautiful, and they began whispering among themselves. Facing everyones ridicule, Yang Ming could only say helplessly, "She truly is my wife." Master Li, still skeptical, continuedughing, holding his stomach, "Yang Ming, who are you trying to fool? Your wife is famously ugly, definitely not her." "...Facing Master Wangs provocation, Yang Ming was at a loss. How could he prove that his wife was indeed his wife? "Nothing to say, huh? Shes clearly not your wife." Master Wangs aggressiveness made him want to punch him again, and several times he was about to strike, his wifes small hand held him back because she knew she didnt want him causing trouble at the Academys entrance. He held himself back, but he wanted everyone to know that she was his wife, his alone. Suddenly a thought shed in his eyes; perhaps that would prove it. He then raised the hand that he and his wife were tightly holding. "Would this prove it?" Chapter 272 You Looked Better Before

Chapter 272: Chapter 272 You Looked Better Before

Xiaoxiao also put on an effort, pretending to be quite shy as she ced their hands on Yang Mings chest, "Husband, there are so many people here, its so embarrassing." Yang Ming was dumbfounded for a moment by his wifes act; it was the first time she had called him husband, and it sounded so pleasant. This was also the first time he had seen her act so bashfully. He held on to his wifes hand and said indulgently, "It proves you are my wife." Everyone was shocked by the couples behavior. So they really were a married couple. Rumors really cant be trusted. Where was Yang Mings wife ugly? She was quite pretty. No wonder Yang Ming kept mentioning my wifetely. At this moment, Young Master Wang was dumbstruck by the couples affection, "Is she really your wife?" "..." They were already like this, yet he was still asking. "Yes, so about that punch, you really did have iting." Young Master Wang felt incredibly humiliated today and said uneasily, "Brother Yang, Im sorry about today, Ill take my leave." Without waiting for Yang Ming to speak, he pulled Young Master Li and Young Master Zhao and dashed out of the crowd. The onlookers also tactfully left after seeing this, leaving only Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming. Seeing that everyone had gone, the two finally let go of their hands. "Wife, howe youre here?" "Hehe, I knew you had the day off tomorrow, so I came to pick you up." Yang Ming truly hadnt expected that his wife hade especially to pick him up and not just by chance; his heart leaped with joy. "Donte next time, its not safe for you alone." Today, he really did sweat coldly. What if he hade out a littleter and his wife had been taken away? "Haha, I brought a bodyguard, so Im safe!" "Bodyguard?" "Xiaobai,e here, meet him. This is Yang Ming." "Woof! Woof!" "..." Is this the dog everyone said she talked to? So big, so ck, and yet named Xiaobai. Only his wife would name it like that. "Its saying hello to you. Say hello back to it." Seeing his wife urging him, he said to Xiaobai, "Hello, Im Yang Ming, Xiaoxiaos husband. Lets get along well from now on and protect Xiaoxiao together." "Woof! Woof!" Seeing his wife giggling, Yang Ming felt that ever since being with his wife, he had started acting quite abnormally, even chatting with a dog. "Wait until we get home, and Ill introduce you to Dahuang. Dahuang is at home guarding the door right now." "..." Wasnt his wife not fond of animals? How had she be so close to two dogs so quickly? "Haha, if you think about it, that young master should thank you today!" "Hmm?" Thank him for what? He had punched the guy. "If you hadnt shown up in time, he would have been attacked by Xiaobai. Tell me, doesnt he owe you thanks? Being bitten by a dog might have led to rabies." "..." So his appearance had actually interfered with Xiaobais performance? Todays events truly frightened him. What would they do if his wife encountered something like this again in the future? It was all because she had be prettier now. If it had been before, this wouldnt have been a concern. "Wife, you were better-looking before. Maybe you shouldnt wear makeup in the future." "..." Was there something wrong with her cheap husbands taste? She was so attractive now that she had been approached, okay? "Just a few days ago, you said I looked good like this!" Xiaoxiao pouted as she spoke. "Yes, pretty, but not as pretty as before." "..." Chapter 273 He’s Not Even as Good as a Dog

Chapter 273: Chapter 273 Hes Not Even as Good as a Dog

"Your taste is questionable; you cant even differentiate between beauty and ugliness." Xiaoxiao was really angered. She had dressed up so carefully just for him to see, yet he had the nerve to say she didnt look as good as before. "..." He just didnt want other people coveting his wife, who should only belong to him. She was so beautiful, it was enough for him alone to see, not for others. "Its getting dark; we should head home." "Mm." "Xiaobai, lets go," Xiaoxiao called to Xiaobai. "Woof! Woof!" Xiaobai responded and followed, walking by Xiaoxiaos side. With the woman and dog walking ahead, Yang Ming felt that he was now less than a dog; that spot by her side was rightfully his. They arrived at the city gates, and unluckily, it waste, and there were no more carriages. Xiaoxiao was left with a hollowugh; it was going to take her lifeshe had already walked for two hours, and it would take another two hours to get back home. Love was about to be defeated by reality. "Its all your fault,ing out sote, and now look, we have to walk back," Xiaoxiaoined, pouting. "Yes, yes, yes, its all my fault foring out sote," Yang Ming was cating his wife, "How about we dont walk anymore, and stay at an inn instead?" "..." What did she hear? Yang Ming was inviting her to an inn, wasnt that suggesting they rent a room? Were inns expensive, how much would it cost for one night? Xiaoxiao halted in her steps. Should she go or not? If she went, might something happen? She stood there, conjuring up various scenarios in her head. "Wife?" Seeing his wife spacing out again, Yang Ming called out to her, wondering what she was thinking about this time. It was then Xiaoxiao snapped back to reality, "Go where? Its not like it doesnt cost money." Besides not going home, the family would worry. They werent just a couple; they were a family and couldnt act so capriciously. "..." So his wife was worried about spending money; he was reluctant too, but if it was for his wifes rest, he was willing to spend. "Lets hurry; the family will be concerned. They all know youre supposed to return today," Xiaoxiao said more gently. "Mm." Yang Ming caught up with his wife and walked by her side. He thought, when it got darker and the path wasnt clear, his wife might hold onto him. Just thinking about wrapping his arms around his wifeter got him excited, and he recalled how they had held hands earlier. His wifes hands were so soft, he wanted to hold them again. As they walked further and darkness fell, he thought his chance hade, but to his disappointment, his wife didnt hold onto him but led Xiaobai, walking steadily. Now, the more he looked at Xiaobai, the more displeased he felt. "Xiaobai, Ill sing you a song." "Woof! Woof!" "..." He had indeed been reced by a dog; his wife was supposed to sing to him. "A bulldog stands at the door, its eyes dark and shiny, wishing for a bone..." His wifes singing was delightful, no matter what she sang; it was just that she seemed to havepletely forgotten about him for a while. In fact, Xiaoxiao hadnt forgotten him at all. Why else would she be here? How could she forget him when she had been longing to see him like crazy? She interacted with Xiaobai purely to ease the atmosphere; after all, her husband had be rather quiet. Borrowing the moonlight, she kept ncing at her husbands stern faceso exceedingly stern. How in the world had she fallen for him? Suddenly, Xiaoxiao felt her feet slip, "Ah!" Yang Ming: Good opportunity. Xiaoxiao: Good opportunity. Chapter 274: Hand in Hand, Step by Step Forward

Chapter 274: Chapter 274: Hand in Hand, Step by Step Forward

Xiaoxiao only felt that her slipping at that moment was timely because she was now being caught from behind by her bargain of a husband in a rather intimate position. After steadying his wife, Yang Ming asked anxiously, "Wife, did you twist your ankle? Does it hurt?" Hearing Yang Mings words, Xiaoxiao felt as sweet as if she had tasted honey; Yang Ming was concerned about her. She shook her ankle, which moved freely, and felt that there was nothing wrong with it, "Its fine, I didnt twist my ankle." "..." Yang Ming frowned deeply. Was his wifes foot really okay? He really wanted to smack himself. Just now, he thought it was a good opportunity to get close to his wife. What if she got hurt because of this? "You should still hold on to me. Its not safe for you to walk by yourself." Xiaoxiao felt great about the slip. See, her bargain of a husband was now taking the initiative to let her hold on to him. When it came to leading men on, she was still a novice; she was too naive. Why hadnt she thought about faking a slip in the first ce? She had to wait until she actually slipped to think of it, but luckily her foot was fine. But did she really want to walk arm in arm with him? She hesitated; suddenly, she didnt want to anymore. Seeing that his wife made no move, Yang Ming was extremely disappointed. Perhaps his wife didnt want to, after all. Before, she had no choice but to cling to him, but now she had a dog and didnt need him anymore. "Lets go." He sighed inwardly and said this before walking ahead on his own. Xiaoxiao was still contemting her next move when she saw her bargain of a husband walk away. Was he unwilling to let her cling to him? Xiaoxiao snorted coldly. If you wont let me cling to you, Ill do it all the more. Not only will I cling, but Ill also hold your hand. "Yang Ming, stop!" "..." Yang Ming had not walked far when his wifes shout startled him, causing him to immediately stop and turn around. His wifes yell was definitely one of anger, and she even called him by name instead of husband. What was she angry about? "What are you walking away for? Didnt you tell me to hold on to you?" "..." He thought she was unwilling; he longed for them to be closer, "Yes, hold on to me." "..." This person, really, was so wooden. If she really fell for her in the future, would he take the initiative? She really had her doubts. Shaking her head, Xiaoxiao felt she still had a long way to go. She stepped forward to walk side by side with her bargain of a husband and naturally took his hand, hanging down at her side, "This way its less likely to slip, lets go." Yang Ming was startled by his wifes sudden action. What was she doing? She took the initiative to hold his hand! Within a single day, his wife had taken the initiative to hold his hand twice, although there were reasons each time. The first time was to appease him, fearing he would make a scene, and the second was for fear of falling. But even so, he was willing to hold her hand. He thenced his fingers with hers and walked forward, his lips curling upwards. His wifes hand was soft and warm, and he unconsciously started ying with it, gripping her hand tight, then loose, pinching it back and forth. "..." What was her bargain of a husband doing? Why did he keep pinching her hand? No matter, the hand-holding was a sess! Give herself a pat on the back. The two walked forward, hand in hand, each in a different state of mind, but both in equally good spirits. Xiaoxiao was even happier, breaking into song, "Hearts reflecting hearts, hands holding hands, you lean on me, I lean on you, step by step we walk forward..." Chapter 275: Spicy Skin Oil

Chapter 275: Chapter 275: Spicy Skin Oil

The two of them walked hand in hand, neither wanting to let go, both feeling as sweet as if they had eaten honey, wishing time would freeze at that moment. However, as they walked, Xiaoxiao started to feel difort, realizing her ankle was beginning to hurthad she really twisted it earlier? Why was she so unlucky! Her expression turned to one of pain, and it seemed she could no longer bear it. She started to limp, making it difficult to hide from her bargain husband. Yang Ming immediately sensed that something was off with his wife and stopped in his tracks to ask with concern, "Wife, whats wrong?" Xiaoxiao pulled a long face and pouted, "Husband, my foot hurts." "Did you twist it just now?" He regretted not insisting on holding her hand from the start. "It seems like it." Xiaoxiao nodded her head, feeling utterly incapable. Indeed, she had twisted her ankle. Was this punishment for the little schemes she had yed on her bargain husband? Yang Ming immediately squatted down, "Ill carry you back." "Im heavy," Xiaoxiao said with difficulty, remembering thatst time after carrying her back, Yang Ming was inexplicably angry. She dared not let him carry her so hastily again. "I can carry you." "..." So he really did think she was too heavy. She wasnt that heavy, barely reaching ny pounds and not even a hundred yet. Seeing his wife unmoved, was she unwilling to let him carry her? Even so, she couldnt walk with a hurt foot; he couldnt let her keep walking on her own. "Come on, Ive carried you before, right? I can really carry you." "..." Knowing his capabilities, he carried her body, over a hundred pounds, without even panting for breath. She decided she needed to gain weight to see if he could still carry her then. With these thoughts, Xiaoxiao obediently climbed onto Yang Mings back, because she knew she really couldnt walk anymore. If he wanted to be angry afterward, so be it; carrying her was his honor. "Xiaobai, follow behind us nicely, okay?" Xiaoxiao still remembered to remind Xiaobai, afraid he might get lost. "Woof! Woof!" Watching the interaction between his wife and Xiaobai, Yang Ming could only think either his eyes were deceiving him, or his hearing was failing; Xiaobai looked fierce but behaved as docile as a littlepdog. "Wife, hold on tight, Im going to walk now," Yang Ming reminded his wife, then stood up and began walking forward, carrying her on his back. After Yang Mings reminder, Xiaoxiao wrapped her arms around his neck, tighter and tighter, and rested her head on his back. Being carried by Yang Ming felt so secure, so very secure. The previous time she was carried by Yang Ming, she actually fell asleep. This time she decided she must not fall asleep; she wanted to savor the feeling of being carried. "Husband, can you speak a foreignnguage?" "Foreignnguage?" "You know, thenguage spoken by people from other ces." "No." "Then let me teach you." "Okay." "I LOVE YOU" "..." "Say it quickly!" "Ai fu you." "Hahaha, say it again, I want to listen." "Ai fu you. What does it mean?" "It means goodnight. From now on, say that to me before you sleep." "Okay." Seeing his wifeugh like that, he felt it certainly wasnt the meaning of goodnight, but as long as his wife was happy, that was all that mattered. If she liked hearing it, he would dly say it to her. Chapter 276: Our Fourth Brother Has Come to Pick Us Up

Chapter 276: Chapter 276: Our Fourth Brother Has Come to Pick Us Up

The two of them walked along, chatting andughing, the atmosphere so harmonious that Xiaoxiao suddenly felt that even a twisted ankle was worth it. But this harmony was shattered by Xiaobai, who was usually obedient. He started barking loudly and furiouslywhat was going on? "Husband, there wont be anything wrong, right?" Xiaoxiao asked fearfully. It was already dark and fiery under the night sky; there were hardly any people on the road, and she hoped nothing else would happen. "Dont be afraid, Im here." "Mmm." Xiaoxiao felt as if Yang Mings words had some sort of magical power. Every time he said them, she inexplicably felt at ease. Yang Ming, carrying his wife on his back, moved forward attentively, fully alert and observing their surroundings, determined to protect his wife no matter what happened. After a while, they heard some noise ahead. It sounded like an ox cart passing by. "Wife, dont be scared, its just an ox cart ahead." "Mmm." Even though he said that, they were still extremely vignt. Suddenly, they heard a shout from up ahead, "Third brother, third sister-inw, is that you?" Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao recognized the voice as Yang Dongs. Her anxious heart finally settled. It was just Xiaobai reacting to the ox cart ahead that had caused themotion. "Its us." Xiaoxiao called out toward the front, then turned around and said to her good-for-nothing husband, "Husband, fourth brother hase to pick us up." "Mmm." In his mind, Yang Ming thought about the timing of his brothers arrival. He wasnt too early or toote, but had toe right when he was carrying his wife and they were having such a good moment, interfering with their affairs. As the ox cart approached, they heard Yang Dong saying, "I figured it must be you, I heard Xiaobai barking from far away. Get on quickly, seeing that you hadnt returned, dad sent me to pick you up." Yang Ming lifted his wife onto the ox cart andined to his younger brother, "Why didnt you bring a cushion for your third sister-inw? This seat is so hard." "..." He had rushed out so hastily, where would he have thought of that? It was never a concern before, and his third brother had never asked for a cushion. He flicked the whip, "Hold on tight, lets go!" Hearing her good-for-nothing husbands words, Xiaoxiao felt like he was somewhat different today. He actuallyined to his brother for not bringing a cushion for her, which made her feel like her good-for-nothing husband was starting to care for her in front of others. "Wife, here, take this. Its the spare clothes I brought back; you can sit on them for now." "Mmm." Xiaoxiao felt a warm feeling in her heart. She didnt mind not having a cushion, as long as he was by her side. "Third brother, third sister-inw, why are you moving so slowly? We thought something had happened!" Yang Ming: Wife was harassed, but she wouldnt say a word. Xiaoxiao: She was hit on, but she also wouldnt say a word. The couple turned their heads away, both surprisingly silent, deciding not to respond to Yang Dong. After a while, Yang Ming spoke up, "Fourth brother." "Third brother, what is it?" "The other day, when your third sister-inw came back sote, why didnt youe to pick her up?" Yang Ming suddenly remembered thest time he and his wife came back together. If he hadnt taken his wife home, she would have been alone sote at night, which would have been unsafe. "..." Oh, heaven, he wasnt that considerate. If it hadnt been for dads instructions, he wouldnt havee to pick them up. Besides, third sister-inw herself had said there was no need to worry if she came backte. "I didnt notice that third sister-inw hadnte back." "Pay attention next time. If your third sister-inw goes out and it gets dark without hering back, you should go out and pick her up." "Okay!" Listening to her good-for-nothing husbands instructions, Xiaoxiaos heart warmed even more. She smiled slightly, feeling that he was keeping her in his thoughts. She mustnt be far from being truly liked by him. Chapter 277: Touching the Wife’s Jade Feet for the First Time

Chapter 277: Chapter 277: Touching the Wifes Jade Feet for the First Time

The ox cart soon arrived home, and Xiaoxiao was assisted off the cart by her budget husband. "I might as well carry you into the house." "..." Huh, her foot wasnt seriously injured to that extent, okay? When no one was around, anything went between the two of them, but this was at home, with so many people watching. She didnt want to be teased by her family members, so she immediately declined, "No need, I can walk on my own." Seeing his wife refuse, Yang Ming had no choice but to support her. Watching her limp along, Xiaoxiao originally thought her foot was fine, but the reality was that it really fucking hurt. She grimaced in pain and eventually decided to hop on one leg. She felt utterly embarrassed, and quickly pushed her budget husband away, hopping on one leg faster than a rabbit, reaching the house in just a few bounds. Yang Ming, watching his wife like this, felt extremely heartbroken, but there was nothing he could do. Since his wife didnt allow him to help, he could only follow her into the house. Upon entering, he found the room quite warm; it seemed his elder and second sisters-inw had helped heat the kang. Yang Ming climbed onto the kang to prepare the bedding for his wife, "You go rest on the kang, Ill go boil some water." "No need, the second sister-inw has already boiled it, and the food must be in the pot too." Having learned from the lesson ofing backtest time, she got smarter. Before leaving the house, she specifically asked the second sister-inw to help heat the kang and boil water, and keep the food warm in the pot, so that she and Yang Ming wouldnt have to bother when they returned. "Hmm." Yang Ming went out and fetched a basin of water for his wife to wash her feet; he had observed that she used this basin for washing feet. He brought it in front of her. "..." Was he going to help her wash her feet? Was her budget husband so thoughtful? The basin was right, the washcloth was right, she waited quietly, watching what he would do. "Ill check your foot for you." Yang Ming said as he squat down, carefully helping his wife to take off her shoes and socks. He had a feeling that his wife would kick him hard in refusal. But, she didnt. His wife remained quiet, quietly watching his actions, not stopping him. This was the first time he touched his wifes foot, and he felt his hands shaking. His wifes foot was very small, very white, very smooth. The moment he saw his wifes foot, his heart skipped a beat. There was a blister on her ankle, no wonder she was in so much pain. This wasnt just a sprain, how far had his wife walked? "Its not a sprain, theres a blister." "..." Huh? It wasnt a sprain? Xiaoxiao looked and indeed it was true. She thought so, a sprain would have been apparent immediately, how could it suddenly feel so painfully unbearableter. "Wheres the needle, Ill help you pop this blister." "Its in my cab." Yang Ming stood up to look for it, opening his wifes cab, and finding the sewing kit in the corner. His eyes nced aside, and he saw his wifes panties, which somehow looked the same as those he wore. "Have you found it?" "Hmm." He didnt have time to think more about it. Taking the needle, he said, "It might hurt a lot, hang in there." Yang Ming squat down again, helping his wife pop the blister. Xiaoxiao was really afraid of pain, she gripped Yang Mings shoulders tightly, "Ah, be gentle, please be gentle." "Hmm, its almost done, just bear with it a little longer." His wife was in such pain that he felt pained too, but he had no choice but to pop the blister. After a while, the blister was taken care of, and Yang Ming wet the washcloth, wrung it out, and wiped his wifes foot clean, "Its done, you get on the kang, Ill go get the food." "Hmm." Chapter 278: Do You Have a Childhood Sweetheart?

Chapter 278: Chapter 278: Do You Have a Childhood Sweetheart?

Yang Ming brought Xiaoxiao a basin of water again and let her wash her face and hands. This time, Xiaoxiao was certain that he really knew which basin was for her face and which one was for her feet, and which towel was for her face and which for her feet. He really wasnt just grabbing them randomly. So, did her cheap husband actually pay close attention to her? Afterward, Yang Ming brought in the food and set it on the table on the bed, and the two of them began to eat and chat about domestic matters. "Wheres Xiaobai?" Xiaoxiao had just been concerned about her sore feet and had forgotten about Xiaobai. "Little Fourth took him back. Dont worry." Surely, the dog was more important to her than he was; she hadnt forgotten Xiaobai. "By the way, next month on the fifteenth, Yang Wei is getting married." "Yeah." "..." How could he react like that? Wasnt it surprising? Shouldnt he ask which family the girl is from? How could they continue the conversation like this? "Arent you going to ask which family the girl is from?" "Which family is the girl from?" Yang Ming asked nonchntly as he ate. "..." Could they even have a pleasant chat anymore? If he talked like this, he could bore the skies to death. Xiaoxiao pouted, "Your Little Qingmei." "..." Little Qingmei? Who? Was his wife talking about Hehua? "Is it Hehua?" See? Surely Hehua was his Little Qingmei. Before, when they tried to match him with Hehua, he missed the opportunity and now he regretted it toote. He could only be hers now. Xiaoxiao spoke as if she had a role in the sess, "I guaranteed the match." Seeing his wife looking pleased, Yang Mingplimented, "Well guaranteed." Yang Wei and Hehua getting together was really unexpected for him. It felt like those two getting together was unlikely, but his wife had facilitated their match. His wife was really capable. "..." What did well guaranteed mean? Was he implying that he approved of them too? As Xiaoxiao was thinking this, she heard her cheap husband say, "Shes not my Little Qingmei." "..." Who was he fooling? The whole vige knew the truth. Even if she was, it didnt matter anymore since she had already pushed her out of the picture. Seeing his wife seemed to not quite believe him, he felt somewhat helpless. He really wasnt close with Hehua, and he didnt know how his wife hade to conclude that they were childhood sweethearts. Speaking of childhood sweethearts, Yang Ming suddenly really wanted to know if his wife had one, and he blurted out, "Do you have a childhood sweetheart?" "Cough cough!" At her cheap husbands question, Xiaoxiao spewed out her food, hitting him with it, "Sorry, you better wipe that off." "Are you alright, didnt choke did you? Here, drink some water." Yang Ming wasnt concerned about the food on himself; he hurriedly handed his wife some water, worried she might feel ufortable. "Im fine, you clean up." Seeing his wife was okay, Yang Ming began cleaning himself. Mentioning a childhood sweetheart had caused such a violent reaction from his wife; she must have had one, right? Who could it be? What had happened between them in the past? Yang Mings heart was in a knot again; he wanted to know but also didnt want to. Childhood sweetheart? Hehehe, Xiaoxiaoughed inwardly. Her cheap husband really dared to ask. She didnt have the memories of her original body; how would she know? Presuming her brothers had protected her as they had, she probably didnt have one. "I dont have a childhood sweetheart." Hearing his wifes response, Yang Ming felt relieved. "But I have a bestie." "..." Why did his wife pause so dramatically? Whats a bestie? "Whats a bestie?" "Its a very close female friend." Yang Mingpletely eased his mind, knowing it was a woman. As long as it was a woman, it was fine. Chapter 279 She Would Rather Die than Accept!

Chapter 279: Chapter 279 She Would Rather Die than ept!

The two chatted and ate, the atmosphere quite harmonious. After finishing the meal, Yang Ming stood up to tidy up the dishes. Xiaoxiao felt rather embarrassed for constantly letting him do the work, "Just leave them there, Ill wash them in a bit." How could he let his wife do the washing? Even if his wifes foot wasnt injured, he would still do it. He had only returned that day and wanted to let his wife rest properly without getting tired. Seeing his wife attempting to rise, he quickly pressed her back down, "No need, just wait here for me." "..." Wait for him? What was her cheap husband nning to do? Yang Ming went to the outer room and fetched water for Xiaoxiao, having prepared everything, even the toothbrush. He brought it into the room, knowing that his wife was very particr about washing up before bed. "Go ahead and wash up." "..." Seeing her cheap husband like this, Xiaoxiao could only think, are there any more husbands like this? Shed take a dozen more! He was so incredibly attentive andprehensive; Xiaoxiao felt an overwhelming warmth in her heart. Thinking back on her time since transmigrating here, aside from her cheap husbands somewhat harsh words on their first night, he was always super good to her at other times. Although they were just muddling through life together, it really was rare to find someone who did as much as he did. As Xiaoxiao pondered this while washing up, her cheap husband brought in another basin. When she saw it, she waspletely flusteredwasnt that the basin she used to wash her buttocks? "Im going to wash the dishes outside. You go ahead and wash. Ille inter to wash the clothes you take off." After her cheap husband finished speaking and left, Xiaoxiaos face turned red on the spot. Ahhh, what was he saying? Did he know what she used that basin for? And he said he would help her wash the clothes she took offdidnt that mean her underpants? She~absolutely~would~not~allow~it! She was still agonizing over it in the room when she heard her cheap husband calling from the outer room, "Are you done yet?" "Not... not yet." She was so startled her speech was stammering. She quickly finished washing up, hid her underpants, and then dove into the bed and covered herself with the bedding, feeling unbearably embarrassed and too ashamed to face anyone, "Okay, you cane in now." After Yang Ming entered the room and saw that his wife had alreadyid down, he thought she must be exhausted. He tiptoed around to avoid disturbing her and cleaned up the aftermath she had left. Once he left the room, he began his own washing-up routine. He thenundered both his and his wifes outer clothes, spending quite a while before he finally came back inside. Upon reentering the room, he suddenly remembered the needle he used to prick his wifes blood blister was still on the table. He opened the cupboard, intending to put the needle away, but realized that the underpants, which he had seen earlier and thought matched his, were gone. He smiled wryly, figuring he must be so obsessed with pairing up with his wife that he was seeing things. That must be why he mistook them. Xiaoxiao on the other hand had not fallen asleep at all. She was listening to all the noise, wondering what her cheap husband was fussing over for such a long time without going to bed. He was also rummaging through her cupboard. What if he discovered her hidden underpants? That would be utterly mortifying. Xiaoxiao felt like she was suffocating under the covers. She turned over and poked her head out, "Why arent you sleeping yet?" Yang Ming was startled by Xiaoxiaos movement. So, his wife hadnt been sleeping. It was a good thing he went to put the needle awaywhat if he had gotten into the kang bed earlier and cuddled with his wife, only to give himself away? "In a moment." Heid the bedding out at the end of the kang, blew out the candle, andy down himself, "Wife." "Hmm?" "I love... spicy body oil!" "Pfft." "..." "Hmm, I LOVE YOU." Chapter 280 How did you express your feelings to Xiaotian?

Chapter 280: Chapter 280 How did you express your feelings to Xiaotian?

The next day, Yang Ming got up early feeling quite good because he had secretly held his wife all night without being discovered. After washing up in the morning and stepping out, he happened to encounter Li Fugui returning home for breakfast. This was their first meeting since Li Fugui had recovered from his illness. The two men made eye contact, and the atmosphere turned awkward for a moment. "Brother Li." "Brother Yang." Li Fugui didnt know how to face Yang Ming. In the past, his words to Yang Ming were never kind, alwaysced with disdainful sarcasm, but now he was... This must be the punishment from the heavens for what he had done before. He just felt unbearable shame and didnt know how to interact with Yang Ming. Yang Ming noticed Li Fuguis difort and thought if he were in his shoes, under the same blow, he might not have been able to handle it as Li Fugui was now, "Is your family settling in well?" Li Fugui smiled awkwardly and nodded, "Yes, we are settling in well." "Then stay with ease, and dont have any concerns." Li Fuguis heart churned again. Yang Ming had brought him home under those circumstances; even more so now, he felt he owed a debt of gratitude he might never be able to repay in his lifetime. "Brother Li, do you have any ns for the future?" "..." Facing Yang Mings question, he didnt know how to answer. Right now, he probably had no ability to do anything. "Have you thought about going back to the Academy and striving for official positions?" Li Fugui shook his head. He was well aware of his own limitations. Although he knew a few characters, he definitely wouldnt pass the exams for official positions, and he didnt want to waste his time on that. He thought he really needed to consider carefully what he wanted to do next. How could he go about finding Xiaotian? He couldnt just wait in this household forever. Seeing that Li Fugui didnt respond and seemed to be pondering something, Yang Ming didnt press any further. He figured Li Fugui must have his own ns; he just wasnt sharing them. But there was something he had to remind Li Fugui of, "Brother Li, Xiaoqiu is like you. She has suffered a shock before, and I dont want her to fall ill again, so please keep your distance from her as much as possible." "I understand. The past was indeed my fault. Rest assured, Ill definitely stay far away from her." Having been in the household for several days, he had heard about Yang Qius situation. She, too, had a tough life, and he didnt want to hurt her, nor could he. If he stayed here, even at a distance, there were some things he couldnt control. He thought he should take the opportunity to leave. "I heard from my wife that you want to marry Xiaotian?" "Yes." Li Fugui nodded shyly. In his whole life, he only wanted to marry Xiaotian, which is why he agreed to stay. "Then listen to what my wife says." "..." "Ill go find Xiaotian, dont make us worry and go looking for you." "..." Did Yang Ming figure out he was nning to leave? How terrifying were this couple? Whatever he thought, they seemed to know. How would Yang Ming know he was nning to leave? He only wanted to remind him to cooperate well and not cause trouble for his wife, who was already so tired from managing the household. Just as Li Fugui was thinking about staying away from Yang Ming and his wife in the future, suddenly Yang Ming pulled him aside and said quietly, "Brother Li." "Yes?" "That... I wanted to ask..." "..." Why was this man hesitating? "Ask what?" "How did you express your feelings to Xiaotian?" "..." Chapter 281: Don’t Get Me Wrong, I Just Want to Borrow an Idea

Chapter 281: Chapter 281: Dont Get Me Wrong, I Just Want to Borrow an Idea

Li Fugui had never imagined that the question Yang Ming was struggling to articte would be this. Did Yang Ming really have such a fetish? He cast an odd nce at Yang Ming. Seeing the strange look in Li Fuguis eyes, Yang Ming felt somewhat ufortable; it seemed Li Fugui thought him some kind of weirdo. "Brother Li, dont get me wrong, I just want to learn from you." "..." Learn? But they were already married. Why would he need to learn that? Had he taken a fancy to another woman? Was he looking tomunicate his feelings to another woman? Li Fugui shuddered at the thought of Yang Mings fierce wife. He was genuinely concerned for Yang Ming. "Look, Brother Yang, you might as well give up on that idea. I doubt youll have any chance to convey your feelings again." "..." After hearing that, Yang Ming felt disheartened. Could even Li Fugui see that his wife didnt like him, that he had no chance? "Your wife is just too formidable. She hits people at the drop of a hat. Be careful, or she might wallop you." "..." Yang Ming forced a smile. Could trying tomunicate his feelings to his wife really end in rejection and a beating? Still, he wanted to try again, even if it meant getting hit. "She definitely wont agree." "..." Li Fuguis reaction left Yang Ming feeling like he had asked the wrong person. Instead of learning anything, he had just been thoroughly discouraged. "What wont I agree to?" As Yang Ming and Li Fugui spoke in hushed tones, they were startled by this sudden voice and turned their heads sharply. Yang Ming: When did my wifee over? How much did she hear? Li Fugui: When did Yang Mings wife get behind us? She didnt hear us, did she? Xiaoxiao had gotten up in the morning to find her dear husband wasnt there. After washing up and dressing, she went outside to look for him since he hadnt returned. She didnt expect to find him whispering with Li Fugui in a corner. She approached them and overheard her name being mentioned. Her brain just short-circuited and she blurted out a question, revealing her presence. "Hehe, its nothing." Li Fugui immediately tried to cover for Yang Ming, signaling with his eyes that Yang Ming should get his wife out of there. "I told him to go back to the Academy to study, but I said you surely wouldnt agree." Suddenly, Yang Ming felt very clever. "..." Li Fugui was speechless. Yang Ming had just used him as a shield. "Right, I disagree. Hesnot cut out for that." Xiaoxiao didnt mince words before she turned and went inside. "..." Yang Mings wife sure had a way with words. "Brother Yang, if theres nothing else, lets go inside and eat," Li Fugui said as he started to walk away, but Yang Ming caught his arm. "Brother Li, you still havent told me. How did you convey your feelings to Xiaotian?" Yang Ming felt like Li Fugui had already made fun of him enough, and after such embarrassment, he couldnt leave without getting the advice he sought. He had to make Li Fugui tell him how hemunicated his feelings. "..." Why wouldnt Yang Ming let it go? The way his wife just acted would have scared anyone stiff. Shaking his head, Li Fugui decided he should try to convince Yang Ming again. After all, he was Xiaotians brother. "Brother Yang, I advise you to drop it. Just live a good life with your wife and stop thinking about others." "..." What was Li Fugui talking about? Who was he thinking about? No wonder his wife called him a fool. Now he saw she was right. "Dont worry, what youre thinking wont happen. Just tell me already, how did you convey your feelings?" "..." Chapter 282: The Triple Spit-out-laugh Table, Embarrassment All the Way to Grandma’s House

Chapter 282: Chapter 282: The Triple Spit-outugh Table, Embarrassment All the Way to Grandmas House

Yang Ming had an internal struggle before he decided to ask Li Fugui about this matter. He felt extremely conflicted inside, always feeling that he couldnt bring himself to ask such a thing. Seeking advice on this seemed so embarrassing, but for his own sake, he had to swallow his pride. What mattered is that he could win his wifes love. Ever since his own attempt to express his feelings was rejectedst time, he had thought about it for a long time and felt that maybe his method was wrong. So, he thought about seeking advice, but Li Fugui was the only person with experience around him, which was why he clung to Li Fugui as soon as there was a break. Finally, having pried the information he wanted from Li Fuguis mouth, Yang Ming let him go. As soon as the two walked into the house, they heard Xiaoxiaos voice. "Why are you two so slow? Dinners ready." The two men sat down awkwardly, neither bringing up what had just happened. This was a matter they both knew, and it was absolutely impossible to share with anyone else. "Wife, hows your foot? Does it still hurt?" Yang Ming asked with concern as soon as he sat down. "Its fine now, I can walk." Xiaoxiao replied while drinking soy milk. "Third brother, when did third sister-inw change her name to wife?" "Pfft!" Upon hearing this from his sister-inw, Xiaoxiao spit out her soy milk on the spot. How could she respond to that? Yang Ming quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe Xiaoxiaos mouth, asking nervously, "Didnt choke, did you?" "No, no," Xiaoxiao waved her hand, pretending to be calm. She was thoroughly embarrassed. "Third brother, Ive been wanting to ask since yesterday, why do you call third sister-inw wife?" Yang Dong kept eating his meal, oblivious to the mood, and followed up with the question. "..." The family was collectively speechless at Yang Dongs behavior, all of them ring at him sharply, indicating didnt he see that someone just choked on his words, and yet he kept asking. Yang Dong felt the stares of me were entirely undeserved. "Fine, I wont ask anymore." "Its a special nickname that your third sister-inw and I have for each other. When you have a wife, you can alsoe up with a special name for her," Yang Ming exined. "..." Xiaoxiao didnt expect that such an embarrassing matter would be generously exined by her cheap husband to everyone. After this little interlude, everyone continued to eat their breakfast quietly. Xiaoxiao passed the soy milk to Yang Ming, "Here, have a bowl yourself. You cant get this at the academy." "Third brother, you really should drink more of this. Third sister-inw said, this soy milk is very nutritious. It makes men handsome if they drink it." "Pfft!" Xiaoxiao couldnt help spouting again, her sister-inw, was she aedian sent by a monkey? Yang Ming once again passed a handkerchief for Xiaoxiao to wipe her mouth. After she wiped it, she immediately exined, "Sister-inw, you remembered it wrong, I said its brain-nourishing for men, right, it nourishes the brain." After that little interruption, the family started eating again. Seeing his wifes reaction, Yang Ming knew it wasnt what shed said. He suddenly wanted to know what "handsome" meant. So he leaned his head over and whispered into his wifes ear, "What does bing handsome mean?" "Pfft!" Xiaoxiao felt that today was not a good day to eat. The third time she made a mess at the dining table, she was utterly embarrassed. Seeing the strange looks from everyone, she took the handkerchief to wipe her mouth and then whispered to Yang Ming, "Ill tell you when we get back to the room." In fact, the family was not surprised by Xiaoxiaos third incident at the table. They were used to Xiaoxiaos antics during meals and were no longer surprised. They were marvelling at Yang Mings behavior. Ever since he sat down, he had been caring for his wife, wiping her mouth, peeling eggs for her, handing her this and that. He was acting just like Li Fugui had been towards Xiaoqiu when he was sick. When did their third brother change like this? Chapter 283: Why Are Scholars So Pretentious?

Chapter 283: Chapter 283: Why Are Schrs So Pretentious?

After dinner, Xiaoxiao went back to her room, thinking that her husband, whom she got for a bargain, would follow her back, but he didnt. Instead, he ran out. What was he up to? Xiaoxiao was very puzzled. After waiting for a long time, her bargain husband came back, holding a bunch of firewood sticks. What was he nning to do? "What are you holding there?" "I got some sorghum stalks from uncles ce." "..." Oh, so it was sorghum stalks. She was seeing them for the first time. Didnt everyone here just grow corn? It seemed that a few households also nted some other crops. But what did he need these for? Before Xiaoxiao could ask, her husband was out the door again. She felt that her husband was acting weird and unusual today. Yang Ming started to make a fire in the outer room, and Xiaoxiao couldnt hold back any longer. "Husband, what are you up to?" "Im making some paste." "Are you going to glue something?" Couldnt he just tell her everything in one go instead of having her ask bit by bit? "Yeah, I want to make a kite." "..." Make a kite? Were they on holiday, making it for the three little ones at home to y with? It seemed Yang Ming was quite suited for his role as the third uncle. In that case, she, as the third aunt, should also lend a hand. Intrigued and excited, Xiaoxiao said, "Then Ill help you make it." Seeing his wifes happy demeanor, Yang Ming felt that this Li Fugui was somewhat useful, the idea he provided seemed pretty good. The two began to make the kite in the room. After the paste was ready, Yang Ming turned the sorghum stalks he had gathered into a frame and then wrapped and glued the paper onto it. The making of the kites body began, using paper that was bought for writing. Fortunately, it was therge, cut type; otherwise, it would have been difficult to make a kite. After pasting the body onto the frame, a in kite was ready. Xiaoxiao thought that since they didnt have colored ink at home, they should at least not make the kite too solemn. They could draw some patterns on it. Just as she was ready to show off her skills, she saw her husband pick up a writing brush. She was curious to see what he would draw. But after looking over, she was taken aback. Yang Ming was actually writing poetry. "Without the wings of a colorful phoenix, the heartmunicates with the spirit of a unicorn." "..." Xiaoxiao couldnt help but feel amused. How affected could literati be, writing poetry at a time like this? Shouldnt he be drawing a butterfly or a frog or something? Furthermore, for a childs kite, could they even understand a whole poem? Having finished the kite, Yang Ming handed it over to his wife, making his feelings quite obvious. After seeing the poem, she should understand his intentions. However, to his disappointment, her expression didnt look too good after reading his poem; she didnt seem very happy. Had his attempt to convey his love failed again? Li Fugui clearly seeded with this tactic. It seemed the problem wasnt with the method but that his wife truly didnt like him. Yang Ming felt a bit dejected, and Xiaoxiao waspletely baffled. How was she to know that this was how people here expressed their love? Giving a kite with a love poem to a woman meant I love you. Looking at the kite Yang Ming handed over, her expression was indeed not great. Was this what kites were like here? It was simply hideous. "Wait here, Ill make a few wind spirals." Xiaoxiao didnt notice her husbands difiture and quickly made several wind spirals. "Alright, lets take the kite and the wind spirals to the three little ones," she said. "..." Chapter 284: It’s Okay, Barely Presentable

Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Its Okay, Barely Presentable

The kite meant for his wife, who wanted to give it to the three little ones, she really loved children. He wondered what their future children would look like. Seeing his wife like this, Yang Ming thought to himself, let it be, there would be a next time, there was still plenty of time, she would eventually see it his way. "Honey, the weather is nice today, why dont we take the three little ones out to fly kites?" "First tell me what handsome actually means?" He had wanted to ask this for a while since his wife had previously told him he was very handsome and super cool. "..." Ah, how could she still remember that, she thought he wouldnt ask again, "Hehe, it means someone who looks good." Yang Ming unconsciously touched his own face. His wife said he was too handsome, was it apliment about his looks? He also thought his face was quite alright, but why did she say she didnt like it when she didnt? "..." Good-looking, good-looking, the first time she saw him on the street, she was a bit stunned, but she certainly didnt want to admit that. She carefully scrutinized her husbands face and then said, "You pass, barely presentable." "..." Barely presentable? Yang Ming began to doubt his looks for the first time. Seeing her husbands expression, Xiaoxiao quickly pulled him out the door. "Lets go quickly, the three little ones will definitely be thrilled." Together, they took the kite and wind spinner and headed to the yard. As soon as they reached the yard, Xiaoxiao called out, "Three little ones,e out quick, your third aunt has something fun for you." "..." His wifes lively demeanor was really adorable, so much better than those timid, quiet women, he couldnt help but love her no matter how he looked at her. "Third sister-inw, they went to the rental courtyard." Hearing his sister-inws response, Xiaoxiao and her husband exchanged nces. "Lets go." The pair unanimously headed towards the rental courtyard. "Perfect, I can introduce you to Dahuang." Yang Ming felt that he needed to get on good terms with Dahuang and Xiaobai, as his wife really seemed to love those two dogs. As soon as they reached the courtyard gate, Dahuang and Xiaobai came over to cluster around Xiaoxiao. "Hello Dahuang, Im Yang Ming, Xiaoxiaos husband." Seeing Dahuang, Yang Ming took the initiative to greet him, for if he didnt, his wife would havemented anyway; hed rather be proactive. "Woof! Woof!" Xiaoxiao noticed and thought her husband did well this time, he was finally not so stiff and had greeted them first. Seeing Dahuangs response, Xiaoxiao said to her husband. "Dahuang really likes you." "..." He didnt need Dahuang to like him, he only needed his wife to like him. As soon as they entered the house, they saw the three little ones and Li Fugui. "Li Fugui, the dogs barked, and youre still reading? Why not go out and see." "..." Li Fugui was speechless. Of course, he had looked, knowing they had arrived, which is why he let the kids continue studying. "You guys, stop studying, lets go, your third aunt will take you to fly a kite." "Yay!" The little ones pped their hands and followed Xiaoxiao out the door. "Hey, you guys..." Li Fugui couldnt stop them. He looked at Yang Ming, flying a kite? Howe right after he mentioned kite flying to Yang Ming, his wife started flying kites? Could it be... Seeing the puzzled look on Li Fuguis face, Yang Ming nodded at him and then also stepped out of the door. Leaving Li Fugui alone in the house, he grinned, "I see." Chapter 285: Public Display of Affection

Chapter 285: Chapter 285: Public Disy of Affection

The heavens really blessed us with a beautiful daythe sun was shining brightly and the weather was refreshingly clear, perfect for flying kites. The three little ones grabbed their windmills and started running, the wind sweeping them into motion, spinning with a rustling sound that made the childrenugh joyously. "Auntie, this is so much fun," the kids shouted with delight as they looked back while running. Xiaoxiao followed them, not forgetting to remind them to be careful, "Slow down a bit, watch your step, and dont fall." Yang Ming caught up from behind and saw everyone so happy that his own downcast moodpletely disappeared. He would have to leave again tomorrow; he should cherish every moment with his wife. "You should also walk slower, your foot hurts," he strode quickly to his wifes side, genuinely worriedthe injury on her foot from yesterday couldnt have healed so quickly. "Its fine, its fine, a little pain doesnt matter, I can walk now." Compared to the pain that prevented her from walking yesterday, todays difort was nothing. Yang Ming watched with heartache, knowing that his wife was still in pain. He felt an impulse to carry her back home and tell her not to push herself, but seeing how happy she was with the three little tykes, he couldnt bring himself to do it and just kept reminding her to slow down. The group ran to a small square in the vige, where many other children and a few vigers chatting idly were gathered. Seeing the windmills in the hands of the three little ones, the children crowded around and joined in the fun. Xiaoxiao told them, "Lets fly kites now." Surrounded by the crowd, the little ones didnt even look back as they replied, "Auntie, lets not fly the kites just yet, were still not done ying with the windmills." Xiaoxiao and her budget husband exchanged a look and groused, "See, my windmills are more popr. It seems we are the only ones who will fly your kite." "..." Yang Ming felt secretly delighted; after all, the kite was made for his wife, and not for the three troublemakers. "Wife, you hold the string, Ill run that way and let the kite take off," Yang Ming passed the string to his wife, holding the kite as he started to run slowly. "Its flying, its flying!" Xiaoxiao was excited to see the kite take off. It had been so many years since she had flown a kite and, despite its huge ugliness, it didnt dampen her spirits in the slightest. Yang Ming came running back, and seeing his wifes joyful expression, he felt that making the kite was definitely worthwhile. "Oh no, its going to fall, what do we do?" The kite that had just taken flight was about to crash, and Xiaoxiao, pulling on the string and feeling anxious, cried out. Seeing her trouble, Yang Ming immediately came over and without thinking, held his wifes hand to help her pull the string, adjusting the height of the kite, "Pull like this, see, there it goes, its flying again." The two of them, having a st, didnt notice their hands sped together, both tugging on the string. Both were so immersed in the joy of kite flying, with eyes only for each other, theypletely forgot the presence of others in the square. But the vigers felt quite differently, utterly astonished at the scene before themThe Schr and his wife, hand in hand, enjoying themselves in such a public setting. The young wives were Green with envy, while the older ones deemed it shameless, but regardless of their views, The Schr and his wife publicly unted their love for all to see. Chapter 286: Fighting

Chapter 286: Chapter 286: Fighting

"Wuu wuu!" Just as the atmosphere between Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao was getting pleasant, they heard the sound of a child crying. Xiaoxiao turned her head and saw Liuliu crying at her feet. She picked up the child immediately and asked anxiously, "Liuliu, what happened, why are you crying?" "Third Aunt, they... they..." Liuliu cried and pointed in the direction of the other children not far away. Holding the child, Xiaoxiao ran over and what did she see? Guangguang and Yang Shu were fighting with another child. Could such well-behaved children really be fighting? She pushed her way through the crowd of kids and shouted, "Stop fighting, all of you." When Yang Shu heard Third Aunts voice, he then stopped, and after standing up, he couldnt help but push the chubby boy he had been fighting with and then said to Third Aunt, "Third Aunt, it was Fatso. He tried to snatch my sisters spinner and even pushed her, and he broke her spinner" Guangguang also came over, "Third Aunt, he started it first." "..." Seeing the two little guys dirty and disheveled, standing up for their sister, Xiaoxiao really wanted to praise them. Well done! The Yang family must not produce cowards. Although fighting is wrong, she still wanted to say, well fought. Liuliu was still sobbing in her arms. Xiaoxiao gently patted her back, cooing softly tofort her, "Liuliu dont cry, Third Aunt will get your spinner back for you." "Okay." Liuliu finally began to calm down at Xiaoxiaos words. Seeing that Liuliu had stopped crying, Xiaoxiao then gave Yang Ming a sharp look and said, "Hold the child for me first." "..." Yang Ming took the child, noticing his wifes expression; he felt something ominous. His wife was probably about to lose her temper, and the other party was just a child. Sure enough, he saw his wife walk towards the chubby child. Just as Xiaoxiao reached the chubby kid, before she could even speak, the kid sat down on the ground and started bawling loudly. His cries echoed to the heavens, "Mom, Mom, wah wah! Someones going to hit me." "..." Xiaoxiaos formidable gaze faltered on the spot, her aurapletely lost. Why cry? She hadnt even said anything yet, hadnt done anything, right? After all, she had onlye over to reason and retrieve the spinner. Who said anything about hitting? He was just a child. She didnt have a habit of hitting children. The chubby kid continued bawling, attracting quite the crowd. Faced with his cries, Xiaoxiao felt utterly at a loss. She immediately squatted down and soothed him, "Little chubby, dont cry anymore, Auntie hasnt done anything." But seeing Xiaoxiao squat down, the chubby kid cried even more fiercely, "Wah, wah, Mom, Mom, someones going to hit me." At this moment, a plump woman squeezed through the crowd, pushed Xiaoxiao away as she was squatting, scooped up the chubby kid, and asked excitedly, "My son, whats the matter? Whos so cruel to leave marks on you from a beating? Tell Mom quickly." Looking at chubby kids appearance, Xiaoxiao thought, these children do fight fiercely. Seeing that he was also dirty and bruised, probably having lost the fight. "Mom, it was her." The chubby kid, feeling backed up by his mother, stopped crying and pointed at Xiaoxiao. Hearing this, Xiaoxiao was dumbfounded at that moment. This chubby kid was lying in front of so many people. How could an adult like her hit a child? Only a fool would believe that. Just as she was thinking this, that fool actually showed up. Chapter 287: How Dare You Hit My Husband?

Chapter 287: Chapter 287: How Dare You Hit My Husband?

Pangduns mother believed her son and thought that it was truly Xiaoxiao who hit her child. Without another word, she walked straight up to Xiaoxiao and, before anyone could react, raised her hand fiercely for a p. Xiaoxiao, shocked by the sudden turn of events, was unable to dodge and reflexively shut her eyes, only hearing the loud smack. When she opened her eyes, she found that the p hadnded on her husbands face. Seeing the red handprint on her cheap husbands cheek and how hard the other had struck, she became furious on the spot and yelled at Pangduns mother, "You dared to hit my husband?" Before anyone could react, Xiaoxiao threw herself at Pangduns mother, knocking her to the ground, grabbed her hair, and savagely punched her face. "Ill make you pay for hitting my husband. Ill make you pay for hitting my husband." Enraged, Xiaoxiao was oblivious to the bystanders, and Yang Ming couldnt pull her off despite several attempts. "Dont pull me away." Pangduns mother was bewildered by Xiaoxiaos sudden tackle and beating, and by the time she came to her senses, she had already been pped several times. She then grabbed Xiaoxiaos hair and flipped her over onto the ground. Just when everyone thought that Schrs wife was going to be beaten up, no one knew where Xiaoxiao found the strength, but with a roll and a kick, she once again had Pangduns mother underneath her. As she hit, she said, "Your Pangdun bullied my child, and you started the beating first. You wanted to fight? Now, Ill beat you to a pulp." Pangduns mother cried out in pain, "You were the one who hit my son first." "Which eye of yours saw me hitting him? You dont discipline your son when he lies, and now Im not afraid anymore. Ill really hit him, and what can you do?" Little Pangdun was terrified by themotion and kept crying on the side, "Mom, she didnt hit me, she didnt, I lied." Hearing her own sons confession, Pangduns mother was even more stunned. With no strength left after being beaten by Xiaoxiao, she started to plea pitifully, "Schrs wife, stop hitting, stop it, I was wrong." Only then did Xiaoxiao stop her hand, stood up from Pangduns mother, and dusted off her hands. She said to Pangduns mother, "Today, your son took our Liulius whirligig, and he was the one who started the fight. I originally wanted to exin that I didnt hit the child, but you didnt give me a chance. So, we had no choice but to fight." With a sneer, Xiaoxiao continued, "Sorry, but I won the fight!" Everyone was shocked by this scene involving Schrs wife. Despite looking unassuming, her fierce spirit managed to ovee the broad and plump Pangduns mother, causing them to shiver involuntarily. After the madness, Xiaoxiao calmed down, her heart pounding. This was her first time in a fight, and she had no idea where the courage came from. Yang Ming was also startled by his wifes fierceness and couldnt separate them. Seeing she finally stopped, he hurried over, "Are you okay? Did you get hit?" "Im fine." Walking with a limp, Xiaoxiao moved forward to pick up the kite she had dropped in her haste. It was made by Yang Ming, and despite its huge ugliness, she wanted to keep it as a memento. After retrieving it, she smiled at Yang Ming and said, "Lets go home." "Okay." The couple, along with their three little ones, walked home. On the way, Xiaoxiao said in embarrassment, "Im not normally like this." She was truly afraid that her fierce appearance just now might scare her cheap husband away, as she wasnt the pugnacious type; she was more the coquettish and cute type. "Okay." Chapter 288: They Call It Self-Defense

Chapter 288: Chapter 288: They Call It Self-Defense

On the way back, Yang Guangguangs eyes sparkled as he said to Xiaoxiao, "Auntie Three, you were really awesome just now, you even outdid the portly woman." "You were pretty awesome too, wasnt that you who scratched her face?" "Hehe, Auntie Three noticed," the little girl replied bashfully, head bowed. "Auntie Three, Auntie Three, I hit her too," Yang Shu said, seeking praise like his sister upon seeing that she wasplimented. "Yes, yes, our Shu is also very impressive," Xiaoxiao touched Yang Shus head, praising him as well. "Auntie Three, what about me, what about me?" Yang Liuliu, who was held by Yang Ming, also started asking. "Our Liuliu is also great." Yang Ming, who was listening to his wife and children interacting, wondered, encouraging children to hit others, is this really okay? Wouldnt the children get the wrong idea? After all, they are girls, and it seems that they might end up bing tomboys under his wifes influence. Yang Ming was a bit worried as he listened to his wife continue, "Liuliu, you need to learn tomunicate, you know? If other kids want to borrow your stuff and they discuss it with you, you can decide whether to lend it or not. If they try to take it by force, you take it back; crying wont solve anything." "..." Yang Ming was stunned for a moment, pondering his wifes theory. Seeing Yang Mings reaction, Xiaoxiao asked, "What, do you think Im wrong?" "..." "I just want the kids to understand, whats theirs is theirs, thats the basic rule. If might makes right, and the smaller kids are supposed to deserve less, wouldnt the world be upside down? We do not initiate taking other peoples stuff, but also we should not let others take ours." "Hmm." His wifes argument seemed reasonable, but, "That doesnt mean you should encourage them to hit others, does it?" "...?" When did she encourage them to hit others? "That wasnt hitting, that was self-defense. If others hit them, should they just stand there and wait to be beaten? Are you silly?" "..." Perhaps his wife had a point. Xiaoxiao then told the three little ones, "You guys need to be reasonable, never hit or bully anyone wantonly, understood?" "Understood." The three youngsters responded in unison. Seeing the childrens reaction, Yang Ming felt that this was indeed the right way to educate them. No matter what, encouraging children to hit others was never a good thing. "But if logical discussions fail and the other party still hits us, we cant just sit back and take it; we have to fight back, understood?" Hearing his wifes words, Yang Ming felt that it was unlikely his family would have a docile daughter anytime soon. "Handle your own issues, and remember to resolve your issue with the chubby kid tomorrow, Auntie Three has a saying for you." "What saying?" "If they apologize, shake hands, and we can still be friends." The world of children is just like that, one moment they might be fighting fiercely, and the next they might be very good friends, so adults really dont need to get involved. Thats easy to say, but today she had been forced to get involved because her dear husband was hit, and she simply couldnt stand it. "Uncle Three, does your face still hurt?" At that moment, Yang Liuliu, nestled in Yang Mings arms, asked a heartwarming question. This made Xiaoxiao feel that girls really are affectionatelittle cotton jackets, she wanted one too. "Not at all!" Chapter 289 Thank You for Taking This Slap for Me

Chapter 289: Chapter 289 Thank You for Taking This p for Me

They joked andughed their way home, but as soon as they arrived, their family noticed something was wrong. "You, whats wrong with you?" The second brothers wife was the first to notice Xiaoxiaos disheveled appearance. When she had left, she was dressed impably, but now her hair was a mess and her clothes dusted with dirt, looking as though she had been in a fight. "Mom." As soon as Yang Liuliu saw her mother, she opened her arms for a hug. The second brothers wife took her daughter into her arms and heard her mimic, "Auntie Three got into a fight at the square, shes so fierce." Xiaoxiaos scuffle in the square was bound to spread throughout the vige soon, hiding it would be impossible. Xiaoxiao shook her arm, "Hehe, its nothing, just getting some exercise." "..." Yang Ming looked at his wifes state, getting some exercise? She did have a way with words. His wife had certainly made a name for herself this time. Yang Guangguang narrated the incident to the second aunt, and upon hearing it, the second brothers wife immediately became anxious, "What? Someone bullied my Liuliu? Wait and see, Ill deal with them." "..." Second sister-inw, can we not add more chaos to the mix? "Second sister-inw, Ive already beaten her, so theres no need for you to go. Our child isnt hurt at all." Only then did the second brothers wife hold back from storming out, "Then you two go rest in your room." Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming returned to their room. As she entered, she plopped down at the table and nced over at the bronze mirror on it. My God, she was startled by her own image. She had actually walked the whole way with her hair looking like an explosion. Her perfect image,pletely ruined. "Husband." While Yang Ming was outside fetching water for his wife, he heard her call and entered the room with a basin of water, asking worriedly, "Whats wrong?" "Nothing, just scared myself." "..." Did his wife get startled by just that? He set down the basin, "So freshen up quickly." Xiaoxiao obediently washed andbed her hair, and then she saw her loving husband handing her clothes. "Wife, take off your outer clothes and put on this set." Only then did Xiaoxiao notice her clothes, dirty from rolling on the ground. She took the clean clothes and changed into them obediently. "Wife." "Hmm?" "Lets not get into fights in the future, okay?" Today, Yang Ming was genuinely frightened. His wife couldnt be pulled away when she was fighting. She had the upper hand this time, but what if she hadnt managed to beat the woman, or what if she had gotten hurt? "Okay, Ill be more careful next time." Xiaoxiao turned to look at her loving husbands face, which still showed a bit of swelling, a clear indicator of how hard the plump woman had hit him. Her hand instinctively reached out to touch her loving husbands face, and tears of concern gathered in her eyes, "Does it hurt?" "No, it doesnt." "Thank you for fending off that p for me." "..." No sooner had Xiaoxiao spoken did she turn away she was afraid her loving husband would notice the tears that had fallen. "Wait here, Ill go boil an egg for you to put on your face." "Okay." After his wife left, Yang Ming felt a bit dazed. His wife had just touched his face and thanked him, moved because he had taken a p for her, hadnt she? In no time, Xiaoxiao boiled the egg. She returned to the room and, peeling off the shell, wrapped the egg in a handkerchief and carefully rolled it over Yang Mings face. Her cautious manner caused Yang Ming to feel dazed once again. All he could feel was his wifes face very close to his own, and the sound of his own heart pounding. Chapter 290: By the Time the Exam is Over, We’ll All Be Old Men

Chapter 290: Chapter 290: By the Time the Exam is Over, Well All Be Old Men

He only felt that if he moved his head slightly forward, he could kiss his wifes face. His inner struggle was intense, and his cheeks were unconsciously heating up. "Is the egg very hot?" Xiaoxiao noticed that her cheap husbands face was somewhat red. She was afraid the egg might have been too hot, so she asked. "..." Had his wife noticed? He said awkwardly, "Its not hot." Xiaoxiao yed with the egg for a while longer, feeling that it had cooled down, "Okay, done with thepress." Yang Ming hadnt even gotten the chance to lean in when his wife got up and left. He just felt like time had passed too quickly. "By tomorrow, it should be unnoticeable. If people at the academy see it, that would be terrible. Theyll definitely think you were hit by your wife, haha." Xiaoxiao joked around, half-considering the idea as a possibility. "Heh." Yang Ming chuckled. After what happenedst night in front of the academy, everyone should know by now that she is his wife. Speaking of the academy, Xiaoxiao suddenly thought it would be wise to inquire about her cheap husbands academic progress. Watching him study day after day seemed exhausting. When exactly were the exams? She had no idea about this at all. "Husband, when are you taking the imperial examination?" "Next autumn!" Yang Ming hadnt expected his wife to ask about the exams. He thought she knew. "What?" Xiaoxiao stood up abruptly, utterly surprised, "Why sote?" "The provincial exam is held every three years." "..." Oh my, oh my, waiting three years to take an exam seemed so troublesome. "So if you fail, you have to wait another three years to retake it?" "Yes." Yang Ming nodded. Thats why he had to work hard and try to pass on his first attempt. "..." How resolute one must be, repeating the cycle every three years. No wonder most officials were older; it was indeed challenging to qualify. Just the thought of repeating a year made her feel like it dragged on forever, yet they had to wait three years. "So, if you pass, do you be the top schr?" "..." His wife seemed overly eager for him to be the top schr. He was still far from it; he was only a schr, "No, the provincial exam is for selecting licentiates." "..." It wasnt for the top schr. She had heard of Fan Jin passing the exam in his fifties, only to be a licentiate. By that ount, the provincial exam seemed quite tough to pass. Could her cheap husband manage? "Then, after bing a licentiate, can you attempt for the top schr?" "..." It seemed like her eyes were only set on the top schr. She wouldnt really wait until he became one before she acknowledged him, would she? "No, after the provincial exames the metropolitan exam, and only then the pce exam." After hearing this, Xiaoxiao felt dizzy. Why were there so many exams here? She remembered the TV dramas depicted schrs going straight for the top schr. TV shows really couldnt be trusted. So many exams, and not something you could pass in one go, but instead waiting three years each time C bing the top schr really seemed difficult. "Husband, lets not bother with it. By the time were done, well be old men." "..." Did his wife think he wouldnt pass? "Ill work hard." "..." Xiaoxiao felt people were truly different. How could her cheap husband love studying so much? If it were her, she would just lie down and stare at the sky rather than studyno wonder she was an academic cker. "Alright, work hard." If he loved to study, she couldnt stop him. Shed support him then, suddenly feeling like she would be nurturing a Ph.D. candidate. Chapter 291: Hard to Say When It Began

Chapter 291: Chapter 291: Hard to Say When It Began

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were idly chatting in the room, neither wanting to leave as they both cherished the limited time they had together. Suddenly, they heard Yang Mings mother calling from outside, "Third son, third daughter-inw, may Mome in?" "Your mother hase." Xiaoxiao whispered to her husband before she went to open the door and saw her mother-inw looking somewhat unhappy, "Mom, pleasee in." After entering the room, Yang Mings mother nced at the two of them, then sat on the edge of the kang bed, her expression a bit unsightly, "Third daughter-inw, I heard that you got into a fight in the square?" "..." Was her mother-inw unhappy about this? Could it be that she came to scold her? No matter what, fighting with others was always wrong, especially since she was a young daughter-inw. She hung her head like a child who had done wrong, "Mom, Im sorry, I shouldnt have fought with anyone." "You really shouldnt have," sighed Yang Mings mother. "Mom, my wife, shes not at fault." Yang Ming immediately took over the conversation to defend his wife when he saw his mother reprimanding her. Yang Mings mother looked at her own son, then at his wife. The daughter-inw was indeed good, but too young, somewhat impulsive, and too rash. "There are some things I didnt want to say, but now it seems I cant keep quiet. You really dont understand," she said. Upon hearing this, both of them were very puzzled. What was it that they didnt understand? Yang Mings mother took Xiaoxiaos hand, her expression softening, "Third daughter-inw, its been three months since you married into the family, right?" "Yes." Indeed, it had been precisely three months, how quickly time flies. "Mom wants to tell you, after getting married, theres no telling when you might have children." Why was Mom bringing this up again? Upon hearing this, both of them suddenly looked up, their eyes shing in the air for a moment before quickly looking away, turning their heads out of embarrassment. Then they heard Mom continue, "Youre still young, and there are some things you might not understand. The early stage of pregnancy is the most dangerous time. What if you get pregnant without realizing, and then have a fight and lose the baby?" The mother-inw was always keeping an eye on her stomach, Xiaoxiao said with a blushing face, "Yes, youre right, Mom. Ill be more careful in the future." Seeing that her daughter-inw agreed and had a good attitude, Yang Mings mother reminded her again, "You really need to be careful, you never know when it could happen!" "Yes," Xiaoxiao agreed. Seeing that his wife was already being overwhelmed by his mothers words, he immediately took over the conversation, "Mom, dont worry about this, well be careful." "What care can you take? You onlye back twice a month, when can Mom hope to hold her first grandson?" "Mom, Ill try my best." "..." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiaos heart skipped a beat, and even though she knew it was said to appease his mother, her face involuntarily heated up. Seeing her son speak like this and noticing the blushing face of her daughter-inw, Yang Mings mother felt too embarrassed to continue. If she werent worried that they might have a child without realizing and then lose it, she wouldnt havee. "Your father still has things to do, so Ill go back first." Finding an excuse, she hastened out the door. This left Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming in the room, momentarily creating an awkward atmosphere. To ease the mood, Yang Ming was the first to break the silence, "Dont take my mothers words to heart." "Yes." The mother-inw did not know their actual circumstances, and such behavior was understandable to her. But was it really okay for her mother-inw to always be watching her stomach? Chapter 292: Shake Hands, We’re Still Good Friends.

Chapter 292: Chapter 292: Shake Hands, Were Still Good Friends.

After lunch, Xiaoxiao was napping in the room, and Yang Ming sat at the table reading a book, watching his wife nap peacefully, and unknowingly two hours had passed. "Schr, is the Schrs wife at home?" Suddenly, such a voice broke the silence, waking Xiaoxiao with the shouting. "Hmm, husband, who is here?" Xiaoxiao slowly opened her eyes and murmured. Yang Ming peered outside, "Its Fat Duns mother with Fat Dun. Theyre probably looking for us, get up quickly." "Hmm." Xiaoxiao didnt expect them toe and quickly got dressed. As they stepped outside, they saw Fat Dun and three little tykes ying in the courtyard. Had they made up already? Seeing Xiaoxiao, Fat Dun immediately ran over, "Auntie, I was wrong. I shouldnt have tried to take the wind spinner from Yang Liuliu. I came here to give it back to her." "Have you guys made up?" Scratching his head, Fat Dun smiled sheepishly, "Hmm, Yang Shu said, shake hands, and were still friends." Xiaoxiao smiled knowingly. No child is bad from the start, as long as parents guide them rightly, all kids can be good. "Go on and y." "Hmm." The little tykes agreed and ran off. After finishing speaking, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming entered the Main House, where Fat Duns mother was surely waiting. Upon entering, Fat Duns mother stood up to greet them, a trace of embarrassment on her face, "Schr, Schrs wife." "Fat sister-inw," Xiaoxiao politely responded, observing Fat Duns mothers face, bruised and swollen. Xiaoxiao felt quite embarrassed; she had managed to hit someone so fiercely. Sitting down, Xiaoxiao said to Fat Duns mother, "Fat sister-inw, about today, Im truly sorry, I was too impulsive, hitting you like that." After going home, Fat Duns mother had also heard from her child, and realized that she had misunderstood the Schrs wife, which is why she had brought the children over, initially intending to apologize, but didnt expect the Schrs wife to speak first. "No, dont say that, Im the one who should be embarrassed. I was too impulsive today. Seeing the child getting hit, I pped without asking for any exnations." Xiaoxiao had initially thought they came to settle ounts with her after being hit, but upon going outside and finding the children had already made up, she was reassured and thought Fat Duns mother must be a reasonable person, so she decided to apologize first. "I can understand a mothers heart for her child, but sometimes children can resolve their own issues, and we adults really dont need to step in. See, they are ying together again, arent they?" Embarrassed, Fat Duns mother smiled, "Yes, yes, lets pretend todays incident never happened." "How can we pretend it didnt happen? I hit you, wait a moment." Xiaoxiao said and then stepped out, leaving the family puzzled. "Sorry about that, Fat sister-inw," Yang Father interjected, startled at how severe her injuries were from the fight. "Its okay, its okay. I started it." Soon, Xiaoxiao returned, "Fat sister-inw, Im really sorry for injuring you like this. Here are some eggs and other food for you to take and nourish yourself." "No, no, thats not why I came." Seeing Xiaoxiao like this, Fat Duns mother hurriedly protested. "Fat sister-inw, please take it. No matter what, we were the ones who hit you, and this is only right." Yang Ming also came out to persuade her. Embarrassed, Fat Duns mother epted the items and went home with Fat Dun. After they left, Yang Ming kept staring at his wife, feeling that he could learn a lot from being by her side. Feeling his gaze, Xiaoxiaoughed, "No fights, no acquaintances. There are no permanent enemies." "..." His wife had many quirky theories, yet they made Chapter 293: Sorry, I Can’t Run a Private School

Chapter 293: Chapter 293: Sorry, I Cant Run a Private School

After dinner, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao hadnt been back in their room for long when they heard a knock on the door. The sound of knocking made Yang Mings heart sink, it had not been easy to get a day off, and he had just wanted to spend it with his wife. Why were there so many peopleing out to make trouble and disturb them? "You go see who it is," she urged. "Okay." Upon hearing his wifes coaxing, Yang Ming immediately got up to open the door and was surprised to find it was Li Fugui. "Brother Li, is there something you need?" "Yeah." "Lets talk outside," said Yang Ming as he started to walk out. But Li Fugui didnt move, "Can we talk inside?" "..." Was he here for him or was it something to do with his wife? After the two men entered the room, Xiaoxiao was also surprised; Li Fugui had been very quiet these past few days, sticking to his own plot ofnd. She hadnt expected him to take the initiative to visit today, which probably meant he had some matter to discuss. Seeing this, Xiaoxiao immediately moved a stool for him, "Please take a seat." After Li Fugui sat down, he looked around the room. This was his second time in Yang Mings room, and the decor really was quite different; he had just been stubborn before. "Brother Li, is there something you would like to discuss with us?" "Yes." After nodding, Li Fugui continued, "Actually, I was thinking about cooking for myself and not eating here anymore." Upon hearing Li Fuguis words, both were surprised; they hadnt expected the Eldest Young Master, who always had everything handed to him, to want to cook for himself. This truly was something new. "Do you know how to cook?" Xiaoxiao voiced her thoughts, suspecting that he probably didnt know how. Li Fuguiughed awkwardly; he really didnt know how. He had only cooked with Xiaotian for a few days, and it was barely edible, "Yeah, a little." Seeing Li Fuguis reaction, Xiaoxiao felt he might be lying and was hesitating over whether to agree or not when her husband spoke up. "Alright, in the next few days, well help you gather the things you need for cooking, and once everything is ready, you can start cooking for yourself," he said. With Yang Mings consent, Li Fugui spoke again, saying he didnt want to rely solely on their family; he should learn to be self-sufficient. Xiaotian probably wouldnt want him to be the kind of person who depended on others to live. "Could I borrow some money from you to buy my own food for the time being? Ill repay it once Ive earned some money." Xiaoxiao had thought he just wanted to go out and eat by himself; she hadnt expected him to want to sever ties with this household and bepletely self-reliant. Seeing Li Fugui like this, Xiaoxiao felt a surge of emotion and truly wanted to help him. She immediately went to the cab to get some money and handed it to him, "Here, this is two taels of silver. You dont have to pay it back; its your wages. For watching the house at night, and for teaching them to read. From now on, youll get two taels each month." "Thank you," said Li Fugui, epting the silver and directly expressing his gratitude. He knew that Yang Mings wife had given him a face-saving justification; he was sincerely thankful to them. He stood up to leave but then he heard Yang Mings wife speak. "What do you think about starting a private school here?" "A private school?" Li Fugui and Yang Ming said in unison, both equally surprised by her suggestion. "Ive been thinking, if you want to be self-reliant, then teaching others to read is the only way. There are many children here who cant read, if we charge less for tuition, surely many kids wille. You should be able to teach the basics, right?" she proposed. "Im sorry, but I cant run a private school." "..." Chapter 294 I Want to Be a Chef

Chapter 294: Chapter 294 I Want to Be a Chef

Xiaoxiao was taken aback; she hadnt expected Li Fugui to refuse. This was a n she had tailor-made for him, believing that teaching was all that Li Fugui was capable of now. Could he possibly possess some other talent? She decided to ask him. "Li Fugui, do you have any special skills besides reading?" Special skills? He probably really couldnt do anything else besides reading. Shaking his head, he replied, "No." "..." If that was the case, then what was his reason for refusing? "Then why did you reject my proposal? If you dont do this, how will you make money? By copying books?" Copying books was truly a tiring and unprofitable task, one that anyone with even a slight alternative would avoid. Li Fugui was somewhat embarrassed and didnt reply; he felt that if he became a teacher, he would truly be bound to this ce, and then, how would he search for Xiaotian and take back the Li Family? Seeing that Li Fugui wasnt replying, Yang Ming spoke up, "Brother Li, is it because you have your own ns that you refused my wifes proposal?" Li Fugui sighed, he couldnt hide anything from them. Seeing Li Fuguis demeanor, Xiaoxiao guessed that Yang Ming might be right. It seemed Li Fugui really did have his own ns, and suddenly, she was very curious to hear them, "Li Fugui, what are your thoughts? Two heads are better than one." The couple looked puzzled, as they didnt know who Zhuge Liang was. Xiaoxiao quickly exined, "Its always better to have multiple people trying to solve a problem than just one." Looking at Yang Ming and his wifes expectant gazes, Li Fugui feltpelled to share his thoughts, "I want to be a chef." The room fell silent all of a sudden. Xiaoxiao felt as though she had heard something unbelievable. It never crossed her mind that Li Fugui would aspire to be a chef. She was utterly baffled, "Why?" "I want to find Xiaotian." "..." How could bing a chef help find Xiaotian? She couldntprehend his logic. "Li Fugui, tell us your detailed thoughts." "Alright, then please help me analyze it." This was just a preliminary idea of his, and having them help analyze it seemed good. "Im thinking of staying here for a while, then going to various restaurant kitchens to learn the craft as an assistant chef, all the while looking for Xiaotian." He, a young master who hadnt worked a day in his life, had such an idea. Being a chef wasnt easy work, let alone an assistant chef. Whether he could even learn the skills was another question. "Um... Li Fugui, isnt this n a bit too ambitious? Bing a chef takes years, a decade, maybe more -- can you even master it in that time?" Li Fugui clenched his fists and dered decisively, "No matter how many years it takes, I must learn because I intend to take back the Li Family. Without excellent culinary skills, I cant beat Dongfeng Restaurant." So that was it. He had not forgotten about reiming the Li Family. It made sense; after all, who could easily forget such a thing? However, there were many ways to bring down Dongfeng Restaurant; turning oneself into a chef was not the only one. Yet seeing Li Fugui with such firm determination was already quite admirable. Xiaoxiaos mind raced; perhaps she had a way to bring down Dongfeng Restaurant. She smiled knowingly, a smile that Yang Ming and Li Fugui found somewhat eerie. "Li Fugui, your idea needs further discussion. Its too unsophisticated. At this rate, its uncertain when youll achieve your goal." "..." He knew that too, but it was the best n he hade up with so far. "So, stay here and follow my lead," she advised. "..." Chapter 295: Don’t worry, I won’t look at you

Chapter 295: Chapter 295: Dont worry, I wont look at you

"Ill listen to my wife." Since his wife spoke this way, she must have had her reasons. He inexplicably felt that Li Fugui should listen to his wife too. Having sent Li Fugui off, Yang Ming was in a pretty good mood, as it meant he was finally alone with his wife. It was already veryte, and this time, no one was likely to disturb them again. He went to heat the kang and prepare the water for their nightly washing. "Honey, heat more wateryou should take a bath too." Xiaoxiao was just considering the possibly sparse living conditions at Yang Mings academy, where bathing might not be convenient, and figured he probably just made do with a quick basin wash every day. Now that he was finally home, a good, rxing bath would be nice. Upon hearing this, Yang Mings eyes widened for a moment. Did his wife mean for him to use her special bath barrel? Since he hadst used it, she had never again offered it to him. A smile curled up at the corners of his mouth as he whispered an agreement, "Okay." While Yang Ming heated the kang in the outer room, Xiaoxiao sat quietly beside him. He was leaving tomorrow and she wanted to take a few more nces at him. Thus, the two sat in silence. When Yang Ming got the bath water ready and checked the temperature with his hand, finding it just right, he turned to his wife and said, "Why dont you soak first?" Xiaoxiao was momentarily taken aback, not expecting Yang Ming to offer her the bath. She immediately refused, "No thanks, Ill wash after you leave." Being with Yang Ming made bathing quite a headacheit always ended with kicking someone out. Now, she didnt want him to leave; she wanted to look at him a bit longer. It would be just the same if she washed after he had left. Hearing his wifes refusal, Yang Ming felt a bit awkward and quickly exined, "I just thought, since you fought with someone today, you might feel sore tomorrow, and a soak would do you good." Warmed by her husbands thoughtful words, Xiaoxiao felt a warmth in her heart, "Yeah, I know." "Then you go in first. Ill be done soon." "Okay." Xiaoxiao obediently went inside, listening to the sshing of water outside and wondering if a beauty might emerge from the bath soon. Her good mood didntst long before she felt a pain in her stomach. She stopped waiting for her husband and forgot about the idea of a beauty emerging from the bath. Instead, she crawled into bed, clutching her stomach, which was so painful she broke out in a cold sweat. She thought that a stomach ache was no illnessperhaps she hadnt fully relieved herself at the toilet and would feel better after going again. But her husband was outside bathing, and she felt really embarrassed to interrupt. After enduring for a while, she decided she needed to sit on the toilet to feel better, so she called out, "Honey, Im going to the toilet. Dont worry, I wont look at you." Yang Ming was still outside bathing when he heard his wifes voice. Before he could react, he saw his wifee out, looking rather odd, eyes shut tight and not looking at him, inching her way to the door, then opening it and dashing out like a shot. "Pfft!" Seeing his wifes humorous exit, Yang Ming couldnt help but burst intoughter, something he had never done before. He thought he was truly bewitched by his wife, imagining hering back in, her eyes still closed and inching her way inside. Suddenly, he no longer wanted to finish his bath quicklyhe was curious to see her reaction when she returned. But soon, his mind began to wander. It was so dark outside. What if his wife was afraid, or what if she hadnte back because she had fallen into the toilet pit? Chapter 296 Aunt Flo Finally Visits

Chapter 296: Chapter 296 Aunt Flo Finally Visits

Yang Ming became more and more worried about his wife. He wasnt in the mood to wash either, so he got up right away, quickly dried his body, put on his clothes, and ran to the outhouse door. "Wife, are you in the outhouse?" He called out to the inside, but there was no response. He became anxious; his wife had clearly said she was going to the outhouse. "Wife!" "Wife!" "..." He called out a few times, but nobody answered. He pushed open the door to the outhouse but stumbled on something. By the light of the moon, he could faintly see a figure on the ground. Why would his wife be lying here? Panicked, he hurriedly picked her up, but what he hadnt expected to see when he did so was... He couldnt care about that now; the most important thing was to carry his wife back to the house. Xiaoxiao was awake at this time, and she felt unbearably ashamed, her bargain husband had touched ces he shouldnt have. She had just reached the outhouse when she felt a warm flow in her lower abdomen. It wasnt a matter of not cleaning up after defecation; her period hade. It had been such a long time since herst period that she had forgotten the feeling, and this body felt different from her original one. In the past, she would experience back pain, cold legs, and no stomach ache. But with this body, her lower abdomen hurt terribly during her period, the pain made her break out in cold sweats to the point that she thought she might faint in the outhouse. Sure enough, as she stood up to pull up her trousers, she tumbled over. But just as her bargain husband picked her up, she regained consciousness, causing her an excruciating level of embarrassment. She would rather have remained unconscious. She decided to stay quiet and wait for her bargain husband to take her back to the house, then she would pretend to wake up. After Yang Ming carried his wife back to the house and ced her on the kang, he went to help her pull up her trousers. But as he was turning her over to pull them up, he saw blood beneath her. His heart sank with a thud as he saw his wife bleeding. How could she be injured? He quickly pulled her trousers up and then picked her up again. Feeling herself being carried once more, Xiaoxiao realized that if she didnt wake up now, the whole family would soon know she had her period. Anyway, her bargain husband had already pulled up her trousers, and the awkward moment had passed. All she needed to do was wake up right away. She pretended to slowly open her eyes and called out to Yang Ming, "Husband." Hearing his wifes call, Yang Mings heavy heart lifted slightly. At least his wife wasnt unconscious. "Wife, youre awake. Dont be afraid, Im going to take you to see the doctor right now," he said. Seeing her bargain husbands reaction, Xiaoxiao couldnt help but find it extremely funny. He actually thought that she was bleeding because she was hurt. Even after thest incident, he still didnt know that women got their periods. He was so innocent. "Husband, put me down, Im fine." "But youre bleeding. How can you be fine? Dont be scared, were going to see the doctor right now," he insisted. Yang Ming thought his wife was trying tofort him. She was bleeding, so it must hurt a lot. He had to take her to the doctor immediately. He said so as he held his wife, already at the door of the room. Xiaoxiao struggled desperately. "Im really fine, please put me down, its just my period!" "..." Yang Ming froze in ce, not understanding what his wife was talking about. While he was puzzled, he heard his wife say something that jolted his heart. "Women bleed every month, its normal. Dont worry, itll stop in a few days." Chapter 297: Wife, Don’t Cry

Chapter 297: Chapter 297: Wife, Dont Cry

The wife said that women bleed every month, how could he not know that? He had been living with his wife every day for more than a month, and he had not noticed such a thing, showing how little he cared about his wife. Seeing her husband zoning out, Xiaoxiao immediately urged, "Hurry up and put me back, Im really okay." "Oh." Yang Ming, still dazed, agreed and tenderly put his wife back on the bed. Once Yang Ming had ced Xiaoxiao back on the bed, she felt extremely embarrassed. She hadnt even put on a sanitary pad, and the quilt was stained. She felt that if she moved even slightly, there would be a warm flow below, her menstruation was so heavy, it was almost like a river of blood, and she felt she couldnt bear it. Her stomach was hurting terribly, her forehead continued to sweat cold sweat, feeling like her body was about to give out. She struggled to prop up her frail body when she heard her husbands panicked voice asking. "Why are you getting up? Lie down quickly, what do you need? Ill take care of it." Seeing her husband so anxious about her, her eyes moistened. She felt so fragile at the moment, fragile enough that she couldnt tell if she was crying from the pain or moved by her husbands care, but tears quietly began to flow. Seeing his wifes tears, Yang Ming became even more panicked and reached out to wipe the tears from her face, saying awkward yet heartfelt words, "Wife, dont cry, dont cry." "Wife, dont cry," such touching words, stirred a warm current in Xiaoxiaos heart. Although she was in pain, she still managed to squeeze out a sweet smile, her eyes curving like crescent moons, "Okay, I wont cry." "What do you need? Ill take care of it." Seeing that his wife had stopped crying, Yang Ming quickly asked. "There are homemade pads in the cab, in the lower left corner, made of cotton cloth bags, can you get them for me?" Xiaoxiao was very thankful that she had made these items when she first arrived here, just in case, otherwise, she would really be in a mess. Yang Ming followed his wifes instructions, opened the cab, and found the cloth bags in the lower left, "Is this them? Here you go." Xiaoxiao took the homemade pads, expecting her naive husband to politely go out and wait for her to change, but the silly husband stayed, staring at her and instead began to ask questions. "What are these for?" "..." This silly, slow-witted man. Xiaoxiao felt both annoyed and amused. If he wanted to listen, she would exin, "Because my butt is bleeding, right? If I dont pad it, wont it stain everything? This is for padding the butt." Hearing his wife mention her butt again and again, Yang Mings face turned red. He suddenly remembered the feel of holding his wife and the moment he had just helped her with her pants, which made him panic. "..." Having exined it so clearly, why hadnt he left yet? "Husband!" "Yes?" Her calling snapped him back to reality. "Why havent you left yet? Do you want to watch me change?" "Oh." Only then did Yang Ming realize, embarrassedly getting up, "Ill go out first." Yang Ming was about to touch the doorknob to leave when he heard his wifes voice from behind, "This is the menstrual cycle you asked aboutst time." "Got it." Yang Ming replied softly, quickly opened the door, and hurried out. Chapter 298: Warming Your Belly Will Make It Feel Better

Chapter 298: Chapter 298: Warming Your Belly Will Make It Feel Better

Seeing her husband flee in defeat, Xiaoxiao chuckled, feeling lucky to have him by her side. Although he was a bit slow and silly, this feeling was truly wonderful. Propping herself up, feeling a bit weak, she changed out of her blood-stained pants and reced them with a homemade sanitary pad, feeling much cleaner and morefortable. She then pulled down the dirty bedsheet and reced it with a new one. After tidying everything up, she slowlyy down in bed, her hands covering her stomach, waiting for her husband to return. After a while, she heard the sound of the door opening. Her husband was back, but he didnte straight in; instead, he was doing something in the outer room. A momentter, she heard his voice, "Wife, have you finished changing?" "Yes, Im done, you cane in now." Xiaoxiaos eyes were fixed on the door, hoping her husband woulde in quickly. Her husband dide in, carrying a bowl, "Wife, get up, drink this. Itll warm you up." When Xiaoxiao looked into the bowl that Yang Ming handed her, it seemed to be brown sugar water. Had he been away this long to ask for advice from his family? Warmth surged through her heart once more. She slowly got up from bed, only to be gently supported by her husband, who leaned her against his body. In that moment, her husband captivated her, and she forgot to take the bowl filled with brown sugar water. She just quietly watched as her husband blew on the sugar water and then brought the bowl to her lips, slowly feeding her. "This will make your stomach feel better after you drink it." "Mhm." Her husband slowly settled her back into bed and tucked her in, "Dont wash up today, just go to sleep early, you wont feel the pain when youre asleep." "Mhm." Obediently, Xiaoxiao closed her eyes, found the mostfortable position, and told herself that indeed, once asleep, the pain would be gone. Seeing his wife lying on the bed in pain, Yang Ming felt like his heart was being ripped apart; he wished he could take the pain for her. Thinking of all the blood his wife lost, his eyes filled with distress. So, menstruation could be this painful; he wished his wife would never have to suffer from it ever again. With a pained expression, he turned and went to the outer room, where he saw his wifes blood-stained clothes, and his heart was pierced once again. He had to leave again tomorrow; could his wife take care of herself during these days? He was very worried, washing the clothes while thinking of the main points his mother had just told him. Finally, after finishing theundry, he hung the clothes and went into the room. He nced at his wife and listened to her breathing, which seemed to indicate she was asleep. He warmed his icy hands inside his clothes for a while before they felt warm enough. He spread the nket beside his wife, blew out thentern, and crawled into her bed. He ced his newly warmed hands on his wifes lower abdomen; his mother had said that keeping the stomach warm with your hands during this time could beforting. He didnt dare to do it while his wife was awake, so he could only secretly warm her stomach like this. Due to the abdominal pain, Xiaoxiao, who was already not sleeping soundly, woke up the instant she felt her husbands hand reach for her stomach. Her body stiffened to the extreme, unsure of what to do. Then she heard her husbands voice, barely above a whisper, "Warming your belly like this should feel better." Chapter 299: He cares about me so much, he must like me

Chapter 299: Chapter 299: He cares about me so much, he must like me

Hearing these words, Xiaoxiaos body rxed from its rigid state, feeling the warmth emanating from her husbands palm, she giggled secretly under the covers. She thought that a man must surely like a woman to treat her like this, perhaps it was just because her husband hadnt realized it himself yet. He was so silly, so dull, so wooden, it must be the case. Waiting for him to realize he liked her might really take until the cowse home, so she decided it would be better if she confessed first. Once her period was over, and the next time he returned when the atmosphere was just right, she would confess. Perhaps she could seed in one fell swoop and even knock him down. Thinking this way, her mood was very pleasant. Maybe her husbands hand really did have some magic in it, for she felt much morefortable in her stomach, not so painful anymore. Boldly, she ced her hand on her husbands, and together they warmed their stomachs, drifting off to sleep sweetly. Feeling his wifes handnd on the back of his, Yang Ming was scared half to death and reflexively wanted to withdraw it, but her hand pulled him back, cing it again on the stomach. Seeing that she made no further movements, she must still be asleep, he finally exhaled in relief. Both of them had a good nights sleep. The next day, Xiaoxiao did not wake up particrlyte, since her mind was upied with thinking about the workshop starting up. When she woke, she looked around and did not see her husbands figure. She sighed; people have to leave, and cannot always be by her side. She got out of bed, nning to wash and tidy herself up, but on the table, she saw a note left by her husband. "Take good care of yourself." Her heart bloomed like a flower in an instant, dancing with joy. Holding the paper with her husbands handwriting, she jumped and twirled on the floor, relishing the moment like a child who never grew up. Her mouth kept repeating, "He cares about me so much, he must like me." After a few jumps, she felt a warm flow beneath her. She stuck out her tongue, "Oops, Im too happy, Ipletely forgot about my period." She immediately stopped and headed to the outhouse to deal with her physiological needs. She swapped for a clean, homemade sanitary napkin. This bodys period was really strange; the first day was so painful it nearly caused her to faint, but the second day, it was as if nothing had happened, not painful at all. But this was just as well; if the pain persisted for several days in a row, it would be unbearable, especially without her husbands presence, life would indeed be tough. When she returned from the outhouse, she saw her mother-inw walking towards her with a bowl. Her mood was great, and she greeted cheerfully, "Mother, good morning." "Third sons wife,e drink this brown sugar water while its still warm." Seeing her mother-inws care, she felt incredibly happy to have been transported to this family. She epted the bowl and drank the brown sugar water, "Thank you, mother." "The third son made me promise before he left, to take good care of you these next few days. He said not to let you touch cold water and instructed me to prepare this brown sugar water for you. Does your stomach still hurt?" Hearing this, Xiaoxiaos heart warmed even more. Her husband had been considerate enough to have his mother take care of her. He really did like her, there was no mistake. She replied with a smile, "It doesnt hurt anymore, Impletely fine now." "Thats good, then go wash up, ande eat breakfast in a bit." "Okay, got it." Xiaoxiao agreed and went back to her room to wash up. She lifted the lid of the pot and found that her husband had already prepared hot water for her, keeping it warm in the pot. Looking up, she saw that the garments stained with blood from the day before had been washed clean and hung up. She Chapter 300 Starting Off Well

Chapter 300: Chapter 300 Starting Off Well

After getting dressed, Xiaoxiao went to have breakfast, and then took her family to the rented courtyard. The embroiderers that had been hired were already waiting in the courtyard, and there were as many as fifty of them. Everyone was in high spirits, excited at the prospect of earning Silver, and the chatter was incessant. "Everyone, quiet down, listen to me." As soon as Xiaoxiao arrived in the courtyard, she began to take charge, disying a natural leadership quality. "Schrs wife," Hearing Xiaoxiaos words, everyone quieted down and greeted Xiaoxiao in turn. "Hello everyone, I believe you all know my character. I wont say much, as long as everyone works hard, you will all earn Silver." At the mention of Silver, everyones mood surged as if they had been injected with adrenaline, eager to start. Seeing everyone like this, Xiaoxiao didnt feel the need to say much. She gestured towards the main gate, "Then lets set off the firecrackers, and start our work on an auspicious note." Li Fugui and Yang Dong were already waiting there. Seeing Xiaoxiaos gesture, the two immediately took action to set off the firecrackers, and the sounds of the firecrackers filled the entire vige with a celebratory atmosphere. After the firecrackers had finished, Xiaoxiao shouted to everyone, "Lets start work." "Alright," everyone responded in unison. Xiaoxiao led everyone inside, allocating each person to their designated seat, cutting, sewing, embroidering; the division ofbor was clear. In the beginning, everyone was not skilled, led and taught by the eldest sister-inw, the second sister-inw, and Yang Qiu. While everyone was busily engrossed in their tasks, Wang Xiangxiang led the embroiderers into the building. "It seems I arrivedte; I could hear the firecrackers from afar." "Sister Wang, youre notte, notte at all." "The embroiderers have been brought to teach them." "Thats perfect, youve thought of everything." With professional embroiderers teaching, they could pick up the skills faster. Afetr settling the embroiderers and observing everyones work situation for a while, Xiaoxiao felt satisfied and went home with Wang Xiangxiang. As soon as they reached the main gate, Li Fugui came out to meet them. "Miss Wang, any news?" Seeing Li Fuguis anxious expression, Wang Xiangxiang felt somewhat sorry for him, "Ive only just sent people out; it has only been a few days, dont be too anxious." "Sorry, I was too eager," Li Fugui said dejectedly as he returned to the courtyard. He had been so anxious that it was indeed somewhat presumptuous of him to ask Wang Xiangxiang so abruptly. "Sister Wang, thank you for sending people to find out; it must have cost a lot of Silver." Finding someone required manpower, resources, and financial power, and was not something that could be done overnight. Not everyone could manage it. Wang Xiangxiang linked arms with Xiaoxiao and started walking forward, "No need for formalities, were practically sisters." "..." Wasnt it Li Fugui who owed her a favor? How did it suddenly seem like it was her who owed one? But this was indeed a big favor, and she could only try to help Wang Xiangxiang earn Silver in the future to repay it. "Has your husband left?" Wang Xiangxiang asked as they walked. Upon mentioning her husband leaving, Xiaoxiao felt a bit downhearted, "Yes, he left just this morning." "Thats great." "..." How was that great? She didnt feel great at all, as she missed her husband dearly. "Hehe." Looking at Wang Xiangxiangs smiling face, Xiaoxiao couldnt help but feel like she was nning something. True to her suspicions, Wang Xiangxiang said expectantly, "Id like to stay at your ce for a few days, is that okay?" "Sure, stay. My husband isnt here anyway." Xiaoxiao thought that having Wang Xiangxiangspany might help distract her, allowing time to pass more quickly. She readily agreed to the request. Chapter 301: You Might Have Encountered a Fake Matchmaker

Chapter 301: Chapter 301: You Might Have Encountered a Fake Matchmaker

As soon as the two of them got home, they saw the four men in the family carrying farming tools and heading out. "Dad, what are you all doing?" "Old Sans wife, isnt it the beginning of spring? Its time to start plowing the fields." It was just after the New Year, and the temperature hadnt risen above freezing yet. Could the soil be that easy to plow? And it looked like they were nning to till thend by hand. Upon hearing this, Xiangxiangs excitement was written all over her face, "Plowing the fields? That sounds fun, lets go too." "..." Xiaoxiao helplessly thought, how could this pampered youngdy be interested in everything? That was fieldwork, not ying. But she really did want to see; she had been here for so long and still didnt know where theirnd was. Xiaoxiao nodded at Wang Xiangxiang and turned to ask her father-inw, "Dad, where are the farming tools? Wait for us, we want to go too." "Old Sans wife, what do you need farming tools for? Theres no reason to make guests work the fields. Hurry and take Miss Wang inside." That seemed to make a lot of sense, and Xiaoxiao hesitated, only to see her mother-inwing over. She took her arm as if supporting a very weak patient, "Old Sans wife, you mustnt work in the fields. Old San made me promise again and again before he left to have you rest well these few days. Go inside quickly." When her mother-inw said that, Xiaoxiao felt a bit embarrassed, her heart as sweet as if it had been filled with honey, and she said softly, "Mom, Im fine." "What do you mean fine? Get inside quickly." Although her mother-inws tone wasnt pleasant, Xiaoxiao could tell she was genuinely concerned, so she could only say to Wang Xiangxiang, "Sister Wang, lets not go these few days. Ill take you there after a few days." Wang Xiangxiang gave her a knowing look and followed Xiaoxiao inside. Once back in the room, the mother-inw brought another bowl of brown sugar water, "Here, drink another bowl. Anyway, theres nothing to do, so justy on the kang. Ill warm it up for you, so you can warm your belly." After saying that, she went out to warm the kang for Xiaoxiao, leaving Wang Xiangxiang and Xiaoxiao alone in the room. Seeing the interaction between Xiaoxiao and her mother-inw, Wang Xiangxiang was filled with envy, "Xiaoxiao, your mother-inw is so good to you." Speaking of this, Xiaoxiao was filled with happiness and pride, smiling as she said, "Yeah, everyone in their family is super good to me." "Howe youre so lucky to have found such a good family? Although theyre not rich, as long as the people are good, thats what matters." "..." Was she really that fortunate? When she first arrived, sheined about everything,menting why she hadnt been reborn as a pampered youngdy. Now thinking about it, she truly felt fortunate to havee here and met her modest husband. Wang Xiangxiang sat in front of Xiaoxiaos desk,zily propping her chin with her hand, "Why cant I have that kind of good fortune? Why are all the men the matchmaker introduces to me so unsuitable? If I hadnt seen for myself, I would have been deceived." Xiaoxiao truly admired Wang Xiangxiang. The girls here were actually very conservative, and for her to take charge of her happiness like this was quite unconventional. Usually, the matchmaker would arrange the marriage, and the couple would only meet on the wedding night. "You might have encountered a fake matchmaker," Xiaoxiao joked. Wang Xiangxiang didnt answer, as if pondering something, and then she spoke very solemnly. "You seem to make a lot of sense, it must be a fake matchmaker. Otherwise, why would all the matches she finds be so unsatisfactory? Where can I find a real matchmaker?" With her head in her hands, Xiaoxiao felt quite helpless, "Sister Wang, are you that eager to get married?" Chapter 302: Wang Xiangxiang’s Marriage Woes

Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Wang Xiangxiangs Marriage Woes

"Now that youre married, of course youre not in a hurry." "..." "Besides, you got married so well." As Wang Xiangxiang spoke, she even leaned on the table, looking very sad. This made Xiaoxiao feel that todays Wang Xiangxiang was very different, very sentimental, as if she had something on her mind, "Sister Wang, then tell me, what are you in a hurry for?" "Im already twenty, how can I not be anxious? All the good ones have been taken." "..." She seemed to have a point. Here, girls in their teens, even mere children, were already booked. Being over twenty indeed made it harder to find a match. "Sister Wang, how many years have you been picking then?" "Five years, I guess." "..." Five years, that must mean meeting countless people, enough to fill several horse carts. Have you be choosy? "I started looking from the age of thirteen all the way until I was seventeen. They were either not good looking or not good people, couldnt find the right one until that incident with Li Fugui. I got so angry, I stopped looking for a matchmaker." "..." Huh? No wonder Wang Xiangxiang had that attitude towards Li Fugui before. This kind of thing could ruin someones entire life. It was indeed a deep grudge. "Later my parents passed away, and I observed mourning for three years, up until now." "So now you want to get married again?" "Of course I do, Ive always wanted to. Recently, my mourning period ended, and matchmakers starteding to my door again, but..." "..." But shes twenty now. The ones who would match with her are either widowed or divorced, or maybe they have some sort of issue. As Xiaoxiao was thinking this, suddenly Wang Xiangxiang stood up excitedly and said, "Xiaoxiao, introduce me to the matchmaker who arranged your marriage with your husband." Xiaoxiao was startled. Wang Xiangxiang was really desperate to get married, even considering her countryside matchmaker. Wang Xiangxiangs eyes lit up as though she had seen hope, "Maybe I can find an honest and decent man in the countryside like you did." "..." How desperate was she to get married? With her good prospects, how had she ended up as ast resort here? Now she was even lowering her standards to find a countryd. "Tell me quickly, who is that matchmaker?" "..." How would she know? She didnt have the memories of her past life. Just then the mother-inw walked in and said something that startled both women, "The two of them didnt have a matchmaker." Xiaoxiao was also confused. Without a matchmaker, how had she gotten married here? Wang Xiangxiang was even more baffled and asked the mother-inw, "How could there be no matchmaker?" The mother-inw chuckled and said to Xiaoxiao, "Whats the matter, youre feeling embarrassed now?" "..." What exactly did her past self do? She felt like she might have done something outrageous. "Mother." "Alright, alright, alright, mother wont say anymore." Seeing Xiaoxiaos pleading look, the mother-inw spoke and then left. After the mother-inw left, Wang Xiangxiang made a pressing gesture, looking determined to not give up until she knew, "Xiaoxiao,e on, tell me!" "..." She didnt know either, "We ended up married because I forced him to marry me, and he doesnt like me." Yeah, that must be the way things happened back then. Wang Xiangxiang was puzzled, "Really? You forced him? But he seems quite fond of you." "Really? You think he likes me?" Hearing Wang Xiangxiangs words, Xiaoxiao became excited, grabbed Wang Xiangxiang, and asked back. Wang Xiangxiang was amused by Xiaoxiaos reaction. Everyone could see it, couldnt they? Only Xiaoxiao herself was clueless. "Yes, yes, your husband likes you, definitely." "Hehe." "..." Chapter 303: Changjiu Escort Agency Annihilation

Chapter 303: Chapter 303: Changjiu Escort Agency Annihtion

Yang Ming was very reluctant to leave in the morning. Knowing his wife wasnt feeling well and fearing she might faint again, he had no choice but to ask his mother to take care of her. He was always worried and walked back to the Academy, his mind elsewhere. As soon as he entered the room, his ssmates surrounded him, "Yang Ming, was that really your wife the other day?" "..." Was there even a doubt? He curved his lips slightly, "Yes, my wife." Everyone was just too shocked and wanted to confirm it again. "No wonder you treasure her so much, always on your lips." "We thought your wife was unattractive before, we were all deceived by you." "Rumors really are unreliable." "..." "..." After praising Yang Mings wife, they turned and asked, "Your wife really has no sisters?" "Really none," Yang Ming replied helplessly. It seemed they still wanted him to introduce someone. It looked like his wife was indeed very popr. Thinking back, he realized how foolish he had been before. People need to get along with each other, and whats good or bad really cannot be known just from hearsay. At that moment, the teacher entered the room, and everyone hurriedly returned to their seats, ready for ss. After the ss, Yang Ming went out. He wandered the streets aimlessly, trying to inquire about Xiaotians news, and before he knew it, he found himself in front of Changjiu Escort Agency. There were quite a few people gathered at the entrance, chatting casually and pointing things out. "Its such a pity, such a pity." Seeing that they were moving things out of the Escort Agency as if it were shutting down, Yang Ming was surprised, so he approached the crowd to ask. "Uncle, what happened to this Escort Agency?" The uncle sighed, "I heard the owner of the Escort Agency was wiped out, the whole family is dead, its really tragic, no one knows who they offended." "This happened two months ago, the news was blocked, and now it cant be contained anymore." Yang Ming was truly shocked when he heard this. Changjiu Escort Agency was the top agency in the county, known for taking on big and risky jobs, whether legal or illegal, and it was unbelievable that such a big incident had urred. He stood there, motionless, continuing to watch as he heard other people in the crowd chatting. Someone, even more interested, raised a question, "The owner of this Escort Agency was very rich, all wiped out, how were the assets dealt with?" "I heard they were confiscated, but who knows if they really were? It was all handled by the former magistrate, and you all know what he was like." "Then why are they moving things out now?" "That would be the current magistrates issue, and you all know what he is like." "..." "..." The meaning in the publics words could not be clearer, implying that both magistrates had divided up the assets of the Escort Agencys owner. Yang Ming clenched his fists, filled with indignation. Why did this county always encounter such magistrates? Why was there never a just official? Because of them, themon people of this county suffered countless injustices, enduring untold hardships. Meanwhile, someone sighed, "Ah, its just a pity for the people in this Escort Agency, who have worked here for so many years. To disband just like that..." "Exactly, I heard they were struggling these past two months, but in the end, they couldnt hold on." "..." "..." Just as Yang Ming was about to leave, he noticed the crowd stirring. He turned his head and saw people from the Escort Agencying out, each with a tall and strong stature. As they came forth, Yang Mings eyes widened in surprise. How could it be him? Chapter 304 Why Are You Helping Me

Chapter 304: Chapter 304 Why Are You Helping Me

Yang Ming had never expected that Wang Kui was actually from the Escort Agency. Changjiu Escort Agency was so famous, and so were the people inside. However, Yang Ming was the kind of person who kept himself out of worldly affairs; therefore, he had no idea who Wang Kui was. Previously, when Wang Kui mentioned his name might have some pull in the county, Yang Ming didnt take it seriously. It only came up once when he was being robbed, but it hadnt worked. After that, Yang Ming never gave further thought to this man, only to unexpectedly run into him today. Wang Kui also noticed Yang Mings gaze. Surprised to meet here, he stepped forward, "Brother Yang, I hope all has been well with you." Yang Ming bowed in greeting, "Brother Wang." "Brother Wang, what are you all up to here..." Wang Kuiughed heartily, "Hahaha, its nothing. This isnt a good ce to talk. Come on, Ill take you to our new ce." Hearing Wang Kui say so, Yang Ming had no choice but to follow. They arrived at a dpidated mansion that was located in a secluded spot, down a deep alley, but the house itself was ratherrge and could amodate many people. "We just got it and havent tidied up yet, feel free to sit wherever you like." Yang Ming found a ce to sit down and saw Wang Kui sorting out his band of brothers, which confirmed that Wang Kui was their leader. Perhaps, a month ago, his deception of Yang Wei was due topelling circumstances, for the sake of his people. However, whatever the reason, it was always wrong to harm others. After settling his brothers, Wang Kui immediately returned to Yang Mings side. Since his actual situation had already been seen by Yang Ming, he had nothing to hide. So he frankly said, "Im really sorry about what happenedst time. It was really just to maintain the Escort Agency and the people there that I took on that private job." Then he chuckled, "My first time trying something bad, and lucky for me it was your wife who showed up, and I didnt seed." "..." Was it really that he didnt seed? Wang Kui was a well-known figure in the Escort Agency; he must have known the little tricks yed by his wife. It seemed he must have thrown the game on purpose, but since he had decided to do it, why did he let up afterwards? Unable to solve this puzzle, Yang Ming asked, "Brother Wang, what are your ns for the future?" Wang Kui nced in the direction of his brothers, "What else can I n? Just to stick with these brothers and continue with the Escort Agency." Yang Ming took in the surroundings and the few remaining people. It wasnt that he didnt believe Wang Kui, but such conditions seemed hardly conducive to resuming their former business. Wang Kui read the meaning in Yang Mings eyes, then added, "Dont be fooled by our current state; we can start with small escorts and eventually, I will bring all my brothers back." "Without the agencys owner, can you manage an Escort Agency by yourselves?" Yang Ming voiced his concern, as after all, running an Escort Agency was all about connections, and it didnt seem like just anyone could do it. "Theres no need to worry about that; we have our connections in the business." If that was the case, then the brothers who had left were probably due to their current conditions. "Are youcking silver now?" Wang Kuis expression tightened unexpectedly upon hearing Yang Mings urate assessment, "To tell you the truth, indeed we are. If we had silver, my brothers wouldnt have left." "One hundred taels, could that help you?" Yang Ming thought it over. He had one hundred and twenty taels on hand, and parting with one hundred taels was still manageable, while the remaining twenty taels had other uses. To take more, hed have to ask his wife, and he preferred not to mention such an unsettled matter to her and spare her the worry. Wang Kui was pleasantly surprised to hear this. They were indeed in desperate need of silver, but he questioned, "Why would you want to help me?" Chapter 305: I Want You to Help Me Find Someone

Chapter 305: Chapter 305: I Want You to Help Me Find Someone

"I want you to help me find someone." Yang Ming thought that their family was just ordinary farmers, It was not easy to find his sister, and perhaps this was an opportunity, after all, the people from the Escort Agency traveled all over the ce. There are no permanent friends, nor permanent enemies, This Wang Kui seemed like a man of integrity and emotion, He wanted to take a gamble, perhaps he would win. "Who are you looking for?" Wang Kui was surprised, Yang Ming actually wanted him to find someone. "My sister." Upon hearing this, Wang Kuis hanging hands tightened, No one noticed his abnormality, he pretended to be calm and said, "As far as I know, hasnt your sister Yang Qiu already returned to your home?" Yang Ming was surprised, This Wang Kui actually knew so much, "The one I want you to find is my other sister." "Oh?" Hearing it was not Yang Qiu, Wang Kui visibly rxed. "My sisters name is Xiatian, she is now seventeen years old, Currently, we dont know where she has gone, so I was thinking since you go to many ces for escort missions, maybe you could help look for her." Wang Kui could indeed agree to look for her, but he could not just take one hundred silver notes for nothing, so he made a condition. "I can take your one hundred silver notes and find the person for you, but you need to agree to one condition." Upon hearing the first two lines, Yang Ming felt hopeful, but did not expect there would be a condition, Regardless, finding Xiatian was most important, "Lets hear your condition." "Be the owner of our Escort Agency." Yang Ming was stunned for a moment, he did not expect such a condition, "Brother Wang, this is absolutely not possible, I just want you to help find someone, I have no intention of bing the owner of the Escort Agency." "You have paid the silver, you are the owner of the Escort Agency, otherwise I will absolutely not agree." Wang Kui was also very stubborn. "I know nothing about your Escort Agencys affairs." "Thats not a problem, Im here for you, just continue doing your own thing." Seeing Wang Kui insist like this, Yang Ming thought he might as well agree for now, since it was just a title, "Alright then." Seeing Yang Ming agree, Wang Kui immediately shouted out to the outside, "Brothers, meet our new Shopkeeper." Following Wang Kuis shout, those brothers immediately came in and lined up in a row. "This is our new Shopkeeper, Yang Ming." "Greetings, Shopkeeper Yang." Everyone shouted in unison. "..." Yang Ming was speechless, he had be the Shopkeeper of the Escort Agency so unexpectedly. "Shopkeeper Yang, give our new Escort Agency a name," Wang Kui continued. "You all decide on the name." He was just a nominal figure, deciding their matters might not be appropriate. "Its still up to you, Shopkeeper Yang." "Could you not call me Shopkeeper Yang, Im just a nominal Shopkeeper." "No, no, no, you are the real Shopkeeper." "..." Rendered helpless by these people, finally Wang Kui suggested a name, called Xuntian Escort Agency. Everyone unanimously thought the implication was good, looking for Xiatian, Yang Ming had no choice but to agree. Yang Ming handed Wang Kui the one hundred silver notes he carried with him, "I entrust my sisters matter to you." "Consider it done," Wang Kui readily agreed. "As for what my sister looks like, she resembles my other sister by about seventy to eighty percent, Ill have here to meet you some other day." Upon hearing this, Wang Kui immediately panicked, "No need to meet, no need, just bring a portrait, well anyway need a portrait when we meet, its better not to trouble your sister to make the trip." Yang Ming felt what Wang Kui said made a lot of sense and so he agreed, "Alright then." Chapter 306: Owner of Xuntian Escort Agency

Chapter 306: Chapter 306: Owner of Xuntian Escort Agency

Although Wang Kui said Yang Ming didnt need to manage anything, he still discussed many matters rted to the Escort Agency with him and truly treated him as the owner of the agency, chatting for a long time before letting Yang Ming leave. After Yang Ming left, an Escort Head, puzzled, asked Wang Kui, "Head Escort Master Wang, although he gave a hundred taels, that surely doesnt qualify him to be the owner of our Escort Agency. A hundred taels is far from enough for us." "Do you think we are still the great Escort Agency we used to be? From now on, we can only start with small jobs. Having these hundred taels is already good, it saves us from having to look for odd jobs, and we can take on jobs directly." The Escort Head, still unsatisfied with Wang Kuis decision, said, "All of us are following you, Head Escort Master Wang; suddenly having to listen to an outsider doesnt sit well with us. Are we really going to treat him as the owner of the Escort Agency?" "Yes, he is the owner of our Escort Agency, and all of you must listen to him. Dont underestimate him; he might turn out to be an extraordinary person in the future. His wife might be, too. If our Escort Agency wants to rise again, we might really need to rely on them." "You wont go wrong listening to Head Escort Master Wang. Weve met Shopkeeper Yangs wife before." The people who had gone to Yang Family Vige with Wang Kui also came out to support his words, and everyone began to believe him and expressed they would follow orders and treat Yang Ming as the owner of the Escort Agency. Back at the Academy, Yang Ming spent his days reading books and thinking about his wife, but what he hadnt anticipated was that things were far from being as simple as he had thought. In the Academy Yang Ming, who was in the middle of ss, was called out again. He cheerfully went out, thinking his wife hade, but at the Academys gate, he saw people from Xuntian Escort Agency. "Is there something the matter?" "Shopkeeper Yang, I am a worker from the Escort Agency; I mainly came to report the expenses of the past few days, weve bought grains, cabbage, radishes..." The worker rambled on with his reporting, leaving Yang Ming stunned. What was going on? He was just a figurehead shopkeeper; he really didnt need to be told all this. He sent the worker back and returned to the Academy. Yet, to his surprise, a few dayster, he was called out by the Escort Agencys people again. "Shopkeeper Yang, I am an Escort Head. Im here to report that we took on a small job yesterday and are departing today; we need to dispatch five people to Lin County..." "You dont need to tell me all this." "Head Escort Master Wang said that you are the owner of our Escort Agency, and now every matter of the Escort Agency must be reported to you." "..." Yang Ming was speechless. Previously, in such arge Escort Agency, did everything have to be reported to the Store Manager? Did they have to report everything from eating and drinking to sleeping? He couldnt believe it. "Alright, I understand. You can go back now." After sending him away, Yang Ming decided to go and find Wang Kui that evening. But upon arriving at Xuntian Escort Agency, he saw that Wang Kui was not there; Wang Kui had already left with an escort during the day and would not be back for a few days. He was about to leave when an Escort Head kept him there, asking him toe every day to handle the trivial matters within the Escort Agency. Seeing that Wang Kui was not around and there was no one in charge, he reluctantly agreed. A few junior Escort Heads were discussing nearby. "Is keeping him here to handle this really useful?" "Following Head Escort Master Wangs orders cant be wrong." In reality, all these trivialities did not require Yang Mings involvement; these were just tactics employed by Wang Kui to help him integrate into the Escort Agency quickly. Yang Ming, who initially was just a token figure, gradually became more involved with everyone and, without realizing, became the true owner of Xuntian Escort Agency. Chapter 307: Is Yang Dong Looking for a Wife?

Chapter 307: Chapter 307: Is Yang Dong Looking for a Wife?

Yang Ming had been gone for three days, and while thepany of Wang Xiangxiang meant Xiaoxiao wasnt too distressed, she still missed Yang Ming a lot. She even started to tease herself about it, thinking that really, the presence of the opposite sex renders one inhuman. Her period had also ended, and after taking a bath, Xiaoxiao felt refreshed and invigorated. Shey down to have a chat with Wang Xiangxiang when she heard her mother-inw calling out. "Third sons wife, are you asleep yet?" "Mom, were not asleep. Come in." After the mother-inw entered the room and sat by the kang bed, she began somewhat hesitantly, "Third sons wife, I need to discuss something with you." Xiaoxiao sat up and put on her clothes, "What is it, mom? Just tell me." "Its about the fourth son." "Whats happened to fourth brother?" Xiaoxiao was puzzled. Lately, Yang Dong had been quite stable and hadnt caused any trouble. "The fourth son is not getting any younger. Hell be sixteen by the end of this year. If we dont find him a bride soon, he might end up not being able to find one at all." Hearing her mother-inws words, Xiaoxiao pondered the situation. Having spent more time here, her mentality had shifted, especially after seeing what happened with Wang Xiangxiang. At first, she thought Yang Dong was still too young to worry about rushing things and that he could meet someone he liked, but now it seemed that Yang Dong wasnt even trying to meet girls. How in the world would he find a partner? If they didnt go through a matchmaker, he might really end up being left behind. "Mom, then lets find a matchmaker." "Eh!" Her mother-inw agreed happily. A few days ago, she overheard the conversation between her daughter-inw and Miss Wang, and how such a good girl ended up being left over. This made her worry even more about her fourth son. "Third sons wife, I think youre right. Matchmakers always paint things in a positive light, but we never really know what the girl is like. Im thinking for the fourth son, this time we find him a bride, let him see for himself, just like Miss Wang did." "..." So the mother-inw took to heart the part about Wang Xiangxiang going to see a match for herself. Was she afraid Yang Dong would end up with someone unsuitable? It seemed the mother-inw had finallye to her senses, "Mom, lets arrange a blind date then. Well pick out a good girl, have the matchmaker bring her over, and let her and fourth brother take a look at each other." "Would the girl be willing to visit our home? How about having fourth brother go take a peek secretly?" Xiaoxiao thought for a moment. What her mother-inw said made sensea failed match at the boys home wouldnt be too good for the girls reputation, "Sneaking a peek is definitely not okay. How about arranging a meeting somewhere like a teahouse in town?" The mother-inw pped her thigh in approval, "Thats a great idea, better thaning to our house. Ill talk to the matchmaker about this tomorrow. All right, you two keep chatting. Ill go tell your father." The mother-inw left the room chuckling, and Xiaoxiaoughed to herself. Her mother-inws days revolved around worrying about her stomach and fourth brothers marriageit really was a life full of concerns. After the mother-inw left, Wang Xiangxiang appeared excited and all set to gossip, "Is Yang Dong going to find a wife?" "..." Xiaoxiao felt that Wang Xiangxiang had been acting a bit obsessed these few days, showing an excessive interest in who was getting a wife or husband. It felt like she was actually considering finding a husband here; why else would she seem to think fourth brother was in such danger? "Dont think about it too much, let fourth brother be. Hes still a child." Wang Xiangxiang really had no shame, climbing up the pole along with the lie, looking all regretful, "If he were a few years older, Id actually consider marrying into the family to be sisters-inw with you. That would be so nice." "..." Could she say that desperate women were truly frightening? "But the method you guys mentioned is good, way better than sneaking around like I did. Ill have to do it the same way in the future." "..." Chapter 308: Are You Sure Xiaoxiao Took a Fancy to Me That Day?

Chapter 308: Chapter 308: Are You Sure Xiaoxiao Took a Fancy to Me That Day?

Shibao Town A woman, shifting her overweight body, slowly emerged from the pharmacy. This person was none other than Xiaoxiaos close friend, Li Chuntao. Initially, she didnt understand how Xiaoxiao had fallen for Yang Ming at first sight and insisted on marrying him. But ever since she met Xiaoxiaos younger uncle, she thought she could understand her feelings. She decided to be as brave as Xiaoxiao had been in pursuing her happiness; she was determined to lose weight and stand before him in her best form. However, reality was harsh. Three months had passed, and she hadnt lost an ounce; she still weighed a full 200 kilograms, which made her increasingly anxious. So, she sneaked out without telling her family, thinking about seeing a doctor to seek help with weight loss. After the doctor had prescribed her medicine, she had just stepped out of the pharmacy when she spotted a figure across the street. Wasnt that Xiaoxiaos husband, Yang Ming? She lumbered over to him, her hefty body twitching with each step. Seeing that Xiaoxiaos husband hadnt noticed her and was about to leave, she called out in a frantic voice. "Young Master Yang, wait, wait for me." Yet Xiaoxiaos husband continued walking without stopping, so she summoned all her strength and ran to block his path. Chu Lian was walking peacefully when suddenly arge obstruction appeared in front of him. Upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a young woman. Although she was somewhat impolite in blocking his way, he still politely asked, "Miss, why do you block me?" Li Chuntao realized she had been too abrupt in reaching out to stop someone. She withdrew her arms and quickly apologized, "Sorry, I called you, but you didnt stop. I had no choice but toe forward and block you." "Miss, do you know me?" Hearing her, Chu Lian became even more puzzled. This overweight girl appeared to know him. "Yes, you might not have seen me before. Im Xiaoxiaos friend, Li Chuntao." Seeing the question, Li Chuntao generously introduced herself. "Zhong Xiaoxiao?" Hearing Xiaoxiaos name, Chu Lian felt a mix of surprise and astonishment. Xiaoxiaos friend knew himhad Xiaoxiao perhaps mentioned him to her friends? "Yes." Li Chuntao replied, though she was slightly puzzled. Had Xiaoxiao never mentioned her to her husband? Chu Lian suddenly wanted to know the answer and actually asked it outright, "How do you know me? Did she tell you about me?" "She took fancy to you right next to me." Li Chuntao said nonchntly. "..." The more he heard from this chubby girl, the less he understood. "Miss, could you exin a little more clearly?" "Hey, it was that day when I was with Xiaoxiao on the street, and she saw you and fell in love at first sight. She insisted on marrying you." Hearing this, Chu Lian was utterly shocked. He grabbed Li Chuntaos shoulders, his emotions running high, "What did you say? Say that again." Li Chuntao was startled by Chu Lians actions and struggled. "Young Master Yang, whats wrong with you?" Realizing his ownpse in behavior, Chu Lian quickly let go of her shoulders. "I apologize for my rudeness. What did you just call me?" "Young Master Yang." "Are you sure Xiaoxiao fancied me that day?" "Im sure. That day you were wearing a white suit. Xiaoxiao even said you were graceful and moving. Later, someone called your name, and you turned around. Thats how we knew your name was Yang Ming. Arent you two already married? Didnt she tell you?" Hearing this, Chu Lian felt as if thunder had struck on a clear day. That remarkable woman, because of his mistaken turn, had they really just missed each other? Chapter 309: Accidental Encounter at a Matchmaking Event

Chapter 309: Chapter 309: idental Encounter at a Matchmaking Event

Li Chuntao finished speaking and noticed that the young man had fallen silent, seemingly lost in thought. She immediately asked, "Young Master Yang?" Chu Lian was snapped back to reality by Li Chuntaos call, "Miss, I have something urgent to attend to. I must leave now. We can talk another day if the opportunity arises." Without waiting for Li Chuntaos response, he quickly left. He was so shaken by the news that he no longer had the capacity to worry about anything else; he just wanted to go back and be alone with his thoughts. Seeing that he had gone, Li Chuntao didnt try to stop him. She thought that Xiaoxiaos husband really must have had something important. She had wanted to ask if his brother was engaged yet but would have to wait until she saw Xiaoxiao again to ask. As she was about to leave with her medicine pack, she saw someone at the entrance of the teahouseit was Xiaoxiaos younger uncle, wasnt it? Her heart fluttered with excitement, feeling it might be destiny. It had been three months since their brief encounter, and she hadnt expected to run into him here. She wondered if he had any recollection of her. As if possessed, she followed him and found a spot where she could observe without being noticed, actually just the next table over. They were seated in the same direction, and Li Chuntao could see Yang Dongs back when she looked up. She hastily ordered a pot of tea, speaking in a hushed tone to avoid detection. She didnt have the courage to approach, not while she was still overweight. She noticed that after he sat down, he ordered a pot of tea and then deliberately ced a corn cob on the table in a conspicuous spot before he continuously peered at the entrance, as if he was waiting for someone. Shortly after, a woman who looked older than her entered. She was heavily made up and scanned the room before her gaze finally settled on Xiaoxiaos younger uncles table. Li Chuntaos heart skipped a beat. Could it be that they had arranged to meet here? What exactly was their rtionship? She decided to keep her restless heart in check and eavesdrop for a while. Yang Dong sat there, a bit nervous as this was his first time doing something like this. His parents had been pressuring him to find a wife, and his sister-inw said he could meet someone first, leaving the decision up to him. He thought he might as welle, as he had to find a wife eventually. It was better than having his parents randomly pick someone for him without having met her. Maybe he would like her as soon as she arrived. But whose idea was it to use a corn cob as a signal? To put a corn cob on a teahouse table was quite peculiar. Although it was meant to make it easy for the other party to recognize him, he still felt a bit embarrassed. After waiting for a while, he saw a woman enter. Her face was painted pale, almost ghastly, and he shuddered at the thought that it might be her. Seeing that the woman was indeed heading toward him, his heart sank. He was relieved it was just a preliminary meeting; bringing her home could have been quite a fright. His sister-inw had said that, regardless of whether it was a match or not, he must be polite and not leave abruptly, making thedy feel embarrassed. So, he stood up courteously and asked, "Are you Sister Zhou introduced by the matchmaker?" Sister Zhous pale face suddenly blushed as she shyly replied with a soft, "Yes." The two then sat down, Yang Dong feeling quite unsettled. What should he say next? He felt like there was nothing to talk about. He couldnt ept her face painted like that. His sister-inw also wore makeup, but the effect waspletely different. If it were applied like his sister-inws, he might have been able to ept it. Hearing Xiaoxiaos younger uncle mention the matchmaker, Li Chuntaos face darkened immediately. She had to intervene, or someone else might take him away. Chapter 310: If Destined, We Shall Meet Again

Chapter 310: Chapter 310: If Destined, We Shall Meet Again

She stood up and shifted her enormous body, step by step, until she arrived at Yang Dongs table. At the moment, Yang Dong, feeling awkward, hung his head low, not knowing what to say. Suddenly startled by the unexpected arrival, he raised his head, only to see that face, twisted byyers of flesh. Who was this heavyset woman? Why had shee over to him? Before he could react, the stout woman plopped herself down beside him and addressed Zhou Xiaomei. "Excuse me, sister, have you finished talking?" Zhou Xiaomei, equally taken aback by this sudden development and observing that the woman appeared to be about her age, yet addressed her as "sister," felt displeasure. But in front of Yang Dong, she didnt show it, "Youngdy, who might you be? Do you know us?" Li Chuntao said with a smile, "Im just like you, introduced here by the matchmaker. If youve finished talking, you can go ahead and leave. Its my turn to talk with Young Master Yang." Upon hearing this, Yang Dongs eyes widened in shock, not knowing what to make of the situation. The matchmaker hadnt mentioned introducing two candidates. He furrowed his brows, cursing the matchmaker in his heart. How unreliable she wasone drawn like a ghost, the other as round as a ball. Zhou Xiaomei listened to Li Chuntaos provoking words and, though trying to contain her temper, spoke to Yang Dong in a soft and delicate manner, the picture of vulnerability, "Young Master Yang." Li Chuntao calmly retorted, "Sister, cut the act. Youre not suitable for him. You look at least five years older than Young Master Yang." These words finally pushed Zhou Xiaomei over the edge. She could no longer contain her temper and shot up to her feet, grabbed her teacup, and hurled its contents towards Li Chuntao. Yang Dong didnt understand what was happening within him, but he just didnt want this plump woman to be sshed, and his body reacted before his mind, stepping in front of her. The tea soaked the back of his shirt. "Miss, are you alright?" Yang Dong asked Li Chuntao as he stood up. Seeing Yang Dong blocking the tea for that heavyset woman, Zhou Xiaomei grew even more furious, pointing her finger and shouting, "You... " But before she could finish, her face was drenched, turning her into a drowned rat. Yang Dong was stunned; this plump woman was indeed not holding back, having grabbed his teacup and sshed Zhou Xiaomei in the face. Noticing Yang Dongs astonished gaze, Li Chuntao exined, "She sshed first. I was just returning the favor." "..." Women are so terrifying, to ssh just like that. Zhou Xiaomei, soaked through, sulked with a grim expression, stamped her foot, and bellowed, "Just you wait!" Then, without looking back, she ran off. After she had fled, Li Chuntao finally noticed the onlookers and, feeling a bit embarrassed, ced a copper coin on the table, picked up her medicine bag, and, grabbing Yang Dongs arm, sprinted towards the exit. "Lets get out of here first." After running into the street and finally stopping, the stout Li Chuntao was panting heavily from the escape. "Were you introduced by the matchmaker?" "..." So he hadnt recognized who she was. It figures, it seemed he didnt even nce at her that day. Li Chuntao, smiling awkwardly, said, "Hehe, no." "..." Not? What was this plump woman doing then! "Then, Ill be off." Yang Dong hadnt expected the plump woman to just leave like that, and found himself inexplicably asking, "Whats your name?" Hearing this, Li Chuntaos heart tightened slightly, and as she walked away, she responded, "If fate wills it, well meet again." Chapter 311: Looks Like a Ball

Chapter 311: Chapter 311: Looks Like a Ball

Li Chuntao didnt want to give her name, but the thought that she had shown her temper in front of him just to drive that other woman away made her fear that he now disliked her too. Besides, she was obese, and nobody could like someone like her. She thought thatpared to Xiaoxiao, she still fell short by a bit and really didnt have the courage to introduce herself. She decided she should wait until she had lost some weight. However, she was somewhat worried whether he would continue to meet other women in the future. And so, Yang Dongs first matchmaking session ended in failure thanks to Li Chuntaos interference. As soon as he got home, he was surrounded by Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang. "Fourth brother, how did it go? Was she good-looking?" "..." He couldnt remember what the woman he went to meet looked like; the painting was just too frightening, and all he could remember was a face that looked like a ball. He blurted out, "She looked like a ball." When Wang Xiangxiang heard this, she couldnt help herself andughed out loud. She had never heard such aparison used for a womans appearance, "Pfft, haha!" "..." Xiaoxiao, however, wondered internally, Looked like a ball? Did it mean she had arge face? The portrait the matchmaker brought over didnt show a big face. It seemed like the portrait wasnt drawn well. "How was your conversation?" Yang Dong was still thinking about the face that looked like a ball, so he replied ordingly, "Not great, I didnt even get her name." "..." Didnt you already know her name? Its Zhou Xiaomei. "Hahaha, you must have encountered some really bad matches," Wang Xiangxiang continued tough beside him, showing a schadenfreude attitude. It looked like she wasnt the only one who had run into bad matches. "Fourth brother, its okay if this match didnt work out, there will be more opportunities," Xiaoxiao consoled, seeing that Yang Dong didnt seem to have hit it off with the other party. While they were talking in the yard, the matchmaker arrived. She walked into the yard in a huff and beganining to Xiaoxiao, "What on earth are you ying at? Are you toying with me? "Matchmaker Yang, lets talk inside," Xiaoxiao suggested, seeing the matchmakers mood and fearing there was an issue, so she quickly invited her inside. "Hmph," the matchmaker hmphed and entered the house. Xiaoxiao and the others quickly followed her in. Once inside, the matchmaker started up again with the grandmother, "Old sister, are you really serious about letting me arrange this match?" "Matchmaker Yang, what on earth is wrong?" "Whats wrong? You had me arrange a match and asked to meet the girl first, I agreed and chose for you, but what did you do? Went and found some other girl, iming she was introduced by a matchmaker, scaring the one I brought over away." "Youre saying you went and found another matchmaker? Then why bother with me? I came here today to tell you, Im not arranging this match anymore, go find someone else." The matchmaker got up and left after saying this. The grandmother called after her, "Matchmaker Yang, could there be some misunderstanding? We didnt look for another matchmaker." "Hmph, who are you trying to fool? The proof is in the pudding, go ask your son if you dont believe it." And with that, the matchmaker left, full of resentment. Back inside, everyone turned to Yang Dong in unison, "Fourth, what on earth happened?" "Mom, nothing happened, its just, can we not do the matchmaking anymore?" Yang Dong inexplicably didnt want to disclose the incident with the overweight woman. "No matchmaking, then how are you going to find a wife? Are you hoping one will just fall from the sky?" "..." "Tomorrow, Mom will find another matchmaker." Chapter 312: Your husband is telling you that he likes you

Chapter 312: Chapter 312: Your husband is telling you that he likes you

Xiaoxiao felt that she was quite lucky, at least she didnt have to worry about matchmaking like Yang Dong and Wang Xiangxiang did. She had to thank her predecessors enormous courage for allowing her to directly be a married woman when she came here. Yang Dong really couldnt stand his mothers nagging, so he found an excuse, "Mother, stop talking, Im going to work in the fields first, theres still so muchnd to be turned over." When Wang Xiangxiang heard he was going to the fields, she immediately became interested, "Xiaoxiao, lets go down to the fields too, youre all better now, you can go this time, right?" Seeing that Wang Xiangxiang insisted on following, Xiaoxiao had no choice but to look towards her mother-inw, "Mother, dont worry, Ill take her just to y, I wont let her work." "Alright, then go, but you absolutely cannot let her work, she is a guest." "Got it." The three of them left the house together, took the farming tools, and went out, only to realize that the field was quite far, all the way down at the foot of the mountain. It turned out that thend here was mountainous, not the t in type. "Father." "Youngest sons wife, how could you bring Miss Wang here?" As soon as Xiaoxiao got to the field, her father-inw scolded her. Wang Xiangxiang immediately came out to exin, "Uncle, I wanted toe for fun, dont worry, I wont be working." "Alright then, you two go y over there." Father Yang said and then continued turning over the soil. Xiaoxiao unexpectedly saw Li Fugui in the field. She hadnt expected Li Fugui to havee to turn the soil too, it seemed he really was putting on a good show in front of his father-inw. After nodding and smiling at Li Fugui, Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang took up hoes and started turning the soil as if they were the real deal. But the ground was not so soft and quite hard, making it rather tiring to hoe. After trying a few times, Wang Xiangxiang found it boring, "Lets go back." "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless, they hadnt even turned over a few corn ridges, and she already lost interest, truly a fleeting enthusiasm. "Alright then, lets go back, the weather is good today, how about I take you kite flying?" "Kite flying? Sure, lets hurry." After notifying their families, the two left. Back at home, Xiaoxiao took out the kite Yang Ming had madest time, and said with some embarrassment. "Although its a bit ugly, it works well and flies very high." Wang Xiangxiang took the kite, and upon seeing it, she felt envious, "Xiaoxiao, this was made by your husband, wasnt it?" "Yes, my husband made it for the three little ones." "..." Hearing Xiaoxiaos answer, Wang Xiangxiang was very surprised. This kite was clearly the kind a man made for a woman to convey his love. How could she say it was for three children? Could it be that Xiaoxiao didnt understand the meaning behind it? "Xiaoxiao, do you know what this kite symbolizes?" "Isnt it just for the children to y with?" Besides ying, what else could a kite mean? "..." Wang Xiangxiang really found Xiaoxiao exasperatingly funny. She was really anxious for her; how could she be so dense as to not even understand this, "This kite was made especially for you." "..." Huh? Made for her? But her cheap husband hadnt mentioned it, "Wang sister, how can you say it was made for me?" "Didnt you see the love poem written on it? This is your husband conveying his love to you through the kite." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao waspletely stunned, her heart clenched. Was the kite really her cheap husbands way of conveying his love to her? "Wang sister, are you sure?" "How can you be so dull? Everyone in the dynasty knows that kites convey love, howe you are the only one who doesnt know? Your husband is telling you that he likes you, asking if you like him." Chapter 313 - I Want to Give Him a Different Kind of Confession

Chapter 313: Chapter 313 - I Want to Give Him a Different Kind of Confession

Upon hearing these words, Xiaoxiao felt an intense pain in her heart. She continually kept her hand over her heart as her heartbeat sped up to the point where she almost couldnt breathe. It turned out that her nominal husband had already expressed his affections to her, but she simply didnt understand, and she wondered how dull she had been. Without any response from her, how heartbroken he must have been at the time, yet he still took care of her meticulously afterward. Wasnt that enough to show that he loved her? A surge of warmth rushed to her heart and turned into tears, swirling in her eyes. "Dont tell me you had no reaction at all when you got the kite." Xiaoxiao recalled the moment she received the kite; she nodded and then shook her head. "What does this nodding and shaking your head mean?" Wang Xiangxiang was frustrated by Xiaoxiaos response. "At that time, I didnt look very happy, I thought the kite was too ugly." As she spoke, Xiaoxiao took a few steps back, copsing onto the bed, tears uncontrobly streaming down her face. Only then did Wang Xiangxiang notice something was off with Xiaoxiao. "Xiaoxiao, whats wrong with you?" Xiaoxiaoy on the bed, unable to calm her agitated emotions. "Why are you crying?" Wang Xiangxiang, having never seen Xiaoxiao like this, grew somewhat afraid and asked worriedly. "Im just overwhelmed because I know he likes me." "..." Thankfully, it was just excitement. Wang Xiangxiang let out a sigh of relief, "Seeing you like this, you like him too, right?" "Yes, I like him, very much." Xiaoxiao did not deny it or feel embarrassed. Instead, her acknowledgment gave her a sense of immense happiness and sweetness, wishing the whole world knew. "I really dont understand. You two are already married, whats all this about?" "Dontugh at me, Wang Sister, but we havent consummated the marriage because we didnt know each others feelings." Wang Xiangxiang was shocked by these words. So, there were really such people who, uncertain of their mutual feelings, did not force each other to be together. This suddenly made her incredibly envious of them. If only she could find someone who felt the same way toward her. Xiaoxiaos mood stabilized somewhat, and she sat up, pping her cheeks with her hands to motivate herself, "I had already nned to confess, but now that I know he likes me, Im even more determined to do it." "Confess?" Wang Xiangxiang was perplexed by what Xiaoxiao meant by confess. "Yes, I want to give him a unique confession, to tell him that I like him." Seeing Xiaoxiao like this, Wang Xiangxiang thought to herself that she really was a different kind of girl. Such words of affection were not something every girl could express. "Wang Sister, help me, theres no time left." Xiaoxiao suddenly got off the bed and grabbed Wang Xiangxiangs hand in a pleading manner. "What do you mean, no time?" "I want to prepare the setting for the confession, and only you can help me." "Alright, Ill help you. What needs to be done?" "I want to make a double-sized quilt, bright red, and prepare two sets of wedding clothes. They need to be ready by the thirteenth because my husbandes back on the evening of the fourteenth." "Are you nning to get married again?" Xiaoxiao, with a face full of happiness, said, "Yes, I want to use the newly decorated bridal chamber to tell him, to let him know my feelings." "Fine, leave it to me. Ill make sure its done before the thirteenth. Or shall we go to town now? What it should look like, youll have to discuss with the Embroiderer." Xiaoxiao hesitated a bit, "But its a bitte today, and its not safe for us two women toe back at night." "We can stay in town. I have a house there too." Chapter 314: Husband and Wife Pillow

Chapter 314: Chapter 314: Husband and Wife Pillow

Hearing this, Xiaoxiao no longer hesitated. She packed her toiletries, took some silver taels, said goodbye to her family, and had her younger brother escort her and Wang Xiangxiang to town. They didnt dy a moment and headed straight for Xiangxiang Cloth Shop in town. "Xiaoxiao,e here quickly. Choose some fabric. What do you think of these red satin ones over here?" Seeing the options, Xiaoxiao noticed they were the traditional fabrics used for weddings. Although not as shy as modern ones, they were still quite beautiful. She chose a rtively grand design with a red cotton lining to match. After making their choices, Wang Xiangxiang took Xiaoxiao to see the embroiderer, "Tell her what you want the quilt to look like, and then well go pick out the fabric for the clothes." "Okay," Xiaoxiao agreed and then conveyed her requirements to the embroiderer. "The quilt shoulde as a set, all in the same fabric. Make sure the pillowcases arent too solemn. Once a set ispleted, addce around and embroider a heart shape on each, with two words on top; one should have husband, and the other wife. The embroiderer seemed confused, so Xiaoxiao took a charcoal pencil and sketched it out. The design was quite simple to drawjust a heart shape with two words and a butterfly to adorn the top, reminiscent of a simple contemporary cross-stitch pattern for couples pillows. "It should look something like this." The embroiderer nodded in understanding. "The quilt should berger; I like it big, sized for two persons. The mattress pad should be about six feet long and five feet wide. The quilt covering it should be around eight feet long and six feet wide. This one should be made in, without any embroidery." "New pillows too, with cotton filling, and dont put too much cotton in the quilt. Just the thickness for spring and autumn would be fine." Then Xiaoxiao followed Wang Xiangxiang to pick out the rest of the cloth, directly choosing the quilt cover as well. The big red fabric would only be used for the day itself, and for everyday use, they chose to cover it with other colors of cotton covers for convenience in washing. They selected a set in blue and another in red. It wasnt that she didnt want other colors; it was that there were too few options, and they were ugly. Afterward, they went to choose fabric for their clothes. Xiaoxiao nned to rece everything from inside out, making matching big red bras and underwear herself without sleeping or resting for the next few days. She decided not to make cotton clothes, as spring wasing and it would soon be warm enough not to need them. She wanted to have two sets of pajamas for sleeping and then, of course, the wedding attire. "This is for my husband and me. Just make the wedding clothes to these measurements." "And this fabric will be for the pajamas we wear to bed..." Xiaoxiao exined to the embroiderer once again what the pajamas should look like. "Xiaoxiao." "Hm?" "I think these pajamas you mentioned sound quite nice. Why dont we also make them and sell them?" "..." Wang Xiangxiang really had a knack for business, always spotting opportunities. Of course, Xiaoxiao could suggest many styles of pajamas focused onfort, which should find a market, so she nodded in agreement, "Sure, okay." Wang Xiangxiang blinked with a pleading look, "Then... how about the pillows?" Xiaoxiao crossed her arms, "Absolutely not." Wang Xiangxiang kept staring at Xiaoxiao, making her feel uneasy. In the end, Xiaoxiaopromised, remembering the help Wang Xiangxiang had given her in preparing the confession scene. "Then, remove the husband and wife words, and rece them with master and mistress. "Yes, yes, yes," Wang Xiangxiang immediately broke into smiles and nodded frantically. Chapter 315: Unique Matching Rings

Chapter 315: Chapter 315: Unique Matching Rings

Xiaoxiao thought for a moment, and felt that such decorations were not pretty enough. This felt no different from someone elses wedding chamber; it wasnt romantic at all. "Sister Wang, do you have any red gauze curtains?" "Yes, what do you need them for?" "I just want to decorate the room." Although it couldnt be made as beautiful as decorating a grand bed, surrounding the whole kang with gauze curtains would create a very hazy and aesthetically pleasing effect. The feeling of the two of them getting on the kang would surely be different. She alsomunicated her requirements to the Embroiderer, who began to work non-stop on creations simr to curtains. All of Sister Wangs embroiderers were put to work by Xiaoxiao, none sitting idle. After arranging everything, Xiaoxiao began to think of something else. "Sister Wang, lets go to the Silver Pavilion." "Alright." Wang Xiangxiang readily agreed, feeling a mysterious excitement as she watched everything Xiaoxiao was doing. She longed to feel the same exhration of doing something for her beloved. Soon, the two arrived at the towns Silver Pavilion, where jewelry was sold. "Xiaoxiao, do you want to buy any jewelry?" "I want to buy rings, one for myself and one for my dear." As a person from modern times, Xiaoxiao couldnt escape the cliche. Couple rings symbolized eternal love, and she hoped that she and her bargain husband could be together forever. She just wasnt sure whether such things were avable here. After looking around, they finally found something resembling rings in a corner, "Xiaoer, let me try this ring." Xiaoer handed the ring to her, and although it fit well, Xiaoxiao felt it was too cumbersome and wasnt satisfied with the design, "Xiaoer, do you have a style that men can wear too?" "No." "Then do you have any styles that both men and women can wear?" "No." Xiaoxiao had intended to settle for a pair of in rings, but to her surprise, there were none avable, "Xiaoer, is it possible to ce a custom order?" "Please wait a moment, Ill call our Shopkeeper for this." Xiaoer wasnt in a position to make such a decision, so he called the Shopkeeper over. "Sir, Xiaoer told me you want to custom-make rings." "Yes, I want to custom-make rings." "Do you have a design?" "I can draw it out." Xiaoxiao was speechless, having to draw so many things here with her non-artistic background. For the sake of their matching rings, she diligently drew two finger-ring designs. "Are these a pair?" The Shopkeeper saw the sketchtwo rings, onerger than the other, both curved. When ced together, the curves formed a perfect heart shape; they were delicate and not at all cumbersome like the others in the shop. "Yes, they symbolize that I am willing to support you and be by your side for life." Wang Xiangxiang was incredibly envious; these rings held more meaning than any token of love she knew, "Xiaoxiao, these are too beautiful." Xiaoxiao smiled and continued, "Can you make these before the thirteenth of this month?" "The time is too short. Other Silver Pavilions probably couldnt, but we can, only theres a small favor to ask." "Shopkeeper, please speak frankly." "Would you allow our Silver Pavilion to sell this design afterwards?" Xiaoxiaos brows furrowed. There was no time left and the designs were already drawn. Even if she said no, couldnt they replicate it anyway? But this was her token of love; she didnt want others wearing it. "Shopkeeper, this pair is a token of love between my dear and me. I want them to be unique and not for others. However, I can draw another design for you to sell, does that sound good?" Upon hearing the beginning of her response, the Shopkeeper thought it was a lost cause, but his face lit up with a smile when she made her offer, "Its a deal." Chapter 316: Reach Out Your Hand

Chapter 316: Chapter 316: Reach Out Your Hand

After that incident, Xiaoxiao drew another pair of rings, slightly different from the ones she had drawn before. This time, the mens ring had an openwork heart design, and the womens ring featured a raised heart. When the womens ring was ced over the mens, the raised heart fit perfectly into the openwork heart shape. The Shopkeeper couldnt praise her enough, and Wang Xiangxiangs eyes sparkled with admiration. "Xiaoxiao, how do youe up with so many ideas? This pair is also so beautiful." Xiaoxiao smiled knowingly. What ideas could she have? These were just designs she had seen in modern times, and more beautiful ones were beyond her drawing skills. She could only manage this simple heart shape. "When its my turn to get married, I want these unique couple ringsmake sure you help me with it then." Wang Xiangxiang really envied the phrase Xiaoxiao had said, "I wish to stand by your side and share a lifetime together." If only she could find someone like that. "Sir, shall we measure the size now? Which finger would you like to wear it on?" Xiaoxiao stretched out her hand for measurements, "On the ring finger." "Have you brought the mans size?" "..." Xiaoxiao had actually forgotten the most important thing. Sizes had to be urate; toorge or too small, either way, the ring wouldnt fit. And what meaning would a non-fitting ring symbolize? Xiaoxiao carefully recalled the feeling when she held her nominal husbands fingers, and she had a rough idea but wasnt quite certain. "Shopkeeper, could you stretch out your hand so I can see?" The Shopkeeper hesitated, and thats when Xiaoxiao realized how abrupt her request was. "Sorry, I just wanted topare and see what size my husband might be." With that, the Shopkeeper extended his hand. Xiaoxiao shook her head after a quick nce; the Shopkeepers hand was chubby, while her nominal husbands hand was slender C there was noparison. Xiaoer also reached out his handter, but Xiaoxiao shook her head again; it was too different topare. "Xiaoxiao, what should we do? We dont have his size." Wang Xiangxiang was also very anxious. What was supposed to be a smooth process was now dyed due to theck of size. Xiaoxiao felt dejected as well and was considering just making a ring around the estimated size, but as she looked around, she unexpectedly spotted someone. She immediately walked towards the person. "Master Chu, what a coincidence?" Chu Lian was selecting gifts; his sisters birthday wasing up, and his mother had insisted that he pick out jewelry from the Silver Pavilion. He didnt want to, as the shock from an unexpected truth had made him reluctant to step out, but he couldnt escape his mothers nagging. Upon hearing someone calling him, he felt somewhat dazed. Wasnt that Xiaoxiaos voice? He immediately turned around and saw a beautiful woman. After a moment, he recognized Xiaoxiao. How did she be so beautiful? "Yes, quite the coincidence." Xiaoxiao smiled. See, she had thought her change wasnt significant, and yet this benefactor recognized her at a nce. "Youre here to buy jewelry?" "Yes, for my sisters birthday." "Could you do me a favor?" "What favor?" "Could you extend your hand for a moment?" Xiaoxiao thought it was still worth taking a look. If his hand was the right size, that would be ideal. If not, she would have to settle for an approximation. Without a second thought, Chu Lian spread his hand ording to Xiaoxiaos instructions,ying it before her. Upon seeing it, Xiaoxiao observed the slender handsimr to her nominal husbands. If their fingers were intertwined, she could make aparison. With this thought, she instinctively did just that. Chapter 317 Didn’t you see how shocked he was at that time?

Chapter 317: Chapter 317 Didnt you see how shocked he was at that time?

Chu Lian was startled by Xiaoxiaos sudden gesture, as he had not expected her to boldly grab his hand, their fingers intertwining. His heart, which had given up hope, seemed to start beating again. He greedily did not withdraw his hand, but time was so fleeting, he heard her cheerful and excited voice. "Perfect, this is it, Mister Chu,e with me." His hand was quickly released, and he found himself unwittingly following Xiaoxiao. "Shopkeeper, please make it ording to his middle finger." "Alright." Chu Lian had no idea what was going on and simply stretched out his hand for the other party to measure. "All done, sir. Pleasee to collect it on the 13th." "Okay." Seeing that the ring matter was settled, Xiaoxiao was in a good mood, and she turned to thank Chu Lian. "Mister Chu, thank you just now, youve really helped me out a lot." Chu Lian smiled awkwardly. Although he did not know what he had helped her with, seeing her smile so happily, he assumed it must have been something good. "Youre wee. This is our first time meeting since Ive returned, isnt it? How about we go for a meal?" He wanted to greedily talk to her a little longer, so he offered to take her out for a meal. "No, not this time, I have other things to do, so I have to go." Xiaoxiao said and quickly led Wang Xiangxiang out of the door; indeed, she had other matters to attend to and could not stay any longer. Watching her hurried departure, Chu Lian felt that in all their interactions, she had mostly kept him at arms length, even calling his name so distantly. Could it be because she epted that she had married the wrong person? He shook his head resignedly, casually picked a silver bracelet for his sister, and quickly left the Silver Pavilion. "Xiaoxiao, who was that guy just now?" As soon as they were outside, Wang Xiangxiang couldnt help but inquire gossip-like. "Hes the young master of Yui Restaurant. Weve worked together before." Wang Xiangxiang, startled by Xiaoxiaos earlier action, hadnt dared speak up, "You scared me to death just now." "What happened?" Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled. "What do you mean, what happened? You just grabbed another mans hand in public." Wang Xiangxiang thought to herself that Xiaoxiao was indeed very bold. If someone they knew saw that, there was no telling how they might talk about her. "..." Oh God, she had been so focused on the ring size that shepletely forgot that this was a conservative ce, not the modern age. "Didnt you see how shocked he was at the time?" Seeing Xiaoxiaos reaction, Wang Xiangxiang was even more exasperated, feeling that Xiaoxiao didnt seem to take it seriously, even though he was a man. "You were shocked too, werent you? I was wondering why you suddenly became so quiet and stopped talking." Only then did Xiaoxiao realize her friends silence, who had been chattering away only moments before. "Anyone would be shocked by that situation. You should avoid doing this in the future. If your husband knew about it, he might misunderstand." Wang Xiangxiang pursed her lips, reminding Xiaoxiao. "Right." Wang Xiangxiangs words served as a reminder, and Xiaoxiao admitted she was wrong this time. She would have to be more careful in the future, not to have physical contact with other men, to avoid any misunderstanding by her cost-saving husband. As they walked down the street, Wang Xiangxiang asked, "So, where are we going next?" "To the Bookstore." "To the Bookstore? What for? Are you going to give your husband another book?" How many gifts was Xiaoxiao preparing for her husband? Xiaoxiao smiled mysteriously, "Youll know in a bit." Chapter 318: Giving You One Hundred Percent Love

Chapter 318: Chapter 318: Giving You One Hundred Percent Love

The two of them made their way to the bookstore, the same one Xiaoxiao had visited when she first arrived; surprisingly, the shopkeeper was back and even remembered Xiaoxiao. "Miss, havent seen you in a few months." "Hehe." Xiaoxiao hadnt expected that the shopkeeper would still remember her. "Shopkeeper, Im here to buy some red paper today." "Afu, quickly go and fetch some red paper for her." The shopkeeper immediatelymanded Xiaoer to bring some red paper to Xiaoxiao. Once the red paper was brought over, the shopkeeper enthusiastically said, "Miss, will these be enough?" "Thats enough, how much silver?" The shopkeeper smiled from ear to ear, "Miss, Ill give you these. You write me a piece, will you?" "..." She thought as much, the shopkeeper was so enthusiastic, it seemed he had nned this. Xiaoxiao pondered for a moment; writing wouldnt take much time, and she wouldnt need to spend any silver this was a good deal, so she agreed. "Shopkeeper, what should I write?" "You decide." "..." Thats what she feared most, she really didnt know what to write. After thinking about it, she decided to write the phrase that Cheap Consort wrote on the kite. "Without a pair of flying wings, ones heart alone grasps the sentiment." The shopkeeper, seeing what Xiaoxiao wrote, was thrilled. Xiaoxiao, holding the red paper, left with Wang Xiangxiang. "Xiaoxiao, from now on, you dont need to bring silver when you go out." Right after leaving, Wang Xiangxiang remarked. The first time shopping with Xiaoxiao, it was this feeling of not needing silver, as Xiaoxiao always managed to exchange her talents for what she needed. "..." Hehe, she didnt even know what to say; her modern worthless self finally seemed somewhat useful. "What are you nning to do next?" Wang Xiangxiang felt Xiaoxiao was full of ideas and always well-prepared, maybe she had another n. "Haha, no need this time, lets go back to Cloth Shop to pick up our things and head to your house." Xiaoxiao thought for a moment that that should be about it; the ce was simple enough that nothing much could be done. So the two directly went to Wang Xiangxiangs house. Their house in the town wasnt veryrge, it looked quite ordinary from the outside, but once inside, one would discover its uniqueness. The design of the house and the furnishings clearly indicated it belonged to a wealthy family. Once inside, Xiaoxiao got to live like a rich youngdy for once, with maids attending to her during meals and bath. Wang Xiangxiang didnt treat Xiaoxiao as a outsider and insisted she stay in the same room instead of the guest room, so Xiaoxiao had to agree. As soon as Xiaoxiao entered the bedroom, she started to get busy. "Get me a pair of scissors, please." After Wang Xiangxiang handed over the scissors, "Xiaoxiao, what do you need so much red paper for?" "Hehe, I n to fold these into paper cranes and hang them around the room to create a nice atmosphere." As Xiaoxiao spoke, she began folding, quickly finishing one paper crane after another. "Xiaoxiao, youre really good at this. Its my first time seeing this, hurry, teach me." "..." Curiosity incarnate, Wang Xiangxiang was genuinely interested in everything. "I can teach you, but you dont have to help me fold; I would like to finish these myself." "Okay, okay, understood." Xiaoxiao nned to fold a hundred paper cranes in bothrge and small sizes to symbolize giving one hundred percent of her love. Originally, she wanted to fold a thousand, but there wasnt enough time, so she reduced the quantity. After folding for a long time, Wang Xiangxiang couldnt stay awake and fell asleep first. Upon waking, she found Xiaoxiao still folding, "Xiaoxiao, stop folding, go to sleep, you can continue tomorrow." "Yes, you go ahead, Ill be done soon." Xiaoxiao, who usuallyined about straining her eyes at night, ended up lighting a candle and folding a thousand paper cranes all night. Chapter 319: Love You Without Regret or Complaint

Chapter 319: Chapter 319: Love You Without Regret or Comint

Wang Xiangxiang woke up in the morning and found, to her astonishment, that Xiaoxiao had fallen asleep on the table. Her heart was shaken upon seeing thepleted paper cranes on the table. Xiaoxiao had really given it her all. It was evident that she truly adored her husband, and her husband must also adore her. She sincerely hoped the two would soon share their feelings with each other. She found a nket to drape over Xiaoxiao, then tiptoed out of the room. By the time Xiaoxiao awoke, Wang Xiangxiang was just bringing in the meal. "Xiaoxiao, youre up, you really went all out, didnt you? Didnt sleep all night?" The awakened Xiaoxiao felt a bit embarrassed; indeed, she had fallen asleep as soon as she finished folding thest paper crane. She smiled. The power of love was truly great; she had managed to do something like this. "Go wash up, then have something to eat." "Okay," Xiaoxiao obediently went to wash up. After eating, Xiaoxiao nestled back into her room to work on her red paper. "Xiaoxiao, didnt you finish folding yesterday?" "Yesterday was just the paper cranes, today I need to fold something else." "..." Seeing Xiaoxiao work so hard, she felt somewhat reluctant, really wanting to impulsively go tell Yang Ming about all his wife had done for him. "What else do you need to fold?" "I need to fold fifty-five hearts, to signify loving you without any regrets." "..." How Xiaoxiao managed to imbue every step with meaning, and make it sound so poetically beautiful, amazed her. Xiaoxiao had Wang Xiangxiang fetch a charcoal pencil, and she wrote a love phrase on each heart-shaped paper, fifty-five in total. Then she sat there folding them one by one. Wang Xiangxiang just silently watched her, keeping herpany, observing her asionally rubbing her shoulders, looking blissfully happy despite being so tired. She could only sit quietly alongside, assisting with what little she could do. In the following days, Xiaoxiao started working on the matching couples underwear set, finally getting all the preparations done. On the morning of the thirteenth, Xiaoxiao received the custom-made rings, and both the quilt and the wedding outfit werepleted. "Xiaoxiao, lets hurry back to decorate the room." Wang Xiangxiang, having collected the items, was even more eager than Xiaoxiao, unable to wait to see how the room would look once it was decorated. "Yes, lets go back now." They took the goods and boarded Wang Xiangxiangs family carriage, rushing back home without dy. Xiaoxiao brought back so many things home, all conspicuously red; it would have been difficult not to be noticed, so she openly admitted to her family. "I rushed into marriage with Yang Ming without really preparing anything, so I wanted to redecorate to give Yang Ming a surprise tomorrow." "Yes, daughter-inw of the third son, youve been wronged. Go ahead and get it done. Rest assured, no one from the household will disturb you tomorrow." "..." This father-inw was quite understanding, actually instructing the family not to disturb her and Yang Ming. That was perfect, "Thank you, Dad. Well go inside now." Once Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang entered the room, they began decorating. The whole room was adorned in a festive manner. The bed was made up, a pair of pillows set in ce, truly giving a sense of togetherness. The bed canopy was put up, looking very romantic, with the strings of paper cranes and hearts hanging beside it. The tablecloth was also reced with a red one and therge red candles were all set up. Xiaoxiao also bought a bunch of peanuts and ced them on the bed, forming the shape of "I LOVE YOU." "Xiaoxiao, this counts as a bridal chamber, doesnt it? Its so beautiful." "Hehe," Xiaoxiao was also very satisfied with her own decorations. "But where are we going to sleep tonight?" Chapter 320: Yang Ming Learns the Truth

Chapter 320: Chapter 320: Yang Ming Learns the Truth

Academy It wasnt yet time for ss in the morning when a group of schrs who had arrived early were chatting idly. "Hey, guess what I saw a few days ago?" "Stop beating around the bush, just spill it." "A few days back, I ran into Chu Lian at the towns Silver Pavilion." "Chu Lian came back?" "Thats not the point, the crux is I saw Yang Mings wife there too." "Its not strange for Chu Lian to know Yang Mings wife, Chu Lian and Yang Ming get along well." "But I saw them holding hands." "You mustve seen wrong, how could that be possible." "Absolutely not, I was not mistaken." As everyone exchanged words back and forth, someone inadvertently turned around and saw Yang Ming standing at the door. He quickly whispered a warning to the group, "Stop talking, Yang Ming is here." Upon hearing this, everyone turned to look towards the door and couldnt help but feel guilty when they saw Yang Ming. They immediately shut their mouths and returned to their seats. Yang Ming also headed to his seat, his footsteps unusually heavy. He had heard everything, had heard them talking about his wife and Chu Lian holding hands. Sitting there, he was restless and uncertain about what to do, somewhat lost in thought. "Yang Ming, Yang Ming." Hearing someone calling him, he snapped back to reality and looked up, "Big Brother Chu, youre back." "Yeah, long time no see, lets have lunch together." "Sure." Throughout the morning, Yang Ming couldnt concentrate on what the teacher was saying, his mind was wandering, and noon came quickly. "Yang Ming, lets go." "Alright." "Well go to Yui Restaurant." "Alright." "..." Chu Lian found it odd, remembering how Yang Ming never agreed to go with him in the past, yet now he had agreed so readily. Soon the two arrived at Yui Restaurant and entered a private room. After passing a cup of tea to Yang Ming, Chu Lian asked, "How have you beentely?" Yang Ming felt that the inevitable will alwayse, and avoidance wouldnt solve any problems, so he got straight to the point. "Big Brother Chu, the woman you mentioned before is actually my wife." Chu Lians hand holding the cup froze for a moment, then heughed and said, "Heh, I know." "You knew and you still..." Seeing Chu Lian without a hint of shock, instead smiling calmly, Yang Ming felt a surge of annoyance. "What did I still do?" Chu Lian asked back, scoffing slightly before continuing. "Are you saying that I disregarded our brotherhood? Then did you consider it? You clearly knew how I felt, so why didnt you let her go? You obviously didnt like her." "..." Facing the questioning, Yang Ming was at a loss for words. The situation at the time was exactly as Chu Lian described, but now he had fallen for his wife and could not back down. Chu Lian then sighed, "I meant to give up on her since shes your wife, but ironically, I discovered the truth about why she married you." "The truth? What truth?" Yang Ming grew agitated, standing up abruptly and asking. This secret in their midst, why did she insist on marrying him, and after marrying yet not liking him. "..." It turned out he didnt know. If he did, would he have had a chance? "The truth is, she thought I was Yang Ming. She was originally going to marry me but mistook the name and, through a series of unfortunate misinterpretations, ended up marrying you." Upon hearing these words, Yang Ming felt a sharp pang in his heart, the pain was immense. He steadied himself on the table, muttering to himself, "No wonder, no Chapter 321: I Will Follow Her Wishes

Chapter 321: Chapter 321: I Will Follow Her Wishes

He felt a despair like he had fallen into an abyss, only to realize that all along, the redundant one had been him; he was the obstacle between the two of them. He finally knew why his wife had married him, yet did not like him. He finally understood the reasons why his expressions of love had been rejected time after time. He sat there in silence for a long time, torn about what to do. One was his brother, and the other was the woman he loved. Was he supposed to give up and let them be together? At this moment, the food had been served, but both of them just sat there quietly, neither having the heart to eat. Seeing Yang Mings condition, Chu Lian felt that he had indeed acted wickedly, using tricks on Yang Ming for that slight hope he harbored in his heart. But would Yang Ming really waver because of this? A momentter, Yang Ming stood up and spoke in a heavy voice. "Xiaoxiao is not an object to be passed around at our convenience. Tomorrow is a holiday, and I will go back and ask her. If her choice is you, then I will respect her wishes, divorce her, and never stand in your way," he said. Upon hearing this, Chu Lian abruptly looked up, shocked and overwhelmed by guilt toward his friend for actually shaking Yang Mings resolve. Yang Mings noble words made him feel all the more viinous. But then he thought, if Xiaoxiao had truly married the wrong person due to some terrible mistake and couldnt escape it, then what harm was there in being the viin? While he was thinking this, he heard Yang Ming say something even more astonishing. "If we do get a divorce, dont look down on her because shes been married. Rest assured, shes still a virgin." They had been married for over three months, and she was still a virgin. Wasnt this enough to prove that neither of them had willingly entered into the marriage? In that case, he wasnt tearing them apart but helping them escape from torment. Suddenly, he felt a little better and was ted at the chance still ahead of him. "Dont worry, I wont look down on her," he assured. Having heard Chu Lians promise, Yang Ming had no desire to stay any longer. "You eat. Im going to take a walk," he said. Chu Lian did not stop him and let him leave. Once Yang Ming had left Yui Restaurant, he ambled down the street, his heart aching as if pricked by needles. Reflecting on his time with his wife, her dimples when she smiled, her pouting lips when angry, her tearful eyes when sad, her enchanting expression when singing, and her serious demeanor when paintingevery moment, every nce, every smile of hers was etched in his heart. Was he just going to give up like this? Yet if keeping her by his side only made her miserable, he did not want that. He wanted her to live a happy life. Tomorrow was February 14th, a special day, not only because he was off work and could see her again, but also because it was her sixteenth birthday. It had been a day he had long awaited, thinking it would be the day he and his wife could truly be together. Now, it seemed he had hoped for too much. This might be the first birthday he celebrated with his wife, and very likely thest. He thought to let himself indulge a little longer in their moments together; he truly couldnt bear to let go. After her birthday, he would ask his wife for her answer. Whatever the answer was, he would abide by her Chapter 322: Buying a Birthday Gift for My Wife

Chapter 322: Chapter 322: Buying a Birthday Gift for My Wife

What muste, wille; she cant escape it, so first lets celebrate my wifes birthday. He wanted to give his wife a decent birthday gift, so he headed to thergest jewelry store in the county, and by coincidence, it happened to be affiliated with the one Xiaoxiao visited in the town. After entering, he browsed around but didnt know what to buy; the earrings he had given her before seemed never to have been worn, probably because she didnt like them. The jewelry store didnt only sell gold and silver jewelry but also offered items like womens handkerchiefs, fans, silk flowers. Yang Ming looked at everything, including hairpins, bracelets. However, Yang Ming felt his wife might not really like these things, which made it hard for him to decide, and the shop assistant was growing impatient. "Sir, what exactly do you n to choose?" Yang Ming was also stumped by the question; he wasnt clear, either, as he felt these didnt quite suit his wife. He wanted to hear Xiaoers suggestion, which might help him find something appropriate, "Im buying for my wife, do you have any good suggestions?" "If its for your wife, there really is one thing, sir, you are actually in luck today." Xiaoer then brought out a pair of rings that had just been delivered to Yang Ming. "Sir, look at this pair of rings, a new design from our jewelry store, due to the urgent schedule, we have only managed to produce this one pair." "This is a token of love worn by both men and women. See this heart shape here, the womans ring fits inside the mans ring, aligning perfectly." As Xiaoer spoke, he demonstrated for Yang Ming. Upon seeing it, his eyes lit up. This was it, the small and exquisitely made pair of rings his wife would surely love. Xiaoer continued exining, "This ring also has a beautiful meaningit was said by the woman who designed it, signifying I wish to stand by your side and spend my life with you." Such a delicate thing designed by a woman? I wish to stand by your side and spend my life with you, what a beautiful sentence. It seemed that the designer must have been very fond of her husband, causing him to feel a bit envious of her husband. "Because we were in a hurry to produce them, this pair is sized ording to that woman and her husband. Im not sure if it matches the size of you and your wife, sir. Try it on and see." Upon hearing this, Yang Ming felt somewhat disappointed. It would be a pity if he found a seemingly ideal gift only to have it not fit because of the size. "Sir, wear it on the ring finger of your left hand, the designer said that this symbolizes that the couple is perfectly aligned in heart." Perfectly aligned in heart? If he could be perfectly aligned in heart with his wife, that would be wonderful. Following Xiaoers instructions, he slipped the ring onto the ring finger of his left hand. It fit surprisingly well, as if it had been custom-made. "Sir, the size is just right; now look at the womans ring, Im not sure if it will fit." Yang Ming took the small, delicate ring intended for a woman. He held it carefully between his thumb and index finger, examining it closely, recalling the feeling of holding hands with his wife, imagining her hand d in this ring. "Xiaoer, take this pair, how much are they?" "Sir, this pair is twenty taels." Yang Ming hadnt expected that such a small pair of rings could be so expensively priced. If it had been earlier, he really couldnt have afforded them. But now, since thest cabbage incident, he hade into an extra hundred and more taels. After giving Wang Kui a hundred, he just happened to have twenty left. "Alright, Ill buy them." Chapter 323: Yang Ming Wants to Get Drunk

Chapter 323: Chapter 323: Yang Ming Wants to Get Drunk

Yang Ming had paid the Silver, carefully ced the exquisite box containing the two rings on his person, and then left the Silver Pavilion to return to the Academy to continue his sses. In the afternoon, after sses were over, he went to the Xuntian Escort Agency. Since Wang Kui had be an escort, Yang Ming visited daily to handle the trivial matters of the agency. As soon as he arrived at the entrance, he heard the Escort Head saying, "Shopkeeper Yang, youve arrived. Our Head Escort Master is back." Upon hearing that Wang Kui had returned, Yang Ming quickened his pace and entered the house. "Brother Wang." "Shopkeeper Yang." "Can you not call me that? Its one thing for them to call me that, but you should call me by my name," Yang Ming felt somewhat helpless; he was just a nominal figure, why should the Head Escort Master address him like that. Seeing Yang Mings reluctance to the title, Wang Kui had no choice but to agree, "Alright then, Brother Yang." "How did the escort mission go?" Yang Ming was still very concerned about the affairs of the escort agency since the continuity of the agency could provide hope in finding his sister. "Dont worry, there wasnt a single issue, only that obtaining information about Xiatian isnt easy." This time the escort mission wasnt supposed toe back sote, but Wang Kui thought since he was already in that ce, he might as well look around, which is why the return was dyed until now. "Right, I know not to rush things. When theres time, Ill bring you the portrait," Yang Ming mentioned, knowing that finding people isnt easy, prepared for a long-term search. "Brother Yang, since there are many people here today, lets celebrate the first sessful mission of the Xuntian Escort Agency by drinking a little," Wang Kui suggested. "..." Drinking? His mood wasnt very good right now, and he felt like drinking, "Sure, lets celebrate your sessful escorting, lets drink." Straightaway, the kitchen began preparing, and it wasnt long before everything was ready. Since it was his first time drinking with the escorts, many people came to toast him, which Yang Ming epted one by one; he really wanted to drink till he passed out. "Brother Yang,e on, lets y a drinking game, its been such a long time," one of the escorts encouraged. "Five, head header!" "Six, six, six." "..." Yang Ming didnt know what was wrong with him today; he kept losing and drinking repeatedly, yet he couldnt get drunk. He ended up knocking many escorts under the table. One of the escorts, utterly drunk, blurted out, "Shopkeeper Yang, I didnt expect you could hold your liquor so well, no one can outdrink you." Yang Ming forced a smile. He wanted to get drunk, yet the more he drank, the more sober he became. He stood up and addressed everyone, "Its gettingte, Ill be heading back first. You all should rest up too." "Why dont you stay here instead of going back?" Wang Kui tried to persuade him to stay. Yang Ming waved his hand in refusal and headed straight out of the Xuntian Escort Agencys main gate, walking on the street, feeling the chill wind. He reached into his coat pocket for the box of rings. Touching the box, he took a deep breath, realizing he still couldnt give up. He wanted to give this ring to his wife, to tell her about the symbolism of the ring, to make one more effort to express his feelings, to tell her that he wanted to be her husband. With this thought, he quickened his steps, rapidly returning to his residence at the Academy. In the Academy, he shared a room with Chu Lian, but Chu Lians family was wealthy and had properties everywhere. They didnt enroll in the Academy purely for study and often didnt stay there, which wasmon. After returning to his residence and not seeing Chu Lian, Yang Ming didnt mind; even if he had met him, he wouldnt know how to interact, which was for the best. Once back in his room, he heated the kang and stuffed all the corn cobs into the stove, lit the fire, climbed onto the kang, andy down. It seemed the alcohol finally hit him, and he fell asleep swiftly and soundly. Chapter 324: Anxious Xiaoxiao

Chapter 324: Chapter 324: Anxious Xiaoxiao

Xiaoxiaos Home "But where are we going to stay tonight?" Upon hearing Wang Xiangxiangs question, Xiaoxiao was stunned; indeed, the bridal chamber was already arranged, and it was said to be meticulously prepared, a bridal chamber where no one should reside. Yang Qius room was already upied by the embroiderer brought by Wang Xiangxiang, so it would not be good for them to squeeze in there. They considered staying in Yang Dongs room but then thought better of it. Since they had to pick up Yang Ming tomorrow, they decided to head straight to the county town now. "Sister Wang, lets stay at your ce in the county town tonight. Tomorrow, Ill pick up my husband, and welle back together." "Okay, lets hurry then." Fortuitously, the carriage Wang Xiangxiang brought had been dyed due to feeding the horses and hadnt returned yet. After notifying their family, they hastily boarded the carriage and headed to the county town. Wang Xiangxiangs house in the county town was enormously grand, looking very majestic from the outside, utterly unlike those in the town, and even more luxurious inside. The two of them still shared a room, sleeping together. Determined to be fully prepared for tomorrow, Xiaoxiao was energetically gearing up, vowing to seed at all costs. Just like a bride-to-be, she indeed seemed the most eager to marry. To face her soon-to-be husband in her best condition tomorrow, Xiaoxiao took a bath and then made facial masks with Wang Xiangxiang. "Xiaoxiao, do we just apply this stuff to our faces?" "Haha, this is a facial mask I made myself. Just apply it. Its all natural and pollution-free." "..." Wang Xiangxiang, not understanding anything Xiaoxiao said, still followed her and applied the mixture of egg white and honey to her face. "Its so cold." "Itll be fine in a bit. Doing this often is good for the skin." "Okay." After applying the mask, both of themy there with stiff faces, chatting idly. Even their voices sounded weird. "Xiaoxiao, I really want to see how you confess tomorrow." "Youre not allowed to watch." She didnt want anyone disturbing her moment with her low-cost husband. If the confession seeded, anything could happen; how could she let others watch. "Whatever." "If you want to watch, hurry up and find someone, then you can confess too." "Dont remind me of my sad story, okay?" "I mean it. If you really meet someone you like, you should go after them. You must boldly express your love; if you dont, someone else will." Wang Xiangxiangy there silently, deeply pondering Xiaoxiaos words. Could she be bold like Xiaoxiao? "All right, times up, we can wash it off now." "Okay." The two quickly washed their faces and then went to bed. But near morning, Xiaoxiao woke from a nightmare, suddenly crying out, "Ah!" Then she sat up and realized she was sweating profusely. "Xiaoxiao, whats wrong?" Wang Xiangxiang was awakened by Xiaoxiaos cry. "Its nothing, go back to sleep." Unable to fall asleep again, Xiaoxiao quickly got up to wash up, apply makeup, andb her hair. After getting herself ready, she sat there feeling panicked and distressed, fearing that something bad was about to happen. "Sister Wang, Im going out to find my husband." "Eh, you havent had breakfast." "Ill skip it." Xiaoxiao hurried out, arriving at the Academys gate while it was still dark. She feverishly knocked on the Academys main gate. Soon someone came to open the gate, speaking impatiently, "Who is it? Its not even dawn yet." "Attendant Student, its me; can you help me find Yang Ming? I need him urgently." "Wait here." Recognizing Xiaoxiao as Yang Mings wife, the Attendant Student quickly ran into the Academy to find Yang Ming. Chapter 325 Offer Your Condolences

Chapter 325: Chapter 325 Offer Your Condolences

The Attendant Student arrived at Yang Mings room, knocking on the door as he spoke, "Yang Ming, your wife is here. She said shes looking for you urgently." After waiting a moment and receiving no response, the Attendant Student found it odd. Could it be that Yang Ming hadnte back? He called out several more times. "Yang Ming, your wife is looking for you." "Yang Ming." "..." Seeing that Yang Ming hadnt responded at all and that his wife was waiting anxiously at the door, he had no choice but to push the door open to try, and to his surprise, the door swung openit hadnt been bolted from the inside. As soon as the door opened, a pungent smell assaulted him. Covering his nose with his hand, he quickly went inside and found Yang Ming lying there. He pushed at Yang Mings body, urging as he did so, "Yang Ming, get up quickly, your wife is looking for you." But Yang Ming remained motionless, as if dead. The Attendant Student became frightened and reached out to check Yang Mings breathing. With that check, the Attendant Student stumbled backward a few steps and copsed right there, screaming in shock, "Someonee quicksomethings wrong, theres a dead person, someonee quick." The people in the Academy were all woken by the Attendant Students screams. Hearing that someone was dead, they quickly put on their clothes and came out to see what was happening. A swarm of people crammed into Yang Mings room, all choked by the stench. At that moment, someone yelled, "Quick, get Yang Ming out of here, hes been smoked by the fumes of burning corn cobs." Hearing this, everyone hastily carried Yang Ming out with his nket,ying him down in the courtyard. After carrying the man out, someone stepped forward and patted Yang Mings body, "Wake up, wake up." At this time, the shivering Attendant Student emerged from the room, "Just now, when I checked his breathing, it seemed like he had no breath." "What?" Having heard this, everyone was surprised. The schr who had been pping Yang Ming immediately went to check his breathing, "Not good, it really seems like hes not breathing. Someone hurry to notify the teacher." Since the teachers residence was far from theirs and he hadnt arrived yet, someone immediately went to fetch the teacher as such a big issue could only be handled by him. It was only then that the Attendant Student remembered Yang Mings wife waiting at the door. Being so scared that he could barely walk, he turned to the other Attendant Students and said, "Quick, one of you, go to the gate. Yang Mings wife hase. Someone inform her." "Ill go." One of them said. Xiaoxiao had been waiting at the door all this time, pacing back and forth waiting for the Attendant Student. She had never felt such unease before. Her chest was aching, and her eyelids were twitching uncontrobly as if some major event was about to unfold. Suddenly, she felt a strong premonition of losing Yang Ming. This feeling intensified to the point where she almost had trouble breathing. Unable to contain her emotions, she wished to see Yang Ming immediately. She waited left and right but the Attendant Student did not return, and fear gripped her. Finally, the Academys door opened. Xiaoxiao quickly stepped forward, but the person who opened the door was not the Attendant Student she was expecting. Just as she felt disappointed, she heard what the neer had to say. "Are you Yang Mings wife?" "I am, I am Yang Mings wife. Where is Yang Ming?" Xiaoxiao asked anxiously as she approached. The person who arrived was also very anxious, "You better go inside and see for yourself. It seems like Yang Ming is not breathing." On hearing this, Xiaoxiao felt her heart lurch, and her vision darkened slightly. She strove to keep herselfposed as she followed the person inside, with tears starting to well up in her eyes. Seeing the state of Yang Mings wife, the person felt somepassion and said, "You should grieve with restraint. Theres nothing that can be done about this." Chapter 326: Are You Trying to Scare Me to Death?

Chapter 326: Chapter 326: Are You Trying to Scare Me to Death?

Xiaoxiao waspletely unable to hear what the others were saying; her mind was wholly upied by that sentence, "Yang Ming is out of breath." Didnt "out of breath" mean dead? She couldnt bear the thought of a day without Yang Ming. The more she thought about it, the more frightened she became, and tears inadvertently streamed down her face. Seeing the courtyard crowded with people, she ran over quickly, pushing through the throng to see Yang Ming lying on the ground. She shouted at the crowd, "Move back, all of you! Youre crowding him so much, he cant breathe." Then Xiaoxiao started to feel Yang Mings nose for breath; there really was none. She touched his neck to check for a pulse; there was barely one, and her heart went cold. Some in the crowd, witnessing Xiaoxiao check if Yang Ming still had breath, couldnt bear to watch and started consoling her, "The dead cannote back to life; you should ept it and mourn." Xiaoxiao shot a fierce re, "Youre the one whos dead, your whole family is dead." Xiaoxiao disregarded the murmurings of the crowd. She didnt believe her dear husband could be dead; he wouldnt abandon her like this. He was just too tired, simply asleep. She couldnt give up on him; she had to perform cardiac resuscitation. She quickly undid her husbands clothes and repeatedly pressed down on his chest, all the while repeating aloud. "Husband, dont die, dont die, please wake up, wake up! What would I do if you died? I have prepared so many surprises for you that you havent seen yet." She was nearly crying too hard to see, and seeing that her husband had no reaction, she pried open Yang Mings mouth and began to breathe air into him time after time. The onlookers were stunned by the scene; Yang Ming was dead, and what was his wife doing? Some even turned their heads away,menting, "Hes dead, and shes still shamelessly doing this." Xiaoxiao didnt care about them; she persisted in her efforts, continually performing cardiac resuscitation on Yang Ming, alternating between chestpressions and artificial respiration. After several repetitions, her forehead was dripping with sweat. Suddenly someone in the crowd shouted, "Look, Yang Ming is waking up!" Xiaoxiao was in the midst of breathing air into Yang Ming when she heard this. She immediately looked up and met Yang Mings eyes. She burst into tears, with all her emotions erupting, "Wuuu wuuu." While crying, she pounded on Yang Mings chest, "Were you trying to scare me to death? Were you? Wuuu wuuu." Crying turned intoughter, and Xiaoxiao burst outughing. Then she threw herself onto Yang Ming, "Youve finallye back to life." Seeing this, no one in the crowd thought of Yang Mings wife as shameless anymore; they realized she had been saving Yang Mings life and couldnt help but p for her. "Its a miracle, she brought a dead man back to life." At this moment, Yang Ming was very weak, and when he opened his eyes, he saw his weeping wife kissing him. Then he saw her shift from crying toughing, and he spoke softly, "Wife." Upon hearing Yang Mings voice, Xiaoxiao immediately motioned with her hand, "Dont speak; youre very weak right now. Save your strength." After speaking, she stood up and addressed the crowd, "Who can help me carry Yang Ming inside? Who will go and fetch a doctor for me? And ask the kitchen to help prepare some porridge." Everyone immediately did as Xiaoxiao instructed. Several people carried Yang Ming back to his room, and as soon as Xiaoxiao entered, she was overwhelmed by the lingering smell. "Do you want my husband to die again?" Chapter 327: Happy Birthday, Wife

Chapter 327: Chapter 327: Happy Birthday, Wife

"Quick, find a room with good airflow." "Listen to Yang Mings wife; hurry." At this moment, the teacher in the crowd spoke up, instructing them. "Alright." Upon hearing this, everyone immediately carried Yang Ming to another room. The teacher followed into the room, "Yang Mings wife, I am truly sorry. I didnt expect such a thing to happen at the Academy. Fortunately, he came back to life." "Teacher, hello. Once my husband recovers a bit, Ill take him home to rest for a while. I hope you will allow it?" Xiaoxiao thought, this was simr to carbon monoxide poisoning; he needed observation. If they were not careful, it could damage his brain. He couldnt continue studying; he must go home to recuperate. "Of course, of course; you all go home and rest. Come back when hes better." The teacher then turned to Yang Ming, "Take good care of yourself, dont worry about your studies. Your talents aremendable, take your books home, and self-studying is also possible." After sending the teacher off, the kitchen had prepared porridge, which was brought over. Xiaoxiao took the bowl of porridge, blew on each spoonful, then began to feed her dear husband. "Drink slowly, be careful; its hot." Yang Ming nodded and allowed his wife to feed him. He knew his body was indeed immobilized at the moment, and he needed to rest. He also somewhat cherished his wife feeding him the porridge. After finishing the porridge, he still wanted to say to his wife those words one should say to their wife on this special day, even though his weak breathing made it hard to speak. "Wife, happy birthday." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao was taken aback. Happy birthday? Could today be her original bodys birthday? Xiaoxiao then smiled. He really was attentive, remembering the original bodys birthday, which now was hers too, "Thank you, my husband." Meanwhile, the doctor for whom they had sent an attendant had arrived. Seeing it was the same doctor who had taught emergency first aid before, Xiaoxiao immediately weed him in to examine Yang Mings condition. After taking Yang Mings pulse, the doctor said to Xiaoxiao, "His pulse is very weak. Prescribe some medicine and let him recuperate at home; its nothing serious." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao finally breathed a sigh of relief. Yang Ming having this incident today had truly scared her to death. She really couldnt imagine living without Yang Ming. She decided that once Yang Ming recovered, she wouldnt let him stay at the Academy anymore; she never wanted to be apart from him again. "When I came, I heard that your emergency response was timely, and you even brought a dead man back to life. Could you teach me that first aid method?" Xiaoxiao was in no mood for that now, all she wanted was to stay by her dear husbands side, "Doctor, seeing my husband like this, Im really not in the mood. Maybe next time." The doctor, seeing it was indeed not the right moment, did not trouble Xiaoxiao further, "Alright then, Ill head back. You dont need toe for the medicine; Ill send an attendant to deliver itter." "Then, thank you, doctor." After sending the doctor off, Xiaoxiao returned to the room and noticed that Yang Mings eyelids were fighting a losing battle with sleep, symptoms of prolonged oxygen deprivation. Now that the air was clear, he should be fine, "If youre sleepy, go to sleep. Ill be here watching over you." Hearing this, Yang Ming indeed closed his eyes. He really didnt have the energy now. He wanted to regain his strength as quickly as possible, for he had many things he still wanted to say to his wife. Xiaoxiao stayed by his side without leaving for a moment, her makeup smeared from crying, watching him as he fell asleep. She gently smoothed his furrowed brow with her hand. Softly singing, "If tomorrow you dont know which path to take, why not stay beside me and be my husband..." Chapter 328: This Young Master Won’t Stoip to Your Level

Chapter 328: Chapter 328: This Young Master Wont Stoip to Your Level

Wang Mansion Ever since Xiaoxiao had left, Wang Xiangxiang had also been restless. She had never seen Xiaoxiao like that before and feared something might happen to her, so she sent a house servant out to gather information while she waited inside the mansion for news. Before long, the house servant that she had sent out ran into the mansion in a panic, shouting as he ran, "Miss, something terrible has happened! I just found out that Miss Zhongs husband seems to have died." "What?" Wang Xiangxiang could hardly believe what she had heard. Yang Ming had actually died? This would be too much of a blow for Xiaoxiao. She had prepared for so long, and before she could even speak out, were they to be separated by life and death? She felt pained for such a Xiaoxiao. She definitely wouldnt be able to withstand it. She must rush to her side immediately. She rose to her feet and said as she walked, "Prepare the carriage immediately, to the Academy." On the streets "Hey, did you hear? Theres been an incident at Yulin Academy." "The news just came out this morning, saying that someone at the Academy was suffocated by smoke from a heated bed." "What? Who was so unlucky?" "What was his name, ah, right, it was Yang Ming. The one who died is called Yang Ming." "..." "..." Chu Lian got up early in the morning intending to go to the Academy and heard this news on the street. It was like a bolt from the blue to him. He stood there, dazed, with vacant eyes, his brain no longer able tomand his actions. He stood motionless in the middle of the road. At this moment, a carriage was speeding toward him, apanied by the sound of wheels. Seeing the person ahead not moving, the coachman immediately tightened the reins, shouting, "Whoa! Whoa!" The horse, having run too fast, couldnt stop in time, and the startled horse kept neighing, "Neigh, neigh." At the critical moment, Chu Lian came to his senses, took a slight step to the side to dodge, and avoided disaster. The carriage was then brought to a stop by the coachman. Inside the carriage, Wang Xiangxiang had been scared half to death by this situation. The carriage had finally stopped, and she was sping her hands over her chest, trying to steady her breath. She was about to get out to check on the situation because after all, it was always bad for someone to be startled like this, but then she heard people quarreling outside. "How could you allow your servant to do that? Dont you see this is on the main street? With the horse running so fast, what if someone got hit?" "..." Was that directed at her? She had seen through the carriage window that it was he who had first stood still in the middle of the road. And now he was the first to y the victim. "Today is your lucky day. This young master has urgent business and will let you off this time." "..." Let her off? Hearing these words, her temper red as well. She pushed open the carriage door and shouted at the person, "How I manage my servant is none of your business. It was your own fault for standing still in the middle of the road. If you got hit, you would have deserved it." "You..." Chu Lian did not expect a beautiful young woman to be inside the carriage, speaking such harsh words. He shook his head helplessly, knowing he couldnt dy any longer. He had to hurry to the Academy to see Yang Ming for thest time, "This young master wont stoop to your level." As he turned to leave, he heard the womans voice. "Hey, wait a moment." "..." He had already let her go, and she was still being unrelenting. He furrowed his brow, turned around impatiently and said, "What else do you want?" Wang Xiangxiang had been so preupied with arguing that it was only after finishing her tirade that she got a clear look at the persons face. Wasnt this the same man who was at Yui Restaurant that day, the Young Master of the Silver Pavilion whom Xiaoxiao had spoken of? He had seemed so refined that day in front of Xiaoxiao. How could he be so rude today? "Xiaoxiaos husband has died, did you know?" Chapter 329: The Saucy Girl and the Rascal Man

Chapter 329: Chapter 329: The Saucy Girl and the Rascal Man

Chu Lian was taken aback when he heard this, his brows furrowing even more tightly. Who was this person who knew of Xiaoxiaos business? Whoever it was, he had to hurry on now and couldnt stay any longer, "Ive just learned about it, so Im rushing over there and cant dy any further." "Get on the carriage!" "..." Chu Lian looked at the woman on the carriage. Was she offering him a ride? Seeing that Chu Lian remained silent and did not get on the carriage, Wang Xiangxiang felt this man was dilly-dallying, "Arent you in a hurry to get to the Academy? Then get on quickly, were going the same way." With that, Chu Lian no longer hesitated. Since time was of the essence, he had to get moving, and a carriage would be faster, so he epted Wang Xiangxiangs kindness and got directly onto the carriage. "Lets go," Wang Xiangxiang said to the coachman. Following the coachmansmand, "Giddy up!" the carriage set off. Once on the carriage, both Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang remained silent, with only the creaking sound of the carriage moving along the road. Their states of mind were entirely different. Wang Xiangxiang: If it werent for the fact that he was an acquaintance of Xiaoxiao, she wouldnt bother giving this shameless man a lift. Chu Lian: If it werent for the urgency of time, he wouldnt have boarded this willful womans carriage. Once on the carriage, Chu Lian noticed that this willful woman kept staring at him from time to time, which made him regret getting on the carriage. He hoped she hadnt taken a fancy to him. The thought of being fancied by another strange woman made him feel as if he had seen something disgusting, and with an expression of disdain, he said, "Stop staring at me. We dont know each other." "..." Wang Xiangxiang was infuriated by his words to the point where she felt like she might cough blood. This shameless man spoke so rudely; how could Xiaoxiao even know someone like him? Whats the use of a handsome appearance when ones heart is beastly? To im they didnt know each otheralthough they didnt speak at the Silver Pavilion that day, she had been by Xiaoxiaos side the whole time. Any fool could see that she was Xiaoxiaos friend, yet he treated her so poorly. It seemed his character was trulycking. Wang Xiangxiang, suppressing the anger about to erupt within her, said with a coldugh, "You board my carriage and this is your attitude?" Chu Lian clenched his fists, this willful woman was so insufferable in her speech; he regretted getting on the carriage more and more and stood up to open the carriage door, shouting to the coachman, "Stop the carriage, I want to get off." The coachman at the front acted as if he hadnt heard a thing; without his mistresss order, he wasnt going to stop the carriage. "..." This young master really had a foul temper, "Without mymand, he wont stop the carriage. What, are you nning to jump from the moving carriage?" "You..." Enraged by Wang Xiangxiang, Chu Lian truly didnt care anymore and went to open the carriage door, preparing to jump out. Wang Xiangxiang immediately stood up to stop him. Since the carriage was already unsteady from its quick pace, the excessive jostling from their tussle made it sway even more violently. Just at that moment, whether by chance or due to a bump in the road, a jolt caused the two struggling individuals to topple over onto the seat. Wang Xiangxiang fell right on top of Chu Lian, and their lips pressed tightly together. The two, caught off guard, instantly widened their eyes. Chu Lian pushed Wang Xiangxiang off him and then vigorously rubbed his own lips as if they had been sullied. "You impudent woman, have you no shame." Wang Xiangxiang herself hadnt expected things to turn out this way, and just when she was feeling embarrassed, she heard the others biting words and could no longer contain her temper. "You despicable man, taking advantage of me." Chapter 330: Humph! Humph!

Chapter 330: Chapter 330: Humph! Humph!

Both had red faces, ring at each other before turning their heads away in an attempt not to see the other. "Hmph!" "Hmph!" There was a moment of silence in the carriage, as both unexpectedly and obediently returned to their seats, with neither speaking to the other anymore. Chu Lian sat there, his face expressionless and his aura icy, yet his heart was somewhat troubled. He felt that he was incredibly unlucky today, to have been inexplicably kissed by this shrewish woman. The reputation hed maintained for twenty-one years was now gone. He must bepletely ipatible with this shrewish woman, and after getting off the carriage, he would definitely stay far away from her. Wang Xiangxiang sat there, her face flushed and her eyes wide with anger, looking ready to explode at any moment. She thought that today must have been a day when she failed to consult the almanac, for her twenty years of chastity had been ruined by this shameless man. If people came to know, how would she ever find a husband? She must keep her distance from this shameless man after disembarking. The atmosphere in the carriage was awkward, until the coachmans "Whoa!" signaled the stop of the carriage, "Miss, the Academy has arrived." Both let out a sigh of relief, and they got up to open the carriage door, their hands coincidentally touching at the door handle. "Hmph!" "Hmph!" After their hands touched, they both uttered a snort and quickly withdrew. Neither moved to open the door after retracting their hands, and the atmosphere turned awkward again; finally, Chu Lian, in a gentlemanly manner, gestured with his eyes, "You go first." Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang unceremoniously alighted first and once down, she ran off in big strides,pletely disregarding her feminine image. Following behind, Chu Lian shook his head repeatedly, extremely disappointed, "How can there be such a woman?" Wang Xiangxiang couldnt care less. Right now, all she could think about was Xiaoxiao, wondering how she was and where her husband could be. She ran up to the Academys main gate, where she happened to encounter someoneing out, "Sir, I want to inquire about Yang Ming and his wifes current situation." "Oh, you mean Yang Ming? Hes all right now; he revived." Wang Xiangxiang was overjoyed at these words and excitedly asked, "Really? Hes all right?" Chu Lian, who had followed her, heard this too. Yang Ming was all right; that was great news. However, the shrewish womans excited reaction made him frown. So this shrewish woman had feelings for Yang Ming? No wonder the carriage was driven so hastily. "And Yang Mings wife is simply miraculous, to have brought a dead man back to life..." The man began to speak endlessly about it, as if he had learned some incredible news. Wang Xiangxiang was truly happy for Xiaoxiao. With Yang Ming alive, the two of them had finally weathered through their hardships. Lovers would atst unite, and she felt so moved she was close to tears, her eyes turning watery. "Sir, could you take me in to see them?" "This... well, I have something to do right now," the schr said, somewhat troubled, and then he looked up and saw Chu Lian approaching. "Chu Lian,e here. She wants to go in to see Yang Ming and his wife. Take her, please. Yang Ming is resting in Wus room," said the schr and hurried off without waiting for Chu Lians agreement. Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lians eyes met in midair for a moment before they quickly turned away. "Hmph!" "Hmph!" Chu Lian: A shrewish woman can cry? Wang Xiangxiang: Why is it this shameless man again? Chu Lian ignored Wang Xiangxiang and went straight into the Academys gate. Wang Xiangxiang, seeing the man leave, knew she had to follow if she wanted to see Xiaoxiao and hurried after him, shouting, "Hey, wait for me." Chapter 331: She Seems to Have Caught the Unscrupulous Man’s Weakness

Chapter 331: Chapter 331: She Seems to Have Caught the Unscrupulous Mans Weakness

Chu Lian hadnt expected that the arrogant woman would really follow him, and he was somewhat displeased. He felt that nothing good ever happened when he was with her: their hands had touched, they had even kissed, it was better to keep as far away as possible, so he quickened his pace. Behind him, Wang Xiangxiang was even more displeased. This shameless man was trying to shake her off as if she were a nuisance. If there had been anyone else around, she would not have followed him so shamelessly; she would have preferred to keep her distance. Chu Lian walked fast, and Wang Xiangxiang was not slow either, following closely behind him. This made Chu Lian somewhat spiteful, and he sped up his steps. When he sped up, Wang Xiangxiang didnt show weakness either and started to jog to catch up with him. Chu Lian was so annoyed that he sighed countless times in his heart. How could there be such a woman who he couldnt shake off? The two startedpeting in speed out of spite, when suddenly Wang Xiangxiang misstepped with a "Ouch." Chu Lian heard the cry and reflexively looked back, just in time to see Wang Xiangxiang falling towards him. Without thinking, he reached out and caught her. The two ended up in an embrace. After regaining their bnce, they immediately separated like dodging the gue, both feeling utterly jinxed by the other. Chu Lian spoke with clear irritation, "You, this arrogant woman, how can you be so clumsy, not watching where youre going?" After saying that, he nced at Wang Xiangxiang, seeing her fall while trying to catch up to him, and thought that maybe he was being petty, actually holding a grudge against a woman. Just as he was about to ease the mood, he heard her say. "Its because of you, this rascal, walking so fast, leaving no time to watch the road." Chu Lians veins bulged with anger, "Who are you calling a rascal?" "Is there anyone else here? Im talking about you." "You!" Chu Lian was so infuriated by this woman that he was almost at a loss for words. "What you? Youre calling me an arrogant woman, did I say anything?" Wang Xiangxiang was really irritated too. How could his words be so cutting, calling her arrogant? Because of the atmosphere, both of them, in a show of pride, turned their heads away from each other. "Hmph!" "Hmph!" Although angry, Chu Lian still slowed down his pace, fearing she might fall again if she couldnt keep up. Both of them walked in silence, reaching the doorstep of the house where Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao were. Xiaoxiao was afraid that closing the door would affect the air cirction in the room, which might affect Yang Mings recovery, so the door was always open. She sat inside, looking at Yang Ming, singing to him, "Would you like to be my husband?" "If you dont know which way to go tomorrow, just stay by my side, would you like to be my husband? Your not-so-broad shoulders will still be my warm embrace..." Chu Lian stopped in his tracks because of Xiaoxiaos singing, and Wang Xiangxiang bumped into him again as he came to a halt. Wang Xiangxiang was truly exasperated. How could this man just stop abruptly? She was just about to yell at him when Chu Lians hand covered her mouth, signaling her to be quiet. Wang Xiangxiang was puzzled but nodded obediently in agreement. After Chu Lian let go of her mouth, he leaned against the wall next to the door, quietly listening to the lyricsing from inside. "Perhaps I can give you a bit of surprise, someughter, a simple and reassuring nest, to apany you from dawn till we grow old." Such lyrics, such a voice, sung for Yang Ming. He hadnt even confessed his feelings, had he lost already? He leaned there, his dejected expressionpletely captured by Wang Xiangxiang. Wang Xiangxiang revealed a sly smile. It seemed she had caught the rascal in a bind. Chapter 332: How Did You Two End Up Together?

Chapter 332: Chapter 332: How Did You Two End Up Together?

The two of them quietly listened to Xiaoxiaos singing, with Chu Lian feeling his heart ache as if it were cut by knives from such a song, and Wang Xiangxiang moved to tears because of it. It wasnt until the arrival of the attendant that the beautiful and touching song finally stopped. The attendant rushed into the room,pletely ignoring Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian standing at the door. "Lady Yang, your medicine has been delivered, to be taken twice a day, each dose has been neatly packed for you." "Mm, thank you." The attendant hurried off just as quickly, and Xiaoxiao, holding the medicine, came to the door where she bumped into Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang. "Eh, what are you two doing together?" Both of them said in unison, "Humph, I dont know him." "Humph, I dont know her." "..." Whats this situation? Forget it, Im too busy to deal with this now, "Then you two can get to know each other slowly, I wont disturb you, Im off to the kitchen to cook medicine for my husband." As soon as Xiaoxiao said this, Chu Lian immediately took over the medicine. He definitely didnt want to be with this troublesome girl, "Give me the medicine, Ill go to the kitchen and find someone to prepare it." "Thank you." Xiaoxiao readily agreed, thinking that since Chu Lian was a member of the Academy, he was more familiar with the ce than she was; it was better for him to help, and that left her time to be with her husband-in-name. After Chu Lian left, Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang entered the room and saw Yang Ming lying there, his face pale. Wang Xiangxiangforted her, "Xiaoxiao, dont be sad. Fortunately, he hase back to life." Xiaoxiao smiled in response, "Mm, Im not sad. Im too happy that he is alive." Wang Xiangxiang was genuinely happy for Xiaoxiao. The events of the day were really frightening, and her heart too had been in knots. Xiaoxiao remained by Yang Mings side, watching him, without turning her head even as she spoke to Wang Xiangxiang. "Xiaoxiao." "Mm? What is it?" "Why dont you take the chance while your husband is asleep to wash your face? Youve cried your face into a mess." Xiaoxiao touched her face, and only after Wang Xiangxiangs reminder did she remember that she had cried terribly, and she must look like a mess right now. Yang Ming had already seen that, and she didnt want him to wake up to her looking like a ghost again. Just as she was about to get up, Wang Xiangxiang continued, "You stay here and watch your husband, Ill go get water for you." "Mm." Xiaoxiao watched Wang Xiangxiang leave, feeling a warm sensation inside. These days, Wang Xiangxiang had always been by her side; theyd talked about everything, and one could say that Wang Xiangxiang was her first friend here, her own friend, not one from her previous life. In no time at all, Wang Xiangxiang brought in some water, "Heres the water, wash up quickly." "Thank you." She truly meant it. She had been very scared by todays events, feeling utterly helpless on her own. Luckily, they hade, easing the weight on her heart. Chu Lian had finished preparing the medicine and, seeing that Yang Ming had not woken up, kept it warm in the kitchen while he, too, stayed and watched over Yang Ming. Upon entering the room, Chu Lian noticed that Xiaoxiao did not so much as nce at him, her attention fixed on Yang Ming sleeping on the bed, making him feel especially defeated. The hope he had just the day before seemed to instantly turn to despair. It wasnt until the afternoon that Yang Ming finally awoke. The first thing he saw was his wife, the very person he most wanted to see. "Husband, youre awake, how do you feel?" Xiaoxiao asked with concern, then turned to Chu Lian and ordered, "Quickly bring the medicine over here." Wang Xiangxiang, watching on the side and seeing Chu Lian being ordered about, couldnt help but smirk, "Dont just stand there, go." Chapter 333 Do you like her too?

Chapter 333: Chapter 333 Do you like her too?

Hearing the saucy womans remarks, Chu Lian red fiercely at her and then headed out to fetch the medicine. Wang Xiangxiang pouted, watching as the scoundrel Yang Ming was being bossed around by Xiaoxiao, and she inexplicably felt incredible joy. When Yang Ming woke up, he first reached into his pocket to feel for the ring box. Confident it was there, he then tried to sit up with effort. "Do you want to sit up?" Xiaoxiao, seeing her discount husband attempting to get up, quickly helped him adjust his pillow and aided him in sitting up. "Do you need to use the restroom?" "..." Yang Ming did want to go. He had drunk so much the day before and hadnt been to the restroom since, and was almost at his limit. However, he felt somewhat embarrassed in front of his wife. Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang blushed and quietly left the room. Just as she reached the door, she bumped into Chu Lian carrying the medicine. "You impudent woman, why are you so twitchy? What if you had spilled the medicine?" "If it spills, just brew it again," Wang Xiangxiang retorted without a good temper. Seeing that Chu Lian was about to enter the room, she quickly stretched out her hand to hold him back. Since the others were relieving themselves, his entering would be inappropriate. "Hey, what are you doing pulling me?"ined Chu Lian, who was already at his limit with Wang Xiangxiangs antics. "Theyre using the restroom; maybe you shouldnt go in," Wang Xiangxiang hinted with a blink to Chu Lian. Hearing this, Chu Lian was stunned for a moment, realizing that Xiaoxiao was helping Yang Ming use the restroom. How could this be eptable? Without another word, he charged in. Seeing the two motionless, he finally rxed. cing the bowl of medicine on the table, he said to Yang Ming, "Yang Ming, do you need to use the restroom? I can help you." "..." With Chu Lians obvious intentions clear, Yang Ming agreed, "Yeah, help me to the restroom." "Husband, can you walk?" Xiaoxiao asked immediately, genuinely worried and afraid that he was too weak to stand. "Dont worry, I feel much better now," Yang Ming reassured his wife, then let Chu Lian assist him out the door. The two slowly made their way to the restroom, and seeing Yang Ming in such a state pained Chu Lian deeplya robust young man nearly smothered to death and now so weak. After relieving himself, Yang Ming turned to Chu Lian and said, "Dont worry, my word is my bond. Ill abide by her wishes. If she says she likes you, Ill agree to divorce her." "..." Chu Lian was speechless. Wasnt Xiaoxiaos behavior clear enough proof of her choice? From the moment she arrived, she had barely nced at him, focusing solely on Yang Ming. "Tell me the truth, do you like her too?" "Yes, I do," Yang Ming admitted openly and sincerely, "Im sorry. I know she is the woman of your dreams, yet I fell for her too." "..." Could a mere apology resolve such a situation? He had fallen for her first; it was only the strangely fated circumstances to me. It turned out that in the months they had spent together, they had fallen for each other. Even though he was the first to like her, it couldntpare to their day-to-daypanionship. He must have truly lost by now, ready to give up when he had already decided to let go. It just seemed that Yang Ming was clueless about Xiaoxiao choosing him, and he inexplicably didnt want to tell him, letting it be his punishment for stealing the woman he admired. Let him suffer a few more days, "Then letspete fairly." Chapter 334: This Way, It Won’t Hurt Anymore

Chapter 334: Chapter 334: This Way, It Wont Hurt Anymore

As soon as the two returned to the house, Xiaoxiao immediately took Yang Ming from Chu Lians hands, supporting him, "Quickly get on the kang and lie down." After helping Yang Ming to lie down, Xiaoxiao brought over the bowl of medicine from the table, "Ill feed you." Yang Ming, seeing that there were others in the room, felt a bit embarrassed and tried to take the bowl, "I can do it myself." Xiaoxiao pouted, holding the medicine bowl without letting go, "No, Ill feed you." "..." Seeing his wifes stubborn demeanor, he didnt know what to do, then he heard his wife speak again, "If you insist, Ill feed you the way you feed me medicine." "..." Yang Mings ears turned red. What was his wife talking about? Feeding him the way he fed her meant mouth-to-mouth? His wife was daring indeed, always doing as she said, not caring whether there were people in the room, so he obediently agreed, "Okay, you feed me." Xiaoxiao smiled and spoon-fed Yang Ming, and Yang Ming drank spoonful by spoonful. After finishing the medicine, Xiaoxiao ced the bowl on the table and used a handkerchief to wipe the residual medicine from Yang Mings mouth, asking tenderly, "Is the medicine bitter?" Before Yang Ming could reply, his wifes lips sealed his, making him involuntarily let out a muffled groan, "Mmh." He opened his eyes wide in shock. What was his wife doing, kissing him in front of others? After the kiss, Xiaoxiao got up and, smiling at her cheap husband, revealed two sweet dimples, "There, now it isnt bitter anymore, right?" Yang Mings heartbeat quickened due to his wifes action, already feeling a bit weak, he gasped a little unsteadily. Did this mean his wife liked him? He was overjoyed, "Yes, its not bitter anymore." Chu Lian, standing aside and seeing the interaction between the two, felt unbearably distressed, watching the woman he admired kissing his friend, and he felt like staying was masochism. Wang Xiangxiang was also shocked by Xiaoxiaos boldness. Xiaoxiao was indeed very daring; but it felt moving to use a kiss to ease the bitterness of medicine. If it were her, she would also feel it was no longer bitter. She looked at Bad Boy, seeing his face full of despair, she felt greatly satisfiedlet Xiaoxiao and her husband be more affectionate to torment that Bad Boy. "Husband, you lie here, I will go to your room and pack your things, and well go home in a bit." As soon as Xiaoxiao said she would pack Yang Mings things, Chu Lian immediately spoke, "Ill go with you. Yang Ming and I shared a room, I know which things are his." Feeling tormented, Chu Lian decided to provoke Yang Mingwho made him torment him just now. "Okay," Xiaoxiao agreed, thinking this would also be quicker. Upon seeing that Bad Boy was about to create trouble, Wang Xiangxiang promptly said, "Ill go too." When Chu Lian heard her voice, his heart sank, and he red at her immediately. Wang Xiangxiang returned the re defiantly, a mischievous smile written all over her face, as if to say, "Your stares are pointless; Im following anyway." A resigned Chu Lian followed Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang to pack Yang Mings things. Upon arriving at Yang Mings room, Xiaoxiao carefully began packing his things: aside from some clothes, there were toiletries, and the rest were books and writing materials. Xiaoxiao decided to take everything back, not wanting Yang Ming to stay there any longer. As she was about to ask Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang for help, she noticed the two at the doorway, seeminglymunicating with their eyes, ring at each other. "..." What on earth was going on with these two? Chapter 335: Who Did You Say Is Weak?

Chapter 335: Chapter 335: Who Did You Say Is Weak?

Yang Ming had been lying in the room all day, and Brother Chu and his wife had gone out. Brother Chu had talked about fairpetition, had he started taking action? His heart was extremely uneasy, fearful that his wife would be snatched away. His hand constantly touched the hidden ring box on his person; he wanted to give the ring to his wife and tell her that he wanted to be with her forever. Thinking of how his wife had taken meticulous care of him today, and even... His hand unconsciously brushed his own lips, hardly daring to believe how wonderful it would be if all of this were true. Though Xiaoxiao found the rtionship between the two at the door odd, she was too busy to bother with them at the moment. "Im done packing,e help me carry this." Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian, hearing Xiaoxiao speak, reined in their glowering looks, helped carry the things, and followed Xiaoxiao back to the room where Yang Ming was. Xiaoxiao knew she needed to find a carriage to take her cheap husband home, and it was more appropriate to seek a mans help for such a matter. So, she turned to Chu Lian and said, "Young Master Chu, could you help us find a carriage?" Although Chu Lian knew he had lost, he couldnt control his feelings. When he heard Xiaoxiao speak to him, his heart fluttered slightly, even if it was just a request to find a carriage. But just as he was about to speak, the capricious woman intercepted him, "Xiaoxiao, theres no need for him to find one, my familys carriage is right outside; we can leave anytime." "..." This capricious woman always seemed to ruin his chances, prompting him to re at her again. Hearing that a carriage was waiting outside, Xiaoxiao felt relieved. She turned and asked Yang Ming, "Husband, are you feeling any better, when would be a good time for us to leave?" "Its hard to travel when its dark; lets leave now, I feel much better." At the mention of darkness, they both inexplicably recalled the night they walked together, the moment their hands intertwined, a sweet memory that made both their hearts warm. "Okay, lets leave now." Xiaoxiao intended to support Yang Ming, but he refused her, "Im too heavy, let Brother Chu assist me instead." "Okay," Xiaoxiao smiled faintly, "Young Master Chu, please help support my husband." If this had been the Xiaoxiao of the past, hearing her cheap husband speak like this, she would have misunderstood that he really didnt want her assistance, that he was repelling her. But ever since Wang Xiangxiang had exined the meaning of love through a kite to her, she believed without a doubt that her cheap husband must like her, and if he said such things, it must be because he was genuinely afraid of being too heavy and pressing on her. Upon hearing these words, Chu Lian immediately helped Yang Ming up, "Lets go." Yang Ming, supported by Chu Lian, walked slowly ahead, while Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang followed behind, carrying Yang Mings luggage. Yang Ming looked back from time to time, "Wife, is the luggage heavy?" "Not heavy." With Yang Mings words of concern, no luggage seemed too heavy. Watching the interaction between the two, Wang Xiangxiang felt as if she were being tortured. The luggage really felt heavy to her, didnt it? After helping Yang Ming into the carriage, Chu Lian immediately stepped down from the carriage to take the luggage from Xiaoxiaos hands, "Let me carry that for you." Xiaoxiao didnt hand over the luggage to him but nced back at Wang Xiangxiang and said to Chu Lian, "Why dont you help her instead." Only after this did Chu Lian notice the capricious woman behind him, struggling with the luggage. Where had her running vigor gone? He took several quick steps forward, snatched the luggage she was carrying, and said, "So weak." "Who are you calling weak?" Chapter 336 The Secret in My Heart

Chapter 336: Chapter 336 The Secret in My Heart

Wang Xiangxiang, with her heavy luggage in hand, walked slowly. Seeing the rude maning over to take her luggage, she thought he had finally developed a conscience? But upon hearing his words, she cursed herself thoroughly in her heart. How foolish could she be to even think for a moment that the rude man could change for the better? If a rude man could change for the better, it would be when the sun rises from the west. He called her weak. What did it matter to him if she was weak or not? She inexplicably felt like arguing with him, and didnt know where she found the strength, but she clutched the luggage and refused to let go, as the atmosphere dropped below freezing point. Seeing that the two of them hadnt caught up, Xiaoxiao nced outside the carriage and held her forehead. What was the situation with these two? They had been finding fault with each other all day long. They werent in a hurry, but she was anxious to get home. Thus, she yelled outside, "You two hurry up." Upon hearing Xiaoxiaos words, Chu Lian snatched the luggage and quickly walked to the front of the carriage, followed briskly by Wang Xiangxiang. Chu Lian helped to ce the luggage properly, and Wang Xiangxiang also got onto the carriage. Seeing the three of them on the carriage, Chu Lian also wanted to get on, but he heard Yang Ming and Chu Lian saying their farewells. "Mr. Chu, thank you for today. We will be on our way then." "Big Brother Chu, were leaving first." Hearing such words, Chu Lian found no reason to follow them and was about to say goodbye when he heard the shrewish womans words. "Let hime too. On the road, in case of an emergency, a man is stronger than us two women," she said. Hearing Wang Xiangxiang say this, Xiaoxiao thought it made sense. Her cheap husband could encounter an ident at any time, and having an extra person meant extra help, so she agreed, "Mr. Chu, then well trouble you to join us." Chu Lian looked at Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao, and seeing that they sincerely wanted him toe aboard, he agreed and got into the carriage. After closing the carriage door, Wang Xiangxiang opened the small window at the front and told the coachman, "Lets go." "Yes, miss," the coachman replied with a "Giddy-up!" and the carriage started with a jolt. The four of them just happened to be sitting facing each other, with Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao sitting together, and Chu Lian opposite Wang Xiangxiang. Once on the carriage, Chu Lian was full of disdain. He didnt want to sit with this shrewish woman at all, but due to the arrangement of the seats, he had no choice but to squeeze as far as possible towards the edge of the seat. He didnt know why the shrewish woman insisted on him getting in the carriage, but when she spoke those words, her expression was one of smugness, and he couldnt shake the feeling that she was plotting something mischievous. Wang Xiangxiang saw everything about Chu Lians behavior, thinking he wanted to sit next to her? She would have preferred to be eight feet away from him, shifting towards the edge of the seat like she was avoiding something dirty. Xiaoxiao was indifferent to the antics of the two of them. They could do whatever they liked. All her attention was now on her cheap husband. "Husband, are you tired? Why dont you lie down?" "Im not tired." Xiaoxiao had already assumed the position to let Yang Ming lie on herp, patting her thigh, "Hurry, rest on my legs, it will be morefortable." Seeing Yang Ming not moving, she even tugged at him. Unable to refuse her, he reluctantlyy down on his wifesp. Xiaoxiao, treating him like a child, coaxed him, gently patting his chest, "If youre tired, sleep. Ill sing a song for you." "Hmm." The distance between us seems sometimes far and near Even though youre not by my side, I feel you close Theres a feeling I want to convey The secret in my heart, the sweetness youve given me The distance between us seems to be closing bit by bit Could it be that you also have a special feeling for me? I hesitate whether to tell you My hearts secret, I think Im starting to like you ... ... Chapter 337: The Buddy Across Is Already Stunned

Chapter 337: Chapter 337: The Buddy Across Is Already Stunned

With such lyrics, how could Yang Ming find sleep? Was the song specially sung for him by his wife? Was his wife telling him that her secret was that she liked him? He really wanted to ask, but given there were other people in the car, he had to hold back. His heart pounded fiercely, causing his breathing to be unsteady again. Seeing her husband start to breathe unevenly again, Xiaoxiao immediately stopped singing and asked anxiously, "Husband, whats wrong? Are you having trouble breathing again?" Yang Mings face turned red at the question. He didnt dare admit that it was her lyrics that had thrown him into this state. He gasped and said, "Im fine." Xiaoxiao, unaware of the real reason, thought his flushed face meant he couldnt breathe again. Without thinking, she took a deep breath, leaned down, and performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Yang Ming. Shocked by the situation, Yang Ming had no idea how to react and just let Xiaoxiao continue. After a few moments, Xiaoxiao sat up and asked, "Husband, how do you feel? Better now?" "Yes, much better." He felt the air his wife had passed to him, understanding her intentionit was just like she had revived him that morning. But their little friend across the way didnt know that, and now sat therepletely dumbfounded, alright! Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang hadpletely not expected Xiaoxiao to be so bold as to kiss Yang Ming a second time right in front of them, and the kiss seemed never-ending. And the song just now, the lyrics made it clear: she was telling Yang Ming that she liked him. Seeing this scene, Chu Lian was heartbroken but couldnt speak out. Why did he have to witness this scene? He deeply regretted getting in the car. Thinking of getting in the car reminded him of Xiangxiangs sly smile. Could this have been her intention? He looked toward Xiangxiang and saw her staring back at him with a smug look on her face. So that was it; his feelings had been found out by Xiangxiang. It was all on purpose, to make him see Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao so affectionate, to make him heartbroken and upset. Seeing him vexed made Xiangxiang happy? At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang did indeed have a proud smile on her face. Chu Lian guessed correctlyit was what she intended. Initially, she had wanted the shameless man to follow and see Xiaoxiaos newly decorated bridal roomnot to mention picking on him, but she hadnt expected Xiaoxiao to cooperate, torturing him right in the car. Wang Xiangxiang was overjoyed to see him in utter heartbreak, her triumphant grin disyed for all to see, and when Chu Lian looked her way, she sent back a challenging gaze. Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs smug expression, Chu Lian was furious. If she was making things hard for him, hed do the same for her. Before anyone could react, he moved quickly towards Wang Xiangxiang, held her head down, and kissed her directly on the mouth. "Woof! Mmm!" Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened. She tried to push him away, ilingbut his strength was great, and he kept her head under control. Chu Lian was still smirking, d to have caught her off guard, but upon opening his eyes, he saw tears swimming in Xiangxiangs eyes. His heart lurchedwhat was he doing? He had kissed another woman right in front of Xiaoxiao. He quickly let go of her. Sitting across from them, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao were also stunned. Really now? Yang Ming: What is Brother Chu doing? Doesnt he like Xiaoxiao? Xiaoxiao: What exactly did she miss? When did these two get together? Chapter 338: I Told You to Get Out of the Car, Right Now

Chapter 338: Chapter 338: I Told You to Get Out of the Car, Right Now

The released Xiangxiang, her face covered in tears and her whole body trembling with anger, opened the carriage window. "Stop the carriage." Hearing the order from their young miss, the coachman immediately called for a halt, "Whoa." After the carriage stopped, Xiangxiang stood up, opened the carriage door, and pointed in the direction of the door, shouting furiously at Chu Lian, "Get out." Seeing Xiangxiangs demeanor, Chu Lian was stunned. He had indeed gone too far just now, how could he kiss her? Wasnt that tainting the purity of ady? Anyone would be angry in her ce. Seeing Chu Lian unmoved, she grabbed his clothes and, using all her strength, dragged him towards the outside of the carriage, "I told you to get out, right now." "Fine, Ill get out, let go of me." Chu Lian didnt know how to face this wilful girl anymore. Although hed been approached by many women before, he had never lost control like this. It must have been the agitation from Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming that made him act out today, it had to be. He was about to get out of the carriage when he heard Xiaoxiaos words. "Young Master Chu, wait a moment." Xiaoxiao saw that they had already traveled halfway and thought that if she really let him get out now, he would have to walk back. Besides, by the looks of these two, there was definitely something fishy going on. Actually, in terms of family status and age, they were quite well-matched, but she didnt know whether Chu Lian was already married or not? "Sister Wang, dont let him get out. Were already halfway there. If we make him get out now, hell have to walk all the way back." Xiangxiang sat unmoved, "Thats what he deserves." "Yes, he deserves it, but look at this wilderness. What if something happens to him while hes alone?" "If something happens, even better. Ill collect his corpse." "..." Xiangxiang was truly angry, and there was no point continuing the conversation. "Theres no need to plead for me, Im getting out now." Chu Lian didnt want to stay in the carriage any longer, nor did he know how to deal with the wilful girl anymore. Seeing the deadlock between the two, Yang Ming had to step in to support his wife. "Miss Wang, could you do me a favor and let him stay? He only got onto the carriage because of me. If he gets out now and something happens, I wouldnt know how to exin it to his family." "..." Chu Lian was speechless upon hearing this. What were Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming thinking? They acted as if he would definitely meet with an ident if he got out. Couldnt they wish for something good for him? Xiangxiang looked at Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming, deep in thought. Allowing him to get out now would indeed let him off too easily; she wanted revenge. They could just bring him along to witness Xiaoxiao and her husbands affectionate rtionship. The more she thought about it, the more she felt this was the only way to alleviate the hatred in her heart. Thus, she returned to her seat and said to Chu Lian, "Arent you going to close the carriage door quickly?" "..." Chu Lian could only feel that today was an exceptionally unlucky day; no one had ever spoken to him with such an attitude beforeshe was the first. Xiaoxiao smiled at her cheap husband. It seemed her husband had a way. She turned to Chu Lian and winked, "What are you waiting for? Close the door quickly, the carriage is about to leave." "..." Chu Lian was speechless, as if they assumed he didnt want to leave. But under such circumstances, if he left the carriage now, he would seem persistently bothersome, so he shut the carriage door and returned to his seat. The carriage moved on, with Xiangxiang still sitting there, puffed up with anger, Xiaoxiao immediately gave Chu Lian a meaningful look and mouthed to him, "Apologize quickly." Seeing Xiaoxiaos gestures and lip movements, he looked at Xiangxiang and, despite his reluctance, still said, "Im sorry. This will never happen again, I promise." Chapter 339: No One Will Disturb You at Night

Chapter 339: Chapter 339: No One Will Disturb You at Night

Apologies were useless, as a forced kiss was still a forced kiss, unforgivable. She had taken a stand against him, and this matter was far from over. Wang Xiangxiang didnt reply, contemting a thousand and one ways to get back at him in her mind. Due to the awkwardness between Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian, the few people inside the carriage felt embarrassed until they arrived at Yang Mings home. As soon as the carriage stopped at the doorstep, it alerted the family members who were having dinner. Seeing Yang Ming being helped out of the carriage, everyone rushed over. "What happened to the third son?" Yang Mings father asked anxiously. "Dad, I was smoked out at the academy, I need to recover at home for a while," Xiaoxiao quickly exined the situation to everyone sinctly. "Smoked out, is that serious, how bad is it?" "Dad, dont worry, look at me, Im fine. Just need to rest for a few days," Yang Ming reassured the family, putting their minds at ease, "lets get inside and rest." Under Xiaoxiaos lead, Yang Ming was helped into the house by Chu Lian. As soon as Xiaoxiao entered the room, she flung the peanuts arranged in the shape of "I LOVE YOU" from the kang bed to one side, and then pulled back the quilt, "Get on the kang and lie down." Yang Ming was startled by the scene in front of him. Was this still his home? Why was the whole room so red, like a bridal chamber? Chu Lian was even more shocked and at a loss. Was this really the home of Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao? Filled with the ambiance of a bridal chamber, had they been living in such an atmosphere for a few months? Wang Xiangxiang was looking quite smug, proud of her own contributions to this setup. The family members who came inter were utterly dumbfounded. Was this the surprise that their daughter-inw had promised for the third son? No wonder she was so secretive, not letting them help with the kang ore near this room. Xiaoxiao was not concerned with everyones reactions. Once Yang Ming had taken off his coat and slipped under the covers, "You lie down first, Ill go heat up the kang." She was seriously regretting her decision now. In order to maintain the surprise and keep people from entering her room, she now had to boil water and heat the kang with Yang Ming back. "Daughter-inw of the third son, leave the kang to me, you stay with the third son," her mother-inw insisted. "Right, you stay with the third son, your mother will take care of the kang," Xiaoxiao really wanted to stay with her nominal husband, so she readily agreed, "Okay, thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom." "Dad, this is my ssmate Chu Lian, please take him and Miss Wang to have dinner first. They have been busy all day because of me," "Master Chu, Miss Wang, we really appreciate your help. Come, follow me to the other room for dinner," Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang both responded in unison, disying an oddly harmonious tacit understanding. "No need to thank us," "No need to thank us," After speaking, they exchanged a nce and then looked away from each other in disdain. Yang Mings father led the family members out, reminding Xiaoxiao on his way out, "Let your sister-inw bring the food overter. I will make sure the family is aware of the situation, and no one will disturb you tonight, so dont worry." "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless. In such a situation, did her father-inw really think they could do anything tonight? However, she indeed did not want anyone to disturb them. "As for our two esteemed guests, rest assured, Dad will take care of everything," she addressed them. After following Yang Mings father out to eat, Chu Lian kept thinking about what he had said. They werent allowed to disturb them tonight, but what were they supposed to do in the evening? Soon after, his sister-inw brought in the dinner, and his mother-inw had already heated the kang as instructed by Yang Mings father before leaving, leaving only Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming together. Xiao Xiao moved the kang table over, arranged the meals, and then heard her nominal husband say, "Wife, after we eat, I have something to tell you." Chapter 340: Let’s Go See What They’re Up To

Chapter 340: Chapter 340: Lets Go See What Theyre Up To

What could her cheap husband possibly want to talk to her about? Could it be the confession she was anticipating? Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "Sure, lets eat. Do you need me to feed you?" "No need, Ive recovered quite a bit and can eat by myself now." His wife was treating him like an invalid; he wasnt that weak yet. The two ate quietly, both pondering how to broach the subject and say what they had been longing to express. After finishing their meals, Xiaoxiao stood up to clean the dishes. Once she had washed everything in the outer room, she brought in a basin of water and toiletries. "Husband, you go ahead and freshen up. We can talk about anythingter when were lying on the kang," Xiaoxiao thought. Seeing that he could eat on his own, she figured washing up shouldnt be a problem either. Yang Ming felt that his wife made sense. He should freshen up first, as his wife liked cleanliness, so he agreed. "These are new underpants and pajamas Ive prepared for you. Put them on after youre done; Im going to freshen up in the outer room now." Xiaoxiao ced the clothes on the edge of the kang and left. His wife had even prepared new clothes for him? Yang Ming felt a warm glow inside. Picking up the clothes, he noticed that the underpants were red, with the word wife awkwardly embroidered on them. Definitely a personal touch from his wife. Why did she embroider her name on his underpants? Looking around at the newly decorated room, the table was covered with a red cloth, adorned with festive candles. The kang was topped with a bright red quilt that looked like a wedding nket, and the pillows embroidered with husband and wife seemed toe in pairs. And there was the red gauze canopy. Everything seemed to suggest that this was a bridal chamber meticulously prepared. But most importantly, he saw two sets of wedding clothesid out on the quilt. The kiss his wife had initiated during the day, the song she had sung for him, all made him feel like she was telling him through her actions that she liked him. If that was the case, he couldnt hold back. He had to be the one to speak up firstter. After dinner in the main house, Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiangs coachman were arranged to stay in Yang Dongs room, while Wang Xiangxiang was ced in Yang Qius room with Xiaoqiu and the Embroiderer. Everyone went to their respective rooms after eating. Wang Xiangxiang, thinking of her vengeance n against the scoundrel who had forcibly kissed her, decided to start with the first step. So she approached Yang Dongs room. Chu Lian heard the knocking and thought it was Old Master Yang with some instructions, so he got up to open the door. But instead, he was met with the peevish girls face, and he said impatiently, "What do you want?" Wang Xiangxiang sneered, "Of course, Im here for a reason." "What is it? Speak up, Im going to bed." "Come out; its about Xiaoxiao." As soon as Chu Lian heard it concerned Xiaoxiao, he followed her outside, curious about what mischief she was up to. Once in the courtyard, he asked, "Whats up with Xiaoxiao?" Wang Xiangxiang, with a sly smile, said, "Dont you want to know what Xiaoxiao and her husband are doing in their room?" "..." Of course, he did; he really didnt want the two of them alone together, but what could he do? They were married. "Lets go listen to what theyre doing," she suggested. Wang Xiangxiang knew that Xiaoxiao would surely confess her feelings that night, and she wanted the scoundrel to eavesdrop. Once he heard Xiaoxiaos confession, he would surely die of heartbreak, achieving her goal. "..." Chu Lian hadnt expected the capricious girl to be wicked enough to consider eavesdropping. Could she really be interested in Yang Ming? At this moment, Chu Lians mind wasnt sharp, "Do you like Yang Ming?" Chapter 341: The Eavesdropping Quartet

Chapter 341: Chapter 341: The Eavesdropping Quartet

Wang Xiangxiang was petrified upon hearing these words. What was going on in this shameless mans head? Could he still not figure out who she was? "I dont share your taste for liking a friends wife." "..." Was that sarcasm? Sure enough, she had seen through him, "Youre Xiaoxiaos friend?" "..." Wang Xiangxiang held her forehead with both hands. Was he only realizing it now? Chu Lian truly didnt know who Wang Xiangxiang was. That day at the Silver Pavilion, he was too engrossed in watching Xiaoxiao to notice anyone else around her. Today, as they happened upon each other and went to the Academy together, seeing her cry at the news of Yang Mings survival, he assumed she was someone from Yang Mings side. He didnt realize she was actually Xiaoxiaos friend. "Are we going to eavesdrop or not? Make up your mind," Wang Xiangxiang urged him. The reason she had sought out this rascal was partly to get revenge on him and partly because she was incredibly curious about Xiaoxiaos confession. It wouldnt be proper for her to eavesdrop alone; she needed someone to take the me. Chu Lian was in mental turmoil. He truly couldnt sleep, constantly thinking about what might be happening in Yang Mings room, fearful that it was as he imagined. Just the thought of those two living together made his heart ache. In the end, his inner demons won, "Lets go." Wang Xiangxiang was thrilled upon hearing thisa part of her delighted by the sess of her scheme, knowing the scoundrel would be heartbroken soon, and another part excited to finally have someone to join her in eavesdropping. The two of them crept silently to the window ledge of Yang Ming and Xiaoxiaos room, crouching and listening intently to the sounds inside, their actions incredibly stealthy. Inside the second eldests room of the Yang Family When Yang Gang entered the room, he saw his wife with her ear pressed up against the wall. "Wife, what are you doing?" The second sons wife immediately gestured to him, "Shh! Keep it down." "Im listening to whats happening in the third brothers room." "..." His wife always had too much free time. Whatever could she find so interesting, "Wife, with the third brother in that condition, there wouldnt be anything worthwhile. Definitely nothing going on." While speaking, Yang Gang tried to pull her away from the wall, but his wife pped his hand and retorted, "Didnt you see how the sister-inw decorated their room? Theres definitely something fishy. Arent you curious?" After some thought, Yang Gang, the second son, found his wifes point quite convincing. Considering the bright red decoration in their room and their understanding of the sister-inw, she must be up to something big, "But if they are just talking, you wont be able to hear them this way." Upon hearing this, the second sons wife smacked her thigh, "Right, lets go outside under the window to listen and find out what theyre really saying." Seeing his wife determined to go, Yang Gang immediately pulled her back, "Dont go, what would it look like if a brother and sister-inw eavesdrop on their younger brother? It would be embarrassing if we got caught." The wife of the second son gave Yang Gang a reassuring look, "Its dark already, its just us, no one will find out, dont worry." So the two of them did indeed open the door to go out. That creaking noise startled Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang, who were huddled below. Wang Xiangxiang clung tightly to Chu Lians arm, her lips pressed together, fearful of being discovered. When Yang Gang and his wife stepped outside, tiptoeing towards the window of the third brothers room, they faintly saw two figures below. As they spotted each other, the two hiding also spotted them. All of them froze. Chu Lian quickly crept over, and although its unclear what they murmured among themselves, the three of them crept back together. The four of them, in unspoken agreement, crouched down, trying to make no noise at all, their ears perked up, awaiting the sounds from inside the room. Chapter 342 I’m willing! I’m willing! I’m willing!

Chapter 342: Chapter 342 Im willing! Im willing! Im willing!

Inside the house Xiaoxiao, having washed up in the other room, also changed into the matching couple-style underwear and pajamas like her affordable hubbie. She entered the room and saw Yang Ming, who had changed into his pajamas. He looked quite handsome wearing this modern style of pajamas. She twirled around in front of Yang Ming, showing off the outfit she wore, and asked with a smile, "Do I look good?" Yang Ming saw his wife in the same clothes as him and was overjoyed. His wife had once exined the meaning of couples underwear to him, and he thought that these two sets of clothes must also signify a pair. He said fondly, "You look beautiful." "Ill take these out first and be right back." As Xiaoxiao spoke, she took away her affordable hubbies toiletries. Yang Ming stood there, clutching the box that contained the rings tightly in his hand, his palms sweating from nervousness. He thought that when his wife came in, he would give it to her and tell her that he had always liked her. In fact, Xiaoxiao in the other room was also quite unsettled because she was preparing to confess her feelings. She wanted to give him a different kind of confession. Her heartbeat sped up a bit. She held the ring box she had prepared in advance in her hand, mentally cheering herself up countless times. Finally, she took a deep breath and opened the door to the inner room. Upon hearing the door open, Yang Mings heartbeat suddenly sped up. His wife wasing in, and he was about to speak his mind. He looked up nervously at his wife, just about to speak, when her singing interrupted him. He saw his wife holding something in her hand, slowly walking toward him, singing as she walked: I like you, your enchanting eyes Your thoughtful expression, your pleasant voice In my heart, youre the only one No one else can rece you I like you, your subtle mncholy Your naughty temper, your sweet words I love you; Im utterly devoted Through thick and thin, Im willing to love you At this moment, Yang Ming was overwhelmed with excitement. He heard his own heart beating wildly as his wifes singing kept conveying to him that she liked him. His affection finally had a response, and he too wanted to convey his feelings to her, "My wife..." But before he could speak, his wifes hand covered his mouth. "Husband, let me finish speaking first." Seeing his wifes serious eyes, he nodded slightly, letting her continue. "Im willing to be your wife. From today onwards, to have and to hold each other, to support each other, through good times and bad, wealth and poverty, sickness and health, to love and cherish each other, until death do us part." "Do you take this woman before you? To love and be faithful to me, whether in poverty, illness, or disability, until death, do you?" At this moment, the two gazed lovingly into each others eyes, the room was so quiet that you could almost hear each others heartbeats. Yet faced with such a heartfelt confession, the affordable hubbie showed no reaction, which nearly made Xiaoxiao doubt herself. Had she misunderstood? Just as she was puzzled, Yang Ming pulled her into an embrace and excitedly eximed three times, "I do, I do, I do." Seeing her affordable hubbies excited reaction, Xiaoxiaoughed. Finally, they hadmunicated their feelings to each other. She wrapped her arms around her affordable hubbies waist, her head pressing tightly against his chest, responding to his embrace. The two hugged each other tightly, neither wanting to let go. "My wife, I like you, Ive always liked you." "Mhm, I know." "My wife, I want to be with you forever." "Mhm, me too." Chapter 343: Please Put the Ring That Belongs to Your Lady on Her Finger.

Chapter 343: Chapter 343: Please Put the Ring That Belongs to Your Lady on Her Finger.

The beginning of spring nights were chilly, and the quartet of eavesdroppers outside had frozen into sorry states, finally hearing some activity from inside the house. The quartet had formed because they had mutuallypromising information on each other, and eavesdropping wasnt something nice to share, so they had to unite their front. Yang Gang and his wife were purely there for some fun. But for Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian, it was different as they listened to the singing that drifted over. Chu Lians heart was in agony. The girl he admired was singing a song she liked to another man. Though the song was melodious, it was incredibly jarring to him. Wang Xiangxiang, on the other hand, was utterly enchanted. Xiaoxiaos singing was truly captivating, as though she could put herself into the scene. When the singing stopped, they faintly heard Xiaoxiaos impassioned confession. Wang Xiangxiang was so nervous she felt like dying, as if Xiaoxiao was confessing to her. She gripped Chu Lians arm tightly, her mind repeatedly chanting, Say yes to her, just say you are willing. At this moment, Chu Lian was in so much pain that he didnt even notice Wang Xiangxiang gripping his arm. His brain was in a fog, hearing the woman he liked confessing her love to another man, and that man was his brother. His heart felt thoroughly dead. Yang Mings momentary pause heightened the tension among the eavesdropping quartet outside. Suddenly, they heard Yang Ming loudly eximing "I am willing," not just once but three times, which really startled the quartet outside, nearly causing them to make a noise. Chu Lian promptly covered Wang Xiangxiangs mouth, and Yang Gang quickly did the same to his wife, preventing them from revealing their presence. "Wife, I have a gift for you." "Husband, I have a gift for you." Their simultaneous derationssurprised them both, and they reluctantly let go of each other before presenting their long-held boxes to one another. "This..." "This..." Both were shocked when they saw two identical boxes meant as gifts for each other. Xiaoxiao smiled, "You go first." Yang Ming opened the box, "This is a pair of rings, symbolizing my readiness to support you and spend a lifetime together." Xiaoxiao saw the rings in the box, which were in fact the other pair she had designed for the Silver Pavilion. She never expected her dear husband to buy them, thinking how strange and wonderful fate could be. Xiaoxiao opened the box she was holding, "This is a pair of rings, meant to signify my desire to be by your side forever, for better or worse." Yang Ming was surprised to see the rings, having been told by Xiaoer at the Silver Pavilion that, due to the rush, aside from the unique set given to the designer herself, only the pair in his hands was crafted. He looked at his wife, realizing now that these rings were her design, which exined why the size felt so perfectit was, indeed, their exact size. The couple looked deeply into each others eyes. Xiaoxiao suddenly extended her left hand, "Now, please ce the ring that belongs to your wife onto her finger." "Which one should I put on?" "Of course, the one my husband has given." Yang Ming took the ring from the box and ced it on his wifes finger, fitting just right. After Xiaoxiao put on her ring, she took out the other mens ring and ced it on her dear husband as well. The couple extended their hands, showing the rings that symbolized their love, then sped hands tightly together, their eyes brimming with delightedughter. Chapter 344: Now, You May Kiss Your Bride

Chapter 344: Chapter 344: Now, You May Kiss Your Bride

The atmosphere inside the room was continuously splendid, and everything was falling into ce. Xiaoxiao slowly closed her eyelids, "Now, you can kiss your bride." Upon hearing these words, Yang Ming, seeing his wife close her eyes, suddenly remembered. There had been such a moment a few days ago when his wife had meant for him to kiss her, and he had not understood! He excitedly lowered his head, just about to kiss his wife, when suddenly a scream came from outside. The eavesdropping quartet outside had been holding their breath, listening to the noises inside the room. When they heard Xiaoxiao say, "Now you can kiss your bride," Chu Lian could no longer bear it. For him, this was too cruel. He would have preferred to remain unaware. Without thinking, he suddenly stood up, intending to flee, but in doing so, he startled Wang Xiangxiang, who screamed, "Ah." Realizing they had been exposed, Wang Xiangxiang covered her mouth with both hands immediately, while Chu Lian turned around, looked at this foolish and silly woman, and pointed at her angrily, "You!" "It was all because you suddenly stood up." Xiaoxiao, inside the room, upon hearing themotion outside, realized someone was eavesdropping and quickly opened the door and ran out to see the eavesdropping quartet beneath the window. Spotting that they had been exposed, everyone was extremely embarrassed. "Younger sister-inw, you all continue. Your second brother and I will go back to sleep," said the old second. Old Seconds wife immediately pulled Yang Gang back to their room quickly and shut the door. Xiaoxiao looked at Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang. She genuinely hadnt expected to find Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang eavesdropping; they didnt seem like such people. Wang Xiangxiang bowed her head as if she hadmitted a grave error, "Xiaoxiao, Im very sorry." Chu Lian gave an awkward smile, red at Wang Xiangxiang, and was left speechless. Seeing the two still hadnt left, Xiaoxiao was speechless. They had been caught, so what were they waiting for? "Why dont you leave? Do you still want to keep watching?" "Well leave right away." Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang ran off like a shot, not even waiting for Chu Lian. Chu Lian couldnt run off like Wang Xiangxiang and had to walk back to his room withrge, awkward steps. With the eavesdropping quartet gone, Xiaoxiaos face turned slightly red, and she chuckled. She hadnt anticipated bing a subject of eavesdropping herself. Inside the smoke-filled room, Yang Mings breath was very weak. Just being able to hold on that long had already been his limit. Seeing his wife step out, he immediately sat at the edge of the bed, trying to regte his breathing. When Xiaoxiao returned, she saw her makeshift husband sitting there, gasping for air, and quickly went over, "Husband,e and lie down on the bed." She was truly regretting it now. Knowing well that his health was fragile, she had still carried on with such a long confession. Yang Ming also felt deep regret. If he had epted Wang Kuis request to stay over the previous night, his health wouldnt have deteriorated like this today, and perhaps he could have consummated his marriage with his wife. But now, he couldnt do anything but obediently follow her instructions and lie down on the bed. The moment hey down, he kept staring at his wife. He watched as she lowered the red canopy and climbed into the bed, lifting the nket he was under and lying down beside him. This was the first time his wife had taken the initiative to join him under his nket. Everything about today felt like a dream, so unreal. He looked at his wife, feeling never tired of looking, his eyes filled with happiness. Chapter 345: So, Can I Kiss My Lady Now?

Chapter 345: Chapter 345: So, Can I Kiss My Lady Now?

Xiaoxiao, lying on the kang bed, turned to the side and naturally wrapped her arm around her bargain husbands waist, her small head leaning against him, "Husband, I love you!" Yang Ming also naturally extended his arm for his wife to use as a pillow and his hand, following suit, wrapped around his wifes waist. He had embraced his wife like this before, but this time his state of mind and feelings werepletely different. His breathing was alreadybored due to the smoke, but he felt like today, with all the surprises from his wife, he was about to breathe hisst. Xiaoxiao tightened her grip around her bargain husbands hand, "Very much, very much, love means more than liking." Hearing this, Yang Ming turned to the side, holding his wife tightly against him, their bodies pressed closely together, "Wife, I also love you very much, very much." Xiaoxiaos face flushed with shyness, buried in her bargain husbands chest, she felt like she was blissful as a little woman at this moment. "Husband, when did you realize you liked me?" This is probably a question every woman wants to know. "..." When? Perhaps it was the smile she gave over her shoulder, but he really noticed it when she spoke of divorce, "From the time you mentioned divorce." Divorce? That was a very long time ago; they had only been together for a few days back then. So, he had fallen in love with her first, this fool, and he had hidden it for so long without saying a word. "Then when did you realize you liked me?" Yang Ming also wanted to know when his wife began to like himwas it during the days away from home recently? "From thest time you left without saying goodbye." Yang Ming was surprised; thest time she left without saying goodbye was just after the New Year, wasnt it? That was over a month ago, so what about the two times she had rejected his approaches since then? He wanted to know, so he said, "Wife, I have expressed my feelings to you before..." "Im sorry, I didnt understand what the kite meant. Later, Sister Wang told me." So, his wife didnt understand his gesture and it wasnt a rejection, "And thest time?" "There was another time? When was that?" Xiaoxiao was surprised. Could it be that her bargain husband had confessed at another time? "It was when we walked home on a night walk for the first time, the time I carried you." Xiaoxiao tried hard to recall that incident. She remembered that after getting home, her bargain husband was inexplicably angry, and she was puzzled then. Now she understood that he was upset because he didnt get a response from her. "That time, I was asleep and had no idea." So that was it; his wife hadnt rejected him but had fallen asleep. "Husband." "Hmm?" "Can you tell me whats on your mind directly in the future, without going around in circles? Im not smart, its not that I dont respond, its that I really dont understand." Its not that his wife was dense, it was he who was truly slow, so slow in expressing his feelings, which had led to this, "Yes, its all my fault." "Its all your fault, causing us to miss out on so much time," Xiaoxiao yfully jabbed her bargain husband in the chest. Yang Ming caught the hand that yfully hit his chest and ced it on his own chest, "me me, me me, then, may I now kiss my wife?" This forwardness from her bargain husband caused Xiaoxiao to be taken aback; he really could initiate such words, "Have you caught your breath yet..." Before she could finish speaking, Yang Mings lips sealed hers, causing her to involuntarily let out a yelp, "Mhm!" Chapter 346: I’m Not Well Educated, Don’t Deceive Me

Chapter 346: Chapter 346: Im Not Well Educated, Dont Deceive Me

Xiaoxiaos arms felt as if they were cradling a rabbit, her heart thumping nonstop. This was the first time her beloved husband had kissed her of his own ord. She was so happy, she loved him and hoped he would kiss her. She then closed her eyes, ready to wee this kiss that symbolized love. But to her surprise, her husband merely sealed her lips with his without any further action. Time seemed to freeze before he released her lips. "Thats it." "..." Thats it? Dont fool me just because I am less educated, is that also called a kiss? Could it be that her husband didnt know how to kiss? Well, she wasnt very good at it either, but was this touch-and-go what he really intended? She wanted to go in for another kiss, but she was afraid his body couldnt take it, so she gave up. After all, there was plenty of time in the future. Her husband was surely hers now; he couldnt escape. After the kiss, Yang Ming felt very pleased, a warm current brushed through his heart, sweet as honey. At this moment, he was unaware that his kissing skills had been criticized by his wife. He then hugged his wife tightly, as if he were holding a treasure, "Wife, thank you." "Hmm?" Xiaoxiao, being held, tilted her little head to look up at him. "Thank you for everything youve prepared for me." Compared to his wife, he felt ashamed. Hecked so much. Seeing the transformed room and the ring his wife had prepared, he realized she must have put a lot of thought and time into this. But he had done nothing himself, and even the deration of love had firste from her. He hugged his wife even tighter, filled with love andpassion. He resolved to pamper her, cherish her, cherish her endlessly. "Husband, so do you find it surprising? Are you happy?" So what he was thanking her for was all because he loved her, and she wanted to make him happy. Who cares who confessed first, as long as they were sweetly happy together. "Yes, surprising, happy." "Hehe, and this is all simplified, if it werent for..." Xiaoxiao had indeed prepared other things, but what could be done? Her husband had juste back from the Gate of Hell, and really shouldnt be overstrained. "So what would it have been if not simplified? What else was there?" Yang Ming was eager to know what else his wife had nned? "Like drinking nuptial wine, eating longevity noodles, anyway, all ording to the wedding customs. Didnt you see I made this room look like a bridal chamber?" At these words, Yang Mings body noticeably stiffened, ming himself. He too yearned to consummate their marriage. He suddenly flipped over and pinned his wife beneath him, "Wife." "Stop messing around, do you want to die?" Xiaoxiao was exasperated, shoving Yang Ming back. This man was even struggling to breathe, and yet he thought to press down on her? Was he not afraid of really losing his life! Besides, a person who couldnt even kiss properly, how could he manage the wedding night? Yang Ming, pushed back, felt utterly miserable. His current physical state truly did not permit such actions, and because he couldnt embrace his wife, he unexpectedly sighed aloud, "Sigh!" "Hehe." Xiaoxiao chuckled, then cozied her little head closer to her husbands face. "" Chapter 347: Honey, I’ve Got a Secret to Tell You

Chapter 347: Chapter 347: Honey, Ive Got a Secret to Tell You

Yang Ming was clearly stunned upon hearing this. What was his wife talking about? What was she giving him? A momentter, he seemed to understandwas his wife referring to consummating their marriage? Excitement surged within him as he turned to look at his wife, her little head hidden under the covers, clearly shy. His wife was truly endearing. Xiaoxiao, with her head tucked under the nket, felt her cheeks burning, the heat extending down to her neck. She couldnt believe she had said such a shameless thingshe couldnt show her face now. Yang Ming looked at his wife with a smile. He pulled the nket down a little to reveal his wifes head, then wrapped his arms around her from behind. "Wife, dont worry, Ill be well in a few days." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiaos face, already hot, felt like it was boiling. This husband of hers... really... "Husband, lets sleep, you need rest." If they continued talking, she felt her heart couldnt take it. This whole day had been like a roller coaster for herso up and down. She was heartbroken when she saw her casual husband in the morning, then ecstatic and overjoyed to see him alive, and now she felt so sweetly shy she could die. "Mm, wife, I love you!" Yang Ming felt that, if the conversation continued, his own breathing would be unstable. His wife had been stimting him all day, and his heart was beating furiously. Reluctantly, he agreed to get some rest and go to sleep. Xiaoxiao couldnt help butugh out loud when she heard her casual husbands slightly incorrect pronunciation of "I love you." "Pfft!" He was really great. Ever since that time, her casual husband had never forgotten to say that phrase to her before sleep, warming her heart. Should she tell him? "..." Yang Ming was baffled at his wifesughter. Why did she alwaysugh every time he said that phrase to her? "Husband, let me tell you a secret." "Mm? You have a secret?" Yang Ming affectionately hugged his wife closer. "I LOVE YOU actually means I love you. Yang Ming had long known that I love you was definitely not a mere goodnight greeting; otherwise, his wife wouldntugh every time. But he had never expected that I love you actually meant I love you. His wife had hinted at him long ago, hoping he would say that phrase to her. Why couldnt he, who had liked his wife for so long, just say it outright? He was truly both foolish and clumsy. "Could husband and wife have other meanings too?" "Hehe, did you discover that?" Xiaoxiaoughed. Since that was the case, she might as well tell him everything. Knowing the truth would surely make him very happy. "..." Indeed, there were other implicationsperhaps it was like what he had originally thought. "Does it mean husband and wife as in the traditional sense?" "Husband, youre so clever. Yes, it means just husband and wife in the traditional sense." How many more surprises was his wife going to give him? It turned out that, long ago, his wife had already acknowledged him as her husband. Delight spread across his face, and without realizing it, he tooughed out. "Hehe!" "..." It was the first time she had heard himugh out loud. It seemed he was truly happy. "Husband, you shouldnt always have just one expression. You shouldugh when youre happy, you know?" "Mhm, hehe!" "Hehe!" The two of themughed softly under the nket, both feeling utterly sweet. "Husband, lets sleep. I LOVE YOU" "Mm, sleep, I love you." Chapter 348: Wife, You’re So Good

Chapter 348: Chapter 348: Wife, Youre So Good

The two of them embraced each other in sleep until the next morning when Xiaoxiao, still drowsy, opened her eyes and saw her husbands face up close and erged, gazing at her with those charming eyes. She immediately closed her eyes again, pondering in her mind, What is my husband doing staring at me like this? I dont have any bad habits, do I? Like talking in my sleep, grinding my teeth, or snoring? Oh, please no. She opened her eyes again and saw that her husband was still staring at her. She smiled sheepishly and called out sweetly, "Husband." "Wife, have you woken up?" In fact, Yang Ming had been awake for a while now, but he just wanted to hold his wife and watch her sleep. This was, after all, the first time he could openly sleep with his wife in his arms without having to sneak away in the morning. "What time is it now?" Xiaoxiao nced outside and then asked. "The hour of Si." "What?" Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao immediately got up to find her clothes. They had slept inte, while there were guests like Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian at home. Moreover, today was Yang Wei and Hehuas wedding day, yet nobody hade to wake them up. This was really... It really proved what her father-inw had said, Dont worry, no one will disturb you. There truly was no disturbance. Seeing his wife getting up in such a hurry, Yang Ming quickly said, "Wife, dont rush. Mother came by this morning to say that we dont need to go to Yang Weis ce. Ive also taken my medicine." "..." Mother came by? How soundly had she slept? Could it be because she was so exhausted from the day before? With a ng, Xiaoxiao grabbed her clothes and rushed out the door to change in another room. Seeing his wife still in such a hurry, Yang Ming called out to her, "Breakfast is also taken care of by Mother. Shes kept it warm in the pot for you, so you really dont need to hurry." After getting dressed, Xiaoxiao brought Yang Ming his washing utensils. "Husband, hurry and get ready. Sister Wang and Master Chu are still at our ce. Its embarrassing for us to be up sote," she said. Taking his toiletries, Yang Ming spoke while washing his face, "You dont have to worry about those two either; theyve already gone to Third Aunts house." "..." Were they going to see Yang Wei and Hehuas wedding ceremony? She could understand Wang Xiangxiang goingshe was always curiousbut why would Master Chu go? Was he also curious? If it werent for her and Yang Mings current situation, she would have really liked to see what a wedding looked like in this ce. Now that they couldnt go, shed have to wait until Yang Dongs wedding to see it. Speaking of Yang Dong, she suddenly remembered, "Husband, the family has been trying to find a wife for Yang Dongtely." "He really should be finding a wife by now." Thinking of Yang Dongsparisons of his matchmaking candidates, Xiaoxiao couldnt help butugh, "You dont know, Yang Dong said his date looked like a ball. Isnt that funny?" "He saw her?" Yang Ming was surprised. His younger brother had actually seen his date? When it was time for him to marry, he didnt even know what his wife looked like until his parents instructed him to hurry back for the wedding. "Yeah, they arranged to meet with the girl because they didnt want to marry without knowing each other well. The family unanimously agrees that Yang Dong should approve of her himself." When did the family be so progressive? This must have been his wifes idea. She really put her heart into everything for the family. Yang Ming, feeling tenderly towards her, hugged his wife from behind, burying his head into her neck, "Wife, youre so good." "..." Chapter 349 This is an attitude towards life, it is politeness

Chapter 349: Chapter 349 This is an attitude towards life, it is politeness

"Stop it, Im going to wash my face!" Yang Ming always wanted to hug her. Who knows what it would be like when her body got better. Xiaoxiao, feeling embarrassed, broke free and trotted out the door to freshen up in the outer room. Yang Ming watched his wifes retreating figure, his lips involuntarily curling into a smile. He touched his own face, thinking that perhaps smiling more often wouldnt be such a bad idea. After freshening up, Xiaoxiao brought the food into the room, "Have you eaten yet?" "I have." "..." How deeply had she slept? Yang Ming had eaten and taken his medicine without her knowing at all. "Then you go lie down on the kang; Ill eat first." Xiaoxiao was really hungry. She set the table on the kang and started to devour her food,pletely disregarding anydylike image. Yang Ming sat by her side on the kang after climbing up, watching his wife eat and asionally wiping her mouth, "Eat slowly, dont choke." Only then did Xiaoxiao realize how udylike her eating was. Seeing Yang Ming wipe her mouth, her face was all smiles, feeling great to have a husband, "Hmm." After eating, Xiaoxiao quickly washed up the dishes and began tidying up the house. Only after everything was in order did she sit down at the table to groom herself. Yang Ming leaned back on the kang, watching his busy wife with a heart full of affection. It was a relief to see her finally sit down to rest, but then she started applying makeup and fixing her hair, "Wife, youre the most beautiful in my eyes. No need for makeup." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao paused for a moment, then continued applying her makeup while saying, "At first, I did it for you, wanting you to see me at my best, to fall for me." Hearing this, Yang Ming felt a warm surge in his heart, realizing she had especially done it for him, that she had made many changes and efforts for him. But he hoped that she would live ording to her own desires rather than changing for him, "Wife, now that you know I like you, you dont need to wear makeup." "I dont want to!" Xiaoxiao pouted. "Why not?" Xiaoxiao looked at Yang Ming and said, "Now I feel that taking care of my appearance is a basic respect for others, an attitude towards life, its politeness." "..." Attitude towards life, politeness? His wife always spoke sensibly; indeed, one shouldnt appear slovenly. Although Yang Ming was afraid that others might be taken by her beauty, as long as she was happy, it was fine, "Yes, you are right." It didnt take long for Xiaoxiao to finish grooming herself, and she got up to move the lounger, which was quite heavy. She lifted the lounger slowly and carefully moved across the room. "Wife, why are you moving it? Its so heavy. Put it down," Yang Ming quickly spoke up from the kang upon seeing his wifes struggle. While moving in small, struggling steps, Xiaoxiao said, "Husband, its almost noon, go outside and get some sunshine." She had finished speaking and had already gone out. Yang Ming immediately stood up, dressed, and followed her out. Xiaoxiao positioned the lounger in the middle of the courtyard, where it could catch the sunlight. Seeing Yang Minge out, she said, "Husband,e here,y down here." Xiaoxiao then went back inside and brought out a small nket, draping it over Yang Ming, "There, Husband, you can now close your eyes and rx, and feel the warmth of the sun." Yang Ming, following his wifes instructions, slowly closed his eyes. It wasnt just the warmth of the sun he felt, but the warmth his wife brought him. Chapter 350: She is my bride-to-be

Chapter 350: Chapter 350: She is my bride-to-be

Uncle and Aunties Home Chu Lian, wearing a silk satin blue robe embroidered with elegant patterns and a jade hairpin on his head, seemed to have the demeanor of a young noble, making him stick out like a sore thumb at this rustic wedding gathering. At the moment, he was surrounded by a group of women who hade to attend the banquet. Since he was at Yang Mings rtives home, Chu Lian didnt want to act too inappropriately, so he endured and chatted with these women, who were about as old as his mother. His overly dazzling attire and extraordinary looks had piqued the intense interest of these country women. "Are you Schr Yangs ssmate?" "Yes," Chu Lian nodded. "Then whats yourst name? Wheres your family home?" "I am surnamed Chu, my home is in Shibao Town." A few women nodded upon hearing this, calcting in their minds: He must be from a wealthy family in town. With those looks and that attire, it would be wonderful if one of their daughters or rtives could marry into his family, so they all eagerly inquired further. "How old are you this year?" "I am twenty-one." This was Chu Lians first time chatting with a group of women he didnt know, and he didnt know how to interact with them; he could only answer their questions as they came. Upon hearing he was twenty-one, they calcted again in their minds. The age was a bit advanced; he might already have several wives at home. "Have you married yet?" "Not yet," Chu Lian replied with an awkward smile. The women, hearing he was unmarried, thought they had a chance and decided to seize the opportunity. So someone quickly introduced her rtive, "I have a niece who is fifteen and still unmarried this year. Would you like to meet her?" "My niece is fourteen this year; shes really quite fetching." "My daughter..." "..." "..." Chu Lian thought it was just idle chit-chat, but to his surprise, these people had taken a shine to him and were looking to marry off their daughters or rtives to him. Listened to the back and forth without a chance to get a word in, his face turned as dark as can be. He wanted to leave as soon as possible, but when he looked up, he saw the impudent girl not far away, watching him with a self-satisfied grin. This impudent girl was clearly enjoying his misfortune, his eyes bulged with irritation when he saw that she was watching the drama unfold, staring back at him with a smug smile on her lips. Jolted by anger, he came up with a n and said to the women. "Thank you,dies, for your concern, but Im already engaged." "What? Youre already engaged?" As they were introducing their daughters, they heard him say he was engaged and immediately questioned him back. Chu Lian pointed towards Wang Xiangxiang, showing a mischievous grin, "She is my fiance, who has yet toe through my door." Everyone looked in the direction Chu Lian indicated and saw a very attractive woman dressed in white brocade clothes, with a jade hairpin in her hair as well, clearly from a wealthy family. Seeing that the two matched so well in looks and temperament, and realizing they had been introducing other girls to someone who was already engaged, they felt quite embarrassed, and thus they said to Chu Lian. "Look at us, meddling in affairs. You two are well-suited for each other." "Yes, yes, yes, congrattions to you both." "When do you n on getting married?" "..." Wang Xiangxiang, who had been pointed at, felt the group staring at her like she was some oddity, making her skin crawl. She instinctively felt that the rogue had been up to no good, so she gave a re in return. "Ladies, my fiance who has yet to enter my household is getting angry and glowering at me. I must hurry over," said Chu Lian. Seeing this, the women quickly said, "Yes, go quickly, hurry on over." Chapter 351: Didn’t Follow You, We Just Share the Same Path

Chapter 351: Chapter 351: Didnt Follow You, We Just Share the Same Path

Seeing the rogue man surrounded by a group of aunties, Wang Xiangxiang felt very pleased. She didnt know what they were talking about, but seeing his embarrassed expression, he must have been awkwardly rebuffed, which delighted her. However, she hadnt expected the rogue man to point at her while talking to those people, giving her the impression that he was speaking ill of her. She wanted to leave, but then she saw the rogue man walking towards her. The aunties loudly shouted behind her, "Go and coax her!" Wang Xiangxiang was instantly stunned. Coax whom? What on earth had the rogue man said to those people? Chu Lian, who was walking towards Wang Xiangxiang, wore a smile and was proud to have gained the upper hand, pulling one over on her. He came up to Wang Xiangxiang and cheerfully said, "Lets go back." Wang Xiangxiang looked bewildered and nced around, "Are you talking to me?" The rogue man taking the initiative to talk to her? She didnt believe it, because ofst nights eavesdropping incident, and this morning they were at odds again. "Could there be anyone else here?" Chu Lian was speechless. This willful woman, seemed destined to sh with him. He finally tried to talk to her normally for once, and she was still provocatively difficult. "Im not going back. Im waiting to see the wedding ceremony." Wang Xiangxiang really didnt want to go back. She had never seen a vige wedding ceremony and didnt see a reason to return home. After all, Xiaoxiao and her husband were getting along fine at home, why would she go back just to suffer? "You..." Chu Lian pointed at the willful woman, absolutely infuriated by her. She seemed so interested in someone elses wedding ceremony. If it werent because everyone had left this morning and he stayed fearing the awkward encounter between Yang Ming, Xiaoxiao, and himself, he wouldnt havee at all. Seeing the willful woman refuse to leave, he angrily grabbed her wrist and dragged her away. "Hey, what are you doing? Why are you pulling me? Im not going back." Chu Lian said nothing and kept pulling Wang Xiangxiang. Wang Xiangxiang noticed too many people in the courtyard, and embarrassed to be the center of attention, she let herself be dragged away. Once they were out of the gate and on the road, Wang Xiangxiang fiercely broke free and shouted, "Let go of me!" Startled by her loud voice, Chu Lian then realized he had gone too far by pulling on the willful woman. He immediately let go, "Sorry." Wang Xiangxiang, rubbing her wrist, her face cold as ice, thought this rogue man had crossed the line. He not only kissed her but also pulled on her wrist, ruining her reputation. "You rogue man, stay away from me in the future." Chu Lian, who had just felt a bit excessive, upon hearing this, immediately felt justified, "You willful woman, stay away from me." Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang felt they might really be cursed in their fate together, and she truly didnt want to talk to him anymore. Without turning her head, she walked away. Seeing the willful woman not turning back toward the wedding banquet, Chu Lian was quite pleased. She was surely going back to Yang Mings house, so he followed her. After all, with more people around, it wouldnt be as awkward when they got back. The frustrated Wang Xiangxiang leading the way wondered, what was the rogue man following her for? She turned her head and huffed, "Stop following me!" "Im not following you, we just happen to be going the same way." "..." The same way? She wasnt going back to Xiaoxiaos home. Still fuming, she continued walking until the crossroads, where she took a different turn, not towards Xiaoxiaos house, but towards a rented courtyard. Chu Lian, unaware of the rented courtyard, thoughtlessly shouted after her, "Youre going the wrong way." "..." Chapter 352: Let Me Have a Taste of Brother Li’s Skills

Chapter 352: Chapter 352: Let Me Have a Taste of Brother Lis Skills

Wang Xiangxiangs lips curled up at these words. This man had been stubbornly iming they were heading in the same direction, but now she wasnt even taking that road anymore. "Im not on the wrong path, its just that we really arent going the same way." Without looking back, Wang Xiangxiang said this and continued walking toward the rented courtyard. Chu Lian, following behind, didnt believe her at all. He thought she had simply taken the wrong path and was being stubborn about it. He couldnt just leave her be what if Xiaoxiaos friend got lost? So, he continued to follow her. "Im taking this path too." "..." This person, really, if he wants to follow, then just follow. Wang Xiangxiang kept walking and soon arrived at the rented courtyard. Dahuang and Xiaobai recognized Wang Xiangxiang, so she entered the yard smoothly. But Chu Lian had it rough. As soon as he reached the gate, he was surrounded by the two big dogs, barking furiously. This truly startled Chu Lian, and he stood there, not daring to move an inch. Inside the house, Wang Xiangxiang couldnt hold back anymore, covering her stomach and bursting into loudughter. It was a moment of pure schadenfreude, seeing the shameless man take another blow. She must reward Dahuang and Xiaobaiter. Li Fugui, who was determined to be a chef, had been working as a kitchen helper in the rented courtyard under Yang Mings great-aunt since the day he started cooking, preparing lunch for the female workers. Today was Yang Weis wedding day, and with the great-aunt absent, it was his chance to take charge of the kitchen. He was busy in the kitchen when he heard the dogs barking. Putting aside his work and armed with a spat, he rushed outside, only to find Chu Lian surrounded by Dahuang and Xiaobai at the doorway. "Dahuang, Xiaobai." Upon hearing Li Fuguis call, Dahuang and Xiaobai finally backed off and obediently returned to their dog beds. Chu Lian felt utterly humiliated today. Following that willful woman was sure to lead to trouble. He was scared of two dogs, and when they finally left, he looked up at the man who had driven them away. However, the sight that met him left him speechless. Wasnt that Li Fugui? Why was he wearing an apron and holding a spat, looking nothing like the Eldest Young Master of old? "Brother Chu, long time no see." Li Fugui hadnt expected to meet in such circumstances and was extremely embarrassed. Their rtionship could be considered worse than his with Yang Ming, given that he had previously hiked up the price of cabbage and opposed Chu Lian. "Brother Li, long time no see," Chu Lian replied awkwardly. Wang Xiangxiang, having had her fill ofughter in the house, was worried the shameless man might actually get bitten by the dogs, so she decided toe out and check. As soon as she stepped out, she saw Li Fugui, wearing an apron and holding a spat, looking incrediblyical. She burst intoughter again, "Hahaha, Li Fugui, are you really going to be a chef?" She was actually aware of Li Fuguis current situation and admired him a bit. She hadnt expected the former Eldest Young Master to truly take up the spat. "Hurry up, lets see what delicious food youve made today." Li Fugui smiled awkwardly at Chu Lian, then followed Wang Xiangxiang into the kitchen, talking as they went, "Today I made braised tofu, you should try itter." "Sure, I really want to try your cooking skills and see how you fare as a chef?" They entered the kitchen, chatting andughing, leaving Chu Lian standing alone in the courtyard, feeling extremely irritated. Since when did that wilful woman have such a brilliant and sweet smile? Towards him, she was either furiously angry or had a sinister smirk. This was a first in his life, and he couldnt stand being treated this way, so he followed them into the kitchen, "Let me try Brother Lis cooking too." Chapter 353: Why Is This Arrogant Girl So Shameless

Chapter 353: Chapter 353: Why Is This Arrogant Girl So Shameless

Seeing Chu Lian enter the kitchen, Li Fugui felt somewhat embarrassed. After all, the difference between his current and past self was too great, "Brother Chu, why dont you wait in my room for a bit? Once the meal is ready, thene out to eat?" "..." Chu Lian furrowed his brows even tighter upon hearing this. Howe when the troublesome girl entered the kitchen, there was no problem, but when he entered the kitchen, he had to be shooed away? Were their rtionships that good? He was displeased inside, but his face remained amiable, "Its alright, you go ahead with your work." Hearing Chu Lian say this, Li Fugui had no choice but to ignore him and continue with his tasks. As soon as Wang Xiangxiang entered the kitchen, she saw the food prepared on the chopping board and was surprised. Did Li Fugui make all these? The Eldest Young Master had actually managed to do so much. It made her contemte whether she should also learn to cook. Xiaoxiao said that to catch a mans heart, one must first catch his stomach. Perhaps she would be able to use this skill in the future. If even Li Fugui could do it, perhaps she could as well. Thus, her heart leaped with excitement, "Li Fugui, let me help you." Li Fugui had some understanding of Wang Xiangxiangs character. She was interested in everything and wanted to try everything, like thest time when they went to till thend; she left after just a few tries. Hence, he just went along with her this time, "Sure." But Chu Lian didnt know this. He didnt expect those two to start cooking in front of him,pletely ignoring him. "Li Fugui, what can I help you with?" Wang Xiangxiang asked earnestly. Li Fugui thought for a moment. Wang Xiangxiang was probably like him in the past: she didnt know how to do anything, so he could only assign her a simple task. "Well, you could tend the fire. The fire is already lit, you just need to keep adding firewood to itter." "Sure, leave it to me," Wang Xiangxiang promised confidently, thinking that adding firewood was a simple task. But the reality was that she couldnt even manage the firewood properly. She added too much, smothering the mes and causing thick smoke to billow out from the stove hole, immediately turning her into a ck-faced figure, "Cough! Cough!" Wang Xiangxiang coughed vehemently, tearsing to her eyes from the smoke. Chu Lian, seeing the ck-faced, troublesome girl, felt his mood lift and, without any attempt to hide his amusement, pointed at her andughed out loud, "Haha, look at your face." "..." She had been smoked to tears, and yet this shameless man took delight in her misfortune. She found him ever so disagreeable and therefore reached out to smear her hand across his face. Chu Lians face was instantly marked with a ck streak from Wang Xiangxiangs dirty hand. Realizing that his face had been smudged too, Chu Lian took out his handkerchief and scrubbed fiercely. Then, in a fit of anger, he pointed at Wang Xiangxiang, "You! How can you be so dirty!" Wang Xiangxiang didnt take offense, just turned her head away with a "Hmph." Seeing Wang Xiangxiang smoked up, Li Fugui quickly fixed the fire in the stove and fetched a basin of water for her, "Wash your face quickly." "Thanks, ah." Wang Xiangxiangs eyes had been stung, and she wanted to clean them as quickly as possible, so she took the basin and began to wash up right there. Afterward, Li Fugui handed her a face towel, saying apologetically, "Please make do with this for now." "Okay." After washing her face, Wang Xiangxiang took the face towel handed to her by Li Fugui and wiped her face without a second thought. Chu Lian, on the other hand, was turning green. How could the troublesome girl be so shameless? Didnt she have her own handkerchief? Why was she using someone elses face towel? Chapter 354: You Were Born to Be a Chef

Chapter 354: Chapter 354: You Were Born to Be a Chef

Having washed her face, Wang Xiangxiang, thinking about the young masters gleeful demeanor just moments ago, felt utterly disgusted. So, she said to him, "Like you can do any better. Youre mocking me? If youre so capable, why dont you try cooking?" Chu Lian, who had been yelled at by this aggressive woman, couldnt just back down. Although he wasnt skilled at cooking either, he still strutted to the stove and said, "I will cook, you get out of the way." Wang Xiangxiang huffed and stepped aside. She wanted to see if the Eldest Young Master could actually do it. As expected, Chu Lian also ended up with a smoke-ckened face. Wang Xiangxiang held her belly at the side,ughing uncontrobly,pletelycking anydylike demeanor. "And you were saying? Arent you the same?" Li Fugui, standing to the side, was already helpless. These two were not helping at all, they were just adding chaos. He still had things to do. At this rate, everyone would be starving by noon. He managed to get the fire going again and demonstrated to Chu Lian how to do it properly. Seeing that he could keep it going, Li Fugui finally went off to tend to other tasks. Seeing that the scoundrel could now help with the cooking, Wang Xiangxiang didnt want to be outdone. So she said to Li Fugui, "Li Fugui, Ill help you cook." "..." Chu Lian, upon hearing this, couldnt help scoffing. She couldnt even manage the fire, and now she wanted to help cook? What kind of food would that produce? Hearing the scoundrels scoff, Wang Xiangxiang was determined to prove him wrong, and that she wasnt that useless. So, she followed Li Fugui around, helping here and there. "Li Fugui, Ill wash the bok choy for you." "Li Fugui, how much water should I put in this?" "Li Fugui, how do I stick this pancake?" "Li Fugui, can I help you chop the vegetables?" "Li Fugui, are you starting on the tofu now?" "Li Fugui, I didnt realize you actually knew how to cook." "..." "..." In the kitchen, Wang Xiangxiang kept buzzing around behind Li Fugui, talking non-stop, and Li Fugui responded gently, missing his usual authoritative tone. The harmonious atmosphere made Chu Lian feel quite redundant, and he found Wang Xiangxiangs frequent mention of "Li Fugui" grating to his ears. Even he didnt know where this irritation came from, but there he remained, silently brooding. "Its done, its ready." "Li Fugui, serve me a bowl. I want to try it." Seeing that Wang Xiangxiang insisted on tasting it, Li Fugui reluctantly served her a bowl and handed it to her. "This is a big pot meal; its not as good as the smaller dishes. Be careful, its hot. Later, Ill make a smaller batch just for you two," he said. What Li Fugui said was just ordinary concern, fearing that these young masters anddies were not ustomed to dining this way. In the past, he wouldnt have been able to eat it either. To Chu Lian, however, these seemed like words of endearment. Could someone really fancy this feisty girl? He couldnt help scoffing again. Wang Xiangxiang received the bowl and blew on it, then took a sip of the tofu soup with a somber expression, "Li Fugui, how long have you been learning to cook?" Hearing this, Chu Lian still looked smug. See, it must taste terrible. Just as he thought, Li Fugui had never cooked before, how could it be good? "About half a month, why?" Li Fugui replied while ting some dishes. "Li Fugui, its delicious! Now I believe you were born to be a chef," she eximed. Hearing this, Chu Lian was shocked as he looked at the serving dishes. They didnt look appetizing. Could it actually taste good? Was there something wrong with the feisty girls taste? Chapter 355 How Did You Meet?

Chapter 355: Chapter 355 How Did You Meet?

"Li Fugui, wherever were eating, Ill bring the food over. Lets just eat this; no need to make more." Wang Xiangxiang drank a few more mouthfuls of the hot drink and said to Li Fugui. "Then lets eat in my room." Li Fugui saved portions for the three of them and gave the rest to the female workers. "Wait a moment, Ill deliver the food to thedies first." After Li Fugui left, Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian were left alone in the kitchen. But Wang Xiangxiang didnt wait for Li Fugui; she picked up the remaining food and was about to leave, only to be stopped by Chu Lian, "What are you doing?" "Im taking the food over, to eat." "..." Li Fugui wasnt even back yet, and here she was, a woman, ready to go straight to a mans roomhow utterly shameless. His mood soured, and his face looked extremely displeased, "Wait for Li Fugui." "Helle back to the room on his ownter, wait if you want to wait." Wang Xiangxiang was genuinely hungry; it was well into noon, and she wanted to eat right away. Since Li Fugui and the others would be going there to eat anyway, she wasnt going to wait. "Hey, you... really are..." Chu Lians face grew even darker. This unruly girl was simply beyond reasoning and just left like that. He sighed but couldnt help following her anyway. There he saw, the unruly girl indeed knew which room belonged to Li Fugui, walked right in, set the table,id out the food, and started eating by herself, not seeing herself as an outsider at all. Chu Lian, standing to the side, was so furious smoke could being out of his ears. There wasnt a trace of manners to be seen, nothing like a youngdy from a well-off family. Speaking of well-off families? She was Xiaoxiaos friend, and judging from her clothes, she was probably born into a prominent family. Which familys youngdy was she? Chu Lian was also at a loss for words. After spending two days together, after all they went through, he still didnt even know who she was. He calmed himself down, found a stool and sat too, picked up a spoon wanting to taste for himself how good the unruly girl imed the soup was, but before he could scoop any soup, his hand was hit by the unruly girls chopsticks. "This is for Li Fugui; please get your own." Chu Lian turned to the unruly girl upon hearing this, but she didnt even spare him a nce and continued eating with her head down. He was beyond frustrated, the unruly girl had really only taken portions for herself and Li Fugui, none for him. He was so angry he ground his teeth, but still got up to serve himself. In the kitchen, he saw Li Fugui returning. Suspecting the two of them had a close rtionship, he asked, "How do you two know each other?" Li Fugui did not expect Chu Lian to ask this. After thinking for a bit, he and Wang Xiangxiang knew each other because of a matchmaker, and that led to their public spat that one time. So, he said, "We met through a matchmaker, by a twist of fate." Chu Lian was shocked to hear this. So, they were betrothed? No wonder they got along so well. No wonder the unruly girl didnt return to Yang Mings house but came straight here. Seeing the happy way the unruly girl interacted with Li Fugui, and the gentle way he spoke to her. Somehow, Chu Lian felt irritated, and with a tonecking any good cheer, said, "Shes already taken your portion inside for you." Without waiting for Li Fuguis reaction, he left the kitchen with his bowl and chopsticks in hand. Chapter 356: If You Want to Learn Cooking, Go to Our Yuelai Restaurant

Chapter 356: Chapter 356: If You Want to Learn Cooking, Go to Our Yui Restaurant

By the time Chu Lian and Li Fugui entered the room, Wang Xiangxiang had already eaten half her meal. She spoke while eating, "Li Fugui, you really cook quite deliciously." Li Fugui smiled awkwardly but felt a tinge of bitterness in his heart. When he first started cooking for Xiaotian, it was truly hard to swallow. Now, having followed Yang Mings great-aunt, he had only learned the basics and was barely able to make meals for arge pot. Chu Lian didnt believe the spoiled girl would praise Li Fugui like that; it must be because of their rtionship that she wasplimenting him. He sat down directly and decided to try the tofu soup she had praised. Once he put the spoon in his mouth, his eyes lit up instantly. It turned out she wasnt lying; the soup was indeed delicious. He scooped up a piece of tofu with his spoon; the tofu was soft, and the broth was vorful. If he hadnt seen it with his own eyes, he would never believe Li Fugui had made itLi Fugui could cook after just half a month? How high could his culinary talent possibly be? Before he knew it, he had finished the entire bowl of tofu soup. He looked up at the two of them, sensing that the atmosphere had turned somewhat sour. The two no longer looked as cheerful as before but rather sad. What could have happened to make them both like this? He didnt speak, but instead, watched quietly. "Any news yet?" "Not yet, dont be too anxious." "Okay." Chu Lian listened from the side, confused; they were speaking in riddles. Why couldnt he understand at all? What news were they talking about? He wanted to keep listening, but the two of them fell silent in unspoken agreement, suddenly looking cheerful again and changing the topic. "Li Fugui, what dishes can you cook now? Have you mastered Xiaoxiaos signature dish?" Seeing Li Fugui looking somber, Wang Xiangxiang felt a bit sorry for him, so she shifted the topic, hoping he wouldnt be so downhearted. Li Fugui, whose subject had been changed, indeed felt somewhat better. Heughed and said, "Heh, that caramelized sweet potato, I have tried a few times." "Really? How did it turn out? I love desserts the most." Wang Xiangxiang genuinely hadnt expected that in just a few short days, he could even cook caramelized sweet potatoes. "It should be passably edible, I guess," Li Fugui replied somewhat bashfully. "You must be modest. You also said this tofu wasnt good, no, I have to try the caramelized sweet potatoes you make." Wang Xiangxiang said this as she got up to pull Li Fugui. Li Fugui, being pulled along, said as they walked, "Make it now?" "Yes, Im still not full. Come on, lets go to the kitchen now." As they spoke, they left the room,pletely leaving Chu Lian behind. Sitting there, Chu Lian feltpletely neglected. Looking at the empty dishes on the table, how could she not be full? Just how much could that capricious girl eat? Chu Lian, who should have stayed far away, didnt know why, but he just didnt want to leave. So he sat there waiting, but after a good while, the two still hadnte back. So he got up and went to the kitchen. Before he even entered the kitchen, he heard the spirited voice of the capricious girl. "Li Fugui, this caramelized sweet potato is so delicious." "I didnt think you could really make it." "You could be a chef; why dont youe to my ce and learn from our cook for a while?" Chu Lians face darkened upon hearing this. The spoiled girl was actually inviting Li Fugui to her house? He stormed into the kitchen, without a second thought, and blurted out. "If you want to learn cooking, its to our Yui Restaurant." Chapter 357: From Now On, Let’s Pretend We Don’t Know Each Other If We Meet Again

Chapter 357: Chapter 357: From Now On, Lets Pretend We Dont Know Each Other If We Meet Again

Wang Xiangxiang and Li Fugui were momentarily stunned by that remark but quickly recovered. Would that shameless guy really help? Wang Xiangxiang didnt believe it for a second. "My familys chef can definitely teach you well, faster than you would learn here." Li Fugui didnt believe Chu Lians words either, given the past conflict between them, so he didnt take them to heart. He trusted Wang Xiangxiangs family chef more, "Then, thank you very much." "Leave it to me." Wang Xiangxiang even patted her chest in assurance, then continued to eat. Li Fugui poured a bowl of cold water for her, "Here you go, dip it in, so it doesnt stick." Chu Lian, standing to the side, waspletely enraged. After all he had said, these two acted as if they hadnt heard a thing; they were shamelessly interacting right in front of him, as if he didnt exist at all. He stepped forward, snatched the candied sweet potato Wang Xiangxiang was enjoying, and taunted, "Eat, eat, eat, all you know is eating, you sow." "..." Wang Xiangxiangs face changed instantly upon hearing the word sow. What business was it of his whether she ate or not? Just as she stood up to argue with him, Li Fugui stepped in to protect her. "Chu Lian, what are you doing?" Li Fugui felt that Chu Lians words were a bit too harsh. He had gone too far himself once and ended up being sshed. Seeing Li Fugui defending that petnt girl made Chu Lians blood boil even more. He felt bewildered and frustrated, not understanding what he was doing; it wasnt until he reflected on it that he realized he had spoken out of line again. He felt that he was no longer the person he used to be. He wanted to leave quickly. Ever since meeting that petnt girl, he hadnt been acting like himself. He figured it must be because he knew Xiaoxiaos feelingsit was turning him upside down. He needed to get away and clear his mind. But before he could take a step, the petnt girl called out to him. "Stop right there." That roar made him turn his head swiftly, and a thought shed through his mind: She was calling for himfinally, a reason not to leave. To his surprise, a bowl of cold water sshed towards him, instantly sobering his befuddled mind. "You..." Then he saw the petnt girls frosty face, her mouth uttering emotionless and cold words. "What I do is none of your business. We really arent close, okay!" Such words indeed left Chu Lian speechless. She was right; they werent close, and he had no right to interfere. "From now on, lets act like strangers if we meet again!" Wang Xiangxiang left those harsh words behind and stormed out, mming the door. Upon hearing this, Chu Lians heart clenched for a moment, but he quickly returned to his normal self, left with only his exasperation and embarrassment. He shouted after her, "Fine, lets be strangers, we were never acquainted to begin with." Li Fugui, standing by helplessly, shook his head and patted Chu Lian on the shoulder, "Chu Lian, you shouldnt have said what you did." After speaking, he went on to tidy up the kitchenafter all, that quarrel between the two wasnt his business to handle. Chu Lian was puzzled; the petnt girl had left angry, yet Li Fugui had no reaction at all. He didnt go after her, which suggested he didnt really care for the petnt girl that much. Thinking this, Chu Lian felt his mood lighten somewhat, "Why dont you go after her to appease her?" "..." Appease whom? She was the one he had driven awaywhat did that have to do with him? Chapter 358: Who is Wang Xiangxiang?

Chapter 358: Chapter 358: Who is Wang Xiangxiang?

"Isnt it you who should be apologizing? Youre the one who drove her away," Li Fugui said helplessly, then continued with his chores. Chu Lian, listening to these words, felt his cheeks burn. The usation was correct; because of what he did and said, he had driven her away. Yet, he wouldnt apologize. Despite thinking this, he still awkwardly left the house, fretfully hoping that the two dogs wouldnte out again as he passed the gate. Luckily, he made it safely out of the gate and saw the headstrong woman had already walked far ahead. He followed and returned to Yang Mings house. Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao were sunbathing in the courtyard, life seeming blissfully perfect, when Wang Xiangxiang hurriedly entered the yard. Xiaoxiao immediately asked, "Sister Wang, why are you back so early?" "Im going home." After saying this, Wang Xiangxiang went straight into the house to pack her things. Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs demeanor, Xiaoxiao suspected that something had happened at her aunts house, so she gave Yang Ming a look and followed Wang Xiangxiang inside. Just after Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang entered the house, Chu Lian rushed into the yard. Yang Ming immediately asked, "Brother Chu, why are you back too?" Upon hearing Yang Mings question, Chu Lians anxious mood finally began to ease. "Yang Ming, are you feeling better?" "Yes, Im much better." Chu Lian looked at Yang Ming, who was leisurely lying on a sun lounger covered with a nket, basking in the sun, with water and snacks by his side, and a few books nearbyclearly prepared by Xiaoxiao. He felt a pang of envy and a bitter taste in his heart. Last night, he had heard everything Xiaoxiao did for Yang Ming, and he had lost without even saying a word. The couple had already ended up together; if he persisted in interfering at this point, it would be despicable, so he told Yang Ming, "Last night, I heard everything. Treat her well. If you dont, I wont spare you." Lying on the sun lounger, Yang Ming felt regret. He clearly knew of Chu Lians feelings, yet he fell in love with Xiaoxiao. He thought their rtionship would suffer because of this, but after hearing what Chu Lian said, Yang Ming felt grateful. "Thank you, Brother Chu." "Since youre alright, Im going back today." Unaware of the tension between Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian, Yang Ming blurted out without thinking, "Wang Xiangxiang is also leaving soon; you guys should go back together." "Who is Wang Xiangxiang?" "..." This question stunned Yang Ming. Youve kissed her, yet you dont know her? "Shes Xiaoxiaos friend, the woman who came with us." Upon hearing Yang Mings exnation, Chu Lian realized he was talking about the headstrong woman. His lips curved slightly upward. So, her name was Wang Xiangxiang. Seeing Chu Lian standing there silently, lost in thought, Yang Ming called out to remind him, "Brother Chu, Brother Chu." "Oh, Im not going back with her. Do you have another car here?" Snapped back to reality, Chu Lian immediately refused. He knew the headstrong woman wouldnt agree to ride with him either; better not to ask for trouble. Besides, nothing good coulde from being with her; better to keep his distance. "Brother Chu, what exactly is going on between you two?" Seeing Chu Lians reluctance to ride in Wang Xiangxiangs carriage, and recalling their interactions along the way, it seemed the two had some unresolved tension. "Nothings going on, we dont even know each other." Chapter 359: His Name is Chu Lian, I Don’t Know Him

Chapter 359: Chapter 359: His Name is Chu Lian, I Dont Know Him

Inside the house As soon as Xiaoxiao entered the house, she saw Wang Xiangxiang tidying up things with a rather gloomy expression. She immediately asked, "Sister Wang, why are you heading home now?" Wang Xiangxiangs movements didnt stop as she packed and replied, "Seeing that you all are fine, I should head home, shouldnt I? Should I stay here and watch you lovebirds?!" "..." Was she using her of unting her love? Whom should she me? Wasnt it Wang Xiangxiang herself who had eavesdropped? That was practically seeking her own misery! "Wait till you find a husband, then you can unt your love in front of me too." "..." Xiaoxiao really knew how to hit where it hurt, knowing full well that she was anxious about getting married, and couldnt find anyone, "Where am I going to find love then?" Thinking about it, Xiaoxiao teased, suspecting that something had happened between Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian when they were in the carriage, "Come on, whats going on between you and that Chu Lian?" "Who is Chu Lian?" Wang Xiangxiang replied nonchntly, genuinely unaware that the shameless man was Chu Lian. "..." Could they even have a pleasant conversation? She had just kissed him and eavesdropped on him. Being together to eavesdrop, wasnt their rtionship more than ordinary? Would she not even know his name? "Hes the one we rode back in the carriage with." "Oh, hes named Chu Lian? I dont know him." Wang Xiangxiang continued packing, hearing his name for the first time. So, he was Chu Lian. "..." She doesnt know him? Does someone not knowing Chu Lian go around kissing fiercely? She really found that hard to believe, Chu Lian wasnt the impulsive type. "Do you really not know him? You seemed quite familiar." Wang Xiangxiang said helplessly, "Really, I dont know him. If I did, wouldnt we have greeted each other at Silver Pavilion that day?" Xiaoxiao thought about it, and it seemed to make sense. That day she was so focused on making the ring that she forgot to introduce them. Indeed, they had not spoken at that time, andter Wang Xiangxiang had even asked who he was. That made the situation rather odd, strangers kissing intensely in a carriage; what was that about? "Sister Wang, you better not go. Weve made quite a bit of lingerie already, and Im nning to take it to the county in a day or two. Youll be busy then." Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang paused in her actions, startled. It was Chu Lians fault that she had almost forgotten her actual business. She was originally nning this, as she needed to make money. "Fine, I wont go." Seeing that she had persuaded Wang Xiangxiang, Xiaoxiao quickly said, "Lets go then. My husband hasnt eaten yet; I need to fix him something." "..." Xiaoxiao really was something, always keeping her husband in mind, "Xiaoxiao, have you ever tried the food cooked by Li Fugui?" "No," Xiaoxiao replied as she walked outside with Wang Xiangxiang. "Let me tell you, Li Fugui might have been born to be a chef. Its only been a few days, and his cooking is exceptionally delicious." This news stunned Xiaoxiao; Li Fugui really cooked? And it was very delicious, only in about half a month? "Are you sure?" Xiaoxiao could hardly believe it. "Theres no doubt about it. Ive eaten plenty of dishes. Im very picky. Why dont we go there tonight, and you can try it for yourself." Chu Lian had been standing in the yard, not yet departed, when he heard Wang Xiangxiangs voice, seemingly no longer upset. As soon as the topic of Li Fuguis delicious cooking came up, she became very happy, chatting away non-stop. He unconsciously looked towards Wang Xiangxiang, and as their eyes met, he saw her quickly withdraw her radiant smile, pulling Xiaoxiao as she spoke. "Lets go." Chapter 360: Send Him Back in My Carriage

Chapter 360: Chapter 360: Send Him Back in My Carriage

When Chu Lian heard this, he also felt some resentment. That arrogant woman wanted never to see him again, and he felt the same way, not wanting to see her anymore, so he turned to Yang Ming and said. "Yang Ming, are there any carriages avable? I need to return now." "Brother Chu, why dont you stay for another night? Today my aunt is having a celebration, and all the ox carts at home have been requisitioned to pick up rtives. We can send you back tomorrow morning." When Wang Xiangxiang heard this, the idea that the annoying man would stay another night irked her, wouldnt she have to see him and dine at the same table with him? She couldnt bear it for another moment, so she stopped in her tracks. She turned to Xiaoxiao and said, "Use my familys carriage to send him back." Wang Xiangxiangs voice wasnt loud, but her emotionless words were heard by Chu Lian. He only felt the chill and sting of her words, realizing that from this moment, they indeed became strangers. The fact that she wanted to send him off in her carriage meant she was eager to see him leave; it was clear she was driving him away. However, this was exactly the oue he desired. That woman, with her incessant chatter,cked the demeanor of refinement, and he indeed found her annoying and did not want to see her anymore. So, he replied, "Then I thank you." He then turned to find the coachman. Wang Xiangxiang was surprised upon hearing this; the man who had always opposed her had epted her suggestion and agreed to take her familys carriage. Well, it was good as once he left, she would have peace. "Xiaoxiao, lets go, if we dont start cooking, your husband will starve to death." Xiaoxiao, pulled by Wang Xiangxiang, walked along while shouting into the yard, "Husband, just wait, Im going to cook for you." When Wang Xiangxiang heard this, she instantly understood why that rogue man had epted her suggestion to leave. Seeing Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming exhibiting such affection, even she was overwhelmed by it; that rogue man definitely couldnt stand it. She really regretted lending the carriage to him. Wasnt she just helping him? She should have made him stay and be heartbroken, that would have eased her resentment. It wasnt long before Chu Lian and the coachman returned. Chu Lian bid farewell to Yang Ming in the courtyard, while the coachman went into the house to bid farewell to his mistress. Soon after, the coachman came out, "Master Chu, I am truly sorry, but there is a slight problem with the carriage, I cant take you." After saying this, the coachman walked away rather embarrassingly. Chu Lian stood there stunned; everything was fine just now, so how did the carriage be faulty after he went to see that arrogant woman? Could it be that she had changed her mind and didnt want him to leave? "Brother Chu, since its like this, you should stay until tomorrow morning." "It looks like I have no other choice." Chu Lian, forced to stay, chatted casually with Yang Ming in the courtyard. It wasnt long before Xiaoxiao shouted into the yard, "Husband, the food is ready,e and eat with Master Chu." Upon hearing this, Yang Ming slowly rose, "Brother Chu, lets go inside." "No thanks, I just ate." "Come on, if you dont go, Miss Wang will probably also feel awkward staying." "..." Was that arrogant woman still going to dine with them? Had she not eaten enough? Upon hearing this, Chu Lian followed them into the house without a second thought. Upon entering, he saw the room decorated in bright red, which struck him as particrly ring, and felt an immense sense of loss within. Seeing the table ready on the heated brick bed, he wondered if they were meant to eat there. He felt rather embarrassed. "Master Chu, please sit, we didnt prepare much, dont be polite." Hearing Xiaoxiaos words, he chose not to sit on the brick bed but rather on its edge. Chapter 361: She Actually Got on Someone’s Kang Bed

Chapter 361: Chapter 361: She Actually Got on Someones Kang Bed

Xiaoxiao arranged for Yang Ming to sit on the kang and said to Wang Xiangxiang as she entered the house, "Sister Wang,e and join us on the kang, lets eat." Hearing Xiaoxiaos words, Wang Xiangxiang climbed onto the kang as well. Having gotten used to the countryside, she wasnt ustomed to eating on a kang, but still chose to follow the local customs. To Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao, Wang Xiangxiang eating on the kang was nothing special; after all, thats how meals had always been eaten in the countryside, except when there were too many people and they ate on the ground instead. But Chu Lian was clueless. He saw the spoiled young woman take off her shoes and climb onto the kang, and his face changedhow could she be so shameless as to climb onto someone elses kang? "Dont be shy, lets eat." Upon hearing this, all four of them began to eat. Chu Lian found it hard to eat since he had already eaten, but he still moved his chopsticks a bit to show politeness. ncing out of the corner of his eye at the spoiled young woman, her behavior once again shocked him: she was still eating heartily, showing no signs of having had a lot already. How could she eat so much? Her appetite was as big as a mans, yet she was still a woman? As Wang Xiangxiang ate, she thought to herself that this was thest time she would share a meal with that rogue. Once she had her revenge, she wanted nothing to do with him. After a few bites, she said, "Young Master Yang, congrattions, you and Xiaoxiao are finally bing a married couple." "Thank you, Miss Wang," Yang Ming replied politely. Chu Lian frowned. Didnt he know that it was rude to speak while eating? Why was the spoiled young woman actively starting a conversation? "Young Master Yang, you really should thank me. If I hadnt told Xiaoxiao about the meaning of sending love through a kite, who knows when you two might have gotten together?" "Yes, thank you, Miss Wang." This was true, if it hadnt been for Wang Xiangxiang telling Xiaoxiao, their path together might have been much longer. Wang Xiangxiang continued, her voice lively, "You dont know, she was so moved when she found out you liked her that she cried." Hearing this, Yang Ming was shocked and turned to look at Xiaoxiaoshe had cried? His eyes filled with love, he looked at Xiaoxiao, who blushed and lower her head, murmuring shyly, "Sister Wang, please stop." But Wang Xiangxiang didnt care, only thinking about how her words could torment the rogue. "Then she said she wanted to give you a unique confession, to surprise you. She hardly slept for several nights while preparing this room." Hearing Wang Xiangxiangs words, Yang Ming looked at Xiaoxiao with adoring eyes, full of concern for her,pletely forgetting the other two people at the table. "Wife." "Dont listen to Sister Wangs nonsense." Xiaoxiao replied shyly. "How is it nonsense? Didnt you stay awake one night making those paper cranes? There were exactly a hundred of them, and you only made three every quarter hour." Hearing this, Yang Ming turned his head to look at the hanging paper cranes; if it took that long just for a hundred cranes, plus the heart shape, how long would it take? Chu Lian also involuntarily turned his head, looking at the lively paper cranes. Her hands were so skilled; she truly was a remarkable woman. Yet such a remarkable woman was destined not to be with him. He tried to keep himself as normal as possible. Seeing the rogue turn his head to look at the paper cranes, she must be heartbroken again, so she continued, "Its not just decoration, you know. Those have meanings, just like the rings." Chapter 362: Let Me Handle This Kind of Thing From Now On

Chapter 362: Chapter 362: Let Me Handle This Kind of Thing From Now On

Those words indeed startled Yang Ming, as he had thought it was just a little decorative item in the house, never imagining it would hold a special meaning like a wedding ring. He kept staring at his wife, as the surprises she had given him since she came back were simply too numerous. Xiaoxiao really hadnt expected that Wang Xiangxiang would be so gossipy as to tell everything to her husband, so she had no qualms anymore and said to Yang Ming, "Alright, alright, Ill tell youthe meaning of those hundred paper cranes is to give you one hundred percent of my love." Chu Lian, standing nearby and watching the two look lovingly at each other, just felt awkward about where he was standing. His gaze fell on the domineering woman, again with the same proud look as before. If he still didnt understand the purpose of the domineering woman keeping him there, then he was aplete fool. It was revengeusing Yang Ming and Xiaoxiaos affectionate disys to get back at him. It must be said, she seeded. His mind was indeed a mess now. Yet that domineering woman seemed addicted to tormenting him, and she continued without sparing him, "Also, that folded heart..." Before she could finish, Chu Lian covered Wang Xiangxiangs mouth with his hand and then directly picked her off the tform, saying to Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao, "Were done eating, well be going now, you two take your time." "Mmm!" muffled Wang Xiangxiang, struggling to make noises. Once her mouth was free, she yelled, "Whos done eating?" Chu Lian was speechless. After eating so much she still wanted more, "Keep eating and youll really turn into a sow, put on your shoes." Chu Lian bent down to pick up Wang Xiangxiangs shoes, handed them to her, and squinted at her as if to say, do you not notice the atmosphere? Upon seeing Chu Lians hint, Wang Xiangxiang finally realized. The affectionate manner of those two indeed should not be disturbed by them. Since she was not here to eat in the first ce, it seemed best to leave, so she quickly took her shoes and put them on, "You guys keep eating, Ill just go now." After Wang Xiangxiang spoke, she ran out swiftly. Chu Lian awkwardly smiled at Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao and then walked out of the house. Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao were left baffled. What exactly were those two up to? After Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang left, Yang Ming grabbed his wifes hand and, to his shock, noticed there were bloodstains on her fingertips. Was it from folding those paper cranes? His heart clenched, and his eyes filled with pity, "Wife, does it hurt?" Xiaoxiao immediately withdrew her hand to her back, feelingpletely embarrassed. Those bloodstains were from sewing panties, because the schedule was so tight and she couldnt embroider the words, she said quietly, head lowered, "It doesnt hurt." This action made Yang Ming feel even more heartache, and he pulled her hand from her back again, brought it to his lips, and gently blew on it, "Dont do these things anymore, it hurts me to see." Feeling the warm breath from her husbands mouth on her fingers, Xiaoxiaos heart warmed incredibly, and she looked affectionately at her husband blowing on her fingers, "I wanted to give you a different kind of confession." Upon hearing this, Yang Ming pulled his wife into his arms, as if trying to merge her into his bones, "Let me do things like this in the future." Xiaoxiao, being embraced, felt everything was worth it. She felt incredibly happy, responding to her husbands hug and saying, "Those fifty-five hearts mean that I love you, without any regrets." Chapter 363: Liars are Puppies

Chapter 363: Chapter 363: Liars are Puppies

The next day, early in the morning, Chu Lian was sent away by Yang Dong. A few dayster, Wang Xiangxiang also returned to the county town with the first batch of underwear she had made. Yang Mings health had improved a lot, thanks to his strong constitution. His breathing was now much smoother, and as long as he finished the remaining medicine, there should be no problem. Seeing her bargain of a husband getting better day by day, bing more energetic and regaining his masculine vitality, Xiaoxiao felt at ease. She began to ponder over how to deal with those pickled vegetables. "Husband, what exactly should we do with those pickled vegetables? We cant just keep them there forever; theyll go bad if left for too long." Yang Ming, who was asked, put down the book he was reading and said to his wife, "I was originally nning to find a ce in the mountains to bury them when spring arrives." Xiaoxiao thought for a moment and felt that this method wasnt quite feasible. The mountain roads were difficult to traverse, horses couldnt be used, and if they were to transport everything manually, that would be tens of thousands of kilos of pickled vegetables. How muchbor would that require? It would be more appropriate to find a in to bury them. Besides, although rat poison had been used, it would dpose once buried in the ground. After a year, it wouldnt affect the growth of crops, and the harvested produce wouldnt be poisonous. On the contrary, it would turn into fertilizer and create fertilend. After much consideration, purchasing a piece of innd seemed the most appropriate. She wanted to buynd anyway, as food is the paramount necessity of the people. Having morend was good, and she wanted to experience what it was like to be andlord. So she shared her thoughts with Yang Ming. After hearing his wifes suggestion, Yang Ming found it very reasonable. He hadnt expected his wife to actually have aspirations of bing andlord. "Wife, how muchnd are you nning to buy?" After thinking for a while about how muchnd would be appropriate, Xiaoxiao made a "two" gesture with her hands towards her bargain of a husband, blinking her eyes and saying with a smile, "Twenty acres." Yang Ming couldnt help butugh at the sight of his wifes cute action. She had just been high-spirited about bing andlord, and now she thought twenty acres were enough to qualify as one. This was the first time hed heard such a thing. You should know that even a smallndlord usually had at least several hundred, if not a thousand acres ofnd. After Xiaoxiao finished speaking, she heard her bargain of a husbandsughter. Had she said something wrong? Ever since thest time her bargain of a husbandughed his heart out, he always seemed to have a smile on his face, which was much more charming than the stiff smile he used to have. "Husband, what are youughing at?" "Im notughing at anything." Seeing his wifes inquiry, Yang Ming quickly stoppedughing. Just a moment ago he was chuckling, and now he was suddenly saying he wasntughing. There must be something behind this. "Youre lying." "Im not lying," Yang Ming said with indulgent tenderness. "Humph, liars are puppies," Xiaoxiao pouted, wanting to know why heughed. What was so funny about her wanting to buy twenty acres ofnd? "Yes, lying to you makes me a puppy." Xiaoxiao moved her face close to her bargain of a husbands and stared intently, saying very seriously, "Husband, look into my eyes." Yang Ming didnt know what his wife was up to but still did as instructed and stared steadfastly into her eyes. "Do you see it?" "See what?" "Theres a puppy in my eyes." Upon hearing this, Yang Ming immediately realized his wife was teasing him. His wife implied he was that puppy. "Yes, I see it, its a male dog." At her bargain of a husbands words, Xiaoxiao burst into giggles. While she wasughing happily, her forehead was suddenly kissed by her bargain of a husband. "Just look, that male dog in my eyes also sees a female dog in yours." "..." Chapter 364 The Good Land Was Bought

Chapter 364: Chapter 364 The Good Land Was Bought

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming lingered sweetly for a while in the house, then decided to visit the Vige Chiefs house to buynd, following the old custom of bringing along two pounds of meat since gifts ease tasks. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they saw the Vige Chiefs wife, "Auntie, is Uncle Vige Chief home?" "Yes, hes at home. Both of you,e inside." Every time the Vige Chiefs wife saw them, she greeted them with a smile. Now, the couple were quite important in the vige, holding a higher status than her own husband. Yang Ming handed the meat to the Vige Chiefs wife, "Auntie, this is a little token of appreciation. We also need to ask Uncle for a favor." "What talk of trouble or no trouble! Come inside quickly." The Vige Chiefs wife warmly weed Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao into the house, then went to the kitchen to store the meat. Upon entering the house, they immediately saw the Vige Chief. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming promptly greeted him with respect, "Uncle Vige Chief." "Ah, you two sit down. What brings you here this time?" Yang Mings wife had helped their vige significantly, previously with the cabbage harvest, and now by hiring many female workers, things had begun to improve for the vige. Perhaps their visit would bring another surprise. "Uncle Vige Chief, my wife and I would like to buy twenty mu of tnd here in our vige. Which location do you think would be suitable right now?" Yang Ming directly stated their need to purchasend. Upon hearing this, the Vige Chief frowned, puzzling Xiaoxiao. Was buyingnd in this ce really such a difficult matter? "Uncle Vige Chief, is there some difficulty? Cant we buynd now?" The Vige Chief sighed, looking troubled, "Yang Mings wife, I wont hide it from you. Youvee toote. A wealthy man bought all our vigesnd yesterday. If only youde two days earlier, oh well." "..." This waspletely unforeseen by Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao. Who could be so wealthy toe and buynd here? The vige wasnt wealthy,nd was sparse, and the yield wasnt that great. Compared to other viges, theirnd was definitely not the best pick. "Uncle Vige Chief, is there really nond left at all?" Xiaoxiao was somewhat incredulous, thus she asked again. "s, theres still one plot left, but thatnd, because its in a low-lying area, has been yielding poorly for many years. In years with excessive rainfall, itpletely fails to produce, so the person who bought thend yesterday didnt want that plot. But, Uncle cant in good conscience, sell you such poornd." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao felt the Vige Chief was truly decent, not just pushing the inferiornd onto them because they wanted to buy. "Uncle Vige Chief, is it the plot near Xiawa Vige?" "Exactly." "Husband, do you know that plot ofnd?" Yang Ming nodded, "Thatnd really isnt very good; its too low and often gets flooded by rainwater." Xiaoxiao thought for a moment. Lownds were everywhere, but with proper care, perhaps it could still work, "Uncle Vige Chief, how many mu is that plot?" "Its thirty mu." "And how much is it in silver?" "Since thatnd yields poorly and nobody wants it, although its tnd, its sold at the price of mountainnd, just five taels per mu, so thirty mu is one hundred fifty taels." At home, Yang Ming had mentioned that tnd was ten taels per mu, so this way, we would save half the silver, "Then Uncle Vige Chief, could we go see that plot ofnd?" The Vige Chief was somewhat surprised, seeing the determination in Yang Mings wife. Uncertain, he looked towards Yang Ming. Seeing Yang Ming nod, he agreed, "Alright, lets go see that plot ofnd right now." Chapter 365: Buying the Depressed Land

Chapter 365: Chapter 365: Buying the Depressed Land

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming followed the Vige Chief to look at the lond plot. Along the way, Xiaoxiao worried about Yang Ming walking too far, "Husband, are you tired?" In front of the Vige Chief, Yang Ming awkwardly smiled and felt a bit embarrassed; a grown man being asked if he was tired, "Not tired." The three of them arrived at the lond. Xiaoxiao looked over the area; it seemed like thend hadnt been farmed in a long time, quite neglected. It didnt look very low-lying either. If during the rainy season theres a lot of water, we couldpletely solve it by digging canals. Most importantly, the price was half off. Xiaoxiao excitedly said to Yang Ming, "Husband, lets buy this piece ofnd." Yang Ming hadnt expected that after seeing this piece ofnd, his wife would really want to buy it. Thends yield was truly very poor. Could his wife have seen something he hadnt? He pulled his wife to the side and asked quietly, "Wife, do you think this piece ofnd is okay? Did you notice anything?" "..." Actually, she didnt know whether it was good or not because she had never farmed. When she was a child, her family farmed, but she never worked in the fields, though she knew a bit of the theory. "I didnt notice anything." This was truly the case; she didnt know how to evaluate it. She just wanted to know where thisnd was and whether it was far from home. "..." How did she take a liking to thisnd without noticing anything, "Wife, do you know how to farm?" "No." "..." He thought as much. His wife was too delicate, unlike a farmer. "Perhaps we should think this over; this really isnt goodnd." "Husband, lets just buy thisnd. Maybe well be lucky and wont encounter a year with heavy rain. Even if there are rainy years, then we can dig ditches to redirect the water." "..." Was this relying on luck for food? However, his wifes suggestion about digging ditches to redirect the water was something no one had tried before. If it really could drain the water, thend might indeed be worth buying. Perhaps their luck wouldnt be that bad. Seeing that his wife really wanted to buy, Yang Ming agreed. If they really did buynd that yielded nothing, he would apologize to the family. The Vige Chief was waiting on the side. He had no hope at all; it was a terrible piece ofnd, obviously visible to anyone. No one would buy it. But if it really got sold, it would greatly benefit him. The plot was a hot potato. If he could get rid of it, it would certainly count as a feather in his cap. He neither wanted Yang Ming to buy it nor hoped it could be sold. Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao approached the Vige Chief, "Uncle Vige Chief, weve decided to buy this plot ofnd." The Vige Chief was shocked to hear this but didnt want to cheat them and reminded them again, "Yang Ming, you better think this through, this isnt goodnd." "Yes, weve thought it through. But, Uncle Vige Chief, since thisnd is so poor, could you lower the price a bit, how about 100 silver notes? If we dont buy it, no one else will." Upon hearing they really wanted to buy, the Vige Chief became somewhat excited; it was after all a hot potato, "Yang Ming, like this, tomorrow Ill report this to the government office and see if we can lower the price." "That would be a great help, Uncle Vige Chief." The next day, the Vige Chief showed up, thend deal went through. The thirty-acre lond was purchased for 100 silver notes. They received thend deed, and the Vige Chief, with 100 silver notes in hand, left Yang Mings home beaming. He truly had not expected the Yang family to be so wealthy, casually taking out 100 silver notes. Chapter 366: So, Any Rewards?

Chapter 366: Chapter 366: So, Any Rewards?

The news spread so quickly that soon the whole vige knew that the Schr and his wife had bought that plot ofnd which often yielded nothing. Such a big event cant go without some gossip. "The Schrs wife really bought thatnd?" "Indeed, the Vige Chiefs wife said so, could there be any doubt?" "Hey, why do you think the Schrs wife wanted to buy that low-lyingnd?" "Could it be that she doesnt know and was tricked by the Vige Chief?" "Give it a rest, even if the Schrs wife doesnt know, wouldnt the Schr know? They went to buy that low-lyingnd together." "Now that is strange, could there be some treasure hidden in thatnd?" "..." "..." Because Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming bought thend, there were various opinions, some said they were foolish, some said they were deceived, but the most outrageous rumor was that there was treasure in thend. And indeed, someone really went to dig for treasure. Xiaoxiao burst intoughter when she found out. Were they providing freebor to till hernd? It would be nice if there were really treasures. When her family learned that they had bought that plot ofnd, they couldnt understand it, feeling that money had been wasted. But there was nothing to be done since the purchase was already made, and it couldnt be returned. Hearing from Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao that with good management, it might turn out to be goodnd, they reluctantly epted it. The rumor that there was treasure in thend grew wilder, and the second brothers wife charged into the house, "Little sister-inw, is there really treasure in thatnd?" Before Xiaoxiao could even speak, she heard her sister-inw say anxiously, "Everyone is heading to ournd, what if they dig up the treasure?" "Pfft." This statement truly amused Xiaoxiao. Her sister-inw actually believed there was treasure, "Sister-inw, theres no treasure, but we have gotten freebor to till ournd." Upon hearing this, the second brothers wife froze for a moment, then realizing the joke, she pped her thigh, "Oh, little sister-inw, how do youe up with such ideas? I didnt think of this at all. Now I can rx, Im off." Without a doubt, she was off to spread word to the other family members. This sister-inw was like the family jester,pletely different from the first sister-inws temperament. After the sister-inw left, Xiaoxiao looked at her beloved husband andughed heartily, "Husband, do you think there might really be treasures in thatnd?" Yang Ming drew his wife close, seating her on hisp, and looked at her affectionately, "Anynd bought by my wife is definitely treasurend." Xiaoxiao was startled by Yang Mings sudden movement, but then she wrapped her arms around his neck and looked at him just as affectionately, "Of course, who do they think I, Zhong Xiaoxiao, am?" "You are my wife." "Yes, your wife." Xiaoxiao giggled goofily, "We really have to thank the person who spread the rumor about the treasure. If not for them, where would all these volunteers to till ournde from?" Yang Ming, with his arms around his wifes waist, said, "So, should I get a reward then?" "..." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiaos eyes widened. No way, this scheme was orchestrated by her clever husband? How sly and craftily clever he was. "Husband, is it really okay to deceive the vigers like this?" Although she also felt that this n was truly awesome. "Im just giving them something to do, who let them say buying thend was foolish?" "..." "So, about that reward?" Chapter 367: Kissing

Chapter 367: Chapter 367: Kissing

The cheap husband really was the best gift heaven had given her. He was like a warm ray of sunshine, prating her heart, making it impossible for her not to love him. She wrapped her arms around her cheap husbands neck, pursed her lips, and said in a coquettish tone, "Hmm, Ill give you a reward, so you better close your eyes quickly." Upon hearing this, Yang Ming felt a bit of excitement and also a bit of anticipation. His wife asking him to close his eyes meant they were going to kiss, right? Thinking about kissing his wife again made him even more nervous. He did as his wife said and closed his eyes, feeling his own eyshes trembling slightly. He tightly pressed his lips together, quietly waiting for the reward his wife was about to give. At that moment, Xiaoxiao was also very nervous. She hadnt really experienced how to kiss, except for peck-like kisses, and didnt know any other way to kiss. But she, Zhong Xiaoxiao, was a modern person of the twenty-first century. Even if she hadnt practiced, she had often seen it on TV and in the streets; wasnt it just about kissing the other persons mouth? Her heart pounding wildly, she nervously moistened her dry lips with her tongue, inching closer and closer to her cheap husbands face. Finally, her lips touched her cheap husbands. Yang Ming felt a hint of coolness from his wifes lips stirring joy in his heart, but she soon let go, and the sensation of the kiss vanished before he could even savor it. He opened his eyes, wanting to see his wife, and saw her face slightly red, her finger touching her lips, then she said, "Hubby, you need to open your mouth when you kiss, dont keep it so shut." Yang Ming, still puzzled, hadnt even responded when his wifes lips sealed his once more. This time, he heeded his wifes advice and didnt keep his mouth so tightly closed. Xiaoxiao, feeling that her cheap husband hadnt kept his mouth so shut, smiled with her eyes tightly closed, beginning her campaign. Yang Ming, whose lips were lightly sucked, suddenly widened his eyes. He felt his blood boiling, a sensation so wonderful that he wanted more, much more. Mirroring his wifes actions, he switched from passive to active, savoring her sweetness. Thus, the two of them, clumsy in their first real kiss, tried the most beautiful thing in the world, kissing passionately and chaotically. They even made sounds that neither of them noticed, "Mmmh." Xiaoxiao, overwhelmed by Yang Mings kissing, found it hard to breathe. Noticing his wifes quick breathing, Yang Ming reluctantly let go, "Lets rest a bit." The released Xiaoxiao gasped for air. If she was going to die from kissing, she would truly be the first person in the world to do so, and would certainly beughed at. She lowered her head, her face slightly red, feeling ecstatic insidekissing the person she loved felt like this. "Wife." "Hmm?" Chapter 368: Husband, Don’t

Chapter 368: Chapter 368: Husband, Dont

"Husband, are you busy?" "I am." "..." Such words made Xiaoxiao feel like her whole body had been electrocuted; she instantly stiffened, daring not to move an inch. What could she do? It was broad daylightwhat if someone came? Yang Ming didnt wait for his wife to react and directly captured her lips; he was simply too greedy for the kiss she had just given him. This time, Xiaoxiaos eyes widened in surprise. Her cheap husbands kissing skills had improved so quickly; the man who was clumsy just moments ago was now leading her, making her feel rxed andpletely nestled in his arms. After conquering his wifes lips, Yang Ming felt it wasnt enough, so he moved on to her ears, along her face, gently and slowly trailing downwards. Such kisses made Xiaoxiao tremble slightly, her body feeling unbearably hot as she muttered, "Husband, dont." "Third sister-inw!" This shout of "Third sister-inw" snapped them both back to reality; they quickly separated and hurried to straighten their clothes that had been mussed in the kissing. Xiaoxiao felt like her heart was about to leap out of her chest. With a flushed face and in a flurry, she said, "Come in." At the moment, Yang Ming was inwardly roaring. Why did his younger brother have toe now, neither earlier norter? Hearing the voice of his third sister-inw, Yang Dong walked directly into the room and saw the two people with strange expressions standing on the ground. However, he didnt think too much of it. "Third sister-inw, what do you need me for?" Hearing this, Yang Ming turned to look at his wife, his nce making Xiaoxiaos skin crawl as if to say, it was you who called my younger brother to ruin the moment. "..." Xiaoxiao felt helpless. It was you who insisted on doing bad things in broad daylight, now its my fault? She turned to Yang Dong, "I was wondering if the field has been plowed yet?" "Its almost done." "I wanted to ask you guys to go to the new patch of low-lyingnd we bought, find a spot, dig a big hole, and bury those pickles." "Alright, well go do that now." "Mmm, Ill bring lunch to you at noon." "Okay." Yang Dong said and then headed out. Yang Ming no longer felt the burning desire he had just before; instead, he seemed somewhat distant, "Wife, couldnt you have asked me to do that?" Seeing the look on her cheap husbands face, she knew he was probably resentful that she asked Yang Dong instead of him. He really was a petty man who got jealous easily. She pouted, "I wanted you to rest and recover." "My body is already better," Yang Ming said, feeling helpless. Was his health really that poor? "Hmph, do you think youre a fairy? You were nearly dying, and now you act as if nothing happened?" Just as Yang Ming wanted to retort, his wife leaned in and whispered softly, "Only when youre fully recovered can you do that with me." After finishing, she blushed and ran off like a wisp of smoke. Chapter 369 The Ground Is Almost Overturned

Chapter 369: Chapter 369 The Ground Is Almost Overturned

Seeing his brides blushing face run out, Yang Mings mind quickly grasped what she meant this time. A slight smile curled at the corner of his mouth, his body recovering swiftly. At this rate, it wouldnt be many days before they could consummate their marriage. For these few days, he would be content with just holding her and stealing kisses. Xiaoxiao, who had run out, felt unbearably embarrassed. If her younger brother hadnt arrived just then, something unthinkable might have really happened. She patted her cheeks with both hands to calm down and saw her younger brother and the others grabbing shovels, ready to set out. "Yang Dong, you guys can choose where to dig. Make sure its a bitrger and deeper, to bury all that sauerkraut. Oh, and recently some vigers came to till ournd, right? If its an area thats been tilled, dont dig there. Try to find a spot where the soil hasnt been disturbed." Xiaoxiao thought it made sense to not disturb the soil that had been so nicely tilled by others. "Got it," Yang Dong replied and left with their father and brothers. After sending them off, Xiaoxiao went to the main house and yed with the three little ones for a while. Soon it was time to cook. Xiaoxiao and her mother-inw finished preparing the meal, and after a quick dinner with Yang Ming, they headed out to deliver food to the workers in the fields. Upon reaching the fields, Xiaoxiao shouted out, "Dad, big brother, second brother, Yang Dong, time to eat!" Her voice echoed across the boundless fields, clear and loud. Yang Ming, carrying food, was in such a good mood that he joined in with his wife, calling out, "Time to eat!" Hearing the two voices calling out, everyone stopped their work and came over to eat. Xiaoxiao looked at the spot they chose for digging. It was quite far from home. Why didnt they pick somewhere closer? There was undisturbed soil near the house, too. Wouldnt it be easier to move the sauerkraut if it were closer? She asked Yang Dong, a bit puzzled, "Yang Dong, how did you guys pick this spot?" "Well, I saw this ce is lower in terrain, burying the sauerkraut here kind of fills the lond," Yang Dong casually remarked while eating. Xiaoxiao listened and thought that made sense. Yang Dong wasnt as simple-minded as she had thought. Seeing that everybody was eating and there was nothing urgent, Xiaoxiao pulled her husband aside, "Husband, lets walk over there." "Okay." The two of them strolled across the field, but Xiaoxiao actually wanted to see what those people had turned theirnd into. The more she saw, the more excited Xiaoxiao became. Gripping her husbands arm, she pointed at the ground, "Husband, look quickly." Yang Ming thought there was something on the ground and really looked where his wife was pointing, but saw nothing. "Look, theyve almost finished tilling ournd." "..." So thats what she was talking about. It seemed like a job well done, and his wife seemed happy, "Yes, theyve done more than half." Xiaoxiao had never expected that the rumor would actually bring people to till theirnd for free. She had nned to hire people to till thend, but now they could handle the remaining untilled areas themselves, saving a sum of silver. While she was still feeling pleased, her husband suddenly said, "Let them till for a few more days." "..." "In a few days, when theyve almost finished and indeed find no treasure, theyll lose heart. Then Ill spread the news that if anyone dares to mess with ournd again, theyll have to pay us silver." "..." She felt some sympathy for those people. Chapter 370: Really Dug Out a Treasure

Chapter 370: Chapter 370: Really Dug Out a Treasure

Yang Dong led his family to dig thend collectively, and it wasnt long before the news spread throughout the entire vige, making everyone more convinced of the rumors that there were treasures on that plot ofnd. At night, everyone went there to dig secretly. Within a few days, thend had been entirely overturned, and afterward, Yang Ming released a message that there were no treasures in thend, and their family was just digging to bury pickles. He warned that if anyone else went to dig in theirnd and damaged it, they would have to pay. The vigers then calmed down and stopped digging. They also lost interest in digging because indeed nothing was dug up. Yang Dong and a few others continued to digrge holes, waiting to bury the pickles, while Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming brought lunch at noon. That noon, as soon as Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming arrived, they saw that everyone had stopped digging and was standing above it, looking inside. Xiaoxiao grew curious, wondering if they had truly dug up some treasure? Without minding Yang Ming carrying the lunch, she ran quickly toward therge hole, shouting as she ran, "What happened? Did you dig up something?" Upon hearing her shout, everyone turned around. Yang Dong shouted at his third sister-inw, "Third sister-inw, we cant dig this pit anymore." Xiaoxiao grew even more curious and immediately stepped forward to look into the pit. My goodness, why is it all slush? How can there be so much slush underground? It cant be what she was thinking. She didnt care how dirty the slush was, and jumped right in, "Fourth brother, hand me the shovel." Everyone didnt know what this third daughter-inw wanted to do, but they still handed the shovel over to her. Xiaoxiao took the shovel and began to dig shovel by shovel, bing more and more excited. She saw water seeping up from below; they had dug to a water source, and it wasnt even two meters deep yet. She was absolutely thrilled, looked up, and yelled excitedly to the people above, "We really did dig up a treasure, we really did!" Upon hearing this, Yang Dong immediately jumped down too, "Third sister-inw, wheres the treasure?" "There it is, we dug up water!" Xiaoxiao pointed excitedly at the oozing water. But the people listening didnt look excited at all. They knew this, for they had dug wells before. They just didnt expect the water source to be higher up this time, and normally they had to dig much deeper to find water. Afterward, several people pulled Xiaoxiao and Yang Dong up from the pit. "Husband, hire someone immediately to make this pit bigger and deeper. We are going to make a fortune." The few people listening were even more confused. How could digging up water make them rich? "Third daughter-inw, whats really going on?" "Dad, the water source is shallow here. Once its dug out, maybe we can make a pond, then raise fish. Wont we make a fortune then? Our county doesnt have any rivers, and the fishe from other counties." The people still looked skeptical, "Third daughter-inw, will there really be water after we finish digging, and will it be a big pond?" This question really stumped Xiaoxiao. She was just excited about finding the water source and thought they could make a pond to sell fish. The thought of monopolizing the fish market in the whole county made her too excited. However, she really didnt know if it could be a pond, and she said somewhat sheepishly, "Actually, I dont know." "..." Everyone was quite speechless at her answer. The third daughter-inw was always like this, and they had gotten used to it. But Yang Ming said something supportive of his wife, "I think its worth a try." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiaos eyes instantly lit up, and a smile appeared on her lips, "Husband." Chapter 371 Manager Li Recruits Workers

Chapter 371: Chapter 371 Manager Li Recruits Workers

How could such a considerate husband not move her? Countless times, when her family questioned her, her considerate husband always stood by her side. He encouraged her, supported her, and silently did everything for her. She turned her head towards her father-inw, "Dad, lets give it a try. If we cant dig up water, we can use it to bury pickled vegetables." Old Mr. Yang thought for a moment, and since it was just a matter of exerting some effort and both the third son and his wife suggested so, he decided to give it a try. Moreover, the money was earned by the daughter-inw. Even if it was all spent, it wouldnt matter much; after all, the Yang Family originally had no money, so he nodded in agreement. The group continued digging after eating, while Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao went back to hire help, but what they least expected was that there would be a problem with hiring people. Many people gathered at the vige square of the Yang Vige, as if something had happened. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming moved forward to check out the situation, and then they heard the Vige Chiefs voiceing from the crowd. "Everyone, quiet down. Listen to me," the Vige Chief maintained order first, and the noisy square gradually quieted down. Seeing everyone calm, the Vige Chief nodded in satisfaction and continued, "I believe everyone has heard that our vigesnd has been bought by a wealthy person." Upon hearing this, the vigers started whispering among themselves; they had indeed heard about this. They wondered who was so foolish; if their vigesnd had been good, the entire vige wouldnt have been so poor as to have only earth houses. Seeing the vigers getting noisy again, the Vige Chief immediately waved his hand for quiet, "Everyone, quiet down. Let me introduce, this person next to me is Mr. Lee, the manager sent by that wealthy family." Everyone looked unanimously at the person beside the Vige Chief, whom they had thought looked unfamiliar and should be an outsider. They hadnt expected him to be the manager sent by the wealthy family. "Mr. Lee has something important to tell you, which is great news for you all. So, no more talking." Hearing the vigers whisper among themselves, the Vige Chief furrowed his brow even tighter; he felt embarrassed in front of Mr. Lee as these vigers only knew how to whisper to each other. After the Vige Chief introduced him, Mr. Lee shouted into the crowd, "People of Yang Vige, greetings, I am Mr. Lee, sent by the Master. The Master has bought quite a lot ofnd in this vige and needs people to manage it, so today, I am mainly here to recruit workers." Upon hearing this news, the square immediately exploded with activity. This was great news; wives were now working at the Schrs wifes ce and already bringing home money. So, without finding some work themselves, they felt powerless. If they could earn money within their vige, there would be no need to leave home, so they all eagerly moved forward. "We are recruiting temporary workers today to help till thend. The wage is twenty wen a day, and you must bring your own food. Work hard, and we will pick some from these temporary workers to be permanent workers." Twenty wen a day was quite simr to what they would make outside, and moreover, it was in the vige, and bringing their own food was convenient. Most importantly, it would be great if chosen to be one of the permanent workers. So everyone squeezed forward. "I want to sign up." "Count me in." "..." "..." This made Xiaoxiao very anxious on the side. Spring had arrived; some families had already tilled their fields and others had gone out to work. The vige already had few able-bodiedborers left. If all of them went to till thend for that wealthy family, who would dig her fish pond? She had topete forbor, so she shouted to the crowd. "Everyone, listen to me." Chapter 372 She Actually Didn’t Outcompete Them

Chapter 372: Chapter 372 She Actually Didnt Oupete Them

Xiaoxiaos cry startled everyone in the square, and they all turned their heads to see the Schr and his wife standing there. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming instantly became the focus of the square. Yang Ming felt helpless about his wifes impulsive action; her speaking out meant that they were undoubtedly about topete forborers. He knew very well that this time, the oue was likely to disappoint his wife. After all, in the vigers hearts, long-termbor was more tempting than short-term, and this wasnt something that could be solved by just increasing the wage a little. "Schrs wife, what do you want to say?" At this moment, a viger asked. Yang Ming wanted to pull his wife away. Recruiting workers didnt necessarily mean they had to hire from their own vigethey didnt need to offend the new rich man of the vige. But his wife moved so quickly, heading straight into the crowd while she spoke, "We also need workers for our hollownd, twenty-five coins a day, bring your own provisions. Who is interested?" This news set the vigers abuzz again. They needed workers for that poor piece ofnd too? Investing silver into such a bad spot? The Schrs wife must have lost her mind, but the wage of twenty-five coins was indeed higher. In fact, the additional five coins were not added by Xiaoxiao on the fly; they had already nned this on the way there. Men typically earned twenty coins with meals included when they worked outside. Since they werent providing meals, they offered twenty-five coins. At this time, Xiaoxiaos mind was not working clearly. She was desperate to find people to help dig her pond and hadpletely forgotten that she waspeting against the new rich man. The vigers hesitated, unsure of which side to choose, which surprised Xiaoxiao. The steward Li stood there, his expression unchanged, but with an air of confidence, he spoke to the crowd. "Think carefully about where you want to work. On our side, there is a chance for long-term employment. How many days can they offer you to work?" Steward Lis words helped the vigers make up their minds. Although they had been hesitant, his words clearly implied that if they went to the Schrs wifes side, the opportunity for long-term employment would be gone. So everyone crowded around the Vige Chief and Steward Li, eager to register,pletely ignoring the Schrs wife behind them. "Ille this side, please register me quickly." "Count me in too." "..." "..." The words of Steward Li made Xiaoxiao suddenly realize. In her eagerness to seed, she hadnt considered everything, and it seemed she was still too inexperienced, needing more seasoning; she admitted defeat wholeheartedly this time. When her husband had tried to pull her back, he probably had this in mind as well. She truly needed to change her impulsive nature, acting without fully considering things. However, no matter what, she still felt some disappointment. After all, she had brought considerable benefits to the vigers in this vige; she hadnt expected to be abandoned by everyone when it came to their own interests. "Wife, dont be sad, your husband has a n." Xiaoxiao, who was feeling a bit emotional just a moment ago, immediately cheered up at her husbands words. Thats right, what kind of setback was this to be upset about? A living person wouldnt be suffocated by urine after all. She smiled at her husband, "Okay, Im not sad. Lets go home." As they walked towards their home, a shout came from behind them. "Welle to till yournd for you." At the sound, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming immediately turned around to see several robust men. Chapter 373: Relatives are Crucial at the Critical Moment

Chapter 373: Chapter 373: Rtives are Crucial at the Critical Moment

At the moment Xiaoxiao saw them, her eyes filled with surprise and emotion. She knew these people. Werent these the men of the Yang Family? The three cousins from the eldest uncles family, and one cousin and a younger cousin from the third uncles family. This made Xiaoxiao sigh with gratitudeduring crucial times, it was still all about rtives. She had been a bit sad, but these guys warmed her heart. "Ming Cousin, Ming Cousin-inw, wevee to help you till thend. How many people do you need? If its not enough, lets call my dad too." Seeing the couple turn around, Yang Wei hurriedly stepped forward and spoke. The affairs of Ming Cousins family were definitely something he needed to help with. If it werent for these two, he would not have ended up marrying Hehua, whom he had loved for many years. "Right, if thats not enough, lets call all the strongborers from the old Yang Family," the eldest cousin from the eldest uncles family added. "Eldest cousin, lets talk while walking." Yang Ming was also surprised that they could help. Since the families had split, everyone had been living their separate livesthis was indeed the first time something like this had happened. It might be the daughter-inws doing. Since she had joined the family, visits among the families had increased a lot more than before. "Okay, lets talk while we walk." The group left the square and walked towards Yang Mings house. "Yang Ming, hasnt yournd already been almostpletely tilled by the vigers? Why do you still need to till thend?" At this, the second cousin from the eldest uncles family asked. "Actually, we found a water source in that plot, and were thinking of trying to dig a pond out of it." "Water hase out of that hollowed area?" This news truly shocked everyone; they had never expected that beneath that poor piece ofndid water. Everyone had talked about there being a treasure in thatnd, but no one expected the treasure to actually be water. "Yep, if we really can dig out a pond, we might even keep fish." As soon as they heard about keeping fish, it became an incredibly exciting prospect. Fish were considered a delicacy and there were no rivers or ponds where they lived. Now they realized why Yang Ming had been willing to buy that poor piece ofndperhaps he had always known that thend would turn out to be a treasure. The third cousin from the eldest uncles family, excited, pped Yang Ming on the back, "You sly dog, you knew it was a treasurend when you bought it, didnt you?" Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao gave an awkward smile. They actually hadnt known this beforehand, and perhaps it was true what they saythat fortune favors the foolish. "Okay then, we wont go to your house. Well head straight to the hollowed area with our tools early tomorrow morning." "Yep, thanks, all of you guys." "Dont mention it, were one family, no need for formalities. Lets go," they said as they parted ways. After the others had left, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming returned to their own home. As soon as they entered the house, Xiaoxiao slumped into a chair, "Husband, I really didnt expect them to stand by us. In crucial times, you still need family." Yang Ming poured a ss of water for his wife and handed it to her, "Yeah, I didnt expect it either." Xiaoxiao took the water and gulped it down, then set the cup on the table. She continued to express her feelings, "Husband, Im a little moved. The Yang Family people are finallying together." Hearing this, Yang Ming hooked his finger and yfully flicked his wifes nose, his face filled with smiles. He drew out his words saying, "Not your Yang Family, our Yang Family." Xiaoxiao was momentarily stunned; she had just been flicked on the nose. Ever since their confession of love, her dear husband had been making these small gestures, but it was precisely these gestures that made her feel loved and cherished. She giggled foolishly, "Youre right, our Yang Family." Chapter 374: A Woman Who Laughs Often Won’t Have Bad Luck

Chapter 374: Chapter 374: A Woman Who Laughs Often Wont Have Bad Luck

Yang Ming looked at his wifes smiling face, guessing she had probably already forgotten the incident at the square earlier. He really liked this aspect of her personality; anyone else would probably still be fuming. Actually, finding a water source on that plot ofnd was something he hadnt anticipated. He had agreed to buy thend simply because his wife wanted it, and as long as she was happy, that was what mattered. "Wife, youre really lucky to have actually dug up a treasure." Thement went straight to Xiaoxiaos heart. She felt the same way and her smile grew even broader as she proudly said, "Of course, women who smile often wont have bad luck." "..." Women who smile often wont have bad luck? His wife sure had some bizarre theories. But listening to his wife was truly enjoyable. Her positive and optimistic attitude had unconsciously influenced the whole family, and their home was no longer as gloomy as before. As he was thinking this, suddenly his cheeks were pinched by his wifes hands, pulling and tugging them as she said, "Husband, men who smile often dont have bad luck either, so you should smile like this, or this, or like this more often." Yang Mings face was pinched by his wife, and his lips were pulled into various curves, turning his face into all sorts of strange expressions. Seeing this, Xiaoxiaoughed even harder. Her husband now smiled more often, and he looked very handsome when he did. She was just teasing him. She let go of his face and, still smiling, said to her husband, "Alright, give me a smile, let me see." Yang Ming, far from getting angry, felt that his wife was flirting with him, so he very cooperatively made several smiling faces for her. "Hehe, like this?" "Hehe, how about this then?" "Humph, and what about this way?" "..." Watching her husband really making all sorts of smiling faces for her, herughter grew even louder. She felt that this yful version of her husband was much cuter than the rigid one he used to be. Yang Ming continued making various smiling faces, seeing his wife so happy made him find her incredibly adorable, and he really wanted to go up and give her a peck. So, while his wife was still bursting withughter, he made his move. In the midst of herughter, Xiaoxiao didnt expect Yang Ming to suddenly kiss her. She was stillughing with her mouth wide open, so instead of his lips meeting hers, their teeth ended up shing together. The sound of their teeth shing brought theirughter to an abrupt stop, and a flush of red spread over their faces. Xiaoxiao felt extremely embarrassed. Could it be because of her slight buck teeth? She wondered if having mild buck teeth, which she thought looked cute when she smiled, could also interfere with kissing. She felt a bit self-conscious, "Husband, do you think my buck teeth are ugly?" Yang Ming, caught off guard by his own actions, was taken aback by her question. He turned to look at his wife, seeing her bashful and dejected expression. Mimicking her, he pinched her cheeks and pulled her lips apart to reveal her buck teeth, "Let me see." Xiaoxiao stayed still, looking at her husband as he then said, "Not ugly at all, quite adorable when you smile, I really like it. Here, let me touch them again." Following that were two sounds of teeth nging together. Xiaoxiaos face was released, "Okay, smile for me, lets see." "..." This quirky husband really did use his teeth to touch hers. Chapter 375: Don’t Look at My Little Buck Teeth

Chapter 375: Chapter 375: Dont Look at My Little Buck Teeth

"Pfft!" Without a doubt, her inexpensive husband had sessfully made herugh. Seeing his wifes burst ofughter, Yang Ming couldnt help but say, "Your little buck teeth look so cute when you smile." "..." This inexpensive husband was still coaxing her. She immediately covered her mouth with both hands, ring at her husband as she threatened, "Dont look at my little buck teeth." Watching his wifes adorable actions, Yang Ming reached out to move her hands away from her mouth, "Dont cover them, they really look nice." "No, no, no," Xiaoxiao struggled while the two of them yfully pushed and shoved each other. In the end, Xiaoxiao couldnt resist any longer and pouted, "Alright, alright, I give up. Ill let you see." Yang Ming released her hands, and saw his wife lean in, her mouth spread wide showing both rows of her teeth, "There, youve seen them now, enough, right?" After speaking, she sat back down on the stool. Watching his wifes cute demeanor, Yang Ming just wanted tough. Her coquettish behavior was irresistible to him, and he unconsciously moved forward, wanting to hug her. But his outstretched hand was blocked by her arms, "Honey, stop fooling around, lets talk business." Seeing his wife getting serious about discussing matters, he paused, "Go ahead." "Honey, even if we include all thebor of the Yang family, that pond wont get dug up." Xiaoxiao thought for a moment. The pond needed to be about five acres in size and at least five meters deep. If they relied solely on manualbor, just a few people would have to dig for eons, and she couldnt wait that long. She wanted results soon. "Dont worry, the one thing we arent short of is people to work, Ill go to Xiawa Vigeter and find some," Yang Ming assured his wife, looking at her reassuringly. Hearing this, Xiaoxiao was momentarily stunned; she had forgotten about this. The one thing notcking here was people wanting to earn some Silver. Xiawa Vige was closer to theirnd, so it was the best choice to hire people from there. He was moreposed and rational than she was. She felt that her brain wasnt very sharptely, probably because all her brain cells were upied with being in love. She needed to reflect on herself. She stood up, pulling her inexpensive husband along, "Honey, then lets hurry over." "..." He knew his wife would react like this, always rushing around. He had actually been thinking of going just now, but he was worried that his wife might be upset about the events at the square, and wanted to cheer her up and make herugh. He pushed his wife back down onto the stool, "Wife, the ox cart isnt home. You should stay, its too tiring to walk that far." Xiaoxiao sat there thinking, still too poor. One cart wasnt enough. With the family ox cart out in the fields, they had no ride left. Once the underwear business made some money, she wanted to have a spare one. After thinking it over, Xiaoxiao still stood up, and while walking, she spoke to her husband, "Honey, Ille with you. I havent been to the other viges yet." This was true. She had been here so long but aside from Yang Family Vige and her maternal home, Stone Vige, she hadnt had the chance to visit other viges nor did she know what they were like or their economic situations. Seeing his wifes determination, Yang Ming could do nothing but agree and follow her out the door. As they stepped out, Xiaoxiao asked, "Honey, do you know anyone in Xiawa Vige? Should we go directly to the Vige Chiefs house, or what?" "Uncle Wus house is right there in Xiawa Vige." "..." Chapter 376: The Young and Handsome Fifth Uncle

Chapter 376: Chapter 376: The Young and Handsome Fifth Uncle

Originally, Yang Mings fifth uncle lived in Xiawa Vige. She wondered why she had never seen him. His eldest uncles family, third uncles family, and fourth uncles family, as well as their own family, were all in Yang Family Vige. So, why had his fifth uncle moved to another vige? "Honey, since its our first visit, we should bring some gifts, right? Wait a moment," she said. Xiaoxiao immediately went back inside. It was her first visit, and it seemed inappropriate to show up empty-handed, so she found a piece of cloth, grabbed the snacks she had prepared a few days earlier for their wedding chamber, and took two pounds of brown sugar as well. Upon leaving the house, she said to her husband, "Honey, these gifts seem a little scant, but weve run out of meat at home." "No worries, were heading to the vige chiefs house. Theyve already started receiving game delivered to the vige chiefs ce. Well buy some there." Talking this over, they left the house. Coincidentally, there was a live pheasant avable, which Xiaoxiao and her husband bought immediately before heading straight to Xiawa Vige. On the way to Xiawa Vige, they passed the plot ofnd they had bought, so after updating her father about the situation, they hurried to the fifth uncles house. During the journey, Xiaoxiao asked about the fifth uncles family. "Honey, why doesnt the fifth uncle live in Yang Family Vige?" Speaking of which, Yang Ming felt somewhat embarrassed, but since his wife had asked, he had to exin, "Actually, after the family split, the fifth uncle went to his wifes family and became their son-inw through a practice called taking in." "Why did he only be a son-inw after the family split?" Xiaoxiao was quite curious. Based on Yang Mings demeanor, it seemed as if taking in was somewhat frowned upon. "The fifth aunt originally married into the Yang family as usual, butter on, her brother passed away due to illness, leaving their family with no male heir. Since the Yang family was dividing its property at that time, life was quite hard for the fifth uncle and aunt outside, so he became a son-inw instead." So that was the case. She had heard of this practice before. A family without a son was called a family without a lineage, but she didnt find the idea of being taken in repulsive at all. Gender equality mattered, and it was perfectly okay to live with whoever, as there were many instances in modern times where children took their mothersst name. It didnt take long before they reached Xiawa Vige, which looked simr to Yang Family Vige, mostly consisting of earthen houses. She thought it made sense since, judging by the name "Xiawa Vige," one could tell the vige was situated in a low-lying area, and the plots ofnd the vigers owned might not be much better than the one she bought. The vige was probably very poor, and she guessed that the fifth uncles family wasnt very affluent either. After winding through the vige, they finally reached the fifth uncles house, and Xiaoxiao was immediately shocked. The fifth uncles house was actually made of brick and tile, and it seemed his father-inw was quite wealthy. This waspletely unexpected for Xiaoxiao. Even more surprising were the numerous farming toolsid out in the courtyard, which made Xiaoxiao wonder if their family sold farming equipment. Seeing the surprised expression on his wifes face, Yang Ming said, "I forgot to mention, the fifth uncles family sells farming tools." "..." Indeed, she had guessed right. Before they even reached the house, a man who appeared to be under thirty years came out. Xiaoxiao thought to herself, could this be the fifth uncle? Such a young fifth uncle. While she was thinking this, she heard Yang Ming calling out, "Fifth Uncle." "..." Xiaoxiao felt like she had received quite a shock today. This fifth uncle was young and handsome, seemingly younger than her modern-day peers. Yang Wuzhu was quite surprised to see Yang Ming arrive and immediately weed them inside, "Yang Ming is here! Is this your wife? Come in quickly." Xiaoxiao quickly greeted him, "Hello, Fifth Uncle." Chapter 377 The Beautiful Fifth Aunt

Chapter 377: Chapter 377 The Beautiful Fifth Aunt

Yang Wuzhu nodded at Xiaoxiaos greeting, then hurried towards the house, shouting as he walked, "Xiaofang, guess whos here? My grandnephew Yang Ming is here." Xiaoxiao nced at her makeshift husband, puzzled as to why his arrival would make Uncle Wu so ted. As the two followed behind, they hadnt yet entered the inner room when they heard a clear female voice from inside, "Really? Yang Ming is here?" "..." This left Xiaoxiao very perplexed. Why did Aunt Wus tone sound so thrilled too? Upon entering the house, Xiaoxiao saw Aunt Wu, whom she had never met before. Aunt Wus refined and otherworldly appearance made Xiaoxiao think of a phrase, "Like a lotus flower rising pure from the water, untouched by the mud below." Both Uncle and Aunt Wus good looks were too much, and Xiaoxiao couldnt help but stare a bit. "You must be tired from such a long journey, sit down and rest." Yang Wuzhus wife hurriedly moved a stool and urged them to sit. Snapping back to reality at Aunt Wus warm invitation, Xiaoxiao quickly responded, "Aunt Wu, Im not tired." "You sit first, Ill go pour some water for you. Even if youre not tired, you must be thirsty." Aunt Wu said and headed outside, which made Xiaoxiao feel quite embarrassed, as though she was imposing. "Aunt Wu, this is what my wife prepared. Here is a piece of fabric for you, and the rest are some edibles. You can take them to the kitchen." Seeing Aunt Wu about to go to the kitchen, Yang Ming quickly handed over the items. "Child, if youreing, juste, why bring so many things? Were all family, you cant do this in the future." Aunt Wu epted the items, speaking politely as she left. Although she used the same politenguage as the Vige Chiefs wife, Xiaoxiao felt that Aunt Wu truly meant they shouldnt bother doing this again. After Aunt Wu left, Xiaoxiao, who sat there, started looking around. Simple tables and chairs, no superfluous decorations, but everything was tidy and clean. But no matter what, it was a brick house. She presumed that Uncle and Aunt Wu were living well here. Xiawa Vige wasnt far from Yang Family Vige, just a neighboring vige. How could it be that she never saw Uncle even on major festival days? As Xiaoxiao was mulling this over, on the other side, Uncle Wu had already started chatting with Yang Ming. "Yang Ming, how have your studies beentely?" "Uncle Wu neednt worry, your nephew hasnt forgotten to study." "How is everything at home now?" "Everything at home is fine now. Xiaoqiu has already returned home, and theres also a lead on Xiaoxia." These words startled Yang Wuzhu. Though he didnt visit Yang Family Vige, he often heard news from there. He knew about Xiaoqiu returning home, but having a clue about Xiaoxia was beyond his expectations. He was genuinely happy for the family, feeling somewhat emotional, "Thats really wonderful news." "And how about the others at home, how is my mothers health?" "Grandmother is still as quirky as ever, but shes very fond of my wife and often asks her over for chats." Hearing this, Yang Wuzhu felt a stir of emotion and nced in Xiaoxiaos direction. He had heard quite a few rumors about Yang Mings new wife, from being notoriously infamous to now being fiercelypetent, and then observing the way his nephew looked at her. Perhaps she truly had something exceptional about her, having won over both his nephew and that entric olddy. He thought to himself, wondering, should he ask for her help with that matter? Chapter 378: We Don’t Have Kids Yet

Chapter 378: Chapter 378: We Dont Have Kids Yet

At this time, Auntie Wu had already returned to the house, brimming with enthusiasm, pouring water for us and offering all sorts of snacks. "Have some of these snacks for now, Im going to start cooking, and youll eat with us at hometer." "Thats right, eat at home." Yang Wuzhu chimed in from the side. Xiaoxiao, feeling a bit embarrassed by the overwhelming warmth of Auntie and Uncle Wu, did not say anything. This was Yang Mings rtives home, so she followed Yang Mings lead. "Auntie Wu, please dont trouble yourself, well be leaving soon." Seeing that Auntie Wu was about to start cooking, Yang Ming quickly intervened to stop her. "Oh, that wont do, its your first visit and you must have a meal." But Auntie Wupletely disregarded Yang Mings words and went straight to the kitchen. Faced with Auntie Wus warm invitation, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming exchanged smiles, knowing that they would definitely be staying for the meal. Standing up, she said to Uncle Wu, "Uncle, you guys chat. Ill go help Auntie Wu with the cooking." Following Auntie Wu into the kitchen, Xiaoxiao added, "Auntie Wu, let me help you cook." Uncle Wus wife paused for a moment upon hearing this. She had heard rumors about Yang Mings wife and thought she was a difficult person to get along with. She was surprised to see her offer help in the kitchen. Smiling, she said, "You are the new bride; we cant have you helping out. Why dont you sit down and keep mepany for a chat?" Xiaoxiao smiled at Auntie Wu, "How am I still a new bride? Its been several months since I married in. Lets do it together; itll be faster that way." "Alright then." Seeing Yang Mings wife so willing, she didnt insist further. They would indeed be quicker working together. The two of them got busy in the kitchen. Auntie Wu was truly generous, taking out the best food she had at home, including the wild chicken she had brought. This reminded Xiaoxiao of the first time she went to her eldest uncles house for a meal. The aunts demeanor had been rather unweing, yet she cooked all the meat that Xiaoxiao had brought. Families really do have their own ways; although their characters differ, their styles are quite simr. Xiaoxiao even witnessed a scene of a beautiful woman killing a chicken. Auntie Wu was indeed impressive, her eyes not blinking an inch during the process. If it were Xiaoxiao, she wouldnt have been able to do it. As Xiaoxiao helped wash the vegetables, she felt at ease and started chatting with Auntie Wu. "Auntie Wu, why havent I seen your child around?" When Uncle Wus wife heard this question, her hands, which were plucking chicken feathers, halted, and she didnt respond right away. Not hearing a reply, Xiaoxiao turned toward Auntie Wu. Why did the atmosphere suddenly change? Had she asked something she shouldnt have? Soon Auntie Wu recovered and resumed plucking the chicken feathers, speaking in a lower tone, "We dont have children yet." The response caught Xiaoxiao off guard. She realized she was the least adept at conversation. Uncle and Auntie Wu had been married for at least six or seven years; that many years without children would certainly invite ridicule here. They must be suffering inside. She had inadvertently touched upon their wound. She really should smack her own mouth. What should she do now, how could she make amends? The topic had already been broached, how could she console Auntie Wu? As she was pondering, she heard Auntie Wusforting words first, "Oh dear, dont worry about it, Auntie Wu is absolutely fine." Looking at Auntie Wus feigned smile, Xiaoxiao earnestly wanted to help her, but she wasnt a doctor. "Auntie Wu, its actually quite normal not to have children. Have you guys seen a doctor?" Chapter 379: Fifth Auntie, I Think You Are Fine

Chapter 379: Chapter 379: Fifth Auntie, I Think You Are Fine

Xiaoxiao thought for a moment, perhaps it was just a minor problem, see a doctor, get some treatment, and maybe she would conceive. Thats why she asked. Wu Shaner smiled helplessly, perhaps it was just her fate to be childless, "Ive seen the doctor, and he said theres nothing wrong." Xiaoxiao furrowed her brows, her heart pounding, nothing wrong? Could it be that the doctors here dont know how to diagnose infertility? Or is their medical skill not yet at that level? Although she wasnt a doctor, she had heard plenty in modern times and knew some symptoms that could lead to infertility. She decided to ask, "Auntie Wu, is your menstrual cycle regr? How often do you get it?" Yang Wuzhus wife hadnt expected this girl to ask such a direct question, but since she asked, she couldnt just ignore it. Feeling embarrassed, she replied, "Yes, once a month, pretty regr, I suppose." "And how heavy is the flow, is it dark or bright red?" "..." How could this girl ask such detailed questions? Yang Wuzhus wife felt too embarrassed to answer, her cheeks flushing as she said, "Niece-inw, why do you ask all this?" Seeing Auntie Wus embarrassment, Xiaoxiao exined, "Oh, Ive just heard about what might cause inability to conceive. I want to see if the doctor you saw had diagnosed the condition correctly. If he was wrong, we should quickly find another doctor to take a look." Hearing this, Yang Wuzhus wifes eyes immediately lit up, and she no longer felt shy, "The flow is quite normal, not dark." "And usually, how many days does itst? Do you have any symptoms during that time, like stomach pain, cold legs, back pain, and so on?" "Four to five days, Id say. Theres just a slight pain in my lower abdomen, but its not severe." "When you and Uncle Wu are intimate, do you feel a lot of pain then?" "..." The more she asked, the more detailed it got. She felt too shy to answer, but thinking that there might still be a chance for her to have offspring, she said with determination, "It doesnt hurt." From Auntie Wus answers, Xiaoxiao felt that Aunt Wu probably really didnt have any problems. Her periods were normal, and she didnt appear to have gynecological issues or to be suffering from a cold uterus. Could it be an inherent problem with her uterus? If not, it was entirely possible that the issue was with Uncle Wu. "Auntie Wu, has Uncle Wu been to see a doctor?" That question stunned Yang Wuzhus wife, "Yang Mings wife, what illness should your Uncle Wu see a doctor for?" "Auntie Wu, not being able to have children doesnt necessarily mean theres something wrong with us women; it could also be a problem with the men that prevents conception." "..." Yang Wuzhus wife had never heard such a thing before. Shepletely disbelieved it; to her, having children was a womans business, and if she couldnt conceive, it was also the womans issue. Seeing Auntie Wus reaction, Xiaoxiao knew her words must have been taken as a joke. It would probably be quite shameful for a man to see a doctor for such an ailment, she thought. The medical technology of this ce, even if a man were infertile, they probably wouldnt be able to treat it. Its best not to exin too much, "Auntie Wu, I was just thinking gibberish when I said that men could also have problems." "You child, how can you say whateveres to mind. Are my symptoms indicative of an illness or not?" Yang Wuzhus wife still hadnt given up hope and wanted to know if there really was something wrong with her. "Auntie Wu, I think youre perfectly fine." Hearing this, Yang Wuzhus wife felt somewhat disappointed. If she were ill, she could seek treatment, but being healthy and still unable to conceive meant that she was destined to be childless! Chapter 380: Actually, There is a Knack to This Thing

Chapter 380: Chapter 380: Actually, There is a Knack to This Thing

Seeing the look on Auntie Fifths face, Xiaoxiao consoled her. "Auntie Fifth, you dont need to be upset. Perhaps the timing just isnt right. Ive seen women older than you who didnt be pregnant until they were in their thirties, so dont give up hope. You still have a chance." "Really?" Suchforting words had never been spoken to her before. Many people had said that after so many years without conceiving, she probably wouldnt be able to. This Yang Mings wife was truly kindhearted. "Really, Auntie Fifth, you have to believe in yourself." Xiaoxiaos sincere gaze made Yang Wuzhus wife feel that this girl was easy to get along with, different from the rumors; her sadness faded, reced by a surge of self-encouragement, "Yes, I will believe in myself." Watching Auntie Fifth pep herself up, Xiaoxiao thought that Auntie Fifth showed a childlike side. She decided to share some tips with her. "Auntie Fifth, there are actually some tricks to this. I heard that there are a few days each month when sharing a room makes it easier to conceive." "Really?" "Yes. You take the day your period starts, count fourteen days back and then add the five days before that and the four days after. Sharing a room during those ten days makes it easier to conceive, while at other times its not as likely." Just as Xiaoxiao finished speaking, she heard a thud; the pheasant that Auntie Fifth was holding dropped to the ground. "Auntie Fifth, whats wrong?" Xiaoxiao immediately went to help pick up the pheasant. Tears brimmed in the eyes of Yang Wuzhus wife as she asked excitedly, "Is what you said really true?" Xiaoxiao nodded, "Its true." This was knowledge from the 21st century. Although it wasnt a guarantee of pregnancy, it certainly increased the chancespared to other times. Xiaoxiao helped Auntie Fifth to a stool to sit down, and then heard her say, with a touch of resentment, "On those days, your Uncle Fifth just happens to be away from home." Hearing these words from Auntie Fifty, Xiaoxiao felt puzzled. Where did Uncle Fifth go every month during those days? Surely he wasnt having an affair. "Your Uncle Fifth has been working as an ountant at a tavern in the county town for several years. He only goes there at the end of the month to settle ounts, so hes quite busy and stays over. I just calcted, and its exactly on the days you mentioned." "..." Xiaoxiao was terrified for a moment, thinking Uncle Fifth might have been unfaithful because they didnt have children. It turned out he was working. And Uncle Fifth could settle ounts? Wasnt Yang Ming the only one in their family who was literate? Although confused, Xiaoxiao felt truly happy for Auntie Fifth upon hearing her words. It seemed that for the most part, the couple only shared a room when it was safe, which meant the chance of bing pregnant was indeed slim. She said to Auntie Fifth with a smile, brimming with encouragement, "Auntie Fifth, hurry and get Uncle Fifth toe back home. Dont let him work away anymore. Your baby is on the way." "Will it really happen?" Yang Wuzhus wife was still in a state of disbelief, but at the prospect of it being true, she felt this would be incredible news, something she had longed for far too long. Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously at Auntie Fifth, "Auntie Fifth, have some confidence in yourself." "Yes." The two were so uplifted by this hopeful news that the kitchen echoed withughter and joyful voices. Yang Wuzhus wife found herself liking this niece-inw more and more. She felt as if Xiaoxiao was like a little sister,pletely forgetting the seniority of her own position. Sitting inside the house, Yang Wuzhu heard his wifesughtering from the kitchen and was quite surprised. This wife of Yang Ming really was impressive; his wife hadntughed so heartily in a long time due to the issue with bearing children. Chapter 381: Uncle Wu Has This Covered

Chapter 381: Chapter 381: Uncle Wu Has This Covered

Hearing the faintughter of his wife and Aunt Fiveing from the kitchen, Yang Ming felt a proud satisfaction. His wife could always make people happy wherever she went. Unconsciously, the corners of his mouth lifted in a smile, even he himself hadnt noticed it. Yang Wuzhu watched his nephews beaming face, noting that it had been a long time since theyst met, and his nephew seemed much more cheerful now, likely thanks to his wife. "Yang Ming, what brings you here today?" He thought that Yang Ming wouldnt visit with his wife without a reason; there must be something they needed, but he had been too excited to see them and had started catching up on family matters without asking. "Well, Uncle Wu, there is indeed something. I need to hire fiftyborers from Xiawa Vige to help me dig thend." "Dignd?" Yang Wuzhu was shocked. He had heard that they had bought somend, but even if it was thirty acres, they surely didnt need so many people. Moreover, thatnd was far inferior to thend in Xiawa Vige; it was practically deserted wastnd that no one wanted. "Yes, Uncle Wu, perhaps youve heard. We bought that swampynd next to your vige. While digging, we discovered a water source, and were thinking of building a pond there to raise fish in the future, so were rushing to hire people to help dig." When Yang Wuzhu heard this, the idea of building a pond for fish farming seemed like a significant undertaking. His grandnephew hade to him for help, and he definitely needed to handle it properly. "Leave the hiring to me; Xiawa Vige has no shortage of strongborers. But how much are you nning to pay them?" "Twenty-five wen a day, without meals. They need to bring their own dry food." Frowning at the wage, Yang Wuzhu said, "Thats too much pay. Just make it twenty wen per day, which is the going rate elsewhere." "In other ces, they provide meals; we dont, so we thought of giving a bit more." "Whats so difficult about cooking? Well provide meals as well." "..." Seeing Yang Ming hesitating as if he wanted to say more, Yang Wuzhu guessed the reason. Was it too troublesome? "Well set up a temporary cook shack on the site. Dont worry about the trouble. Bring the supplies to my house in the evening. Consider it settled." Given Uncle Wus assurance, Yang Ming agreed. Soon after, Aunt Five and Xiaoxiao also had dinner ready. Later, Xiaoxiao also came to understand the household better. There were four people in Aunt Fives family: Aunt Fives parents, Aunt Five, and Uncle Wu. Aunt Fives brother, being ill, had never married and thus had no children. The sisters were all married off. Aunt Fives father was a cksmith in the vige, making and selling agricultural tools, which made their living quite adequate. Uncle Wu didnt want to depend solely on others, so he always did ounting work for people to supplement the household ie. It was quite the perfect family, truly just missing a child of their own. Later, the family had a meal together. Yang Ming even shared a little drink with Uncle Wu and his father-inw. Everything was agreed upon, and that evening Uncle Wu went out to look for people. They nned to bring theborers and start digging the next morning, providing their own tools initially. After the meal, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming prepared to return home. "Daughter-inw, this is for you as a meeting gift. Dont disdain it." "This..." Xiaoxiao truly hadnt expected Aunt Five to prepare a meeting gift for her, unsure of what to do, she turned to look at Yang Ming. With an affirming nce from Yang Ming, Xiaoxiao finally epted it, "Thank you, Aunt Five." Yang Wuzhus wife smiled softly, then turned to Yang Ming and said, "In the future, bring your wife here more often." "Yes." Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao left the house. Uncle Wu and Aunt Five actually walked them all the way to the vige entrance before heading back. Chapter 382: Wife, Hold Hands, Kiss Tonight

Chapter 382: Chapter 382: Wife, Hold Hands, Kiss Tonight

Leaving Xiawa Vige, it wasnt dark yet. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were walking on the path home. Xiaoxiao wanted to hold hands with her husband on the way back, so she reached out her hand, but just as she touched her cheap husbands hand, he quickly withdrew it and looked around nervously, then said, "Its not dark yet. Lets wait until we get home to hold hands." "..." Was he being shy? Afraid of being seen by others? But who was there on this road? She knew that it wasnt appropriate to openly hold hands during the day here. She hadnt held hands when they came, and now she only wanted to hold hands because she saw no one around, plus it was about to get dark. She circled her hand around the area, pouting as she pointed and said, "Husband, do you see anyone on the road?" "Not now, but what if someoneester?" Yang Ming also wanted to hold his wifes hand all the time, but his thinking didnt allow him to do so. He felt that being seen holding hands was a very shameful thing. "..." She suddenly envied modern couples who could openly walk down the street holding hands. Now it seemed so hard even to hold hands a little. Fine, dont hold hands then, she thought, resigning herself to the customs of this odd ce. As she walked ahead, she muttered, "Hmph, fine, dont hold hands then, but dont expect any kisses tonight." Xiaoxiao had meant thatment for herself, and although she whispered it very softly, the road was so quiet and Yang Mings hearing was so good that it still made it to his ears. Yang Mings face immediately changed upon hearing her words. No kisses? That simply wouldnt do. It had been difficult enough to get to the point where they could kiss, and now that was all they were allowed to do. So he quickly walked up to his wifes side, took her hand without a second thought about shame, and decided he would ept being seen. The right to kiss was absolutely not up for negotiation. He lifted their interlocked fingers for her to see, and then said, "Wife, were holding hands now. We have to kiss tonight." "..." Was her cheap husband equipped with supersonic hearing? Hed heard her quiet littlement? A smile spread across Xiaoxiaos lips. He was afraid, wasnt he? Yet he had abandoned all semnce of shame just for a kiss? Hand in hand, the two of them moved forward, starting to chat idly. "Husband, today Uncle Five and his wife were too enthusiastic." They had been obviously thrilled at their arrival; it wasnt like hosting rtives could exin such excitement. Holding his wifes hand, Yang Ming replied to herment, "Yeah, maybe they were just excited because its been a long time since theyve seen family." "..." She wouldnt get that excited about seeing any rtive after a long time. Was she some kind of cold-blooded creature? "Husband, we dont live that far away from each other, so howe you havent seen each other in so long? And he didnt evene to see Grandma during the New Year." Having seen Uncle Fives ce, which wasnt bad at all, she was baffled. "Its because Grandpa and Grandma didnt allow Uncle Five to marry into his wifes family, so they forbade him from returning to Yang Family Vige. Plus, theres an old saying that the greatest filial piety is to have offspring, and since Uncle Five and his wife have been unable to have children, they feel ashamed toe back." "..." So that was the story. She was speechless with the legendary grandpa; not allowing them back in the vige meant cutting off rtions with that side of the family, no wonder Uncle Five and his wife were so moved to see her and Yang Ming. Now she understood. If she were in their shoes, she, too, would be incredibly excited. Chapter 383 I Really Just Want You

Chapter 383: Chapter 383 I Really Just Want You

"Husband, now that Grandpa is no longer with us, does Grandma still not allow us to return?" Yang Ming nodded, "Yes." This was also the reason why Uncle Five and Auntie Five still hadnt gone back. Xiaoxiao really hadnt expected that the old kid would be so old-fashioned. Clearly, when Yang Qiu came back, she was very happy, so how could she not ept her own son and daughter-inw? "Husband, I heard from Auntie Five that Uncle Five is managing the ounts for the distillery, so Uncle Five can read?" "Yes, I learned how to read from Uncle Five. Later, when the family supported me, Uncle Five stopped his studies." Talking about this, Yang Ming always felt guilty towards Uncle Five. If it werent for him, Uncle Five would have continued his education. "..." Hearing this made Xiaoxiao feel that Uncle Five was quite pitiful. He couldnt continue his studies, his mother didnt acknowledge him, and he also didnt have any children. Listening to her dear husbands deep voice, she must have felt remorse over this matter all along. She pulled on her dear husbands hand and then said, "Husband, dont overthink it. Well help them out more in the future." "Yes." Yang Ming held his wifes hand tighter. His wife always knew how tofort him. After talking so much with Auntie Five about children today, Xiaoxiao suddenly remembered the first time she got her period, she had fainted from the pain. It could be an illness; she should find time to get it checked. What if it affected her ability to have children in the future? "Husband, what if I cant have children like Auntie Five?" Hearing this, Yang Ming immediately stopped in his tracks, twisting his wifes body to face him, and said earnestly, "All I need is to have you." Such words moved Xiaoxiao. He didnt say, "That wont happen, well have children." He didnt hesitate at all but instead immediately said something heartwarming. "But, theres an old saying; Among the three unfilial acts, the worst is to have no descendants." Xiaoxiao looked up seriously at her dear husband. "Our family has descendants. Eldest Brother and Second Brother have children, andter, Fourth Brother will also have children." "But without children, there will be no one to care for you in your old age." "All I want is to grow old with you." "But without children, we will beughed at by others." "Let others say whatever they want, all I need is to have you." "But..." "..." His wife had a lot of buts today. He pulled her into his arms and embraced her, "No more buts. I truly just need to have you." Embraced in the arms of her dear husband, Xiaoxiao felt his words sweeten her heart. She stretched out her arms, wrapped them around her dear husbands waist, and held him tightly, "Yes, I just need to have you too." The two embraced each other while in Xiaoxiaos heart, a voice whispered: she loved him and was determined to bear him a child. She wanted him to be a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather. Seeing his wifes reaction today, he must have known she was scared because Auntie Five couldnt have children. He stroked his wifes head and said softly, "Alright, lets go home. We can have some kisses at home." Hearing this, Xiaoxiaos face instantly turned red. Her dear husband dared to flirt with her so tantly now. She quickly pushed him away and ran ahead, "I dont want to." Seeing his wifes shy demeanor, Yang Ming quickly sped up his steps, catching up with his wife. He took her hand in his, their fingers entwining, and they resumed their original pace, walking on the country road towards home. Chapter 384: Wife, don’t cry, I agree

Chapter 384: Chapter 384: Wife, dont cry, I agree

At the entrance to Xiawa Vige. Yang Wuzhu and his wife watched their nephew and his wife leave and were reluctant to return for a long time, feeling aplex mix of emotions. It took a while before Yang Wuzhu finally spoke, "Wife, you go back first, Im going to look for some helpers at the vigers homes." "Yes." The living standards in Xiawa Vige were slightly poorer than in the Yang Family Vige. When they heard Yang Wuzhu was looking for people to dig the ground, offering twenty wen a day with meals, and payment settled daily, they all readily agreed. It didnt take long before fifty people were gathered, just waiting for Yang Wuzhu to lead them to the fields the next day. Yang Wuzhu was in especially good spirits today; after all, it had been a long time since he had seen his rtives. He was somewhat excited and drank a couple more sses at dinner. As soon as Yang Wuzhus wife returned home, she prepared the Sobriety Soup. Seeing her husband return, she immediately brought it to him and anxiously asked, "Husband, is everything taken care of?" Yang Wuzhu took the Sobriety Soup and gulped it down, "Yes, everythings taken care of. Dont worry, wife." Hearing this, Yang Wuzhus wife was relieved. After all, Yang Ming and his wife had asked them for a favor for the first time; they couldnt afford any mistakes. Afterwards, she fetched water for her husband, cared for him as he washed up, handled everything, and then the two of themy on the heated brick bed, chatting idly. "Husband, may I discuss something with you?" she began as soon as theyy down. "What is it?" "Could we stop going to the distillery to work?" Ever since the niece-inw had mentioned it, she had been overjoyed. She desperately wanted a child, and even if it wasnt certain, she wanted to try. She knew her husband felt bad about not contributing to the household, which is why he sought work. He would definitely be angry, but the matter of having a child was paramount, so she gathered her courage to speak. Upon hearing this, Yang Wuzhu frowned. Why would his wife suddenly bring this up? She clearly knew why he had to work. "Today, the niece-inw told me about the days of the month when its easier to conceive a child." "..." Yang Wuzhu didnt respond, listening as his wife continued. "The days she mentioned are exactly the days when you are not at home. Maybe if you were home, we could conceive." "..." Yang Wuzhu was stunned by her words. What had his niece-inw filled his wifes head with, discussing such a delicate topic? He didnt believe a word of it. Whether or not they could conceive had nothing to do with which days they were intimate; his wife must have been misled by the niece-inw. "Wife, you are the elder. How can you discuss such matters with the niece-inw? Its not proper." No sooner had he spoken than his wife flung off the covers, sat up, and yelled, "You say its improper, but whom am I doing this for? Isnt it all for the sake of us having a child?" After shouting, she started sobbing mournfully, "Wuu, wuu." Seeing his wife cry over the matter of a child again, he immediately sat up and embraced her, "Wife, dont cry." Yang Wuzhus wife continued sobbing, "Wuu!" "..." Yang Wuzhu had originally thought that maybe his niece-inw had some exceptional insight, and had wanted her to help with something. But now it seemed that his niece-inw was unreliable, feeding his wife all kinds of nonsensical ideas, raising her hopes then dashing them again. Yet his wife had been despondent over this issue for days. If this new hope made her happy, he was willing to support it. So he held his wife close, "Wife, dont cry anymore, I agree." Chapter 385: In a Few Months Their Young Miss Will Come to Stay

Chapter 385: Chapter 385: In a Few Months Their Young Miss Will Come to Stay

On the second day, just as dawn was breaking, Yang Wuzhu led fifty strongborers and waited on the depression that Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had purchased. It wasnt long before the entire Yang Family arrived, not just Yang Mings familyhis eldest uncles, third uncles, and fourth uncles families were all there, except for the children too young to work; everyone was present. The men dug the earth while the women helped with cooking; the united front warmed Yang Wuzhus heart. What was going on? He had never seen such a scene before. Even when they had a minor fall-out over dividing the family assets, it wasnt like this, not even when they worked the fields together before the separation. Hearing theughter asionally emerging from the newly built huts, could this also be Yang Mings wifes doing? What exactly had she said to everyone that made themugh out loud? He couldnt help thinking that he should bring his own wife over tomorrow to experience this atmosphere. Surprisingly, seeing so many rtives had stirred some excitement in him, and he worked even faster, determined to contribute as much effort as everyone else. And so, with everyones collective efforts, the construction of the water pond that Xiaoxiao had nned began with a bang. Even Xiaoxiao herself hadnt anticipated that by creating the pond, the other depressions would be filled in, inadvertently killing two birds with one stone. The pond hadnt been under construction for many days when the Vige Chief came to visit. Seeing Vige Chief approaching the depression, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming felt a little anxious. "Husband, he isnt going to stop us from digging, is he?" "He cant, weve already bought thend and thend deed is in our hands; he has no say in what we do now." Although Silverforted her like this, Xiaoxiao was still somewhat worried, wondering what the Vige Chiefs visit was all about. "Lets go over and take a look." "Okay." They stopped their work and walked over to the Vige Chief. "Vige Chief Uncle, did youe over here to look for us for something?" "Yang Ming, Yang Mings wife, I just came to ask when you can vacate the room youre renting for storing pickled vegetables? Its already due." Hearing this, Xiaoxiaos worries eased. So, it was about this matteras long as he wasnt stopping them from digging, it was fine. Lately, she had been so preupied with excavating the pond that shed put off dealing with the pickled vegetables and had forgotten about the deadline. She didnt expect Vige Chief Uncle woulde to remind them. "Vige Chief Uncle, what if you could give us a few days grace? For the extra days, Ill pay the silver as agreed." "Yang Ming, to tell you the truth, the house has just been sold to Manager Li." "" Xiaoxiao thought that paying for a few extra days would resolve the matter, but she didnt expect that the house was sold. Why did Manager Li have toe and sh with them the moment he arrived? While she was contemting this, she heard Vige Chief continue, "They want to renovate that house, and in a few months their young mistress is nning to move in. You see... " "Vige Chief Uncle, please tell Manager Li to rest easy; well vacate the house by tomorrow." "Alright, then Ill be heading back now." Hearing Yang Mings response, Vige Chief waved his hand and turned to leave. After Vige Chief left, Yang Ming saw his wife standing there, lost in thought. His wife was probably worrying over nothing again, "Wife, what are you thinking about?" Snapped out of her reverie by her husbands question, Xiaoxiao replied, "I was just wondering, why would Manager Lis young mistress leave behind herfortable life ande to reside in the countryside?" "" His wife indeed was overthinking things. Chapter 386: You Are the Only One in My Heart

Chapter 386: Chapter 386: You Are the Only One in My Heart

Seeing that her dear husband gave no reply, Xiaoxiao continued to support her chin with her hand, her head spinning rapidly with thoughts. Could it be that a wealthy familys daughter was ill and needed to recuperate in this countryside? Or perhaps she took a fancy to someone here, and for the sake of love, followed him? Who among the localds could possess such charm? Upon seeing his wifes distracted state, Yang Ming spoke, "Wife, lets go." "Dont bother me." "..." His wife was so engrossed in her thoughts that she asked him not to disturb her; he shook his head helplessly and simply waited for her to snap out of it. Xiaoxiao kept on pondering. That manager Li hade to the vige to vie with her for workers and even bought the house she rentedwasnt this deliberately targeting her? She hadnt offended him, so could it be because the miss had taken a fancy to her dear husband and saw her as a romantic rival? The more she thought about it, the more likely it seemed. She suddenly raised her head and asked her dear husband with a cool tone, "Spill it, have you been attracting some unwanted love attention out there?" Yang Ming was bewildered by his wifes sudden questioning, "What are you talking about?" "That wealthy familys daughter, she definitely has a thing for you after you provoked her. Now shese knocking, and look at how that manager Li has targeted me twice." "..." What on earth was going through his wifes head? He didnt know any wealthy familys daughters. And it wasnt like manager Li was targeting her; she was the one who went up topete with him for workers. His wife needed to get a grip. He raised his hand and gently flicked her forehead, then said tenderly, "Wife, youre overthinking it." "Ouch." How dare her dear husband flick her on the forehead, and in public no less, he was paying less attention to where they were; how embarrassing it must be for her with so many people watching. Just as she thought to scold him, she heard him add, "That wealthy familys daughter is definitely not here for me." In this vige, he might have a bit of charm, but outside, it was always Chu Lian who caught everyones eye, not him; he really didnt think any youngdy woulde for him. Seeing his wife remained silent, Yang Ming lowered his head and whispered into her ear, "You are the only one in my heart." Hearing this, Xiaoxiaos heart skipped a beat and her ears turned red. Her dear husband was no longer as staid as he used to be; he was now saying such things anytime and anywhere. She felt herself sinking into her husbands sweet nothings, unable to extricate herself. Trying to hide her blushing cheeks, she didnt look at him but continued to walk ahead, saying something hypocritical like, "Indeed I was overthinking. You? Youre just someone I was blind enough to fall for." Hearing this, Yang Mings lips curled in a slight smile as he followed closely behind his wife, saying loud enough for her to hear, "Its good enough that you fell for me; no need for anyone else to." "..." Xiaoxiao grew even more embarrassed at his remark and quickened her steps back to their hut. Of course, she knew her dear husband only had her in his heart. Her earlier interrogation was just to tease him, and she didnt expect to end up teasing herself instead. She thought she would forever be unable to out-talk her dear husband from now on. As for the wealthy familys daughter, maybe she really was overthinking it. She needed to observe whether manager Li was indeed targeting her; if that miss truly came for her dear husband, then, sorry but hmph. Chapter 387: When Do You Plan to Get Married?

Chapter 387: Chapter 387: When Do You n to Get Married?

The next day, at dawn, Yang Ming gathered everyone to move the pickled vegetable jars. They first moved them to the field and left them there temporarily, nning to bury them once the pit was dug. Since they were running out of time, they had no choice but to carry some by hand and use a cart for the rest. The Yang Familys actions were truly grand. They went back and forth from the rental property to the field with jars of pickled vegetables. Even if people didnt want to take notice, they still did, especially since they had to pass by the main square. Wang Xiangxiang rode in a horse-drawn carriage back to Yang Vige. When she passed by the main square, she happened to witness this impressive scene. As someone always curious, she asked the coachman to stop the carriage and got out to take a look. She saw a few aunties chatting leisurely in the square, so she walked over to them and greeted, "Good morning, aunties." These were the same aunties who had been chatting with Chu Lian, and upon seeing Wang Xiangxiang, they greeted her warmly, "Ah, its you, youngdy." Wang Xiangxiang wasnt surprised by the aunties reaction; she thought it was normal for everyone to know her since she had set up a workshop in this vige. So she continued to inquire, "Aunties, what are they doing there?" "Oh, that? Thats the Schr Yangs family dealing with something. Theyre moving pickled vegetables to their newly purchased hollownd," one replied. Wang Xiangxiang had heard from Xiaoxiao about the poisonous pickled vegetables, and she presumed they were dealing with those spoiled vegetables. She hadnt seen Xiaoxiao for a few days, and now Xiaoxiao had even boughtnd. Wang Xiangxiang nced towards the people and thought about going over to take a closer look. Just as she was heading towards the carriage, she was stopped in her tracks by ament. One of the aunties remarked, "Youngdy, you and that Mister Chu really do make a fine pair, both of you are so good-looking." Wang Xiangxiang frowned upon hearing this; these aunties really had too much idle time, even randomly setting her up with someone. It would have been fine if they were just making random matches, but why did it have to be with that rascal? She smiled awkwardly, about to rify, when another auntie continued, "Yes, when do you n on getting married?" At this, the aunties started chatting non-stop, one after another, "If you two got married, the kids would definitely be beautiful." "Yes, definitely handsome," another auntie chimed in agreement. Hearing their conversation, Wang Xiangxiang felt as if something was wrong with her ears. She seemed to have heard something about marriage and having kids. Confused, she asked, "Aunties, who are you talking about getting married?" "You and Mister Chu," they said. She hadnt heard wrong; it was indeed about her and that rascal. The smile disappeared from her face; how could these aunties make up stories about someone right to their face? She suppressed her anger and said word by word, "Aunties, I have nothing to do with that Mister Chu at all." "How could that be? Mister Chu himself said it, that you are his fiance, not yet wed." Her eyes widened in disbelief upon hearing this. She asked again, "Did he really say that?" "Yes, he said it during Yang Weis wedding," they confirmed. Remembering that day at Yang Weis house, Xiangxiang recalled the aunties surrounding the rascal, him saying something, and then the aunties looked at her with smiles. And now, werent those the same aunties before her? Xiangxiang was livid. So that was the mischief the rascal had pulled that day; no wonder. Without paying further attention to the aunties, she stormed onto the horse-drawn carriage and said fiercely to the coachman, "Were going back to the county." Chapter 388: The Unyielding Wang Xiangxiang

Chapter 388: Chapter 388: The Unyielding Wang Xiangxiang

Atop the carriage, Wang Xiangxiang was already burning with rage by this time. That shameless man had actually gone so far as to tarnish her reputation; she had to settle the score with him, or she wouldnt be Wang Xiangxiang. She shouted out of the window, "Afu, make the carriage go faster." "Yes, Miss." Following the coachmans cracking whip, the carriage took off. It went especially fast and didnt stop at all until it reached the Academys entrance. To Wang Xiangxiangs surprise, that shameless man was actually not at the Academy. A scoundrel is a scoundrel after all, neglecting his studies as usual. "Afu, lets go, to Yui Restaurant." By now, Wang Xiangxiang was obsessed, determined not to give up until she found that shameless man. Upon entering Yui Restaurant, Wang Xiangxiang went straight to the counter and found Shopkeeper Wang, speaking quite rudely, "Where is your Young Master? Call him out for me." Shopkeeper Wang looked up and saw a beautiful yet icy face. He did not know who she was, but given her unfriendly demeanor, he feared she was there to cause trouble. He had to shield the Young Master from trouble and greeted the youngdy with a smile, "May I know what the issue is, Miss? Is there anything I can help with?" "Youre no good. I need to see him. If he doesnte out, Ill make sure your business doesnt seed today." Wang Xiangxiang was bellowing, ready to make a scene. She was prepared to create a ruckus right there and satisfy her grudge. Hearing this, Shopkeeper Wang stepped out from behind the counter and quickly ushered Wang Xiangxiang to the side, "Miss, lets talk nicely, shall we? Lets go to a private room." "Im not going. Bring him out now." Nice talk? She was beyond being nice now. "Miss, its not that I wont let hime out, but he really isnt here." "..." If hes not in Yui Restaurant, where could this man be? The shopkeeper looked sly and crafty as if he was trying to send her away. Thus, she waved her hand dismissively, "I dont believe it. Ill search every room myself and see if he refuses to show up." As Wang Xiangxiang started heading upstairs, Shopkeeper Wang saw that she was determined to check each room. This wouldnt do; there were several esteemed guests upstairs who could not be disturbed. He hurriedly stepped forward to block her, "Miss, I swear Im not lying to you. Our Young Master really isnt here." Wang Xiangxiang didnt stop her steps and dismissed Shopkeeper Wangs words as she continued to climb, "Whether hes there or not, I will see for myself. Dont bother trying to deceive me." Seeing that Wang Xiangxiang was about to open the doors to the upstairs rooms, fearing that he would truly offend the VIP guests, he quickly stood in front of her and whispered, "Hes at the Chu Mansion in town." "The address?" Shopkeeper Wang, with no other option, made a gesture of politeness, "Ill write it down for you right away. Lets go downstairs." At these words, a sly smile crossed Wang Xiangxiangs lips. She knew this tactic would work. She had simply intended to scare them; making a scene was always herst resort, and she generally avoided using it. After returning to the counter, Shopkeeper Wang handed Wang Xiangxiang the written address, "Heres the address, Miss." "Thanks." Taking the piece of paper with the shameless mans address on it, Wang Xiangxiang waved at Shopkeeper Wang, then left Yui Restaurant in high spirits. Watching Wang Xiangxiang leave, Shopkeeper Wang sighed, muttering to himself, "Master, where on earth did you find this formidable woman? Youd better deal with her yourself. Those esteemed guests upstairs are truly untouchable." With the address in hand, Wang Xiangxiang boarded the carriage once more, "Afu, go to this address." Chapter 389: Miss Chu Family, Chu Huan

Chapter 389: Chapter 389: Miss Chu Family, Chu Huan

Yui Restaurant was found all over the ce, and there were many family properties, but for some unknown reason, Lord Chu and Lady Chu took a fancy to Shibao Town and settled there for many years. As such, the family estate in Shibao Town was a ce Chu Lian often visited. Today was the birthday of Chu Huan, the eldest daughter of the Chu Family, so Lady Chu took this opportunity to arrange a flower appreciation banquet, inviting youngdies from wealthy families toe and admire the flowers. The ostensible reason was to celebrate her daughter Chu Huans birthday, but the hidden agenda was to help her son, Chu Lian, find a suitable match for marriage. At the end of February, spring had just begun. The trees were not yet dressed in green, and it was not yet the season for flower viewing. Lady Chu, eager to attract those youngdies, had gathered exotic flowers and nts from various ces. The Chu Mansion had always acted discreetly, and they had never hosted a feast for many years. Those who received the invitations spected that it was an event to choose a suitable spouse for Eldest Young Master Chu, so they all had their daughters dress up and attend the banquet. The flower appreciation banquet was held in the courtyard of the Chu Mansion, yet Lord Chu and Lady Chu were leisurely drinking tea inside the house. "Mydy, wont you go out and take a look?" Lady Chu sipped her tea and slowly replied, "Let Xiaohuan handle it. The girls would feel uneasy with us around." As soon as she finished speaking, Chu Huan walked into the room, picked up the teapot on the table, and poured herself a cup of tea, which she downed in one gulp. Lady Chu frowned upon seeing this. Her daughter was spoiled by her father andcked the demeanor of ady of quality. "Xiaohuan, can you please mind your manners?" Chu Huan was used to her mothers remarks, hearing them many times a day. She pouted and said, "Mother, can we not hold this flower banquet anymore? If youre going to do it, youre all inside while I have to deal with everything alone outside." "This is an opportunity for you to practice," Lady Chu said calmly. "Who are you kidding? Dont think I dont know, this is about picking a sister-inw for me." "..." Her daughter was clever and could see through anything. "So, you should be even more attentive. How are the girls outside?" Chu Huan found a ce to sit. "Not great, they all seem affected and ufortable, very artificial." Hearing this, Lady Chu knitted her brows. She and her husband had tried to stay out of the way. "Did you, perhaps, show them a cold face?" "Oh mother, unjustly used! How dare I? I was courteous and smiling the whole time, look how stiff my face has gotten from it," Chu Huan said, and she even grabbed her own face to show her parents. "Enough, remove your hand. Thats no way to behave," Lady Chu chided. "They might just be uneasy because they have just met. It will get better in a while. Go back to the yard and help your brother make a good choice." "Mother, no offense, but those people really arent a match for my brother. I dont understand, with our familys standing, do we need to settle for them?" "You think I want this? Its your brother, after all these years, hes not satisfied with anyone. We had to lower our standards. Otherwise, when can I expect to hold a grandchild? We picked the best avable from each town and county." "..." Her mother was desperate, resorting to finding purportedly reputable youngdies from nowhere that she didnt like at all. "Arent you going yet?" "..." She had barely warmed her seat when her mother sent her off again. She stood up, "Alright, alright, Ill go, but, just me looking isnt going to help, where is my brother?" Chapter 390: Call the Eldest Young Master Over

Chapter 390: Chapter 390: Call the Eldest Young Master Over

"Your brother is in the room, and mother will have someone call him overter. You go to the courtyard first and dont neglect the guests," "..." It was already well into the morning, and her brother had yet to leave his room; it was clear he did not want toe out, and her mother was still harboring illusions. Chu Huan pursed her lips and reluctantly left the room. Watching her daughter, who had been indulged to such an extent, Lady Chu red at Lord Chu and said, "Our daughter is spoiled by you. Look at her now; where does she bear any resemnce to ady from a great family?" Lord Chu had heard this remark countless times and replied with a smile, "Yes, thedy is right; its all my spoiling." Inwardly, though, he thought his daughter was raised just finespirited and lively, far better than those lifeless women out there. Every time Lord Chu gave the same response, leaving Lady Chu speechless. She turned to the maid beside her and instructed, "Go to the other courtyard and call Eldest Young Master here." "Yes, mydy." Chu Lians residing in the other courtyard Chu Lian had been up early today; he simply did not want to leave his quarters. He was well aware of the meaning behind the Flower Appreciation Society his mother had organized. Sitting at the desk, he gazed at the calligraphy and painting Xiaoxiao had given him, which he had copied countless times. He smiled wryly. Yang Ming should be almost recovered by now, right? Those two must have tied the knot by now. He had just put away the painting when he heard a knock on the door. "What is it?" "Young master, the old master and madam are asking you toe to the front hall." "..." His mother couldnt wait any longer and had sent someone to hurry him. It seemed he could not avoid this Flower Appreciation Society prepared for him, "I understand; you may go down first." Regardless, he would handle his mothers request first. After dressing neatly, he left his quarters and headed toward the front hall. But to get to the front hall, he had to pass through the main courtyard, and though he did not wish to encounter those chirpingdies, he had to see them. In the main courtyard, what was supposed to be a simple Flower Appreciation Societyenjoying the flowers and sipping teahad turned into a contest of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting due to thedies extreme efforts to showcase themselves. The arrival of Chu Lian stirred everyone present; the music, chess, calligraphy, and painting all came to a halt. The rich youngdies, not often going out, were even less ustomed to seeing such a handsome man. They blushed one by one, each wondering who he was. "Brother, youve finallye." Seeing Chu Lian arrive felt like seeing a savior to Chu Huan, as she really couldnt deal with this group of women any longer. Their pretentious, stern looks were too contrived and utterly unentertainingshe did not like them one bit. This call of "brother" confirmed Chu Lians identity to the women present. It turned out this man was their mission for the day. Although they had been reluctant to be chosen by others, upon seeing the Eldest Young Master himself, they secretly resolved to pull out all the stops to stand out and be chosen by him. Chu Lian, feeling everyones gaze, wore an expression of utter indifference on his face, yet couldnt help feeling disdain inwardlythese people werent even as good as that impudent woman. Chu Huan was shocked by her brothers demeanor; he was actually dazed! Could this mean that among them was someone who caught his eye? This was a once-in-a-century first. She would have to keep a close eye for her brothers sake. "Brother, brother," she called twice before Chu Lian came back to his senses. "Father and mother are calling for me. You go and y." After saying that, Chu Lian headed straight for the front hall, not looking at anyone present. Chapter 391: A Lady at the Door Insists on Entering without an Invitation

Chapter 391: Chapter 391: A Lady at the Door Insists on Entering without an Invitation

"Dad, Mom, Iming in." Having announced his entrance, Chu Lian walked straight into the room, saw the teapot on the table, poured himself a cup of tea, and downed it in one go. He had been sitting in his room all morning and had forgotten to drink water; he was indeed thirsty. Chu Lians father furrowed his brows and immediately scolded loudly, "Chu Lian, mind your manners!" Chu Lian didnt take it to heart; he had heard his father say this countless times before and simply found a seat and sat down. "Mom, can we not have that flower-viewing banquet next time, please?" Seeing her son like this, Madam Chus eyes flickered, and she insincerely said, "It was a birthday banquet for your sister." "Who are you kidding? If it was a birthday banquet for my sister, why did you insist Ie?" "..." His sister, sharp as she was, had seen through it, and his son wasnt a fool either, "Alright, Mother admits it, it was to select a bride for you." "Chu Lian, speak to your mother properly." Chu Lians father, disappointed by his sons attitude, med his wife for spoiling him. "Lian, those girls came all this way; just take a look. What if you like one of them? You havent taken to anyone in so many years; how can your mother not worry?" Madam Chu continued to plead earnestly, hoping to persuade her son. "Look at your cousin from your uncles family; hes a year younger than you, and his children are already running around everywhere. Dont let your mother wait until his kids are married off while only then yours start running around. Who knows if Ill live to see that day." "Madam, what are you saying? Even if itste, it cant be by that many years." "Your son might be a bit of a lost cause," Madam Chu said, more convinced of the possibility, "No, Lian, Mother cant listen to you anymore, otherwise, I might be in my grave and still without a grandson to hold." "Madam, can you not always talk about entering the earth? Youre still young." Madam Chu red at Chus father, then continued, "Lian, if you keep dying like this, Mother will have no choice but to arrange it for you. Since ancient times, marriage has been themand of parents and the matchmakers words. I cant let you have your way anymore." "Alright, alright, Mom, I wont say another word. Im going out to take a look." The sound of his mothers nagging continued to reach him, and if he didnt leave soon, he feared he wouldnt be able to bear it, not to mention that he also couldnt stand seeing his parents flirt with each other. Seeing her son finally moved by her words, Madam Chus face lit up with joy, "Alright, Mother wont say any more; you go out to the yard." "..." His mother seemed impatient for him to find a daughter-inw to bring back, practically chasing him out of the door. He quickly stood up; leaving was the wise choice, whether or not he found a bride was up to him to decide. Seeing his son heading out, Chu Lians father said to his wife, "Look at what youve turned our son into, he doesnt behave at all like a young master should." "..." What was wrong with her son? Good-looking, smart, assists in managing the tavern--he was much better than other sons. She red back, unmistakably disagreeing, "Its our daughter who youve spoiled rotten." "..." Chu Lians father sighed helplessly at his wifes reaction, wondering what had be of their family and hisck of control in raising his children. Before long, a house servant came with a report. "Master, Madam, there is a youngdy at the door without an invitation insisting on entering." Madam Chu was puzzled; all invitations had been sent out, so how could someone without one show up? Perhaps someone was trying to sneak in. "If she doesnt have an invitation, send her away." "However, the youngdy ims she is the Eldest Young Masters unofficial bride." "..." Chapter 392: Let that girl join the flower viewing banquet

Chapter 392: Chapter 392: Let that girl join the flower viewing banquet

Upon hearing this, Old Master Chu and Madam Chu exchanged nces, both utterly astonished. A youngdy, iming to be their sons fiance who hadnt yet entered the family, wanted to enter the mansion? This was indeed a novelty. Which familys daughter was so bold as to go to such lengths to attend their sons matchmaking event? Such courage to ruin her own reputation was something Old Master Chu had to see for himself. He thus told the house servant, "Let the youngdye in to attend the flower-viewing banquet." "Yes, master." After the house servant had left, Madam Chu was somewhat puzzled, "My lord, shouldnt such a person be sent away?" "Mydy, dont you want to see what sort of person this girl is, who is willing to destroy her reputation just to attend our sons matchmaking event? I dare say, she is different from the otherdies in the courtyard." "..." Madam Chu couldnt understand. How could a person with no sense of shame be better than thedies in the courtyard? She turned to a maid beside her and said, "You go outside and keep watch. Report any situation to me." "Yes, madam." At this moment, Chu Lian was unaware that Wang Xiangxiang was waiting outside to settle ounts with him. To distract his mother, he had no choice but toe to the courtyard, to the so-called grand flower-viewing event. Chu Huan saw her brother had finallye out and immediately pulled him aside. She whispered, "Brother, which one of these girls caught your eye? Tell me, and Ill introduce you." Her brothers earlier behavior made her think he must have liked someone. So, just after her brother had left, she got to know all these people thoroughly, earnestly, for her brothershe, after all, had an excellent memory. "..." Father being serious was one thing, but why was his sister also taking this so seriously? Helplessly, Chu Lian patted his sisters head, "I didnt fancy anyone. Go y, Ill just sit here for a bit then leave." His mother must have surely sent someone to watch him. He couldnt just leave right away, so he had to sit there for a little while. Chu Huan was baffled by her brothers response. Had she guessed wrong? "Then Ill sit with you here for a while." As she said this, Chu Huan also sat down. Dealing with those people was indeed quite tiring. The other young women in the courtyard, seeing young master Chue out, were all quite excited. Yet, young master Chu didnt even nce at them, directly sitting down to chat and drink tea with Miss Chu. Some in the courtyard were indeed here to try to be the Chu family bride, so some began to approach Chu Lian and Chu Huan. This made Chu Lian frown. He knew that if he didnt go over, others woulde to him. Thankfully, he had his sister by his side, which spared him some embarrassment. Outside the Chu Mansion Having acquired the address, Wang Xiangxiang came to the Chu Mansion without stopping. The anger that had dissipated from her journey red up again when the house servant denied her entry, seeing that encountering this scoundrel was turning out to be so troublesome that she even needed an invitation. Who did he think he was, some kind of important figure? She had no choice but to ruin her own reputationafter all, he was the first to say it. She didnt believe he wouldnte out after hearing this. Soon, the house servant came out, "Miss, you maye in now." "..." This scoundrel still wouldnte out? Let her in, then she would go inwho was afraid? Wang Xiangxiang could no longer care about much else; she told the coachman to wait outside and followed the house servant into the Chu Mansion. Walking along the path, a burst of fragrance assailed her senses, growing stronger the further she went inside. Reaching the front hall of the courtyard, Wang Xiangxiang was startledflowers filled the courtyard, as did people. What was this scoundrel up to? Chapter 393: A Little Shopkeeper Dares to Fantasize About Young Master Chu?

Chapter 393: Chapter 393: A Little Shopkeeper Dares to Fantasize About Young Master Chu?

"Miss, our master has allowed you to attend the Flower Appreciation Society without an invitation. Youre really lucky." "..." Flower Appreciation Society? Why didnt I hear about it just now, and whats so lucky about looking at flowers anyway? "Our young master and our youngdy are right over there. Hurry on over." Wang Xiangxiang followed the direction the house servant was pointing and saw a group of women. She had already noticed them earlier. Seeing the girl standing still after entering, the house servant became anxious for her and reminded her, "Hurry on over. The young masters selection for a bride isnt held often. You must seize the opportunity." "..." What is this house servant talking about? He just mentioned the Flower Appreciation Society, and now suddenly its a selection for a bride? Just as she thought to ask, the house servant turned and walked away. She couldnt bother with so much now; whatever kind of gathering it was, she was there to settle the score with the rogue. She thought it best to head over to where the crowd was and to ask someone there. Approaching the gathering, before she could ask anyone, she saw someone stand up suddenly in the crowd, her eyes instantly widenedwasnt that the rogue? She had finally found him. Without a second thought, she shouted towards the crowd, "Everyone, get out of my way!" Chu Lian was fed up with themotion and was about to leave when he heard the shrill voice. He thought he was hallucinating. Why would he think of that unruly girl? The group of women were so frightened by Wang Xiangxiangs roar that they really did make way for her. Chu Lian looked up and saw the unruly girl outside the crowd. His eyes instantly widened, shockingly surprisedhow could she havee to his house? Could it be that she was one of the guests his mother invited to the Flower Appreciation Society? But why did she look so furious again? It had been ten days since he saw herst, and he hadnt provoked her since then. At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang was indeed seething with anger. She no longer saw anyone else in the courtyard; all she could think of was confronting him. Without a thought, she walked right up, grabbed the rogue by the front of his shirt, and demanded, "Who did you say is your bride-to-be who has yet to be brought into the family?" Chu Lian, taken aback by the interrogation, quickly realized she was not one of the guests invited for the Flower Appreciation Societyshe hade specifically to confront him about this matter. "Let go of me first." "I wont let go," Wang Xiangxiang said fiercely. Seeing no other option, Chu Lian had to pry off the unruly girls hand and tried to drag her away, and so they tussled. This spectacle astonished those presenthow could this woman be so fierce and shameless, to treat the Chu Familys eldest young master like this? Among the crowd were rich youngdies from the county who had been to Xiangxiang Cloth Shop and recognized Wang Xiangxiang. "I know her, shes the Shopkeeper at Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, what is she doing here?" "Ah? Shes a Shopkeeper at Cloth Shop? How did she get in here? Wasnt this Flower Appreciation Society organized for those of our status?" "A mere Shopkeeper dares to aspire for young master Chu?" "And to im shes the bride-to-be of young master Chu? How shameless." "..." "..." The murmurs, though soft, all reached Chu Lians ears. He had heard of Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, which could be found in both town and county, and knew it was arge family business. Her name was Wang Xiangxiang; she was surely not some Shopkeeperthat Cloth Shop must belong to her family. Hearing those people demean her status, Chu Lians expression grew darker and darker. He turned his head towards the crowd and dered, "Even if her status is low, shes still more suitable to be my bride-to-be than any of you." Chapter 394: That’s best, remember what you said

Chapter 394: Chapter 394: Thats best, remember what you said

Chu Huan was utterly astonished on the side. What was her brother talking about? And who was this fierce sister? After saying those words, Chu Lian had a face full of pride. He believed the unruly girl would surely thank him, as he had given up so many other girls just to help her. Instead of feeling helped, Wang Xiangxiang felt that the rogues words were too much, as if he were ndering her name. She punched the rogue in the stomach and said angrily, "Watch your mouth; Id rather marry a pig or a dog than marry you." "Ah!" Chu Lian was thoroughly enjoying the moment when he was suddenly punched. He looked up and said, "You..." This unruly girl, what could one say about her? Good intentions taken for donkey liver and lungs. He had said that just to help her, and she had no gratitude. "What you? Stop pointing your fingers at me," she snapped. Hearing the unruly girls defiant words, Chu Lian shook his head helplessly. He truly was not thinking clearly today, to think he tried to speak up for her, only to end up embarrassing himself in front of so many people. He, too, retorted furiously, "Fine, you are really something, remember, I, Chu Lian, would rather marry a pig or a dog than marry you." "Thats better; remember your words." The bystanders were already stunned by this scene. What exactly was going on with these two? Just a moment ago, they seemed incredibly close, but now, it was clear they were practically enemies. "Brother, are you okay?" Chu Huan rushed over when she saw her brother get hit. Hearing Chu Huans voice, Wang Xiangxiang snapped back to reality. She nced at the crowd and her face immediately turned red, what had she just done? She had been so focused on arguing with the rogue that shepletely forgot there were so many people around. What was she to do? Just then, Little Maids voice broke the awkward silence, "Young master, miss, lunch is ready." "Please head to the dining hall,dies," Chu Lian said, and the maid led thedies to the restaurant. "Brother, you guys talk; Im also going to eat," Chu Huan quickly ran off. At the Flower Appreciation Society, only Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang were left behind. Wang Xiangxiang felt extremely ufortable. She had just beaten up this rogue in front of so many people. She walked around the courtyard, feigning interest, and said, "This Flower Appreciation Society is nice, the flowers are so beautiful." She even leaned in to smell them, "They smell so good." "..." She still had the nerve to stay in his house, openly admiring the flowers, her face was thicker than usual. He walked up to her; he had to get rid of her immediately, to throw her out of his house forever and never let her step inside again. Just as he was about to grab her, a loud noise came from the unruly girls stomach. "Gurgle!" Chu Lians eyebrows twitched with irritation. How could this unruly girl not have the slightest demeanor of a well-breddy? Wasnt she from a good background? Wang Xiangxiang hadnt expected her stomach to growl at that moment; she was genuinely hungry after running back and forth all morning chasing the rogue. "Sorry, its gettingte, I must go now. Remember, dont talk nonsense in the future," Wang Xiangxiang said, and quickly walked towards the exit. At this moment, Chu Lian did not know what to think but grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the dining room of their house, saying while walking, "Eat before you leave." "..." Chapter 395: Stop Laughing, No Talking While Eating or Sleeping

Chapter 395: Chapter 395: Stop Laughing, No Talking While Eating or Sleeping

"Let me go, let go of me now." Wang Xiangxiang struggled as she shouted. However, Chu Lian acted as if he hadnt heard and carried her all the way to the dining hall. "Let me go, will you? Ill eat, okay?" Wang Xiangxiang had figured it out. Why not eat? It was all because of him that she had run around all morning. She wanted to eat her way back to even, after all, Wang Xiangxiang never did a losing deal. Chu Lian pressed Wang Xiangxiang into a chair and said to the maid beside him, "Prepare a set of bowls and chopsticks for her." "Yes, young master," she replied. Soon, the bowls and chopsticks were brought in. Wang Xiangxiang started eating unapologetically, her manner of eating identical to the way she ate at Li Fuguisugly and copious. Chu Lian sat beside her, ceaselessly frowning. This woman, really... eating so much, how has she not turned into a pig. Chu Huan, sitting nearby, grew increasingly fascinated with this formidable sister. Who exactly was this sister? It seemed their brother had no way to control her. It was her first time seeing such a situation. Wang Xiangxiang wasnt just eating. She observed everything in the room. Those women asionally ncing their way seemed to be watching a scoundrel, and their faces turned red with embarrassment after looking. She realized then, this wasnt any Flower Appreciation Society. This was that matchmaking event the house servant had mentioned. So this scoundrel man was choosing a bride. No wonder. Wang Xiangxiang could hardly believe that the scoundrel man could be involved in such an event. The more she thought about it, the more she wanted tough. He finally had his day! "Pfft!" She couldnt hold it in and actuallyughed out loud at the table. Herugh made everyone turn to look at her. This woman must have some issues, they thought. Shes so aggressive just now and now sinisterlyughing. Chu Lian was speechless by then. What kind of upbringing did this unreasonable woman have, not eating properly,ughing foolishly by herself? "Stopughing, dont speak while eating or sleeping." Looking around the table, all weredies of good breeding, eating silently. Only this unreasonable woman, not caring at all, wasnt satisfied with one bowl, but had two. "..." Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiangsughter ceased as she continued eating. Noughter, no matter. She decided to focus on her meal first. Finally, the meal was over, and the maid brought dessert and tea. Other women, having just finished eating, didnt have any more, but Wang Xiangxiang, seeing the dessert and tea, continued to indulge. By then, some people were quietlymenting, "The little shopkeeper is really unsophisticated. Look at the way she eats, as if shes never eaten before." "Probably, being a cloth shop shopkeeper doesnt bring in much money. Finally having good food, of course she has to eat a lot." "She ate so much during the meal, and now shes still eating." "..." "..." Wang Xiangxiang didnt care about the discussions at all. To the outside world, she always posed as the shopkeeper of Xiangxiang Cloth Shop. Let them misunderstand; she only wanted to run her business well. Chu Lian heard everything and was puzzled. Everyone spoke of her like that, yet she didnt get angry at all. Chu Huan, however, couldnt stand it any longer. She had endured these people long enough, always putting on airs, never genuine, not like that formidable sister. She liked that sisters genuine nature. "Dont be too much. Whats wrong with the sister eating a lot? At least shes more genuine than you, who clearly want to eat but dare not." Chapter 396: But I Can’t Leave Anymore

Chapter 396: Chapter 396: But I Cant Leave Anymore

When the eldest Miss of the Chu Family spoke like this, everyone couldnt help but lower their heads, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and they ceased their discussions. She wasnt wrong; just earlier, in an effort to appear moredylike, they indeed hadnt filled their stomachs. Seeing that the Chu Familys Miss and the young master had their attention stolen by the little Shopkeeper who seemed to have popped up out of nowhere, everyone felt a pang of unwillingness in their hearts. Thus, they all silently resolved to make the Shopkeeper lose face at the afternoons Flower Appreciation Society. Wang Xiangxiang originally didnt intend to pay attention, but she hadnt expected someone to step forward and help her. She turned to Chu Huan with a sweet smile, "Thank you for speaking up for me." "Sister, theres no need to thank me; I was only telling the truth," Chu Huan responded with a smile. And seeing how her brothers expression grew darker after the sister was badmouthed, she thought to herself that her brother seemed to care a lot about this sister. She found this sister very nice as well. Seeing Chu Huans smile, Wang Xiangxiang was somewhat taken aback. It was an innocent and artless smile, pure and beautiful. She hadnt expected the rascal to have such a cute and kind-hearted sister. If it werent for the rascals involvement, perhaps she could have had a good rtionship with Xiaoxiao, but s... Once everyone had finished their snacks, a maid spoke up, "Please follow me to the courtyard to continue with the Flower Appreciation Society." Upon hearing this, everyone rose with an air ofdylike grace, walking in what they believed to be genteel, delicate steps, following the maid back to the courtyard to continue admiring the flowers. Chu Huan, seeing that sister and brother both hadnt moved, followed them out as well. She had to support her brother in dealing with those people in the yard, trying to keep them from bothering him as much as possible. Wang Xiangxiang, still sitting there, simply didnt want to squeeze through the crowd to go out; after all, she wasnt there to appreciate the flowers. But as everyone left, Wang Xiangxiang, who had eaten her fill, slowly got up. However, as soon as she did, she felt something wasnt quite right. Theres a saying about the three urgencies, and how was it that the need to urinate came so suddenly? Was she really going to ask the rascal where the restroom was? Wouldnt that just invite more ridicule? It might be better to hold it in. The carriage was right outside; she should hurry home. She walked towards the exit, but why was this urge to urinate so pressing? She could hardly hold it in anymore, making her walking posture quite odd. Chu Lian noticed the unreasonable girl stand and head towards the exit and followed her out. But once outside, he felt something was amiss. Why had the unreasonable girls walking posture changed, tiptoeing, with her buttocks slightly raised? Coming to his senses, his face instantly heated up. What had he been doing, inadvertently ncing at that spot on the unreasonable girl? By now, Wang Xiangxiang couldnt hold it anymore. Taking another step felt like she might urinate right then and there. She was furious at this point. How could this rascals home be so vast, and why was the path to the exit so long? Her face flushed with the effort of holding it in. Was this happening? Was her image going to be ruined by her dder? After a few more steps, Chu Lian sensed that something was increasingly wrong with the unreasonable girl, so he eventually broke the silence, "Whats wrong with you?" After asking, he saw the unreasonable girl lift her flushed face, her big eyes brimming with tears as she stared at him and said softly, "I need to use the restroom." "..." Hearing this, Chu Lians face instantly turned red. This unreasonable girl really had no sense of shame. He turned his head away, somewhat embarrassed, and pointed in a direction, "Its over there; go by yourself." He thought that after pointing her in the right direction, the unreasonable girl would go on her own, but she did not. Instead, he heard the unreasonable girl speak in a pitiful tone, "But, I cant walk anymore." "..." Chapter 397: Step Back a Bit

Chapter 397: Chapter 397: Step Back a Bit

This made Chu Lian cry andugh. How long had she endured, to the point where she could barely walk? He turned around, scooped her up in his arms, ignoring the gaze of everyone present, and strode towards the outhouse, all the while scolding, "I told you not to eat and drink so much, now look how embarrassing this is." At this moment, Wang Xiangxiang clutched desperately at the rascals shirt, listening to his scoldings. She did not speak, she just wanted to quickly reach the outhouse for relief. Soon, they reached the outhouse. Chu Lian kicked the door open, gently set down the spoiled woman, and said, "Here we are." Then he quickly left the outhouse and, with a ng, the door was shut. Inside, Wang Xiangxiangs face flushed crimson. This was the most humiliating moment of her life, and it had to happen in front of the rascal. She shouted outside, "Go farther away." She did not want the rascal to hear her using the restroom. "..." Chu Lian, reminded by her words, felt his mind buzz. He couldnt believe he was actually waiting for her while she used the restroom? He shook his head, lifted his leg, and quickly departed. Inside the outhouse, Wang Xiangxiang, hearing the rascal moving away, finally rxed and started using the restroom. She thought about leaving quickly once she was done. After such an embarrassing ordeal, the rascal would surely not let it go, and she never wanted to see him again in her lifetime. The image of Chu Lian carrying Wang Xiangxiang was witnessed by all the high-ssdies at the Flower Appreciation Society. They were utterly shocked to see such boldness between the two. The normally cold and aloof Young Master Chu, how could he carry the little Shopkeeper? Surely, the little Shopkeeper must have used some tricks to seduce Young Master Chu. Truly shameless. While some were seething with jealous rage, others were tempted, since they were there on family errands; an alliance with Young Master Chu would mean an extendedwork and better business prospects for their families. In fact, the primary reason was simply that Chu Lians appearance had captivated them. After quickly leaving the outhouse, Chu Lian returned to the courtyard, saw the throngs of women, and frowned, eager for the Flower Appreciation Society to end. Just as he was about to find a ce to sit down, he saw a woman stumble toward him. Without a second thought, he swiftly dodged, as if avoiding a dangerous creature. Then he heard the woman exim "Ouch" as she fell to the ground. Chu Lian waved to the maid nearby, saying, "Take thisdy to the guest room to tidy up." "Yes, young master." Afterward, other wealthy youngdies tried to approach him in various ways, all of which Chu Lian cleverly deflected. Chu Huan watched in shock. Her brother seemed truly different toward thatdy. He always had the same cold expression when dealing with other women, but his face was an array of expressions whenever he faced thatdy. "Brother, have you taken a liking to thatdy?" Hearing this, the hand that Chu Lian had on his teacup paused, then he replied, "How could that be?" The woman in his heart was Xiaoxiao. That spoiled woman only added to his troubles; he disliked her so much, how could he have taken a liking to her? As soon as he mentioned the spoiled woman, he suddenly realized that she had been in the outhouse for a while now. Why hadnt shee out yet? Could something have happened? He stood up abruptly, without a second thought, and hurried towards the outhouse. Chapter 398: You’ve Already Hit, What More Do You Want?

Chapter 398: Chapter 398: Youve Already Hit, What More Do You Want?

Chu Huan saw his brothers reaction and burst outughing. He had never seen his brother so nervous about anyone before. Deny it all he wants, but his brother is such a fool. Chu Lian ran to the restroom door and yelled anxiously, "Hey, why arent youing out? Did you fall in?" Inside, Wang Xiangxiang was startled by his words. She had just finished using the restroom and hadnt left yet, thinking about how to leave Chu Mansion without seeing that rogue again. But she lost track of time and couldnt believe the rogue had actuallye looking for her. It seemed she couldnt avoid him anymore. Embarrassing as it was, she reached for the door handle, only to hear the rogue say another line, "If you donte out now, Im going in." Her face instantly turned red. nging the restroom door open, the two faced each otherone inside, the other outsideand quickly averted their gazes. The situation was indeed extremely awkward. Chu Lian turned around, feigning calm, and said as he walked away, using an impatient tone, "Arent youing out yet?" Wang Xiangxiang followed him out of the restroom, thinking to herself that he must beughing at her. She needed to leave quickly and said, "Im leaving, and I hope we never see each other again." At her words, Chu Lian felt extremely angry. Did he want to see her? It was she who hade to find him, after all. "I didnt want to see you. You came looking for me today." "..." His words seemed right, but would she havee fuming if he hadnt spoken to those aunts in such a way? "Youre ruining my reputation. Should I just put up with it?" "..." He hadnt intended to ruin her reputation. He was just hot-headed at the moment and wanted to y a trick on her. "Well, youve hit me. What else do you want?" She had grabbed his cor and punched his belly,pletelycking the demeanor of a properdy. What else did she want? His words reminded Wang Xiangxiang. Just punching him once was far too lenient. Her mind spun rapidly, her eyes glinting more brightly. She seemed to see a big business opportunity waving at her. Seeing this version of Wang Xiangxiang, Chu Lian felt a chill on his scalp, sensing that something wasnt quite right. She wouldnt make an unreasonable request, would she? True enough, he saw the mischievous womans eyes twinkling as she mischievously smiled at him, a sight that was downright eerie. "From now on, Chu Mansion and Yui Restaurant must get all their fabric supplies from Xiangxiang Cloth Shop. This will make up for the defamation of my reputation this time." Upon hearing this, Chu Lians eyes widened. How shameless could she be? He had no idea that she was such a money-grubber. He hadpletely mistaken her for someone different from those women who wanted to marry into his family. Now, it seemed she was no different at all. Knowing the shrews nature, he erupted in anger. "Thats impossible. You need to leave my house right now." "..." Was he really so angry over a small favor she asked of him? It didnt matter; she hadnt wanted to have anything more to do with him anyway. For a moment, she thought she saw Silver beckoning to her, so she had made the demand, only to be utterly rejected. "I was just speaking off the cuff. Forget it if you dont agree, but dont tarnish my reputation again. Otherwise..." Wang Xiangxiang briefly shook her fist in front of Chu Lian, then strode forward confidently. "..." Chapter 399: I Heard You Are Skilled in Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting

Chapter 399: Chapter 399: I Heard You Are Skilled in Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting

"..." This insufferable woman, she has the audacity to threaten him with her fists, she truly deserves a spanking. But was that really just offhanded remarks? He inexplicably felt better inside, no longer feeling the anger he just had. Watching her retreating figure, he only thought that it was good she was leaving, that he would have peace once she was gone, and he could return to his courtyard, but things were far from developing as he had hoped. He saw that the unruly woman hadnt managed to leave through the main gate as she wished; instead, in the middle of the courtyard, she was surrounded by the rich youngdies. What on earth do these people want? He strode over, infuriated, suddenly eager to rescue her. No sooner had he entered the crowd than a sharp voice rang out. "Shopkeeper Wang, I hear you are skilled at all sorts of arts, including the guqin, chess, calligraphy, and painting. I wonder if you might be willing to demonstrate some of your skills with us?" "..." Hearing this, Chu Lian furrowed his brows. A friendly match? Its probably not that simple, he thought; they were likely looking to humiliate her. That uncouth woman, so crass, surely she wouldnt know anything about the guqin, chess, calligraphy, or painting, would she? He found himself oddly wanting to see how she would deal with this. Wang Xiangxiang had not expected to be cornered by these rich youngdies. She was truly exhausted today and didnt want to stay any longer; all she wanted was to leave quickly, so she politely said to the crowd. "I have urgent matters to attend to today and must leave. We can have our friendly match another day." But the rich youngdies wouldnt relent and blocked her with an outstretched hand, "Shopkeeper Wang, surely you are not afraid?" Wang Xiangxiang frowned. When had Wang Xiangxiang ever been afraid? She even dared to throw punches; she simply didnt want to linger in the presence of this shameless man any longer, "I truly do have matters to attend to, please excuse me." But the crowd, packed tight, made no move to let her pass, and everyone started murmuring. "Forget it, shes just a small shopkeeper, what could she possibly know about the guqin, chess, calligraphy, or painting?" "Exactly, she surely doesnt know. Dont make things difficult for her to avoid her making a fool of herselfter." "All she can do is sell cloth." "Maybe she sells cloth only by selling her charms." "Hahaha, thats very possible, you all saw how she tried to seduce Young Master Chu just now." "Hahaha." "..." "..." The murmurs grew louder, and theughter increased, which made Wang Xiangxiang seriously doubt whether the people who came for the rogues matchmaking event were truly of high standing. Werent they all supposed to be from rich families? It was an embarrassment for the people of their county. From the outskirts, Chu Lians face had already started to turn as ck as coal. How could that tempestuous woman not retort at all, wasnt she supposed to be fierce? It seemed she only had the guts when faced with him and faltered before others. At that moment, someone in the crowd caught sight of Chu Lian behind them and, startled, echoed, "Young Master Chu." Hearing this, everyone quickly changed their demeanor from the rudeness moments before, bowed their heads as if they were bashful maidens about to bloom, no longer the aggressive figures they had been. They couldnt trouble that little shopkeeper anymore. The rich youngdies were somewhat disappointed, but they had no choice; Chu Lian was there, and they couldnt press her anymore with their words. Though reluctant, they still opened a path and let her through. Seeing the people in the courtyard, Wang Xiangxiang sneered. Could these people act any better? Was she being rescued by that shameless man? She did not need his rescue. Now she was angry and didnt want to leave; she decided she might as well entertain their game, "Its true, the guqin, chess, calligraphy, and painting are not my strong suits, but I am willing to engage in a bit of friendlypetition with everyone." Hearing this, Chu Lians brows tightened. What was this unruly woman doing? She had a chance to leave and instead chose to stay and face ridicule? Chapter 400 How about we make a bet?

Chapter 400: Chapter 400 How about we make a bet?

"If you have something to do, get on with your business and leave," Chu Lian stepped forward, his voice dark with ill humor, "Why put on a brave front? I dont want to see you embarrass yourself here." But his well-intention didnt get a good return, as the wilful girl seemed not to appreciate it. Instead, she disregarded himpletely and continued to speak to the youngdies from rich families. "Justpeting is boring, why dont we bet on something?" "..." Upon hearing this, Chu Lians face darkened even further. Was she really suggesting gambling in front of a crowd at his home? She certainlycked the demeanor of ady from a reputable family, utterly crude and despicable. At this point, some of the youngdies from rich families seemed tempted. They had wanted to embarrass the little shopkeeper; they hadnt foreseen Chu Lian stepping in. They thought their chance had slipped away, yet the shopkeeper was presenting herself. They couldnt be med for not being polite, so they asked, "What do you want to bet on?" Wang Xiangxiang smiled. She knew what these people intended, who would dabble with Wang Xiangxiang without paying a steep price? Wang Xiangxiang never made a losing deal. "Whatever you want topete in, Ill ept. If I win, any fabric-rted goods that your familys estates require should be purchased from our Xiangxiang Cloth Shop." No sooner had these words left her mouth than Chu Lianpletely lost his temper. She was truly insolent, still seeking profit for herself at a time like this. She was quite the greedy shopkeeper. It seemed he had truly misjudged her. The youngdies from rich families thought that the shopkeepers request was not excessive. After all, they needed to procure supplies, and it made no difference where they bought them from. Besides, they didnt believe they would lose and so they agreed one after another. "Fine, but if you lose, what will you exchange with us?" Wang Xiangxiang thought for a moment, knowing that the biggest benefit for them right now must be the rogue man. So she pointed at the rogue man and said, "If I lose, I swear I will never marry into the Chu Family, and you can all pursue him freely." She believed this condition had no downside for her. If she won, shed earn a fortune; if she lost, shed merely go home. After all, she had no actual connection with the rogue man. By this time, Chu Lian was fuming with rage, his fists creaking with tension. He couldnt believe that the wilful girl had used him as a betting stake. It was utterly humiliating. He grabbed the wilful girl, seething as he spoke, "Dont you go too far." But when he saw the wilful girl wink at him and mime speaking without making a sound, He understood that she was saying, "Dont worry, I will win." He didnt know why, but he really let go of her. Seeing her confidence, he felt inexplicably sure that she would win. Seeing the rogue man release her, Wang Xiangxiang immediately said. "Then lets put it in writing to make it official." Putting things in writing made matters easier to handle afterwards. Everyone unanimously agreed, "Good." The atmosphere in the courtyard hadpletely shifted. Everyone was spirited and determined to win against the Cloth Shops little shopkeeper, and since Chu Lian hadnt opposed the proposal, it meant they would have their chance if they won. Chu Huan found the scene hugely entertaining. Her brother had be a betting stake, and he had surprisingly agreed. How much faith did her brother have in that sister? She eagerly had a servant fetch pen, ink, paper, and inkstone so that everyone could sign their names and make their marks on the spot, concluding with thepetition beginning. Chapter 401: Competitions Held Simultaneously

Chapter 401: Chapter 401: Competitions Held Simultaneously

When she saw the stack of signed documents, Wang Xiangxiangs eyes lit up as if she had seen a pile of bright silver. She addressed the youngdies of wealthy families, "What shall wepete in?" The youngdies, ready and waiting, were prepared to defeat Wang Xiangxiang at any moment. "I willpete in chess." "I willpete in ying the zither." "I willpete in calligraphy." "I willpete in painting." "..." "..." Listening to everyone, Chu Lian frowned slightly. These people had really brought out their best skills, seemingly intent on humiliating the headstrong girl. Could she really handle it? He looked over at the headstrong girl, noticing her brimming confidence, a sight he had never seen before. Could she truly be capable? "How about this, since were limited on time, lets proceed with allpetitions at once, calligraphy over here, chess over there, and painting on that side, and well save ying the zither forst." What was this headstrong girl talking about? She wanted topete simultaneously against people who had trained for many years. Did she think it was that simple to defeat them? Hearing this, the wealthy youngdies felt underestimated and their faces soured, "Dont say we are bullying you alone." Wang Xiangxiang smiled, "Not at all, how could that be? I really am in a hurry, please indulge me, sisters." "Alright!" The Chu Family was indeed arge and influential family; in no time, all the props needed for thepetitions were ready. Chu Huan was even more excited, having brought a gong which she struck with a loud "ng!" The sound was thunderous, and she shouted, "Let thepetition officially begin!" The courtyard quieted down instantly as everyone focused their energies and started their favored talents. At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang took a deep breath and concentrated intensely. First, she went to the chess area, opened each board with a move, then quickly moved to the calligraphy area and swiftly wrote, "A bodycks a pair of wings like the colourful phoenix, but a heart possesses a mutual understanding like the mythical creatures." This phrase was what Xiaoxiao had on his kite; anyway, thepetition was about calligraphy, not poetry, so she didnt have time to think further. After finishing, she returned to the chess area. Unlike the other wealthy youngdies who had time to think, she barely paused before making her second move and quickly moved to the painting area. After a few strokes, she returned to chess. She repeated this process, and the courtyard turned into her own domain. She resembled a gracefully moving fairy, flitting through this garden full of floral scents. As her chess games neared their conclusion, the image under her brush also started to materialize. Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs demeanor, Chu Huan was incredibly excited. She greatly admired this older sister, amazed by her impressive talents. Meanwhile, Chu Lian was utterly astounded by Wang Xiangxiang. He had not expected her to be so tremendously skilled. She truly excelled at the four artsmusic, chess, calligraphy, and paintingproving herself to be a realdy of talent, matching even Xiaoxiao. Thinking this, his lips unconsciously curved into a smile. "You have given me too much honor." Following Wang Xiangxiangs gracious words, the wealthy youngdiespeting in chess were defeated one after another, and a paint-smeared portrait of a scoundrel was also finalized. The portrait was nearly an exact likeness of the real person, leaving everyone astounded by her skill in painting. Even the wealthy youngdy shepeted against in painting conceded defeat. Chu Lian had never imagined that the headstrong girl had chosen to paint him. Had she etched his likeness so deeply in her mind? How could it resemble him so closely? Chapter 402 She Conquered Everyone with Her Talent

Chapter 402: Chapter 402 She Conquered Everyone with Her Talent

Seeing how easily Wang Xiangxiang had defeated those in chess and painting, the calligraphers promptly rose to inspect the characters she had hastily written at the start. They thought she had written them in haste, but to their surprise, the characters were far from sloppya robust and powerful script that could not be achieved without a decade or eight years of practice. They, too, admitted defeat and conceded without contest. Wang Xiangxiang smiled knowingly and turned to the person who was about topete with her in ying the qin, "Lets coborate on a piece, shall we? Choose whatever youd like us to y." By then, the youngdy from the affluent family who was prepared for the qinpetition dared not speak anymore, intimidated by the manner Wang Xiangxiang had just disyed, convinced that she would surely lose if theypeted. So she said, "We concede. Lets not y anymore. Itd be better for Shopkeeper Wang to y a piece for us to enjoy." "Alright, then." Ever since her parents had died, she had been busy with business and hadnt touched the qin, chess, calligraphy, or painting much in three years; she had really missed it a lot. Today, she had indulged herself. She found a qin and sat down to y. Closing her eyes, she emptied her mind and relished the joy the music brought to her. Her qin music seemed to possess a magical quality, leading everyone through a deep forest to an ocean, then up a high mountain, and finally, after the rain cleared, to witness a rainbow. When the piece was over, the courtyard remained silent as a grave. Chu Lian too was utterly captivated by Wang Xiangxiangs performance. He had to admit that she was indeed a talenteddy. He extended his hands and started to apud, cheering for her performance today and her victory in thepetitions. Chu Lians apuse prompted everyone to follow suit, pping enthusiastically. Brought back to reality by the apuse, Wang Xiangxiang slowly opened her eyes and smiled gently at everyone. That smile, ineffable in its beauty, made everyone inwardly exim in admiration. They were wholly convinced by their loss; indeed, she possessed both beauty and talent. With her talent, she had conquered everyone present. Gone was their previous scorn and condescension, reced by a rush of people eager to make her acquaintance. "Shopkeeper Wang, I am utterly convinced by my defeat. Rest assured, my family will buy all our clothes from Xiangxiang Cloth Shop from now on." "Who is your painting master? Could you introduce me?" "And your calligraphy teacher, where can I learn from them?" "Who taught you to y chess so well, can we spar again in the future?" "You y the qin beautifully, could you teach me?" "..." "..." Seeing everyones reactions, Wang Xiangxiangughed. It was an excellent opportunity to expand herwork, which would also be hugely beneficial to her business. Some of them werent bad in character and were worth befriending. So, smiling, she said, "Of course. You can alwayse to Xiangxiang Cloth Shop to find me, or we can all arrange gatherings like todays now and then, to often spend time together." "Thats a great suggestion, lets do this more often." "Yes, I really had a great time today, meeting so many people." "..." "..." Watching how quickly the formerly shrewish girl had be buddy-buddy with these people, who had just been hostile toward her, Chu Lian was thoroughly impressed. Perhaps he should learn a thing or two from her business-savvy approach. But why was she so driven for wealth when she seemed tock nothing? Never mind, hed reluctantly agree to the procurement request she had made earlier. Chapter 403: Giving Lingerie a Proper Name

Chapter 403: Chapter 403: Giving Lingerie a Proper Name

Xiangxiang was different from these high-borndies; having been in business for years, she had seen and heard a lot and had plenty of practice in dealing with different types of people, making conversations with them quite effortless. "Have you heard about the new underwear from Xiangxiang Cloth Shop?" Indeed, they had heard about it. The underwear from Xiangxiang Cloth Shop was popr among the wives and concubines of wealthy families, but it was less popr with the youngdies because they knew what it was used for from their maids, and thus, they were reluctant to buy such things. Shopkeeper Wang unexpectedly brought it up, and they wondered if she was suggesting they buy it. Blushing, someone embarrassingly said, "Weve heard of it, but it seems we dont really need those things." "Pfft." Hearing this, Xiangxiangughed out loud. "Did you perhaps misunderstand something?" Thisment made everyone blush even more, and they all averted their eyes. Xiangxiang felt that the market for underwear shouldnt be limited to just the wives, concubines, and brothel women. If wealthy youngdies could also be persuaded to buy them, the sales would be significant. She knew she had to clear up the misconceptions about the underwear in front of these people, especially since Xiaoxiao had said that it was an essential item for everyone; it just hadnt be popr yet. "Actually, the underwear from Xiangxiang Cloth Shop isnt what you think, something only needed at certain times. You all have misunderstood." Hearing this, everyone looked up curiously at Xiangxiang, "We misunderstood?" Xiangxiang nodded her head and continued, "Okay, Ill tell you something that you might not believe, but its true." "What is it?" "If a womans breasts sag severely, it indicates she is aging quickly." "Is that so?" Everyone was surprised. "If you dont believe me, just look at the older people around you, isnt it the case?" The group began murmuring among themselves, seemingly convinced by Xiangxiangs words. Xiangxiang, seizing the opportunity, continued, "Actually, the underwear is designed for this purpose, to lift up the breasts and slow down their sagging." As she spoke, she even gestured in front of her own chest. "But, we heard that those garments use very little fabric." Xiangxiang, smiling, responded, "Thats because the wives and concubines want them for that time, so theyre designed that way, but youre different. There are more conservative styles avable for you, and you can definitely wear them with confidence." Seeing the eager expressions on their faces, Xiangxiang was delighted, sensing that this was a done deal. She slightly modified what Xiaoxiao had said, realizing that most people didnt care much about the breast shape that Xiaoxiao mentioned, yet the idea of looking younger was more appealing. "Since we are all acquainted, its also a kind of fate. Write down your measurements for me, and Ill send each of you a set, which Ill deliver to your residences." "Thats too kind of you, letting you incur the expense." Xiangxiang waved her hand, smiling, "Its nothing. You can just support my business moreter on." Although the previous deals had also brought in business, some people were reluctant; thus, winning them over personally and fostering good rtionships would ensure more enduring business. Chu Lian, who was on the outskirts of the crowd, listened on with an increasingly dark expression. He had just been admiring her talent, and now she had reverted to her true form, discussing breasts with everyone and even gesturing on her own chest. How could there be such a shameless woman. He couldnt watch any longer, he had to disperse these people, so he called over a maid. Chapter 404: Consider These as Interest for Damaging My Reputation

Chapter 404: Chapter 404: Consider These as Interest for Damaging My Reputation

The maid walked into the crowd, bowed to everyone, and then said, "Excuse me,dies, todays Flower Appreciation Society is over. Our young master says that the potted flowers in the courtyard will be given to you all as a keepsake. Please follow me." Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang looked outside the crowd and saw the scowling face of that no-good man. With a re, she sent a sharp look his way; it was clear he was out to ruin her good fortune. Fortunately for her, she had almost finished her talks. If all went well, she would be able to open up the market for underwear among thedies, and she had also leaked news about the new pajamas. She was just waiting to collect the money. Today had not been a wasteshe could wrap up perfectly. She stood up, walked up to the no-good man, and with a mischievous smile on her lips, she waved the bundle of contracts in her hand. "I borrowed your precious ce for a bit, and these can serve as the interest for the damage done to my reputation." Having said that, she walked toward the exit, waving her hands and saying, "Im leaving, never to see you again." Chu Lian clenched his fists, watching the willful woman walk away. He was furious, smoke practically billowing from his seven orifices. She was truly pushing his limits. He gritted his teeth, thinking if there was a next time, he would definitely make her pay. He turned and left, heading to his own courtyard. In the bustling yard, everyones attention had been captured by the dazzling Wang Xiangxiang, and no one noticed that there had been someone watching for a long timethis person was none other than the head of the Chu Mansion. Old Master Chu returned to the front hall with a smile, not even entering yet. Laughter could be heard from inside the house, "Hahaha!" "Old Master, what are youughing about?" Mrs. Chu, puzzled, couldnt see what was amusing about a simple outing. "I witnessed a splendid performance, haha!" "..." Mrs. Chu was even more puzzled. It was just apetition of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, something all the youngdies excelled atwhat could be so splendid about that, it must have been downright boring. "My dear, you really should havee with me." Old Master Chus face showed sympathy for Mrs. Chu. "What exactly happened to make you so happy?" "That was no ordinarypetition. That woman who stormed into our mansion, shepeted with everyone at once in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting and won decisively." This statement indeed shocked Mrs. Chu. She hadnt expected such an exceptional person in such a small ce. Now that he mentioned it, she too wanted to meet this woman. As they were talking, Chu Huan entered the room and immediately flopped onto a chair. "I have finally sent those people off." "Mind your image." Scolded again by her mother, she straightened her back, shrugged her shoulders, and smiled, because she was about to discuss something of great interest to her mother, "Mom, I think I may have found a sister-inw this time." Sure enough, Mrs. Chus eyes lit up at these words, and she eagerly asked, "Quick, tell me, which girl has your brother taken a fancy to? Ill prepare the engagement right away." Chu Huan scoffed disdainfully, "Forget about the engagement; she might not even fancy my brother." Upon hearing this, Mrs. Chu frowned, her expression turning ugly as she said sternly, "Who is she, then? My son is outstanding; how could she not fancy him?" Old Master Chu, on the other hand, took hold of his wife, trying to soothe her, "My dear, calm down." "How can I calm down? After so many years, our son finally likes someone, and she doesnt like him back. At this rate, when are we going to see a grandson? What iscking in our family? What iscking with our son? Just who is this girl?" Mrs. Chu was getting more and more agitated. Chapter 405 Who is so blind that they can’t appreciate my son

Chapter 405: Chapter 405 Who is so blind that they cant appreciate my son

"Mother, please dont get agitated, Im just guessing. I just feel that my brother treats that sister very differently. You should ask my brother for specifics." Seeing that her mother was about to burst into anger, Chu Huan thought it best to shift the matter onto her brothers shoulders. As expected, upon hearing this, Madam Chu immediately sent a maid to summon someone. "Xiaohuan, who exactly is that girl? Who could possiblyck the discernment to spurn my son?" Madam Chu continued interrogating her daughter after sitting down, still in disbelief. "..." Chu Huan thought the issue had been dropped, but her mother persisted in wanting to know who the girl was, so she had no choice but to answer, "Its the one who cameter." "..." The one who cameter? Wasnt that the one without an invitation, who was willing to ruin her own reputation just to attend the selection for marriage? How could she now dismiss my son? Madam Chu grew more incensed the more she thought about it, and said sharply, "What kind of game is she ying at, ying hard to get?" "..." Hearing her mother speak like this, Chu Huan feared that the sister might have been misunderstood. "Mother, youre overthinking it. Its not that shes ying hard to get. Its more likely that my brother did something to offend that sister, and shes here to settle ounts with him, not to participate in the marriage selection." At this moment, Madam Chus mind started racing. What had her son done to wrong that girl? Could it be that her son had finally seen the light? This was a great piece of news! Did this mean she would soon be holding a grandchild? All of a sudden, Madam Chus face lit up with joy, leaving Lord Chu and Chu Huan utterly baffled. The two whispered to each other, "Your mother is getting carried away with her thoughts again." Chu Huan nodded, "Yes, yes, lets not bother with her." Before long, Chu Lian entered the room. Without even asking, one could tell that his mother was about to question him about the results of the marriage selection event. Sure enough, as soon as he entered, his mother asked with a smile, "Lian, what do you think of those girls? Which familys daughter is eptable? Mother will start preparing the dowry tomorrow." Seeing his mothers beaming expression, Chu Lian felt helpless. His mother was always preupied with such matters, to the point that he no longer enjoyeding home. Irritably, he responded, "None of them is suitable; I didnt fancy any of them." Upon hearing this, Madam Chus expression changed dramatically. She suddenly mmed her hand on the table and bellowed at Chu Lian, "Repeat what you just said." Chu Lian was shocked by his mothers outburst, but he replied nonchntly, "Oh,e on, I just didnt fancy any, so lets not do this anymore." His attitude infuriated Lord Chu, who standing beside them, was from a prestigious family and couldnt fathom how they had raised such an ill-mannered son. Holding back his anger and speaking in a very calm voice, he began slowly, "Chu Lian, what exactly did you do to have that girle knocking at our door?" As soon as these words were spoken, the room instantly fell silent, all eyes turning to Chu Lian, awaiting his answer. "..." Was this about the issue with that unruly woman? If he spoke the truth, his father would give him a thrashing, so he absolutely could not tell, "I did nothing." No sooner had he finished speaking than there was a loud p as Lord Chu also mmed his hand on the table, "Speak up, dont make me investigate." "..." His father was angry, truly angry. He was usually affable, but when he got mad, it was serious, and no one could withstand it. If he didnt speak up, his father would still go ahead and find out, and he would end up in a sorry state. Knowing he was in the wrong andcking confidence, he said in a low voice, "I told someone outside that she was my unwed bride." Chapter 406: Prepare the Bridal Gifts Immediately to Welcome the Girl into the Family

Chapter 406: Chapter 406: Prepare the Bridal Gifts Immediately to Wee the Girl into the Family

These words had scarcely left his mouth when Old Master Chu was thoroughly enraged. His son was ruining the reputation of a youngdy, no wonder the family hade knocking. He raised his hand and threw a punch at Chu Lians back with fierce force, causing Chu Lian to cry out, "Ah!" Upon seeing this, Madam Chu immediately came over to pull him away, "Old Master, stop hitting him." "How can I not discipline him? Look at him, what he has been up to outside, even daring to tarnish a youngdys reputation. How did our family end up with such a disgraceful son?" While Old Master Chu was angry, Madam Chu was secretly delighted. Her son had finallye to his senses, to be able to say such things. This meant that the girl must have caught his attention in some way. While she kept hold of Old Master Chu, she winked at her son and whispered, "Your father is in a temper. You should go back first." "Madam, dont stop me, this is all because you spoil him." Listening to his parents words, Chu Lian gave a wry smile. Ever since meeting that shrewish girl, there had been nothing but trouble. The ordeal at the matchmaking event was already hard enough, and now he was being beaten by his own father. He grew even more resentful towards the shrewish girl. He got up and marched towards the outside, but a shocking statement followed from behind. "Prepare the betrothal gifts immediately, were weing that youngdy into our home." At this, Chu Lians eyes widened. He turned around and shouted at his father, "Father, I disagree!" "You will not be allowed to go back on your word. As a man, you must be responsible for your own words." "But I dont like her," Chu Lian said pitifully. To the side, Chu Huan became the encouraging spirit, "Brother, if you dont like her, why did you hold her?" "..." His sisters sudden question silenced him, and he could not help but think back to the moments when he had held and kissed her, which made his ears burn. At Chu Huans words, Old Master Chu grew even angrier. He threw another punch at Chu Lians back, "You unfilial son, you even held her? Speak, what else did you do?" "Father, there were reasons for that. She needed to use the restroom and couldnt walk; I had to carry her," Chu Lian regained hisposure and exined to his father. But the more he exined, the worse it sounded, "What, you even carried her to the restroom? You must marry this girl." Chu Lian was at his wits end, crying without tears. Why did he say that? What should he do now, when he should have firmly kept it to himself? Previously, his father had never interfered with his marriage decisions and had always agreed with him, allowing him to choose for himself. His mother, though nagging, had always respected his wishes and never forced him. Now, it seemed his father was seriously intent on this matter, leaving no room for him to back out. Perhaps his only option was to turn to the shrewish girl, who disliked him so much. She likely would not easily agree to this marriage. Maybe the situation had not reached an irrecoverable state, so he firstpromised, "I understand." Then, he left the front hall without any spirit and returned to his own courtyard. Once Chu Lian had walked away, the three people in the room suddenly broke into heartyughter. "Father, mother, you two yed your parts too convincingly." Chu Huan said, giving her parents a thumbs up. "Old Master, you really did give him a fright. Its enough to scare him, but did you have to hit him so hard that it made a sound?" Old Master Chuughed, "If I didnt hit hard, would he believe I was angry? Would he have agreed so meekly?" Indeed, the scene just enacted by the three of them was intended to make Chu Lian agree to marry Wang Xiangxiang. Why, you ask? Chapter 407: Tie Them Together First

Chapter 407: Chapter 407: Tie Them Together First

Before Chu Lian entered the room, Mrs. Chu imagined the scene. After imagining, Mrs. Chu inquired, "Xiaohuan, you said your brother treats that girl differently. In what ways is he different?" "That sister was being mocked for being a little shopkeeper, and brother actually spoke up for her." Hearing that she was a little shopkeeper, Mrs. Chu frowned a little. The status seemed somewhat low, but given her sons current situation, low was just fine. As long as she was a woman who could bear grandsons, "What did your brother say?" Chu Huan stood up and, imitating his brother at that moment, lowered his voice, "Even if her status is low, she is still more worthy to be my wife than any of you." "..." This remark astonished Mrs. Chu. She knew her son; if he werent serious, he wouldnt say such a thing. "What else?" "Also, during the meal, when those rich youngdies said that sister could eat a lot, brothers face grew darker, and he was very angry. Later, I stepped in and spoke up for her." With her sons performance, Mrs. Chus interest grew even more. "What else?" "Also, brother carried that sister to the restroom!" Upon hearing this, Mr. Chu mmed the table, "Preposterous, what kind of behavior is this." "My lord, please dont be angry. Xiaohuan, continue," Mrs. Chu said. Hearing this, Mrs. Chu already had a smile on her face. Her son was doing well; finally, he was catching on and knew to hold someone. It seemed she could soon hold a grandson. Chu Huan continued, "Most importantly, that sister bet on brother in a wager,peting in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting with those people. She said if she lost, those rich youngdies could pursue brother. And brother actually agreed! You see, how much must brother trust that sister." "..." This made Mrs. Chu frown even more. How could she casually bet on her son? Wouldnt her son be taken lightly in the future? As she thought this, she heard her husband say, "Madam, its her." "Hmm?" Mrs. Chu responded, puzzled. "To be our Chu familys daughter-inw." "..." The lord never interfered in their sons marriage before; why would he get involved this time? "My lord, why?" "Her talent matches being our daughter-inw. Most importantly, its the look in our sons eyes. With my years of experience, I suspect our son is falling for her." Chu Huan immediately chimed in, "Right, right, father is right. Brother was always staring at that sister. During the meal and even more so during thepetition, he didnt look at anyone else." Chu Huan then pouted, "But that sister seems to really dislike brother. What do we do? Brother is such a fool; at this rate, I dont see a future for them." Hearing her husband and daughter describe it, it seemed her son was indeed falling for that girl, and he hadnt even realized it himself. In just a short while, that girl had won over her husband and daughter; she must be a great girl. So, Mrs. Chu devised a n, "Then lets create opportunities for them, tie them together, and let the whole city know she is our Chu familys daughter-inw." The few of them brightened up, gathering to discuss the strategy. "Mother, this n will work, its all on father now." "My lord, its all up to you." "Leave it to me." "Stop talking, I think brother ising." Hearing footsteps outside the door, Xiaohuan quickly warned, and then everyone returned to their ces. Thus, without knowing anything, Chu Lian was schemed upon by this quirky family. Chapter 408: Miss, Someone is Here to Propose

Chapter 408: Chapter 408: Miss, Someone is Here to Propose

Several people had beenughing in the front hall due to their sessful scheming against Chu Lian, but it wasnt long before Chu Huan sensed something was off and said to her mother, "Mother, are we celebrating a bit too early?" Mrs. Chu was still smiling from ear to ear, "Not at all, not at all, your brother has agreed." Her son had agreed to marry, a first urrence after so many refusals; this time, she could almost see her future grandson. Seeing her mother so joyful, Chu Huan really couldnt bear to break the news, "Mother, have you all forgotten about something important?" "What is it?" "Who is that youngdy?" "..." With those words, Mr. and Mrs. Chu fell silent, indeed having celebrated too soon. If the girl was already about twenty years old and married, all their efforts would have been in vain. Mr. Chu quickly ordered his servants, "Go and find out the identity of that youngdy." The Chu Family had the means, and before long, Wang Xiangxiangs identity was dug up. Wang Xiangxiang, twenty years old, the legitimate eldest daughter of the County towns Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, managing all the business of Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, both parents deceased, with a younger brother, currently unmarried. Even her horoscope was perfectly matched with Chu Lians. Mrs. Chu, having received the information, found herself more and more pleased as she read through it. She had thought the girl was merely a shopkeeper, but it turned out she was a legitimate youngdy with impressive aplishmentstruly a suitable match in status. "Madam, arent you usually very selective during the matchmaking process? How did you overlook Wang Xiangxiang, a youngdy from such a prominent household?" "Cough, cough!" Mrs. Chu coughed twice, her eyes flickering slightly, "It was overlooked by the servants." She would never admit that it was she who had edited the list, excluding those orphaned girls from consideration. But now, only Wang Xiangxiang was able to change her sons unfaltering expression towards women. She wouldnt mind her being an orphan; any woman would do. "Quickly prepare the betrothal gifts and call the matchmaker, we will go propose marriage tomorrow." Overnight, the betrothal gifts were prepared, once again disying the capabilities of the Chu Family. The next day, while Chu Lian was still sleeping, the marriage proposal procession set off majestically from Shibao Town. The Chu Family was considered the wealthiest in the city, and the Eldest Young Master, at twenty-one, had hesitated to marry until now, but suddenly he was ready to send a proposal, making everyone curious about which youngdy had snagged this alliance. Thus, truly interested folks followed all the way to the main residence of the Wang family in the County town, where Xiangxiangs home was already congested with carriages and horses. When the house servant opened the door, he was startled by the magnificent scene. "We are from the Chu Family of Shibao Town, here today to present a marriage proposal for our young master, Chu Lian. Please inform your youngdy," the matchmaker exined upon seeing the servant. Upon hearing this, the servant dashed to the front hall, shouting as he ran, "Miss, someone hase to propose!" At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang was helping her younger brother wash up, puzzled by the noise, wondering which family had sent a direct proposal. The matchmaker frequently visited, but a direct proposal was unheard of. She asked, "Which gentleman is sending the proposal?" The servant replied, "Its the Eldest Young Master Chu Lian from Shibao Town." "What?" Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang was shocked, her eyes widening as her expression grew increasingly grim. Was this insufferable man never going to leave her alone? What was he scheming? Did he think she was easy to bully? Chapter 409: It Seems the Eldest Young Master of the Chu Family is Nothing Special After All

Chapter 409: Chapter 409: It Seems the Eldest Young Master of the Chu Family is Nothing Special After All

Chu Lian, pressured by his parents to marry Wang Xiangxiang, actually suffered from a rare bout of insomnia, tossing and turning all night as he pondered how to avoid marrying that crude and vulgar woman. He only dozed off when dawn was almost breaking, and by the time he woke up, the sun was already high in the sky. After washing up, hezily made his way to the dining room and saw that everyone was already eating lunch. He called out, "Dad, Mom." "Hmph." Master Chu snorted. This son of his had actually slept in sote; he was bing more and more unreasonable. "Lian,e sit down and eat." Madam Chu, all smiles, beckoned her son over, her smile widening at the thought that her son would soon be getting married. Chu Lian forced a smile. His fathers attitude still hadnt softened? He had alreadypromised and agreed. He went to his ce and sat down to eat. He hadnt taken more than a few bites when he heard his sisters teasing, "Brother, youre just getting up? Is it because you were up all night thinking about your sister-inw?" Chu Lian red at her and reprimanded, "Youngdies should not say just anything thates to mind." He appeared calm andposed on the outside, but inside, he was grinding his teeth with hatred. Indeed, he had spent the whole night unable to sleep because of that annoying woman; however, not in the way she implied. He had been thinking about how to quickly get rid of her. Chu Huan was unfazed by her brothers scolding. She pursed her lips and continued, "Youll be able to marry your sister-inw very soon. They went to offer the betrothal gifts this morning." "What?" Chu Lian was so shocked upon hearing this that he couldnt hold onto his chopsticks, and they dropped to the floor. He was overwhelmingly surprised; his parents were moving so quickly this time, not giving him a chance to discuss strategies. He had nned to go see that headstrong girl after lunch and tell her that this was something forced by their parents, that she should just refuse. But now, that headstrong girl would surely misunderstand again, thinking he was ying some sort of trick. "The two of you, dont talk while eating. It is unseemly," Master Chu said expressionlessly upon seeing his sons reaction. "Oh!" Chu Lian was resigned to his own overreaction. Why get excited? The headstrong girl would definitely refuse anyway. A servant brought him a new pair of chopsticks, and he continued eating in silence as the dining room quieted down again. Before long, a servant came to report, "Master, Madam, the envoy who went to offer the betrothal has returned." Upon hearing this, Chu Lian abruptly looked up, and his heart skipped a beat. Why was he suddenly feeling nervous? "What did they say?" "To, to report back to Master," the servant stammered, ncing at Chu Lian, unsure of how to begin. "Speak up, dont mind him." "Yes, Master. The Wang Familys youngdy has replied, She would rather marry a pig or a dog than the young master." With a wave of his hand, Master Chu had the servant, who bowed his head in fright, quickly retreat. "Hahaha." Once the servant left, Chu Huan could no longer hold back. She burst intoughter, "Haha, brother, thatdy has rejected you." "Hmph, it seems the Eldest Young Master Chu is no exception after all!" Master Chu continued eating with an expressionless face, unaffected by the incident. With a face as if she were at a funeral, Madam Chumented, "Lian, your mother thought that with your conditions you could pick anyone. It seems Ive overestimated you. You couldnt even win over a girl from Cloth Shop." As she spoke, Madam Chu sighed and shook her head. Looking at his family who mocked him, Chu Lians rage was about to boil over. He needed to find somewhere to vent, "Im full. You all continue." With that, he stormed out, mming the door behind him. "..." Chapter 410: The Bride Chosen by the Chu Family, Who Dares to Marry Her?

Chapter 410: Chapter 410: The Bride Chosen by the Chu Family, Who Dares to Marry Her?

Seeing her brother storming out, Chu Huan immediately dropped her smile, "Mom, does this strategy even work? Im starting to doubt it now." Mrs. Chu coughed twice, a bit embarrassed, "I didnt expect Miss Wang to be so adamant in her refusal." She had harbored a bit of hope, after all, her son was so outstanding, and their family so wealthy and influential. She thought any girl would agree to a marriage proposal, but she hadnt expected such aplete rejection. At a loss, she turned to look at Mr. Chu. Mr. Chus lips curled upwards, "Humph, its good that she refused!" "..." The news of her sons rejection was about to spread all over the town, and she was starting to regret this scheme. "Its about time someone put a dent in our sons arrogance. If the girl had agreed just because of our wealth and status, how would she be any different from the others?" After Mr. Chu put it that way, Mrs. Chu also felt there was some sense to it. She was tired of those who tried every possible way to cozy up to them, wanting to marry into their family, "Husband, what do we do now?" "Lets blow this up even more. Starting tomorrow, continue with the proposal." Upon hearing this, Mrs. Chus eyes lit up, raising her voice she said, "Right, thats what well do. Lets see who dares to marry the bride our Chu Family has set our sights on." Chu Huan, hearing this, suddenly felt that her parents were quite scheming. They were using the proposal to dere to the whole city that the bride chosen by the Chu Family was off-limits to anyone else. But was it really a good idea to make such a spectacle? "Dad, Mom, brother will definitely be theughingstock of the whole town." Mr. Chu snorted coldly, "A grown man should be able to withstand this pressure if he wants to be worthy of our Chu Family." Mrs. Chu echoed him, "Exactly, a bit of gossip is nothing. Its much better than having people say hes gay." "..." Chu Huan felt a cold sweat for her brother. Having parents like these was quite something. She hoped her brother could withstand the pressure and soon win the heart of the woman he loved. She guessed her brother must have gone to find that sister. Every time that sister was mentioned, her brothers facial expressions became much more animated. As she thought this, she heard her parents starting to flirt with each other again,pletely ignoring her presence. "Wife, based on many years of experience, Im sure our son has gone to find Miss Wang," Mr. Chu boasted. Mrs. Chu nced at her husband, her lips curving into a smile, and tugging at Mr. Chus ear, she drawled, "You seem to have quite a bit of experience in these matters, dont you?" Seeing his wife pulling his ear again, Mr. Chu quickly changed his tune, "No, no, I was just guessing. Let go, our daughter is still here." "..." So you do know your daughter is here. Its always like this in front of him and brother, and then they wonder why he and I turned out this way. With parents like these, how could we possibly turn out normal? Chu Huan immediately covered her face, "I didnt see anything, carry on." Then she swiftly made her exit. She didnt want to stay a moment longer; it was their parents constant disys of affection that set such a high bar for a partner, causing her brother to wait all these years for someone he truly loved. After Chu Huan left, Mr. Chu said. "Wife, could you please be more careful in the future? This is the dining room." Mrs. Chu let go and said nonchntly, "I just forgot for a moment." "..." What convenient timing for your forgetfulness. Mrs. Chu winked at Mr. Chu, clearly intrigued, "Tell me more about your many years of experience." "..." Chapter 411: If You Don’t Meet Him, He Will Announce to the World That He Kissed You

Chapter 411: Chapter 411: If You Dont Meet Him, He Will Announce to the World That He Kissed You

At this moment, Chu Lian had no idea that his parents had set another trap for him, as he was consumed with anger and just wanted to vent it on someone. Without a doubt, Wang Xiangxiang became the target of his fury. He hopped onto his familys carriage and headed straight for Xiangxiang Cloth Shop in the county town, certain that she would be there. As the carriage stopped in front of Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, he hadnt even entered when he heard the murmuring of the crowd nearby, which frustrated him immensely. "Hey, did you hear that this morning the richest family in our town, the Chu Family, had their marriage proposal rejected?" "Yes, I heard about it. Its really unexpected. The young master of the Chu Family has lost face enormously this time." "Exactly! Its so embarrassing. Miss Wang from the Wang Family dered that shed rather marry a pig or a dog than marry the young master of the Chu Family. Isnt that saying the young master is worse than a pig or a dog!" "Hahaha! That really is embarrassingly enough." "..." "..." Chu Lian, who was nearby, felt his anger surge once again upon hearing these words. What a haughty girl, to make him lose face like this. He had to confront her. Just as he was about to enter the shop, he heard more of the crowds gossip. "With such good terms from the Chu Family, who knows why Miss Wang would reject them?" "Perhaps the young master of the Chu Family was just coteral damage." "How so?" "I heard that over three years ago, Miss Wang, for some unknown reason, started rejecting all matchmakers." "Oh! Really?" "No one knows the specifics, but Miss Wang was crazily choosing suitors four years ago, then suddenly she stopped." "That Miss Wang is quite mysterious, I hear shes iparably beautiful and proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, yet her personality is very peculiar and she never leaves the house." "..." "..." A peculiar personality and never leaving the house, was this the haughty girl from three years ago? Proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting? He had onlye to know of it just yesterday. Choosing suitors like mad four years ago, and suddenly stopping three years ago, what exactly had happened? Chu Lian suddenly felt he knew very little about the haughty girl, even her identity he had only learned yesterday. He pushed open the door of Cloth Shop and approached the counter. "Excuse me, is Shopkeeper Wang here?" Seeing someone asking for the shopkeeper, the clerk inquired, "May I ask who you are, so I can go inform her?" With a slight smile on his face, Chu Lian said, "Just tell her that I am the young master of the Chu Family." The mornings engagement news had spread like wildfire, and the clerk, of course, knew about it, thus he stuttered in response, "Okay... okay." He immediately went back to the inner room to report, and soon after, the clerk came back out and muttered, "Our shopkeeper said she wont meet you, asking you to leave." These words nearly made Chu Lian spit blood from frustration. To think that he had been turned away at the doorwhen had he ever been so belittled before? This haughty girl really was something. Chu Lianposed himself then put on an evil smile, "Clerk,e here for a moment." Then it wasnt clear what Chu Lian whispered into the clerks ear, but it scared the clerk into reporting once again. Wang Xiangxiang was already in a bad mood because of the Chu Familys marriage proposal, and to imagine that the despicable man hade to find her, she really wanted to have nothing more to do with him. Thus, she had refused to meet him and asked him to leave, but she didnt expect the clerk toe back with a reason she couldnt refuse. "Miss, Young Master Chu said that if you dont meet him, he will dere to everyone that he kissed you, and he means what he says." Chapter 412 Am I Excessive?

Chapter 412: Chapter 412 Am I Excessive?

Wang Xiangxiang truly hadnt expected that the shameless man would be so despicable, clenching her teeth in hatred, "Let hime in." The young assistant returned to the counter, "Mr. Chu, this way please." Chu Lian wore a smug smile, he had countless ways to threaten her. He followed the young assistant into the room, and the assistant quickly left, closing the door behind them. Wang Xiangxiang sat there, her eyes fixed dead on Chu Lian, her face as cold as ice, not a hint of warmth, "Speak, what do you want with me?" Her haughty demeanor made Chu Lian feel especially irritated, "You still ask me whats the matter, the whole city isughing at me now, saying Im worse than pigs and dogs." Wang Xiangxiang dismissed the matter as if it were none of her concern, "Theyre not wrong, are they? You are indeed worse than pigs and dogs." If he werent worse than pigs and dogs, he wouldnt have force-kissed her, nor would he randomly hold her, and now hes using this to threaten her. Chu Lian felt that her disdainful attitude was a challenge to his temper, and he roared angrily, "Dont go too far." Wang Xiangxiang let out a coldugh, "Im going too far? The person who kissed me by force is you, isnt it? In front of the person you like, just how poor is your character really?" "..." This remark left Chu Lian speechless. At that moment, he didnt know what hade over him, he also felt that he was utterly despicable. Wang Xiangxiang huffed, continuing, "Im going too far? Who is it that tarnishes my reputation, saying Im your unwed wife?" "..." Yes, it was him. "Im going too far? The one who constantly covers my face, drags me around, holds me is who?" "..." Yes, still him. "Im going too far? The one using these threats against me now is who?" "..." Yes, it was all him. Every sentence from Wang Xiangxiang pricked Chu Lians heart. He was only thinking about fighting with her, but he hadnt realized that he had done so many despicable things to such a delicate woman. His usual gentlemanly demeanor waspletely gone. What had be of him? He wasnt such a despicable person at heart, he just didnt want her to think of him this way. Just as he was about to begin exining, he saw her frail figure start to tremble slightly, her face now covered with heartbreaking tears. This tugged painfully at his heart. Without a second thought, he stepped forward, leaned down, reached out his arms, and embraced her, whispering softly, "Im sorry, Ive gone too far, please dont cry." But he was sternly pushed away. He looked up at her, that face still as cold as ice, but now with a touch of pitifulness that made him ache to protect her. Her cherry lips parted and spoke still without warmth, "Do you still need to excessively hug me now?" "Im sorry, Im sorry." Chu Lian realized he had lost control again and quickly apologized. What was he doing? "You should be grateful that I havent pursued these transgressions. If it had been another woman, she would have been crying and screaming for you to marry her by now." She was stating the facts. He had done things thatpromised a womans reputation, he should marry her, he should take responsibility. In his agitation, he blurted out words that even shocked him, "Ill marry you." But Wang Xiangxiang didnt believe his words and scoffed as if he was still ying her, "Do you know why I havent married all these years?" "Why?" He really wanted to know. "Because I wont marry someone who doesnt like me, nor will I marry someone I dont like." Chapter 413: Stop Provoking Me

Chapter 413: Chapter 413: Stop Provoking Me

She wouldnt marry someone who didnt like her, and she most certainly wouldnt marry someone she didnt like. It turned out they were the same type of person, he had also thought the same, which is why he had yet to agree to the marriage arranged by his family. He looked at her, what kind of woman was she? Stubborn yet beautiful, strong yet delicate, confident yet yful. He felt as if he saw another side of her, wondering how many facets she had. She was different from the unchanging women, stirring in him an uncontroble urge to unearth more. But the one he liked now was Xiaoxiao. If he had met her first, would things have been different? He startled himself with the thought. "So, you should go, stop provoking me." These words pierced Chu Lians heart. He saw the resoluteness on her face, but she was right, if he wasnt going to marry her, he shouldnt keep provoking her. "I understand," he said before turning and walking away. No one saw the trace of destion that flickered through his deep-set eyes. Seeing the shameless man leave, Wang Xiangxiang wiped her tears away. She thought this should be the end of their entanglements. She didnt understand what hade over her just now, finding herself crying out of a sense of grievance, perhaps single-handedly upholding the family had grown too tiring. After venting, she felt much better. Stretching her arms and yawning, she took a deep breath and a smile spread across her face, as she pep-talked herself, "Wang Xiangxiang, youve got this." She had to manage the business well, raise her brother properly, and find a suitable gentleman. She couldnt admit defeat; she would have to find a matchmaker again to seek out a good match for herself. Once Chu Lian left the Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, the coachman came forward, "Young master, where shall we go now?" "..." Where to indeed, anywhere but home for now, surely those three oddballs at home would mock him once more, so he told the coachman, "You go back to the main residence and tell them Im off to the Academy and wont be returning for a few days." After sending the coachman off, Chu Lian wandered aimlessly through the streets. Indeed, the streets and alleys were all buzzing with discussions about his rejected marriage proposal. He gave a bitter smile. Now, he had be theughingstock of the town, described as less than a pig or a dog. On reflection, he realized such an insult was well-deserved; it was all his own doing. Back at the Academy, he also became the subject of his ssmates whispers and points, but his status was unlike Yang Mings. The ssmates would tease Yang Ming but would not overtly mock him. Instead, some came to ingratiate themselves, offering constory words. "Dont take it to heart, Brother Chu." "Right, its a good thing you were turned down. The Wang Familys Miss is already of such an age; shes practically an old maid. Its better for you to find someone younger." "Exactly, whats so good about some old maid? No one even knows what she looks like; she could be very ugly for all we know." "Saying such things shows she has a terrible temper too. Imagine having a shrew at home if you married her." "..." "..." Chu Lians face grew darker and darker as they evaluated the wilful girl so unkindly. Such words were only permissible for him to say, not others. She wasnt like that at all. He thundered at them, "All of you, shut up." Startled by his outburst, someone said, "Brother Chu, you..." But before they could finish, Chu Lian swung his fist, striking with intense ferocity, and warned as he did, "Dont you dare speak ill of her again." After saying this, he left abruptly. The crowd was left in bewilderment, wondering what had just happened. Chu Familys Eldest Young Master had actually struck someone over that Miss from the Wang Family. Chapter 414: What Nonsense is Her Mother Up to Now

Chapter 414: Chapter 414: What Nonsense is Her Mother Up to Now

Chu Mansions Main Hall Lord Chu and Lady Chu leisurely sipped their tea, awaiting newsyes, they had sent someone to follow their son. Before long, the house servant they had dispatched returned, "My lord, mydy." "Speak." "The young master indeed went to Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, stayed for less than an hour, and afterwards went straight to the Academy. There, because someone spoke ill of Miss Wang, the young master got into a physical altercation." Lord Chu waved his hand dismissively, "You may go." "Yes." The house servant obediently retreated. Chu Huan was startled upon hearing this; she couldnt have imagined her parents would actually send someone to tail her brother. She felt a bit uneasyshe wondered if she might be followed when she left home, too. "Father, mother, are you really doing this tracking thing? This isnt going to be a regr activity, is it?" Lady Chus gaze flickered briefly, but she replied withposure, "How could that be? Just this one time. We mainly wanted to see your brothers reaction. It seems he truly has taken a fancy to that Miss Wang, even daring to fight for her." "..." She would have to be more cautious in the future; her mothers look clearly said she was bluffing. Lady Chu turned to Lord Chu and announced, "My lord, Im going to the county tomorrow." "What for?" With a coy nce, Lady Chu responded, "To meet my future daughter-inw." "..." Chu Huan was utterly dumbfounded; her mother was up to some kind of mischief again. As expected, on the following day, Lady Chu left the house dressed in beggars clothesthats right, she wanted to put her future daughter-inw to the test. Lady Chu got off the carriage not far from Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, and once everything was ready, she approached the entrance of the shop. She imitated a beggars manner, peering inside as if wishing to enter yet hesitating, lingering at the doorstep. A young shop assistant inside noticed the beggar at the door and opened it. "Auntie, may I ask if youre looking for someone here since youve been peering inside for a while?" "..." Was her disguise seen through, exposing her? She shook her head, "No." "Then are you looking to buy some cloth?" the young assistant continued to inquire patiently. "I have no silver." "Auntie, I understand. Please wait for me." The young assistant said before going back inside the shop, only to return a short whileter with a pancake in hand, which he offered to Lady Chu, "Auntie, are you hungry? Here!" Lady Chu epted the pancake somewhat sheepishly, saying, "Thank you, for not despising me for being a beggar." The young assistant said with a smile, "Our Shopkeeper says to treat everyone equally. We shouldnt disdain someone just because theyre a beggar. Who knows, maybe the beggar of today could be sessful tomorrow." After hearing this, Lady Chu smiled contentedly; if her future daughter-inw could teach a shop assistant to be this considerate, she must be a decent person herself. "Auntie, please eat here while I get back to work," said the shop assistant before returning inside. Lady Chu sat at the entrance of the cloth shop, eating the pancake. Before long, she saw a carriage approach and stop in front of Xiangxiang Cloth Shop. A youngdy descended from the carriagewas this her future daughter-inw? She was even more beautiful than her portrait. Seeing her daughter-inw enter, she grew nervous. Now disguised as a beggar, she felt she should act embarrassed to stay here, so she hurriedly stood up, but in her haste, she slipped. Wang Xiangxiang had just approached and noticed a beggar at the door of her shop who looked about to fall. Without a second thought, she rushed forward to steady the woman. "Auntie, are you alrightdid you hurt your foot?" Chapter 415: Daughter-in-law Passes the Test of Character, Kind-hearted

Chapter 415: Chapter 415: Daughter-inw Passes the Test of Character, Kind-hearted

"Im okay." Madam Chu put on apliant front in response, while turmoil churned within her. Her daughter-inw was not only striking in appearance but also had a pleasant voice. "Auntie, let me help you into the house to rest and check on your foot." Seeing her daughter-inw reaching out to support her towards the house, she immediately pulled back her hand, stammering, "No need, Im dirty. I wont go in." "Its fine, we can clean if it gets dirty. Lets go in." The radiant smile and caring words of her daughter-inw made Madam Chus heart tremble. How could her son not like such a person? Her foot had indeed twisted a little, so she no longer resisted and followed her inside. She had wanted to go in anyway. "Shopkeeper." As soon as they entered the house, a young attendant greeted them, "Do you need any help?" While helping Madam Chu, Wang Xiangxiang said, "You go on with your work, I can take care of it." Wang Xiangxiang settled Madam Chu in the inner room, "Auntie, please sit here for a moment. I will go get some medicinal alcohol." Madam Chu didnt speak but looked around the room. The furnishings were simple, and even though it was cluttered with many clothes, everything was neat and clean. She looked at her daughter-inw; her dress and demeanor were appropriate, resembling that of ady from a reputable family. Madam Chu grew more and more satisfied. Wang Xiangxiang returned with the medicinal alcohol, crouching down, "Auntie, let me have a look at your foot and apply some alcohol." Suddenly, Madam Chu pulled her foot back, "No, Im dirty." Her daughter-inw was too kind-hearted, even intending to massage her feet. Yet, Madam Chu felt warmed inside; if Xiangxiang treated a beggar this well, she would likely treat her own family even better. Raising her head with a smile, Wang Xiangxiang said, "Its okay, we can wash away the dirt." Madam Chu didnt refuse any longer. She was preemptively enjoying the treatment of having her feet rubbed by her daughter-inw. While her daughter-inw was massaging her feet, Madam Chu started a conversation. "My dear, you are so kind. Have you already found a family to marry into?" Wang Xiangxiang smiled awkwardly, "Not yet." "With your kindness, how have you not found one? You seem to be of age." "I observed a three-year mourning period for my parents. Now that I want to find someone, its not easy," Wang Xiangxiang said nonchntly. Yet, her words made Madam Chu feel a pang of pity. What a filial girl, having dyed her own marriage because of her devotion. "My dear, with your good nature, youre bound to find someone." "Ha-ha, I hope your words are auspicious, auntie. I wont lie to you; Im actually looking for a matchmaker now." Upon hearing this, Madam Chu frowned. Which matchmaker could be so blind? She resolved to investigate thoroughly upon her return. "All right, auntie, when you go backter, take this medicinal alcohol with you." Madam Chu put on her shoes and took the alcohol, ready to leave, when she heard her daughter-inw say, "Auntie, where do you live? I can call for our carriage to take you home." Madam Chu became anxious at the remark, quickly making up an excuse, "No need, my home is nearby, its a quick walk. I dont want to trouble you." Seeing her insist, Wang Xiangxiang could only relent and walked her to the door. Only after watching her leave did she go back inside. Once she saw her daughter-inw enter the house, Madam Chu hurriedly turned towards the alley and got onto her own familys carriage, feeling very pleased because her daughter-inw had passed the test of character and heart. Back inside, Wang Xiangxiang couldnt shake the feeling that there was something odd about the beggar; dressed in rags, yet not a speck of dirt on her, and her skin was remarkably fair. Nevertheless, she couldnt dwell on it too much. The most troubling thing for her was that the Chu Familys marriage proposal procession hade again that morning, and she had to find a way to resolve the matter. Chapter 416: That sister should get married soon

Chapter 416: Chapter 416: That sister should get married soon

Chu Lian had stayed holed up in the Academy for several days, thinking that the matter of his rejection would not be discussed by themon folk for more than a few days and the heat would die down soon. However, what he did not expect was that when he left the Academy, his affair was still being talked about on the streets, and was even escting. "I never thought that the Chu Family would be so persistent in wanting to marry Miss Wang." "Exactly! Theyve proposed for five consecutive days, and each time Miss Wang has turned them away at her door." "..." "..." Chu Lian was startled in his heart, what on earth was going on, his family was still proposing marriage, now it was done for, that willful girl would hate him again. Unable to listen any further, he quickly found a carriage and headed straight to Shibao Town. Upon entering the front hall of his home, he saw his family lounging leisurely. He directly challenged, "She has already turned down the proposal, why are you still sending marriage gifts?" However, his challenge was met with no response; those people, as if they had arranged it beforehand, continued their tasks undisturbed andpletely ignored him as if he were air. Anxious, he called out, "Mother." "Oh, my son is back. I thought you didnt want this family anymore?" "..." His mother was putting on airs again, he was immensely frustrated and asked again, "Why are you still sending marriage gifts?" Mrs. Chus eyes beamed with joy, "Son, this daughter-inw is good, Mother likes her. She is beautiful, has a pleasant voice, carries herself like ady from a prominent family, genteel and poised. Most importantly, she has a kind heart." "..." What was his mother talking about? Ady from a prominent family? Genteel and poised? Was she talking about that willful girl? "She even massaged Mothers feet. Your future wife is very gentle," boasted Mrs. Chu. "..." Massaged feet? What had his mother done? He suddenly had a bad premonition. Perplexed, he looked towards Chu Huan, who catching his brothers nce, promptly said, "Mother dressed as a beggar to test her out. That sister passed the test, Mother likes her." Upon hearing this, Chu Lians anger surged. How could his mother do such an excessive thing, the willful girl would surely be heartbroken upon knowing it, and would hate him to death, he didnt want to see her crying face, as pitiful as a pear blossom battered by the rain. He yelled at his mother, "Mother, you have gone too far." At that moment, the usually silent Mr. Chu roared back, "How dare you speak to your mother like that?" Chu Lian sneered; his father always sided with his mother. His mother had gone too far, couldnt he vent his frustration even a little? "From now on, dont interfere in my affairs, stop the marriage proposal immediately," he continued shouting, determined to end it; he could no longer cause her any more trouble. Seeing their sons stance, Mr. Chu swung his hand, "Someone, pass the order to stop sending marriage gifts." Upon hearing this, Chu Lians eyes lit upexcellent. Now the willful girl shouldnt be troubled anymore. Meanwhile, Mrs. Chu sighed and said, "I thought you felt differently about Miss Wang than other girls and that your parents were just trying to help, but since this is your attitude, we might as well forget it. Anyway, Miss Wang from the Wang Family does not agree." Mrs. Chu continued with her affected grief, "Such a good girl, soon to be someone elses daughter-inw. We are not fated to be mother and daughter-inw." "..." What was his mother talking about? Seeing her brothers puzzled expression, Chu Huan exined, "That sister told Mother that she is looking for a matchmaker to find an ideal husband for her. The sister will likely marry soon." "..." Chapter 417: All Matchmakers in the City Must Not Propose Matches for Miss Wang Family

Chapter 417: Chapter 417: All Matchmakers in the City Must Not Propose Matches for Miss Wang Family

Rejecting their familys marriage proposal and then seeking other matchmakers to find the perfect husband, isnt she tantly pping him in the face? This arrogant woman is really something, challenging his limits time and again. He suppressed the anger in his heart, his fists clenched tighter and tighter at his side. He turned his head and said disdainfully, "Its better if you marry, so you wont keep thinking about it." With that, he left the front hall. Upon hearing her brothers insincere words, Chu Huan curled her lip, predicting the day he would regret it. After watching her son leave, Madam Chu raised her eyebrows and joked, "My lord, with your years of experience, where has our son gone off to?" Master Chu stroked his chin and said with profound meaning, "With the husbands years of experience, our son has gone to cause trouble." The two of them then snickered together. Chu Huan couldnt help worrying for her brother, with such scheming parents, their children wouldnt know how they might be ruined. Like father knows son, and Master Chu was right. Chu Lian returned to his own residence and immediately called for his personal attendant. His gaze turned sharp, "Acheng, give the order. No matchmaker in the city is to advocate for Miss Wang, and remember to keep it subtle, so no one notices." "Yes, young master," Acheng promptly left the room after receiving the order. A wicked smile appeared on Chu Lians face; he wanted to see how this stubborn woman would choose a suitable husband now. But then, the image of her crying face, like a pear blossom bathed in the rain, shed before his eyes. Would she cry if she found out he was the one sabotaging her? He had no time to ponder, as a knock came, "Young master, the mistress sent the maid with something for you." "Bring it in." The Little Maid set the object down and left the room. Chu Lian frowned upon seeing the object; his mother was stirring up trouble again. In just a few days, that stubborn girl had won over the entire family. Was she really so likable? They still hadnt given up and sent over the portrait of that stubborn girl, as if looking at the portrait would make him like her. His mother really underestimated him. He tossed the portrait aside carelessly, and as it spread out on the floor, his nce caught his own portrait. "This is..." He picked up the portrait, which was the one the stubborn girl had drawn during the contest. Seeing the portrait shed a thought in his mind; that stubborn girl couldnt possibly like him, could she? Otherwise, why would she draw his portrait? He clearly remembered that day she had painted this without looking at him once, and yet she could portray him directly, which meant she had etched his features into her mind, right? The corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously, and he scoffed, "Hmph!" Then he began to indulge in self-love, "I knew it, how could anyone resist my looks?" However, his gaze turned somber, for if there were anyone who resisted, it would only be Xiaoxiao. Xiaoxiao was truly one of a kind, iparable. He opened the drawer and took out the calligraphy and paintings written by Xiaoxiao, beginning to copy them once more, as this was the only way to channel his affection for Xiaoxiao. But as he continued, his expression grew more and more grim; he lost the will to write, for the image of the stubborn girls face kept appearing in his mind. That stubborn woman always stirred such intense emotions within him, and in a fit of anger, he threw the brush onto the floor. When he used to copy these, he would always think of Xiaoxiao, what was happening now? He searched his mind for excuses, this must be because its been a long time since hed seen Xiaoxiao, "Ill go see her in a few days." Chapter 418: Why Won’t It Go Away!

Chapter 418: Chapter 418: Why Wont It Go Away!

About Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang leaving, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had no clue, they were bustling with activity in the vige these past few days. As the pit got deeper and deeper, everyones spirits were lifted, the water pond project seemed to being together, since water was increasingly appearing, and their confidence grew stronger by the day. Yang Mings health appeared to be no issue anymore, so he joined the digging crew as well, when Xiaoxiao saw Yang Ming drenched in sweat from exhaustion, her eyes were full of distress. In the pit, Yang Ming, seeing his wife above, gave her a reassuring look, he put all his effort into the work, he had to show his wife with concrete actions that he was in good health, there would definitely be no issues for their wedding night. Above the pit, Xiaoxiao, understanding her cheap husbands look in a second, turned around, her face breaking into a shy smile, that cheap husband of hers only had one thing on his mind all day. Just then, a shouting voice came from afar, "Xiaoxiao, Xiaoxiao!" Xiaoxiao looked into the distance and saw it was Wang Xiangxiangs carriage, Wang Xiangxiang had left half a month ago, it seemed they were here to report the sales situation of the undergarments, she waved towards Wang Xiangxiang. Turning her head, she shouted to her cheap husband in the pit, "Sister Wang is here, Im going back first." Yang Ming nodded. Xiaoxiao ran to the carriage and met up with Wang Xiangxiang, who directly got off the carriage. "Sister Wang." "Xiaoxiao, its been only half a month since Ive seen you, what are you busy with now?" The past few days, she was so annoyed by that shameless man, she left without even having time to ask. "Haha, Im digging a pond to raise fish in the future." "What?" This truly surprised Wang Xiangxiang, raising fish, that was hitting the jackpot, their county used to get fish from the outside. Her big eyes spinning round and round, gleaming, "Xiaoxiao, partnership, huh?" "..." She knew it, that look on Wang Xiangxiangs face definitely meant she was scheming something against her again, she was not just a curious baby, but also a wealth fanatic not inferior to her. Half-jokingly and with augh, Xiaoxiao said, "No partnership, whats a Cloth Shop owner getting excited for? If there was to be a partnership, it should be with Yui Restaurant." As soon as Yui Restaurant was mentioned, Wang Xiangxiangs smile immediately stiffened, but only for a few seconds, then she pouted and said, "Fine, no partnership then." Afterwards, Xiaoxiao took Wang Xiangxiang to see her pride and joy, the grand water pond project and her low-lyingnd. Beholding the magnificent project, Wang Xiangxiang remarked, "Xiaoxiao, if you make this work, youll really be making a fortune." Laughing heartily, Xiaoxiao also felt this project could make them rich, "Sister Wang, what brings you here today?" Reminded by Xiaoxiao, Wang Xiangxiang suddenly remembered, "Ah, I forgot the main reason, I came to settle ounts today, to pay the workers and to give you your share of silver." "How did the undergarments sell?" Wang Xiangxiang said with a proud face, "With me in charge, how could the sales not be good, just focus on making them." It was obvious, Wang Xiangxiang had a knack for selling, Xiaoxiao didnt even need to worry. She had found a great partner, it felt like she could just sit at home and earn money, "Lets hurry back then." The two walked back from the field and hadnt reached the carriage yet when they saw another carriage approaching from a distance. Xiaoxiao was quite surprisedwho could that be? Aside from Wang Xiangxiang visiting with a carriage, it was rare to see any, mostly ox carts were used here. "Sister Wang, did you bring that carriage?" Wang Xiangxiang shook her head, the carriage drew near, a man got out, and upon seeing him, Wang Xiangxiangs face changed instantlywhy couldnt this pest just leave them alone! Chapter 419: Not Much, Just an Ounce or Two of Silver

Chapter 419: Chapter 419: Not Much, Just an Ounce or Two of Silver

With that one nce at the unruly woman, Chu Lians heart trembled violently. He was extremely surprised; he hadnt expected her to be there too, and at the sight of her, his heart even skipped a beat. However, that feeling was wiped out by the cold, frosty expression on the unruly womans face. "Master Chu!" It was only when he heard Xiaoxiaos voice that Chu Lian realized Xiaoxiao was standing next to the unruly woman; he hadpletely overlooked Xiaoxiao, his eyes fixed only on the unruly woman. He didnt have time to think further, "I came to see how Yang Ming was doing?" "Hes doing fine, hes gone to work, right over there," Xiaoxiao said as she pointed the way to Chu Lian. Chu Lian nced in the distance. He had heard from Yang Mings family that they were digging a pond, and that was why he hade to check, not expecting the project to be so extensive. "Then Ill head over there." "Yes, alright." Xiaoxiao agreed, then watched Chu Lian walk directly towards the direction she had indicated. Xiaoxiao was genuinely puzzled, these two knew each other yet didnt greet each other; it was as if they were strangers, "Sister Wang, whats going on with you two, acting like you dont know each other?" "We really dont know each other." "..." These two definitely had a secret; theyd met several times yet still spoke like this. "Lets go back then, to distribute the wages." "Hmm." Afterward, the two boarded Wang Xiangxiangs carriage and went to the rented courtyard. Everyone was happy to hear about the wages being distributed; being paid by the piece, some even received two taels of silver, which they had never dared to dream of before. After the wages were distributed, Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang returned home. As soon as they entered, Wang Xiangxiang produced a silver note and handed it to Xiaoxiao, "This is for you." Xiaoxiao took the silver note, startled by the number on it; it was five hundred taels of silver. It was only half a month, and there was already so much. She looked at Wang Xiangxiang, "Sister Wang, how much silver does one set of your underwear sell for?" Wang Xiangxiang replied with a smile, "Not much, just one tael of silver." "Cough, cough!" Xiaoxiao coughed in surprise. Wang Xiangxiang was simply bandit-like in her pricing; one tael was already exorbitant, yet she said it was just one tael. The underwear and underpants used less fabric to begin with. Though there was embroidery, much of it was embellishment rather than extensive intricate workit was practically robbery. Seeing Xiaoxiaos reaction, Wang Xiangxiang immediately patted her on the back, "Dont get excited, we only sell to wealthy families. One tael is nothing to them." Her words did make sense; from the beginning, they had aimed to market to the rich and not the poor, as the poor would likely buy their own fabric and sew themselves, making it difficult to open up that market. "Sister Wang, I totally admire you now." Wang Xiangxiang was a natural-born businesswoman; Xiaoxiao couldnt have picked a better partner. She didnt have to worry about anything, just sit at home and count the silver. Beingplimented made Wang Xiangxiang much happier. Confident in her business acumen, she said, "Xiaoxiao, lets hire more people, make more, I want to try selling in other counties." "How are you nning to sell?" "Opening stores would take too long, and I cant open one in every ce; Im thinking of partnering with cloth shops in other counties to supply them." "..." Was Wang Xiangxiang really from this era? Her business mind seemed like that of a modern-day entrepreneurshe was thinking of wholesaling. "Sister Wang, its a good idea, but we cant let every cloth shop sell our merchandise; that would make our underwear seem cheap. Rarity increases value." Xiaoxiao made a good point, "Do you have any suggestions?" Chapter 420: When a Woman Pursues a Man, It’s Like a Layer of Gauze – High Success Rate

Chapter 420: Chapter 420: When a Woman Pursues a Man, Its Like a Layer of Gauze C High Sess Rate

Xiaoxiao repeated the idea that in the modern era, a city could have only one agent. She sought out capable agents and wasnt scared of being copied because she had many more tricks up her sleeve. "Xiaoxiao, thats a great idea. Lets do as you said. Ill go back and hire the salesperson you mentioned to negotiate in the other counties," said Silver. Silver was someone who acted decisively. It looked like this deal was going to seed. She hadnt expected her lingerie to sell like this and was finally on her way out of poverty towards afortable life. "Right, remember to sign a contract and do everything ording to the agreement." "Dont worry about that, I know," Silver reassured Xiaoxiao with a confident look. They discussed their business for a while and hammered out the details. The better their conversation went, the more their spirits lifted. It was if they could see the beckoning of gleaming silver, highlighting once again their mutual fondness for wealth. Suddenly, Silver smirked, "Xiaoxiao, did you get your wish?" "Wish for what?" Xiaoxiao was clueless about what Silver was referring to. "Ohe on, you know, the... wedding night," Silver hinted with a wink, implying Xiaoxiao should understand what she meant. "..." Is it really okay for a young woman to ask such things? Feeling slightly embarrassed and blushing, Xiaoxiao said, "He was almost dead, his body couldnt have possibly recovered that quickly." This made Silver think something else entirely and she eximed loudly, "Xiaoxiao!" Xiaoxiao, speechless, said, "Silver, keep it down." Realizing she had gotten carried away, Silver lowered her voice, "Xiaoxiao, is it possible he was so smoky that he can dig through earth but cant celebrate the wedding night?" "..." Silvers imagination was truly wild. How could she be more open-minded than a modern person? Xiaoxiao replied embarrassingly, "Ah, youre thinking too much, it wont be long now." Seeing Silvers mischievous smile, it was astonishing how Silver seemed more excited about Xiaoxiaos wedding night than Xiaoxiao herself. "And you, Silver, hows it going with the search for your charming prince?" As soon as Xiaoxiao finished her question, the smile faded from Silvers face. "..." Did she ask the wrong question? In just over half a month, how easy could it be to find someone? "Silver, theres no need to rush, take your time." Slumping over the table dejectedly, Silver said pitifully, "Xiaoxiao, I might end up alone for the rest of my life." "..." How had her attitude changed so much in just half a month? What happened to the persevering Silver who seemed indestructible in her pursuit of a partner? "That cant be. Theres still plenty of time," Xiaoxiao reassured her. "Its indeed possible. Now, all the matchmakers in the city refuse to set me up." "..." Eh, what happened? Was she cklisted by the matchmakers? "Whys that?" "..." Why, indeed. She didnt want to say it, but she had a pretty good guessit mustve been because of that scoundrels marriage proposal, which scared off other potential suitors, fearing they would offend the Chu Family. Seeing Silver so downhearted, Xiaoxiao immediately tried to cheer her up, "Even if no matchmaker will set you up, it doesnt matter. Weve pretty much exhausted the local options anyway. If theres no suitable match here, why not look in other counties, right?" Silvers eyes lit up at this suggestion, and she quickly got to her feet, "Right, howe I didnt think of that!" "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless. Did Silver use all her brains for business? It seemed nobodys perfect, after all; everyone has their foolish moments. After searching in the same ce for so many years, wasnt she just running into the same people over and over again? "Or if you meet someone you like while doing business outside, you could chase after him. Theres a saying, When a woman chases a man, its only a veil apart, which means your chances are high." Chapter 421: Wife, You Can Only Be Mine

Chapter 421: Chapter 421: Wife, You Can Only Be Mine

Having finished speaking, Xiaoxiao looked up and saw her bargain husband and Chu Lian standing at the doorway. "..." When did they get back, and how much had they heard? Emma, this was so awkward, since what they were discussing was all private talk. Xiaoxiao immediately got up and greeted him with a smile, "Hubby, youre back!" Reminded by Xiaoxiaos reaction, Wang Xiangxiang also realized that the two men had returned, and she felt utterly embarrassed, it was indeed quite shameful. "You two go ahead, Ill head over to the rental courtyard," Wang Xiangxiang said as she stepped out the door, not wanting to stay any longer, especially with the shameless man having arrived. Seeing the petnt girls behavior, Chu Lian knew she was avoiding him. He felt a bit dejected and blurted out without thinking, "Ill go out too." And with that, he followed her out the door. The sight of the two of them made Xiaoxiao burst intoughter uncontrobly, "Pfft!" Seeing his wife giggle, Yang Ming felt somewhat helpless, and thought it necessary to remind her, "Wifey, you really dare to say anything." "..." Had he heard that? Xiaoxiao immediately hooked her arm in her bargain husbands, tightening her grip on his arm and threatened, "Spill it, how much did you hear?" Even her threatening demeanor was endearing to him. He pushed against her forehead with his palm, "Starting from when you asked how Ruyis search for a partner was going." Xiaoxiaos eyes widened. Wasnt that conversation from earlier? So, these two had been back for a while and didnte in. They had deliberately listened to their conversation, what were they up to? "Hubby, you actually want to listen to our private conversations?" "..." It wasnt that he wanted to. Yang Ming immediately exined, "It wasnt me, I wanted to remind you from the start, but Chu Lian stopped me." Xiaoxiaos eyes revolved with intrigue, "Hubby, is Master Chu married yet?" Upon hearing this, Yang Ming frowned. Why was wifey asking about this? Seeing Yang Ming not responding, Xiaoxiao asked once more, "Arent you two close friends? Dont you know?" Reluctantly, Yang Ming replied, "Hes not married." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao suddenly cheered, throwing her hands up, "Thats great." Yang Mings expression darkened. Chu Lian wasnt married yet, and his wife was already so delighted. His wife could only be his, and he pulled her into his embrace, "Wifey, you can only be mine." "..." Eh, had her bargain husband misunderstood something? What a jealous pot he was. Xiaoxiao gave a snicker, then stood on her tiptoes and suddenly kissed her bargain husbands cheek, "What are you thinking? Of course, Im yours." "..." His wife hadunched a surprise attack, but the darkness on his face instantly vanished, his heart blooming with joy. "I just thought he and Xiangxiang would be a good match. If hes not married, we could y matchmaker." "Hmm." His wifes suggestion was good. If they could really set them up, then Chu Lian wouldnt always be preupied with his wife. "Alright, hubby, go wash up, youre all covered in mud." Yang Ming, still hugging his wife, didnt want to let go, "Wifey, how did I do with the work today?" "Quite well." "Then tonight, could we...?" "..." This bargain husband was really relentless in bringing this up, he must be suffering too. With her face flushed red, Xiaoxiao nodded slightly, "Mhm." Overjoyed by her response, Yang Ming swooped her up in his arms, spinning several times on the spot, "Wifey, I love you." Dizzy from being spun around, Xiaoxiao bashfully spoke, "Alright, put me down now!" Chapter 422 You Can’t Look

Chapter 422: Chapter 422 You Cant Look

As Chu Lian walked out the door, he didnt even think before chasing after Wang Xiangxiang, blocking her path directly. Wang Xiangxiang stopped in her tracks when intercepted and spoke with a particrly indifferent tone, "What do you want?" "..." Why did this stubborn girl always treat him like this? Couldnt she be calm andposed? "Are you so keen on finding a husband? Even considering going to another county?" Yang Ming and he had just entered the room when he overheard Xiaoxiao asking her about seeking a suitable gentleman, and on a whim he stopped Yang Ming, wanting to hear her response. When he heard that all the matchmakers in town wouldnt advocate for her, he felt quite smug, yet he hadnt expected that, when the conversation turned to finding a husband in another county, she suddenly perked up again. Did she really want to get married that badly? How could she be so shameless,cking any of the modesty that a woman should possess? Hearing the unscrupulous mans question, Wang Xiangxiangs face soured, evidently, he had overheard her previous conversation, and she knew he was here to mock her. "Yes, I do want to find a husband. How does that inconvenience you?" "..." She had the nerve to ask how it inconvenienced him? She rejected him and then turned around to look for someone else, wasnt that a p to his face? "You~are~not~allowed~to~find one," he threatened, emphasizing each word. "..." Who did he think he was? To decree that she couldnt find one? Wang Xiangxiang snorted coldly and defiantly replied word for word, "I~will~find one!" "You..." Chu Lian felt that this stubborn girl was always challenging him and that he constantly felt like he was about to explode with anger. Momentster, a wicked smirk appeared on his face. With a sneer, he taunted her, "Hmph, with your looks, even if you find someone, it would be for naught; nobody would want you." "Ill find one just to show you, and youll see if anyone wants me." Wang Xiangxiang was not to be outdone as she argued with Chu Lian. Over the years, other than Li Fugui being an exception, there really wasnt anyone who had refused her; it was she who refused them all. Hearing this, Chu Lians lips curled into a scornfulugh, "Just dont end up with some unsightly oddity." "Dont worry, hell definitely be better than you." Her words made Chu Lians face turn extremely ugly. He suppressed the impulse to strangle this stubborn girl. When he returned, he would instruct Acheng to ensure that matchmakers from other counties wouldnt advocate for her either, and then watch how she managed to find her ideal gentleman. But he neglected an important fact, that was, Wang Xiangxiang was exceptional, and he overlooked an important saying, Xiaoxiaos wise words, "Its as easy as pie for a woman to get the man she pursues." At this point, Chu Lian, following Yang Ming, had already gone far down the path of his own undoing. He continued to provoke Wang Xiangxiang with his words, "Then I shall wait to see this ideal gentleman better than me that you find." "Rest assured, youll be the first one I show," she replied. That despicable man really infuriated her. Scoffing at her inability to find someone, he made it seem as if she werecking somehow. Feeling so deeply insulted, she waspelled to retaliate and pierce his heart in retaliation. She smiled and said, "In this aspect, indeed, I am not your equal." Chu Lian felt a sense of pridefinally, that stubborn girl admitted defeat, conceding she was not as beloved as he! "To love yet to be unloved; how pitiful for you, sneaking around to watch her from afar." Wang Xiangxiang said with a feigned sympathetic tone and then walked on ahead. Chu Lian behind her had his eyes wide with anger, his face turned an iron blue, fists clenched and creaking furiously. That stubborn girl truly was ipatible with him. As much as he hated it in his heart, his feet wouldnt listen and followed her nheless. Chapter 423: I’ll Prove It to You

Chapter 423: Chapter 423: Ill Prove It to You

Watching the unruly girl head in the direction of Li Fuguis courtyard, he had initially thought they were betrothed, but now it seemed they were not, not at all. Did she not know to avoid giving the wrong impression? Chu Lian had yet to realize his mind was full of jealousy and spection,pletely neglecting Xiaoxiao. "Youre going to see Li Fugui again?" "..." Why couldnt this man just leave her alone, following her everywhere? Who she saw was none of his business, was it? Wang Xiangxiang gave him a disdainful nce and kept walking without responding. Seeing the unruly girls attitude, Chu Lian grew even more frustrated. "Dont you know to avoid impropriety? There should be no intimacy between unrted men and women." "..." No intimacy between unrted men and women? That wasughable. Who was the one failing to observe propriety? She truly didnt want to speak with this shameless man anymore. Chu Lian did not expect the unruly girl to ignore him once again. Her attitude only fueled his anger, prompting him to utter malicious words, "Do you actually think you can find a perfect match in Li Fugui? Hes not nearly as good as me in any wayneither in appearance nor family background." His wordspletely infuriated Wang Xiangxiang. She stopped, turned to face him, her eyes full of scorn, and after a coldugh, she said, "You think he is not as good as you? You overestimate yourself." "..." So she thought Li Fugui was better than him? He wanted to hear how exactly Li Fugui was superior. "Li Fugui is so much better than you in many ways. He is loyal and deeply devoted. From being an Eldest Young Master, he fell into this rural life. He didnt give up on himself; he teaches the children to read, to cook, and works the fields alongside everyone. He is trying his best in his own way. How can such a person not be admirable?" Chu Lian was shaken by her words. Li Fugui, whom he thought was of no particr talent and couldnt even manage a tavern, was held in higher esteem by this unruly girl. The way she said, How can one not like such a person filled him with jealousy. She was telling him that she liked Li Fugui more than him. Wang Xiangxiang continued, "Apart from your looks and family, what else do you have?" "I also have..." He wanted to argue, but he found himself at a loss for words. Indeed, what would he have if not for his status? He probably wouldnt amount to anything, couldnt even get a fire started. Seeing him try to speak but falling short, Wang Xiangxiang let out a sneer, "So, Eldest Young Master Chu, you indeed overrate yourself. Without all that, do you think those rich youngdies would still fancy you? Do you still think youre better than Li Fugui now?" Her words rendered Chu Lian speechless. Now that he thought about it, those people really were attracted to his appearance and family wealth, but in front of this unruly girl, they were worthless. He felt his pride was insulted. He had to prove to her that he was not a worthless person, so he followed the departing Wang Xiangxiang, "Ill stay here topete with Li Fugui. I want to show you that I am better than him." "..." Had she provoked him into wanting to prove something to her? Wang Xiangxiang didnt believe it. "Eldest Young Master Chu, you should go back to being a young master. You cant endure hardship." Dismissing the unruly girls attitude, he couldnt be belittled by her, "I will prove it to you." "..." Wang Xiangxiang was speechless. Prove it to her? What was the point? Chapter 424: Don’t Mind Him, He Forgot to Take His Medicine When He Left

Chapter 424: Chapter 424: Dont Mind Him, He Forgot to Take His Medicine When He Left

Actually, Wang Xiangxiang was just looking for an excuse to go out and didnt really intend to visit the rental courtyard, but now that this shameless man had suggested it, she really wanted to go since it was nearly noon and certainly Li Fugui had prepared something delicious again. Indeed, as soon as she entered the courtyard, she could smell the aroma of the food, so Wang Xiangxiang headed straight for the kitchen, which made Chu Lian behind her furrow his brows. "Li Fugui, what delicious thing are you making? It smells so good." Upon hearing Wang Xiangxiangs voice, Li Fugui didnt even lift his head and continued serving the dishes, "Today youre in luck, sweet and sour spareribs." "Haha, I came at the perfect time." Wang Xiangxiang leaned in closer, "Quick, let me have a taste." Li Fugui handed her the chopsticks, "Try it, has it improved?" Wang Xiangxiang took the chopsticks, picked up a piece, blew on it a bit, and then started eating voraciously, oil smearing all over her mouth, and while eating she kept saying, "Delicious, delicious." Seeing the interaction between these two from the doorway, Chu Lian thought their behaviorpletely resembled that of an old married couple. And now this wilful girl was smiling at Li Fugui, a stark contrast from her attitude toward him from before, which inevitably made him furiously jealous. He feigned a cough, "Ahem, ahem." Only then did Li Fugui notice someone else at the door, and turning his head, he saw it was Chu Lian. He greeted him awkwardly, "Brother Chu." Chu Lian spoke with an odd tone, "Brother Li, anyone who didnt know better would think shes your wife." Reminded by Chu Lian, Li Fugui also felt he might have overstepped, so he quickly started exining, "Brother Chu, youve misunderstood, Miss Wang and I are just acquainted, familiar with each other, not at all what youre thinking." Wang Xiangxiang was starting to be infuriated by this shameless man. Speaking in such a sour tone, she said to Li Fugui, "Dont mind him, he forgot his medication when he left home." "..." This wilful girl had such a venomous tongue, saying he forgot his medication, wasnt she insinuating he was sick? Feeling an angry twitch at the corner of his mouth, he forcefully suppressed his anger, "Serve me some, too." Wang Xiangxiang rolled her eyes at Chu Lian, if youre so capable, then dont eat. Chu Lian shot back a look, if youre eating, why shouldnt I? Watching the twomunicate with their eyes, Li Fugui felt helpless, he left food for Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian and then went out to deliver food to the female workers. He couldnt and shouldnt interfere with those two, it was better if he dined with the female workers, letting the two of them create a racket by themselves. After Li Fugui left, Wang Xiangxiang didnt take her meal to a room to eat, she ate directly in the kitchen, simply because Li Fuguis cooking was too good. Watching the wilful girl eat, Chu Lian frowned in disapproval, couldnt she behave in a moredylike manner? However, watching her eat made him feel an inexplicable belief that the food must be delicious. Thus, he also picked up his chopsticks, admiring Li Fuguis culinary skills. The two quickly finished off the food Li Fugui had left for them, and just as Chu Lian set down his bowl and chopsticks, he heard the wilful girl speak. "You, go wash the dishes." "..." He hadnt misheard, right? The wilful girl actually asked him to wash the dishes. He red at her, expressing his dissatisfaction. "What are you looking at? Didnt you want to prove something to me? So, if you cant even wash a bowl, what good are you?" Her words left Chu Lian speechless; if he refused, it would mean that his previous bravado was all for show, but if he did the dishes, it felt like he was being toyed with by the wilful girl. Struggling to contain his rage, he picked up the bowl and chopsticks, ring at the wilful girl, hoping she wouldnt fall into his hands one day... Chapter 425: Do You Like Eavesdropping So Much?

Chapter 425: Chapter 425: Do You Like Eavesdropping So Much?

Seeing the shameless man reluctantly washing dishes, Wang Xiangxiang felt greatly amused. She hooked the corner of her mouth and said, "Just experience life to the fullest here." Clumsily handling the dishes, Chu Lian heard the capricious woman utter those words before she left. He was in no mood to wash dishes; his mind was preupied with thoughts of her. Had she gone to find Li Fugui? As soon as Wang Xiangxiang stepped out, she saw Li Fuguiing out as well, and they started talking right there in the courtyard. "Li Fugui, dont worry about Xiaotian. Ill keep looking for him," Wang Xiangxiang also felt remorsefulit had been such a long time with still no news. "Yeah," Li Fugui nodded. In the vast sea of humanity, haste was of no use. In a few more days, he would set out to search on his own. Upon seeing Li Fuguis disappointed expression, Wang Xiangxiang felt a twinge of sorrow herself, "If only we had a portrait, knowing what he looks like would make it easier to find him." Li Fugui sighed upon hearing this, regretting that he had not taken drawing more seriously. Now he couldnt even sketch Xiaotians likeness. "Li Fugui, describe her general appearance to me, and Ill try drawing it for you." Wang Xiangxiang thought that, without a model and relying only on description, she should manage a rough sketch, so she decided to give it a try. After all, she couldnt guarantee the result, since she hadnt touched a pencil in three years and her skills had gotten rusty. Li Fuguis eyes brightened with the possibility of finding a resemnce to Yang Qiu, "She looks about sixty to seventy percent like Yang Qiu!" "Why didnt you say so earlier? Lets go inside quickly." If the girl resembled Xiaoqiu, it would be even easier for her to draw, as she had a reference to work from. She hastily entered the house with Li Fugui. "Quickly, tell me, whats different between her and Xiaoqiu?" Seeing Wang Xiangxiang ready to start drawing, Li Fugui voiced his doubts, "Shouldnt you call Yang Qiu over for reference first?" Wang Xiangxiang waved her hand dismissively, "No need, its all etched in my mind. Just tell me their differences." Seeing her brimming with confidence, Li Fugui continued, "Her face is a bit rounder than Yang Qius, and her eyebrows are thicker..." Li Fugui described her bit by bit, and Wang Xiangxiang began to draw. Following Li Fuguis descriptions and making adjustments here and there, she soon finished a drawing, "Take a look, is it like this?" Li Fugui picked up the portrait, which was indeed the spitting image of Xiaotian, and his eyes moistened with emotion. He excitedly affirmed, "Yes, exactly like this!" Seeing Li Fugui on the verge of tears, Wang Xiangxiang mused, howe she couldnt find such a devoted lover herself? Chu Lian was absent-minded in the kitchen all the while, and finally, a dish broke. With nothing left to wash, he decided toe out and see why she hadnt returned. Just as he suspected, he found the capricious woman with Li Fugui. He was about to enter the room when he overheard their conversation. "I didnt expect you to draw so well." "Haha, its nothing. I havent drawn in three years; my hand is out of practice." "Havent sketched in three years because of me?" "Dont tter yourself; it has nothing to do with you. But yeah, because of you, Im still unmarried." "Im sorry." "Its okay, I forgave you a long time ago." This exchange made Chu Lians heart tremble. They had known each other for three years. What on earth happened three years ago, for the capricious woman to say that her being unmarried was Li Fuguis fault? As soon as Wang Xiangxiang lifted her gaze, she saw the shameless man standing at the doorway. What was with him, eavesdropping on conversations around corners like that? Chapter 426: Compensation in Silver

Chapter 426: Chapter 426: Compensation in Silver

Wang Xiangxiang nced at the scoundrel behind her and immediately redirected her gaze, continuing her conversation with Li Fugui, "Keep this drawing safe as a keepsake, and Ill paint another when I return." "Okay." Li Fugui hurriedly stored the portrait away as if he were afraid Chu Lian might see it. "By the way, our underwear will soon be on sale in other counties, so there will be even bigger opportunities then. Just wait for the news." "Okay." Li Fugui was filled with gratitude towards Wang Xiangxiang; he had no way to repay her, so all he could do was offer her themunal meals he cooked when she visited, which thankfully she enjoyed. Seeing the rogue still loitering at the entrance, Wang Xiangxiang inquired, "Have you finished washing the bowls?" The shrewish woman finally remembered him, huh? What sort of charade were those two ying? He couldnt understand a word, but he understood very well that the shrewish woman had given her portrait to Li Fugui, telling him to look at it whenever he missed her. Feeling somewhat angry, he replied irritably, "Theyre all shattered." Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang immediately went to the kitchen and saw the chaos hed made. He had not even been tasked with washing many bowls, yet he truly acted like an Eldest Young Master! She extended her hand, frustration evident, "Pay up." Upon seeing the shrewish womans outstretched hand, Chu Lian also felt a surge of annoyance. It was just a few bowls, and she was asking him topensate, "How much?" "One tael!" "Are you trying to rob me?" She really had the nerve to demand so muchenough to buy countless bowls. Indeed, she only had eyes for money. But Wang Xiangxiangs hand remained extended, clearly determined not to back down until she received payment, "One tael!" Chu Lian helplessly pulled out a tael of silver from his pocket, "Here." Wang Xiangxiang took the silver and immediately handed it to Li Fugui, who was cleaning up after the rogue, "For you." Without a word, Li Fugui epted it. He had already seen through Wang Xiangxiangs way of handling things. Let those two bicker as they will, he thought, resuming his tidying of the kitchen. This infuriated Chu Lian standing nearby. The shrewish woman had the audacity to give the silver he provided directly to Li Fugui right in front of him. What irked him most was that after doing so, she haughtily tilted her head at him with a "hmph." She then exited the kitchen, and Chu Lian, agitated, flung his sleeves and followed her out without a second thought. Walking on the road, Wang Xiangxiang felt utterly helpless. What was with this rogue today, sticking to her like a persistent shadow? Unbeknownst to Chu Lian trailing behind, his eyes kept following the cantankerous woman. The two eventually made their way back to Yang Mings house. As soon as she entered Xiaoxiaos room, Wang Xiangxiang announced, "Xiaoxiao, Im heading back, and Ill bring you some new fabric in a few days." "Sister Wang, arent you staying the night?" Every time Wang Xiangxiang came, she stayed over, reluctant to leave. Why was she in such a hurry today? "No, its pointless when Im not staying with you." Having said that, Wang Xiangxiang walked out the door. "..." Seeing the shrewish woman leave, Chu Lian addressed Yang Ming, "Yang Ming, Im heading back too. Ille over in a few days." "Eldest Brother Chu, arent you staying the night?" They had clearly agreed back in the depression to stay over, but now he was leaving all of a sudden. "No, I need to go back and prepare. Ill be back in a few days as I n to stay here long-term to experience your rural life," he said before exiting. "..." Was he provoked by something? With both of them gone, Xiaoxiao remarked, "Husband, did you notice? Those two speak with exactly the same tone." "..." Chapter 427: Go Take a Bath, I’ll Wait for You

Chapter 427: Chapter 427: Go Take a Bath, Ill Wait for You

Hearing the sound of the carriage, Xiaoxiao snapped back to reality, "Honey, what were we doing, why didnt we see them off?" "..." Yang Ming was also confused, he had also forgotten to go out to see them off. "Forget it, theyve already left in the carriage." Truly, confused by these two peoples actions, thankfully they are good friends, otherwise it would have been rude. Xiaoxiao then idly chatted, "I wonder what got into Mr. Chu toe experience life here." She really didnt understand the world of the wealthy. Upon hearing this, Yang Mings expression faltered, surely Brother Chu wasnt using this "life experience" as a pretext to check on his bride. He suddenly felt a sense of crisis, Brother Chu was much better than him in many aspects. He said somewhat dejectedly, "I dont know either." "..." Why on mentioning Mr. Chu, her cheap husbands mood souredwerent they close friends? Xiaoxiao didnt care anymore, let hime if he wants to, theres space to stay and her family wasnt short of food now. Since Chu Lian and the others had left just after noon, Yang Ming went back to work in the londs in the afternoon, but Xiaoxiao did not go. Because she had promised her cheap husband a wedding night, she needed to tidy up the room, the big red wedding quilt wasid out again, and the red candles were also set up. By the time Yang Ming returned, the bathwater was ready, everything prepared. Just as Yang Ming was about to enter the room, Xiaoxiao stopped him, "Donte in yet, lets go to the Main House to eat first." "..." Not knowing what his wife was up to, Yang Ming obediently followed his wife to the Main House. After dinner, the couple returned to their room, and Yang Ming, seeing the quilt all spread out, was thrilled beyond measurehe had waited too long for this moment. He pulled his wife towards him, "Wife..." "Dont rush, Ill take a bath first." Xiaoxiao fended him off, then took some clothes and went to the outer roomturning her little head back as she closed the door and teasing, "No peeking." That mischievous look was adorable, and Yang Ming found her absolutely endearing. It wasnt long before Xiaoxiao had finished washing. She came in and handed Yang Ming the washcloth, "Go clean up, Im waiting for you." This "Im waiting for you" sent Yang Mings heart racing once again, and he immediately took the clothes and went to bathe in the outer room. Yang Ming was quick; he couldnt wait any longer. When he came out, he saw the wedding garmentid out next to himhis wife wanted him to wear the wedding garment, intending to redo their vows. Ecstatic, he quickly put on the wedding outfit and entered the room, to see his wife simrly dressed, sitting on the beds edge, her head bowed slightly, covered with a red veil. He stepped forward and, with trembling hands, lifted the red veil. Seeing his wifes shy face, he couldnt help but say, "Wife, you are so beautiful." Xiaoxiao continued to bow her head, smiling with pursed lips, her cheap husband so silly, so clumsy, like a block of wood, but always became slick with sweet nothings whenever they were together, making her heart bloom with joy. As she wasughing, she noticed her cheap husband helping her put on slippers, then carefully lifted her up and ced her on the well-prepared big red wedding quilt. The two of them sat facing each other like that, Xiaoxiaos heart began to pound uncontrobly. It wasing, it was reallying. Her first time was finally about to happen, she started feeling nervous, she had never done this beforewould it hurt? Chapter 428-429

Chapter 428: Chapter 428-429

And so, the two of them finally ended up together. The first ray of the morning sun shone into the room, lighting up both their faces. They opened their eyes and just looked at each other, neither wanting to get up. "Wife, did you sleep well?" Yang Ming asked. "Husband, did you sleep well?" Xiaoxiao asked. The two who spoke simultaneously shared a knowing smile, and their hearts still raced with the blush ofst nights memories. "Shall we get up?" Yang Ming asked. "Lets not get up," Xiaoxiao replied. She felt embarrassed, really wanting to just lie there, yet she knew it wasnt quite possible. "Then we wont get up," Yang Ming said indulgently. "What about you?" Xiaoxiao asked. "Im not getting up either," Yang Ming replied. The two of themy there, you looking at me and I looking at you, sweetness filling their eyes. But lying there in silence was somewhat awkward. So Xiaoxiao broke the silence, "Husband, let me tell you about some modern things." "Yeah, you tell me," Yang Ming agreed. He loved to listen to his wife talk about the novel and strange happenings of the modern world; she was so vibrant when she spoke of those things. The thought of his wife not being able to return to her own world for his sake pained him; he resolved to always treat her well in the future, not letting her suffer any grievances. Xiaoxiao pondered what modern things to talk about? After some thought, "Let me tell you about how people in our ce get married." "Yeah, go ahead," Yang Ming felt the topic was a good one. He wanted to listen carefully since he and his wife hadnt had a proper wedding ceremony, which had always been a regret to him. How wonderful it would be if they could hold one again someday. "Over there, the wedding ceremony is called a wedding. The woman wears a white wedding dress, and the man wears a suit. The man has to go to the womans family and fetch her. There are people at the door who block the way, giving the groom a hard time by asking him to do various tasks, like singing or hopping on one leg. In short, the groom has to earnestlyplete these tasks to marry the beautiful bride." "They hold a sacred ceremony, dering their vows to each other in front of everyone, exchanging wedding rings, drinking nuptial cups, and expressing gratitude to each others parents..." Xiaoxiao spoke earnestly while Yang Ming listened intently. No wonder she confessed in such a mannerthe regret was clear; she, too, desired such a union ceremony. "Wife, Im sorry I couldnt give you a perfect wedding ceremony." Xiaoxiao smiled, what could be done? She had arrived after the ceremony was over, and they couldnt just have a wedding again, "Its okay. The ceremony is just a formality. As long as we have each other in our hearts, the actual formality doesnt matter that much. Back home, we have this saying, Every day is Valentines Day when youre together. Valentines Day is a festival for two people in love." Yang Ming held his wifes small hand, repeating to himself, again and again, the phrase, "Every day is Valentines Day when youre together." He thought his wife was an especially insightful person. Being able to marry her was the greatest fortune of his life. The two of them chatted about everything under the sun, and after a while, Yang Ming asked, "Shall we get up?" Xiaoxiao answered, "You go first." "No, you first." "You first." Both of them felt too shy and wished time could just stand still in this moment. But time would not stand still, and they could not escape the inevitability of getting up, especially when a knock on the door startled them both. Chapter 429 - 430

Chapter 429: Chapter 430

The knock at the door truly startled the two on the kang, their hearts thumping rapidly. They exchanged a look and Yang Ming called out, "Who is it?" Chu Lian, feeling a bit embarrassed by the alerted tone in Yang Mings voice, reckoned he might have chosen an inconvenient time to knock and didnt know whether to stay or leave. He responded, "Its me, Chu Lian." Yang Ming: ... Why has Big Brother Chue? Wasnt he supposed toe in a few days? Is something the matter? He continued calling out, "Big Brother Chu, please wait outside for a moment, Ill be right out." "Okay!" After Chu Lian replied, he walked away. Hearing Chu Lians retreating footsteps, Xiaoxiao quickly grabbed her clothes and slipped them on, no longer minding Yang Ming. After getting dressed and seeing that Yang Ming was still stationary, Xiaoxiao gave him a re, "What are you looking at me for? Hurry up and get dressed, Big Brother Chu is waiting for you." "Oh!" Yang Ming responded and also quickly dressed. After a brief wash, he said to his wife inside the room, "Wife, you dont go out, Ill be back soon. Wait for me here in the room." "Mhm." Xiaoxiao agreed, as if she would go out looking like this. After Yang Ming left, Xiaoxiao looked around the room and thought, My God, I need to clean up quickly, its too frightening. First, she opened the window to let some fresh air in, then pulled down the bedsheet, folded the quilt, and tidied up the room once more. As Xiaoxiao was cleaning up, her bargain husband came back in and asked, "What did he say? Is it something urgent?" "He said hes going to live with Li Fugui and told our fourth brother toe back and stay here." Xiaoxiao: ... Hey, what kind of move is this? Why is he going to live at Li Fuguis ce? Xiaoxiao asked further, "Did he say anything else?" "No." "Oh, whats he up to?" Xiaoxiao waspletely puzzled. "Dont know, lets not bother with him," Yang Ming took the bedsheet she had just taken off and said, "You rest, Im going to wash this." "No need, Ill wash it," Xiaoxiao decisively declined. There were some things she was still quite embarrassed about. Yang Ming, who clearly knew what his wife was thinking since he had seen everything the previous night, insisted on taking the bedsheet, "I said Ill wash it, so Ill wash it. You go and rest." With no other choice, Xiaoxiao consented, "Alright then." Yang Ming took the bedsheet and after tidying up the room a bit more, went out to wash it. Xiaoxiao went out to freshen up, and after washing up, she sat at the bronze mirror intending to do her makeup. Looking at her reflection, Xiaoxiaos face was still a bit red, making her feel somewhat bashful. With a smile on her lips, she began to primp and preen. She styled her hair in a beautiful style befitting a married woman and applied her makeup exquisitely. Feeling great, she adjusted her cor, only to suddenly feel not so great anymore. As soon as Yang Ming entered, he saw his wifes grim expression, "Wife, whats wrong?" "What do you think is wrong? Look at the mess youve made," she rebuked, tugging at her neckline. Xiaoxiaos pulling at her cor rified everything for Yang Ming, who didnt speak, just stood there with a smile. Seeing Yang Ming like this only made Xiaoxiao want to punch him. What a mess, what if someone saw this? She decided to ignore Yang Ming. Seeing that Xiaoxiao wasnt talking, Yang Ming became anxious, "Im sorry, please dont be angry." Xiaoxiao pouted her lips, still silent. Realizing her demeanor, an rmed Yang Ming quickly suggested, "Then tell me, what should we do?" Chapter 430 - 431: Five Days, No More Than Five Days

Chapter 430: Chapter 431: Five Days, No More Than Five Days

Xiaoxiao pouted and continued to act coquettishly, "Youre not gentle with me at all." Hearing his wife say this, Yang Ming began to doubt himself, his actionsst night were clearly very gentle, could he have still been too rough? He said with heartfelt concern, "I, Ill be gentler next time." Xiaoxiao kept on with her act, "Youre just tormenting me, my leg has turned blue." "What?" Now Yang Ming was really worried, he immediately came over, picked up his wife, and lifted her trouser leg to see that her knee had indeed turned blue, "Wife, we wont kneel next time, next time you can torment me." "..." Huh, torment him? Xiaoxiao imagined the scene for a moment and shuddered with a sudden jolt. She yfully hit her cheap husbands chest, "Its all your fault, my whole body is sore." "Yes, yes, yes, its all my fault, Ill massage it for you." Yang Ming said and then ced his wife on the kang, rubbing her shoulders and pinching her arms, Xiaoxiao enjoyed the massage given by her cheap husband. In fact,pared to the overall pain, the most hurting part was that tearing sensation, she now felt a burning pain, even her walking posture had changed, and she was really too embarrassed to go out now. Clearly, it was her cheap husband who was active all night, yet she was the one in pain, while he looked as lively and unruffled as if nothing had happened. "Youre not allowed to touch me for the next few days." "..." He had just finished eating and was already being told he couldnt eat anymore? How could that be okay? But he had to listen to his wifes words, so he inquired, "For how many days?" "..." Was her cheap husband really stupid or just pretending to be? Xiaoxiao said indignantly, "One hundred days." Hearing that, Yang Ming panicked, "One hundred days is not okay, five days, at most five days." Xiaoxiao chuckled, this silly goose, "Hehe, okay, five days." Yang Ming thought, his wifes fragile body was too weak, tired out after one night to the point of needing five days of rest, he had to quickly build up her constitution. "Wife, wait for me, Ill go get the food, lets eat first." "Okay." It didnt take long for Yang Ming to bring in the food left by his mother, and the two of them ate on the kang table. Xiaoxiao found it odd, wondering why there was no one disturbing them. Could it be that she had slept too soundly again in the morning and hadnt noticed? "Husband, did anyone call us this morning?" "No." "..." Seeing his wifes puzzled expression, Yang Ming directly said, "Last night at dinner, I told Dad that we wouldnt go today and asked them not to call us." "Oh!" Xiaoxiao continued eating, what else could she say? Her cheap husband had nned everything out, probably only missing the chance of Empressing to disturb them in the morning. Surprises are everywhere, thought Xiaoxiao as she ate and smiled. Seeing his wife was quite happy, Yang Ming was also in a good mood. After peeling an egg for her, he kept feeding her one bite at a time, the treatment was indeed that of an Empress. After eating, Xiaoxiao continued to tidy up her makeup, while Yang Ming cleaned up the dishes, saying directly, "You just lie down at home today, take a good rest." His wife must rest well, to recover as soon as possible. Once they had started eating meat, it was hard to stop, and he didnt want to continue holding back. "Okay." Xiaoxiao agreed, she didnt n to go out anyway, she wasnt stupid, she didnt want everyone looking at her with strange eyes. Having taken care of his wife, Yang Ming began to wash the dishes, tidy up the house, and even wash the bedsheet changed in the morning. After everything was done, he entered the room. "Im going over to Brother Chus ce to see how hes settling in." "Okay." Chapter 431 - 432: May I Cook Today’s Meal?

Chapter 431: Chapter 432: May I Cook Todays Meal?

Chu Lian, on his way back, grew increasingly angry. That arrogant woman had actually said he was inferior to Li Fugui, and had even tricked him out of a silver tael. He was provoked and now wanted to see just where he wasckingpared to that Li Fugui. After hastily packing some clothes to change into, he headed straight to Yang Family Vige the next day. However, to his surprise, it was nearly noon and Yang Ming still hadnt gotten uphe could guess why without even asking. He felt somewhat awkward as he exchanged a few words with Yang Ming and then went straight to Li Fuguis ce. Li Fugui hadnt expected Chu Lian toe again, let alone to start moving his belongings into his room in big and small bundles. He asked with some confusion, "Brother Chu, what are you..." "Brother Li, I hope you dont mind if I disturb you for a few days?" Chu Lian frankly stated his purpose. Li Fugui felt somewhat ufortable at this request. Their rtionship hadnt reached the point where they could live together. "Brother Chu, my ce is quite humble; Im afraid its not suitable for you to stay. Theres an extra room at Yang Mingswhy dont you stay there instead?" "..." Stay at Yang Mings ce and then watch those two being affectionate? Besides, his main purpose was to prove to that arrogant woman that he was better than Li Fugui, so of course, he wanted to stay close and observe Li Fuguis every move. "Brother Li, dont worry. The conditions here are fine; I can stay." If he were the type to be picky, he wouldnt have stayed with Yang Ming in the Academy, where the conditions werent very good. Li Fugui was still somewhat reluctant. "But theres only room for two people here. Yang Dong and I are already staying here; we really dont have a spare ce for Brother Chu." "Brother Li, rest assured. Ive already arranged for Yang Dong to go back," Chu Lian said. Having had this conversation, Li Fugui could no longer refuse, and so he reluctantly agreed. However, he couldnt fathom the reason for Chu Lians visit. "Then, Brother Chu, please make yourselffortable here. I have things to attend to outside." "All right." After Li Fugui left, Chu Lian arranged for his own coachman to return home. Then, after swiftly tidying up the parcel he brought, he stepped outside to familiarize himself with the courtyard he was about to call home. After looking around, he ended up in the kitchen. Did Li Fugui really want to be a cook? He was even there preparing food. However, he had to admit, the food he cooked thest two times was quite delicious. When Li Fugui saw Chu Lian enter the kitchen again, he felt a bit awkward, as if he was beingughed at. So, he suggested, "Brother Chu, its a bit of a mess in here. Perhaps you should step outside." Chu Lian frowned at these words, feeling displeased. Clearly, when that arrogant woman was around, he hadnt been chased away. Why, when she was not there, was he being ushered out? The more Li Fugui acted like this, the less Chu Lian wanted to leave. "Oh, its fine. Didnt I help you with the firest time?" With that, he walked over to the stove. "You go on with your work; Ill help you with the fire again." Li Fugui was speechless. Not mentioning starting the fire would have been fine, but as soon as it came up, he remembered that because of their tending to the fire, the dishes that could have been better were a bit overcookedst time. But seeing Chu Lian so insistent, he couldnt refuse and started preparing other dishes with resignation. Chu Lian stood by the stove, watching Li Fuguis every move. Just what made Li Fugui better than him? He was known for having no real talent or learning; was it because he now focused on cooking that he was better? Unwilling to ept this, Chu Lian thought to himself that he hadnt even tried. If he were to take it seriously... As he pondered, a sudden idea came to him. "Brother Li, could I perhaps do the cooking for todays meal?" Chapter 432 - 433: Don’t Worry, I Will Burn It

Chapter 432: Chapter 433: Dont Worry, I Will Burn It

He thought, whats so hard about cooking? He often went into the kitchen of his familys restaurant, and he had roughly seen how dishes were prepared; he just hadnt done it himself. He definitely couldnt manage to cook borate dishes, but these kinds of simple dishes that had never appeared in a restaurant should be easy to cook, right? Otherwise, how could Li Fugui make them taste so good? He didnt believe that Li Fugui had a natural talent for cooking. Li Fugui didnt expect Chu Lian to make such a request. He stopped what he was doing and turned around, "Brother Chu, you really shouldnt, just wait to eat." Cooking wasnt that easy, and he wouldnt want him to cause any trouble; he was already busy enough cooking for so many people by himself. The more he heard such words, the more Chu Lian felt underestimated. He continued, "Dont worry, I can cook." "..." He can cook? Li Fugui was somewhat incredulous, but seeing Chu Lians confident expression made him uncertain. He felt ashamed of his past self once again. He had lived an easy life as the eldest young master, spending his days in idleness, not knowing how to do anything. Perhaps, as another restaurant owner, Chu Lian might have studied it specifically. The rather foolish Li Fuguipletely forgot that Chu Lian was someone who didnt even know how to start a fire or wash dishes. Could he have really studied cooking? "Alright then, Ill trouble you, Brother Chu." Seeing that Li Fugui had agreed, Chu Lians lips curled up in a smile. He washed his hands and truly began. He was full of confidence and couldnt wait to show off his skills. When he saw the ingredients, which were just potatoes, he picked up a peeled potato that Li Fugui had prepared, ced it on the cutting board, and took up the kitchen knife. With a loud chopping sound, he began cutting the potatoes intorge and small pieces. Chu Lians confidence diminished as he cut; could good dishes really be made like this? Seeing the ruined ingredients, Li Fugui started to have doubts. Could he really do it? So, he spoke up, "Let me do the cutting." This offer was like a lifeline to Chu Lian, yet he felt embarrassed for not knowing how to cut vegetables in front of Li Fugui. He quickly found an excuse to cover it up, "Im not very familiar with these tasks, they are usually done by the helpers." "Right." Li Fugui took the knife and began cutting the vegetables, speaking as he did so, "Actually, Im not that great at chopping either. Knife skills arent something you can master in a day or two." Chu Lian thought the same when he heard this, realizing that cutting vegetables well wasnt easy. But when he saw Li Fuguis knife skills, he no longer thought that way. It turned out Li Fuguis words were just modesty to save Chu Lian from embarrassment. Li Fugui had truly changed. The Li Fugui who used to speak aggressively and looked down on others was now considerate of others. Quickly, a pile of potatoes was chopped up by Li Fugui. "Ive been thinking, let me do the cooking. You might not have experience with cooking in bulk, and the seasoning can be tricky. Ill save some aside, and you can cook our portionster." Chu Lian thought it made sense. He had only seen chefs cook small portions, and he had never watched someone cook inrge quantities, so he nodded in agreement. The two of them got busy in the kitchen. Chu Lian wasnt idle either; he assisted Li Fugui by maintaining the fire while Li Fugui handled the dishes. When Yang Ming hurried over to check on the situation, this was the scene he saw. He was surprised; these two wealthy young masters actually got together, and the most unexpected part was that they were cooking. Shouldnt they beposing poetry or appreciating flowers while sipping tea? He always felt that such scenes would be more fitting for them. Chapter 433 - 434: Yang Ming, Let Me Show You a Trick

Chapter 433: Chapter 434: Yang Ming, Let Me Show You a Trick

Chu Lian was tending the fire when he looked up and saw Yang Ming at the door, "Yang Ming, youre here?" "Big Brother Chu, I came to see how youre settling in?" "Im getting along very well with Brother Li, you can rest assured." To avoid causing Yang Ming any trouble, Li Fugui also added, "Yes, were getting along very well." Yang Ming had been quite worried, but it seemed he had been overthinking it. The two really were getting along well, even cooking together in the kitchen. Seeing that the food was ready, Yang Ming hurried to help out. It wouldnt be right for the two of them to work while he did nothing, "Leave this to me; Ill deliver the food to the female workers." Li Fugui didnt refuse, handing over the food to Yang Ming to deliver, since Chu Lian still needed to cook and he had to help keep the fire going and lend a hand, all the while checking out how skilled he was. Once Yang Ming had left the room, Li Fugui asked, "What exactly are those people doing in this yard?" He had wanted to ask for a long time what they were doing and why he had to cook for them every day. "..." Li Fugui was speechless. Chu Lian had already been here three times today and still didnt know what this ce was, "This is a workshop started by Yang Mings wife and Miss Wang, selling lingerie." Lingerie? The same one they talked about during the Flower Appreciation Society? This really shocked Chu Lian. It turned out that this was a venture started by that feisty woman and Xiaoxiao. No wonder that feisty woman kepting here. He heard she would be here again in a few days, and even he felt a little excited about it. "Ill handle the fire, you take care of the cooking." Hearing Li Fuguis words, Chu Lian snapped back to reality, washed his hands, and began making preparations. When Yang Ming returned to the room, he saw Chu Lian holding a cooking spat. "Big Brother Chu, what are you doing...?" Chu Lian chuckled dryly, "Hehe, Yang Ming, wait until I show you what I can do." "..." Was Big Brother Chu about to cook? Yang Ming was incredibly surprised; he couldnt understand these two anymore. Why were such rich young masters so eager to cook? It was one thing for Li Fugui, but why was Big Brother Chu joining in? "Big Brother Chu, can you cook?" He truly didnt believe Chu Lian could cook. "Can I or can I not, youll know in a moment." Seeing Chu Lians stance, Yang Ming kept silent and just waited to see what kind of dish he could make. Chu Lian carefully remembered the steps his family chef took in cooking, then began to imitate them. He thought, its just frying some potato slices; there shouldnt be any problem. He picked up the oil container, began to pour the oil, and at that moment, Li Fugui frowned. The dish was likely ruined, but he said nothing since he imed he could cook, and it wouldnt be nice to intervene. Although Yang Ming wasnt much of a cook, he could manage. Seeing the amount of oil Chu Lian poured, he knew Big Brother Chu was likely showing off. With that amount of oil for the quantity of food, it was probably going to stick to the pan. Sure enough, Chu Lians cooking did not go smoothly. Smoke began to rise from the oil pan even before he added the spring onions, leaving Yang Ming speechless. He reminded him, "Big Brother Chu, the oil pan is smoking; you can start cooking now." Chu Lian, already flustered, was even more at a loss seeing the smoking oil pan. Hearing Yang Mings reminder, he instantly did as told, dumping a te of washed potato slices directly into the pan. The still wet potato slices sizzled loudly when they hit the oil. Immediately, Chu Lian followed the example and began stir-frying with the spat in the pan. Chapter 434 - 435: I Just Lost My Craft, I’ll Do It Again Tonight

Chapter 434: Chapter 435: I Just Lost My Craft, Ill Do It Again Tonight

Aiyo, Yang Ming held his forehead with both hands, as Brother Chus confidence brimmed over, but it turned out he couldnt cook at all. "Brother Chu, you havent added the green onions yet!" Hearing this, Chu Lians face was full of embarrassment. He immediately threw in the green onions and continued stir-frying. As he stirred, the food began to stick to the pan. He scraped hard with the spat, but it just stuck more fiercely. He thought hed better dish it out quickly. Seeing Chu Lian about to dish it out, Yang Ming was speechless, "Brother Chu, you havent added salt yet." Chu Lian quickly grabbed a handful of salt, tossed it in, stirred a couple of times, and then served the dish. Lying Fugui had his eyes full of ck lines by this point. This was even worse than his first time cooking; how could this be called cooking? It was a good thing he hadnt let him cook for the female workers earlier, or they would have had nothing to eat. Chu Lian was a bit embarrassed. He had thought it was a simple task, but it turned out to be so difficult once he got started. He had truly overestimated himself and underestimated the craft of cooking. Li Fugui took the te of food from his hands, and said, "I was just like this the first time I cooked." These words made Chu Lian freeze for a moment. Li Fugui had really changed, offeringfort once again. "Alright, lets eat." Li Fugui served the rice and brought it inside along with the dish Chu Lian had cooked. Chu Lianforted himself from behind: maybe it was just visually unappealing, it should be edible. He also followed Li Fugui back into the house to eat. Yang Ming also followed along. Li Fugui ced the food on the table, picked up his chopsticks, and was the first to start eating. He ate Chu Lians dish without changing his expression. Seeing Li Fugui eating, Chu Lian thought to himself that it was a relief the dish was edible. Otherwise, it would have been extremely embarrassing. So he also picked up some with his chopsticks and tasted it. That taste instantly contorted his facial expression. Without thinking, he spat it right out. The dish he had cooked was unbelievably terrible. He looked up at Li Fugui, who was still eating the distasteful dish without a change in expression. He grabbed the dish, "Stop eating, its too awful." Li Fugui smiled, "Its edible, we cant waste food." "..." He really had changed; Chu Lian remembered how Li Fugui used toin about the Academys food being terrible, but actually, that food wasnt bad at all. Now, he was eating this nearly inedible dish just to avoid waste. Maybe the wilful girl was right, Li Fugui had indeed be someone to be respected. Remembering the wilful girls words, he wondered if he had nothing, could he also swallow such food? He ced the dish back on the table, then sat down and, like Li Fugui, began eating the hard-to-swallow dish. "..." Yang Mingpletely couldnt understand what these two were up to; he had just had his meal at home and came over, so he wasnt going to fight over that dish with them. As Chu Lian ate, he thought it wasnt right. He couldnt let the wilful girl look down on him. He had to prove he was better than Li Fugui, at least by the next time she came, he wanted her to see that he could cook as well. "I lost my skill just now. Ill cook again tonight." He didnt believe he couldnt do it well; it was justck of practice. After all, Li Fugui had been cooking for such a long time; he didnt believe he could be worse. He was only spurred by Wang Xiangxiang to want topete with Li Fugui now. These words left Yang Ming and Li Fugui both shocked and helpless. Yang Ming: Brother Chu, are you inspired to be a chef now? Li Fugui: What is he really here for? To learn a craft? Theres no craft to learn here. Chapter 435 - 436: You’re Overthinking It, I’m Here for Li Fugui

Chapter 435: Chapter 436: Youre Overthinking It, Im Here for Li Fugui

Chu Lian ate very slowly, and by the time Li Fugui had finished and left, he was still eating. Seeing the pained expression on Chu Lians face as he ate, Yang Ming was somewhat puzzled. What exactly had brought Brother Chu here? Why had he suddenly decided to live in the countryside? Could it be that he hadnt given up on his daughter-inw? He felt he had to ask, "Brother Chu, what made you think ofing to live in the countryside?" Chu Lians hand holding the chopsticks paused, but he quickly recovered to normal and said indifferently, "I think the countryside is nice, and I wanted to experience it." Such a deliberately evasive answer made Yang Ming even more convinced of what was in his heart. He suddenly stood up, his expression grave, and said, "Brother Chu, are you still thinking about my wife?" Chu Lian didnt respond. He was pondering over Yang Mings question. Was he still thinking about Xiaoxiao? It didnt seem like it these past few days, and he wasnt certain anymore. "Brother Chu, if thats so, Im sorry, but I cant let you stay here." This statement snapped Chu Lian back to reality. Was Yang Ming afraid that he would cause trouble? After all, with things the way they were between the two, he couldnt get involved even if he wanted to. He stood up, picked up his bowl and chopsticks and walked to the kitchen, while thinking of an excuse, "Youre overthinking it, Im here for Li Fugui." "For Li Fugui?" Yang Ming was even more puzzled by this statement. "I heard he wants to be a chef, and since I own a restaurant, of course, I want to see how good his cooking is." Chu Lian felt that this excuse was more than adequate. He certainly wouldnt admit that he hade here because he was provoked by a capricious woman. After Chu Lian entered the kitchen, Yang Ming, who was behind him, also pondered. If that was the case, it would be good. With Brother Chus help, Li Fuguis chances of reiming the Li Family might be greater. Just as the two entered the kitchen, they saw Li Fugui leaving the house. Chu Lian asked Yang Ming in confusion, "What is he doing now?" "Hes gone to the depression." "Then we should go thereter, too." Chu Lian washed the dishes swiftly, and this time, he was relieved to have not broken any. After that, the two of them left the house. After they arrived at the depression, Yang Ming said, "Brother Chu, feel free to look around. I need to go ahead and get to work." As Yang Ming went to work, Chu Lian looked around. The pond seemed to be close topletion since water was already emerging. The fish farming could probably yield results this year. The Yang family might face significant changes soon. As he thought this, his eyes caught a figure. Wasnt that Li Fugui? He was actually also down there, digging the pond. That had puzzled Chu Lian. He had been told Li Fugui went to the depression, but he hadnt seen him, not realizing he was down there. Watching him work was somewhat strenuous, but Li Fugui persisted. Chu Lian was genuinely surprised. People of their status had never done suchbor before. Li Fugui really seemed to have changed. Suddenly, Chu Lian also felt inclined to try, so he took a tool left on the bank and jumped down as well. Seeing Chu Liane down, Yang Ming hurriedly said, "Brother Chu, this work isnt suitable for you." "Its fine, if Li Fugui can do it, so can I." Chu Lian said and began to work. Seeing Chu Lian in action, Yang Ming was genuinely puzzled. Why was it that whatever Li Fugui did, Brother Chu felt he had to do as well? They worked until the sun set behind the mountains, and it was dark before everyone stopped working. On the way back, Yang Ming said, "Brother Chu,e home with me for dinner." "No thanks, Ill just join Li Fugui." "..." It seemed he had indeed misunderstood Brother Chu. He had trulye for Li Fugui. Chapter 436 - 437: Chu Lian Getting Jealous

Chapter 436: Chapter 437: Chu Lian Getting Jealous

On their way, Yang Ming said to Yang Dong, "Younger brother, pack up your stuffter ande stay at home." "Thats great." Upon hearing this, Yang Dong immediately cheered, not even asking for the reason. He was finally freed from having to live with Li Fugui, whose strict rules were too much to handle. Li Fugui, standing by, frowned upon seeing this. Was he really that disagreeable? Later, when he saw Yang Dong packing, he still remembered to remind him, "Dont forget to practice your writing and recite your lessons tonight." At the mention of this, Yang Dong felt a headacheing on. He really wasnt cut out for studying. Li Fugui forced him to study every night, which was more than enough. He responded impatiently, "Okay." Then he quickly left. Li Fugui shook his head and went about his own business. Chu Lian, watching nearby, thought that Li Fugui somewhat resembled a teacher. After working all afternoon covered in mud, Li Fugui washed up quickly and then started preparing dinner. Chu Lian quickly rinsed off and also went to the kitchen to offer help, but Li Fugui tly refused him. Although he didnt want to waste food, even if he could handle eating those barely ptable meals, he really didnt want to eat anymore. He had already had more than enough of his own failed cooking attempts. Seeing how thoroughly Li Fugui refused, Chu Lian had no choice but to give up; he couldnt stomach his own cooking anymore either. After dinner, Chu Lian saw that Li Fugui was still busy and started to feel bad for him. Didnt he ever get tired? When had he developed such a strong constitution? He had worked half the day and was so tired, his hands were blistered. He ignored Li Fugui, washed up, andy down on the bed first. Li Fugui finished feeding Dahuang and Xiaobai and had put away the food for the next day in the kitchen. After washing up, he entered the room and saw that Chu Lian had alreadyin down; he said nothing. Sitting at the desk by candlelight, he began to copy books, a task he hadnt abandoned, thinking to save up enough money quickly to leave this ce. After a long while of copying, he put the materials away and took out the portrait that Wang Xiangxiang had drawn for Xiaotian, staring at it for a long time. Chu Lian had already fallen asleep for a while and turned over half-awake when he noticed a light still on. He nced towards Li Fugui, which instantly woke him up. Wasnt that the portrait given by that spoiled girl? Li Fugui was actually looking at it in the middle of the night. Did he like her that much? Feeling somewhat stifled inside, his voice carried a hint of disdain, "Do you like her that much?" Li Fugui, startled by Chu Lians voice, quickly put away the portrait while saying, "Yeah." Hearing Li Fuguis affirmative response, Chu Lian became even more irritable. He hadnt denied it; what was so good about that spoiled girl? "Is she really that good?" Li Fugui blew out the candle, climbed onto the bed, and hearing Chu Lians question, sensed his unfriendly tone, as if Xiaotian was not a good woman in Chu Lians eyes. Thus, he retorted, "She is the best woman in the world." "If shes so great, why dont you marry her?" Chu Lian said, clearly irritated. These words stirred deep emotions within Li Fugui. Of course, he wanted to marry her. He dreamed of marrying her and said emotionally, "I will marry her in three years." "..." He really nned to marry her, even setting a timeline for three yearster? Seeing how agitated Li Fugui was, Chu Lian did not continue the conversation. Yet, his heart felt heavy, as if a voice was saying he would never let them be together. Chapter 437 - 438: Their Young Master Wants to Learn Cooking?

Chapter 437: Chapter 438: Their Young Master Wants to Learn Cooking?

Having learned that Li Fugui was about to marry a shrewish woman, Chu Lian found himself unable to sleep at all, experiencing insomnia for the first time. The next day, he woke up in a daze, not feeling well at all, by the time he got up, Li Fugui had already prepared breakfast. He quickly washed up and had his breakfast; the three little ones from the Yang Family had already arrived. It turned out that every morning, Li Fugui would teach the three little ones to read and write, prepare food for the female workers at noon, dig ponds in the londs in the afternoon, and copy books in the evening, keeping his schedule very full. So how had he practiced his culinary skills? Just by preparing three meals a day? Could he really have such a talent in this area? Chu Lian observed him for two days, noting that his daily routine was just like this, the most infuriating part being that every night, he had to stare at that portrait for a good while, making it impossible for Chu Lian to fall asleep. Finally, on the third day, he decided to return, "Brother Li, please tell Yang Ming that Ille back in a few days." The Yang Family vige and Shibao Town were not far apart, just an hours walk, so Chu Lian didnt bother calling for a carriage and walked back himself. As soon as he arrived at the Chu Mansion, he eagerly summoned his personal attendant, "Acheng, have you taken care of the matchmakers from the other counties?" "Young master, rest assured, everything has been arranged." Acheng didnt understand why the young master insisted on opposing Miss Wang from the Wang Family, but he still carried out the instructions. "Go check out the rtionship between Li Fugui, the former Young Master of the Dongfeng Restaurant, and Wang Xiangxiang. The sooner, the better." "Yes, young master," Acheng acknowledged the order and withdrew. Chu Lian was just feeling uneasy; what exactly was the rtionship between those two? He had to find out. After Acheng left, Chu Lian sat in his room, saw the portrait of the shrewish woman on the table, and his lips unconsciously curved into a pleasing arc. He didnt know where his mother had gotten the portrait from gossip, as it hardly resembled the real person. He hadnt seen her for days and wondered what she was doing now? Every time he thought about her saying he wasnt as good as Li Fugui, it made him feel ufortable. Wasnt Li Fugui just good at cooking a few dishes that won her over? He refused to believe that he couldnt do it. Thinking this, he then got up and went to the familys kitchen. In the kitchen, the kitchen maids and helpers were busy. Seeing their own young master enter the kitchen, they were scared half to death and hurriedly bowed, "Young master." Chu Lian waved his hand, "Carry on with your work." Upon receiving the order from their young master, everyone went back to their tasks. The Chu Family wasrge and affluent, with several kitchen maids employed. Chu Lian approached one of the kitchen maids and asked, "Who made the Golden Glory Dish during the Flower Appreciation Society?" Upon hearing this, the kitchen maid became even more terrified. Why was the young master suddenly asking this? Could it be that a youngdy fell ill that day? Zhao, the kitchen maid, was trembling so much that she fell to the ground and replied with a shaky voice, "Yo-young master, it was this servant who made it." Seeing the kitchen maids reaction, Chu Lian hurried to rify, "Get up, I didnt mean to penalize you." Zhao, the kitchen maid, gingerly stood up, "Thank you, young master." Chu Lian continued, "Zhao, I want to learn how to make that dish. Could you teach me in the next few days?" Upon hearing Chu Lians words, the kitchen fell silent; everyone stopped what they were doing. Had they heard right? Did their young master want to learn how to cook? After a moment, Zhao, the kitchen maid, quickly nodded in agreement, "Okay, young master, when shall we start?" "Lets start now." Chapter 438 - 439: What Are You Thinking? The Son Doesn’t Even Like That Girl

Chapter 438: Chapter 439: What Are You Thinking? The Son Doesnt Even Like That Girl

Chu Mansion Front Hall Chu Huan ran hurriedly, and as soon as she entered, her mother scolded her, "Act like ady, cant you walk properly?" Chu Huan didnt care about her mothers scolding, as she had big news to share, eagerly saying, "Dad, Mom, Brothers back." Lady Chu and Master Chu were indifferent, the house servant had already informed them as soon as their son entered the house. "Do you know what Brother is up to?" Chu Huan continued, certain her parents would never guess. Master Chu and Lady Chu were silent. What could their son be up to? Hes lively outside, but as soon as he returns home, he bes somber and heads straight to his room. "I heard from the servants, Brother is in the kitchen cooking." At these words, Lady Chu and Master Chu looked up, ceasing their activities. This truly was shocking news. Their son in the kitchen cooking? Chu Huan blinked her clear eyes, wearing an expression that screamed, "Ask me, quickly ask me." Seeing his mischievously spirited daughter, Master Chu said, "Stop beating around the bush, just tell us whats happening." Chu Huan coughed twice pretentiously and cleared her throat, as if about to announce something significant. "Brother is in the kitchen learning to cook Golden Splendor from the Kitchen Maid." Lady Chu asked anxiously, "Thats not the important part, the important part is, why does your brother want to cook?" Chu Huan continued, "The important part is this dish. ording to my observations, this dish is the favorite of that girl at the Flower Appreciation Society." "What do you think, why is Brother learning to cook this dish? Is it specially for that girl?" Upon hearing this, Lady Chu immediately got up and walked towards the door. "Lady, what are you doing, wait for me." "Im going to the kitchen to see our son." "..." "..." Seeing their two amusing parents leave, Chu Huan also followed with a chuckle. She too was curious to see what her brother cooking looked like; her brother truly had feelings for that girl this time. In the kitchen, Chu Lian was seriously learning, although the situation was still a mess. When Master Chu and Lady Chu arrived, the servants noticed and were about to bow, but Master Chu stopped them, prompting everyone to keep quiet. Upon entering, they saw their son, busy yet earnest, his face adorned with a happy smile. This was the first time they had seen their son like this, and they were very pleased. Miss Wang had indeed touched their sons heart. He had never been like this before. Chu Lian was in the midst of learning when he suddenly noticed his three quirky family members all squeezed into the kitchen, "What are you doing here?" Lady Chu said with a smile, "Son, what are you doing?" "..." His mother was being pretentious again, feigning ignorance. He felt a bit embarrassed and ashamed, "Im not doing anything, just get out." "Brother, are you cooking Golden Splendor for that girl?" His sisters blunt words made him feel a sudden urge to strangle her. He quickly made up an excuse, "Youre thinking too much, it has nothing to do with her. I thought, owning a restaurant, how could I not know how to cook at least one dish?" Chu Huan elongated her voice yfully, "Oh! So thats it. I thought you were cooking it because that girl likes it." Lady Chu followed with a note of regret, "I thought there was hope for a daughter-inw, what a pity..." Master Chu sternly remarked, "What nonsense are you all thinking? My son doesnt like that girl, how could he possibly cook for her?" Chapter 439 - 440: Bro, Are You Poisoning Us?

Chapter 439: Chapter 440: Bro, Are You Poisoning Us?

Having these three family members who constantly teased her was really enough, Chu Lian feltpletely helpless, "Get out, all of you." Master Chu dragged Madam Chu along, "Madam, lets go out, we shouldnt get in the way of our sons craft learning." "Son, Mum is looking forward to the Golden House youre making, remember to serve it when its ready," Madam Chu said as she walked out. Chu Huan rolled her eyes at her brother and said with a deted smile, "Remember, were all waiting to eat it." Watching the three family members leave, Chu Lian felt regretting her decision was a mistake. How could she have forgotten about these three entrics at home? In the kitchen, she tried again and again, and finally, on the fifth attempt, she made a dish that looked somewhat presentable, so she decided to bring it to the dining table. Master Chu, Madam Chu, and Chu Huan were already waiting in the dining room. "Mum, do you think the dish Brother made is edible?" Chu Huan was really doubtful. Madam Chus facial expressions were a bit unnatural, "It should be, should be edible." "..." See? Even her own mother didnt quite believe her brother could make anything delicious. "Let your father try it first." "Yes, yes." Chu Huan nodded eagerly. She liked her mothers idea. Soon, the servants had served the dishes. "Master, Madam, Miss, the dishes are all served." "Alright, you can leave now." The servants left, and Chu Lian entered the dining room, sat down at her ce, and said helplessly to the three family members, "Arent you going to try it?" Madam Chu and Chu Huan simultaneously turned to look at Master Chu, signaling with their eyes for him to taste it first. Seeing this, Chu Lian held her forehead with both hands, thinking Arent these my own mother and sister, or are they afraid Ive poisoned the food? Master Chu picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and ate it without changing his expression, though his heart surged with emotion. His sons heart, usually so cold towards women, was finally warming up. Even though the dish wasnt much to speak of, encouragement was still needed, "Not bad at all." Madam Chu and Chu Huan, believing it was indeed not bad, picked up their chopsticks and started eating with gusto. As soon as the food hit their mouths, their expressions changed instantly, and they spat the food out. "Brother, are you trying to poison us?" "Son, lets just not cook anymore, shall we?" Seeing how forthright her mother and sister were, Chu Lian was speechless. Did they need to be that blunt? Were they really her own family? This time, the Kitchen Maid had been giving directions, so it shouldnt have been too bad. She didnt believe it, picked up the chopsticks, and took a bite. Just like Master Chu, she ate without changing her expression, but internally she thought that it was slightly better than the first attempt. The previous dish had been barely edible, but this one was marginally easier to swallow. It seemed that cooking was indeed a skillful activity, not something one could master after just one or two attempts. Perhaps Li Fugui really did have a talent for it. She needed to observe him more closely. Looking at the two people who ate the awful dish without batting an eyelid, the dining table fell silent for a moment. "..." Were Dad and Brothers taste buds malfunctioning? They could eat something that tasted so bad. "Brother, lets not make this dish for that sister; it really is like poison." Listening to her sisters sarcasticment, Chu Lian red at her and said emphatically, "You dont need to worry, I will definitely make a dish she can eat." At those words, Chu Huan and Madam Chu both turned to look at Chu Lian. "Brother, youre finally speaking the truth!" "Son, have you finallye to your senses?" "..." What enlightenment? He just didnt want the spoiled girl to look down on him, to say he was inferior to Li Fugui, "Ive decided, Ill cook the meals for the next few days, youre all in for a treat." "..." Chapter 440 - 441 Aunty, did Uncle Bully You?

Chapter 440: Chapter 441 Aunty, did Uncle Bully You?

Xiaoxiao, who had been tormented by Yang Ming all night, really slept at home all day; whether she went out or stayed in, she was met withughter. It seemed best for her to opt for being an ostrich for now. When Yang Ming returned from the londs, he saw his wife lying there, sleeping peacefully. He approached, sat on the edge of the Kang bed, and looked at his wife as if he could never get enough of her, his eyes filled with indulgent affection. He used his hand to gently brush aside the hair scattered on his wifes face, corners of his mouth carrying a sweet, sticky smile, finally holding his wife in his arms. Awoken by Yang Mings action, Xiaoxiao opened her eyes and saw her penny-pinching husband gazing at her, "Husband, youre back." "Mhm." "Why sote?" They had agreed he would be back shortly, yet it was almost dark already. "Went to the londs," Yang Ming replied. "Husband, are you tired?" "Not tired." "..." He isnt tired, but why does she feel especially tired, the kind that gets worse the more she lies down, feeling like her whole body is falling apart? Sitting up, Xiaoxiao started to get dressed. Worried that his wife was still very tired, Yang Ming quickly said, "You should keep resting in the room; Ill bring the food in, and we can eat here together." Xiaoxiao hurriedly waved her hands, "No need, no need, lets just go eat over there." It was as if she was some patient, downright embarrassing. Resting for a day was enough; she couldnt just stay indoors forever. As Xiaoxiao continued to get dressed and got off the bed, Yang Ming considerately handed her the shoes, "Just wait for me a moment. Im covered in mud. Let me wash up quickly, then we can go together." "Mhm." By the time Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao arrived, the meal was already prepared. Everyone saw them but said nothing. Old Master Yang spoke up, "Lets eat." Everyone then started to eat their meal, minding their own business, and no one brought up why Xiaoxiao hadnt gone to the londs. She thought the meal could be eaten without incident, but things often turn out unexpectedly. A childish voice piped up, shattering the rooms silence, "Third Auntie, did Third Uncle bully you?" As these words came out, everyone turned to look at Yang Liuliu, the second brothers child. The second brothers wife immediately scolded, "Liuliu, dont talk nonsense." But the world of children is very pure; she felt she wasnt talking nonsense, "Im not talking nonsense. Yesterday, Third Auntie kept crying out very loudly; wasnt it because Third Uncle was hitting her?" The second brothers wife quickly covered her childs mouth and took the child outside, saying awkwardly while walking, "Hehe, the child is talking nonsense; please dont take it to heart, everyone." At that moment, Xiaoxiaos face had turned beet red, and Yang Ming also felt his face heating up, not expecting to be called out by a child. The dining table fell silent for a while; everyone understood what the child was implying, so they all bowed their heads and continued eating without a word. Xiaoxiao thought the matter was over, but then another voice rang out. "Big Brother, did you hit your wife?" "Cough cough." As soon as these words came out, Xiaoxiaopletely choked. Yang Dong was just unbelievable. What to say about him? She stood up, "Im done eating; you all take your time." Too embarrassed to stay, Yang Ming saw that his wife had stopped eating and quickly followed her back to their room. After the two left, Old Master Yang scolded his son, "Are you stupid?" Yang Dong still didnt sense the mood, "Dad, who did you say is stupid?" In unison, the family members said, "Youre stupid." "..." Chapter 441 - 442: Release again, and I’ll block you up

Chapter 441: Chapter 442: Release again, and Ill block you up

Xiaoxiaos face was so red that she couldnt bear to continue eating. She quickly returned to her room, mmed the door shut, climbed onto the kang bed, and covered herself with the quilt. As soon as Yang Ming entered the room, he saw his wife all wrapped up tightly on the kang bed, obviously feeling shy. He climbed onto the kang as well and tried to pull down the quilt, but his wife was holding onto it for dear life, refusing to stick her little head out. "Wife," Yang Ming called gently. A reproachful yet coquettish voice came from under the quilt, "Its all your fault, all your fault." "Yeah, my fault, my fault. Come on out, dont suffocate yourself," Yang Ming said as he continued to tug at the quilt. Xiaoxiao clung to the quilt tightly, "I wonte out, I wonte out." "If you donte out and you fart again, you could suffocate yourself," Yang Ming teased, jesting with his wife who was still under the quilt. Hearing this, Xiaoxiao immediately popped out from under the quilt and sat up, outraged that her husband dared to tease her about farting, "Oh, so you dare tough at me." While speaking, Xiaoxiao leaned toward Yang Mings chest. Yang Ming held back his wifes hand, saying, "I wasntughing at you. Even if my wife farts, they are fragrant farts." "..." Although his words seemed to be cajoling, they sounded rather awkward. What was this about farts? He was supposed to be a cultured person. Xiaoxiao stopped her motion and stated solemnly, "That wasnt a fart; that was a sigh from my buttocks." At that, Yang Ming couldnt hold back hisughter. He was bent overughing uncontrobly; his wife was just too amusing. This was the first time he had heard that a fart was a sigh from the buttocks. "Hahaha!" Seeing her husbandsughter, Xiaoxiao draped the quilt over herself and suddenly pounced on him, tipping him over onto the kang. They both vanished under the quilt, and their vision went dark. "You like it, dont you? Smell, smell, have a good smell." Yang Ming immediately stoppedughing and instead showed a mischievous smile, flipping over her, "Do it again, and Ill block you." Hisrge hand reached out as he spoke. "Ah." Realizing her husbands intent, Xiaoxiao screamed, "I didnt fart, I didnt! I was just teasing you." Yang Mings smile deepened; he enjoyed seeing his wife teased like this, "Then give me a kiss, and Ill let you go." Xiaoxiao immediately wrapped her arms around her husbands neck and nted a smacking kiss on his lips, "Done." Yang Ming felt it wasnt enough, so he nted a direct kiss on his wifes lips. "Mmm!" A momentter, Yang Ming got up. If things continued this way, he was going to make a mistake. His wife still hadnt fully recovered; he had to hold back a little longer. "You havent eaten enough, right? Ill go get some more food for you." "Mm." Yang Ming left the room, and Xiaoxiaoy there alone, her cheeks reddening. She felt utterly embarrassed; a child had pointed out that affair in public. Last night, she and Yang Ming had been so passionate that they forgot the house had poor sound instion. Did that mean her sister-inw heard everything all night? The more she thought about it, the hotter her face felt. She patted her cheeks and said to herself, "Zhong Xiaoxiao, youve had it today." She sighed. It looked like moving was imperative. Now that they could afford it and considering the house was too worn out, it was indeed time for a change. She resolved to build a big house and then stay far away from all who could hear the slightest sound from her room. When Yang Ming brought the food into the room, she spoke up, "Husband, lets move to a different house." "..." Chapter 442 - 443: No Need to Control, I Like to Listen

Chapter 442: Chapter 443: No Need to Control, I Like to Listen

"..." Why did my wife suddenly want to change houses, could it be because of what happened today, she feels too embarrassed to keep living here? "Wife, about today, they wont say anything, dont take it to heart, everyone is the same, no one willugh at anyone else." As Xiaoxiao ate, her eyes rolled around. Everyone is the same? No one willugh? Then why couldnt she hear any noise from her sister-inws room, yet her sister-inw always seems to hear the noise from her room? Could it be an issue with the wind direction? "Husband, have you ever heard any noises from my brother and sister-inws room?" Upon hearing this, Yang Mings hand paused as he was holding his chopsticks. His wife really dared to ask anything; he awkwardly responded, "No, I havent heard anything." Even if he had heard something, the sound was minimal, not as loud as his wifes cries. Xiaoxiao wondered, "Thats strange, then how can they always hear the noise from our room?" "Its because youre too loud," Yang Ming said with a smile all over his face. Xiaoxiao, feeling a bit embarrassed being told this, hadnt realized she could be so loud. She red at her teasing husband angrily and shyly said, "Its all your fault." "Yeah, me me, its my fault." Xiaoxiao continued eating her meal and spoke, "Next time, I need to be more careful, quieter, so its not embarrassing again." "Is that something you can control?" "..." She really med him for it; if they didnt do it, there wouldnt be an issue. As she thought this, she heard her teasing husband remark, making her instantly blush, "No need to control it, I like hearing it." Xiaoxiao red at him, gnashing her teeth angrily, "If you like hearing it so much, lets change houses." Yang Mings face was all smiles, remembering his wifes enchanting cries, which he really enjoyed; he didnt want her to hold back. "Then, where do you want to move to?" Xiaoxiao thought for a moment, "Can we buy a piece ofnd?" "Yes." Was his wife thinking about buyingnd to build a house? "Then lets buy a big plot ofnd." Love filled Yang Mings eyes as he listened to his wifes exaggeration, feeling it was a joy, "How big is big?" "A main courtyard, six subsidiary courtyards, about ten rooms in each courtyard; lets build them with blue bricks. Yeah, that should be about enough." As Xiaoxiao spoke, she nodded, seemingly envisaging the grand courtyard in her mind. Yang Ming touched his wifes forehead with his hand, jokingly saying, "Wife, you dont have a fever, do you?" "..." She wasnt joking, did he think she was ying around? "Im not kidding." Xiaoxiao removed her husbands hand from her forehead, "Thats really what Im nning." "Our family is not that big, yet you want to build seventy rooms." Seventy rooms, that would require such arge courtyard; his wife really dared to think big. While he agreed to building a house as their current house was quite rundowncold in winter and sometimes leaky in summerbuilding seventy rooms was beyond his imagination, something only a veryrge household would require. But seeing his wife so excited, it seemed she was serious. Indeed, Xiaoxiao was serious; she didnt know how much it would cost, but had already set her heart on the idea. "Seventy rooms is not too many, just ten rooms per family; I actually think its a bit too few," she said. "..." What did his wife mean by ten rooms per family, "Wife, are you nning to divide our home?" Chapter 443 - 444: Honey, don’t you think you married a treasure?

Chapter 443: Chapter 444: Honey, dont you think you married a treasure?

Yang Mings expression wasnt very good; he couldnt split the family property. Over the years, the family had supported only him through tough times. They couldnt just split up now when things were finally looking better. "Husband, what are you thinking about? Why split the family when everything is fine?" Yang Ming was stunned for a moment. Did his wife mean they should not split the family? His anxiety subsided. If his wife had wanted to split the family, he really wouldnt have been able to continue supporting her side; it would have been a tough choice for him. "Then what do you mean by ten rooms for each family?" "I was thinking, one main courtyard for our parents, and six separate courtyards for you and your five siblings. Each with ten rooms because were going to have kids, so ten rooms is really not excessive." Hearing this, Yang Ming felt an immense warmth in his heart; his wife had thought about everyone, even Yang Qiu and Yang Xia, considering the next generation too. What had he done to deserve such a wonderful wife? Perhaps, he had umted some good karma in his past life. He looked at his wife with eyes full of love, intent only on loving and cherishing her. Xiaoxiao was still daydreaming, continuing, "In the future, we could find a man who would marry into the family for Yang Qiu, and a beautiful wife for Yang Dong." Hearing his wife, seventy rooms suddenly didnt seem like too many, especially for the blue-bricked houses she wanted, "Wife, if we build with our local mud bricks, seventy rooms wouldnt cost much. But the blue-brick houses would be expensive, our family cant afford that." "How much would that be?" "We need to buy property rights, plusbor, at least five hundred taels."[This figure of five hundred taels is fabricated for the plot; I dont actually know how much it used to cost to build a blue-brick house, so dont mind this little detail] Upon hearing about the five hundred taels, Xiaoxiao cheered, "Husband, thats great! We can start preparing to build the house right away." "Wife, do we have five hundred taels?" Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously, "Yes, I made five hundred taels selling lingerie." "..." Yang Ming was shocked. The lingerie business had started just a month ago, and she had been selling for just about half a month. It felt as though he hadnt married a wife but Silver itself. Seeing her husbands shocked expression, Xiaoxiao threw him a coquettish look, "Husband, dont you feel lucky to have married a treasure?" Yang Mings brows twitched. His wife had hit the nail on the head about what he was thinking. His wife was not only a treasure but also a smart cookie. "Yes, I married a treasure." Xiaoxiao handed the bowl to her discount husband, "Here, give this treasure another serving of rice." "Alright!" Yang Ming happily agreed. He was only too happy when his wife ate more; he liked her best well-fed and chubby. Thinking about building a house made Xiaoxiao very happy. She even ate an extra bowl of rice, perhaps also because she was tired from exercising. After finishing their meal, the couple quickly washed up and then rested on their traditional Chinese bed. Yang Ming was still hugging his wife; he had grown so used to it now. Thinking about the awkwardness at the dinner table today, Xiaoxiao felt it necessary to have her discount husband enlighten Yang Dong about the matters between men and women. They were grown up; how could they still be ignorant about such matters? "Husband, will you find some time to teach Yang Dong?" "Hm?" "Theyre so old yet know nothing. How will they manage to find a girlfriend in the future?" "Find a girlfriend?" "Yes, find a wife." "Ill find time to talk to him," Yang Ming thought. Nobody had talked to him about these things when he was as old as his younger brother. Yang Ming, hugging his wife and with a smile on his lips, drifted off into beautiful dreams, unaware that the days offort wouldntst, and a heartbreaking event was just around the corner. Chapter 444 - 445: What Have You Discovered?

Chapter 444: Chapter 445: What Have You Discovered?

The incident happened on the very day after Chu Lian left. That morning, as usual, everyone was digging the pond, and Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao were there too. Yang Ming was digging the pond while Xiaoxiao was helping prepare lunch at the shack. Both of them were in a very good mood. It wasnt long before Yang Dong called out to Yang Ming, bubbling with excitement, "Third Brother,e quick, Ive found a treasure." As soon as these words came out, many of the workers in the pond heard, stopped their work, and looked over to Yang Dong, wondering if the previous rumors were true. Could there really be treasures buried in this hollownd? Hearing his younger brothers call, Yang Ming quickly waded through the water to see what Yang Dong was up to, and many others gathered around as well. Upon reaching Yang Dongs side and seeing nothing in his hands, Yang Ming frowned, "Fourth Brother, didnt you say you found a treasure?" Yang Dong showed an excited smile, "Hehe, its here, feel around, isnt there something inside?" Yang Ming bent down and reached his hand into the mud underwater, touching something that made his eyes widen in surprise. It felt like an urncould there actually be something there? "You guys, dig out whatever is underneath here carefully, dont damage it." Hearing the order from their employer, several strong men carefully dug around until finally, they lifted what seemed to be an urn out of the water. Once the urn was above the surface, everyone was taken aback momentarily, and they couldnt help but shiverdid it look like some sort of treasure-containing urn? It resembled more an urn for ashes. Surely, they hadnt disturbed someones grave. Only Yang Dong still believed it was a treasure container, "Third Brother, quick, see what treasure is inside?" "..." Everyone couldnt help but think that the youngest son of the family might be a little too excitedas it most likely was an urn for ashes. Despite their thoughts, their eyes remained glued to the urn, curious to discover what was actually inside. "Get to shore," Yang Ming nced at his younger brother, regardless of what was inside with so many people around. He then said to the others, "You all keep working." Carrying the urn, he walked toward the shore, and Yang Dong, eager to discover its contents, quickly followed him onto thend. Old Yangs father and the other men of the Yang Family had caught wind of themotion and came ashore as well. They all gathered together, "Third Brother, hurry up, see whats inside." Yang Ming too was full of curiosity about the urn and so he found a tool and pried it open. As the urn was opened with a loud bang, everyone peered inside all at once, their eyes wideningthere really was something there. Yang Ming was also shocked. Theyd actually dug up a treasure; he reached inside the urn and pulled out a sparkling, translucent bracelet. At that moment, Yang Dong was overjoyed, grabbing the bracelet, "This was my find." Yang Ming frowned; his younger brother seemed to be more and more childlike under his wifes influenceno longer asposed as before. Xiaoxiao at the shack had already noticed themotion from the direction of the pond and saw that the men of the Yang Family hade ashore. She grew even more curiouscould something have happened? Rushing over to find out what it was, upon reaching the outskirts of the crowd, she heard Yang Dongs words and asked, "What did you find?" Chapter 445 - 446: She Recognizes That Bracelet

Chapter 445: Chapter 446: She Recognizes That Bracelet

Hearing the voice of his third sister-inw, Yang Dong was even more eager to show off, saying, "Third sister-inw, look, I dug up a treasure." As he spoke, Yang Dong raised the bracelet in his hand for Xiaoxiao to see. The moment Xiaoxiao saw that bracelet, her eyes widened in shock, because she recognized it. It was a jade bracelet she had casually bought for one hundred yuan in the modern world, and that one hundred yuan was given grudgingly at that. Bored on the weekend, her friend Xiaoyao insisted on inviting her to Yuyan [Yuyan is a small town specializing in selling jade], and she couldnt refuse, so she went along. She thought she was just apanying her friend, but Xiaoyao said, "Since were here, we might as well get some souvenirs to take back." However, Xiaoxiao had no interest in such things, and besides, they were exorbitantly priced, so she was reluctant to spend the money. Xiaoyao then took her to a stall, "These each cost only one hundred yuan, you wont be at a loss or cheated. Ill apany you, and each of us can buy one." In the end, with no other option, Xiaoxiao agreed. Xiaoyao picked out two bracelets from the pile, smiling as she said, "Xiaoxiao, look, these two are different from the othersthis ce has a yellow pattern. Lets take these two unique ones." Fortunately, the sizes of the two bracelets were suitable, so both of them put them on right there and then. Just like that, Xiaoxiao handed over one hundred yuan to the stall owner. Xiaoxiao really disliked wearing bracelets; they were inconvenient for doing anything, and they could easily break. As soon as she got home, she took it off without a second thought, tossed it beside the bed, and fell straight to sleep. It was only upon waking that she found herself in Yang Mings home. Now thinking about it, did she travel through time because of this bracelet? Was it her reason for time travel, not the original upant? Could it be that Xiaoyao, who bought the same bracelet, might also havee to this time? A wave of sadness washed over her, making Xiaoxiaos eyes redden as tears instantly started to fall. She desperately missed her parents, rtives, and friends, as well as everything in the modern world. Xiaoxiaos reaction puzzled everyone around her. They wondered what was wrong with Yang Mings wife, why she had suddenly started crying. Yang Ming saw that his wife was not acting normally, so he quickly came over, supported her, and asked anxiously, "Wife, whats wrong?" Thats when Xiaoxiao realized her loss ofposure and hurriedly held back her tears, "Im fine." Then she said to Yang Dong, "Fourth brother, let me take a look at that bracelet." Xiaoxiao thought to herself that if the bracelet had brought her here, maybe it could also send her back, or like in the novels, it might have some kind of portable space. If that was the case, did she also have a Golden Finger, was it time for her life to hit the jackpot? Hearing his third sister-inw wanted to see it, Yang Dong immediately handed the bracelet over, "Third sister-inw, here you go." The moment Xiaoxiao touched the bracelet, her body felt electrified. Then came an immense suction force as if she was about to be pulled into the bracelet, causing her entire body to shudder violently. Yang Ming felt that his wife had be increasingly abnormal since seeing the bracelet, and now her whole body was shivering. He was extremely frightened and kept asking, "Whats wrong, where do you feel ufortable?" But Xiaoxiao did not reply; she kept trembling, eventually unable to withstand the bracelets pulling force, she cried out "Ah" loudly, and her entire body fell to the ground, her soul following into the bracelet. Seeing his wife fall, Yang Ming hurried to catch her. At that moment, his heart was in agonizing pain, and he had an ominous premonition, "Wife, whats wrong with you? Ah? Wake up, please wake up." Chapter 446 - 447: What kind of big god are you trying to be, isn’t it chaotic enough?

Chapter 446: Chapter 447: What kind of big god are you trying to be, isnt it chaotic enough?

This situation terrified the whole family. Everyone was in a panic, calling out for Xiaoxiao repeatedly. "Younger sons wife." "Young brothers wife." "Sister-inw, whats wrong with you?" "Yang Mings wife." "..." "..." Yang Ming was also panicked and picked up his wife, running towards the ox cart. Yang Wuzhu was rtively calm and told everyone, "Those who should go home, go home. Im here, go quickly and find a doctor." "Yes, yes." Everyone agreed in a flurry and dispersed to act. The people at the shack also realized something was wrong, ran out to see what was happening, and heard Yangs father urgently calling, "Wife, hurry home." Seeing this, Yang Mings mother feared something bad had happened and ran. The whole family quickly boarded the ox cart. Everyone by the pond had seen this situation, and they were also panicked. How could it be that just after they unearthed the urn, an ident urred? What exactly was in that urn? Why did something happen to the family right after they went ashore to look at the urn? Everyone also felt a rebound of relief; it must have been an ominous object. Ashes carry yin energy, it must have been cursed, they were fortunate they didnt go to have a look. Seeing this, Yang Wuzhu immediately admonished everyone, "Get back to work, the nephews wife just isnt feeling well, dont think too much." Hearing Yang Wuzhus words, nobody dared to make a sound, and they continued with their work. At this moment, Xiaoxiao was covered in cold sweat, unconscious, appearing lifeless, which made the family extremely anxious. "Young brother, how can she just faint like that?" Yang Mings mother asked while wiping her tears. "I, I dont know." At this moment, Yang Mings mind was in chaos. His wife had had an ident, and he was scared. Holding his wife, seeing her pale, lifeless face, his heart was in terrible pain. "Mom, sister-inw fainted right after she saw the Bracelet I dug up." "What bracelet?" Yang Mings mother asked, puzzled. Yangs father exined, "Just now, the fourth son found an urn in the pond, and everyone went ashore. It turned out there was a bracelet in the urn, and the younger brothers wife fainted after seeing that bracelet." "..." Yang Mings mother was silent, pondering over how bizarre this was. At this moment, the Yang family boss, Yang Chun, said, "Its all the fourth brothers fault. Why dig up any urn? You can see that urn was meant for ashes, such bad luck. Now look, an ident happened." "It wasnt an urn for ashes, you all saw it, it was that bracelet inside." Yang Dong retorted. "Not bad luck? Then how did your younger brothers wife end up like this? I think its because she was cursed by that urn of ashes, no way she would cry and faint upon seeing it otherwise." Yang Gang, the second eldest, also chimed in. Hearing her sons arguing, Yang Mings mother suggested, "Should we invite someone who performs spirit-invoking toe and help your younger brothers wife?" Hearing the family arguing, Yangs father, furious, immediately shouted, "Stop arguing. What spirit-invoking? Do you want more chaos?" "Boss, as soon as you get home, go to the town and fetch the doctor." "Yes, dad." As Yangs father spoke, the family fell silent Yang Gang got off at the vige square and went straight to the rented courtyard. "Wife, hurry home, the younger sister-inw had an ident." Hearing that the younger sister-inw had an ident, the second sons wife quickly put down her work, called the eldest sister-inw and younger aunt and went home. Chapter 447 - 448: Your Wife’s Pulse Indicates She May Not Live Long

Chapter 447: Chapter 448: Your Wifes Pulse Indicates She May Not Live Long

The ox cart arrived at the doorstep swiftly, and the family quickly alighted from it. "Boss, you must go find the doctor right away." "Yes," Yang Chun agreed and drove off with the ox cart. Yang Ming carried his frail wife into the house, anxiously pulling at the bedding as he climbed onto the kang. "Youngest, let Mom handle this," Yang Mings mother said hurriedly as she helped arrange the bedding. Once the bedding wasid out, Yang Ming removed his wifes outer clothing, ced her on the bedding, and covered her carefully. Yang Mings mother hurried to heat the kang and boil water, fussing over everything in case her daughter-inw needed it soon. Yang Ming just sat beside her, gazing at his wife; calling her many times along the way, but he could not wake her as she fell into a deepa again. How ill was his wifes body really? She had been treated after hersta; why had she fallen into aa again? Thinking back on the days events, it was truly bizarre; his wife had acted so abnormally. What was so special about that bracelet that it caused such a severe reaction in her? "Has the youngest sister-inw awakened?" Yang Gangs wife had heard all about it on the way and, without even entering the house, she anxiously asked. "Not yet," Yang Ming replied without turning back to his sister-inw. As they entered the room and saw Xiaoxiao lying there, pale-faced, they all felt saddened, "Youngest, dont worry. Your wife was like thisst time too, shell wake up soon." "Yes." He hoped so, he was truly afraid of losing his wife. Every time, he felt unbearably heartbroken; he truly couldnt be without her. The family stayed in the room, keeping vigil over Xiaoxiao and waiting for the doctor, and soon Yang Chun brought the towns doctor. Seeing the doctor arrive, Yang Ming excitedly jumped down from the kang, grabbing the doctors arm, "Doctor, please check on her, my wife has fainted again." "Dont panic, I will take her pulse right now," the doctor said. The doctor approached the edge of the kang, and Yang Ming presented his wifes arm. The doctor ced his hand on Xiaoxiaos pulse, his expression growing more serious as he felt it, and after a moment, he withdrew his hand. "Doctor, how is my wife?" As soon as the doctor finished, Yang Ming immediately inquired. The old doctor shook his head, sighing, "Forgive my limited medical skills, but you should seek morepetent help." Upon hearing this, everyone in the room was shocked. Was the youngest sons wifes illness so serious that even the towns doctor was helpless? Yang Mings head buzzed, and he felt faint, "Doctor, why would you say such a thing?" What did the doctor mean? Was it that he couldnt treat her, or was she beyond help? "From her pulse, I fear she wont live much longer." Yang Ming could hardly believe his ears. His wife, who had been lively just this morning, couldnt live much longer? In disbelief, he grabbed the doctors cor, roaring, "What are you saying? What do you mean she wont live long?" "Youngest, dont get agitated, listen to what the doctor has to say," Yangs father rebuked from the side. Yang Ming then let go of his hand, apologetic due to his outburst, "Sorry, doctor, could you exin more clearly?" The old doctor sighed again, "Ah, in my opinion, your wife might notst more than five days." At these words, Yang Mings body jerked, nearly copsing; Yang Chun quickly supported him, "Youngest, you mustnt fall." "Perhaps my medical skills fall short. You should urgently seek another doctor to try," the doctor added. Chapter 448 - 449: He’s Crying, Silently Crying

Chapter 448: Chapter 449: Hes Crying, Silently Crying

The Boss passed away, and the atmosphere in the room became oppressively heavy, everyone was struck by the words he had spoken. Yang Ming was overwhelmed with grief, holding his wifes hand tightly, his eyes red, "Dad, I dont believe what the doctor said. She was still bouncing around this morning, how could she possibly die?" Seeing his sons condition, old Yang felt an intense stabbing pain in his heart, "Youngest son, dad doesnt believe it either." He turned to his sons and said, "You guys, go to the county town quickly, and bring all the doctors here." "Yes!" The sons responded and hurried out the door. When the women in the room heard that Xiaoxiao might not make it, they were almost sobbing uncontrobly, and old Yang directly said, "You all, stop crying, go back to your rooms first." "Youngest son, after the doctor arrives, welle over again." "Okay." Yang Ming nodded in agreement. Everyone then left, and the room became quiet for a moment. Yang Ming just sat quietly watching his wife, feeling a pain in his chest that nearly stopped his breath. He and his wife had just started their life together, they still had a long road to walk. She wouldnt just leave him like this, it must be that the doctors medical skills were poor. Once the doctors from the county town arrived, his wife would be fine; he reassured himself over and over. "Wife, I cant live without you, please open your eyes and look at me." "Wife, dont leave, what will I do without you?" "Wife, I love you, please dont leave me behind." "..." "..." Yang Ming repeated these calls to his wife over and over, his voice starting to sound hoarse and shaky as he cried silently. But Xiaoxiao still showed no response, lying there quietly, unmoving, like a sleeping beauty with a pale and powerless face, obviously in a dying state. "Wife, are you thirsty?" Seeing his wifes colorless lips, Yang Ming quickly fetched some water and tried to feed her with a spoon, but her tightly closed lips would not drink a drop, so Yang Ming resorted to an old method, feeding her little by little. "Wife, are you doing this on purpose, wanting me to kiss you, thats why you wont drink by yourself? Hmm?" Yang Mings heart grew more and more anxious, as his wifesplexion grew worse; he couldnt understand how his lively wife had suddenly turned into this condition. Seeing that his wifes breathing was very weak, Yang Ming attempted to give her breath in the same way she had done for him, again and again. He was truly scared, fearful that she would stop breathing. But his wife still showed no signs of improvement and even began to feel colder all over; Yang Ming hurriedly fetched nkets to cover her and then climbed into the nkets himself, holding her. "Wife, is it warmer like this?" "Dont be scared, Im right here with you." This continued until the afternoon when the cart from the county town with the doctors finally returned. As soon as the cart arrived at the gate, Yang Chun shouted into the courtyard, "Youngest brother, the doctors have been brought here!" Hearing the doctors had arrived, Yang Ming, as if seeing hope, didnt care about the redness of his eyes from crying, hurriedly got off the bed and went out to meet the doctor. "Doctor, please check how my wife is. Right now, herplexion is poor, her breath is weak, and her body is cold." Family members, upon hearing this, also quickly exited their houses and crowded into Yang Mings room, waiting for the doctors diagnoses. Chapter 449 - 450: Please Give It a Try, Shaman

Chapter 449: Chapter 450: Please Give It a Try, Shaman

Three doctors had been brought, or rather seized, from the county. The three brothers werent eloquent speakers; they simply exined the situation to the doctors, who upon hearing that Xiaoxiao had been diagnosed with only five days to live, were unwilling to treat her, fearing the impact on their reputations from a deceased patient. Left with no choice, the brothers resorted to violence, kidnapping the doctors due to the urgency of the situationdecorum was thest thing on their minds. Though reluctant to provide treatment, the doctors, still possessing a sense of medical duty, took turns checking Xiaoxiaos pulse seriously. After their examination, each one wore a grave expression. "Doctor, how is it?" Seeing the doctors expressions, Yang Mings heart skipped a beat, and he immediately inquired about the diagnosis. All three doctors shook their heads and sighed, seemingly reluctant to speak. "Doctor, what exactly is wrong with my wife?" One doctor answered, "Forgive my limited medical skills, I cannot determine her illness, but one thing seems clearshes not going tost long." The other two doctors also shook their heads, indicating they were unable to diagnose the issue. "Is there really no solution?" Yang Ming asked, his heart breaking, searching for even the slightest glimmer of hope. But ultimately, he was disappointed, as the doctors all sighed deeply. "You should prepare for the inevitable, prepare for her funeral," one suggested. This advice weighed heavily on everyones heart, with Yang Chun asking in agony, "Doctor, how long does she have left?" "Try to feed her some rice porridge, she can hold on for a few more days." Upon hearing this, the women in the house burst into tears, rushing to Xiaoxiaos side, screaming and wailing. "Youngest sons wife, whats happened to you?" "Youngest brothers wife, please get up." "Sister-inw." The men in the family also turned red-eyed instantly, the room filled with destion. Old man Yang turned to his eldest son, "Boss, pay the doctors fee and send the three doctors back." "Okay." So Yang Chun sent the doctors back as instructed. Afterward, Old man Yang gave another order, "Fourth son, go to Stone Vige and bring the inws to see her onest time." Upon hearing this, Yang Ming shouted, "Dad, my wife will not die." "Third son, I dont want her to die either, but what can I do given the situation?" his fathers voice trembled, tears welling in his eyes. Hearing his fathers frail and powerless voice, Yang Ming was left speechless; he didnt know what to do. By then, rtives from the local area had started arriving, all deeply saddened by the news. They found it unbelievable. How could touching the bracelet in that urn have affected her this way? Could it really be due to a sh with the urn? Thus, Uncle Yang Ming suggested, "Second brother, could it be the sh with the urn that we dug up? Why dont we perform a ritual to dispel the bad luck, maybe it could call back my nephews wifes soul?" Yang Mings second uncle added, "A dying horse might as well be treated like a live one; we cannot just wait for death." "Father, please, lets try summoning spirits," sobbed Yang Mings mother. Old man Yang, also at a loss, turned to his son, "Third son, what do you think...?" "Okay." Yang Ming agreed. Though he did not believe in such things, he was desperate, and any hope felt like a lifesaver, which he wanted to cling to tightly. Seeing his son agree, Old man Yang immediately had Yang Gang go to Downhill Vige to fetch the well-known Witch Chapter 450 - 451: He Didn’t Know That There Were Words in This Heart

Chapter 450: Chapter 451: He Didnt Know That There Were Words in This Heart

Something major had happened at the Yang Familys house, and the news had quickly spread throughout the vige. When they saw Yang Gang bringing in Witch Wang into the vige, everyone was in an uproar. "This is really serious now, theyve even called for Witch Wang." "Right? Just look at the Yang Familys house, so many people going in and out all day." "I heard they dug up an urn of cremains in that low-lying field." "Does that mean theyve been cursed?" "Possibly, even the doctor cant cure it; they said the person is nearly gone." "Have you not heard the wailsing from their courtyard? It must be true." "..." "..." Everyone was discussing it, each one of them breaking out in a cold sweat, grateful they hadnt found anything when they had gone treasure hunting in that piece ofnd. Yang Gang, furious at the buzzing of gossip, roared at the crowd, "Stop wagging your tongues here." Silenced by Yang Gangs shout, everyone shut their mouths. Yang Gang arrived home with Witch Wang, and by then, Yang Mings courtyard was packed with people, rtives and quite a few nosy neighbors. "Make way, everyone," Yang Gang said as he made his way through the crowd and into Yang Mings house. "Dad, Witch Wang is here." "Witch Wang, look at this; can you call his soul back?" Witch Wang made a show of approaching the edge of the bed, nced a few times at Xiaoxiao lying there, her expression slightly uneasy. Then, with a grave face, she said, "Wait until I start the ritual; the gods will tell me whether she can live or not." "So when do we start?" Old Man Yang continued. "Get ready now; Im about to begin, and I dont like interruptions." "Alright." Grasping what Witch Wang meant, Old Man Yang immediately had Yang Gang clear everyone out of the yard, leaving only their family. Witch Wang began to prepare the site for the ritual. She tore away the muslin canopy Xiaoxiao had put up, along with hanging paper cranes and hearts. Seeing the lovingly prepared bridal chamber being torn apart, Yang Ming shouted at Witch Wang, "What are you doing?" "All these must be removed; they hinder the soul-calling." "You cant tear them down," Yang Ming cried out, hurriedly picking up the muslin canopy, paper cranes, and hearts. "Dont me me if the soul-calling is dyed; she wont be able toe back then." Seeing his son so heartbroken, Old Man Yang urged, "Third son, listen to Witch Wang." Yang Ming fell silent and had to agree; having his wifee back was more important than anything. Heartbroken, he picked up the decorations his wife had prepared for him, intending to keep them safe, but as he gathered them, he found a torn heart among them. He picked it up sorrowfully, only to notice writing inside the torn edgewords written by his wife that he never knew were there. He quickly opened the heart. Seeing those few words felt like his heart was being torn apart; they clearly read, "Husband, I love you." He felt like he could hardly breathe from the pain; he looked at the pile of hearts his wife had foldedwere there words in those as well? He quickly opened the second heart, which also clearly read, "Husband, I like you so much!" Tears of heartbreak and emotions welled up in his eyes once more. Wife, I love you too, I like you too. Just as he was about to continue with the third heart, "Third son, hurry up, Witch Wang is about to start." "Okay." He quickly put the items away in the cupboard, waiting for Witch Wang to awaken his wife. Chapter 451 - 452 Get out, get out of here

Chapter 451: Chapter 452 Get out, get out of here

When the old woman Wang climbed onto the kang bed, she held a drum and began rhythmically beating it, leaping around and muttering iprehensible words; it was said she was conversing with the spirits, something only old woman Wang understood and was beyond ordinary people. Everyone held their breath, nervously hoping that Xiaoxiaos soul could be summoned back. Suddenly, old woman Wang shouted loudly, but no one knew what she was yelling. It was unclear when the bowl on the table had been prepared, but old woman Wang picked it up, took a big gulp, and then sprayed it onto Xiaoxiaos face. Xiaoxiaos face was drenched in a blood-red color, horrifyingly so. Seeing his daughter-inws face sprayed crimson, Yang Mings eyes reddened with rage as he yanked old woman Wang over, bellowing, "What are you doing?" Old woman Wang choked from being roughly pulled by Yang Ming, almost falling over, but Yang Ming didnt carehe quickly took out a handkerchief and carefully wiped his daughter-inws face, his expression full of remorseful regret. Seeing this, old woman Wang angrily said, "You have disturbed the spirits, and now they are angered. At this rate, her soul will never return." With that statement, fear clutched the hearts of the others in the room. Now what? If the soul of the third sons wife could not be returned, old man Yang hurriedly stated, "Third son, step aside, do not disturb old woman Wang." Protected by old man Yang, old woman Wang was rather smug as she watched Yang Ming, waiting for him to leave. However, Yang Ming did not leave as she hoped and instead turned and glowered at old woman Wang, shouting, "Get out, get out now!" This was the first time he had lost control and sworn; he was insane to believe in this babbling old witch, following his parents advice. He wanted to p himself, feeling terribly guilty towards his daughter-inw. Old woman Wang had always been respected around these parts; she had never been treated this way. Enraged, her face contorted as she screamed, "The spirits are truly enraged now. She is most certainly doomed to dieget ready to retrieve her corpse." "Get out, just get out!" Yang Ming continued to swear coarsely. Fuming, old woman Wang left the house, and old man Yang followed, apologetically saying, "Old woman Wang, my son is young and foolish. Please, dont take it to heart." With a huff, old woman Wang snorted indignantly and then stretched out her hand, "Silver." "Oh, oh," old man Yang quickly paid the silver, and then old woman Wang left. As she reached the vige square, she was surrounded by a cluster of vigers. "Old woman Wang, what in the world happened?" "Old woman Wang, has the Schrs wife been possessed by evil spirits?" "..." "..." The vigers questioned her one after another. Already upset with how Yang Ming had treated her at the Yang familys house, old woman Wang saw this as an opportunity to vent so she began spreading rumors. "The Schrs wife has been possessed," she dered, sighing heavily, "Her soul might have been recoverable, but the Schr disturbed the spirits, now the Schrs wife might not make it." While it had only been a conjecture before, now it was confirmed, and people began to worry that the Schrs wife was indeed doomed. "Old woman Wang, could it be due to the conflict with the urn of ashes? Will there be any impact on other families?" Upon hearing this, old woman Wang saw an opportunity to make money and responded, "It might slightly affect others, but with old woman Wang here, everyone can rest easy." Hearing this, the vigers promptly bought protective charms from old woman Wang. Chapter 453 - 454: Relatives from Her Mother’s Side Have Arrived

Chapter 453: Chapter 454: Rtives from Her Mothers Side Have Arrived

With that thought, Yang Ming stopped crying. He found clean clothes for his wife to change into and also reced the bedsheets and quilt cover, as the blood from the exorcists interference had made her very ufortable. After everything was settled, there was a noisymotion outside as Xiaoxiaos family arrived. Xiaoxiaos ident was a fatal blow to the Zhong Family. How could their pampered girl, raised by dozens of family members, no longer be okay just four months into her marriage? Could it be that she was mistreated by the Yang Family? Upon hearing the news, they quickly arranged a carriage and hurried non-stop to Yang Family Vige. When dozens of people arrived, it terrified the Yang Family members. The union between Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming was indeed peculiar and had happened very quickly, so this was the first time the two families had met. As soon as Zhong Dalong got off the carriage, he hurried into the courtyard, yelling as he walked, "Where is Yang Ming? Let thatde out to me." Seeing this, Old Master Yang hurried forward, "You must be the father-inw, right?" "Humph, did thatd bully my little girl, huh?" Zhong Dalong believed his daughter was healthy and without illness. Now that there were reports of her failing health, it must have been the doing of the Yang Family. Xiaoxiaos mother immediately intervened, her voice sharp, "Old man, well settle thister. Lets go see our daughter first." "Right, see our daughter first. Well settle ountster." Hearing his wifes reminder, Zhong Dalong ceased his shouting. "Father-inw, shes in this house." Old Master Yang hurriedly led the way. "Humph, no need for you to show us; well find our own way." Zhong Dalong with his entire family crowded Yang Mings two small rooms to the point where those who couldnt get in just stood outside in the courtyard. Seeing this situation, the Yang Family members dared not approach and just watched from the side. Old Master Yang furrowed his brows and quickly asked his son, "Fourth, what is going on?" "I just notified them to bid farewell to the Third Sister-in-Law, and they all came," Yang Dong said innocently. "Dont just stand there foolishly; boil some water and attend to these people." Hearing Old Master Yangs order, the family hurried to get busy. The sudden influx of so many people startled Yang Ming. As he looked up, he saw his father-inw and mother-inw, his uncles, and some others he didnt recognize but who must have been rtives from his wifes side. He called out, "Dad, Mom." Old Master Yang and Xiaoxiaos mother did not give Yang Ming a kind look, ignoring himpletely as they moved to the bedside, lovingly calling, "Daughter, whats wrong with you?" The others also surged towards Xiaoxiao, instantly pushing Yang Ming aside. "Sister, wake up; your brother is here." "Great-niece, look at your great-aunt." "Little aunt, little aunt." "..." "..." Hearing those calls, Yang Ming listened from the side; these were his wifes rtives, the ones who cherished and loved her. Wife, do you see? No one wants you to leave. Seeing Xiaoxiao showing no response, herplexion looking terrible, and her breathing weak, the family grew panicked and their eyes reddened. It appeared to be true; Xiaoxiao was indeed nearing the end, and cries filled the entire courtyard. Zhong Dalong, Xiaoxiaos eldest brother, had eyes red with rage, and he punched Yang Ming while roaring, "Give me back my sister, give back my sister." Yang Ming did not fight back; he couldnt fight back, as his wife had indeed met with the mishap under his care. Chapter 453 - 454: Relatives from Her Mother’s Side Have Arrived

Chapter 453: Chapter 454: Rtives from Her Mothers Side Have Arrived

With that thought, Yang Ming stopped crying. He found clean clothes for his wife to change into and also reced the bedsheets and quilt cover, as the blood from the exorcists interference had made her very ufortable. After everything was settled, there was a noisymotion outside as Xiaoxiaos family arrived. Xiaoxiaos ident was a fatal blow to the Zhong Family. How could their pampered girl, raised by dozens of family members, no longer be okay just four months into her marriage? Could it be that she was mistreated by the Yang Family? Upon hearing the news, they quickly arranged a carriage and hurried non-stop to Yang Family Vige. When dozens of people arrived, it terrified the Yang Family members. The union between Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming was indeed peculiar and had happened very quickly, so this was the first time the two families had met. As soon as Zhong Dalong got off the carriage, he hurried into the courtyard, yelling as he walked, "Where is Yang Ming? Let thatde out to me." Seeing this, Old Master Yang hurried forward, "You must be the father-inw, right?" "Humph, did thatd bully my little girl, huh?" Zhong Dalong believed his daughter was healthy and without illness. Now that there were reports of her failing health, it must have been the doing of the Yang Family. Xiaoxiaos mother immediately intervened, her voice sharp, "Old man, well settle thister. Lets go see our daughter first." "Right, see our daughter first. Well settle ountster." Hearing his wifes reminder, Zhong Dalong ceased his shouting. "Father-inw, shes in this house." Old Master Yang hurriedly led the way. "Humph, no need for you to show us; well find our own way." Zhong Dalong with his entire family crowded Yang Mings two small rooms to the point where those who couldnt get in just stood outside in the courtyard. Seeing this situation, the Yang Family members dared not approach and just watched from the side. Old Master Yang furrowed his brows and quickly asked his son, "Fourth, what is going on?" "I just notified them to bid farewell to the Third Sister-in-Law, and they all came," Yang Dong said innocently. "Dont just stand there foolishly; boil some water and attend to these people." Hearing Old Master Yangs order, the family hurried to get busy. The sudden influx of so many people startled Yang Ming. As he looked up, he saw his father-inw and mother-inw, his uncles, and some others he didnt recognize but who must have been rtives from his wifes side. He called out, "Dad, Mom." Old Master Yang and Xiaoxiaos mother did not give Yang Ming a kind look, ignoring himpletely as they moved to the bedside, lovingly calling, "Daughter, whats wrong with you?" The others also surged towards Xiaoxiao, instantly pushing Yang Ming aside. "Sister, wake up; your brother is here." "Great-niece, look at your great-aunt." "Little aunt, little aunt." "..." "..." Hearing those calls, Yang Ming listened from the side; these were his wifes rtives, the ones who cherished and loved her. Wife, do you see? No one wants you to leave. Seeing Xiaoxiao showing no response, herplexion looking terrible, and her breathing weak, the family grew panicked and their eyes reddened. It appeared to be true; Xiaoxiao was indeed nearing the end, and cries filled the entire courtyard. Zhong Dalong, Xiaoxiaos eldest brother, had eyes red with rage, and he punched Yang Ming while roaring, "Give me back my sister, give back my sister." Yang Ming did not fight back; he couldnt fight back, as his wife had indeed met with the mishap under his care. Chapter 454 - 455: Holding Your Sister, Let’s Go Home

Chapter 454: Chapter 455: Holding Your Sister, Lets Go Home

Yang Ming did not defend himself, he could not say it, his lively and bouncing wife had been like this ever since she saw the dug-up bracelet. Who would believe such an unbelievable thing? He silently endured punch after punch from his uncle. He could no longer feel any pain. Compared to the physical pain, his heart ached more. He thought it would be better to be beaten to death, then he could be with his wife again. At that moment, Zhong Dalong was like a lion gone mad, venting all his anger, punching Yang Ming relentlessly with extreme cruelty. "I must avenge my sister," he roared while beating him. "It must be you who bullied her." "My sister was perfectly healthy, it must have been you people." "None of you Yang Family will get off easy." Zhong Dalongs roaring filled the entire yard, sending chills down the spine of every member of the Yang Family. If this continued, their youngest brother would be beaten to death. Old Zhong and a few sons quickly moved forward to rescue Yang Ming. But they were physically restrained by dozens of the Zhong Family, the yard now aplete chaos. Yang Dong was also desperate, shouting from the midst, "Ive said it countless times on the way here, we truly did not bully sister-inw." "Stop beating my brother! It was my insistence to dig up that jar. If you must beat someone, beat me, it has got nothing to do with my brother." Hearing his sister-inws brother still had not stopped, Yang Dong continued, "If you treat my brother this way, sister-inw will definitely fight you to death once she wakes." "Last time someone pped my brother, and sister-inw beat him into a pigs head." "..." "..." Upon hearing this, Old Zhong roared, "Dalong, enough, stop it." Only then did Zhong Dalong stop, and Yang Ming, upon being released, coughed, swayed, and barely steadied himself by leaning on the beds edge without falling, but he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. Seeing this, Old Zhong sighed. This son-inw was not bad. Maybe his daughter just wasnt lucky. He then said, "Dalong, carry your sister, lets go home." Upon hearing this, Yang Ming immediately became anxious, mbered onto the bed to shield his wife, and pleaded, "Dad, please dont take her away." Old Zhong shook his head and signaled Zhong Dalong to proceed. His precious daughter, even if she died, should die in her own familys bed. Zhong Dalong hurried onto the bed to take his sister, "Yang Ming, let go of my sister." "I wont." But no matter how much Yang Ming protected her, he could not withstand the multitude of people trying to take Xiaoxiao, and in the end, she was abducted. Zhong Dalong carried his sister and hurriedly mounted the carriage. The entire Zhong Family, with dozens of people, left overnight. The yard suddenly went quiet after the Zhong Familys carriages left. Old Yangs family quickly went inside the house. "Youngest, how are you?" Yang Ming did not respond; his gaze was empty, utterly devastated. His wife had been taken away, and he would be separated from her for the rest of his life. Yang Mings reaction terrified the entire Yang Family. The couple had always been the main support of the family. Now both being in such a state, it was nothing less than a disaster for the Yang Family. In their grief, no one knew what to do. "Boss, go get a doctor immediately. The youngest has been beaten, we must at least have him looked at." Only then did Yang Minge to his senses, "Dad, no need, Im alright. Everyone please leave, I want to be alone for a while." Chapter 455 - 456: He wouldn’t be seeking death, would he?

Chapter 455: Chapter 456: He wouldnt be seeking death, would he?

"Boss, this injury of yours..." Old man Yang was quite worried. "Dad, Im really fine. I can endure this much. You all go out first." Whats this injury inparison? He only hated that he hadnt beaten him to death, allowing him to continue enduring this heart-wrenching pain. Seeing his son in such desperation, old man Yang was also deeply pained. This incident was a lethal blow to his son, but they were powerless to help and could only wait for their son toe around, maybe time would heal the wounds. "Hey, well go out then. Call us if you need anything." Old man Yang led his family out of Yang Mings room and went to the Main House. Everyones face looked as bitter as a gourd; they were truly heartbroken, after all, it had been four months, and they had developed a bond with the Bosss daughter-inw. For a time, the room was gloomily silent, filled with sighs and continuous weeping. "Yang Dongs inws are so unreasonable, they beat Yang Chun like that and even took his wife away," Yang Dong vented his emotions. "Its all your fault, if it werent for you digging up that cursed jar, would this have happened?" Boss Yang Chun scolded out loud. "Its all because of you, why did you have to dig up that useless thing?" Yang Gang, the second brother, also voiced hisints. "Its all my fault, all my fault, wuwu." As Yang Dong spoke, he began to weep uncontrobly, squatting there, holding his head and crying bitterly. He med himself terribly; he had never anticipated that things would turn out like this; he had only shown the treasure he had dug up to his sister-inw in excitement. "Dad, ever since Third Sister-inw saw that bracelet, shes been unwell. Do you think theres something sinister about this?" They had been dizzy all day from the incident with Third Sister-inw barely holding on. Now thinking about it, how could this be possible? "Yeah, Dad, you saw Third Sister-inws reaction too. She started crying as soon as she saw it. This is not normal!" Yang Gang, the second brother, also chimed in with his suspicions. The more they talked about it, the more terrifying it became. But they had already summoned the shaman Wang. What else could they do? "Dont think nonsense, theres no such thing as ghosts and spirits; our family hasnt done anything wrong," although old man Yang was puzzled, he still spoke up to stop his children from specting wildly. "Dad, I just saw something off about the third brother; could he be so traumatized hes not thinking straight?" the wife of the Boss said worriedly. "Hes not thinking of taking his own life, is he?" the wife of the second brother felt it was more and more likely the more she thought about it. Upon hearing her daughters-inws spections, Yang Mings mother became anxious, crying and saying, "What shall we do, his dad?" "Dont think such nonsensical thoughts. Dont scare yourself. Boss wonte to harm," although Old man Yang was afraid, he still spoke up tofort the family. "Mom, you and the other women hurry up and make some food to take to Boss; the rest of us should also have something to eat." Because of the incident, the family hadnt drank a sip of water or eaten a bite of food all day; they simply couldnt stomach it. But upon hearing Old man Yangsmand, Yang Mings mother still took her daughters-inw and daughter to make preparations. Not too long after, the food was ready, and Yang Mings mother quickly took it to her son. Seeing him still looking exactly like he did when they left earlier, motionless. Yang Mings mother was in such distress, "Boss, eat something." "Mom, just leave it there for now." "Boss, you have to be strong," Yang Mings mother wiped away tears, trying to persuade her son. "Mom, Im fine, you go out first." Seeing her sons reluctance tomunicate, Yang Mings mother felt helpless but ced the food on the table and left the room with tears in her eyes. Chapter 456 - 457: You are the Love of My Life

Chapter 456: Chapter 457: You are the Love of My Life

The empty house no longer held the figure or voice of his wife, and Yang Mings heart plummeted to the depths of despair. The excruciating pain throughout the day made it difficult for him to breathe several times. Just a few days ago, they were still so sweet to each other, yet they had to face the pain of separation so soon, which left Yang Ming in a state of depression for a long time. Suddenly, Yang Ming lifted his head, his vacant eyes bing clear. He realized that even if his wife was taken away, even if she was going to die, he had to go to her, to be by her side, and nobody could strip away his right as her husband. In his haste, he walked towards the door, but as soon as his hand touched the doorknob, it retracted. He remembered that his wife had brought over her clothes from her maiden home, and since she had gone back, she would have nothing to change into. He decided to bring her a few outfits. He climbed onto the kang bed and opened the cab, seeing the muslin, paper cranes, and hearts he had hastily ced inside. Inside that heart was a message his wife had left for him. He might be departing with his wife this time, and he wanted to know what messages she left for him, wanting to take them with him when he left. He hurriedly opened the remaining hearts and saw the many love messages his wife had written. "Husband, I want to grow old with you slowly." "Husband, I miss you every day." "Husband, I want to have monkeys for you." "Husband, I will love you even across time and space." "Husband, ..." Yang Mings emotions once again spiraled out of control. What had he done to deserve so much love from his wife? These words were what he should have said to her first. With trembling hands, he opened thest heart, which was quite special because it wasrger than the others. After opening it, Yang Mings eyes widened. It was a letter, written in charcoal pencil. The handwriting was small and a bit blurry, but still legible. "Husband: Please forgive me for revealing my identity to you in this manner as I couldnt bring myself to say it. If you have found this letter, it must be fate. I am but a wisp of a soul that, for some unknown reason, possessed your bride on our wedding night. The words you didnt understand, the things you thought were incredible that I did, they alle from my homnd. In my hometown, Im just an ordinary person who cant do anything special. At first, when I came to this strange ce, I felt helpless. I didnt want to stay because my hometown is much more advanced than here. But then, I met you. You were so kind to me, and I fell deeply in love with you. I even started to thank heaven, for it must have been a divine wish for us to be in love, which is why I was brought here. I want to walk with you forever and ever. But as just a wisp of a soul, I dont know when I might fly away. I was afraid that if you knew I was just a soul, you would stay away from me, so I couldnt tell you. If one day, you find that Im no longer here, dont be sad. It would mean that I have returned to my hometown. You must stay strong and keep living. I will always bless you from my hometown. Husband, I love you, love you very much, you are the love of my life." At this moment, Yang Ming was sobbing. His wife had known all along that she might leave at any moment. Under that lively exterior was a heart of helplessness. He only hated himself for not being with her at every moment. Chapter 457 - 458: Please, Let Me See My Daughter-in-Law

Chapter 457: Chapter 458: Please, Let Me See My Daughter-in-Law

How could he possibly be afraid? He was equally grateful to heaven for bringing her into his life. Allowing them to fall in love. Yang Ming took the letter to the me of the candle, and with a whoosh, the letter was consumed by fire, he could not let others know his wifes identity. He then began to wolf down the food his mother had brought, his wife had given him a reason to live, he couldnt let her down. Having eaten quickly, he prepared his wifes clothes and left the house; she was leaving, returning to her hometown, and at least in her final days, he wanted to be by her side. Father Yang was worried that Yang Ming might do something foolish out of desperation and kept an eye on him. When he saw Yang Ming leave, he immediately asked, "Third son, where are you going?" "Dad, Im going to my father-inws house. Dont worry, Im fine, I just want to see her off." Seeing his son seeminglye to terms with the situation and not as despondent as before, Father Yang breathed a sigh of relief, "Let your fourth brother apany you." "No need, my father-inw and his family probably dont want to see our family members. Its better if I go alone." "This..." Father Yang found it difficult to decide. The whole family actually wanted to go, but under the current circumstances... "Dad, really, Im fine. Go back inside, Im leaving." Father Yang had no choice but to let Yang Ming go by himself. Yang Ming traveled through the night and reached Stone Vige before dawn. He stood at the gate waiting, not wanting to disturb them. In the morning when Zhong Dalong opened the gate, he found Yang Ming and said unpleasantly, "What are you doing here?" "Big brother, Ivee to see Xiaoxiao." "See what? My sister is dying, whats there to see?" Zhong Dalong said, mming the gate shut with a ng. Being rejected at the doorstep was something Yang Ming had expected; his inws were probably hating him to death by now, but he couldnt leave, he had to be by his wifes side. He pounded on the door with force, pleading, "Big brother, please, just let me be with her." Zhong Dalong didnt care about Yang Mings pleas and steadfastly refused to open the door, going back inside instead. Upon returning inside, the icy demeanor he had towards Yang Ming immediately turned tender, "How is she, any improvement, my sister?" Xiaoxiaos mother shook her head weakly, "Its the same as before." Zhong Dalong pped himself, uttering words of regret, "Its all my fault. If I hadnt agreed to marry off my sister, she wouldnt be in this state." Xiaoxiaos mother quickly tried to stop her son, crying out, "Ah, dont talk like that. No one is to me, its just her fate." Seeing that still no one was opening the door, Yang Ming increased the intensity of his knocking and raised his voice, "Dad, Mom, please, let me see my wife." His voice reached Father Zhong, who looked displeased, "Dalong, whats going on outside?" "Nothings going on," Zhong Dalong didnt wish to discuss it. Seeing the tone his son was taking, Father Zhong scolded, "Speak up!" "Its Yang Ming," Zhong Dalong replied reluctantly. "Let the son-inw in, Dad. His yelling outside isnt good for the neighbors to see, and besides, the son-inw hasnt done anything wrong." Xiaoxiaos mother pleaded on his behalf, she could see the sorrow in her son-inws expression, his genuine love for her daughter. Hearing his mother suggest letting him in, Zhong Dalong immediately argued, "How has he done nothing wrong? My sister is in this state, whats wrong with him standing outside for a while?" Chapter 458 - 459: Your hometown must be very beautiful; you can finally go back now.

Chapter 458: Chapter 459: Your hometown must be very beautiful; you can finally go back now.

"Youve already taught him a lesson, even made him vomit blood," Xiaoxiaos mother spoke out in rebuttal. "Stop all this quarreling," Old Master Zhong intervened. In reality, they all knew that their daughters condition wasnt med on the son-inws family but on their own daughters ill fate; perhaps she was really cursed by that thing. But with the daughter like this, did they really have to find a scapegoat? Now that they had hit and scolded him, it wouldnt change anything. Old Master Zhong then said calmly, "Dalong, let him in." "Dad!" Zhong Dalong called out reluctantly. Old Master Zhong bellowed, "Go now." Zhong Dalong flung his arm and went out the door. At the entrance, he opened the door for Yang Ming without saying a word and walked straight back in. Yang Ming hurriedly followed, saying as he walked, "Thank you, big brother." He had finally entered his father-inws house; as soon as he stepped into his wifes bedroom, Yang Ming immediately called out, "Dad, Mom, sister-inw." After calling out, Yang Ming hurriedly went to his wifes side. Not having seen her for a night, his wifes small face had turned even paler. He asked anxiously, "Have you given her water? Fed her anything?" At the mention of this, Xiaoxiaos mother began to sob; no matter how they tried, they couldnt manage ittheir daughter hadnt taken a single drop of water, "Son-inw, we cant feed her." "Mom, let me feed her." "Oh, oh, Dalongs wife, go prepare something quickly." Seeing the son-inws demeanor, fearing he might have a way, she promptly sent her daughter-inw to prepare. It wasnt long before Zhong Dalongs wife brought a bowl of rice soup, "Here." "Thank you, sister-inw." Yang Ming took the bowl of rice soup, scooped some with a spoon, and everyone in the family watched intently, hoping he could help Xiaoxiao swallow it. Yang Ming took a spoonful, blew on it to make sure it wasnt too hot, and though everyone thought he would bring it to Xiaoxiaos lips, they saw him put it into his own mouth instead. Just as they were about to scold him, they saw him lower his head and transfer the rice soup mouth-to-mouth into Xiaoxiaos. The family was both shocked and delightedshocked by Yang Mings method of feeding, and delighted because Xiaoxiao really swallowed that spoonful of rice soup. No one stopped Yang Ming after that, and they simply watched him feed Xiaoxiao the rice soup one spoonful at a time until the whole bowl was finished. Xiaoxiaos mother was too excited for words; her daughter had finally eaten something. She was now utterly convinced by Yang Ming, "Son-inw, what do we do now?" Yang Ming felt his wifes body, still ice-cold. Simply covering her with nkets wouldnt be enough, so he said, "Mom, boil some hot water. I think her body is too cold; lets put her in hot water." "Oh, oh, okay, Ill go and boil the water right away." The family began to prepare. Zhong Dalong had lost his previous anger as well, for only Yang Ming had a solution; they werepletely out of ideas. Soon the hot water was ready. The Zhong Family had a special bathing room where they could boil and add hot water continuously. Yang Ming carried his wife into the room. "Son-inw, shall I take over?" Xiaoxiaos mother asked somewhat awkwardly. "No need, Mom, I can handle it." Seeing Yang Ming insist, everyone stopped objecting and left the room. Yang Ming helped his wife undress and ced her into the bathing tub. Amid the steamy water, Xiaoxiaos body finally began to warm up. Yang Ming kept a close watch on the water temperature, adding more whenever it cooled, and as he looked at his wife with her eyes tightly closed, he whispered, "Wife, your hometown must be beautiful; you will finally be able to go back." Chapter 459 - 460: This is inside that bracelet

Chapter 459: Chapter 460: This is inside that bracelet

Xiaoxiao, who was sucked away by a tremendous suction, opened her eyes to find herself in an unfamiliar ce. Before she could figure out what was going on, she heard someone talking to her. "Youve finally arrived." Xiaoxiao hurriedly searched for the source of the voice, looking left and right, forward and backward, but she couldnt find anyone. Xiaoxiao was puzzled. Could it be that she was hallucinating? Where exactly was she? She clearly remembered that as soon as her hand touched the bracelet, her whole body felt like it was being sucked away. When she opened her eyes, she was here. Could this be the "Personal Space" the bracelet bestowed upon her? Could her life truly be transformed from this moment on? The more she thought about it, the more excited she became, quickly checking to see what sort of game-changing items were here. She searched around in circles, yet she found nothing special about the ce; it was vast and empty, with a faint hint of mist. However, Xiaoxiao did not give up. If something as unscientific as transmigration had happened to her, then possessing a personal space wouldnt be so strange. The bracelet bringing her here must have a reason. Just as she was searching intently, a voice rang out again, "What are you looking for?" "Looking for the Personal Space, stop bothering me," Xiaoxiao replied nonchntly and continued walking forward. But after she had taken just a few steps, she suddenly realized, and she became highly alert, "Who?" She hadnt misheard; there was indeed someone here. It wasnt a hallucination, and the voice seemed toe from a child, very young and tender. "What is a Personal Space?" the tender voice asked again. Xiaoxiao quickly nced around but still saw no one, which made her feel somewhat creeped out. Just hearing the voice without seeing its owner in this deste ce gave her the chills. Even though the voice belonged to a child, her heart was so scared that it almost leapt into her throat. "Who? Come out!" "Ive always been right here." "..." Already frightened, this response made her even more terrified. She yelled in fear, "Who are you exactly,e out immediately." "Im right beneath your feet." "..." Beneath her feet? Xiaoxiao was stunned for a moment, then quickly looked down. "Do you see me now?" Xiaoxiaos eyes widened in shock. Was that tiny creature the one speaking? Such a beautiful tiny person, probably ten centimeters tall. She squatted down and scooped up the talking tiny creature into the palm of her hand, her eyes shining with curiosity and her face full of surprise,pletely forgetting her fear. "Wow, so tiny, so cute! Are you a tiny dwarf from the dwarves?" "..." "Little Cutie, tell me quickly, where are we?" Xiaoxiao joyfully asked. "Im not called Little Cutie, my name is Xiaolu." "Who named you so casually? Xiaolu sounds too in; lets stick with Little Cutie." Xiaoxiao continued to criticize the casual naming,pletely forgetting how she had just as casually named Dahuang and Xiaobai. "..." "Come on, tell me, where is this ce, huh?" "This is inside that bracelet." At these words, Xiaoxiaos eyes lit up. Her guess was correct. That meant she was about to have her own "Personal Space" and climb to the peak of her life. "So who are you then?" Xiaoxiao asked in a tone as if she were coaxing a child. "Xiaolu is a little fairy within this bracelet." "..." Nani? Shed actually encountered a fairy? Should she... offer a prayer? Shed never had such an experience before. Chapter 460 - 461: It’s Really Not the Personal Space You Mentioned

Chapter 460: Chapter 461: Its Really Not the Personal Space You Mentioned

Stay calm, stay calm, Xiaoxiao told herself in her heart. Her mind whirred rapidly, seemingly recalling plots from transmigration novels; the little deity in this space might just be the one to help her manage the space. It was nothing extraordinary, and maybe it would even take orders from her. Thinking this, she grew excited and decided to ask about the situation of her space, "Little Cutie, is this ce prepared as my Personal Space?" "Whats a Personal Space?" Little Cutie expressed confusion, a puzzled expression on its face. Xiaoxiao frowned, wondering how to exin it, "Its like a cheat for my life, my Golden Finger, a new skill." "Oh, its not that," Little Cutie understood now, responding with certainty. "..." Huh? Its not? Xiaoxiao couldnt believe it and continued to question, "How is that possible? Did you not understand me?" "I understood. Its about giving you new skills to make lots of money on the outside, right?" Xiaoxiao nodded frantically, her eyes blinking, "Yes, yes, thats right, so this is the Personal Space youve brought for me, right?" Seeing Xiaoxiaos excitement, Little Cutie shook its head helplessly, "Its really not the Personal Space youre talking about." Xiaoxiaos smile faded. Why did everyone else who transmigrated get one, but not her? She was already so pathetic; couldnt it take pity on her? The firm reply from Little Cutie turned Xiaoxiao limp as a frostbitten eggnt, and she asked weakly, "If its not a Personal Space, what is this ce for?" "This is where I live." Xiaoxiao was so frustrated by this response she felt like she was going to spit blood. Howe when others encountered a fairy, they were given a Personal Space, but when it came to her, it was just a ce where the fairy lived? "If its not my Personal Space, why did you bring me here?" "I didnt bring you here; you trespassed on my territory," Little Cutie said with a helpless look. This set Xiaoxiao off, and she growled, "I trespassed? Im not a fairy to go wherever I want whenever I want." "Youre the one who broke the jade bracelet, right?" "When did I break a bracelet? I just touched it, and then I was here," Xiaoxiao retorted. She hadnt broken any jade bracelet. Seeing that Xiaoxiao wouldnt admit it, Little Cutie decided to y its trump card, "Alright, looks like I need to help you remember." With a wave of its hand, something like arge screen appeared in front of Xiaoxiao. Xiaoxiao looked over and her eyes widened, her hands covering her mouth. "Hey, let go suddenly, will you tell me first?" grumbled Little Cutie as it rolled onto the ground. "Sorry, this is..." Xiaoxiao was shocked. This was her in the modern world. "You watch for yourself; Im not framing you," Little Cutie said. Xiaoxiao looked on. It was the day she bought the jade bracelet. When she got home, she took off the bracelet and tossed it beside the bed, then straightaway went to sleep. She tossed and turned in her sleep, a terrible sleeper, and finally, her restless hands touched the bedside. With a snap, the jade bracelet fell to the floor and shattered into pieces. "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless in shock. Was this really her? Was her sleeping posture that bad? "See?" Xiaoxiao, embarrassed about her sleeping habits, still asked, "Even if I did shatter the bracelet, what does that have to do with ending up here?" "Its because you shattered the bracelet that a soul swap was triggered." Xiaoxiao was shocked once more, "Soul swap? Are you saying..." Chapter 461 - 462: I Can Return Your Souls to Their Rightful Places

Chapter 461: Chapter 462: I Can Return Your Souls to Their Rightful ces

"Yes, thats exactly what youre thinking." "..." Little Cutie meant that the original body didnt die, but went to the modern world, taking over her body. Xiaoxiao squatted down, lifted Little Cutie by the hand forcefully, and said in a threatening tone, "Why did this happen? Tell me, was it your doing?" Little Cuties eyes flickered, and he quickly exined, "It has nothing to do with me. If you hadnt broken the Bracelet, there never wouldve been a soul swap." He certainly wouldnt admit that it was his mistake; for this blunder, he had already paid a painful price, being punished to stay inside the Bracelet. "..." Xiaoxiao was at a loss for words; indeed, it was she who had broken the Bracelet. But who could have imagined that breaking a Bracelet could lead to such a situation? She should have never agreed to Xiaoyao to buy that broken Bracelet; just thinking about her family in the modern world made her incredibly sad. She really missed them; would the original owner treat them poorly? Could the original owner cause trouble for them in the modern world? Tears began to well up in her eyes as she anxiously asked Little Cutie, still holding him, "Little Cutie, can you show me my family in the modern world, like when you projected the images before?" She wanted to know how they were doing now. "Put me down right away," Little Cutie struggled. Xiaoxiao then carefully held Little Cutie in the palm of her hand, her face full of anticipation as she said, "Is this okay, then? Please let me see them." "Sorry, you cant see them; the Bracelet from the modern world is broken, and without it, it is impossible to see images or know whats happening there," he replied. Xiaoxiao felt an urge to strangle the annoying deity; so cute in appearance, yet so infuriating. Xiaoxiao exploded in frustration, roaring, "Arent you a Fairy? Cant you even handle this simple task?" "..." Little Cutie felt helpless; there was nothing he could do. He was just a minor Fairy, and one being punished at that. Now, he only had one skill: to return souls to their rightful ce. Thats why he was waiting here. Xiaoxiao continued to scold him, "Its all your fault, swapping our souls. Even that aside, you didnt give me a Golden Finger, and not only do you not grant me a Golden Finger, I cant even see my original family. Tell me, what can you actually do?" "Im sorry, I really dont have a Golden Finger," he answered. "Then tell me, what do you have?" Xiaoxiao was so irritated. How could she have encountered such a weak Fairy? She was determined to find out what, if anything, he could actually do. "..." Why was she so hot-tempered? Did she look down on him? He was still a Fairy after all, "I can return your souls to their rightful ces." He thought that must be what she most desired. However, as soon as he spoke, Xiaoxiao was stunned. Return her soul to its rightful ce? Did that mean she could go back to the modern world? Her heart suddenly trembled. If she went back, wouldnt it mean shed never see her endearing husband again? The thought of never seeing him again made her heart ache, but the thought of not seeing her family hurt just as much. She squatted there, caught in a dilemma, unsure what to do. Should she choose her husband or her family? Suddenly, it felt like she was the protagonist of that clichd scenario where someones mother and spouse are both drowning, and she has to decide whom to save. She truly loved her affordable husband; as someone who had been single for thirty years, she had finally found true love. But her love for her family was just as strong. Large tear drops fell on Little Cutie, creating a pitter-patter sound. He put his hands up to shield himself, wondering if this was her crying out of excitement because she knew she would return to the modern world. All of a sudden, with a rush of sound, the sobbing Xiaoxiao came back to her senses, only to hear Little Cutie say, "Shes here." "..." Who? Chapter 462 - 463 I Want to Swap Back

Chapter 462: Chapter 463 I Want to Swap Back

Xiaoxiao looked up, and she was so shocked that she couldnt speak. The person who arrived was herself from modern timeswas she the original soul? Does this mean she was really going to be sent back to the modern era? Equally shocked was the original Zhong Xiaoxiao. She actually saw her former self. Could this be a dream? But it felt so real, "Excuse me, who are you?" "..." How was she supposed to exin this? Should she reply, "I am you"? "You are me"? After thinking for a moment, Xiaoxiao decided to just go with, "I am the original soul of the body youre upying now." How awkward did that sound? But it wasnt wrong either. As soon as Xiaoxiao finished talking, it only took a few seconds before the original Zhong Xiaoxiaos tears started to fall, and she called out, "Sister." Then she started to cry loudly, "Wah! Wah!" "..." What was this situation? Why was she crying? Xiaoxiao felt like crying herself. Seeing this, Little Cutie quickly coughed twice as a reminder and spoke up, "Cough cough! Perhaps I should exin." Upon hearing the voice, the original Zhong Xiaoxiao finally noticed the little figure cradled in Xiaoxiaos hands. She immediately stopped crying, took over Little Cutie, and revealed a na?ve and romantic smile, saying, "Wow, so tiny, so cute!" Little Cuties eyebrows twitched. Why do these two talk the same way? Couldnt theye up with different lines? Xiaoxiao was also surprised. Was the original like this? Did she seem so simr to herself? "Who are you, and what is your name?" the original Zhong Xiaoxiao asked, holding Little Cutie with curiosity. Feeling a bit embarrassed under the scrutiny, Little Cutie replied, "My name is Xiaolu." "Xiaolu? Thats so ugly." "Pfft!" Xiaoxiao couldnt help but burst outughing. "See, its not just me who thinks Xiaolu is an ugly name." Little Cutie gave Xiaoxiao an unhappy nce. Trying to hold back herughter, Xiaoxiao said, "Go on, you two, continue." All Zhong Xiaoxiao came up with was, "You can be called Little Cutie." "..." Little Cutie had no more energy toin about them. Once again, Xiaoxiao was surprised. No wonder she hadnt given herself away in front of the originals family; it seemed the original was just like her. "Alright, you two, listen to me." Upon hearing Little Cuties words, Xiaoxiaos heart fluttered, and she immediately suppressed the smile on her face. Little Cutie was probably about to address the matter of returning their souls to their proper ces. Without knowing the full situation, the original Zhong Xiaoxiao asked curiously, "Little Cutie, go ahead, Im listening." With a serious face, Little Cutie said, "Im here to wait for you guys, to put your souls back where they belong." At these words, Zhong Xiaoxiao was momentarily startled, paused for a second, then asked, "Isnt this a dream?" Its not, I transported you here to return your souls to their proper ces." "So, we can switch back?" the original Zhong Xiaoxiao asked, still in disbelief. "Yes, you can switch back very soon." On hearing this, Xiaoxiao became anxious. She had just been agonizing over whether to choose to go back or stay, and now it seemed there was no room for negotiation? The thought of leaving her bargain of a husband forever caused her heart to ache unbearably, "Little Cutie, isnt there any room for negotiation?" "In principle, you must switch back, but if you two voluntarily choose not to swap, it is not impossible." On hearing this, Xiaoxiaos eyes lit up; she still had time to think it over. Unexpectedly, she heard the original Zhong Xiaoxiao say, without any doubt, "I want to switch back." Chapter 463 - 464: Everything is fine with you, but there is no Yang Ming

Chapter 463: Chapter 464: Everything is fine with you, but there is no Yang Ming

Xiaoxiaos heart sank to the bottom; she hadpletely forgotten that the original host was also a victim, not someone who could choose to stay or leave at will. Little Cutie continued to exin, "You have five more days to decide whether the souls should return to their original ces." "Why only five days?" Xiaoxiao became even more anxious upon hearing about the pressing timeline. Her mind was in turmoil; it was as if her heart was being ripped out. "Because after the soul separates from the body, the body can only survive in the mortal world for five days. If the soul doesnt return promptly, both of you will die." Upon hearing this news, Xiaoxiao felt a buzz in her head; she was hit hard again, "So what state is the body in now in the mortal world?" "Its in a state of living death." "What?" Xiaoxiao felt unbearable pain in her heart upon hearing this. She covered her chest with both hands, gasping for air. She felt as if she could hardly breathe from the pain. Herself turned into a vegetable? In front of her affordable husband, how could he bear such a blow? Her eyes were red, tears on the brink of spilling out. She asked the original host in a weak voice, "You, what were you doing before you came here?" She was truly frightened, afraid that the original host had also copsed in front of her parents. How could they bear it? "I, I dont know." The original host was still confused, not knowing how she came here, but Little Cutie exined, "Dont worry, I transported her soul over while she was sleeping." Xiaoxiaos heart felt slightly better after hearing this; at least her parents had not been shocked yet. But discovery was only a matter of time, so regardless of whether their souls returned, both of them must return to their bodies as soon as possible. "Little Cutie, if I go back to modern times, will I have a chance toe back?" She really couldnt bear to leave but didnt know what to do. "You only have one chance. If you return to modern times, your memories from here will be erased, and everything will return to its ce." Upon hearing these words, Xiaoxiao covered her mouth with her hands, and tears instantly flowed down. Was she going to forget her affordable husband forever, to leave him forever? Why? To leave her with a memory would have been better. Why so cruel, to make her forget? She didnt want to forget him. Seeing that the exnations were almostplete and that both of them should already understand, Little Cutie asked, "So, have you made your decision?" Xiaoxiao kept crying; her voice seemed to have gone. She couldnt utter a word, as any choice would make her heartbreakingly sad. Regardless of how Xiaoxiao decided, the original host had already made up her mind; she couldnt wait to return. She immediately responded, "Ive made up my mind, lets return our souls to their rightful ces now." Seeing how eager the original host was, Xiaoxiao couldnt understand. Wasnt her life in the modern era good enough? In such a bustling ce with so many temptations, didnt she have a shred of reluctance or reluctance to leave? "I have a house, a car, and savings over there. What exactly are you dissatisfied with, why do you want to return so eagerly?" Xiaoxiao finally asked. "Sister, everything is great there, but it doesnt have Yang Ming." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao lost her voice once more. How could she forget the original hosts obsession with marrying Yang Ming? She herself wasnt willing to let go; how could the original host bear to give up such a wonderful Yang Ming? Was the original host going to rece her and live a good life with Yang Ming? Her heart ached so much. Would her affordable husband notice that she was no longer herself? Chapter 464 - 465: Sister, Have You Fallen for My Husband?

Chapter 464: Chapter 465: Sister, Have You Fallen for My Husband?

Xiaoxiao was already crying uncontrobly. Was she ultimately going to return? Thinking carefully now, who actually reced whom? Was it she who reced the original self and fell in love with her modest husband? What right did she have? After all, she was just a soul, and she had vainly longed for the love of her modest husband. Seeing Xiaoxiao crying uncontrobly, the original self spoke up, "Sister, have you fallen for my husband?" Faced with such a question, Xiaoxiao didnt know how to respond. Her tears fell like beads off a broken string. The answer was unspoken. The original Zhong Xiaoxiao fell into deep thought, and suddenly, her tears also flowed like beads off a broken string. Suddenly, she copsed to the ground and started sobbing loudly, "Sister, what should I do? I never thought you would like my husband too. I thought you just wanted to go back. I thought it would be fine just to switch back." Xiaoxiao, bewildered by the original selfs actions, wondered what she meant by her words. "Sister, does he like you then?" the original Zhong Xiaoxiao sobbed and continued to ask. Xiaoxiao didnt answer. Seeing her cry like that, wouldnt it hurt the girl if she said yes? A momentter, the original Zhong Xiaoxiao stopped crying, lifted her head, and revealed a naive smile, "Sister, since he likes you too, lets not switch back, okay?" With that, Xiaoxiaos eyes widened. What was the original self saying? She actually said not to switch? Xiaoxiao, confused, asked, "Why?" "Because you two like each other!" "..." Just because the two of them liked each other, the original self was willing to yield? "Arent you also in love with him, to the extent that you went to great lengths to marry him?" The original Zhong Xiaoxiao smiled, a smile that Xiaoxiao could see was bitter, "Yes, I love him. So I did the boldest thing in my lifeI gambled, hoping that after we were married, he would fall in love with me." The original Zhong Xiaoxiao sighed deeply and continued, "But I guess thats probably not going to happen now." "..." Xiaoxiao found herself increasingly unable toprehend. What kind of girl was she, to let the person she loved be with someone else? How kind could she possibly be? Suddenly, she wanted to hear from her mouth what the original self was really like. "I heard youre quite a spendthrift?" "Yes, because my family isnt poor. Ive been somewhat extravagant with money." "I heard yourezy and gluttonous?" "Not to the extent ofzy and gluttonous, but indeed I am not great with household chores. Marrying a farmer would probably be frowned upon." "I heard you are willful and headstrong?" "Indeed, I have been spoiled. But I have never bullied anyone." "Then why is your reputation so bad, bad to the point where no one dares marry you?" The original Zhong Xiaoxiaoughed, "Haha, for that, I have to thank my brothers." "..." Xiaoxiao seemingly instantly understood her meaning; having a bunch of excessively protective brothers could indeed be troublesome. "So I went and found someone myself, but Im too ugly. Icked the confidence that Yang Ming would notice me, so I took a bold step, hoping he would see my good qualities after we married." Looking at the original self, who showed a face filled with naive kindness, Xiaoxiao suddenly felt that if it werent for her arrival, her modest husband might have fallen for her. It was her arrival that shattered the beautiful dream this girl had woven for herself. "How did you force him to marry you?" Xiaoxiao suddenly really wanted to know. "Sister, you cantugh at me when I tell you. The method was somewhat underhanded." Chapter 465 - 466: Husband, I’m Sorry, Please Forgive Me

Chapter 465: Chapter 466: Husband, Im Sorry, Please Forgive Me

"..." Despicable? Suddenly, I had a bad feeling. What on earth had my original self done? My original self, Zhong Xiaoxiao, said embarrassedly, "I cried, I made a scene, and I pretended to hang myself. I begged my brothers, telling them that no matter what it took, I had to marry Yang Ming." "My brothers had no idea what to do with me, so they went to Yang Mings parents and threatened them, saying they had to marry me off within three days, or else they would cause a scene at the Academy and ruin his chance of getting any titles." "..." That was a vicious move. It was no wonder that Yang Ming spoke with such disgust on our wedding night. "Sister, I really didnt expect my brothers to do that, but when I found out they had indeed agreed to the marriage, I was overjoyed to marry him. Do you think Im despicable, not a good person?" "..." Are there scoundrels who do bad things but still look so self-reproachful? "Youre good, If it were me, Id do the same thing," Xiaoxiao said tofort her. Seeing Xiaoxiao didnt despise her, the original Zhong Xiaoxiaos eyes began to brighten, and she continued, "Sister, actually Im quite confident I can make Yang Ming fall in love with me!" "How so?" "After all, Im not as useless as the rumors say. Anyone who gets to know me will like me." "..." The original self was quite narcissistic. "You say youre not useless, so what can you do?" "Hehe, I learned music, chess, calligraphy, painting with Li Chuntao, and needlework, too. I think as long as we spend time together, hell be able to see my good qualities, which is why I married him." These words surprised Xiaoxiao. She really hadnt known the original self could do all these things. It turned out she wasnt foolish; she had always been shrewd. She was right, not the slightest bit worse off than her. She was a lively and cute girl, someone anyone would like after getting to know her. Even Xiaoxiao could see she was a good girl. The original Zhong Xiaoxiaos eyes suddenly dimmed, and she said with a bitter smile, "But unexpectedly, there was no chance to get to know each other, and I lost, haha." This original self made it impossible for Xiaoxiao to view her as a rival. She was like a little sister, someone she wanted to take care of, to protect. She hugged the original self tightly and said tofort her, "No, its not like that. Its all my fault. If I hadnt appeared, he definitely would have fallen for you." The two embraced, warming andforting each other, "Sister, that just shows you two were fated, and we werent." "Sister, Im so happy to meet you here. Well have to go back soon, so tell me about home. I miss them, and Ill tell you about your parents too. You miss them, right?" "Yes." The two of them did just that, sharing each others situations, talking for a very long time. Until Little Cutie called out to stop them, "Stop chatting, or you wont be able to go back." These two women could talk endlessly. Five days wouldnt be enough, so he had to intervene, "Have you decided? To swap or not to swap?" "Not to swap." "To swap." "Sister, how could you..." Xiaoxiao said with a smile, "We both miss everything about our respective ces so much. Since thats the case, lets return our souls to where they belong." As she said these words, Xiaoxiaos heart was bleeding. She silently said to herself, "Husband, Im sorry. Please forgive me. Shes a good girl, worthy of your care. With her by your side, I can leave with peace of mind." Chapter 466 - 467: No Need to Discuss Further, My Mind is Made Up

Chapter 466: Chapter 467: No Need to Discuss Further, My Mind is Made Up

Little Cutie was at a loss for words. After so much discussion, they still hadnt reached an agreement, "Do we exchange or not?" Original Zhong Xiaoxiao became anxious and immediately spoke up, "Little Cutie, just wait a bit longer, lets discuss this again." "Theres no need to discuss further. Ive made up my mind." Xiaoxiao was truly frightened, for if they continued to discuss, she would be unable to stop herself from having second thoughts. Making this decision had already caused her unbearable pain. "Sister, did you decide to switch back because of what I said? Please dont take it to heart. Its because were not fated to be together, its not your fault, and you dont have to switch back because of this." Xiaoxiao shook her head. This kind-hearted girl was still trying tofort her. If it hadnt been for her breaking the bracelet, they probably would have been together long ago, right? All of this started because of her, so let her be the one to end it. With the original soul by his side, she should be able to rest assured. She should return to the modern world; she still had parents to care for. She and the original body were different. The original body was still a child, only fifteen years old, but she was already thirty. She had more to consider; she couldnt willfully neglect her parents. She could only apologize to her true love. "Little Cutie, you said the bracelet is broken and you cant see the modern world, but this bracelet here isnt broken. Can you see whats happening in this time through it?" She was still greedy, wanting to see him onest time before leaving. "You can, but only glimpses." Hearing this, Xiaoxiaos heart was overwhelmed with excitement. Finally, she could see him again. She missed him so terribly. Having be a living dead, could he bear it? The images finally appeared, and the moment she saw him, Xiaoxiaos tears streamed uncontrobly. He was holding her as he cried. He was giving her water mouth to mouth. He was covering her with a nket. He was crawling into bed with her to keep her warm. He picked up the muslin she had made, the paper cranes, and the heart shapes. He discovered the words written inside the heart. ... At that moment, Xiaoxiao sobbed inconsbly. She had overestimated her strength; she couldnt bear a life without him. She truly didnt want to be apart from him. Xiaoxiao continued to cry as she watched the images. He was wiping her face. He had driven away the shaman. He had changed her into clean clothes. He was holding her, sobbing uncontrobly. He had been beaten by his elder brother. He coughed up blood. ... Xiaoxiaos heart was also bleeding. She cried until she could no longer stand. They loved each other so much, yet they had to endure the pain of separation. The images continued to y. She was taken away by her family. He was beside himself with grief. He discovered her biggest secret. He burned her secret. He desperately knocked on the door of her parents home. He fed her rice soup. He warmed her with bathwater. ... At that moment, Xiaoxiao cried out loud, unable to hold back her emotions any longer. He knew everything, he knew she was just a soul. With this knowledge, he should be strong enough to carry on. Eventually, she couldnt take it anymore and fainted from crying. Original Zhong Xiaoxiao was crying just as hard; she saw how tenderly her own body was cared for and saw the family she had dreamt of seeing. Little Cutie thought these two women were extremely noisy, chatting nonstop and now crying nonstop. "Alright, stop crying." "Sister has fainted." "Im going to wake her up now." Whatever Little Cutie had done, Xiaoxiao woke up just like that. "Sister, its great, youre okay now." Seeing how happy the original body was that she had awoken, Xiaoxiao found it so hard to speak; she had changed her mind. "Sister, did you marry someone else using my body? Who is that heartbroken man?" "..." Chapter 467 - 468: So you’re saying that I made a mistake, married the wrong person?

Chapter 467: Chapter 468: So youre saying that I made a mistake, married the wrong person?

Xiaoxiaos eyes widened. What in the world was her former self talking about? Why couldnt she understand? Seeing Xiaoxiao frozen and unresponsive, Zhong Xiaoxiao asked again with a puzzled face, "Sister, who exactly is that man?" "You dont recognize him?" Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled. Zhong Xiaoxiao shook her head, indicating she did not recognize him. What was going on? Her former self must have seen Yang Mings appearance before forcing the marriage. And now she was saying she didnt recognize him, "He is Yang Ming, the one you married." "What did you say?" Zhong Xiaoxiao suddenly eximed in surprise, immediately speaking out in denial, "He is not Yang Ming." "..." "Yang Ming doesnt look like him at all. Yang Ming is much more handsome than him." "..." Xiaoxiaos mouth twitched. Ouch, youre saying this about my husband right in front of me, is that really okay? Zhong Xiaoxiao seemed to be recalling something, her expression dreamy as she spoke. "Even though I only saw him briefly, I still have a deep impression. He was wearing a white brocade robe with a silver belt around his waist, adorned with a beautiful jade piece, and ck boots on his feet. I thought he was a very graceful man, especially that turn of his head, incredibly handsome. I decided right then that I wanted to marry him." Hearing her former selfs description, Xiaoxiao couldnt help but be stunned. That description definitely could not be Yang Ming, because his family was so poor, it was impossible for him to dress that well or wear fine jade. The more she thought about it, the more she felt that description matched Sugar Daddy, since he once dressed exactly like that. It couldnt be such a coincidence. A thought suddenly popped into Xiaoxiaos mind C her former self must have fallen for Sugar Daddy, but got the name wrong and ended up marrying Yang Ming. "I can assure you, he is Yang Ming, the one you tried so hard to marry. I traveled back in time on the day of your wedding, and there was no change in the groom." "How can that be?" Zhong Xiaoxiao covered her mouth with both hands, looking utterly incredulous. Xiaoxiao really didnt want to dampen her spirits, but the truth was the truth, "Didnt you ever doubt it? Did you think a farmers son could dress as you described?" Zhong Xiaoxiaos heart fluttered, and she continued, "I did doubt it, but then I thought, Chuntao and I were dressed like that, and besides, he agreed to marry me, so I got carried away." Xiaoxiao held her forehead with both hands, wondering what to even say to this silly girl. Perhaps when ites to love, everyone is a fool. "Sis, does this mean, I got it wrong, married the wrong person?" "..." Youre just realizing? Xiaoxiao nodded to her former self, almost feeling sorry for the girl. In the end, she had dressed up for someone else, unwittingly giving her a huge advantage. Upon learning the truth, Zhong Xiaoxiao suddenly hugged Xiaoxiao and started sobbing loudly, leaving Xiaoxiao at a loss, "Hey, you, dont cry." "Sister, let me lean on you, just let me cry a little." Xiaoxiao had no choice but to let her be, cry it out, this child is too young, probably too fragile for such a blow. After a while, Zhong Xiaoxiao stopped crying, stepped out of Xiaoxiaos embrace, her eyes still shimmering with tears, but her lips curved into a genuine smile, "Thats great, sister." "Hmm?" "I was actually a little heartbroken and reluctant about leaving my husband to you!" Hearing this, Xiaoxiao was incredibly moved. Oh, this silly girl, sacrificing for others, neglecting her own feelings, pretending all along as if it didnt matter. Chapter 468 - 469: If I Were a Guy, I’d Fall for You Too

Chapter 468: Chapter 469: If I Were a Guy, Id Fall for You Too

"Sister, you dont have to me yourself for taking my husband anymore, I didnt like him." Xiaoxiao shook her head. Even so, she had still taken her husband. She was sure that even if she had married the wrong person, they would have ended up liking each other because he was genuinely nice. "Ah, I remember now." "..." Xiaoxiao was startled by her original selfs sudden exmation. What had she remembered? "I remember who he is!" "..." "He was with the man I had my eyes on that day." "..." The person who was with Yang Ming, dressed so finely, was most likely a wealthy guy. It seemed she had guessed right; the original self liked the wealthy guy, not Yang Ming. Xiaoxiao suddenly felt very warm inside. It turned out she had never had a rival in love; she was the first to like Yang Ming. Little Qingmei got the wrong person, and so did her original self; Yang Ming had always belonged to her alone. "No wonder I got it wrong, it seems it was all fate." The original self, Zhong Xiaoxiao, said innocently. "Sister, I can see that Yang Ming really likes you, you should go back to him." "But..." Xiaoxiao hesitated. Did she really have to choose her lover over her parents? Doing this wouldnt make her a good daughter. "Sister, you know I dont like him, even if I went back, we wouldnt be happy together. Am I supposed to go back just to get a divorce? Thats impossible." "..." She was right. Initially, she thought that her original self liked Yang Ming, and they would live well together, but now, she wasnt sure anymore. "Sister, youre someone who hasnt found her perfect match in thirty years. Are you really going back to remain a spinster?" Xiaoxiao felt a massive blow, that sentence was really hitting below the belt. Her original self could actually say such things; no doubt learned from Xiaoyao, "Dont you feel wronged? Changing from fifteen to thirty years old." "If you want to survive in such an advanced ce, you must pay some price, right?" "..." She thought quite optimistically, but the price might be a bit too high. "Sister, are you worried I will treat your family poorly? Dont worry, lets pinky promise. Ill definitely treat them well, and you should be kind to my family too." The original self finished speaking and stretched out her pinky, wanting to make a pinky promise with Xiaoxiao. "..." The silly girl, she actually understood why she was hesitating. She hugged her tightly, tears started to flow again, "How can you be so wonderful, you know, if I were a man, I would fall for you." "Sister, youre really funny." "Im not joking, I mean it, youre such a great girl, you will definitely find your perfect man, trust me." "Yes, I believe." "Dont worry, Ill definitely treat your family well." "Yes, me too. Sister, you better let go of me now. We need to hurry back, otherwise, our family will start to worry." "Oh, okay!" Xiaoxiao finally made her decision; for love, she chose Yang Ming over her parents who had raised her, repudiating herself countless times in her heart; she really wasnt a good daughter. If her parents knew of her choice, they would probably scold her for being heartless. She didnt hope for their forgiveness, just that they would never find out the truth. She silently said in her heart, "Dad, Mom, Im sorry, your daughter is unfilial." Chapter 469 - 470 We’ve made up our minds, no more changes

Chapter 469: Chapter 470 Weve made up our minds, no more changes

The two who had made up their minds held hands and called over Little Cutie. "Little Cutie, weve made up our minds, were not going to switch," said the original Zhong Xiaoxiao. Little Cutie, looking at the two of them, thought it best to make sure. He didnt want them changing their minds again. "Are you sure?" he asked. "Sure, were not switching," the two answered in unison. Hearing their affirmative response, Little Cutie felt pretty good; he was finally going to report back. "Alright then, Ill send you back now so your souls and bodies can merge into one." "Wait a second," Xiaoxiao suddenly thought of something and called for a pause. Stopping like that made Little Cuties face turn sour. Were they going to change their minds again? He said helplessly, "What is it now?" Xiaoxiao felt a bit embarrassed and began to speak slowly, "I just wondered...after I go back, will I still have my modern memories?" It was bad enough without the Golden Finger, but without the modern memories, how would she make money? Wouldnt that truly make her useless? "Since the soul hasnt returned to its rightful ce, the memories still exist." Relieved to hear this, Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief. Even that was a kind of Golden Finger for her, a constion of sorts. "Then Ill start transferring your souls now." "Wait a second." "..." Little Cutie was brought to a halt again, almost beside himself with irritation. It was the original body speaking up this time; what was her issue now? "What is it this time?" he asked. "I... I just wanted to ask my sister something." The original Zhong Xiaoxiao felt bad for interrupting again. "What do you want to ask?" said Xiaoxiao. "Sister, do you know the name of the person I like? He knows Yang Ming; maybe youve met him too. I would at least like to know his name," she said. "..." Oh, this silly girl, thought Xiaoxiao, her heart aching with sympathy and filled with guilt. She decided to tell her, to leave her something to remember him by. "His name is Chu Lian; hes the Young Master of Yui Restaurant." Tears welled up in the original Zhong Xiaoxiaos eyes, "Thank you." So his name was Chu Lian; she finally knew it. It looked like there really was no fate between them; his type of family would never ept someone like her. Seeing the original like that, Xiaoxiao couldnt help but offerfort, "You are so good, once you go back you will definitely meet your Ruyi. Believe in yourself." "Yes." The original wore a big smile, letting go of her obsession with liking Chu Lian atst. For the past four months, she had lived under this obsession. Once back, she must take life seriously, as her future awaited. Now a thirty-year-old woman striving for a living, she would asionally attend various matchmaking events arranged by rtives and friends. Shed be busy indeed. "Sister, goodbye. You must be happy," she said. "You too, must be happy!" Hand in hand, with tears in their eyes, they both disappeared into the jade bracelet, their souls returning to their respective bodies. Little Cutie, having sent the two off, was in a great mood. Finally, he didnt have to listen to the two womens incessant chatter, which was simply noise to him. "Atst, I can go back and report; no more staying in this bracelet," Little Cutie murmured to himself, finding life inside the bracelet utterly boring. Just as Little Cutie was preparing to return and report, a loud ng sounded in his brain, casting a shadow over his expression in an instant. He looked to the heavens and sighed heavily, "Heaven, are you ying with me? Why has the other bracelet also broken?" Chapter 470 - 471: Husband, I’m Back

Chapter 470: Chapter 471: Husband, Im Back

Stone Vige, Zhong Family Xiaoxiao was still in the bath barrel, her eyes tightly shut, motionless, truly a state resembling a living dead. Yang Ming, having learned the truth, no longer copsed into tears as before. He just wanted to quietly apany his wife until she left. He continually warmed her with hot water, sitting next to the bath barrel and talking to her. "Wife, make sure to eat well when you go back, and absolutely dont starve yourself." "If something happens, dont be anxious. You tend to get overheated when you are worried, and dont faint again." "Lifes work isnt done in a day, so please dont push yourself too hard." "Without me by your side, you must take good care of yourself." "Dont start fights with people over nothing, no matter what, youre still a woman, we cant afford the immediate losses." "Remember to sleep early." "I dont know if you can still remember me, but now I hope you can forget. That way, you wont suffer like I am." "..." "..." When Xiaoxiaos soul was transferred, she heard Yang Ming talking endlessly like an old mother, each word piercing her heart. This separation had deeply made her realize that she loved him more than she had thought, and it also made her see that he, indeed, loved her more than she had imagined. This separation felt as long as a century, suffocatingly long; atst, she was back, and she would never have to part from him again. She quickly opened her eyes and saw her haggard husband, which made her heart ache. Without thinking, Xiaoxiao stood up with a ssh. At that moment, Yang Ming was astonishingly shocked. Was this not a dream? Was his wife really back? He was both shocked and delighted. "Wife, youre back? Are you? Youre back?" Yang Ming was somewhat excited, his speech almost incoherent. He feared that all of this was a dream. He was truly frightened because the more he hoped, the more he feared disappointment. "Yes, husband, Im back." Xiaoxiaos eyes were filled with tears as she lifted her small face but smiled at Yang Ming. She too was terrified of leaving him forever. Luckily, she was back. "Then, are you leaving again?" Yang Ming asked with joy yet uncertainty. "Ill never leave again; we can be together forever." Xiaoxiaos small head pressed tightly against his chest, listening to his strong heartbeat, her heart also pounding wildly. Hearing this, Yang Ming was overjoyed. His eyes reddened, and his shoulders trembled slightly. Excited, he wanted to cry again, "Wife, its so great that youre back, its truly wonderful that youre not leaving, really, really, its so wonderful..." Yang Ming repeated these words, and his head slowly drooped down, resting on Xiaoxiaos shoulder, his body also began to sink, as if he were about to copse. "Husband, whats the matter? Whats wrong, get up." Xiaoxiao cried out loudly upon seeing this. Having be a living dead had been too much for him. Could it be that his brothers beating was finally too much for him to bear? She was terrified something might happen to him; she didnt want anything to happen to him. She still had so many things to talk to him about, to share with him about her experience inside the bracelet, to tell him how much she loved him. To tell him that she saw how much he loved her. To tell him that she couldnt live without him... Chapter 471 - 472: Your Identity Is My Wife, Forever and Always

Chapter 471: Chapter 472: Your Identity Is My Wife, Forever and Always

Xiaoxiao, heedless of her bare body, sped her husband tightly with her arms, fearing he would fall to the ground, and kept calling out, "Husband, husband..." Yang Ming, roused by his wifes calls, opened his weary, drooping eyelids and said softly, "Wife, I am all right." He was just too tired. Learning that his wife wouldnt leave again, he finally rxed his tense nerves. Heaving a great sigh of relief, his body could no longer hold up. He propped up his exhausted body and stood up, still speaking words of concern, "Wife,e out quickly, I will help you dry off. Its too cold like this; you could easily get sick." Moved to tears by these words, Xiaoxiaos eyes instantly brimmed with tears. He was so worn out, yet he was still thinking about her. How could she not love such a kind husband? She truly loved him so much. Unable to control her emotions any longer, tears gushed forth like a fountain. She rushed into his broad chest, hugging him tightly and saying, "Husband, I love you, I love you..." That I love you was repeated so many times, she kept saying it, feeling that no matter how many times she said it, it could never fully express her feelings at that moment. Xiaoxiaos deration of love moved Yang Ming deeply. He snatched up clothes hanging on a chair, draped them over his wife, and enveloped her tightly, afraid she would get cold. Hearing his wife sobbing and repeating the three words I love you, Yang Ming was overwhelmed with emotion. He gently stroked his wifes head and said with sympathy, "Wife, dont cry, and no need to say it, I already know." "No, I must say it, I just love you." Xiaoxiao truly didnt want to stop; she felt it still wasnt enough. "Mhm, I love you too. Lets go home and you can say it as much as you want. But for now, lets get out. Everyone at home is worried sick." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao stopped crying and said childishly, "Okay." Yang Ming lifted his wife out of the bath and found a towel, drying every inch of her body as one would with a child. Xiaoxiao allowed her husband to tend to her, enjoying the feeling of being cared for. Yang Ming liked this feeling too. He took his wifes clothes, helping her dress from inside out, his eyes filled with doting affection. "Wife, shall Ib your hair for you?" "Mhm." Xiaoxiao sat quietly, letting Yang Mingb her hair. Surprised at his skill, she asked, "Husband, how did you do that?" "Ive been watching youb every day." Yang Ming said softly. He had observed intentionally, thinking that one day he mightb his wifes hair. Xiaoxiaos heart warmed again. She had found a man who doted on her so much, a rarity even in modern times. She had given up everything from the modern world, but having gained him, it was all worth it in the end. "Husband, would you be scared of me?" "Hm?" "You know my identity, right? Actually, I am not your wi..." Before she could finish, Yang Ming interrupted, "Your identity is as my wife, forever and always." Understanding his meaning, Xiaoxiao smiled knowingly, "Mhm, I am your wife, forever and now. Im no longer afraid of leaving you. Its all thanks to her, for giving up her chance to return, allowing me toe back to your side." Chapter 472 - 473: Please Advise

Chapter 472: Chapter 473: Please Advise

"..." Thank her? Was his wife talking about the original Zhong Xiaoxiao? What had his wife experienced during this extra day? "Husband, I saw her, the original owner of this body." Yang Mings heart was quite calm at this moment. After all, he had epted the fact that his wife was a lingering soul, so nothing else fantastically strange would surprise him. "Arent you curious about her?" She said she saw the original soul, the person he had married. How could his husband not react at all? "Im not curious about her at all," Yang Ming said doting, "Rather, Im curious about you, my wife. What were you like before, huh?" "..." Xiaoxiao didnt expect her husband to ask that. If she told him she was thirty years old, would he think she was too old for him? Seeing Xiaoxiao not responding, Yang Ming continued to ask, "What did you look like before, huh?" Looking at his expectant expression, Xiaoxiao pouted and said, "Sorry to disappoint, but I looked just like this before. I wasnt a great beauty." "Wife, theres something Ive always wanted to tell you." "What is it?" "You are the most beautiful in my eyes." His wife had returned, and he had to voice it out. He hadnt said it before. When he thought he had lost his wife, he felt so regretful. "..." Reflected in the mirror were her husbands eyes, sincere and genuine. Could this be what they call beauty is in the eye of the beholder? "Donebing." "Hmm." Xiaoxiao stood up, facing her husband, and pulled off a big smile showing her sweet dimples. She wanted to tell him everything about her. "Husband, lets get to know each other again," she said, extending her right hand in a handshake gesture. "Hmm." Yang Ming agreed, copying his wifes gesture, extending his own right hand and sping hers. "Hello, my name is Zhong Xiaoxiao, actual age thirty, my birthday is on the eighth day of August, I have parents and an older brother at home, I sell lingerie for a living, and I enjoy singing, eating, and shopping. Im single with no husband." Xiaoxiao raised her little head, gazing sincerely at her husband and introduced herself, "Nice to meet you. From today, I want to be your wife for life, please take care of me." "Hello, my name is Yang Ming. Age twenty, my birthday is the twentieth day of November. From today, I want to be your husband for life, please take care of me too." After they finished speaking, they smiled at each other. Xiaoxiao lifted the hand they were holding, leaving a kiss on the back of her husbands hand, "Seal the deal, effective immediately, your wife is me from a farawaynd, not the local Zhong Xiaoxiao." "Hmm, seal the deal." Yang Ming, mimicking his wife, left a kiss on the back of her hand, "The one I married is you from a farawaynd, not the local Zhong Xiaoxiao." "Husband, no matter what, I still want to tell you about the original soul. She was a really good girl, and without her sacrifice, we wouldnt havee together." "Hmm." Afterward, Xiaoxiao told her husband about her encounter with the original soul inside the bracelet, but of course, she didnt tell him about her dilemma, what she had given up. She only mentioned the part about the original soul. She didnt want to burden him or let him know. It would be better for her to bear it all alone. If there was to be any punishment, it should fall on her alone. Chapter 473 - 474: Wife, You Have Suffered

Chapter 473: Chapter 474: Wife, You Have Suffered

But Yang Ming, such a shrewd person, how could he have not thought of it? He knew that by choosing him, his wife would be giving up something. How difficult it must have been for his wife to make that decision, and yet now she remained silent about it, out of consideration for his feelings. His wife bore her suffering in silence, leaving cheerfulness for him. His eyes were full of distress, "Wife, youve suffered." "..." Had he finally realized? Indeed, he was so smart, how could he not have thought about it, Xiaoxiao shook her head, feeling that being with him made everything worthwhile. Xiaoxiao said with a smile, "Lets go out quickly, the family will be worried." "Okay." The two left the washroom, and as soon as Xiaoxiao walked out, she called toward the Main House, "Dad, Mom, Big Brother..."At that moment, the Main House was filled with people, and the atmosphere was somber; Xiaoxiao had turned into a living dead person, barely hanging on. The rtives couldnt stay put at home and had alle here to wait. Suddenly hearing Xiaoxiaos shout, everyone looked up abruptly, thinking it was their imagination, but then they heard the voice again, "Dad, Mom!" This time they hadnt mistaken it, it was Xiaoxiaos voice; they hurried out of the house to see a lively and jumping Xiaoxiao. The whole family was incredibly emotional; while wiping away tears, they called out to Xiaoxiao. "Daughter, are you okay now?" "Sister, are you better now?" "Great-niece, have you awakened?" "Little auntie, sob sob." "..." "..." Surrounded like this by her rtives, Xiaoxiaos eyes also became moist. The original upant had given up so many family members who loved and cared for her, she would definitely treat them even better in the future. Although tears filled Xiaoxiaos eyes, her lips were smiling, "Yes, Im fine now, sorry for making everyone worry." Old Mr. Zhong was so excited he didnt know what to say, "Its good, its really good that youre fine." Xiaoxiaos uncle was also excited, "Quick, go ughter a pig; today, we in the Zhong Family are going to have a big feast. My great-niece hase back to life, its a huge celebration." "Yes, yes, Im on it." Everyone started to spring into action, their faces beaming with smiles, happily chattering nonstop. "Daughter, Mom will make you something to eat first; youve only had that one bowl of rice porridge and must be famished," Xiaoxiaos mother worriedly said. Reminded by her mother, Xiaoxiaos stomach indeed started to growl. After ying dead for a day, she was d her soul had returned to a body that felt no difort, she was just a bit hungry and otherwise as lively as ever, needing no convalescence. But her cheap husband was not so lucky; he was the one beaten by his big brother until he threw up blood and hadnt slept all night. Apart from the meal they hadte in the night, he hadnt eaten anything else, and his body probably required a period of recuperation. "Yes, Mom, Im hungry. Make a little more; both my husband and I havent eaten." "Yes, Ill go right away. You and your husband should head back to your room and rest; Ill bring the food to you in a bit." "Okay." Xiaoxiao nodded in agreement; they indeed should go back and properly rest. She was fine, but it was mainly to let her cheap husband rest. Yang Mings mother quickly summoned a few people to prepare food for the young couple; they needed to nourish themselves well. Soon, the yard was empty; everyone had gone about their busy preparations for the big feast. Just as Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were about to head back to Xiaoxiaos room, they saw Dalong, her big brother, also going outside. Xiaoxiao walked toward him and said in a dark tone, "Big brother, where are you off to?" Chapter 474 - 475 Are you trying to make me a widow?

Chapter 474: Chapter 475 Are you trying to make me a widow?

Zhong Dalong turned around, still caught up in the excitement of his sister waking up. Hepletely missed Xiaoxiaos distress as he spoke with concern, "Sister, you should go inside and rest, Im off to help Uncle with ughtering the pig." After saying this, Zhong Dalong continued towards the gate, but Xiaoxiao quickly stepped forward, her hands blocking his path, standing in front of Zhong Dalong, "Youre not going anywhere." "Sister, whats wrong?" Zhong Dalong asked, puzzled. He thought she had something to tell him. Without another word, Xiaoxiao swung her fist, punching Zhong Dalong in the stomach with all her strength. Zhong Dalong was taken aback by his sisters sudden action, grunting in response, "Ugh!" His sister had hit so hard. He looked up sharply into her eyes, his filled with bewilderment, "Sister, why are you hitting me?" "Im hitting you because you hit my husband. You even made him vomit blood. Do you want to make me a widow?" Xiaoxiao said sharply. Zhong Dalong hadnt expected his sister to be seeking revenge for her husband. He was upset that his treasured sister would hit him for the sake of her husband. "I was just worried, okay? You were in that state at the time. Whats wrong with hitting him a couple of times? Its only right for an uncle to discipline his brother-inw." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao punched Zhong Dalong in the stomach again, "Was that a couple of times? You made him vomit blood." "..." Okay, he had been angry indeed, considering what happened to his beloved sister at his ce. But as her elder brother, should he not have the right to discipline her husband without owing an apology? He stubbornly said, "Well, he didnt die, did he!" "Itll be toote if he dies. Dont you dare hit him again, even if I die," Xiaoxiao continued with her warning. "Sis, youre taking sides!" Zhong Dalong pouted childishly. He felt jealousy creeping in; his precious sister seemed to have been snatched away, and he found himself increasingly annoyed by Yang Ming. Seeing her brother act like this, Xiaoxiao could tell he was jealous. She softened her tone, "Big brother, Im not taking sides. If he were to hit you, I would fight him just the same. You both are the most important people to me." "Thats more like it." Upon hearing his sister say this, Zhong Dalong felt relieved. He knew his sister wouldnt abandon him. "Okay now, go rest. Ill bring you something tastyter." Xiaoxiao felt a sting in her heart. There went her brother, mollified by a few kind words, ultimately because he doted on her too much, just like her brother in modern times. After speaking, Zhong Dalong cast a warning nce at Yang Ming, as if to say, Treat my sister badly, and see what happens. Yang Ming seemed to understand and simply said, "Big brother, dont worry, Ill treat her well." Zhong Dalong said sternly, "Hmph, dare to be otherwise, and Ill beat you to vomiting blood again." "Brother, dont hit him," Xiaoxiao pouted, speaking in a coquettish tone. "Fine, fine, fine, I wont hit him, okay? There, now the two of you go back inside. Im leaving." Zhong Dalong swiftly changed from his grumpy demeanor, cajoling his sister. With that, he left the yard, leaving Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming alone. Seeing his wife stand up for him warmed Yang Mings heart. The way his uncle-inw treated his wife conveyed true affection. He truly had to thank the original soul. Without her sacrifice, they wouldnt be this happy now. He made a silent vow to himself to repay them both doubly. Chapter 475 - 476: Xiaoxiao Tricks Her Brother

Chapter 475: Chapter 476: Xiaoxiao Tricks Her Brother

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming returned to Xiaoxiaos boudoir, and as soon as they entered the room, Xiaoxiao began to pull off Yang Mings clothes. Yang Ming was shocked, thinking his wife was being too hasty. He quickly grabbed his wifes hand and, feeling somewhat embarrassed, tried to stop her, "Honey, lets wait until we get home. There are so many people around! Its not appropriate." "..." What was he thinking? She just wanted to see how badly her brother had beaten him. She chuckled, "What are you thinking? Let go, I just want to see your injuries!" At this, Yang Mings face turned slightly red. He had misunderstood, and it was embarrassing in front of his wife. She just wanted to check his wounds, but he couldnt let her see them, fearing she would feel heartbroken. So, he dodged and said, "Its nothing serious, look, Im fine right now, arent I?" The more he said that, the more uneasy Xiaoxiao felt. His injuries must be serious, he had even been vomiting blood. She pouted, "Will you let me see or not?" "Better not look, really, its nothing." "Fine, you said it yourself. Then dont expect toy a finger on me ever again." Xiaoxiao let go of his hand, sat down on the edge of the kang, crossed her arms, and pretended to be angry. Hearing this, Yang Ming immediately panicked. His wife was angry, and the idea of not being allowed to touch her was uneptable. So, he quickly unbuttoned his clothes, approached his wife, and coaxed her, "Look, really, its nothing." Initially, Xiaoxiao was stillughing, knowing that the threat of no contact could easily manipte him. However, when she saw the bruises covering Yang Mingshades of blue and purpleshe couldntugh anymore, a wave of heartache washing over her. "Honey, are you silly? Why didnt you fight back?" "Hes your brother." "..." Xiaoxiao was touched by her silly husband, "Wait until I teach him a lesson." "Didnt you already do that?" Xiaoxiaos lips curved into a mischievous smile, giving Yang Ming a reassuring nce, "That wasnt enough. Just you watch." "..." Yang Mings lips twitched, sensing his wife was up to something that might trap his brother again, but he felt delighted since it was all for him. The two of them chatted andughed in the room, and before long, Dalong burst in excitedly with his hands full of items, saying, "Sis, guess what big bro has brought for you?" Xiaoxiao looked, and wasnt it just some pork? "Bro, you fetched that gr ha for me. You saved two from thest time we ughtered a pig, and two more came out this time, making four in total. That should keep you entertained." "Really?" "What else would it be? Here you go!" Dalong said with a proud look on his face. Xiaoxiao took them, indeed it was. She was so excited, gr ha were toys from her childhood. It had been so long since shest yed with them. Her brother still treated her like a little girl, which warmed her heart, "Thanks, big brother." "Why thank me? I am your real brother." As Dalong said this, his possessiveness intensified, and he red at Yang Ming again. "As a real brother, I have a favor to ask of you," Xiaoxiao said. "What is it? Just tell me." "Could you possibly give me that horse you bought new this New Year?" Xiaoxiao pleaded. Upon hearing this, Dalong frowned. It seemed less a request for him than for his brother-inw, which annoyed him, and he didnt respond. Seeing her brothers reluctance, Xiaoxiao immediately threatened, "Are you going to give it or not? Hitting my husband wasnt for nothing!" "..." Dalong was speechless. Could he regreting in now? Resigned, he replied, "Ill give, give, give!" Chapter 476 - 477: You’re spitting blood; you have to make him bleed too.

Chapter 476: Chapter 477: Youre spitting blood; you have to make him bleed too.

Xiaoxiao happily gave Zhong Dalong a big hug and cooed, "My brother is always so good to me." Zhong Dalongs mouth twitched in response. If he didnt spoil her, who would he spoil? He had only one sister; how could he not bear to part with his treasures for her? It hurt him to do so since he had just spent a good deal of money on a fine horse that he now handed over to that youngster, Yang Ming, at such a bargain. "Who else would I spoil if not you? Youre still like a child, just like when you were little. Alright, Im heading out. Ask Mom to make you some meat dishes," Zhong Dalong said as he patted his sisters head and then left the room. After Zhong Dalong left, Yang Mings face darkened, "Wife, can you not hug other men in the future and just hug me?" "..." Eh? Here goes the big vinegar jar overturning again, "But hes my brother!" "But youre not the original person." "..." Alright, he was right, but she was going to treat them as her family from now on. She took Yang Mings hand and exined, "But from now on, Ill be living as the original person. Theyll be my family for life. I wont distance myself from them; Ill only treat them better and better. Husband, you have to support me." "Yeah, I support you, but no hugging," he thought to himself. He also intended to treat this family as his own and be good to them, but his wife was not to hug anyone but him. "Fine, no hugging." Who could me her when the brother here looked exactly like her brother at home? She couldnt help herself. Seeing his wifes behavior, Yang Mings heart nearly melted, "Wife, are you sure its okay to take advantage of your brother like this?" "He hit you and you even coughed up blood. He needs to shed some blood too." "..." That was quite a bloodletting by big brother-inw, gifting an entire horse is no small expense. His wife was ruthless. "Husband, do you know how to ride a horse?" "No." "Then you need to learn quickly. That horse was demanded for you." "..." A horse demanded by his wife? He didnt seem to need it, "Why give it to me? You might as well keep it." "Husband, I dont n on letting you stay at the Academy anymore; its too dangerous. With this horse, you can ride back and forth. Horses are fast so it wont take long to reach the Academy. I dont want to be separated from you; I want to see you every day." "Alright, then I will learn to ride as soon as possible." His wife had a point. He also wanted to see her every day. Having been through life-and-death separations twice was enough to break his heart; he didnt want to be apart from her ever again. It wasnt long before Xiaoxiaos mother entered the room, bringing in a generous selection of dishes. "Daughter, son-inw,e on, dinner is ready." "Okay!" The two responded in unison. "Mom, have you eaten? Lets eat together!" "Im not hungry, you two go ahead and eat." Xiaoxiao was both eating and picking food for her dear husband, while Yang Ming was also selecting food for his wife. Seeing the couples affectionate gestures moved Xiaoxiaos mother to the brink of tearsher daughter and son-inw shared such a great love. This was a case of finally tasting sweetness after the bitterness. When her daughter insisted on marrying at the beginning, she was afraid the son-inw would not treat her well. "Mom, hows Li Chuntao beentely?" "Oh, she hasnt been home recently. She went to her grandmothers ce." "Oh!" Xiaoxiao wondered, having not seen her for quite some time, about four months now. She didnt know if that girl had lost any weight, "Mom, has she slimmed down at all?" "Not really, shes still quite round like a ball!" "..." Why did this sound so familiar! Chapter 477 - 478: What Are You Planning?

Chapter 477: Chapter 478: What Are You nning?

Ah, I remember now, the fourth brother said his blind date looked like a ball, why do people here alwayspare someone being overweight to a ball? "Mom, have you heard if Li Chuntao has found a family to marry into?" Xiaoxiao thought it was still worth asking about it. After all, her fourth brothers blind dates had been repeatedly unsessful, and he no longer loved attending them. She didnt know what dissatisfied him about so many girls. "What now, why are you asking this?" Xiaoxiaos mother asked, puzzled. "Its just concern, Im already married, and my little sister hasnt found a family yet. Im just worried for her!" Xiaoxiaos eyes flickered as she found an excuse to sift through the topic, but Yang Ming caught that look, suspecting his wife was up to some mischief again. "You really worry about the most trivial matters, but she should be settling down soon. Shes not getting any younger, and her family is arranging it now. Didnt you see that she went to her grandmothers house?" "..." Really? She had set her sights on the fourth brother, hadnt she? Was she willing to let her family arrange it? Xiaoxiao continued, "Going to her grandmas house, is that to go see that family?" "I also heard it from her mother, it seems to be her cousin, someone they know well! Just dont know if Li Chuntao agrees." "..." This... this sounds like a marriage between rtives, how could that work? Thats a major issue that could seriously affect future generations. Xiaoxiaos mother continued, "But it also depends on whether her cousin agrees. Ive heard her cousin is as skinny as a stick, he probably wouldnt want someone overweight like her. The specifics are still unclear." Xiaoxiao continued eating and didnt ask further. Well, fate is a mysterious thing; if theres no destiny, no matter how she tries to fabricate opportunities, it wont work. Besides, those two are still young, theres plenty of time. After Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming finished their meal, Xiaoxiaos mother took away the dishes. Just as she was leaving, Xiaoxiao spoke, "Mom, please bring a doctor for my husband, hes been vomiting blood after all." "Oh, Ill go right now." She had been so focused on her daughter that shepletely forgot her son-inw had been beaten, a moment for self-reflection. Both were her loved ones; she had to treat them equally. After Xiaoxiaos mother left, Yang Ming pulled his wife closer. "What are you plotting?" "What plot?" "You tell me. When your mom asked you earlier, your expression, your eyes, they looked unnatural, like you were hiding something?" "..." Was he really that sharp, like a detective? Well, might as well tell him, "Actually, Li Chuntao took a liking to our familys Yang Dong, so I was just inquiring about the situation." "When did this happen? Howe I dont know about it?" Yang Ming was surprised; his brother had caught someones eye? "It was during the visit after our wedding. The fourth brother apanied me back, and just then, Li Chuntao saw him. Shepletely fell for the fourth brother at first sight. Didnt expect the fourth brother to be so charming," Xiaoxiao said with relish. Yet, it left a bad taste in Yang Mings mouth. During the visit after their wedding, he had left his wife to return with his brother, embarrassing her thoroughly. "Wife, Im sorry for not apanying you back then." "Heh, its all in the past, why bring it up now? Just treat me well from now on." "Okay!" Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming didnt chat long inside when they heard noises growing louder outside. Unable to stay put, they went out to check. Upon stepping out, they saw the whole Yang family hade, "Dad, mom." Chapter 478 - 479: The In-Laws Arrive

Chapter 478: Chapter 479: The In-Laws Arrive

After such a major incident, Yang Dad and his family were too anxious to remain still and eventually proposeding to see, needing at least to apany the child on herst journey, so they hurried over with their ox cart. This was their first visit, and in their rush, they had prepared nothing; in such times, they really werent in the mood to prepare. Upon entering the courtyard, they saw every member of the Zhong Family looking delighted, which puzzled them. Wasnt the person supposed to be near death? Could it be she had recovered? With questions in mind, they walked towards the courtyard and saw Xiaoxiao and Yang Minging out. Hearing Xiaoxiao call out Dad, Mom, the whole family was moved to tears and overwhelmed with emotion. They could hardly believe that this youngest daughter-inw had recovered after returning to her parents home, now lively and standing before them. Yang Dad, in his excitement, said, "Youngest daughter-inw, are you better?" "Yes, Im better, Ive worried you all." Xiaoxiaos eyes were also a bit red; she knew that turning into a living dead had made her family sad too. Now that the entire family hade to see her, she realized she had found a good inw family. "Good, good." Zhong Dad was a bit choked up saying this. "Dad, Mom, pleasee inside and rest." Xiaoxiao quickly invited them in. "Right, inws,e inside quickly. Today our old Zhong family is throwing a big feast to celebrate our daughters recovery. Later, lets you and I drink a few more," Zhong Dad said with a smile beaming from his face. "About yesterdays incident, I really am sorry." Zhong Dad recalled the impulsiveness of the previous day, d that the children were all right. "Ah, alright, lets have a drinkter." Yang Dad led a group of men from his family and followed Zhong Dad directly into the house. The women were all called by Xiaoxiaos mom to Xiaoxiaos room; upon entering, Yangs second daughter-inw clung to Xiaoxiao, examining her from all angles, "Younger sister-inw, are you really alright?" "Second sister-inw, I really am alright." "Whew." The second daughter-inw sobbed, "Were you trying to scare us to death? We thought you were going to die, we were heartbroken." Seeing the second sister-inws reaction, Xiaoxiao was quite gratified. Her sacrifices had not been in vain; they genuinely cared for her, "Second sister-inw, dont cry anymore, see, Im fine, arent I?" "How is everything at home now?" The eldest daughter-inw responded, "Younger sister-inw, just focus on getting better. Dont worry about home, were handling everything." "I dont need to focus on getting better, Impletely fine now, tell me more." "Everything at home is normal; Yang Qiu is supervising the rented courtyard with the female workers. The three kids are with Li Fugui, and theres no need to worry about the pond; digging is proceeding normally." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao felt relieved. Everything was normal and not disrupted, which was good. When Yang Mings mom heard that Xiaoxiao was all right, her mood improved a lot, but she still worried about her son, "Youngest, how are you? Mom was so worried. You were beaten till you vomited blood, are you feeling alright anywhere?" "Mom, Im fine too, dont worry." Yang Ming reassured his mom. Xiaoxiao quickly interjected, knowing it was her own brother who had beaten him, and worried their mother might have objections, "Mom, the doctor will be here soon to check on him." Upon hearing this, Yang Mings mom breathed a sigh of relief,forting, "Ah, as long as you two are all right, I am relieved." The family chatted andughed for a good while, and finally, when it was time to start the meal, Xiaoxiaos mom came in to call everyone, "Mother-inw, they are starting the feast over there, hurry and bring the kids over." Chapter 479 - 480: Four Elders Started Chatting and Got onto the Path

Chapter 479: Chapter 480: Four Elders Started Chatting and Got onto the Path

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming also followed them outside. Xiaoxiaos mother said with concern, "You two rest in the room. If you want to eat something, Ill bring it to youter." Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming exchanged nces, seemingly understanding each others thoughts. It was the first time their parental homes were meeting, and if something wrong was said and a fight started, how could they not be there? "Mom, we need to go. Isnt this banquet arranged to celebrate my waking up? Theres no reason for me not to go. Besides, well just sit there, not do any work." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiaos mother realized this was reasonable and then agreed, "Alright then." The banquet was set up in the courtyard, with rtives tables for men and others for women. Xiaoxiao, her parents, her older brothers family, and Yang Mings parents all sat at one table. Yang Mings father and his family, learning that the banquet was arranged by Xiaoxiaos uncle, were internally stirred. They all knew Xiaoxiao was the favorite at home, but they hadnt realized she was favored to this extentthat her uncle had even ughtered a pig for the celebration. After everyone was seated, the banquet began, and both families eagerly drank and ate since they had been too upset to eat much over Xiaoxiaos incident. Now they were all in high spirits and chatted joyfully. Xiaoxiao had thought this meal could pass without incident, but unexpectedly, the conversation at their table turned sour. The main reason was that everyone was happy and had drunk a bit too much. The topic was broached by Yang Mings mother, as she said, "Inws, oh, its really nice to have these children, but it would be even better if our third son could add another grandson for me to hold." At these words, Xiaoxiaos mother frowned, "Inws, thats not right. Our Xiaoxiao is supposed to have a girl first, so youll have to wait longer to hold a grandson." "The first child should be a boy!" Yang Mings father, having drunk a bit too much, blurted out without thinking, "How can there be no son? Our third son still needs a son to support him in his old age." At this, Mr. Zhong became displeased, "You already have so many sons; arent you satisfied yet?" "I only have four sons; even if I had eight, I wouldntin." "If you want a son, go ahead and have one yourself. Our Xiaoxiao is meant to have a girl." "You want a girl, let those from the Zhong Family who have so many sons have them." Meanwhile, people at the other tables, hearing the noise, unanimously dered, "Our Xiaoxiao must have a girl." Xiaoxiao, hands to her forehead, thought, This bunch of rtives, crazy about having a girl. Moreover, its not like she could decide what to have. "Daughter, push hard and give dad a granddaughter!" Mr. Zhong added. On the other end, Yang Mings father echoed fiercely, "Son, push hard and give your dad a hefty grandson." "..." Yang Ming was helpless; his dad, usually so quiet, was now really on a roll when talking to the inws. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming quickly intervened their respective fathers. "Dad!" "Dad!" "Daughter, whats up?" "Third son, whats the matter?" "Dad, having a child isnt urgent, let nature take its course, what are you shouting for?" Both dads, hearing this,ughed heartily, "Haha, right, the son-inw is correct, whateveres wille!" "Haha, right, the third sons got a point, let it be natural. But still, third son, youve got to push hard," Yang Mings father added jovially. "..." These two elders, acting just like children. Chapter 480 - 481: Striving for Two in Three Years!

Chapter 480: Chapter 481: Striving for Two in Three Years!

"Well aim for two children in three years!" "Right, two children in three years!" The two elders suddenly joined forces, and Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao exchanged nces, both feeling somewhat embarrassed and lowering their heads. The elders were drinking more and getting louder, boasting more and more about their own childrens merits. "My dear inws, my son is the schr of ten viges awestruck radius, to have him as your son-inw is certainly no loss." "My daughters no slouch either. Dont be fooled by our rough appearances; shes a master of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. As your daughter-inw, shes more than qualified." "My son will surely be sessful in the future. Hes going to pursue official titles." "My daughters already thriving. If it wasnt for her joining your family, could you have enjoyed such prosperity?" "My son is so handsome!" "My daughter is also beautiful!" "..." "..." Listening to the two elders boast about their children, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao found it no different from childlike squabblingno ones children could ever be anything but perfect in their own parents eyes. Yang Ming even leaned in to whisper in his wifes ear, "Your father is right, you are beautiful." "..." Could he not tantly lie? She couldnt even believe that herself. Seeing that both parents had drunk too much, Xiaoxiaos mother quickly intervened, "Old man, thats enough, drink less." "Today is a joyful day, its our first meetup with the inws, how can we not drink a bit?" "..." These two old ones are probably not leaving the table anytime soon. Seeing this, Xiaoxiao approached her mother, "Mom, Yang Ming and I are going to go rest in our room." "Alright, you two head off. The doctor should be arriving soon." "Okay." Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming made a swift escape from the scene, leaving the two elders to their bragging contest, which probably wouldnt escte into anything serious, and took their chance to slip away. Once they were back in their room, Yang Ming stated seriously, "Wife, we have to work hard and not let down our fathers hopes. Well aim for two children in three years." "What am I, a pig?" Xiaoxiao pouted. "A sow can have several piglets at once, you only have one at a time, how can you bepared to a pig?" Her cheap husband exined the differences between her and a pig so earnestly, Xiaoxiao was so frustrated she could have spat blood, "No birth, no birth, no birth." Yang Ming then touched his wifes belly and said with a doting expression, "Last time we consummated our marriage, do you think there might already be a baby in here?" Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiaos mind buzzed. When was thest time, and was it during a safe period? Xiaoxiao started counting on her fingers. "What are you counting?" "Im calcting whether ourst consummation was during a safe period." "What is a safe period?" "Research in our ce has deduced that there are a few days every month considered a safe period when one cant get pregnant, and there are a few days known as the dangerous period when its easy to get pregnant." "..." His wifes ce was that advanced in research, even knowing these things? "So thest time, which period did we fall in?" "Be quiet, Im counting," said Xiaoxiao, continuing to fiddle with her fingers. "..." A momentter, Xiaoxiao visibly breathed a sigh of relief. It was a safe period. Seeing his wife like this, Yang Ming furrowed his brow. Did she not want to have children? If she didnt want to, then so be it. As long as she was happy, thats what mattered. Her return was already more than he had hoped for. "Husband, dont get me wrong, Im just too young right now. Research in our ce has shown that it can be dangerous to have children at too young an age. Let me grow a little older, okay?" "Sure, Ill listen to you." Chapter 481 - 482: You have a good foundation, others would have been dead by now

Chapter 481: Chapter 482: You have a good foundation, others would have been dead by now

Xiaoxiao was somewhat moved in her heart. Looking at her husband, he clearly felt a sense of loss; he evidently desired to have a child that was theirs, yet he had twice agreed not to have children for her sake. This must be love, she thought, to tolerate everything about her. They would have children, just not right now. She wanted to bear his children because they would be the crystallization of their love, a testimony to it. "Husband, we will definitely have children in the future." "Yes!" The couple had only been in the room for a short while when Xiaoxiaos mother brought the doctor in. "Xiaoxiao, the doctor is here." "Ah!" Finally, the doctor had arrived. Xiaoxiao, anxious about her husbands injuries, went out to greet them. "Mom, you go out first. It will be inconvenient for you when we check the external injuriester." "Okay, Ill go out and wait. Call me if you need anything." "Yes!", Xiaoxiao responded. After Xiaoxiaos mother left, Xiaoxiao led the doctor into the room. Before even examining Yang Ming, the doctor asked in astonishment, "Miss, which Divine Doctor managed to cure you?" The old doctor lookedpletely puzzled. Just yesterday, her pulse had been weak and her life not expected tost more than five days, yet today she was lively and spirited. It truly was a world where miracles happen and there are indeed persons of extraordinary abilities. He felt humbled about his own medical skills. With an embarrassed smile, Xiaoxiao didnt know how to exin. Should she say she had encountered a fairy? She made up an excuse, "No one treated me. I heard my husband calling out. I didnt want to leave him, so I just woke up." The old doctor was even more amazed, "Incredible, it means your life was not meant to end yet! Come, let me take your pulse and see how you are now?" Xiaoxiao didnt extend her hand; she wanted the doctor to attend to Yang Ming first. Seeing this, Yang Ming spoke, "Wife, let the doctor take your pulse first. I am also very worried. You have just awakened; dont ignore any potential issues." "I am not in a hurry. After youre examined, I will do it." Xiaoxiao turned to the doctor, "Doctor, please check my husband first. He was beaten and vomited blood yesterday, and I am worried it caused internal injuries." Yang Ming, unable to argue with his wife, agreed to be examined first. Sitting with the old doctor, he extended his arm for the pulse check. After a moment, the doctor said, "Let me see your injuries." Yang Mingplied with the doctors request, opened his clothes, and allowed him to examine the bruises on his body. After witnessing them, the doctor was once again surprised; this couple was extraordinarily fortunate, the first hed seen who were on the brink of death and miraculously survived. "No big deal, drink some herbal medicine and rest for about ten to fifteen days and youll be fine. Its lucky you are inherently strong; otherwise, with these beatings, someone else might have been confined to the bed unable to move." Listening to these words, Xiaoxiao finally felt relieved. He was alright; she hadnt expected his brother to hit so hard. A horse at a bargain was a lenient oue indeed. After speaking, the old doctor took out paper and pen, wrote a prescription, and handed it to Xiaoxiao, "Here is the prescription. Find some time to get the medicine; take it morning and evening." "Okay, thank you, Doctor." "Wife, I said I was okay, didnt I?" "Thats only because youre inherently strong; someone else might not have been so lucky." Xiaoxiao retorted. Yang Ming turned to the old doctor and said, "Doctor, please check my wifes pulse now." "..." She had merely been wandering with her soul for a while, and there was really nothing wrong. But seeing her husband so concerned, she still extended her hand. Chapter 482 - 483: She Probably Can’t Have Children

Chapter 482: Chapter 483: She Probably Cant Have Children

At the moment she extended her hand, Xiaoxiao suddenly thought of her fainting from pain during her menstruation and decided to seize the opportunity to have it checked. Thus, she spoke up, "Doctor, can you take a look at me? I faint from pain when I get my period. Whats wrong with me? Could it affect my ability to have children?" Upon hearing this, Yang Mings eyes filled with guilt. How could he have been so careless? His wife was in so much pain during her period, yet he had never thought to take her to see a doctor? The old doctor took Xiaoxiaos pulse seriously, his expression growing more and more solemn as he did so. After a while, he withdrew his hand from taking her pulse. After the pulse-taking was finished, Yang Ming anxiously asked, "Doctor, how is my wife? Is there anything wrong?" The old doctors gaze was a bit unnatural, as if he was hiding something. He then said, "Its nothing serious, just a deficiency of qi and blood. A prescription of herbal soup to nourish her will do." At these words, Yang Ming was relieved. As long as it wasnt serious, he was terrified that something might be wrong with her health. But Xiaoxiao did not believe the old doctor had told the truth. A deficiency of qi and blood? She had the same issuest time, and Yang Ming had forced her to drink strengthening medicine for half a month. She should have recovered long ago, not fainting and losing consciousness for a whole day, only to be told its a deficiency of qi and blood again. The old doctor then took out paper and pen and wrote another prescription, handing it to Yang Ming, saying, "Dont get it wrong, this one is for your wife to drink, once in the morning and once in the evening." "Alright, thank you, doctor." Yang Ming epted the prescription, carefully cing it on his person, and then took out some silver from his pocket and handed it to the doctor as the consultation fee. After taking the silver, the old doctor said to Yang Ming, "Come outside with me for a moment, help me find someone from your family to escort me back to town." "Eh, alright." Yang Ming agreed, then turned to his wife and said, "Wife, Ill be back in a jiffy, wait for me in the house." After giving instructions to his wife, Yang Ming followed the old doctor out the door. Once outside, the old doctor suspiciously led Yang Ming to a secluded spot. This took Yang Ming by surprise. Did the old doctor have something to tell him? A bad feeling welled up in his heart. He asked, bewildered, "Doctor, what are you doing?" "Just now, I did not tell the truth inside the house, fearing your wife couldnt ept it," the old doctor confessed. Upon hearing this, Yang Ming felt a jolt of rm. Had his wife contracted some dreadful disease that couldnt even be mentioned in front of her? Anxiety gripped him as he questioned, "What exactly is wrong with my wife?" The old doctor sighed, then revealed, "Im afraid she may not be able to have children." Hearing this, Yang Ming felt as though he had been struck by lightning. Unable to have children? Did this mean they would never have their own child? He refused to believe it, not a single word of it. "Doctor, I dont believe it. Is there a cure?" "Ive already prescribed her medicine. You can try it first, but the hope is slim. Youd better prepare for the worst," replied the doctor. After saying that, the old doctor walked away, leaving Yang Ming standing there, lost in thought. What did he mean, prepare for the worst? Xiaoxiao was the only wife he would ever have in his life. Even if they couldnt have children, he was resigned to that fact. He feignedposure, determined not to let his wife sense anything was amiss. He took a deep breath and turned to head back to the house, only to see his wife standing there. A twinge of pain gripped Yang Mings heart. His wife was crying. She must have heard everything just nowthere was no hiding it, she knew everything. Chapter 483 - 484: Retribution Comes So Quickly

Chapter 483: Chapter 484: Retribution Comes So Quickly

After Yang Ming and the senior doctor left, Xiaoxiao felt more and more that the old doctor hadnt told the truth, so she quickly followed them, only to overhear a fact she was unwilling to believe. She was actually infertile. How old was she? Would she really never be able to have her own children in this lifetime? She hadnt expected retribution toe so swiftly. Was this the price she had to pay for abandoning her family toe here? Her lips curved into a cold smile, but tears kept flowing uncontrobly. Her heart had sunk to the bottom. Just thinking that she couldnt have children made her feel so apologetic, so sorry for Yang Ming. Could he bear living a childless life forever? Even she, with her modern ways of thinking, couldnt ept it, let alone him. Soulless, she turned around and returned to her boudoir. "Wife!" Seeing his brides tearstained face and her soulless eyes, Yang Ming felt unbearably pained and hurried after her. Back in the room, he saw his wife sitting on the bed motionless, silently shedding tears. Heforted her with heartache, "My wife, dont take to heart what the doctor said. Maybe his medical skills arent refined. Lets find another doctor." Xiaoxiao spoke expressionlessly, "I believe what he said. This is retribution." "..." Retribution? What was his wife talking about? "This is retribution for abandoning my family toe here. Heaven is finally punishing me, ha ha ha!" As Xiaoxiaoughed through her tears, Yang Ming was terrified, fearing she might harm herself. Hugging his wife tightly, he said with heartache, "My wife, this isnt retribution. We will definitely have our own children in the future, trust me." Retribution? If it were, he was willing to ept it, as long as she was by his side. No children, then no children. But no matter how Yang Ming tried to persuade her, Xiaoxiao just wouldnt listen. She was immersed in the fact she could not bear children and couldnt pull herself out. She then said, "Husband, perhaps you should marry another. You cant be without children." As she spoke these words, although Xiaoxiao was in pain, she meant it sincerely. She knew people here cared deeply about having children; she couldnt be selfish. Hearing this, Yang Ming hugged his wife even tighter, and with anguish, said, "Dont talk such nonsense again. In this life, Ill marry only you." Xiaoxiaos tears kept flowing; she had cried so much that day, perhaps her tears would soon run dry, "But, husband, Im sorry, I cant give you children." "If we cant have children, then we wont have them. I only want you." "But your parents are really looking forward to you having children." "They will understand." "But..." "No buts, stop thinking so much. We can still see other doctors, and the doctor prescribed some medicine. Dont give up so easily, okay?" Hearing this, Xiaoxiaos eyes cleared up. Her dear husband was right; she was young and had plenty of time for treatment. She couldnt give up so easily, "Okay!" Seeing his wife relent, Yang Ming finally breathed a sigh of relief, "Lets keep this between us and not tell the family, okay?" "Okay." "Stop crying; you look like a tear-streaked kitten, with swollen eyes." Yang Ming said as he took out a handkerchief to wipe his wifes tearful face. Xiaoxiao stopped crying and showed a smile, "Okay, no more tears. Ive cried them all dry." Chapter 484 - 485: Don’t worry, I’ve got everything under control

Chapter 484: Chapter 485: Dont worry, Ive got everything under control

Xiaoxiao knew that her husbands mood wouldnt be much better than hers, but he stillforted her, so she couldnt worry him anymore. Although she knew the medical conditions here were poor and the hope of recovery was slim, she still pretended to be invigorated. Moreover, she was still young and had a long life ahead of her, perhaps a miracle could happen, she couldnt just give up. "Husband, Im fine, dont worry about me." Yang Ming embraced his wife, stroking her head and spoke softly, "Yes, dont worry, Im here for everything." "Xiaoxiao, how are you? What did the doctor say?" Xiaoxiaos mother said as she entered the room, only to be met with the eye-catching sight of the couple embracing. Xiaoxiaos mother suddenly felt a bit embarrassed, just about to leave when her daughter called out, "Mom, its nothing serious, just need a prescription, and then to pick up the medicine." "Ah? Then your brother sent the doctor off, why didnt you let him pick up the medicine?" Xiaoxiaos mother prattled. Xiaoxiao exined directly, "No need to trouble my brother anymore, besides we are going home soon, we might not even wait for my brother toe back." "What, youre going back soon? Stay a few more days at home, mom misses you." "No, theres a lot to do at home." "You child, your health is more important." Hearing the conversation between his wife and mother-inw, Yang Ming felt even more heartache. Everything at home was managed by his wife, indeed she was getting exhausted, "Wife, mom really misses you, why dont you stay a few more days?" "No, lets head back. The vige probably doesnt know what to think by now, I need to go back and stop the rumors." Yang Ming thought for a moment, his wife was right, the vige probably believed she was done for, it was important for her to go back and shut their mouths, "Then lets go hometer." Xiaoxiao suddenly eximed, "Oh no!" Startled, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiaos mother asked in unison, "Whats wrong?" "Did brother send the doctor off with a cart?" Xiaoxiao urgently asked her mother. "Your brother used a bullock cart, mom was puzzled too, why use a bullock cart when we have a horse cart," Xiaoxiaos mother said puzzled. Hearing this, Xiaoxiao was relieved. If her brother had taken the horse cart, how would she get home? That horse was hers now. "..." Yang Mings face twitched, his wife was still thinking about that horse. It seemed her big brother truly doted on his sister-inw, iming it was hers and not even touching the horse. Xiaoxiao boasted to her mother, "Hehe, that horse is mine now, I imed it from my brother." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiaos mother poked her daughters forehead with a finger, "You cheeky child, thats your brothers treasure, he must be pained?" Xiaoxiao pouted, "He shouldnt have hit my husband, even if it hurts, he has to endure it." "You, relying on your brothers favor," her mother retorted. "Hehe!" Soon, the feast was mostly over, and everyone was preparing to leave. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming also got ready to follow them back. As they stepped out, they heard Mr. Yang shouting, "Youngest sons wife is great, great!" "..." Her father-inw must have beenpletely drunk by now, they say truthes out when drunk, he didnt speak ill of his own, suggesting she must truly be good in her father-inws eyes. Xiaoxiao felt warm inside, very warm, and the people of the Zhong Family also felt very happy upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao probably wouldnt be wronged there anymore. "Inws, mother-inw, Im really sorry, the old man drank too much." Yang Mings mother came forward to exin. Chapter 485 - 486: Don’t Always Mention the Granddaughter in Front of Your Daughter

Chapter 485: Chapter 486: Dont Always Mention the Granddaughter in Front of Your Daughter

"Wife, I aint drunk too much, the third sons wife is really good." Old Daddy Yang was still shouting. "..." The family was speechless at their old mans behavior; it was downright embarrassing. They hurriedly got him onto the horse carriage. "What else did my girl say, my girl is just perfect." While Old Daddy Yang was bbering drunkenly, Old Daddy Zhong hadnt drunk any less either. Xiaoxiao was defeated by these two fathers and quickly said, "Mom, please help my dad inside. Were leaving now." "Ah, inws, mother-inw, doe to visit when youre free." Xiaoxiaos mom was supporting Old Daddy Zhong, exchanging pleasantries with the inws. After the horse carriage and ox cart had left, the Zhong Family finally went back inside the house, cleaned everything up, and the rtives also went back to their own homes. As soon as they got inside, Old Daddy Zhong started vomiting profusely, much to Xiaoxiaos moms frustration. She hurriedly prepared some Sobriety Soup and handed it to Old Daddy Zhong, mumbling under her breath, "Look at you, drinking more than you can handle. Now you feel bad, serves you right." "I was just happy! My girl is all right!" Old Daddy Zhong kept humming, continuing to say, "This time my girl married the right family, those Yangs all look like honest folks, my girl is quite pampered there." "Werent you always against it?" "Wasnt I afraid my girl would suffer? Their family is so poor. Our girl has never done any work, but now things are good, just missing a great-granddaughter." Old Daddy Zhong said with a smile. But as soon as he said that, Xiaoxiaos mom couldnt smile, because when she had sent the doctor, she asked about the condition and the doctor told the truth. However, when she asked her daughter, Xiaoxiao didnt tell the truth, clearly not wanting her to know, so she also didnt bring it up, understanding her daughters hidden pain. "Old man, dont always mention the great-granddaughter in front of our girl." Xiaoxiaos mom warned. "Why cant I bring it up? Isnt it just a matter of time?" Old Daddy Zhong replied unconcernedly. Xiaoxiaos mom got anxious, really infuriated by this old man. If he kept mentioning it, the girl would just keep getting heartbroken, "Your great-granddaughter may not being at all." "What do you mean by that?" Old Daddy Zhong was stunned for a moment, then asked. To stop the old man from constantly bringing it up, Xiaoxiaos mom felt she had to tell the truth, "The doctor just checked our girls pulse; he said that our girl might not be able to have children." "What?" The news struck Old Daddy Zhong, making him stand up in agitation, "Could there be a mistake? How could my girl possibly not be able to have children? The doctor must have made a mistake." "Our girl already knows about it, but shes deliberately keeping us in the dark. We should also pretend not to know, so dont bring up the great-granddaughter anymore, you hear?" Xiaoxiaos mom continued instructing. "Does the son-inw know?" "He should know, but the rest of the Yang Family doesnt." This reassured Old Daddy Zhong somewhat; not being able to have children was a big deal, but if anyone was to divorce his girl over that, nobody could say a word. "Hmph, if the Yangs dare to divorce our girl over this, Ill fight them tooth and nail." "Enough already. Youre drunk. Go and lie down." Xiaoxiaos mom said resignedly. She also hoped that this matter wouldnt affect her daughters rtionship with her son-inw, seeing as their affection for each other was clearly strong. It was just uncertain whether her daughters inws could ept this fact. "Remember, no more mentioning it." "Understood." Seeing the old man return to the room, Xiaoxiaos mom sighed, "Ah, why is my daughters path so rough!" Chapter 486 - 487: My Wife and I Have a Great Relationship

Chapter 486: Chapter 487: My Wife and I Have a Great Rtionship

In Yang Family Viges main square "Hey, did you hear? Last night, dozens of people arrived at the old Yang Familys ce, seemed to be Schrs wifes maternal rtives." "I heard that, seems like the two families might have fought in the courtyard over the Schrs wifes matter." "They must have beaten them up pretty bad, considering they had more people." "That group left overnight, seemed like they took the Schrs wife with them." "Didnt Yang Erzhu and his whole family also leave in a bullock cart this noon?" "If you ask me, its turned into quite the affair. Schrs wife is so young, how could she just be not okay all of a sudden?" "Ah, who can say otherwise!" "..." "..." The horse-drawn carriage and the bullock cart split into two groups. The fourth brother drove the bullock cart to town to fetch medicine, while they returned home in the horse-drawn carriage. As soon as the carriage entered the vige, they saw a crowd gathered in the main square chatting. Even though they couldnt make out what was being discussed, they knew it had to be about their family. To stop the rumors, Xiaoxiao said, "Honey, lets get down." The carriage stopped right there in the main square. As Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming approached the crowd, they hadnt yet spoken a word when they heard the ongoing chatter. "You all say the Schrs wife might not make it, can the Schr remarry then?" "He definitely has to remarry; theyve only been married for four months and have no children yet." "Does that mean those unwed girls in our vige have a chance now?" "Absolutely!" "..." "..." Hearing this made Xiaoxiaos face turn green with anger. She wasnt dead yet, and here these people were, eager to marry off their daughters to her husband. She stepped forward and said, "Am I not okay? Howe I didnt know that?" Her voice startled the crowd, "Oh my goodness!" Turning around to see it was the Schrs wife, who looked perfectly fine, they wondered who had been spreading rumors that she was almost gone. Someone, puzzled, asked, "Schrs wife, are you alright?" Pretending to know nothing, Xiaoxiao replied, "Ive been fine all along, just went back to my parents home. How did it turn into me being not okay?" "Hehe, d youre fine." Everyone awkwardly chuckled, not knowing what else to say, andmented with an evasive tone. "Everyone, disperse and go about your business; stop chatting here." One of them took the lead, eager to escape the awkward situation. But they were stopped by Yang Ming, "Everyone, wait a moment." Being stopped by the Schr, everyone was quite surprised and awkwardly said, "Schr Yang, what is it?" "I feel its necessary to rify, my wife and I are very much in love. You dont need to go out of your way to match me with someone else. Its absolutely impossible. Ill only have this one wife in my lifetime." Having said that, Yang Ming took his wife and got back into the carriage, which then headed towards their home, leaving the crowd exchanging awkward nces. "See, you were the one who started it." "Didnt you say it too?" "Enough now, you all can give up your hopes." "..." "..." No matter what, with the Schrs wife standing there lively and well in front of them, there was nothing more to say, so everyone went home. As soon as Xiaoxiao got home, she was surrounded by several family members who stayed back, including Yang Qiu and the three children, who all cried again. Afterward, Xiaoxiao went back inside the house, which was warmed up, obviously the work of Yang Qiu, her sister-inw, who always knew how to warm someones heart. "Honey, wheres the bracelet?" Chapter 487 - 488: The Cheap Husband

Chapter 487: Chapter 488: The Cheap Husband

Whenever the Bracelet was mentioned, Xiaoxiao felt both love and hate: she loved that she had found true love but hated that she had to be forever separated from her family. "I put the Bracelet in the drawer," Yang Ming replied. "Oh!" Xiaoxiao reached out to open the drawer, but as soon as she did so, she froze; afraid that if she touched it, the soul might slip away again. Scared, she did not want to be separated from her beloved husband again, so she withdrew her hand. "Husband, lets find a ce to bury this Bracelet to prevent any more idents." "Yes, I was thinking the same thing," responded Yang Ming, who had been nning to do so for a while now. If it werent for the Bracelet, his wife wouldnt have turned into a living corpse; he had to deal with it promptly. Xiaoxiao looked around, a bitterness she couldnt quite express filled her heart; just one day away felt like a very long time. Seeing the heart shapes dismantled on the bench, Xiaoxiao got onto it, nning to refold them. Just as she picked up a piece of the ripped red paper, her husband grasped her hand gently and said, "Wife, let me do it." Xiaoxiao was surprised. "You know how to fold them?" "Not really, but you can teach me." The heart shapes his wife had folded so attentively; he wanted to fold them back with care. The corners of Xiaoxiaos mouth lifted; her husband really was a charmer,cking grand talents, but his warmth was enough, and this was the kind of man she wanted to spend a simple life with. "Alright, then Ill teach you. Just like this, fold it back along the original crease; its quite simple. Give it a try." "Yes." Yang Ming folded earnestly, and afterpleting one, he asked his wife, "Is it like this?" "Yes, exactly like that." "Then you rest; once I finish refolding these, well rehang the canopy and get the room back to how it was." Wanting to restore the bridal chamber his wife had painstakingly prepared to its original state. "Yes." Xiaoxiao agreed, sitting there watching her husband fold intently. Feeling an urge to envelop him from behind with a hug, she indeed did just that. "Husband, youre truly wonderful." Feeling his wifes embrace from behind, warmth surged in Yang Mings heart, believing that everything he was doing was worth it. He turned around and gave his wife a big hug, then said, "Stop it now, Ill be done soon." "Oh," Xiaoxiao pouted and let go of her husband. "Husband, remember when you asked me if I had a nickname for you? I actually lied to you then." "A nickname?" "Yes, another name, another way to call you." "What is it?" Yang Ming was surprised, realizing that his wife also had a nickname for him, and he really wanted to know what she called him in her heart. "Promise you wont get mad or hit me," she said. "..." Sensing a forboding premonition that his wife definitely chose a poor name, Yang Ming conceded, "Alright, I wont get mad or hit you." "Its Bargain Husband." Hearing this alias, Yang Ming widened his eyes, and Xiaoxiao quickly exined, "Think about it, as soon as I crossed over, I became your wife, so arent you like a Bargain Husband sent to me by heaven?" "..." The way his wife put it, it seemedpletely right, and though her logic was peculiar, it essentially meant that she had admitted he was her husband from the beginning. "From now on, just drop the bargain and call me Husband." "Oh, okay," Xiaoxiao giggled. Since he was refolding them ording to the original creases, Yang Ming quickly finished, and they hung up the canopy, restoring the room to its original look. Chapter 488 - 489: This matter is rotten in the gut

Chapter 488: Chapter 489: This matter is rotten in the gut

It didnt take long for Yang Dong to return with the medicine, and he looked rather solemn because he had overheard the attendant mentioning what medicine his third sister-inw was taking; it seemed that his third brother and sister-inw might not be able to have children. His third brother and sister-inw were such a great couple. How could this happen to them? He felt very downcast, caught in a dilemma over whether he should tell his family or not. He brought the medicine to the Main House, and as soon as he entered, Yang Mings mother noticed something was off with her son. This son of hers wore everything on his face. The sad expression certainly meant he had something troubling him. Could it be that he was experiencing the first throes of love? "Fourth, whats wrong with you?" "Nothing," Yang Dong replied, barely able to conceal his frustration. The more he denied, the more Yang Mings mother was convinced that Yang Dong was hiding something, so she said, "Fourth, you cant fool your mother. Its all written on your face. You must be hiding something from me." "Really, its nothing." "If you dont tell me, Ill have your father ask you." Yang Mings mother said as she walked toward the inner rooms, pretending to go find Yangs father. Seeing this, Yang Dong grew anxious and quickly grabbed his mother, "Mother, if I tell you, you must not tell anyone else." "Sure, mother wont tell," Yang Mings mother thought to herself with a smile, convinced that her son must have taken a liking to some girl. That would be cause for celebration. But she was not prepared for the shocking news she was about to hear. "When I went to get the medicine just now, I heard the attendant saying that the medicine third sister-inw is taking is for treating infertility." "What did you say?" Yang Mings mother felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Could it be that the third brother and his wife cant have children? She could hardly believe it, "Are you sure?" "I also thought it couldnt be true, so I asked the attendant again. Mother, you really cant say it was me who told you this." Before Yang Dong had finished speaking, Yang Mings mother dashed into the inner room, shouting as she went, "Old man, wake up! Theres a serious issue." "..." Yang Dong was speechless; his mother had just promised not to tell, yet she immediately went to inform his father. Why couldnt he just keep his mouth shut? If his third brother and sister-inw found out it was him who spilled the beans, they would hold it against him for sure. He hurriedly followed his mothers footsteps. Yangs father, having drunk too much at his rtives ce, was fast asleep but was abruptly awakened by his wife. Mumbling, he wished to continue sleeping, "Whats the big deal? We can talk about it tomorrow." "Old man, tomorrow is toote! Its a serious matter, somethings happened to the third one," she said. At the mention of an issue with the third brother, Yangs father immediately became alert and sat up, asking, "What happened to the third one?" "The fourth said that the medicine the third ones wife is taking is for infertility." "What are you talking about? The third brothers wife cant have children?" Yang Mings mother nodded her head. Yangs father fell silent for a while, finally speaking, "This matter should die in our stomach, no one must speak of it." "Old man..." Just as Yang Mings mother was about to say more, Yangs father cut her off, "Dont think I dont know whats on your mind. The third sons wife is still young, theres no hurry now. When a few years pass and they still dont have children, well address it then. For now, dont let your thoughts run wild." Seeing Yangs fathers response, Yang Mings mother did not say any more, but she couldnt help feeling despondent. If there were no children, what would be of the third? Seeing his father nip the matter in the bud, Yang Dong breathed a sigh of relief. "Then father, mother, I will go and deliver the medicine to the third brother and sister-inw." "Go on, but dont let your third brother and sister-inw realize that we know. Be smart about it," Yangs father instructed. "Yes, I understand. Well, Im off then." Chapter 489 - 490: From Now On, We’re Going to Be Medicine Jars

Chapter 489: Chapter 490: From Now On, Were Going to Be Medicine Jars

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had tried their best to hide the truth, but unbeknownst to them, both families were already aware and had decided to never bring it up for their sake. Just as the couple had finished setting up the mosquitoting in the room, they heard the voice of the younger brother outside. "Big brother, Ive got the medicine." "Come in." Yang Dong entered the room and saw his older brother and sister-inw. Although their father had asked him to be tactful, he couldnt help feeling sad at the thought that his brother and sister-inw might never have children. "Sister-inw, Im sorry, its all my fault." "..." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao was stunned. What did he mean he harmed her? "If it hadnt been for me unnecessarily digging up that jar..." His family had always med him for this, faulting him for digging up that broken jar that led to their current situation, and he too believed they were right. Hearing this, Xiaoxiao chuckled. Oh, Yang Dong, still thinking about that! She actually owed her thanks to Yang Dong. Because of him, she no longer needed to live in constant fear and could peacefully settle here. "Its not your fault; look, your sister-inw is fine, right?" Xiaoxiao replied with a smile. Hearing that his sister-inw didnt me him, Yang Dongs eyes brightened up. "Then sister-inw, that bracelet..." "..." Eh? He wasnt still thinking about that bracelet, was he? How could he be more obsessed with wealth than she was? She stopped smiling and sternly said, "That bracelet is an ominous object; I cannot give it to you. Give up on it and go away now." As she spoke, Xiaoxiao pushed Yang Dong out the door, not letting him stay in the room. Seeing his sister-inw pushing him out, Yang Dong quickly said, "Wait, sister-inw, I havent given you the medicine yet." "This is for my brother, and this is yours, dont mix them up." Xiaoxiao took the medicine. "Alright, off you go now." Only then did Yang Dong leave. As soon as Xiaoxiao got back inside, she pouted and said, "Husband, from now on, were going to be like walking medicine jars." "No worries, I have a n that will ensure you suffer less," said Yang Ming, confidently. "Whats the n?" Yang Ming pecked on his wifes lips, his eyes curving into crescents with a smile. "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless, kissed. Wasnt that her own trick? "Youre giarizing," Xiaoxiao said, her lips curling up. Yang Ming smiled and said nothing, taking the medicine from his wifes hands and going to the outer room to prepare it. After Yang Ming left, Xiaoxiao restrained her smile, sadness filling her eyes. Could this medicine really work? Regardless, she had to try. No matter how bitter the medicine, she was determined to give it a chance. During this time, rtives of the Yang Family, upon hearing the news, came one after another to visit Xiaoxiao, each staying only briefly to avoid disrupting their rest. Xiaoxiao couldnt help feeling grateful for the concern of so many rtives. When the medicine was ready, it was nearly evening. Yang Ming brought it over, and Xiaoxiao drank it down in one gulp, her eyes shut. Despite clearly disliking the medicine, she downed it without blinking, all for the sake of having a child, and Yang Mings eyes were filled with sympathy. After his wife had finished, he truly kissed her, sharing the bitter taste of the medicine with her and even cing a piece of rock candy in her mouth. "Wife, dont feel burdened, were not nning on having children anytime soon." "Alright, then lets just enjoy a few years in our little world of two," Xiaoxiao replied with a smile. Though their hearts ached, neither wanted to worry the other, so they continued exchangingforting words. Chapter 490 - 491: How Should I Complete My Next Task?

Chapter 490: Chapter 491: How Should I Complete My Next Task?

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming thus spent several days recovering peacefully, and during this time, many vigers came to visit, bringing them snacks and treats, which Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming indeed enjoyed. One morning, upon waking up, Xiaoxiao asked, "Husband, where should we bury the bracelet?" "How about burying it at the same hollow again? Or maybe find a ce in the mountains to bury it?" Thinking it over, Xiaoxiao felt that they had to handle the matter themselves and couldnt trust anyone else with it, "Husband, I think we need to keep it under our watch. Otherwise, what if someone else digs it up? Itd be terrible if it got broken." Yang Ming thought his wife made sense. He pondered for a moment, then had a brainwave and said, "Why dont we just bury it outside the house, under the water jar?" Xiaoxiaos eyes lit up; this way, it would be right under their noses and they wouldnt have to worry about others digging it up. Since they made the hiding spot so inconspicuous, nobody would guess it was under the water jar, so she cheerfully agreed, "Okay, that works." The two set to work without dy. Yang Ming moved the water jar aside and grabbed a shovel, and it wasnt long before he had dug a deep hole. The bracelet was put back into the pot, which was then buried in the hole, and he filled the dirt back in. They stamped it down to make sure it was well concealed, then moved the water jar back on top of it. Xiaoxiao pped her hands happily and said, "There, now nobody will think of stealing the bracelet." "Right," replied Yang Ming with a smile, feeling relieved that now his wife wouldnt be taken away for the sake of the bracelet. They were both happy, but Little Cutie inside the bracelet felt suffocated and unhappy, "Youve buried the bracelet again, how am I supposed toplete my next task? Dont forget that the bracelet is also broken." Little Cuties thoughts were unknown to Xiaoxiao, who simply felt safer now, not caring about what Little Cutie might feel. After resting in the house for a while, Xiaoxiao poured Yang Ming a cup of water and handed it to him, "Husband, you must be exhausted." If it werent for fear of aggravating his injuries, she would have dealt with the bracelet the day they returned home. She was truly frightened by the bracelet and had dyed handling it for several days, waiting until Yang Mings condition improved. "Not tired at all." Yang Ming took the cup and gulped down the water. After all, he was a strong man and his body was robust. Moreover, with his wifes tender care, being well-fed and well-nourished, he could handle such tasks. He was not like those fragile schrs; he had to work on thend, and his body was sturdy. "Husband, if youre not tired, shall we go take a look at the hollow? We havent been there for several days, and I dont know how well the pond is being dug." Xiaoxiao was restless. She had been thinking about her pond and that stretch ofnd, wanting to see it as they would soon need to start nting. There was still so much work to be done. "Sure, lets go check it out now. Ill hitch up the horse cart." "Okay." They left the house, hitched up the horse cart, and drove towards the hollow. But before they reached the spot, they saw a bustling crowd gathered at the hollow, noisy and tumultuous. What was happening? Had something else gone wrong? Xiaoxiao got anxious. She feared more trouble with the hollow, "Husband, lets hurry over." "Right," said Yang Ming as he cracked the whip, and the horse cart sped up, "Ya!" Upon arriving, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming quickly got down from the cart and headed toward the crowd. The closer they got, the more familiar the sounds seemed. Chapter 491 - 492: Grandma Throws a Tantrum

Chapter 491: Chapter 492: Grandma Throws a Tantrum

It turned out Grandma had arrived in the lond, putting on a dramatic show of the wicked mother-inw, unrelentingly scolding Auntie Five, "Who allowed you toe here, huh?" Tears welled up in Auntie Fives eyes, too scared to make a sound, "Mother..." "Who are you calling mother? I am not your mother. Go back to Xiawa Vige immediately, and donte out and embarrass us," Grandma continued her harsh scolding. "Mother..." Auntie Five was crying, tears were streaming down her face, sobbing, unable to refute her mother-inws words and could only endure the insults. The eldest aunt was also trying to persuade, "Mother, its been so many years, why dont you stop... Boss and his family arent having an easy time either." "Bosss wife, shut your mouth. This is none of your business, stop butting in." After she finished speaking, she pointed to all the daughters-inw and granddaughters-inw, "The same goes for you all, its none of your business, stop butting in." "..." The daughters-inw and granddaughters-inw were scared into silence as well, just letting the mother-inw have her outburst. Apart from Xiaoxiao, no one could control this old child. Someone quickly sent a message to Uncle Five, who put down what he was doing and hurried over, pushing through the crowd to embrace his wife, saying with heartfelt pain, "Mother, what are you doing?" "Who are you calling mother? Didnt you acknowledge them as your parents? Do you even have me in your eyes?" Grandma continued her harsh words. "Mother, what are you saying? You will always be my mother." "Spare me that talk. Take your wife and go back to Xiawa Vige, youre not wee here. Leave now; out of sight, out of mind." Uncle Five and Auntie Fives faces showed their disappointment as they helplessly turned around, supporting each other, and walked towards Xiawa Vige. Behind them, they could still hear Grandmas aggressive words, "Boss, this is your retribution for not acknowledging your parents, marrying that barren hen. See who will care for you in your old age." As soon as Xiaoxiao arrived, she heard Grandmas remarks. Although she knew these words were aimed at Uncle Five and Auntie Five, they sounded particrly harsh to her, as if they were directed at her. She faltered for a moment, and Yang Ming quickly supported her, "Wife, dont take Grandmas words to heart." Xiaoxiao came back to her senses, waved her hand, and forced a very fake smile, "Im fine." Yang Ming saw all this and felt a deep sympathy. He walked over and confronted Grandma harshly, "Grandma, thats enough. What wrong have Uncle Five and Auntie Five done? Auntie Fives parents have no sons; whats wrong with Uncle Five marrying into her family to look after them? They are not neglecting you. If it were me, Id marry into a family too." The olddy didnt expect to be lectured by her grandson. Just as she was about to speak, she heard her grandson continue, "What does it matter if Auntie Five cant have children? Uncle Five hasntined. If they are happy, thats what counts. Its not our ce to say anything. Us youngsters will take care of you in your old age, what more can you ask for without ending up resenting everyone?" The olddy, furious, pointed at Yang Ming and started scolding, "You brat, how dare you talk to your grandmother like that, huh?" "Grandma, Im only telling the truth. Do you really want to be happy only when everyone turns against you?" "..." "Uncle Five and Auntie Five want to acknowledge you, but youre the one pushing them away." "..." The olddy was left speechless by her grandsons words. She didnt know what she was holding onto. She looked up to see Xiaoxiao standing there and, as if she had found someone to solve her dilemma, pitifully began, "Granddaughter-inw." Chapter 492 - 493: Grandma, I Think You’re the One Who’s Being Unreasonable

Chapter 492: Chapter 493: Grandma, I Think Youre the One Whos Being Unreasonable

Hearing Yang Mings words, Xiaoxiao felt an indescribable sensation; she knew that he had talked back to grandma because of her. "Grandma," Xiaoxiao called out softly. The olddy came to Xiaoxiaos side, grabbed her hand, and instantly transformed into a child seeking affection. Facing Xiaoxiao, she said in a coquettish manner, "My dear granddaughter-inw, I wont argue with him. Ill talk to you instead." "..." The crowd fell silent at the olddys act, which was astonishingly childishpared to her previous arrogance. "Grandma, I think my husband makes sense," Xiaoxiao said gently and softly. The olddy looked somewhat bewildered, but she still stubbornly retorted, "What sense is there in what he says? Its all nonsense." "Grandma, I think its you whos spouting nonsense," Xiaoxiao almost shouted this sentence. The abrupt outburst startled everyone, including the olddy, who quickly tried to soothe Xiaoxiao, "My dear granddaughter-inw, please, dont be angry!" "..." Everyone internally sighed with relief, thinking how fortunate it was that Yang Mings wife was the one who yelled; otherwise, they would have been scolded to death. "Grandma, tell me, is Uncle Five your biological son?" The olddy nodded, acknowledging that he was. "Then what are you being so stubborn about? Whether you acknowledge it or not, nothing can change the fact that he is your son, and you are his mother." "He took someone elses surname; he recognized other parents," she objected. Xiaoxiao was speechless. The olddy simply couldnt get her head around this point. "Grandma, even if he didnt take their surname, he would still have to call them father and mother. They are Uncle Fives inws. Dont you think, in your heart, that the wives of your first, third, and fourth sons shouldnt call you mother?" The olddy still felt that the act of taking in a son-inw had lost the Yang Family face. "Having his own parents and still taking in a son-inw is shameful." Xiaoxiaos face began to look slightly unhappy as she said coldly, "Marrying into the wifes family isnt shameful at all; it shows Uncle Fives filial piety. He wants to take care of his wifes parents rightfully. Pushing away such a good son, do you really want to do that?" The olddy found herself at a loss for words. Xiaoxiao continued, "In my opinion, its much more shameful for grandfather to have sold his granddaughter than it is for Uncle Five to take in a son-inw. You could ept the former, so why cant you ept thetter?" As soon as she said this, the expressions of the other Yang Family members present all darkened. They still didnt know the whereabouts of their daughter. "She cant have children; isnt that retribution?" the olddy challenged. Xiaoxiao shook her head, "The matter of children is something that shoulde naturally. You dont acknowledge them, and theyre under stress every day. How could they have children? Maybe if you ept them, the children wille." After hearing this, the olddy grew uncertain and asked her granddaughter-inw, "Is that so?" The crowd immediately nodded in unison, confirming it. The olddy thought for a moment, then finally rxed, "All right then, grandma will listen to you." Having said that, the olddy turned and walked away, muttering as she went, "I wont interfere anymore; if they want toe, let theme." When the family heard the olddy relent, they were as delighted as could be. They quickly sent someone to Xiawa Vige to spread the good news. Just as the olddy had walked a few steps away, she turned back suddenly, causing everyone to jump, afraid that she might go back on her word. They only heard the olddy shout, "Granddaughter-inw,e home with me quickly, to sing songs and tell stories for me." "Okay, Grandma,ing," Xiaoxiao responded. Xiaoxiao had no choice but to follow and pacify this elderly child. The visit to the pond had to wait; she woulde back some other time. Yang Ming felt an immense gratitude for his wife. She had resolved a major concern of Uncle Five and his wife, just like that. Chapter 493 - 494: Grandma, Who Is Your Real Grandson, After All?

Chapter 493: Chapter 494: Grandma, Who Is Your Real Grandson, After All?

Seeing his wife walk away with Grandma, Yang Ming hurried to catch up to the horse cart. He couldnt let the two of them walk all the way backit was quite a distance, and Grandma was getting on in years. Besides, he was also worried about his wife. Yang Ming drove the cart up to the two women, and said to the elderlydy, "Grandma, please get on." Grandma nced at Yang Ming with her eyes and continued walking forward. She had not forgotten how her grandson had just chickened out. When had her grandson ever stood up to her before? Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming exchanged a look. This olddy sure could hold a grudge. Xiaoxiao quickly called out, "Grandma!" Grandma stopped in her tracks when she heard Xiaoxiaos call and asked anxiously, "Daughter-inw, whats wrong?" Pretending to be unable to walk any further, Xiaoxiao said to Grandma, "Grandma, I cant go on. Lets take the horse cart back, okay?" Upon hearing that Xiaoxiao wanted to take the cart, Grandma, without a second thought, scolded Yang Ming, "Arent youing over? Didnt you hear your wife say she wants to ride the cart?" "Eh,ing!" Yang Ming happily agreed. His wife knew how to handle things. No one could deal with this old child. Stopping the cart at their feet, Grandma disdainfully told her grandson, "Arent you going to help your wife onto the cart? You have no sense at all." "..." Grandma, whos your real grandson here? "Coming." Xiaoxiao felt like bursting intoughter seeing Yang Mings deted look in front of Grandma. As Yang Ming helped his wife onto the cart, the two exchanged meaningful nces andmunicated with their eyes. "Help Grandma onto the cart," Xiaoxiao said,ughing, after getting on. As Yang Ming helped Grandma onto the cart, she was still reluctant, stubbornly saying, "If it werent for your wife wanting to take the cart, I wouldnt be caught dead riding in your cart." "Yes, yes, yes, its all thanks to my wifes influence that Grandma is willing to ride in my cart." After speaking, Yang Ming also got on the cart, whipped the reins, and shouted, "Lets go!" The cart started moving, and seeing the helpless expression on Yang Mings face, Xiaoxiao felt a pang of conscience and began to coax Grandma, "Grandma, dont be mad at my husband anymore. He may have been a bit harsh earlier, but he meant well." Grandma remained silent, and Xiaoxiao pretended to cough twice. Yang Ming immediately took the hint and said, "Grandma, I was wrong. I definitely wont talk back to you in the future. Please dont be angry with me." Only then did Grandma relent, "Daughter-inw, Ill stop being angry if you sing a song for Grandma." "..." Oh, this olddy, acting just like a child. "Alright then, Grandma, Ill sing you a bit of Er Ren Zhuan, A Lovers Enchantment. "Ahem!" Clearing her throat, Xiaoxiao began to sing, "On the first watch of the night, the moon shines on the flowered wall, the little servant girl is so sad..." Yang Ming, driving the cart at the front, was in high spirits, listening to his wife sing the tune. Traveling on a countryne, this kind of contented life was exactly what he had always wanted. Soon the cart arrived at the elder brothers house. The three of them got off, and while they thought taking Grandma back would be the end of it, she took Xiaoxiaos hand as soon as she stepped down, "Daughter-inw,e inside quick. Grandma hasnt had enough of your singing." Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming exchanged a nce. His wife would have to endure a little longer, "Ille for you tonight." "Mm." And so, Xiaoxiao was wrapped up by this old child the whole day, while Yang Ming went to the rented courtyard to find Yang Qiu and Li Fugui, as he still had matters to attend to. These had already been dyed for many days. Chapter 494 - 495: This is her, Miss Wang’s painting is very lifelike

Chapter 494: Chapter 495: This is her, Miss Wangs painting is very lifelike

Yang Ming drove the carriage to the rented courtyard and directly called Yang Qiu out. "Third brother, whats up?" "Get ready, Im taking you to the county town." "Really?" Upon hearing this, Yang Qiu could hardly believe it, and felt excited. She had never been to the county town, let alone to the town, "Third brother, what are we doing in the county town?" "Were going to find a painter to make a portrait of you." Yang Qiu was puzzled, "Why do we need to make a portrait?" "Its not easy to find Yang Xia just by her name; you resemble her, so well try using your portrait first." Upon hearing that it was for finding her sister, Yang Qiu didnt say another word, darted back into the house, dropped her things, and came out hastily, saying, "Third brother, lets go now then." "Wait a moment; I need to call Li Fugui." "Okay." Yang Qiu waited in the yard while Yang Ming went inside to call Li Fugui, who was busy preparing food in the kitchen. As soon as Yang Ming entered the kitchen, he exined his purpose, "Li Fugui, let the female workers cook lunch by themselves today, were going to the county town." Li Fugui stopped what he was doing, equally puzzled, and asked, "What are we doing in the county town?" "Im taking you and Yang Qiu there to find a painter to make a portrait of Xiaotian. Its hard to find people just by name, so Im considering trying with a portrait." Upon hearing that Yang Ming was going to help find Xiaotian, Li Fugui quickly put down what he was doing, hurried out of the door, and said, "I have a portrait, Ill get it for you." This surprised Yang Ming, who remembered Li Fugui saying days before that he didnt have one. "Why didnt you say you had one before?" As they walked, Li Fugui exined, "Miss Wang drew it for me a few days ago." "..." That Xiangxiang had such a skill? She was not what she appeared to be. As soon as they came out of the house, Yang Qiu said excitedly, "Third brother, shall we go now?" "Xiaoqiu, just wait a moment please." Yang Ming was anxious to see the portrait, so his tone was somewhat harsh. "Oh!" Yang Qiu still waited in the yard. Yang Ming followed Li Fugui to his room, where Li Fugui carefully took out a portrait from the drawer and handed it to Yang Ming. "This is it; Miss Wangs drawing is very lifelike." Yang Ming took the portrait, feeling somewhat emotional, his eyes slightly misty. This was the first time he had seen what his sister looked like; she indeed resembled Yang Qiu, looking very sweet. "Then I will take this to the county town and have the painter make several copies." "Yes," Li Fugui agreed, "Be careful with it, dont damage it." This was the only portrait he had; he was holding onto it as a keepsake. "Yes, dont worry, Ill bring it back tonight." Yang Ming could very well understand the pain in Li Fuguis heart. This portrait was extremely precious to Li Fugui. Compared to him, he was much luckier, having his wife by his side. The two men quickly left the house, and Yang Ming said to Yang Qiu, "Xiaoqiu, we have the portrait now, so you dont need toe to the county town. Go back to your chores." Upon hearing this, Yang Qius expression grew dim. She couldnt go to the county town, and she felt somewhat disappointed as she turned and walked back into the house. Yang Ming noticed his sisters difort; she probably hadnt been out of the vige before and must have really wanted to see what it was like. He felt a bit guilty for neglecting his sister, "Xiaoqiu, today I have urgent matters and cant take you to the county town to y. Another day, Ill have your third sister-inw take you." "Yes." Yang Qius eyes lit up again, as she smiled and agreed. Chapter 495 - 496: Xiaoqiu, You’ve Grown Up and Become More Beautiful

Chapter 495: Chapter 496: Xiaoqiu, Youve Grown Up and Be More Beautiful

Yang Ming, holding the portrait, set out briskly in his carriage, heading toward the county town. He needed to be quick so he could return and pick up his wife from his grandmothers home. The carriage soon arrived at the Xuntian Escort Agency; it had been nearly a month since hisst visit, and he had no idea how things were going or if there was any news of Xiaotian. Everyone in the courtyard was practicing their punches, sparring with each other. When they saw Yang Ming enter, they all stopped and uniformly greeted him, "Store Manager." Being addressed like that made Yang Ming somewhat ufortable, but he had no choice and nodded in response, "Is Head Escort Master Wang around?" "Store Manager, Head Escort Master Wang is in the front hall." Yang Ming waved his hand and said, "All right, you all continue with your practice." The brothers in the yard resumed their training as Yang Ming left the courtyard and walked straight into the front hall, where he saw Wang Kui. "Head Escort Master Wang, how have things beentely? Anything new at the Escort Agency?" "Store Manager, youre here!" Wang Kui, not having seen Yang Ming for a while, was quite excited and eagerly reported, "Nothing much has happened at the Escort Agency recently; the number of escorts were running is increasing, and everything is going smoother." "Ive noticed that there are more brothers in the courtyard." This surprised Yang Ming, as it seemed like the numbers had increased substantially in just a month. It appeared that the Escort Agency was being well-managed under Wang Kui. Wang Kui spoke with a hint of embarrassment, "Store Manager, I havent been in contact with you for the past month, and without your permission, I used all the silver earned to recruit more people." "You did the right thing. If theres surplus silver after distributing it to the brothers, use it all to expand our power, preferably extending to other counties." A shock crossed Wang Kuis mind; he might have chosen rightly in Yang Ming, who had such foresight. With this approach, it would be only a matter of time before their Escort Agency became celebrated across thend, "Alright, Ill follow your instructions, Store Manager." "Just call me by my name." It had been rified before, but Wang Kui still hadnt managed to change his way of addressing him. "No, lets keep it this way. You call me Head Escort Master Wang, and Ill call you Store Manager. Its more fitting." Unable to persist, Yang Ming agreed, "Fine then. Any news on Xiaotiantely?" "No leads yet." Wang Kui found it difficult to say. "Thats okay, people arent that easy to find; well have to take it slow. My visit today is for something important." "What is it? Just tell me, Store Manager." "Ive brought a portrait of my sister. We need to find a Painter and have him replicate it several times, so the escorts can carry the portraits to various ces while on duty." Wang Kuis hand trembled slightly. Yang Qius portrait? He feignedposure and said, "Yes, indeed. Having a portrait will make searching for someone much easier." After the conversation, they both stood up and went to find a renowned Painter in the county. They asked the Painter to create a hundred copies, and Yang Ming carefully stored away the one from Li Fugui. The Painter finished a few portraits on the spot, handing them to Wang Kui for immediate use, with the rest to be collected once the Painter finished them. "If theres any issue, you can have the brotherse find me in Yang Family Vige." "Yes, of course," agreed Wang Kui. After chatting about some trifling matters rted to the Escort Agency, the two parted ways. Wang Kui, clutching the portraits, felt a surge of emotion. He secretly kept one for himself, believing it to be the current likeness of Yang Qiu. Silently, he murmured in his heart, "Xiaoqiu, youve grown up, youve be beautiful." Yang Ming had no idea about Wang Kuis actions. After leaving, he visited the Academy to discuss academic matters with his teacher. Then he hurried home because he had to pick up his wife. Chapter 496 - 497 Planning to Buy Land to Build a House

Chapter 496: Chapter 497 nning to Buy Land to Build a House

Yang Ming had no intention of telling his wife about the Escort Agencys affairs, fearing she might worry, and after all, he was just a titr Shopkeeper. Once Xiaotian was found, he wouldnt even hold that title anymore. With the portrait in hand and the Escort Agencys influence expanding, it was only a matter of time before his sister would be found. The current situation was much better than when they started. The carriage soon arrived at his uncles house, and Yang Ming quickly alighted. He missed his wife and headed straight into Grannys room. Xiaoxiao was there telling Granny a story. Seeing Yang Ming, her eyes lit up with bright light. He had finallye to pick her up. She had been talking until her mouth was dry and her tongue was numb. If he had note sooner, she feared her throat would have be hoarse. Joyfully she called out, "Husband, youre here." With one look at his wife, Yang Ming knew she was struggling to hold up, so he turned to Granny and said, "Granny, well be leaving now." The olddy didnt want them to leave and hurriedly asked them to stay for a meal, "Dont go. Eat here." Seeing the fatigue on his wifes face, Yang Ming quickly refused, "No, Granny, my wife just made a narrow escape from the Gate of Hell; she needs to go back and rest." The olddy thought about it and then nodded in agreement, "Thene over another day." Finally able to leave, Xiaoxiao smiled and coaxed Granny, "Granny, well take our leave now. Ille back and tell you stories when we have time." The olddy waved them off, saying with concern, "Go back and rest." Finally free from Grannys, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao boarded the carriage, and Xiaoxiao started toin, "Husband, why did youe sote? My throat is sore from all the talking." Yang Ming looked at her with eyes full of empathy, "Wife, youve worked hard." Without his wife, the rtionship between their rtives wouldnt have be so harmonious. She was the great hero. They soon arrived home, and Yang Ming hurriedly got his wife some water to soothe her throat. "Thats more like it." At dinner, Yang Ming announced the decision he had discussed with his wife earlier. "Dad, Mom, Xiaoxiao and I have discussed it and decided to buy a homestead and build a house." The whole family was invigorated by the news. They had grown tired of their shabby house. Their home was an old house, much worse for wear than others in the vigecold in winter and hot in summer, hardly suitable for living. Moreover, they knew that Xiaoxiao had silver, and with that, building a house was definitely achievable. Everyone began discussing enthusiastically. "Great, its about time we got a new house, this one is really too shabby." "Auntie, can Guangguang have his own room to sleep in then?" "We should build a brick house just like the Vige Chiefs, to make them envious." "This house really does need to change; its not soundproof at all, you can hear every word spoken." "..." "..." Aiyo, could the second sister-inw not mention the issue of soundproofing? Xiaoxiao really wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into. Because of this, they absolutely had to change houses. "Everyone, listen to me." "Stop talking, everyone, lets hear what the third brothers wife has to say." Old Man Yang interjected to stop the buzz of everyones discussions. Xiaoxiao continued, "I earned five hundred taels from selling underwear this time; I didnt give everyone spending money. Dont overthink it. I was nning to use this money to build the housefearing it might not be enough. After we earn more, Ill give you spending money." "..." Everyone was taken aback. Building a house that five hundred taels might not cover? What kind of luxurious house was the third brothers wife nning to build? Old Man Yang asked, "Third son, third sons wife, what kind of house are you nning to build that needs five hundred taels?" Chapter 497 - 498: Buying Ten Acres of Homestead Land

Chapter 497: Chapter 498: Buying Ten Acres of Homestead Land

Yang Erzhus wife also asked in surprise, "Right, third sister-inw, even if youre not building this kind of earthen house, you wouldnt need that much, would you? About ten or more taels should be enough." Building a house here does not cost many silvers, as materials are directly taken from the mountains andbor generally doesnt cost moneyCeach family has built houses before. We help each other; providing meals is enough, and even if you pay for thebor, it doesnt use up that much silver. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming exchanged smiles. Xiaoxiao exined, "I n to build sevenrge courtyards, each courtyard with ten rooms. Well probably need to buy about ten acres ofnd for the house foundation." As soon as Xiaoxiao spoke, the whole family was astonished. They couldnt even dare to imagine building such arge house, not even thendlords family had built like this, nor had anyone from the city built such arge manor in the countryside. "Youngest daughter-inw, our family doesnt need to build such a big house, does it?" Yang Mings mother said, thinking that with the youngest daughter-inws expenditure, no amount of silver would be enough. "Yeah, we only have so many people in our family, why build so many rooms?" Yang Erzhus wife asked too. "Mother, I still find it too small," Xiaoxiao replied. Xiaoxiao went on to repeat to the whole family the n she had discussed with Yang Ming. When the family heard about each household having its own courtyard and even considerations for the next generation, they could hardly believe that their family was going to build suchrge, fine houses. They were simultaneously incredulous and overjoyed. No matter what the adults thought, the children were delighted, and Yang Guangguang was especially happy, pping his hands. "Thats great, then Ill have my own room." "Yes, not just you, each of us will have our own," Xiaoxiao responded to Guangguangs words. "There will also be special bathrooms, dressing rooms, restrooms..." Xiaoxiao continued talking excitedly. Everyone listened to Xiaoxiaos words and began picturing the new house in their minds, bing more and more excited, all of them wanting to live in such a beautiful house. Yang Ming looked at his wife, figuring that these must be the type of houses from her hometown. If his wife wanted to live in a house like those back in her hometown, then he would make it happen for her. "Youngest son, did you two decide this together, you also agree to build such a big house?" Yangs father asked his son. "Yes, dad, I agree with what my wife said. Since were building new, lets do it right the first time to avoid having to rebuild in a few years," Yang Ming was determined to stand by his wife. "Alright then, lets go with what youve nned," Yangs father agreed, thinking he didnt have many years left and should let the children figure it out on their own, whatever they turn it into, as each of his children had their own ideas. Seeing Yangs father agree, the family was overjoyed, as if they were about to live in the new house immediately. Early next morning, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming went to the Vige Chiefs house to discuss buying the house foundationnd. "Ten acres for the house foundation is toorge. It wont be possible in the center of the vige; you can only buynd on the outskirts." "Okay, thats fine." In the end, they chose a position right at the vige entrance and bought ten acres of house foundationnd for fifty taels, which was somewhat cheaper as thend was not used for cultivation. With the house foundationnd settled, they just waited to build the house. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming happily returned home to spread the good news. After they left, the Vige Chief sat there marveling, "Incredible, oh, incredible, that Yang Erzhus family really has struck it rich." Chapter 498 - 499: You’ve finally succeeded, now you can do it for that sister.

Chapter 498: Chapter 499: Youve finally seeded, now you can do it for that sister.

Shibao Town Chu Mansion Dining Hall Chu Huan had a face full of helplessness, this was already the fifth day tasting her brothers cooking, and she really didnt want to taste any more, "Brother, I beg you, stop poisoning us, okay?" The Lady of the Chu family also had a look of disgust on her face, "Son, let the kitchen maid do it, our family doesnt need you to cook personally." Even the Old Master Chu, who had always supported Chu Lian, changed his tune this time, shaking his head and sighing as he spoke, "Son, you should spend this time managing the restaurant instead, youre really not cut out to be a chef." Chu Lian had been attempting to make the dish Golden Jade Full House at home for several days in a row, following the steps taught by the kitchen maid exactly, yet the taste was always different. What was he missing? He had been taught hands-on, yet he couldnt get it right, and Li Fugui didnt have anyone to guide him, could it be that he really had a natural talent for cooking? Hearing what his family members had said, Chu Lian still felt somewhat unconvinced, "This is thest time, I wont let you taste it from tomorrow onward." The family was overjoyed upon hearing this, but then their spirits deted; even though it was thest time, they didnt want to taste it again. "Can you give me some face, I didnt poison you, its not like it can kill you, right?" Chu Lian said with a helpless face, they were his closest kin, yet they were so repelled by him. "Brother, you might as well put us out of our misery and kill us with one bite," Chu Huan said with a dejected face. "You..." Chu Lian felt he was truly going to be annoyed to death by his own sister. Seeing his son like this, Old Master Chu decided to give his son onest chance to save face. He picked up a spoonful, put it in his mouth, and his eyes lit up, "Hmm, this time the taste isnt bad, you all should try it." Although the Lady of the Chu family and Chu Huan saw Old Master Chus surprised expression, they were still afraid to move their chopsticks, as they couldnt believe that Chu Lian managed to make something edible. While eating, Old Master Chu continued to speak, "Im not lying to you, this time its edible." "..." The two of them were speechless, was it just edible? Seeing the expectant look on Chu Lians face, the Lady of the Chu family and Chu Huan reluctantly picked up their spoons, trembling as they took a bite, and they too eximed with surprise. "Son, this time its really not bad." "Brother, youve finally seeded, you can cook for that sister now." Upon hearing this, Chu Lians eyes brightened, so he had finally seeded? He scooped up a mouthful himself and put it in his mouth, feeling ted. Now he could prove to Wang Xiangxiang that he could cook too. This meal, the family finally enjoyed together harmoniously, no longer having to taste anything resembling poison. After the meal, Chu Lian returned to his own ce, and Acheng came back. "Did you find out anything?" "Young master, its been over three years, nearly four years ago, the information may not be urate," Acheng hesitated, not sure if he should speak or not. "Speak." "Young master, the rtionship between Li Fugui and Wang Xiangxiang, its almost the same as your rtionship with Wang Xiangxiang." "What do you mean?" "Almost four years ago, Li Fugui and Wang Xiangxiang had a big fight in Dongfeng Restaurant, Wang Xiangxiang vowed shed marry a pig or a dog before marrying Li Fugui, and Li Fugui vowed hed marry a pig or a dog before taking Wang Xiangxiang as his wife." "..." This troublesome woman, couldnt she say anything else? Was she always speaking this way with men? But if their rtionship was that bad, howe they seemed to be on good terms now, with Li Fugui even iming he would marry her? He couldnt figure it out. "You may leave." "Yes, young master." Acheng left the room. Chapter 499 - 500 Miss, it is Young Master Chu

Chapter 499: Chapter 500 Miss, it is Young Master Chu

Dongfeng Restaurant Private Room "Knock knock!" The sound of knocking came from the door, and it was Fuyous personal attendant. "Come in." "Young master." "What is it?" "ording to reliable information, Xiangxiang Cloth Shop is helping Fugui look for Xiatian." Fuyou, holding a teacup, gave it a shake, "Oh? Xiangxiang Cloth Shop? Is it thatdy who refused the young master of the Chu Family?" Hmph, since when did his good brother form such a connection? He really wanted to meet this Miss Wang, who was actually helping his good-for-nothing brother. "Exactly, young master, should we?" "Keep it discreet, show that girl some colors." A cunning look spread across Fuyous face; anyone helping Fugui was crossing him. "Yes, young master." Seeing that the attendant hadnt left yet, Fuyou spoke, "Anything else?" "Fugui has been farming in the countryside, should we also..." "Not for now, just let him farm there," Fuyou sneered, curious to see how long his good brother couldst in the countryside. On the road to Yang Family Vige, a carriage swiftly passed by. The coachman, seeing a pedestrian walking along the road, shouted into the carriage, "Miss, its Young Master Chu, should we give him a ride?" Inside the carriage, Wang Xiangxiang looked out the window, "That rascal, why is he walking today instead of taking a carriage? Thats really strange." Truly an omnipresent man, encountering him everywhere. "No need, lets just continue on." "Yes, Miss." The carriage didnt stop and simply passed by; Chu Lian on the road had recognized the carriage of the spoileddy. So, the spoileddy was also going to Yang Mings home today? He felt a bit of excitement in his heart, but it was quickly overshadowed by the spoileddys behavior she instructed her carriage to just drive away without even looking back. No matter what, they acquainted; why not greet him and give him a ride? He felt a smoldering annoyance build up inside him. After hearing the news brought by Acheng, he couldnt sit still and asked the kitchen maid to prepare the ingredients for a house full of gold and jade, packed up his luggage briefly, and hit the road. It was indeed a bizarre coincident; his karma with them must be something carried over from his past life. As he walked along seething, he suddenly noticed that the carriage ahead had stopped. Was this their conscience acting up, wanting to give him a ride? He quickly approached, and opening the door was a three-year-old child, "Uncle, are you going to Yang Family Vige?" Caught off guard, Chu Lian, after a pause, responded, "Yes." The child shed an innocent smile, "Then get on, were going the same way." The irritation in Chu Lians heart melted away at the lovely childs face, and he got into the carriage. After boarding, he saw Wang Xiangxiang sitting there, realizing she was on the carriage all along; but who was this little child? He wanted to greet her, but seeing her expression turn extremely unpleasant at the sight of him, like she didnt recognize him, made him swallow his words back. Neither spoke, the little child, unaware of the situation, excitedly asked, "Uncle, this is my first time in the countryside, is it fun?" "The countryside is fun, there are many kids just like you there, and lots of small animals too, like puppies, chicks, ducklings..." The child beamed with an innocent smile, "Really? I cant wait to see them." Chapter 500 Did you see that sister? She is my mother.

Chapter 500: Chapter 500 Did you see that sister? She is my mother.

Wang Xiangxiang was surprised that her little brother would take the initiative to chat with that shameless man, and he didnt show the slightest sign of shyness, which was unusual since her brother rarely talked to strangers. What surprised her even more was the mans attitude. He talked to the child as if he were coaxing him, his enigmatic face always wearing a smile. Her brother must have been duped by that face to strike up a conversation so proactively. Watching her chatty little brother, Wang Xiangxiangs expression softened, and the corners of her mouth lifted unconsciously. She heard her little brother continue, "Uncle, youre really handsome." Wang Xiangxiangs smile twitched, and her body involuntarily shuddered. See, she was right; her brother really had been tricked by that mans face. Her reaction did not escape Chu Lian, who noticed her scoffing smile. Did she think he was ugly? He subconsciously touched his face; he was quite confident in his looks. He replied earnestly to the little child, "Youre very pretty too." He didnt say this just to tter the child; the little one truly was pretty, with fair skin and bright, sparkling eyes. It was the first time he had seen such a beautiful little child. He nced over at the spoiled woman again out of the corner of his eye C it seemed the little one bore some resemnce to her. The journey was boring, and he rather liked the little tyke, so he decided to engage further in conversation. "How old are you?" "Uncle, Im three years old this year." "And whats your name?" "My name is Fufu, the fu from prosperity." At this, Chu Lian furrowed his brow; calling him Fufu was one thing, but to emphasize it as the fu from prosperityit reminded him all too much of the name Li Fugui, which made him feel inexplicably awkward. Despite the awkwardness, he stillplimented, "Fufu is a really nice name." The little childughed, seemingly very fond of the uncle, "Then whats your name, uncle?" It was then that Wang Xiangxiang spoke up, "Fufu, how can you be so impolite, asking an elders name like that?" "Oh," the little one pouted, his disappointment rendering him silent. Seeing the child a bit downhearted, Chu Lian spoke up directly, "My name is Chu Lian, Lian as in connection." When the little one heard the uncle tell him his name, he instantly shifted from disappointment to excitement, dering, "The Lian for connection, I can write that!" "Youre that talented?" Chu Lian truly hadnt expected a three-year-old to already be writing; surely, the spoiled woman must have taught him. "Yeah, I know lots of words now." "Is that so? Whose child are you?" At this question, the little one went silent, instead leaning his small head close to Chu Lians ear, "Uncle, Im going to tell you a secret, okay?" Startled by the little ones actions, Chu Lians eyes widened. The child was going to share a secret with himcould it be something that the spoiled woman shouldnt hear? He nodded to indicate he was listening. In a hushed tone, the little one whispered into Chu Lians ear, "Do you see that sister over there? Shes my mom." After finishing, the little one sat back down with a radiant smile, but Chu Lian went pale. The little one was the spoiled womans child? This unexpected revtion was hard for him to digest. She had a child without being married? How shameless of her. And who in the world was the father of the child? Chapter 501 - 502: Fufu, Can You Call Me Brother?

Chapter 501: Chapter 502: Fufu, Can You Call Me Brother?

Chu Lians heart was already a mess, and he had no mood to talk with the little child anymore. Every time he thought about the child being born to that unruly woman and another man, he could not feel happy or find affection for the child anymore. He didnt know what was wrong with him, but he felt extremely ufortable. He secretly decided that once he returned, he would have Acheng thoroughly investigate the unruly womans past. At this moment, Wang Xiangxiang was still unaware that her brothers words had already caused Chu Lian to misunderstand. She was still puzzled, not understanding why someone who had just been smiling brightly was now gloomy. Anyway, she thought, whatever his mood, it had nothing to do with her. The little child was still too young; after being excited for a while, he yawned, "Sister, Fufu is sleepy." "Come to sister, sister will hold you while you sleep." Once the little child was in Wang Xiangxiangs arms, she gently patted him, and soon he fell asleep. Chu Lians expression grew darker; it was obvious she was the mother, yet she had to be called Sister. This unruly woman was so cunning, hiding her true self so deeply. Because the little child was asleep, the two inside the carriage remained very quiet, not speaking at all. The carriage soon arrived at the door of Yang Mings house, "Fufu, wake up, we have arrived at the countryside, havent you been wanting toe here?" The little child woke up by Wang Xiangxiang and hearing his sisters words, appeared extremely excited. He immediately wasnt sleepy anymore and bounded out of the carriage. "Fufu, slow down." Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had just returned from buying a homestead from the Vige Chief, and saw the carriage at the door. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian arrive together, Xiaoxiaos face broke into a sly smile, it seemed these two indeed had some secrets. When Fufu saw Xiaoxiao, he immediately ran over, "Sister, my sister finally brought me here." Xiaoxiao immediately picked up Fufu, "Fufu has been wanting toe here for a while, hasnt he?" After being picked up, Fufu wrapped his arms around Xiaoxiaos neck, "Yes, I have been wanting toe to the countryside for a long time; uncle said the countryside is really fun." After speaking, Fufu even nced at Chu Lian. "..." Uncle? Was he referring to Chu Lian? It seems like they got along quite well, "Then Fufu can stay a few more days at sisters home." Fufu looked at Wang Xiangxiang with a pleading face, "Can I?" Wang Xiangxiang, feeling helpless, nodded in agreement. Perhaps letting her brother stay in the countryside would be good, considering he was the only child at home and it was too lonely; here, he could have more friends. Having obtained his sisters consent, Fufu was very excited, "Thats great, my sister agreed." After saying this, he even gave a smooch on Xiaoxiaos cheek. Xiaoxiaos heart almost melted, Fufu was indeed endearing. Seeing this, Wang Xiangxiang hurriedly scolded, "Fufu,e down now, youre too heavy, Sister Xiaoxiao cant hold you." "Its okay, I really like him." Xiaoxiao quickly said. Seeing his wifes affectionate way with children, Yang Ming felt extremely bitter in his heart. If they could have a child, his wife would certainly be a wonderful mother. "Fufu, this is sisters husband, what should you call him?" Xiaoxiao asked Fufu, holding the child in front of Yang Ming. Fufu thought for a moment, then answered, "Brother-inw." "Fufu is really clever." The group chatted andughed together, while Chu Lian, standing to the side, darkened his expression. Why was everyone calling each other sister and brother-inw, yet he was the only one being called uncle? Was he really that old? Even though he was only a year older than Yang Ming, he felt awkward and said, "Fufu, can you call me brother too?" "..." Chapter 502 - 503: You Can’t Call Me Brother-in-Law

Chapter 502: Chapter 503: You Cant Call Me Brother-in-Law

Hearing Chu Lians words, everyone was stunned, not expecting Chu Lian to care about that. Xiaoxiao quickly stepped in to smooth things over, "Fufu, what did you used to call him?" "Uncle." "But he is about the same age as your brother-inw, what do you think you should call him?" Fufus little eyes spun around as if he were thinking, his childlike appearance exceedingly loveable. After a moment, he spoke, "Then Ill also call him brother-inw." "..." As these words came out, Wang Xiangxiangs face turned slightly red. Knowing her brother meant no harm, but brother-inw implied her husband, she immediately retorted, "Dont call him brother-inw." "Oh." Seeing his sister angered, Fufu immediately agreed. Chu Lian originally also felt awkward about the term brother-inw, but now that Wang Xiangxiang had said it, he suddenly found it more agreeable to be called brother-inw. "Uncle, my sister said not to call you brother-inw, so lets call you brother." "..." Out of helplessness, Chu Lian had to agree, "Okay, call me brother." Little Fufu continued, "Sister Xiaoxiao, brother said that there are many kids my age in the countryside, where are they? I really want to y with them." "Then Sister Xiaoxiao will take you to find them." Xiaoxiao turned and said to everyone, "Lets head straight to the rental courtyard." Everyone nodded in agreement and walked towards the rental courtyard. As soon as they reached the courtyard gate, they first encountered Dahuang and Xiaobai. Little Fuyou hugged Xiaoxiao tightly out of fear. Xiaoxiao consoled him, "These are Dahuang and Xiaobai, dont be afraid, they are very friendly." After speaking, she gestured to Dahuang and Xiaobai not toe closer. Dahuang and Xiaobai quietly crouched by the side, Xiaoxiao carrying Fufu into the courtyard. Little Fufu looked back at the two dogs, puzzled, and then asked, "Sister Xiaoxiao, that is clearly a ck dog, why call it Xiaobai, not Xiaohui, or Duhui?" Children are like that, if they dont understand something, they just ask, they dont keep it bottled up inside. The few people nearby were all waiting to see how Xiaoxiao would respond. "..." She felt a bit embarrassed being stared at. How was she supposed to exin? She had just whimsically picked the name on a whim? "You should ask your brother-inw about this, your brother-inw named it." Xiaoxiao had no choice but to shift the me. Yang Ming, whose name was mentioned, widened his eyes. His wife was pushing the me onto him, he had no idea why his wife chose that name. Seeing Fufus sincere eyes clearly waiting for his response, "Because, because your Sister Xiaoxiao likes white." Yang Ming had to make up any reason. "..." Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian were speechless. These two were really casual! The group soon entered the house, where Li Fugui was teaching three little ones how to read. Seeing them arrive, they all paused. Fufu, seeing the three little ones, was visibly excited and immediately ran over, "What are you learning? Can I join?" Wang Xiangxiang immediately scolded, "Fufu, be polite. Have you greeted the adults?" Only then did Fufu turn his head and see Li Fugui, hearing his sister continue, "You have something inmon. His name also has Fu in it. He is called Li Fugui, the Fugui you are talking about." Fufus little brain started to think again, and after a moment he called out, "Uncle." Chu Lian was quite happy to hear this, not just he was called uncle, Li Fugui was too, but the happinesssted only a few seconds till he heard the child continue, "Is he Daddy?" Chapter 503 - 504: Chu Lian is Jealous Again

Chapter 503: Chapter 504: Chu Lian is Jealous Again

Hearing these words, Wang Xiangxiangs eyes grew somewhat deste. She genuinely adored her three-year-old brother, who since birth had never once seen their mother or father. His only knowledge of their parents came from the lips of servants, and as soon as he knew better, he would constantly pester her with questions about where their mother and father were. Why did everyone else have a mother and father, and only he didnt? Clutching her brother in her arms, she burst into uncontroble sobs before finally saying with a heart full of pain, "You do have a mother, sis is your mother." And so, Little Fufu remembered: when they were alone, he would call her mother, and in the presence of others, he would call her sister. Wang Xiangxiang snapped back to reality from her memories and squatted down to speak earnestly, "No, you should call him brother as well, hes not daddy." "Oh!" Little Fufus gaze began to dim as he had thought the man was his father because their names were the same. It turned out he had been mistaken. Wang Xiangxiang continued to console her little brother, "Daddy went far away, and helle back once Fufu is all grown up." Upon hearing this, Fufus eyes lit up again, "Then Fufu will grow up fast so he can wait for daddy toe back." "Right, go y with them for a while; that brother is going to make you something deliciouster." Fufu went off to y with the three little ones, leaving the adults behind. The people all knew that children say things without thinking and didnt pay much mind to Fufus words, but Chu Lian was not calm. His mind had turned to mush, and he started to believe what Fufu had said was true. More than three years ago, Wang Xiangxiang had met Li Fugui and they had even gotten into a physical fight over something. Could it have been about a child? Wang Xiangxiangs inability to forget Li Fugui led her to name her child Fufu. The child was precisely three years old, which fit perfectly. He was getting angrier the more he thought about it. What exactly were those two up to? His face darkened more and more to the extent that he remained unaware when Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang went to check on the female workers. When he finally came to his senses, only Li Fugui, Yang Ming, and he were left in the room. Li Fugui spoke up, "Im heading to the kitchen to prepare lunch." Just as he was about to leave, Chu Lian bellowed, "You stay right there." Li Fugui and Yang Ming were baffled by Chu Lians shout, wondering what was wrong with him as he had looked grim since earlier on. "Whats the issue?" Li Fugui asked with a look of confusion. Without saying a word, Chu Lian punched Li Fugui, causing his mouth to bleed. Yang Ming quickly stepped in to pull them apart, "Brother Chu, what are you doing?" Chu Lian, realizing he had overstepped, stopped his attack, "Sorry." Li Fugui, baffled by the assault but seeing that it had ceased, didnt say anything and wiped the blood from his mouth before heading to the kitchen. "Brother Chu, whats going on with you today? Youve been off," Yang Ming asked after Li Fugui went away. "Im fine," Chu Lian replied, not willing to discuss it, His mind was in a state of chaos, and he didnt even understand what was happening to himself, let alone exin it to Yang Ming. After saying that, he also left. "Brother Chu, where are you going?" "Im going to cook as well," Chu Lian left behind these words and headed to the kitchen too. "..." Yang Ming was left with an expression of helplessness. What on earth was going on? Why was Brother Chu going to cook? Could it be he hadnt given up on cooking and genuinely wanted to be a chef? Chapter 504 - 505: Is She Going to Launch a New Product Release?

Chapter 504: Chapter 505: Is She Going to Launch a New Product Release?

Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang went over to see how the female workers were doing, and found the work being done in an orderly manner. Xiaoxiaos sisters-inw and her younger sister managed the people well, which put Wang Xiangxiang at ease. Seeing that everyone had sped up their work, Wang Xiangxiang still couldnt help but exhort them, "Dont focus only on speed, be careful not to produce any defective goods. If you waste too much material, it will be deducted from your wages." Hearing that wasted material would lead to wage deductions, everyone became even more cautious, fearing their pay would be cut, and they quickly nodded in agreement, "Shopkeeper Wang, we will be careful." Wang Xiangxiang nodded her head with an air of a boss, "Good, if you waste less material and do a good job, youll get a bonus." Upon hearing there was a bonus for good work, everyone put in even more effort. Afterward, Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang checked the remaining materials and the wasted materials before they finally left the room. "Sister Wang, Im afraid were running out of fabric." Wang Xiangxiang smiled, she hade today to deliver fabric. She gave Xiaoxiao a reassuring look, "The fabric will arrive shortly." "..." Wang Xiangxiang had anticipated everything so well; Xiaoxiao didnt need to worry at all. The two had just finished speaking when they heard the noise of a carriage at the door, and Wang Xiangxiang said excitedly, "The fabric has arrived." The two hurried outside, and sure enough, the fabric had arrived. Xiaoxiao directed the unloading of materials into the room, then loaded the batch of underwear onto the horse carriage, which then headed back to the county town. After the carriage had gone, Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang walked inside the house, with Wang Xiangxiang saying as they walked, "Xiaoxiao, can we have a few more styles for that nightgown?" "Hmm?" "Im nning to host a gathering in a few days, inviting the towns youngdies and young masters, and at that time, well promote our nightgowns." "..." Was she nning a productunch? Wang Xiangxiang was indeed very savvy, "Okay, in a few days Ill go to the county town and discuss new styles with your familys tailor." Xiaoxiao regretted that she had not studied fashion design; every time she had to create a style, she could not draw it herself and had to verbally exin to the tailor, making changes and adjustments during the process until a sample was finally produced. "Alright then, its settled." "Sister Wang, you came with Fufu this time, can you stay for a few days?" "Sure, well stay for a few days if Fufu likes it." "Then you and Xiaoqiu can stay together." Xiaoxiao thought for a moment; besides Yang Qius room, there really was no suitable ce for them to stay. Their own house was just too small, but it would be better once the new house was built. "Alright, anywhere is fine, Im not picky." "Good, once my house is built, we will have a ce, and then I can prepare a guest room for you." "Your family is building a house?" Wang Xiangxiang knew that sooner orter Xiaoxiao would have to build a house, but she didnt expect it so soon; she thought Xiaoxiao would spend that silver on the pond. Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs surprised expression, Xiaoxiao continued, "See that patch of wastnd at the entrance of the vige? I bought it." This statement shocked Wang Xiangxiang even more; it was quite arge piece ofnd. She then gave Xiaoxiao a thumbs up, "Xiaoxiao, youre thisreally impressive." "Hehe." Xiaoxiaoughed and then went on to say, "Sister Wang,e over to my ce for lunch at noon." "No need, Li Fugui will have cooked, and well eat here." "..." Why did Wang Xiangxiang love Li Fuguis cooking so much? Could it be that hers wasnt as good as Li Fuguis? For all these days she hadnt tried Li Fuguis dishes, so she might as well take this opportunity to taste them. Chapter 505 - 506: Still missing that little bit, but where?

Chapter 505: Chapter 506: Still missing that little bit, but where?

By noon, Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang had entered the kitchen. As soon as Xiaoxiao walked in, she was shocked by the scene before her. Wasnt it supposed to be Li Fugui cooking? Why was Chu Lian the one at the stove? Wang Xiangxiang hadnt expected this scene either. What was he trying to do? Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming exchanged nces, and seeing the bewildered expression on Yang Mings face, she asked, "Young Master Chu, why are you cooking as well?" "Today, youll taste my culinary skills," Chu Lian said confidently. "..." Yang Ming was speechless. Last time he said the same thing, but after taking just one bite, he spit it out. However, this time, seeing Chu Lians movements at the stove, he inexplicably felt sess was possible because the cooking actions were much more practiced than before C clearly, Chu Lian must have practiced diligently. Xiaoxiao, looking into the pot, asked, "What are you making there?" "This dish is called Golden Glory." Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang peered into the pot. Wasnt this the dish they had eaten during their familys flower-seeing feast at lunch the other time? She remembered that dish had been quite tasty; shed eaten a lot then. "Hehe," Xiaoxiao chuckled awkwardly, finding the literati to be so affected, even giving a dish a fancy name. Unlike her, where stir-fried potato slices were just called stir-fried potato slices and pork ribs stewed with potatoes were simply pork ribs stewed with potatoes, nothing new or inventive about it. Watching his practiced movements, the others stopped talking, waiting for the dish toe off the stove. Before long, Chu Lians Golden Glory was ready, and he found a te to serve it on, confidently requesting everyone, "Quick, taste it and see how it is?" The people gathered around Chu Lians Golden Glory. While it looked appealing, its taste was yet to be determined. Seeing no one make a move, Chu Lian continued, "Come on, taste it. I absolutely didnt poison it." "..." At his words, everyones bodies involuntarily shuddered. They had wanted to try it, but after thatment, they felt an ominous fear that the dish might indeed be poisoned and terribly unappetizing. Confronted with Chu Lians sincere gaze, they nheless decided to give it a taste, picking up the spoons that had been prepared nearby. At this moment, Chu Lian was nervous. His eyes were glued to Wang Xiangxiang, holding a spoon, yearning to see her reaction after tasting it. He hadpletely forgotten that it was Xiaoxiao he liked, who stood beside Wang Xiangxiang. Everyone took a spoonful to their mouths, their eyes lighting up. Indeed, the dish was not bad. Xiaoxiao was the first to speak, "Young Master Chu, I didnt expect your cooking to be quite tasty." Yang Ming followed, "It really does taste good." Wang Xiangxiang didnt speak but was savoring the dish carefully. Chu Lian watched her anxiously, eager to hear her critique. After a moment, she finally said, "Its nearly there, but somethings amiss, isnt it?" Wang Xiangxiang shook her head as she spoke, unable to pinpoint what wascking, only to hear Li Fugui beside her, tasting and adding, "The heat control was off by a notch, it needed one qian less sugar, and two qian more salt..." Hearing Li Fugui urately point out the dishs ws, everyone in the room was astonished. What was happening? Was Li Fugui really that skilled? The most surprised of them all was Chu Lian. He had prepared the dish so many times at home, and even the kitchen maid couldnt specify what was missing, yet Li Fugui had hit the nail on the head. He was somewhat in disbelief and decided to question his skills, "Impossible? On what basis do you say itscking these things?" Chapter 506 - 507 Li Fugui, Let’s Open a Restaurant Together

Chapter 506: Chapter 507 Li Fugui, Lets Open a Restaurant Together

Li Fugui was also fascinated with cooking and, when his skills were questioned, he didnt say a word before picking up the remaining ingredients Chu Lian had brought and began to remake the dish Wealth Fills the Hall. Although he had never made this dish before, he had tasted it, and he didnt know why, but when he hadnt been focused on cooking before, he hadnt paid much attention. Recently, as he started delving into cooking, he discovered that he could discern the precise cooking time and the exact amount of ingredients used in a dish. This made cooking much easier for him, and thats why he was able to prepare a decent meal for everyone in such a short time. Li Fuguis skilled movements shocked Chu Lian once again. Could he actually make Wealth Fills the Hall? "Have you made this dish before?" Chu Lian asked, puzzled. "I havent." "..." If he hadnt made it before, then what was with those practiced movements? Momentster, Li Fuguis Wealth Fills the Hall was ready, and everyone eagerly grabbed spoons, impatient to taste Li Fuguis version of the dish. Wang Xiangxiang spoke excitedly, "This is the taste, Li Fugui, youre amazing." Hearing Wang Xiangxiangs words, Chu Lian clenched his fists. He just lost like this, and he found it hard to believe. So, he picked up a spoon, scooped a spoonful, and the moment it hit his mouth, he admitted he waspletely defeated. It turned out that being a chef wasnt so easy after all, and talent was very important. He was utterly convinced. Xiaoxiao was also astonished by Li Fuguis culinary skills. She never expected that Li Fugui, who used to be incapable of anything, could be so talented in cooking. When he first said he wanted to be a chef, she hadughed at him. Now, it seemed that the one who should have beenughed at was herself. He could be a rough diamond, simply yet to be discovered by someone. Merchants eyes are always unique, and Chu Lians gaze now carried an additionalyer of calction, "Li Fugui, how did you know what wascking in my dish?" "I dont know, I just probably know after tasting it." "What if you were given a new dish, could you tell the ingredients just by tasting?" "As long as I have tasted the ingredients before, I probably could." Li Fuguis answer left everyone present in awe. Was Li Fuguis tongue even human? How could it be so extraordinary, capable of discerning the ingredients in a dish? Wang Xiangxiang said excitedly, "Li Fugui, your talent is wasted here. Lets partner up and start our own restaurant and beat Dongfeng or Yui Restaurants." It had to be said, Wang Xiangxiang was also astute. She recognized Li Fuguis potential, and she knew that if she started a restaurant with him, it would surely be a sess. Moreover, her goal was to beat Dongfeng Restaurant, which was something Li Fugui had probably dreamed of defeating. Upon hearing this, Chu Lian was once again unsettled. How did this willful woman manage to be involved in everything? She was a fabric seller, what did she have to do with their venture? Wang Xiangxiang continued to probe, "Li Fugui, what do you think about my proposal?" Li Fugui hesitated. Starting a restaurant was great, but that would mean he could only stay in this County, and he wouldnt be able to go out and search for Xiaotian. Although defeating Dongfeng Restaurant was his long-cherished dream, whenpared to finding Xiaotian, he still hoped to locate Xiaotian more. Seeing Li Fugui not answering, as if he was struggling with the decision, the astute Wang Xiangxiang could guess what he was worried about. So, she spoke up, "Li Fugui, lets open the restaurant in another County. Now you should agree, right, huh?" Chapter 507 - 508: You Still Owe Me Nearly 50,000 Taels of Silver

Chapter 507: Chapter 508: You Still Owe Me Nearly 50,000 Taels of Silver

When Wang Xiangxiang spoke those words, Li Fuguis eyes lit up. If the restaurant could be opened in another county, he might have a chance to find Xiaotian. The pressure from Li Fuyou made it difficult for Xiaotian to survive in their own county, so she might have gone to another county. If she were in this county, Wang Xiangxiangs influence would surely have found her. He did not believe Li Fuyous words that she ran off with some rich young master, he believed in his Xiaotian. He was just about to agree to Wang Xiangxiangs suggestion when he heard Chu Lian shout out, "I dont agree." Wang Xiangxiang did not expect Chu Lian to outright refuse. What did this have to do with him? "What business is it of yours, why do you disagree?" Chu Lian was so furious that smoke almost came out of his seven orifices. Couldnt this arrogant woman be a little nicer to him? "I certainly have my reasons for disagreeing." A look of disdain appeared on Wang Xiangxiangs face as she demanded, "Well then, lets hear it. Whats your reason for disagreeing? Let me hear it?" A sly smile appeared on Chu Lians lips, and with a cold snort, he said to Li Fugui, "Li Fugui, you better not forget, you still owe me nearly fifty thousand taels of silver. Do you think you can just walk away?" "What? Fifty thousand taels?" This amount astounded Wang Xiangxiang. Seeing the arrogant girls surprised expression seemed to please Chu Lian. "Yes, fifty thousand taels. Are you going to help him pay it? If you do, I have no objections." Upon hearing Chu Lian mention the fifty thousand taels of silver, Li Fuguis eyes widened in shock, unable to believe it, he urgently asked, "Brother Chu, wasnt it agreed initially that those fifty thousand taels would be offset by making pickles during the winter?" The matter of the fifty thousand taels of silver had been exined to him by Yang Ming beforepensating Yui Restaurant for their losses required fifty thousand taels. Yang Ming had ounted for it by using all the cabbages in his warehouse, with the remainder to be paid off with the winter pickles. He hadnt expected Chu Lian to go back on his word now. "I have changed my mind now. Using pickles to settle the debt is too great a loss for me." At this moment, Wang Xiangxiang lost her temper, "Are you even human? How can you go back on your word? Those pickles dont even cost much; isnt this just robbery?" Addressed by Wang Xiangxiang, he admitted it. He had to snatch Li Fugui up. Firstly, he really was a man of talent, and utilizing him would take Yui Restaurant to new heights. Secondly, this could also be an opportunity to make Wang Xiangxiang owe him a favor, killing two birds with one stone. Li Fugui also appeared helpless. It seemed like the n to partner with Wang Xiangxiang in opening a restaurant was falling through. "Brother Chu, what would you like then?" "Its simple. Within three years, try all the delicacies in the world, record their recipes, and put them to use in my Yui Restaurant. Then the fifty thousand taels of silver debt can be written off," Chu Lian articted his thoughts. Xiaoxiao, standing by, also saw the point clearly. Just as she had said, although Li Fugui was an unpolished gem, now two people were fighting over him. Trying all the delicacies in the worldthats just like the modern-day critics, isnt it? But Li Fugui must learn the recipes as he tries them. This might actually be an opportunity for Li Fugui. Seeing that Li Fugui gave no response, Chu Lian continued to entice him, "During this period, I will help you take back Dongfeng Restaurant and the Li Family. Is this offer sincere enough?" The conditions he proposed were indeed tempting, but having others take back the Li Family was not Li Fuguis style. "No need, when I return, I will take back the Li Family myself." "So, you agree then?" "Do I have any other choice?" " ... " It seemed not. Chapter 508 - 509: You Can Go, No Need to Come Anymore

Chapter 508: Chapter 509: You Can Go, No Need to Come Anymore

Li Fugui agreed to Chu Lians suggestion. Faced with a debt of fifty thousand taels, he had no choice but to cooperate with his familys enemy, Chu Lian. Moreover, for him, this was perhaps an opportunity to take advantage of the situation to search for Xiaotian. "Brother Chu, when do you propose I set out?" "The sooner the better, I will arrange for someone to go with you." After finishing his sentence, Chu Lian nced at Wang Xiangxiang. Seeing that he was looking at her, she said softly, "Despicable viin." Chu Lian was at a loss for words. Let him be despicable then, his priority was to get Li Fugui out of the way. He felt a little joythis round was his win. Seeing that the matter was nearly settled, Li Fugui got ready to leave. He needed to deliver meals to the female workers. "Im off to deliver the meals to the women. You all go ahead and take the food inside to eat." Li Fugui picked up the food and went to deliver it to the female workers, and Xiaoxiao also left, needing to call the children to eat. Wang Xiangxiang, with the remaining food, left the kitchen to head indoors, but as soon as she stepped out, she witnessed a scene that infuriated her. Li Fugui, after delivering the food, was followed by a female worker who shyly handed Li Fugui an Embroidered Pouch, blushing and then turning to run away before Li Fugui could call out to her. The entire process was witnessed by both Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian. Chu Lian was thinkingdid Li Fugui really have such great charm, that even a female worker was smitten with him? He couldnt help but touch his own face, wondering if his charm had faded. As he was contemting this, he saw Wang Xiangxiang thrust the food at him with a very unpleasant tone, "Hold this." Chu Lian had no choice but to take the meal from Wang Xiangxiangs hands, not understanding where this anger of hers wasing from, since she always seemed to look at him that way. Wang Xiangxiang approached Li Fugui, snatched the Embroidered Pouch from his hand without a word, and called out the female worker. After tossing the Embroidered Pouch back to the female worker, she pulled out two taels of Silver from her pocket and threw it at the worker as well, speaking dominantly, "You may leave, no need toe back." The little female worker was startled by Wang Xiangxiangs actions and began to cry softly, "Shopkeeper Wang, I wont dare to do it again." "Toote. If you dont focus on your work and pull these stunts, youd better leave now and not let me see you again." Wang Xiangxiang was truly furious. Li Fugui and Xiaotian were fine individuals, and she wouldnt allow anyone to seduce Li Fugui. "Shopkeeper Wang, please, I wont dare again, dont send me away." Wang Xiangxiang continued in a severe tone, "Leave immediately, and dont make me get someone to chase you away." Seeing the situation, Li Fugui also pleaded, "Miss Wang, let it be; Ill be leaving soon anyway." Wang Xiangxiang turned back and red at Li Fugui, "That doesnt make it okay." The little female worker, seeing no chance of reprieve, ran away crying. Li Fugui shook his head, marveling at Miss Wangs fierce temper. Yet, this might be for the best, as she had helped shield him from unwanted attention. Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs reaction, Chu Lians face turned very dark. Was she not dering to everyone that Li Fugui was hers and off-limits to anyone elses aspirations? Was Li Fugui really that remarkable, deserving her intense attitude? In his heart, Chu Lian felt a stroke of relief, thankful that he had managed to send Li Fugui away, or who knows what might have transpired between the two? After returning, Wang Xiangxiang took the meal from Chu Lians hands, "Come on, lets go back inside to eat." Chapter 509 - 510: Li Fugui, you will set off tomorrow

Chapter 509: Chapter 510: Li Fugui, you will set off tomorrow

By the time Xiaoxiao returned with the four children, she found the atmosphere inside the house had turned frosty. She nced at Yang Ming, wondering what on earth was going on. Yang Ming couldnt figure it out either. What were the three of them doing? "Sister Wang, when I just came back, I saw a female worker crying and running out. What happened?" Xiaoxiao asked as she sat down with the children and began to eat. "Oh, its nothing, I just didnt let her work here anymore." "..." What exactly happened? She had only been gone for a while, and a female worker had been fired. "Whats going on?" "She gave Fugui an Embroidered Pouch as a gift." "..." Huh? Wang Xiangxiang was too harsh, outright firing someone like that. She must have misunderstood, thinking she liked Li Fugui. Chu Lian quietly ate his meal, listening to the conversation. She spoke without a shred of embarrassmentdidnt she feel awkward at all? The more Chu Lian thought about it, the angrier he became; he couldnt even enjoy his meal. "Li Fugui, Ive thought it over, you should leave tomorrow." He couldnt stand to have Li Fugui stay any longer. "So soon?" Wang Xiangxiang asked almost reflexively. "What, you have a problem?" The quicker she wanted it, the sooner he would make Li Fugui leave. Wang Xiangxiang didnt reply, but turned to ask Li Fugui instead, "Li Fugui, do you need to prepare any clothes? I can help you get ready." "No need, everything we need will be provided by Yui Restaurant, dont trouble yourself." Before Li Fugui could respond, Chu Lian had already answered for him. Xiaoxiao watched from the side, getting the feeling that Chu Lian was jealous of Li Fugui, which made things even more interesting. She began to giggle foolishly. Hearing herughter, everyone at the table turned to look at her in unison. "Sister Xiaoxiao, what are youughing at?" Fufu asked. Realizing she had lost herposure, Xiaoxiao quickly suppressed herughter. "Im notughing at anything, lets just keep eating." Li Fugui and Wang Xiangxiang continued their conversation. Wang Xiangxiang said, "Thats great, Li Fugui; now you can go to other counties." "Yes." Chu Lian remained silent, pondering what secret n those two were devising. Wang Xiangxiang seemed unhappy about his departure at first, so why was she excited now? At first, a shameless man fought with her over Li Fugui, making her unhappy, but after hearing the shameless mans ns of letting him taste all the delicacies around the world, she realized what a wonderful job it was. She could eat while searching for someone, and she was genuinely happy for Li Fugui. Although the shameless man was despicable, he had, after all, done something good. Then, Li Fugui turned to Yang Ming, "Yang Ming, Im leaving. Youll have to sort things out here; nobody to look after the courtyard, and youll have to find someone to make lunch." "Yes, dont worry, well find someone else to do it." "Also, I havent finished copying that book; could you help me with it?" "Yes." After having lunch, Li Fugui went to say goodbye to his family, and Chu Lian then took him away. He couldnt wait any longer; he had to send him off. When Li Fugui left, Wang Xiangxiang felt a little regret, "Ah, we wont enjoy delicious food anymore." "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless. While she admitted he cooked exceptionally well, it wasnt as if it was irreceable. "Sister Wang, Ill cook for you these next few days." Hearing Xiaoxiaos words, Wang Xiangxiangs eyes brightened up again, "Thats wonderful, you cook." "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless. More than believing Wang Xiangxiang liked Li Fugui for who he was, Xiaoxiao was more convinced that she was a bona fide foodie. Chapter 510 - 511 I Don’t Like Him

Chapter 510: Chapter 511 I Dont Like Him

Li Fugui had left, and the family found it difficult to adjust to his absence, considering that everyone had been living together for over a month. In the afternoon, Wang Xiangxiang and Xiaoxiao had been in the rented courtyard, discussing new designs and the details of the uing new productunch. Regarding Wang Xiangxiangs decision to fire the female worker, Xiaoxiao felt it was necessary to ask, "Wang Jie, you havent fallen for Li Fugui, have you?" It wasnt impossible for Wang Xiangxiang to have developed feelings for Li Fugui, particrly since he had indeed be a good man, and Wang Xiangxiang had certainly been treating him well. To Xiaoxiaos question, Wang Xiangxiangughed it off as though it were a joke. "How could that be possible? What are you thinking?" she chuckled. Xiaoxiao, confused, pressed on, "Isnt it? Why were you unhappy when the female worker gave Li Fugui an Embroidered Pouch?" Isnt that just jealousy? Trying to chase away the girls flocking around Li Fugui? Wang Xiangxiang clenched her fist and waved it in front of Xiaoxiao, "Whats that word again, oh, right, you said itlove. I am protecting the love between Li Fugui and Xiaotian." She spoke with a dreamy face, "Their love is so beautiful, it mustnt be disturbed." "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless. Was Wang Xiangxiang alright? She seemed deeply delusional, almost leading to misunderstandings. "Wang Jie, what do you think of Chu Lian?" Xiaoxiao felt it was time to test the waters and see what Wang Xiangxiang thought. She increasingly believed they were well-matched, a true case of a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven. "What about him?" Wang Xiangxiang replied nonchntly. "..." This person probably never even considered the possibility. The person always moring about getting married doesnt seem to take a second look at those nearby. "I mean, what do you think of him as a person? Do you see any chance for you two to be together?" Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiangsughter ceased, and she responded with a disdainful look, "Cut it out, will you? The two of us? Absolutely impossible." "Why?" Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled. "..." Why? Isnt it obvious? Even a fool could see that the rascal Chu Lian had his eyes set on you, Zhong Xiaoxiao. Besides, even if he wasnt into Xiaoxiao, there was no chance for them. They were nemeses, sworn enemies. "I dont like him." "Really no hope at all?" Originally intending to bring them together, Xiaoxiao reconsidered, realizing that it would be difficult to seed if Wang Xiangxiang had no interest whatsoever. Wang Xiangxiang vehemently shook her head, "No, none at all." Xiaoxiao felt a bit disappointed and sighed, murmuring to herself, "I thought there was hope for you two. I felt like he liked you quite a bit." Wang Xiangxiang palmed her forehead, thinking how inurate Xiaoxiaos feelings were. Chu Lian had already admitted he liked Xiaoxiao herself. She tapped Xiaoxiao on the head, "Give it a rest. Who would trust your feelings? You couldnt even tell when your own husband likes you, haha." "..." She was being mocked. Alright, she admitted to being blind as a participant, but this time she was certain she hadnt misjudged. Chu Lian was clearly jealous, and she had observed it as a bystander. Her little eyes blinked as she continued to persuade Wang Xiangxiang, "Wang Jie, why dont you give it some more thought? I could help bring you two together?" Wang Xiangxiang was left speechless, knowing that if the rascal Chu Lian found out his crush was trying to set him up with another woman, hed be furious. She waved her hand dismissively, "No need to think it over. Dont worry about it." Chapter 511 - 512: Hahaha, Hehehe

Chapter 511: Chapter 512: Hahaha, Hehehe

After dinner, everyone went back to their own rooms, and as soon as Yang Ming returned to his, he noticed his wife was in a low mood. He wrapped his arms around his wife from behind, resting his head on her neck, and gently said, "Honey, whats wrong? You seem unhappy." As she was being held, Xiaoxiao softly replied, "Yeah, a little bit." "..." Yang Ming furrowed his brows, wondering who had upset his wife. She had been fine during the day, "What happened?" "Its nothing much, just that Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian, I think its over between them." "..." Yang Ming didnt know what to say, his wife was taking it too hard. Whether those two were together or not, it shouldnt upset her this much. "How do you know they are over?" Yang Ming asked, puzzled. Had his wife discovered something? Did she know that Brother Chu liked her instead? Xiaoxiao broke free from Yang Mings embrace, and looking into Yang Mings eyes, said, "I asked Wang Xiangxiang myself." "..." His wife really spoke her mind, asking such a question outright. Wang Xiangxiang was a woman; would she really admit it openly? "Honey, how did you ask her?" "I just asked her if there was any hope for her and Chu Lian to be together." "..." Well, his wife was straightforward, "Honey, maybe Wang Xiangxiang was too embarrassed to admit it." Thinking about Wang Xiangxiangs expression at that moment, Xiaoxiao shook her head, "No, her expression was one of disdain, not shy embarrassment." "Then she probably doesnt really like Brother Chu." Xiaoxiao sighed, "What a shame, they would have been such a match, truly made for each other." Yang Ming sat down at the table, pulled his wife onto hisp, andforted her with his deep, rich voice, "Honey, we are the ones truly made for each other." Xiaoxiao yfully hit Yang Mings chest, "Stop kidding around." Then Xiaoxiao went on, "I said I could tell Chu Lian liked Wang Xiangxiang, but Wang Xiangxiang told me my feelings were mistaken, honey, do you think Im mistaken?" Seeing his wife puckering her lips as she spoke, Yang Ming was speechless. Brother Chu had indeed confessed to liking his wife, so how could he like Wang Xiangxiang? His wifes feelings were probably indeed mistaken. "She even mocked me, saying I didnt even know my own husband liked me, iming my feelings were definitely off. How could I be so off, huh? What do you think?" "Honey, Wang Xiangxiang wasnt wrong; I was staring right at you all the time, and you didnt notice I liked you." "Oh, youre making fun of me too." Xiaoxiao said, then her mischievous little hands stretched toward Yang Mings armpits, ready to see if he was ticklish. Indeed he was, and Yang Ming couldnt stopughing, "Hahaha, hehehe." "Honey, you really have to do this, haha." "Hehe." Xiaoxiaos hands didnt stop, thrilled at finding his weak spot. Suddenly, she was scooped up into the air, and Yang Ming ced his wife straight onto the bed, his own mischievous hands reaching for his wife. Xiaoxiao, tearfullyughing, uncovered her own ticklish spots. She couldnt stopughing, "Hahaha, hehehe." "Husband, stop, let go, I was wrong." "Toote." "Hahaha, stop now." Chapter 512 - 513: First Set of Military Boxing, Ready to Fight

Chapter 512: Chapter 513: First Set of Military Boxing, Ready to Fight

After a good nights sleep, the next day, Xiaoxiao woke up to find that Yang Ming was no longer by her side. It was still notpletely light outside; where could he have gone, perhaps to thetrine? Xiaoxiao waited for a while but still saw no sign of him returning, growing a bit anxious. She got dressed and stepped outside. To her surprise, she saw Yang Ming practicing his punches in the courtyard. This was the first time she had seen him practice his boxing, and Yang Mings posture was quite manly. When Yang Ming saw his wifee out, he quickly said, "Wife, why did youe out? Go back inside, its cold in the morning." Xiaoxiaos heart warmed up. Yang Ming always cared about her first and foremost. She shook her head, "Im not cold, Im dressed warmly. Husband, are you practicing your punches?" "Yes." This set of punches was learned from the folks at the Escort Agency. To protect his wife, he must have some skills. Before, he was just iling around, but now, atst, he didnt have to il around blindly; someone had taught him. Xiaoxiao felt a pang of distress and scolded, "Husband, your injury hasnt healed yet? How can you practice so strenuously?" Just a few days had passed since he was beaten by his brother, barely a week, and now he was already practicing punches again. The internal injury that made him spit blood wasnt something easy to recover from. Even an iron-d body couldnt withstand it, yet he really wasnt taking good care of himself. Yang Ming knew his wife cared about him. His heart warmed up too, "Wife, Im fine. My body is almostpletely healed. Im just practicing slowly. Please go back inside. I wille back to the room after a bit." Watching Yang Ming, Xiaoxiao thought he was certainly doing this to protect her. Having such a husband was truly wonderful. She thought if she couldnt stop him, then she might as well join him. She turned and shed a smile, saying to Yang Ming, "Husband, actually, I know how to box too." "..." Yang Ming was stunned by her words, having never heard her mention this before. Plus, the way Xiaoxiao fought didnt seem like it; she just swung her fists wildly, much like a scuffle with a shrewbluntly speaking, there was no difference. Seeing the look in Yang Mings eyes, Xiaoxiao continued, "What? You dont believe me?" "I believe." "..." Was she being underestimated? She really could do it, though she might not be skilled in applying it, but at least she had learned a set of military boxing in school. "Husband, when I was at school back home, I learned a set of military boxing. Although I might not be skilled in applying it, it is a good technique, and I hope it can help you." Hearing her say it was from her hometown, Yang Ming now believed her without a doubt, realizing his wife might truly know it. Then he watched as his wife got ready, and started saying, "Military boxing first set, prepare to fight, ha, ha..." Yang Mings eyes widened; it was indeed a good technique. He began to learn it from his wife. He seemed to understand the use of this technique, which appeared to be superior to what he had been practicing. This would be very helpful to the folks at the Escort Agency. Overjoyed, he scooped his wife up in the yard, spinning her around several times and saying, "Wife, you are amazing." "Put me down quickly, be careful, there are so many people in the house, dont wake them up." "Yes." Yang Ming quickly set his wife down, having gotten overly excited and forgetting they were in the yard. He had be ustomed to holding his wife like this. The proud Xiaoxiao said, "See, I told you I could do it." "Yes, my wife can do anything." Xiaoxiao threw a confident look at Yang Ming, "Follow me, and youll always have meat to eat." "..." Chapter 513 - 514: He Discovered a Secret

Chapter 513: Chapter 514: He Discovered a Secret

After arranging everything for Li Fugui, Chu Lian returned to Shibao Town. As soon as he entered his home, he heard his sisters voice. "Brother, why are you back so soon? Werent you going to cook for thatdy?" Chu Huan had heard from the servants that he had left with the ingredients to make "Golden Splendor." Certainly, he had gone to see thatdy. Chu Huans lips curved into a smile; her brother was still putting on a tough front, yet he had scurried off to see thatdy nheless. Seeing her brother not responding, Chu Huan continued to tease him, "Brother, did you fail? Did thedy not like the dish you made?" This time Chu Lian responded, "Me, fail? What a joke." No matter what, he had scored a victory by sending Li Fugui away, a sly smirk appearing on his face. "..." When had her brother started smiling so sinisterly? But that implied he indeed went to see thatdy, "Brother, what did thedy say? Did she like your cooking?" Chu Lian felt bitter inside. It seemed she preferred the "Golden Splendor" made by Li Fugui. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed his sisters grin. She was clearly fishing for information; he nearly fell for it. "Mind your own business about your brother." Lady Chu was speaking with Lord Chu, "My lord, our son is really thoughtful. If I were thatdy, I would surely be moved to pledge myself to him." "..." Chu Lian was speechless. Pledge herself to him? That overbearing woman? Absolutely not. Seeing his sons expression, Lord Chu continued, "Son, from your fathers years of experience, you might be falling for that girl. Think it over when you get back." "..." Chu Lian hadnt expected his father to say such a thing, and he retorted without thinking, "Impossible, that girl is crude and overbearing, who would like her?" The family didnt say much after hearing this, all mentally noting that he would regret it one day. After dinner, Chu Lian went back to his own bedroom, and soon Acheng arrived. "Young master." "Acheng, the information you gatheredst time wasnt urate. Look into it againwhat exactly is the rtionship between Li Fugui and Wang Xiangxiang, and also about a three-year-old child named Fufu." "Young master, Acheng has something to say but doesnt know if it should be said." "Speak." "Do you like Miss Wang from the Wang Family? Otherwise, why would you be so eager to investigate her past and prevent her from finding a husband?" Chu Lians brows furrowed. Why did Acheng say the same? He quickly denied it, "Youre thinking too much; go on." "Yes, young master." After washing up, Chu Liany on his bed and began to let his thoughts run wild. If one person said it, he could dismiss it, but when everyone said it, he couldnt help but pay attention. As he remembered the proximity he had to the obstinate woman, their first kiss came to mind, and he unconsciously touched his lips, feeling them warm. He thought of her tear-stained face, her brimming confidence, her frosty demeanor, her radiant smile, her blushing cheeks. He had to admit, she had sessfully caught his attention. Could it be that he had sent Li Fugui away out of jealousy? He rose, opened a drawer, and took out a portrait of them together. His lips curled up unconsciously, his heartbeat quickeninga secret realized. He seemed to truly be falling for her. Chapter 514 - 515: He Finally Confirmed His Feelings

Chapter 514: Chapter 515: He Finally Confirmed His Feelings

Red paper cuttings, red candles, and red bedding adorned the room with festive joy. On therge red bed sat a woman dressed in red wedding attire, her head covered by a red bridal veil, shyly waiting for her husband to enter their bridal chamber. By this time, Chu Lian was somewhat tipsy. After drinking with the guests, he couldnt wait to return to the bridal room. Upon opening the door and seeing her under the red bridal veil, he felt a surge of excitement. After twenty-one years, he had finally married the woman of his dreams. He picked up the lucky Chinese wedding tweezer, lifted the veil, and saw her beauty, so ravishing that he couldnt help but say, "Mydy, you are truly beautiful." The woman also shyly called out, "My lord." That address of "my lord" made Chu Lians heart leap with joy. The two of thempleted the nuptial rituals such as sharing the bridal cup in the room. ... ... Suddenly, Chu Lian opened his eyes in his sleep, his ears burning hot. He had just had a dream about getting married. In all his twenty-one years, this had never happened before, not even when he thought he liked Xiaoxiao. The dream felt so real that he could still remember it vividly at this moment. In his dream, he got married to Wang Xiangxiang, a woman as exquisite as a delicate flower. The woman he kissed, the woman he spent his wedding night with, it was all Wang Xiangxiang. His hand felt the beating of his heart against his chest. He thought that he didnt just seem to like her, he truly liked her. He had finally confirmed his feelings. But then his ted heart sank. Would Wang Xiangxiang like him back? All their encounters had ended in discord, and her cold demeanor towards him probably meant she detested him. But this time, he couldnt stand still anymore. If things went on like this, she would be taken away by someone else. He had to work hard to change the image Wang Xiangxiang had of him. Then, just as Xiaoxiao had done with Yang Ming, he needed to tell her himself how he felt, that he liked her, that he wanted to marry her. Thinking this, he seemed filled with confidence. Wang Xiangxiang should still be in Yang Family Vige right now; he wanted to go, even though she still wasnt very friendly towards him. He wanted to find her and start by changing the impression she had of him. He had to make her see his good qualities. He had to make her fall for him. Chu Lians mind was filled with too many blueprints of their future together. Once he had made up his mind, Chu Lian got up, tidied everything, and after having breakfast at home, didnt call for the coachman but drove the horse carriage himself to Yang Family Vige in search of Wang Xiangxiang. Seeing Chu Lian hurry off in such a rush, Chu Xiangxiang couldnt help but ask, "Father, Mother, where do you think brother is off to again?" "What else? He must be off to see that Miss Wang," said Lady Chu. Chu Huanhuans bright eyes twirled, "Mother, do you think brother and Miss Wang will make it?" "Of course, they will. When have you ever seen your brother like this? Hes just being stubborn and wont admit it, but just you watch," Lady Chu said confidently, seeming to have great faith in Chu Lian. "If that really happens, then Ill have a sister-inw, and maybe a little nephew soon," Chu Huan said excitedly, happy that her brother had finallye to his senses. "There will be very soon, dont worry. Ive already had his fortune told, and your brother is destined to have a son." Chu Huan: ... Her mother actually believed in that stuff? "Mother, did you calcte one for me, too?" "Dont worry, I havent forgotten you. When the timees, Ill have yours calcted as well." Chapter 515 - 516: Left Eye Twitching for Wealth, Right Eye Twitching for Disaster

Chapter 515: Chapter 516: Left Eye Twitching for Wealth, Right Eye Twitching for Disaster

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were practicing military boxing outside, and the whole process was watched by Wang Xiangxiang inside the house. Seeing the two interact without any inhibition, she couldnt help butugh, "Pfft." How loving and affectionate those two were, it really made one envious. Beside her, Yang Qiu, dressed in clothes, said enviously, "Third Brother and Third Sister-inw really have a great rtionship." Wang Xiangxiang looked at the girl Yang Qiu, who was also a pitiful person, the same age as Xiaoxiao, yet not as fortunate as Xiaoxiao. But fortunately, she had such a good family topensate for the loneliness in her heart, unlike herself who could only depend on her brother. She turned her head and looked at her brother sleeping soundly on the brick bed, her eyes filled with distress. She was old enough to bear it, but for her brother, it was just too cruel. Yang Qiu also turned to look at Little Fufu sleeping on the brick bed and said with a smile, "Your brother is very cute." Having spent so much time together, Wang Xiangxiang could tell that Yang Qiu liked to y with children. She thought that Yang Qiu probably missed her own child who had died. After all, it was her own flesh and blood. Wang Xiangxiangs sympathy overflowed again, and she took Yang Qius hand seriously and said, "You will also be able to find someone who treats you well in the future." "Yeah, you will too." Because both of them were worried about finding a suitable husband, they found more topics to talk about, and their distance grew closer. After breakfast, Wang Xiangxiang pulled Xiaoxiao aside, "Xiaoxiao, Ive been thinking, I should go back soon to take care of the invitation cards. The earlier I send out the invitations, the better it is for everyone to arrange their schedules." Xiaoxiao thought about it, and Wang Xiangxiang did have a point, so she nodded in agreement. "Xiaoxiao,e with me to the town to discuss the designs for the pajamas with the tailor, shall we?" Xiaoxiao shook her head, "Lets go in a few days. My husband is still sick these days, and Im worried about him." Wang Xiangxiang pursed her lips, "Alright, alright, then in a few days." Now, Xiaoxiao was putting her husband first, and no amount of persuasion from her could change that. Xiaoxiao, a bit embarrassed,ughed, "Hehe." Wang Xiangxiang then called over Yang Qiu, "Xiaoqiu, I need to go back home for a few days. Please take care of my brother for me." "Its no trouble at all. I really like your brother. Dont worry, Sister Wang," Yang Qiu agreed without a second thought. Wang Xiangxiang also gave her brother instructions, "Im going back home for a bit and will return in a few days. You need to listen to them here, okay?" Little Fufu held on to Wang Xiangxiangs hand somewhat unwillingly, "Okay, but, Sister, you have toe back soon." "Yeah, Ille back to find you after I finish my business." "Then Ill be waiting for you toe back." The group arrived at the front gate to see Wang Xiangxiangs carriage off as it drove away into the distance. Then, everyone went back to whatever they were doing. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming returned to their room, and soon after, Xiaoxiaos eyelids began to twitch. She always had a bad premonition, "Husband, why do my eyelids keep twitching? I feel like something might happen." "Dont talk nonsense, perhaps you just got up too early. Why dont you go back to sleep?" "Im not talking nonsense. They say left eye twitching means wealth, right eye twitching means cmity, and my right eye has been twitching a lot." "..." Left eye for wealth, right eye for cmity, where had he ever heard such superstitious talk? "Come here, let me kiss you and see if it stops twitching." "Stop joking around. Be serious, and get me some scrap paper to tape over my eye. Its twitching so much its making me anxious." "..." Chapter 516 - 517: It’s Your Own Fault for Offending Someone

Chapter 516: Chapter 517: Its Your Own Fault for Offending Someone

Wang Xiangxiang sat inside the carriage feeling optimistic, pondering over how to make the uing new productunch vibrant and colorful when suddenly, the carriage lurched unstably, causing her head to bump against the door. The ensuing cries of the horses startled Wang Xiangxiang, leaving her wondering what was happening as she quickly steadied herself in her seat, preventing herself from falling. Seeing this, the coachman acted quickly, grabbing the reins with all his might, continuously and loudly shouting, "Whoa, whoa..." It was only then that the horses calmed down, and the carriage came to a steady halt. The coachman immediately came over to check, "Miss, are you alright?" Wang Xiangxiang stepped out of the carriage, "Im fine. What on earth happened up ahead? Why did the horses suddenly get spooked?" "Miss, a tree suddenly fell down in front,nding right in the middle of the road, startling the horses." Wang Xiangxiang walked forward with suspicion. It wasnt windy or rainy, so why would a tree suddenly fall? Upon closer inspection, it was clear that the tree had been cut down by someone. She suddenly shivered, "No good, get back on the carriage and turn around." This was clearly a deliberate act, intended to stop the carriage. She started to grow nervous, wondering who was after her. Upon hearing his mistress voice, the coachman hurried back to the carriage. But before he could reach the horses, he was seized by someone. The coachman shouted loudly, "Miss, run!" Hearing the shout, Wang Xiangxiang turned back and saw several fierce thugs approaching her. Frightened, she bolted, but she had only run a few steps before the thugs caught her. "Who are you? Why are you kidnapping me?" Wang Xiangxiang tried to remain calm, eager to understand their motives. One of the thugs, who seemed to be the leader, spoke with a sinister tone, "You only have yourself to me for offending someone." "..." Wang Xiangxiang, who had always conducted her business openly and honorably, couldnt fathom whom she might have offended. "Please tell me, who have I offended?" "You dont need to know that." Held by two of the thugs, Wang Xiangxiang contemted how to escape. Judging by their demeanor, these were nothing but uneducated hooligans; perhaps she could solve the situation with money, "Do you know who I am? If you release me, I will give you Silver." At these words, the thugs halted in their tracks and all turned in unison to their leader, "Big Brother." "What are you all thinking? The person who hired us is merciless. We just need to teach her a lesson, lets take her away," the leader dismissed the idea without a second thought. Wang Xiangxiang felt her heart sink, if they wouldnt take Silver, how could she escape? It was daytime, and there were bound to be passersby on the road. She had only one option left, to shout, "Help, save me..." But quickly, the thug holding her covered her mouth, "This girl is quite fiery, keep quiet!" Wang Xiangxiang opened her mouth wide and bit down hard on the hand of the man covering her mouth. "Ah!" The thug let go from the bite, then pped Wang Xiangxiang, "You dare to bite me? You want to bite again, huh?" Wang Xiangxiangs face stung painfully from the p, swelling up immediately. Seeing his mistress being beaten, the coachman struggled to break free, but he was held down firmly, helplessly yelling, "Miss, Miss." Upon hearing the coachmans cries, the thug holding him down pped his face several times without hesitation, "Shut up if you know whats good for you." The impatient leadermanded, "Gag their mouths." Chapter 517 - 518: How About Letting Big Brother Try It First?

Chapter 517: Chapter 518: How About Letting Big Brother Try It First?

Nobody knew where those burly men had obtained the disgusting cloth that they used to gag Wang Xiangxiang and the coachman. Wang Xiangxiang shook her head desperately, her eyes already brimming with tears, those helpless yet spiritedrge eyes made the hearts of the burly men tremble. The gang leader said, "Bring the carriage, lets go." "..." Wang Xiangxiang was terrified, wondering where they were being taken, whether they could still be saved? Seeing these ferocious men, her heart sank to the abyss, fearing there was no rescue. She didnt know where the strength came from, but she clung to her body, refusing to get on the carriage, struggling fiercely. The impatient gang leader, pped her again, "Hurry up, dont make me hit you again." Wang Xiangxiang felt the hit, she felt that she couldnt hold on anymore, quickly running out of strength. The burly man supporting Wang Xiangxiang, seeing her pitiable little face, began to have bad ideas, he excitedly said, "Boss, I think this girl looks pretty, seems like a newbie. How about letting the boss have a taste first? Then the rest of us can have a go?" Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang widened her eyes, shook her head desperately to break free, she could no longer control her emotions, tears streamed down endlessly, her honor might be lost, she needed someone to save her. Hearing his brothers words, the burly man looked at Wang Xiangxiangs face, having not paid much attention before, he hadnt expected her to be even more beautiful than the top girl at the brothel. The burly mans throat moved as he swallowed his saliva, feeling his mouth dry and his body restless. The burly man continued to lure the gang leader, "Boss, the master only said to teach the girl a lesson, as to how, heh, its all up to us. Just keeping her for a few days isnt really a lesson, why not take her." The gang leader was somewhat tempted by his brothers words, but he was still concerned about their employer; what would their fate be if the employer found out? The burly man, with a wicked smile, continued, "Boss, Im still carrying some Charm Fragrance Powder, initially meant for the girls in the brothel, how about we try it on this girl first, let the boss have a good time?" "..." Charm Fragrance Powder? Thats indeed a good thing. The gang leader couldnt resist anymore, "Alright, lets do that, let the boss have a taste first, then its your turn." The group became excited; Wang Xiangxiang looked at each evil face, memorizing them clearly. If she could survive and escape, she would surely make them pay dearly. The gang leader couldnt wait any longer; he looked around and saw the road was deserted, perfect for taking care of the matter right there. He couldnt wait a moment longer. "First, make her take the Charm Fragrance Powder." The cloth on Wang Xiangxiangs mouth was removed, and the burly man pulled out a paper packet from his pocket, grabbed her mouth without any gentleness, and poured it into her mouth. Wang Xiangxiang struggled, trying to keep her lips tightly shut, not wanting to open her mouth, but unfortunately, she still ended up swallowing some of the drug. "Alright, lets handle it here, you guys encircle us, keep others away." The group, all with wicked smiles, truly encircled Wang Xiangxiang and the gang leader inside. Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened, tears unstoppable. Not only was her honor at risk, but was she also to be on disy? Chapter 518 - 519: Dad, Mom, Your Daughter Will Come to Find You Soon

Chapter 518: Chapter 519: Dad, Mom, Your Daughter Will Come to Find You Soon

The gang leader couldnt wait any longer and showed no mercy, as he shoved Wang Xiangxiang to the ground. "Ah!" Wang Xiangxiang screamed, "Help me!" Hearing her scream, the gang leaders blood boiled even more. "Boss, should we gag her? She might draw attention," a gang member suggested. "No need. I love hearing her little screams. The louder she screams, the more I enjoy it." The other gang members, hearing the boss had spoken, stopped advising and eagerly awaited their turn after the boss finished. Hearing that her mouth wouldnt be gagged, Wang Xiangxiang screamed even louder. She didnt want to miss any chance of rescue, "Help, help me..." The gang leader became even crazier with Wang Xiangxiangs screams, hisrge hand reaching for her clothes, trying to undress her. Wang Xiangxiang struggled fiercely, her hands iling in front of the gang leader. She scratched the gang leaders face, causing him to spit in disdain. His face turned fierce and he grabbed her clothes, and with a tearing sound, her clothes were ripped open, revealing her pale skin. This made everyone even more frenzied, their faces lit up with wicked smiles, and they swallowed their saliva unconsciously. "Hurry up, boss." someone urged. "Shut up, wait until Ive had my fill," the gang leader said as he hastily took off his pants. The gang member affected by Charm Fragrance Powder suddenly spoke, "Boss, it seems like the effects of the Charm Fragrance Powder havent kicked in yet. Should we wait a bit more? When the effects kick in, itll be more enjoyable." Hearing this, the gang leader thought it made sense, so he pulled his pants back on, deciding to y with the little prey beneath him first. Seeing the gang leader had pulled his pants back on, Wang Xiangxiang breathed a sigh of relief for the moment, but before she could rxpletely, she continued to struggle, shouting, "Help, help." Soon, Wang Xiangxiangs clothes were pulled off, leaving only her bra, which wrapped around her body, making her even more enticing. The gang leader deeply inhaled with his nose, smelling the unique body scent of a young girl, and couldnt help but lower his head, wanting to bite her. But before he could bite, Wang Xiangxiang suddenly jerked her head up, her forehead crashing hard against the gang leaders forehead. The impact made the gang leader exim, "Ouch." "Boss, thisss is quite feisty," remarked one of them. Seeing the hatred in Wang Xiangxiangs eyes, the gang leader snorted, "The fiercer they are, the better. When will the Charm Fragrance Powder take effect?" "Soon, boss!" replied the gang member. "Alright then, boss." Seeing the effect had yet toe, the gang leader could no longer wait. "Enough, Ill go first. When the effects kick in, the rest of you boys can have your turn." As he began to undress, Wang Xiangxiang saw that there were still no passers-by on the road, and she thought she might really be finished. After screaming for help a few times, she slowly closed her eyes and silently cried. Lying there like a dead fish, she thought to herself, "Dad, Mom, your daughter will being to see you soon." Chapter 519 - 520: Mysterious Young Master to the Rescue

Chapter 519: Chapter 520: Mysterious Young Master to the Rescue

On the way to the Yang Family vige, a carriage sped past, and the coachman spoke to the person inside, "Young master, the road ahead leads to the Yang Family vige." A clear voice came from inside, "Right, lets hurry on." "Yes, young master." The coachman whipped the horses, and the carriage continued on its way. But before long, the carriage was forced to halt, and a voice from inside again asked, "What has happened, have we arrived?" "Young master, we have not yet arrived. Theres arge tree blocking the middle of the road." The person inside calmly gave an order without looking outside, "Find a way around it." "As you say, young master." The coachman steered the carriage to the side to circumvent the fallen tree. As the carriage went on, the person inside faintly heard theughter of a group of men not far away, interspersed with the cries of a woman begging for help. His fists clenched tightly, he had not anticipated that within this countys jurisdiction, public safety would be so poor that such vile acts could ur in broad daylight. He called out to the outside, "Ada, stop the carriage." "Yes, young master." Ada followed the young masters instructions and stopped the carriage, having also heard theughter; he knew their young master was likely to meddle once again. As expected, upon seeing that their young master had alighted from the carriage without a second thought and was running straight towards the crowd, Ada hurriedly followed behind. At this moment, Wang Xiangxiang had given up all hope of rescue and feared she would die here; she was just about to bite her tongue andmit suicide. When suddenly, from amongst her assants, someone cried out "ow." Wang Xiangxiang opened her eyes to see a gentleman of elegant demeanor winding up his strong leg and sending one of the thugs flying with a powerful kick. Hope ignited in Wang Xiangxiangs eyes; her divine savior had descended from the heavens. She turned weakly towards the man and said, "Sir, save me." The man nced at Wang Xiangxiang and offered her a reassuring look, then braced himself for the fight. "Brothers, he dares to spoil our fun. Lets teach him a lesson, attack him together." At this moment, Wang Xiangxiang was extremely afraid; so many were attacking one man, could he truly handle it? Yet that look he had given her inexplicably bolstered her belief in him. "Young master, dont dirty your hands, let me handle this." At that point, Ada rushed over, standing back to back with his young master as they both prepared for battle. The Gang Leader hastily pulled his pants on and waved his hand, "Brothers, beat him to death." The sh began, and Wang Xiangxiang felt a surge of anxiety, terribly afraid that the man would get hurt because of her; but she saw that the man and the person he brought with him swiftly kicked and punched their way through their assants. With a few swift moves, they had all been knocked to the ground. The thugsy on the ground, wailing continuously. The Gang Leader, eager to fight back, rallied his followers, "Brothers, continue the attack." But none dared to advance further. They knew these two men were skilled, far beyond their own abilities. To attack again would be a death wish as these men were going for blood. Furious at his subordinates wretched disy, the Gang Leader cradled his injury, "A bunch of losers, just wait till I deal with you back home." After uttering those words, he quickly made his escape. Seeing their Boss flee, the lesser thugs looked at each other, then thought better of any dy and hightailed it out of there, limping away with their wounded bodies, disappearing into the distance. Chapter 520 - 521: Perhaps He Is the Ruyi Gentleman Heaven Sent Her

Chapter 520: Chapter 521: Perhaps He Is the Ruyi Gentleman Heaven Sent Her

Seeing that group flee, the man didnt pursue but simply pped his hands and said to his attendant, "Ada, it wasnt enough of a fight." "..." Ada was on the verge of tears, knowing all too well that this was just like his young master. The man walked back to his carriage, fetched his own clothes, and approached Wang Xiangxiang, who, at this point, had been stripped down to just her bra and panties. With closed eyes, he draped the clothes over her, "Miss, are you alright?" Such a gentle man provided sce to Xiangxiangs wounded heart, "Thank you, young master, for the rescue." Realizing she was finally saved, Xiangxiang breathed a sigh of relief as her tense nerves finally rxed, and she slowly closed her eyes, fainting. "Miss, Miss," the man caught Wang Xiangxiang as she was about to faint, preventing her from falling to the ground. He then quickly held Xiangxiang horizontally and said in a panic, "Ada, lets go, quickly to the Yang Family Vige." "Yes, young master." And so, Xiangxiang was carried onto the carriage and they hastened toward the Yang Family Vige. The carriage raced swiftly, and the jolts along the way soon woke Xiangxiang up, especially as the effects of the drug began to take hold. After boarding the carriage, she had been held the entire time. As she opened her eyes, she heard the man say, "Miss, youre awake?" Xiangxiang, still in his arms, blushed and said shyly, "Thank you, young master." "No need for thanks; now, please put on some clothes." He helped her sit up straight, handed her a pair of trousers from the carriage, then turned his back to wait for her to dress. At his words, Xiangxiangs face grew even redder. Her nude body had been fully exposed, and even though the man had covered her with clothes, her bare thighs were still in view. She nced at the man, who had turned his back to her. This gesture warmed her heart. This man was a true gentleman, so gentle and such a stark contrast to the scoundrel who only knew how to bully her. She quickly grabbed the clothes and got dressed. The clothes were quite loose, so she rolled up the trouser legs and sleeves, "Young master, Im dressed now, you can turn around." Upon hearing that Xiangxiang was dressed, the man turned back to face her. Her face was swollen from being hit, but it was still possible to see that she was exceedingly beautiful. Seeing her torn clothes and headwear, he presumed she must be from a wealthy family. He didnt understand why those viins had targeted her, but he kindly advised, "Remember to bring a bodyguard when you go out next time." "Thank you for the suggestion, young master." Xiangxiang was still frightened by the ordeal. From now on, she would need to choose a coachman capable of fighting; otherwise, if she encountered a situation like today and hadnt met a nobleman, she would truly have died. "Young master, where are we going now?" "I apologize for not asking for your permission, but I need to rush to the Yang Family Vige for some business. Ill have to leave you at the Yang Family Vige temporarily. Once Im done with my errands, Ill escort you home. Is that alright?" "..." Was this young master really going to take her home? Xiangxiangs heart warmed once again, and she could hear the thumping of her own heart. Perhaps he was the perfect man heaven had sent for her. Just as she was about to ask for his name, her body started to feel strange and she began to breathe deeply and heavily. The man noticed her condition, "Miss, whats wrong?" Chapter 521 - 522: Young Master, I’ve Been Poisoned

Chapter 521: Chapter 522: Young Master, Ive Been Poisoned

Wang Xiangxiang continued to gasp for air, her body starting to react strangely, feeling an unbearable scorching heat. She suddenly widened her eyes, her face turning pale with terror; the medicine those people had given her had taken effect. "Miss, whats wrong with you?" Wang Xiangxiang moved her body backward and said in bits and pieces, "Dont, dont touch me." "..." Had the young woman been scared out of her wits, afraid of his touch? He quickly exined, "Miss, rest assured, I wont touch you." Enduring with all her might, she licked her dried lips with her tongue, feeling extremely thirsty, "I want to drink water." "Oh, okay." The man in the carriage hastily handed his travel water sk to Wang Xiangxiang. When Wang Xiangxiang took it, her hand identally brushed against the mans fingers, causing her body to involuntarily shudder. Wang Xiangxiang gulped down the entire sk of water, but still felt it wasnt enough. She became frightened; could she die from this? With a trembling voice, she said, "Young master, Ive been poisoned." "What?" The man in the carriage was surprised, observing the increasingly unwell young woman opposite himher little face frightfully red and gasping for breathand recalling how she had been bullied by those men. Could it be? He suddenly realized what kind of poison she meant by being poisoned. In the absence of a doctor, aside from a man being the remedy, there was no other solution. What should he do now? Turning back to find a doctor was out of the question due to time constraints; he could only head to the Yang Family Vige and soak the young woman in cool water first. He began to lose hisposure, shouting ahead, "Ada, go faster, the girl cant hold on much longer." "Yes, young master." Two whip cracks sounded from atop the horse as the carriage sped up. "Miss, hang in there. We will soon arrive at the Yang Family Vige." "Mhm." Although she responded, she couldnt hold on much longer, especially with the two of them so close together inside the carriage. At this point, she was nearly unconscious, turning into a woman yearning for affection. Without further thought, her hands clung to the mans neck, and her mouth found his, seeking that momentary chill which made her crave more and more. The man was startled by Wang Xiangxiangs action, his eyes widening, and he pushed her back into her seat; he almost regretted saving her. But he couldnt me her; he knew she had been poisoned and was almost unconscious. To stop Wang Xiangxiang from causing more chaos, he pulled off his belt and tied her up. Seeing the woman tied there, still twisting her body, he felt extremely annoyed and closed his eyes to avoid sight of her. However, from time to time, she would still let out tempting sounds, making the mans face grow darker. Fortunately, the journey to the Yang Family Vige was short, and they soon arrived. Entering the vige, Ada promptly inquired about the household with the water pond. After being informed, the carriage directly stopped at the entrance of Yang Mings house. Inside the house, Xiaoxiao was still pasting paper when she heard the sound of the carriage. She hurriedly ran out and saw Wang Xiangxiang being carried out by a strange man. "Sister Wang, what happened to you?" Chapter 522 - 523: Xiangxiang, what’s wrong with you, huh? Don’t scare me, okay?

Chapter 522: Chapter 523: Xiangxiang, whats wrong with you, huh? Dont scare me, okay?

Chu Lian was driving his carriage toward the Yang Family vige, and his mood today was very good because he was on his way to see her. A smile was etched at the corner of his mouth, and his mind kept reliving that vivid dream, as well as her beautiful face. Suddenly he discovered a tree blocking the road ahead. His eyebrows furrowed, there was no wind or rain, so why was the tree obstructing the way? He quickly tugged on the reins, signaling the horses to go around the obstacle. After circumventing it, he was surprised to see Wang Xiangxiangs carriage. It could have easily been driven around, so why had they stopped here? He hastily got out to investigate, but before he could get close to the carriage, he noticed some torn clothing by the roadside. His heart skipped a beat, an ominous feeling washing over himthat clothing looked very much like Wang Xiangxiangs, the same clothes she had worn yesterday. He ran swiftly to the carriage and flung open the door to find itpletely empty. His mind buzzedWang Xiangxiang might have met with harm. His fist smashed into the carriage door. Why? Why? He had just confirmed his feelings for her, who could it be? Once he found out, he would make them pay. Ferocity filled his eyes when suddenly he heard a "whimper" from behind the carriage. Turning around, he discovered Wang Xiangxiangs coachman was tied to arge tree behind, a rag stuffed in his mouth. The coachman was shaking his head desperately, tears reddening his eyes, "whimpering." Chu Lian hurried over and removed the cloth from his mouth, bellowing, "Speak up, where is your miss?" "Master Chu, my miss may have gone to the Yang Family vige," the coachman cried out as he spoke, deducing from the direction of the carriages that went to rescue his miss. He felt utterly useless, tied up here, watching helplessly as his miss was bullied by those people. Upon learning of Wang Xiangxiangs whereabouts, Chu Lian didnt hesitate. He sprinted to his carriage and drove off swiftly. His heart was in turmoil, fearful that she might be in danger. He whipped the horses unceasingly, driving them to gallop quickly. Moving so fast, by the time Wang Xiangxiang was carried into the yard, Chu Lian had already arrived. Seeing her being carried in, looking close to herst breath, his rage red up. He leaped down from his carriage andnded a punch on the back of the man carrying her. That punch was so powerful it nearly caused the man to drop Wang Xiangxiang. After throwing the punch, Chu Lian ran to the front and snatched Wang Xiangxiang from the mans arms, "Let go of her." Having taken Wang Xiangxiang in his arms, Chu Lian saw she was dressed in mens clothing with her hands tied, the belt around her hands was clearly the mans. Blood filled his eyes with hatred, but Wang Xiangxiangs safety was his priority; hed have to deal with the manter. "Xiangxiang, whats wrong with you? Dont scare me," Chu Lian begged as he saw her face reddened with fever, his heart bleeding. He kept calling her name, "Xiangxiang, Xiangxiang..." At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang, groggy and confused, seemed to hear the voice of a rascal who shouldnt care so much for her, even calling her pet name? She slowly opened her eyes to see a pair of lips moving, calling out her name. Her hands reached up to his neck, and she nted a kiss on those moving lips. This action shocked everyone except for the man who brought Wang Xiangxiang, leaving onlookers extremely surprised. What on earth was going on? Then the unfamiliar man said, "Shes been poisoned with Enchanting Poison, please help her with the antidote." Chapter 523 - 524: Let Me Do It

Chapter 523: Chapter 524: Let Me Do It

Chu Lian, shocked by the kiss, widened his eyes; it was Wang Xiangxiang kissing him, and in front of so many people no less. Her lips were fragrant and soft, immersing him in the sweet kiss from which he couldnt extricate himself. But soon, as if doused by cold water, he was thoroughly chilled. Wang Xiangxiang had been given an Aphrodisiac, which exined her behavior. Even if he wanted to kiss her, this was not the right moment. He quickly broke free from Wang Xiangxiangs kiss, lifted her in his arms, and with long strides, headed towards the room of Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao. Seeing the bathing tub in the outer room, he didnt think twice before cing Wang Xiangxiang into it. He walked over to the water tank, took thedle resting on top, scooped up adle of water, and poured it directly over Wang Xiangxiang. As he watched her in pain and an utterly disheveled state, his eyes turned red with heartache. However, he had no choice but to keep pouring water over her,dle bydle, because only through this could shee to her senses. Although he could help her detoxify, he didnt want to do so while she was not lucidand she wouldnt have agreed to it either. "Yang Ming, hurry and find a doctor in town." "Brother Chu, Im on it." Hearing Chu Lians order, Yang Ming quickly harnessed the carriage and rushed to town for the doctor. Seeing the situation, Xiaoxiao found a basin and joined Chu Lian in pouring water over Wang Xiangxiang. Wang Xiangxiang, drenched in cold water with her eyes shut, iled about, causing Xiaoxiaos tears to continuously drip down. She had been fine that morning, smiling so brightly, asking if she would go to town. In just one morning, everything changed, and now this was happening. Xiaoxiao med herself severely, wondering why she hadnt stayed with her. "Master Chu, will this really work?" Xiaoxiao asked, half in doubt, fearing that it might not be effective and they would be causing her more trouble. She had only heard about Aphrodisiacs, never actually seen one. Could a cold bath truly extinguish the fire within? "We have no other choice now; we must try." Before long, the entire tub was filled, and Wang Xiangxiang got to her feet, struggling to get out. With a heavy heart, Chu Lian pressed her firmly back into the water. He pushed her down over and over again, as Xiaoxiao wept incessantly. The usually cheery Wang Xiangxiang was now in a pitiable state. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang exhausted from struggling, Chu Lian urgently said, "Sister-inw, quickly prepare her clothes." Upon hearing the words "sister-inw," Xiaoxiao was taken aback before realizing what he meant, "Oh, okay, right." Xiaoxiao went inside to look for clothes, and by the time she had found them, Chu Lian had already brought Wang Xiangxiang into the house. He instructed Xiaoxiao, "Sister-inw, please help her change her clothes, and I wille inter when she is better." "All right." Xiaoxiao hastily agreed. Then she helped Wang Xiangxiang remove her soaking wet clothes. At this point, Wang Xiangxiang began to feel unbearably hot again, and soon was stripped bare. After drying her off, Xiaoxiao tried to help her dress, but Wang Xiangxiang resisted no matter what. Despite a lengthy struggle, she couldnt get the clothes on. Xiaoxiao was left sweating profusely from the exertion, wondering where Wang Xiangxiang got all that strength. Outside, Chu Lian paced by the door, anxiously asking, "Sister-inw, is it done yet?" "Not yet, she refuses to get dressed." Xiaoxiao was also getting frantic, thinking what to do next. Hearing it was still not done, Chu Lian made up his mind to enter the room, since she was destined to be his wife. "Let me do it." "..." Chapter 524 - 525

Chapter 524: Chapter 525

Upon entering the room and seeing Wang Xiangxiangs agonized struggling, Chu Lians heart was pierced with pain. How could he have been just a stepte? If only he hade sooner, she wouldnt be in this state. Chu Lian immediately stepped forward, grabbing both of Wang Xiangxiangs arms and turned his head towards Xiaoxiao, "Sister-inw, Ill hold her down. You quickly help her get dressed." "Oh, oh, okay." Xiaoxiao felt somewhat embarrassed. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang like this, Chu Lian was too calm. Even she couldnt keep herposure, okay? Xiaoxiao quickly helped Wang Xiangxiang get dressed, luckily she had stored some clothes in her room, and just picked a set of the right size to put on her. It took a lot of effort for both of them to get Wang Xiangxiang dressed. They had hoped Wang Xiangxiang would feel better afterwards. But to their dismay, she showed no signs of regaining rity, one could say her mind was not clear at all, which made them both very anxious. The doctor hadnt arrived yet, what were they supposed to do now? Xiaoxiao suggested, "Master Chu, how about we knock her out? Itd save her from this struggle." "..." Chu Lian didnt respond. Xiaoxiao then suggested, "Or should we tie her up? That should work." "..." Chu Lian still didnt speak. He held onto Wang Xiangxiangs hands, preventing her from moving. Listening to Xiaoxiaos suggestions, he didnt want to follow either of them. He couldnt bear to see her suffer like this; he wished he could take her ce. But she was suffering right now. Seeing that Chu Lian gave no reply, Xiaoxiao became anxious. Neither approach was appropriate, and they couldnt let her continue like this. Looking at her condition, it was obviously not improving, and if this continued, something terrible might happen. "But the doctor isnt here yet, should we throw her into the water instead?" As Chu Lian pondered what to do, Wang Xiangxiang lunged at him. He was just about to dodge when Wang Xiangxiang climbed onto him. At that moment, Xiaoxiao was extremely embarrassed. Hey, hey, hey, doing this in front of me, is this really okay? "Cough cough!" Xiaoxiao voiced a reminder, "Master Chu, dont forget, shes been poisoned. If she wakes up and finds out..." This remark snapped Chu Lian back to reality. How could he have lost hisposure? He hurriedly pushed Wang Xiangxiang away and said awkwardly, "Im sorry." If she woke up and discovered he had taken advantage of her, she would certainly be furious. He couldnt seize the opportunity to take advantage of her vulnerability; he had to wait until she fully gave her heart to him. "We should tie her up," Xiaoxiao continued to suggest. Chu Lian nodded in agreement; they had no other option but to do so for now. The two found some rope, and as they were about to tie Wang Xiangxiang up, Yang Ming came back, calling out, "The doctor is here, the doctor hase!" Hearing that the doctor had arrived, both of them visibly rxed. At least they didnt have to tie her up, and she would suffer less. Chu Lian, anxious, pleaded, "Doctor, please help her with the antidote, quickly! Shes in so much pain." Chu Lians face showed immense pain, appearing more worried than anyone. This inevitably caused Xiaoxiao to specte. Could it be that Chu Lian was fond of Wang Xiangxiang? This was indeed a significant event. Though puzzled, Xiaoxiao knew what was most urgent and also said, "Doctor, please help her with the antidote. We cant handle her, shes still delirious. Were afraid something might happen to her." Seeing Xiaoxiao almost babbling, Yang Ming quickly stepped forward, "Dont worry, lets trust the doctor. The doctor will surely know what to do." "Oh, right, listen to the doctor. Doctor, please have a look quickly," Xiaoxiao said. Chapter 525 - 526: All of you, leave

Chapter 525: Chapter 526: All of you, leave

"Dont worry, old doctor will take a look now," the Boss said as he walked alongside Chu Lian into the room. "Doctor, shes been poisoned with Enchanting Poison. We gave her a cold bath, but it doesnt seem to work; its getting more serious," Chu Lian hurried to report the situation to the Boss. After the doctor entered the room, he examined Wang Xiangxiangs symptoms and took her pulse for a moment. Then he shook his head, sighed deeply, and said in a somber voice, "She has been poisoned with Charm Fragrance Powder." Hearing that it was Charm Fragrance Powder poisoning, Chu Lians face immediately changed. It was said that the potency of Charm Fragrance Powder was too strong and there was no cure for it. The doctor continued, "Once poisoned with Charm Fragrance Powder, there is no antidote. If she doesnt mate with a man within one day, she will surely die from the poison. Is she married? Find her husband quickly." At these words, the few people in the room fell silent. Wang Xiangxiang was still a maiden. If a man was required to neutralize the poison, wouldnt that mean her honor would be lost? Xiaoxiao couldnt believe this was happening. It was just an aphrodisiac, how could it be so potent? "Doctor, shes not married; shes still a maiden. Isnt there any other way?" she asked. "It depends on how much Charm Fragrance Powder the girl has ingested. If its a small amount, perhaps I can control it with acupuncture," the doctor said. Hearing that acupuncture could control it, Xiaoxiaos eyes brightened and she immediately urged the doctor to try, "Doctor, then please apply the needles quickly. Saving her is the most important thing." The doctor nodded in agreement, but reminded them, "If the acupuncture doesnt work well, you should still decide quickly who will help her detoxify." "..." This suggestion made them consider which man would assist Wang Xiangxiang in detoxifying, which was terribly unfair to her. How could she ept this reality once she woke up? Everyone fell silent, watching the doctor apply the needles, all hoping that his acupuncture would work so that no man would be needed to help her detoxify. The doctor inserted several silver needles into Wang Xiangxiangs head, hands, and feet. She broke into a sweat from her head, and Chu Lian, with a pained heart, helped her wipe it away. After a short while, the doctor withdrew the needles and then reinserted them at other points. "Im hot, so hot." Hearing Wang Xiangxiangs voice, Chu Lian asked anxiously, "Doctor, shes speaking, she says shes hot, what should we do?" The doctor nced at Chu Lian and then said, "Its not a problem, this is a normal reaction; you would be hot at this time too." "..." Chu Lians ears reddened at the doctors words, as he hadnt thought about that at all; he was just worried about her, afraid she was ufortable. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang still twisting her body in unbearable heat with no sign of improvement, everyones hearts sank, fearing the worst. True enough, after the doctor removed the needles, he sighed and said, "s, the acupuncture didnt work. You should decide quickly who will help her detoxify, faster is better, otherwise, she will suffer even more." "This..." Xiaoxiao hadnt expected to face such a situation. There were only four men in the house, Yang Ming and Chu Lian. Yang Ming was her husband and out of the question; the two strangers who had arrived recently stayed outside and probably werent likely candidates, which left only Chu Lian as a possibility. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming both turned their gaze toward Chu Lian. He was the only one who could save Wang Xiangxiang now. Chu Lian struggled internally. If he were to do this, he feared he would lose her forever, but he wanted her to live more than anything else. He spoke, "Everyone, leave." Chapter 526 - 527-528 Lin County Han Yongsheng

Chapter 526: Chapter 527-528 Lin County Han Yongsheng

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming came out of the house with the doctor. Yang Ming wanted to see the doctor off, but Xiaoxiao stopped him, "Lets wait a bit longer to go back, well have the doctor check on Sister Wangs condition after we finish up." Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao exchanged nces, both smiling sheepishly; they decided to take the old doctor out for a walk instead. As they reached the gate, the two unfamiliar men got down from the carriage. Only then did Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming remember the existence of these two men. Who exactly were they, and why had they brought Wang Xiangxiang back? With this question in mind, Yang Ming asked. "I apologize for not asking earlier, may I know if you are friends of Miss Wang?" The gentleman politely sped his hands in a traditional gesture of respect and then said, "My name is Han Yongsheng, from Lin County. I do not know thedy in question, but happened to pass by and saw her being bullied by some ruffians, so I stepped in to rescue her." As soon as they heard he was Wang Xiangxiangs savior, Xiaoxiao immediately asked, "Do you know if Sister Wang was actually bullied?" This was her most pressing concern; she needed to know the specifics. Asked this question, Han Yongsheng replied somewhat embarrassedly, "When we arrived, her clothes had been removed, but she did not seem to have been molested; its possible they were waiting for the aphrodisiac to take effect." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao clutched her chest and hurriedly breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness Wang Xiangxiang had not been vited by those scoundrels. But the current situation was still bad; if she woke up and thought Chu Lian had taken advantage of her, who knows what could happen? After all, she had asked Wang Xiangxiang before, and she said there was no chance between the two of them. "Who were those people, do you know?" Xiaoxiao continued to inquire about the details. "Im not very sure, they seemed to be just local thugs and rogues, but it looked premeditated, seeing as there was a tree blocking the road." So those people were targeting Wang Xiangxiang, but why would they treat a woman in such a way? Could it be that Wang Xiangxiang had offended someone? Just as Xiaoxiao was about to ask more, Yang Ming stopped her, "Young Master Han, my wife can be a bit talkative. Please excuse us if we have been impolite just now." Han Yongsheng waved his hand, "Its no trouble." Yang Ming led the way to the main house, saying, "I do hope you wille in for some warm tea." Han Yongsheng followed Yang Ming and was just about to enter the yard when they heard voicesing from inside once more. The situation made everyone supremely ufortable. Xiaoxiao quickly said, "Um... er... Will you please excuse us, Young Master Han, theres nothing we can do about this." Han Yongsheng replied awkwardly, "I understand, saving someone is of the utmost importance." Xiaoxiao looked at this Young Master Han, a handsome and talented figure, with looks not inferior to Chu Lians, and his demeanor was also very elegant. Clearly, he was from a well-off family in Lin County. She thought to herself, just as I expected, theres no need for Wang Xiangxiang to hang herself up on someone from our countythere are plenty of good young men from other counties, and look, heres one now. "Lets quickly go inside." Han Yongsheng waved his hand, saying, "Theres no need to go inside just yet, lets talk about the important matters first." At these words, a look of surprise shed in Yang Mings eyes. It seemed he was not here simply to deliver Miss Wang, "May I ask what brings Young Master Han to our humble residence?" "Isnt your family digging a pond?" Chapter 527 - 529: Lin County’s Yongan Fish Pond

Chapter 527: Chapter 529: Lin Countys Yongan Fish Pond

"..." Was he here for their fish pond? The pond hadnt even been dug out yet, so how had word got around to Lin County? Xiaoxiao was unsure whether this man was a friend or a foe. Yang Ming was also puzzled and decided to inquire, "Master Han, may I ask how you came to know about our family digging a fish pond?" "Do you know Guo Feng from the Lin County Dyeing Workshop?" Yang Ming was unfamiliar with the name and shook his head. But Xiaoxiao was not unfamiliar with the nameit was Wang Xiangxiangs business partner and close friend. Thus, she replied, "Ive heard of him, but never formally met him." Yang Ming nced at his wife. The name Guo Feng clearly belonged to a manhow could his wife...? Seeing the look Yang Ming gave her, Xiaoxiao rolled her eyes at him, thinking he was being petty. She said quietly, "Wangs business partner." Han Yongsheng continued, "I heard from him a few days ago that theres going to be a fish pond in this county, and I couldnt wait to rush over." "..." So the news had been leaked by Wang Xiangxiang. But what did their familys fish pond have to do with this man? Yang Ming continued, "Master Han, could you please state your intentions directly?" Seeing their wary attitude, Han Yongsheng hurriedly exined, "Have you heard of the Yongan Fish Pond in Lin County?" Xiaoxiao knew nothing about these thingsshe had never been beyond this county. Yang Ming, however, had heard some things, "Ive heard about it, it is said that Yongan Fish Pond monopolizes the entire fish market in Lin County." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao thought. To monopolize the entire fish market in the countythat must be an impressive pond! She too wanted to monopolize the fish market in their county. Was this man from the Yongan Fish Pond? Was he here topete for business? "I am the owner of Yongan Fish Pond, and I came today to seek your opinion on partnering with us at Yongan Fish Pond." "What kind of partnership are you proposing?" "We at Yongan Fish Pond would supply you with fingerlings, and wed split the profits from the sales sixty-forty. How about that?" Han Yongsheng rified his purpose. Xiaoxiaos face instantly lost its smile, and she let out a coldugh, "Who gets sixty and who gets forty?" "You get sixty, we get forty." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao was quick to eject the visitor, "I had no idea someone who looks quite decent could be such a ruthless profiteer. Our family doesnt do business with people like you. Please leave and stay wherever it pleases you." Hearing their young master being spoken of in this manner, Han Yongshengs attendant quickly intervened, "Hey, why are you being like this?" "Whats wrong with me? Are you just here to bully ordinary folks?" "Ada, shut up." Han Yongsheng quickly stopped the attendant he had brought with him. He knew that someone who coulde up with the idea of digging a pond would not be an easy person to deal with, and he certainly didnt expect her to be such a fierce woman. He turned to Yang Ming and continued, "Might I inquire the esteemed name of you, sir?" "My surname is Yang." "Brother Yang, Mistress Yang, the words I just spoke may have been somewhat abrupt. We can negotiate this matter further." "You can go now, no need for further discussion. I wont do business with a person like you." Xiaoxiao was still furious. She thought about how little money she would spend to buy fingerlings, yet he wanted a share of her profit, treating her as if she were just a naive countrywoman ignorant of the ways of the world. Seeing the familys firm stance, Han Yongsheng conceived a n, "All right, lets not talk about the fingerlings. I happen to be the lifesaver of that youngdy there. When she gets better, I would like to have a few words with her, if thats possible?" Chapter 528 - 530: Please Help Me Keep This Secret

Chapter 528: Chapter 530: Please Help Me Keep This Secret

Because Wang Xiangxiangs life saviors were present, it was not quite appropriate to simply drive them away, so Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming reluctantly agreed to let Han Yongsheng and hispanion stay. Since the meeting inside hadnt ended and everyone hadnt eaten due to Wang Xiangxiangs incident, they decided to take everyone to the rented courtyard to cook, choosing not to disturb the two people anymore. They had just walked a few steps when Wang Xiangxiang familys carriage arrived, and the coachman, seeing Xiaoxiao, hurriedly got down from the carriage, "Did our young mistress arrive? How is she, is everything okay?" Seeing the coachman reminded Xiaoxiao, "Oh, right, there was a coachman," she asked, "Where did you go?" "I was tied to a big tree by those people, and Master Chu just ran off without untying me. It was strange today, there were no pedestrians on the road, and I was only freed two hourster." "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless, not knowing what to say to him, "Your young mistress is fine,e on, go have dinner with us." The coachman was relieved and parked the carriage at the entrance of the Yang Familys house, and then followed Xiaoxiao to the rented courtyard. Two hourster, when everyone returned to the Yang Familys residence, they thought the pair would have finished, but upon entering the courtyard, they heard moans again. The situation was extremely embarrassing, as these two people had taken far too long, and the boss exined, "The poisoning is too severe, too severe." Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming exchanged looks, understanding the situation, they hadnt been poisoned, yet had also fought throughout the night. It wasnt long before the moaning finally stopped, and momentster, there was no noise inside the house, perhaps this time they were truly finished. Indeed, after a while, Chu Lian came out. Seeing Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming, he seemed somewhat embarrassed; after all, it happened in someone elses bridal chamber, and he had even dirtied their bedding. "Master Chu, how is she?" Xiaoxiao hurriedly inquired about Wang Xiangxiangs condition. "She is exhausted and has fallen asleep." Xiaoxiao quickly turned to the doctor, "Doctor, shall we go inside to see if she is okay?" This time only Xiaoxiao and the doctor entered, and Xiaoxiao looked at Wang Xiangxiang, her cheeks flusheda clear sign she had been well cared for. She touched Wang Xiangxiangs forehead with her hand, "Doctor, she seems to have a fever." The old doctor replied calmly, "As expected, you gave her cold water, and the struggle just now was intense, it would be strange if she didnt have a fever. Ill check her pulse first, to see about the Enchanting Poison." After checking her pulse, the doctor gave Xiaoxiao a reassuring look, "Dont worry, this girl is fine, she just needs to drink some fever-reducing medicine when she wakes up. Do you have any? If not,e with me to town to get some." "Alright, thank you, doctor. When my husband sends you off, Ill ask him to get the medicine," Xiaoxiao replied. The two of them left the room, and Chu Lian eagerly came forward to inquire, "How is she?" His anxious appearance was evident to anyone. Xiaoxiao quickly said, "Its nothing to worry about, she just has a fever, shell be fine after taking some medicine." Upon hearing this, Chu Lians heart settled; she was finally okay. He had also heard from Yang Ming that the two people were Wang Xiangxiangs life saviors, thus, they were essentially his life saviors as well, and he sincerely thanked them. The group exchanged a few more words, Yang Ming sent the doctor back to town, and Chu Lian nned to follow him back. He wanted to keep this matter a secret with the help of these people, so he said to those present, "Regarding todays matter, when she wakes, I hope you wont tell her, I would like to earnestly ask everyone to help me keep this secret." "..." Chapter 529 - 531 I Really Like Her

Chapter 529: Chapter 531 I Really Like Her

Regarding Chu Lians request, it primarily concerned Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao, as the other irrelevant people would not mention the matter again after being reminded. Yang Ming himself had no issues, as he, being a man, would not take the initiative to bring up the matter with Wang Xiangxiang. The key to keeping this secrety with Xiaoxiao. Chu Lian looked at Xiaoxiao, "Sister-inw, can you do it?" "..." Xiaoxiao furrowed her brows tightly. Wang Xiangxiang wasnt a fool; having done it all afternoon, she would definitely realize that she had lost her chastity upon waking up. It wasnt a matter of whether she spoke of it or not, and did she really have no awareness at all during the process? She did cry out quite loudly. Chu Lian looked at Xiaoxiao with pleading eyes, "Sister-inw?" "Why?" Chu Lian gave a bitter smile and said, "She despises me. If she finds out it was me, she will break down." "..." His words seemed to make some sense. Regardless, the situation would be hard for anyone to ept, "But when she wakes up, she will discover that she lost her chastity." Chu Lian knew that it was a matter of time before she found out. He just didnt want her to know now, for he didnt want her to feelpelled to marry him because of this incident. He wanted to wait until she truly wanted to marry him. "Sister-inw, you have a way, please help." He had always thought of Xiaoxiao as someone with a nimble mind, surely able to help him keep it secret for a while. "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless. What could she do? She was not omnipotent. "Wife, just agree to help Big Brother Chu. He must have his reasons." It was the first time Yang Ming saw Chu Lian with such a begging look, so he also helped to persuade his wife. Xiaoxiao was still pondering. Given the current situation, Wang Xiangxiang might truly not be able to ept the truth upon waking up. If she became desperate and something happened, perhaps keeping this secret was indeed the best method for her. "Then, alright." Seeing that Xiaoxiao had agreed, Chu Lian sighed deeply in relief, "Thank you." Afterward, Yang Ming and the doctor got on a carriage, and Chu Lian got on his own carriage. The two carriages then headed toward Shibao Town. After sending the doctor back and picking up some medicine, the two carriages synchronized their stops. "Yang Ming, Wang Xiangxiang is now your sister-inw. You and your wife take good care of her." "Big Brother Chu, you... have you let go?" Actually, Yang Ming was a bit surprised. Chu Lian had changed how he addressed his wife, from Xiaoxiao to sister-inw. "Yes, I have let go. I am going to marry Wang Xiangxiang." This statement startled Yang Ming again, but he soon understood. Had it been him, he would have taken responsibility too, "Big Brother Chu, you are a responsible man." "Its not because of that incident." "..." Yang Ming was a bit puzzled. "I genuinely like her." Upon hearing this, Yang Mings eyes widened, "Big Brother Chu, when did this happen?" Chu Lian thought for a moment, then smiled, "Perhaps since the moment we first met." "..." It hadnt been very long, but then Yang Ming thought about it; he too had fallen for his wife in just a few days, so it no longer seemed strange. He just wondered how Chu Lian had changed his affections so suddenly. However, Yang Ming was pleased to see this, as it meant one less person coveting his wife. It was as if Chu Lian could see right through Yang Mings thoughts. He continued, "In truth, my feelings for your wife were only admiration until I met Wang Xiangxiang. Only then did I understand what romantic love truly was." Chapter 530 - 532 Brother Chu said, "From now on, Wang Xiangxiang will be our sister-in-law.

Chapter 530: Chapter 532 Brother Chu said, "From now on, Wang Xiangxiang will be our sister-inw.

Seeing the look in Chu Lians eyes as he spoke, there was indeed a deep affection, he thought. This time Chu Lian really had developed true feelings, it was just... The wife had said that Wang Xiangxiang didnt like Chu Lian, and he probably knew it, which was why he had just asked everyone to help him keep it a secret. Chu Lian must be feeling even more heartache than he had at the time; at least he had kept his own wife by his side, but Wang Xiangxiang could leave at any moment. He had to cheer him on, so he encouraged him by saying, "Brother Chu, you must work hard and strive to marry Miss Wang soon." Chu Lian smiled awkwardly. He had thought the same that morning, but ns never keep up with changes. Though he had gained her ahead of time, he felt that the distance between them might only be growing. "Yang Ming, Ill take my leave first. Ill send someone to deliver nkets to your houseter. Im really sorry for dirtying your bridal chamber," Chu Lian said before boarding the carriage. He was in a hurry to get back; there was still much to do. Watching Chu Lian get on the carriage, Yang Ming hurriedly called out, "No need to send them, a wash will do." But Chu Lian didnt respond; he waved his hand and drove off. Yang Ming had no choice but to let him go and drove his own carriage home. By the time Yang Ming got home, it was evening. The family was having dinner, and he saw that the guest, Mr. Han, and hispanion were also joining them at the table, and the atmosphere was joyful. Yang Ming didnt say anything and just sat down to eat. After dinner, he arranged for Mr. Han and hispanion to stay in Yang Dongs room before he finally had a chance to talk to his wife. "How is Miss Wang doing?" "She hasnt woken up yet." "Why is it taking so long?" Xiaoxiao hit Yang Ming lightly and whispered, "Didnt I sleep for a whole day too when it happened to me? Besides, shes ill." ... It seemed his wife made a good point. "What did you tell everyone at home?" "Im not foolish; I just said she had a fever, so nobody would disturb her." "What about Mr. Han and hispanion?" "Just told the truth, that they were the people providing the fish fry." The couple had not talked for long in the courtyard when a carriage arrived at the gate; they quickly went to check it out. When they got there, they were stunned to see a carriage full of nkets, clothes, and daily necessities. Xiaoxiao looked puzzled at Yang Ming, who exined, "Brother Chu sent them." "Huh?" "Brother Chu said that Wang Xiangxiang will be our sister-inw from now on." ... Xiaoxiaos eyes widened in astonishment. Was this dering Wang Xiangxiang as his woman? She had said that Chu Lian liked Wang Xiangxiang, but no one had believed her; it seemed that her insight was spot on, "Now you should believe what I said." "Yes, I believe you now. Brother Chu personally admitted it." ... Xiaoxiaos mind began to whirl again. So it was a case of the lover willing, but the beloved indifferent? They matched well, and now with these events, it would be best for them to be together. All it would take was for Wang Xiangxiang to fall in love with Chu Lian, and then everyone would be happy, wouldnt they? But how could they make Wang Xiangxiang like Chu Lian? "Husband, the rice has already been cooked into a meal; we have to help to bring them together," Xiaoxiao said. "Wife, our minds are as one," Yang Ming replied. The two exchanged a smile, and Yang Ming continued, "Wife, lets move these things inside quickly. When Miss Wang wakes up, dont mention theyre from Brother Chu. Since Brother Chu intends to keep it a secret, lets not make things moreplicated." Xiaoxiao gave Yang Ming a reassuring look, "I understand, Im not foolish." ... His wife always imed she was not foolish, but if he were to say so, she would be the most foolish of all, for choosing him over such a suitable family. Chapter 531 - 533 The Silent Wang Xiangxiang

Chapter 531: Chapter 533 The Silent Wang Xiangxiang

The two quickly brought in the things Chu Lian had sent, all of which were of top qualitythe belongings of the wealthy were indeed different. After sending the carriage away, as soon as they entered the courtyard, Xiaoxiao turned to Yang Ming and said, "Honey, after you finish your medicine, you should leave." "Go where?" "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless, this blockhead, "With Sister Wang like this, I need to take care of her tonight. Youll just have to squeeze in with your younger brother at the rented courtyard." Although Yang Ming was reluctant upon hearing this, he had no choice but to agree. The two returned to their room to find Wang Xiangxiang still sound asleep, so they decided to prepare the medicine outside. Now they werepletely like medicine jars, taking doses in the morning and evening, and also prepared Wang Xiangxiangs fever-reducing medicine, keeping it warm for when she would wake up. After Yang Ming had taken his medicine, he hugged his wife from behind and whispered, "Wife." Xiaoxiao quickly broke free, "Stop fooling around, Sister Wang is still here." Yang Ming still hugged his wife from behind, resting his head on her shoulder like a child, "Wife, I cant bear to leave you." "..." Really, this man... its just for one night, whats there to miss, "Just go, stop nagging, youll be back tomorrow." Yang Ming kissed his wifes cheek from behind, then reluctantly let go of her, "If you cant handle it, call Yang Qiu for help." "Okay." Seeing Yang Ming leave, Xiaoxiaos lips curved up high, her heart sweet as if she had eaten honey. Inside, Wang Xiangxiang was actually already awake. She hadnt made a sound, instead silently listening to the interactions of the couple in the outer room. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions, and tears frequently streamed down her cheeks. She feared she could never be as happy as Xiaoxiao in this lifetime. She closed her eyes, waiting for Xiaoxiao to enter the room. After Xiaoxiao busied herself for a while, she then pretended to wake up. "Sister Wang, are you awake? Are you hungry? Shall we eat first?" Wang Xiangxiang didnt speak, but nodded. Xiaoxiao quickly went out to fetch the meal. Once Xiaoxiao left, Wang Xiangxiang sat up, her entire body aching as if it had fallen apart, the pain especially intense in that area. She wasnt foolish, she was a smart girl, she knew she had lost her virginity, and although she wasntpletely unconscious, she had initiated it herself. She had been so wanton, she couldnt ept this harsh reality. She probably couldnt find true love in this lifetime, as she was no longer intact. Xiaoxiao brought the food in and ced it on the table, then poured water for Wang Xiangxiang, "Sister Wang, you must be starving, eat up." Wang Xiangxiang still didnt speak and started eating directly. This silent Wang Xiangxiang made Xiaoxiao feel something was off, yet since Wang Xiangxiang herself didnt mention what had happened today, how could she rub salt in the wounds? It just so happened she still didnt know how to help Chu Lian cover up, so she didnt ask and she didnt mention it either. As she ate, Wang Xiangxiang thought, since Xiaoxiao wasnt bringing it up, she probably knew everything. What face did she have to talk about it then? She could only ept her misfortune. After the meal, Xiaoxiao felt Wang Xiangxiangs forehead, still very hot, "Sister Wang, you have a high fever, wait here, Ill fetch your medicine." Wang Xiangxiang nodded. Once Xiaoxiao brought the medicine back, Wang Xiangxiang drank it in one go. At this moment, where could she feel that the medicine was bitter? The bitterness in her heart was a hundred times worse than that of the medicine. Chapter 532 - 534: How Great It Would Be If That Person Was Really You

Chapter 532: Chapter 534: How Great It Would Be If That Person Was Really You

After taking the medicine, Wang Xiangxiang still did not speak; Xiaoxiaos eyes were filled with heartache. "Sister Wang, you should go back to bed and lie down. After a good sleep, you wont have a fever when you wake up tomorrow." Wang Xiangxiang followed Xiaoxiaos instructions and returned to bed. Lifting the covers, she saw the bloodstains she had left, a stark reminder of her lost virginity. Shey down, turning her back to Xiaoxiao, and closed her eyes. Seeing that she was resting again, Xiaoxiao tidied up the bowls and chopsticks and left the room. Once Xiaoxiao was gone, Wang Xiangxiang couldnt control herself any longer. She covered her mouth with both hands, fearing that Xiaoxiao would hear her crying. Alone under the covers, she wept silently, her body trembling from time to time. When Xiaoxiao returned to the room, the silent Wang Xiangxiang finally spoke, "Xiaoxiao, I want to take a bath." "Sister Wang, you still have a high fever?" "I want to wash off all this filth from my body." "..." So Wang Xiangxiang knew everything. Xiaoxiao thought it was impossible to keep such a thing hidden. Now understanding her distress, Xiaoxiao, unable to bear the sight of her curled up back in the bed, agreed, "Sister Wang, Ill go prepare." Soon, Xiaoxiao readied the bathwater, thankful that Yang Ming had refilled the water tank; otherwise, there wouldnt have been any water to heat. After Xiaoxiao entered the room, she asked, "Sister Wang, can you manage on your own? Do you want me to stay with you?" "No need, I want to be alone." After preparing the change of clothes and bathing necessities for Wang Xiangxiang, Xiaoxiao went back into the house. Wang Xiangxiang undressed and sat in the bathtub, furiously scrubbing every part of her body with her hands. But no matter how much she cleaned, the marks remained, a constant reminder that she was no longer a virgin. Once again, she covered her mouth with both hands, crying silently upon realizing a terrible truth. While engaged in that act, she had imagined the man as the brazen Yang Ming. She could almost hear him whispering her nickname, Xiangxiang, by her ear. He said he liked her, wanted to marry her, and in her confusion, she had wanted to be with him; he was all she ever thought about. She realized that she had fallen for him unconsciously. She despised herself; why hadnt she epted his familys proposal? Now it was all toote. Now that she was sober, she knew she must have been ravaged by the nobleman who had appeared from nowhere to save her. Yet, she could not harbor resentment because she understood that everything had happened because she had been drugged with an aphrodisiac by thugs. Ultimately, he had intended to rescue her. At that moment, she was crying so hard she could no longer make a sound. She poured water over her face, wanting to forget everything, but she couldnt; she wanted to wash it all away, but she couldnt. She was no longer pure. Unworthy of the brazen Yang Ming now that she was impure, he was too outstanding. Even if she had been pure, he would not have liked her, because his affections were for Xiaoxiao. They were not meant to be in this lifetime. Wang Xiangxiang, the more she thought about it, the more desperate she became, eventually entertaining the option of suicide. She got up, dressed, and took the kitchen knife from Xiaoxiaos outer room. She shed her wrist, then calmly ced the knife down, sat beside the bathtub, and dipped her hand into the water. Resting her head on the edge of the bathtub, she slowly closed her eyes, thinking, "If only that person was really you." Chapter 533 - 535: You Can Still Find a Man Who Doesn’t Care About Your Virginity

Chapter 533: Chapter 535: You Can Still Find a Man Who Doesnt Care About Your Virginity

Inside the room, Xiaoxiao suddenly felt a quiet that was terribly unsettling, a nameless panic surging within her. Without thinking, she rushed out of the door and saw Wang Xiangxiang slumped next to the bathtub, and the bathwater stained red with blood. Her tears burst forth from her eyes instantly. How could she be so foolish, she sobbed as she held her, "Wuwu, Sister Wang, how could you not see a way out, ah?" At that time, Wang Xiangxiang had not yet lost consciousness. Gasping for breath, tears hanging in the corners of her eyes, she said weakly, "Xiaoxiao, I am tainted, I have no face to live in this world anymore." So she hadnt died; she could still speak, there was still hope. Xiaoxiao quickly found a cloth from her body, and wrapped her wrist to stop the bleeding, terrified, her hands trembling continuously. "Xiaoxiao, stop fussing, let me go," Wang Xiangxiang said, seeing Xiaoxiaos frantic state, tears streaming down her face, yet a fatalistic smile on her lips. Xiaoxiao didnt listen to Wang Xiangxiang at all, she tightly wrapped her wrist, crying out, "You cant die, you have to live well." "..." Live well? If possible, she also wanted to live well, "Xiaoxiao, living is too tiring." She had tried hard; she had lived cheerfully for the past twenty years, but she couldnt ept the fact of her disgrace. If only she hadnt discovered her own feelings, maybe her heart wouldnt hurt so much. "Then you need to live, dont you care about your brother anymore?" Hearing the word brother, Wang Xiangxiang suddenly opened her eyes wide. Fufu, her brother, even more unfortunate than her, was only three years old. Without her, what would be of him? How would he survive? Wang Xiangxiangs tears flowed uncontrobly; did she even have the option to die now? Seeing that Wang Xiangxiang had opened her eyes, Xiaoxiao, seeing it had an effect, continued, "If you die now, with your brother only three years old, who will take care of him? Your family will soon be taken apart by others, and your brother might end up begging on the streets." "No," Wang Xiangxiang almost roared out with all her strength; she didnt want her brother to live such a miserable life. "If you dont want your brother to suffer, you have to live well and set an example." Hearing Xiaoxiaos words, Wang Xiangxiang hesitated, "Can I still live well?" "How can you not? Its just a loss of purity; youre not missing limbs, of course, you can live well. Besides, what does losing purity matter? You can still find a man who doesnt mind that." "..." Is there really such a man? If only Chu Lian could like her and not mind her disgrace. Seeing the despair in Wang Xiangxiangs eyes, Xiaoxiao was heartbroken. She hugged Wang Xiangxiang tightly and continued, "Sister Wang, you have to believe in yourself, you are so good, surely someone wille to like you regardless of your past." Tears continued to flow from Wang Xiangxiangs eyes; she really didnt believe such a person would ever appear, "Really?" "Truly, absolutely. When heaven closes a door, it always opens a window." At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang could no longer control her emotions and began to sob uncontrobly; the two sisters embraced each other like this. Xiaoxiao also began sobbing loudly with Wang Xiangxiang, crying for Wang Xiangxiangs plight, crying for her newfound will to live. Their crying brought over the couple living next door. Outside, they anxiously called out, "Third younger sister-inw, what has happened to you two?" Chapter 534 - 536: Even if I Want to Live Now, It’s Too Late

Chapter 534: Chapter 536: Even if I Want to Live Now, Its Too Late

Upon hearing the shouts of her second elder brother and his wife, Xiaoxiao hurried to open the door, as she couldnt let them disturb everyone in the yardit was better for fewer people to know about this. As the couple entered the room and saw the bucket of bloody water, they were dumbfounded. The second brothers wife called out anxiously, "Younger brothers wife, what on earth happened here, huh?" Wang Xiangxiang, who was already weak from losing too much blood, broke down into heavy sobs as she spoke with a voice that was pale and weak, "Xiaoxiao, even if I want to live now, its toote. Im sorry, Im tired." After she finished speaking, she closed her eyes and slumped over. Xiaoxiao quickly caught her and cried out, "Sister Wang, Sister Wang, youre not scaring me, are you, huh?" Seeing this, the second brothers wife immediately ordered her husband, "Quickly harness the horse cart, we need to rush to the towns medical clinic." "Yes, yes!" Yang Gang, the second brother, quickly agreed and frantically left to harness the horse cart. Inside the house, Xiaoxiao was pressing on the philtrum and constantly shouting, "Sister Wang, you have to hold on, you cant give up." Due to themotion in the house, everyone in the courtyard was rmed and couldnt be held back. They all rushed out of their rooms to see the tragic scene inside Xiaoxiaos house. "Younger brothers wife, this... " Xiaoxiaos tears flowed uncontrobly as she cried and spoke, "Father, lets not ask about this. Pretend you didnt see anything and dont tell anyone else." Old Master Yang, upon seeing this, knew that the suicide attempt by Miss Wang in his house was serious. He admonished everyone to keep their mouths shut about it, forbidding them to tell anyone outside. Just then, Yang Gang came in with the horse cart and lifted Wang Xiangxiang to take her outside, with Xiaoxiao following behind, saying as she walked, "Father, you all go back, its enough that my second brother, his wife, and I go." "Yes, quickly go," Old Master Yang agreed, watching the horse cart quickly disappearing into the distance. "Husband, it wont turn into something terrible, will it?" Yang Mings mother started to worry. "Dont think nonsense, everyone back inside," Old Master Yang roared, then spoke softly to his guests, "Young Master Han, I am truly sorry for this. I hope you can help keep this a secret, as it is a disgraceful matter, after all." "Uncle, rest assured, Im not one to gossip," Han Yongsheng affirmed. "Thats good, thats very good." Old Master Yang then shouted again, "What are you standing around for? Hurry back inside!" The sudden event had thrown the Yang Family into disarray. After being reminded by Old Master Yang, they slowly returned to their rooms. That night, except for a few children who werent woken up, no one in the Yang Family managed to close their eyes, all of them anxious, waiting for Xiaoxiao and the others to return. Inside Yang Dongs room "Young Master, that girl wouldnt have really died, would she?" Han Yongshengy there in silence, also pondering the situation. If the girl had indeed died, his trip would have been in vain. Seeing how resolute Yangs wife was, he knew she was not an easy person to deal with. He had hoped to use the rescue to soften things, but that seemed unlikely now. All he could do was pray the girl was all right. "Young Master, if that girl has truly died, we no longer have a reason to stay here," Ada said, worried. "She wont have, stop worrying about it." "Young Master, what should we do next?" "Lets wait and see how things unfold." He hadnt expected things to reach this point, nor had he anticipated the girls strong-willed nature to choose suicide. He actually admired her for it now, preferring death over a life ofpromise. Chapter 535 - 537: Just Lost Too Much Blood and Fainted

Chapter 535: Chapter 537: Just Lost Too Much Blood and Fainted

Since it was dark, the countryside roads were only lit by moonlight, which made them pitch-ck; particrly difficult for traveling, as this route felt especially long. Xiaoxiaos heart had sunk to the bottom. How could she have been so careless? Wang Xiangxiang was so reserved and quiet; she should have noticed something was wrong and never should have left her alone. Throughout the journey, Xiaoxiao cried incessantly, sobbing and calling out, hoping to awaken her. "Sister Wang, you must hold on, your brother is still waiting for you." "Things arent so desperate, at least Chu Lian genuinely likes you." "You absolutely mustnt let anything happen to you." "..." "..." In response to Xiaoxiaos calls, Wang Xiangxiang didnt hear a single word; she was already in a deepa. Seeing Xiaoxiao cry like that, and Ms. Wangs condition worsening, the wife of the second eldest also began to cry uncontrobly. The silent night amplified the piercing sounds of their cries. Finally, the carriage entered the town and soon reached its destination. Yang Gang quickly jumped off the carriage and ran to the entrance of the clinic, raising his hands and knocking furiously on the clinics door. While knocking, he shouted, "Is anyone there? Open the door, please, help!" The attendant inside the clinic was awakened by the knocking and shouted irritably, "Stop knocking, Iming!" But since the knocking didnt cease and there was no response from inside, Yang Gang kept pounding on the door without a moments pause. "Is anyone there? Please help!" At that moment, the door opened and the attendant spoke harshly, "Why are you knocking? Didnt I tell you I wasing right now?" Yang Gang, not minding the attendants tone, saw that someone hade out, so without a word, he quickly returned to the carriage to carry Wang Xiangxiang. It was only when the attendant saw the situation did he begin to panic, "Whats, whats happened?" "Quick, find the doctor; shes lost too much blood, and shes fading." Hearing this, the attendant hurried inside to call the doctor; fortunately, it was the same doctor who had treated Wang Xiangxiang earlier in the day. They quickly entered the house, and while crying, Xiaoxiao said, "Doctor, please, stop the bleeding. I just used a handkerchief to wrap it up, but it wont stop bleeding." The elder doctor, recognizing her as the girl from earlier in the day, quickly understood the situation. He instructed the attendant to fetch the hemostatic medicine, sprinkled it on her wound, and eventually, the bleeding stopped. The elder doctor then took Wang Xiangxiangs pulse and afterwards said, "Its just excessive blood loss that caused the fainting. Now that the bleeding has stopped, her life is saved." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao finally breathed a sigh of relief. Her tense nerves rxed and she almost copsed. "Little sister-inw," the second eldest wife hurriedly supported Xiaoxiao. "Im fine, thank goodness." Xiaoxiao hugged her sister-inw and cried again. After her intense sobbing, Xiaoxiao then asked, "Doctor, when will she awaken?" "Shes far too weak right now; she wont wake up before morning. Her vitality is greatly damaged. Ill prescribe some medicine to replenish her qi and blood. Make sure she eats well regrly." "Understood, thank you, Doctor, thank you," Xiaoxiao followed to fetch the medicine, paid the consultation and medication fees, and the attendant helped prepare the medicine and fed the unconscious Wang Xiangxiang. Fortunately, she was easy to feed and they managed to administer the medicine. The three of them stayed beside her until dawn. In the morning, Wang Xiangxiang woke up and saw the three people sitting around her. Had she survived what seemed like death? Chapter 536 - 538: Came Back, Came Back

Chapter 536: Chapter 538: Came Back, Came Back

Several people watched Wang Xiangxiang intently. As soon as she opened her eyes, everyone noticed, and Xiaoxiao anxiously asked, "Sister Wang, youve woken up. How do you feel?" "Im not dead?" Wang Xiangxiang could hardly believe it. Everyone nodded in unison, and Xiaoxiaos eyes brimmed with tears as she excitedly replied, "Yes, youre not dead. Heaven wouldnt let you die. You must live well from now on." Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiangs tears involuntarily flowed again. She hadnt died, but how was she to carry on living? Her vision was pitch ck; she could see no path to light. "Is that so? Turns out I didnt die." A smile appeared on her lips, yet her heart was filled with immeasurable bitterness. "Yes, yes, youre not dead. How could you be so heartless to leave us behind?" Wang Xiangxiang tried to sit up with some effort, and Xiaoxiao quickly supported her, "Sister Wang, what are you doing?" With a weak voice, Wang Xiangxiang said, "Xiaoxiao, I want to go home." "..." Go home? Did she want to go back to the townhouse, or to the county? Xiaoxiao was a hundred times worried about the current state of Wang Xiangxiang, scared that she might again be desperate and do something foolish, "Sister Wang,e to our home. The countryside is quiet, the air is good, and its suitable for recuperation." Besides, with the small workshop there, she might stop having negative thoughts once she starts working. Wang Xiangxiang saw what Xiaoxiao was worried about, so she said, "Dont worry, I wont seek death again." But Xiaoxiao still disagreed, "Sister Wang, juste to our home. Your brother is still with us. He has been looking for you." Bosss wife was also persuading her, "Yes,e back to the Yang Family Vige. Its better for us to look after you." Wang Xiangxiang, hearing these words, felt her eyes fill with tears again. Did sheck people to take care of her? There were so many servants in her family, but this kind of familial talk touched her deeply. This family-like warmth made her relent. She nodded, "Yes." "Husband, hurry and carry Miss Wang. Lets leave right now." Bosss wife hurriedly ordered. "..." Wang Xiangxiang, feeling very embarrassed, quickly refused, "No need, I can walk on my own." Seeing her refusal, Yang Gang understood what she meant and did not offer his hand. Xiaoxiao and Bosss wife helped her, step by step, to the gate and then into the horse-drawn carriage. The carriage set off. Not yet at the vige entrance, they saw Boss Yang Chun waiting anxiously at the entrance, pacing back and forth. Upon seeing the distant carriage, he clenched his fists excitedly, "Theyre back, theyre back." Then, without waiting for the carriage to enter the vige, he ran back home first, "Dad, Mom, theyre back." Old Man Yang, upon hearing this, asked anxiously, "How is everyone?" "It seems like four people havee back together. They should be alright." Upon hearing this, Old Man Yang breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly shouted into the house, "Bosss wife, is the porridge ready?" "Dad, its ready. We can eat it directly." He also called out to Yang Qius room, "Xiaoqiu, is the kang bed heated? Are the nkets in ce?" "Everything is ready, Dad." "Boss, Boss!" Old Man Yang called out urgently to Boss Yang Chun. "Dad, what is it?" "Go kill that old hen and nourish that girls body with it." "Alright, Ill go now." Yang Mings mother had been standing at the door. Seeing the carriage approach, she shouted into the courtyard, "Dad, Dad, theyre back, theyre back." Chapter 537 - 539: Adding Another Son and Daughter

Chapter 537: Chapter 539: Adding Another Son and Daughter

The carriage soon arrived at the front door of the Yang Family, and the whole family gathered around. Yang Mings mother stepped forward to help Wang Xiangxiang down from the carriage, "My dear girl, you had us worried to death." These words turned Wang Xiangxiangs eyes red again. It had been three years since anyone had spoken to her like that. Yang Family patriarch immediately followed, "Girl, hurry inside. Xiaoqiu has already warmed up the kang bed for you, just waiting for your return." Yang Family patriarch then turned and instructed his daughter-inw, "Bosss wife, hurry, take their meals to the room." "Yes, Father, Ill fetch the food right away," Bosss wife hurriedly agreed and went to get the food. Wang Xiangxiang, looking at everyone and listening to their words, felt an overwhelming warmth inside. She truly wanted to burst into tears, but she bit her lip hard, holding back. Soon, Wang Xiangxiang was helped into Xiaoqius room, and seeing the warm room with the bedding allid out, her tears still slid down unconsciously. Dawn was just breaking, and the family had risen so early just to wait for her. Because many people had entered the room, Fufu woke up at this moment, opened his eyes, saw his sister, and instantly got up and flung himself into her arms, "Sister, youve finallye back. Fufu missed you so much." "Sister missed Fufu too." Xiaoxiao quickly called out to Fufu, "Fufu,e over to Sister Xiaoxiao. Your sister is sick and cant take such hugging." Hearing this, Little Fufu became anxious and stood up, asking his sister, "Sister, where do you feel unwell?" Wang Xiangxiang patted her little brothers head,forting him, "Sister is fine, Sister isnt in pain." "Girl, hurry to the kang and lie down," instructed the Yang Family patriarch. "Yes!" Wang Xiangxiang agreed and then climbed onto the kang, settling back against it. Bosss wife brought in the prepared porridge and handed it to Wang Xiangxiang. Yang Mings mother, seeing Wang Xiangxiangs wrist, quickly took the bowl of porridge, "Ill feed you." Wang Xiangxiang ate the rice porridge fed by Yang Mings mother, spoonful by spoonful, tears dripping down continuously. "My girl, dont cry. Theres no hurdle we cant get over!" Yang Mings motherforted her while feeding. Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiangs tears fell even faster and more plentifully. For years, she and her brother had relied only on each other, never having been treated so warmly. Xiaoxaos inws were all kind people; how wonderful it would be if they were her family too. "Aunty, may I call you mother?" Hearing this, everyone in the room was stunned. The Yang Family patriarch was the first to speak, "Wife, we are blessed indeed. In our old age, weve gained another son and daughter." "Yes," Yang Mings mother said, wiping away tears, "My girl, if you do not mind, I will be your mother from now on." With tears in her eyes and a smile on her lips, Wang Xiangxiang uttered the words she hadnt said in three years, "Father, Mother." "Yes!" the old couple excitedly responded, "Boss, Second, she is now your own sister. Xiaoqiu, this is now your own sister." "Sister." "Sister." Wang Xiangxiang excitedly called out to everyone, "Big Brother, Sister-inw, Second Brother, Second Sister-inw, Xiaoqiu." Then, speaking to her own brother, "Fufu, we have a father and a mother now, and brothers and sisters too. You call them quickly." Little Fufu was overjoyed, calling out to everyone in the room, his excitement no less than Wang Xiangxiangs; he finally had a father and a mother. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang like this, Xiaoxiao was very happy for her. Hopefully, she would no longer seek death. Chapter 538 - 540 Call Me Sister

Chapter 538: Chapter 540 Call Me Sister

The family was inside recognizing rtives, and Yang Ming and Yang Dong came over from the rented courtyard to have breakfast. As soon as they entered the courtyard, they heardughtering from Yang Qius room from time to time, so the two of them went straight into Yang Qius room. Seeing his two younger sons return, Old Father Yang waved at them with a heartyugh, "Third, Fourth,e over here quickly." Following Old Father Yangs instruction, Yang Ming and Yang Dong walked over to the edge of the heated brick bed and saw Wang Xiangxiang sitting back against it. Yang Ming was puzzled. Wasnt she resting in his room? Howe she had moved to this room in the morning? Old Father Yang continued to speak to his sons, "Third, Fourth, from now on, she is your elder sister. Call her sister quickly." Yang Ming was shockingly bewildered C what on earth was going on? He turned to look at his wife. Xiaoxiao nodded at him. "Come on, call her." Yang Ming and Yang Dong, following Old Father Yangs wishes, both called out, "Sister." Yang Mings calling her sister felt awkward; after all, he and Wang Xiangxiang were born in the same year, with her being only a few months older. Embarrassed, Wang Xiangxiang replied, "Third brother, Fourth brother." She then turned and called to Fufu, "Fufu, quickly call them third brother, fourth brother." Little Fufus clear childlike voice rang out, "Third brother, Fourth brother." Seeing that the recognition of rtives was almostplete and that the girl needed to rest properly, Old Father Yang told everyone, "Alright, dont just stand there. Go out and eat. Let the girl rest well." The family began to leave, one after the other. Xiaoxiao didnt follow. She thought it would be better to stay and keep herpany. Seeing this, Old Father Yang quickly instructed, "Xiaoqiu, stay with your sister. Let your third sister-inw go and eat." "Understood, third sister-inw, you go eat; Ill stay with sister." Wang Xiangxiang looked at Xiaoxiao, who had stayed up all night without closing her eyes, and hurriedly gestured for her to leave too, "I am fine now. Go and eat quickly." Only then did Xiaoxiao follow them out. After everyone had eaten, Xiaoxiao didnt go to Yang Qius room. She thought it would be better to first go back to her own room to tidy up C it was quite a mess right now. As soon as Yang Ming entered the room, he saw the mess C it was terrifying. Seeing the bucket of bloodied water, he was dumbfounded. "Wife, what on earth happened?" Xiaoxiao was dead tired from not sleeping all night. As soon as she entered the room, she sat down and started massaging her shoulders, saying as she massaged, "Last night, Wang Xiangxiang attempted suicide by shing her wrists. We went to the town overnight and only came back this morning." Yang Ming frowned, deeply startled by the news, "So she found out, too?" Xiaoxiao nodded, "I said it couldnt be kept secret forever, shes not stupid." In his head, Yang Ming figured that Wang Xiangxiang must have learned she shared a room with Brother Chu and tried to kill herself. How much must she despise Brother Chu? "Just now, my parents acknowledged her as their daughter. From now on, she and her brother are members of our family. Perhaps having family will keep her from doing anything foolish again." As she spoke, Xiaoxiao began cleaning up the room, and the linens had to be taken down. Hearing his wifes exnation, Yang Ming finally realized why on entering the room, his father had him and Yang Dong call her sister. "Wife, you havent slept all night, have you? You should rest for a while. Ill do these chores," Yang Ming said as he took the quilt she had just pulled off. "You always care for me. Just throw out that quilt; Brother Chu has already sent so many new ones." With that, Yang Ming instantly understood, "Got it, you go to sleep." Chapter 539 - 541 You Can Definitely Make It Through, Sister

Chapter 539: Chapter 541 You Can Definitely Make It Through, Sister

In Yang Qius room After the family left, Wang Xiangxiang no longer just sat back, but was helped by Yang Qiu to lie down in bed, as she was truly too weak. Yang Qiu sat beside her and started to chat with Wang Xiangxiang, "Sister, just lie there, Ill tell you about my past." "Okay." Wang Xiangxiang thought Yang Qiu was going to talk about some interesting experiences she had had, so she agreed. But unexpectedly, Yang Qiu talked about her tragic past. The young girl recounted how she had been bullied, starved, and beaten at her inws house from a young age. Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiangs tears began to swirl. This young girl had really lived a miserable life, enduring torture, and had almost died. "But, in the end, I finally made it until my family came to save me." "Sister, I dont know what youve been through, but I want to say, I survived such a life without ever thinking of suicide, and if I could make it through, you can definitely make it through too." This statement made Wang Xiangxiangs tears finally fall. The young girl actually revealed her scars, sharing her tragic past just to persuade her not to seek death. Nobody would want to speak of such things again, she probably hadnt even told her own family, but she did it for her, the young girl actually spoke up. How could such an action not move Wang Xiangxiang? She reassured the young girl withforting words, "Xiaoqiu, Ive had a change of heart, I wont seek death anymore." Now that she had so many family members worried about her, she must live well. Living wasnt necessarily just about getting married, there were lots and lots of things to do; she wanted to raise her younger brother and run the Cloth Shop well. Hearing Wang Xiangxiang had gained a new perspective, Yang Qiu was very happy, feeling relieved her words hadnt been in vain, "Sister, Im d youve seen things differently." She had never mentioned these matters to anyone before, but now that she had spoken, she found her heart felt much more at ease; keeping things to oneself could indeed be suffocating. She felt like she had found someone with whom she could share her troubles, and she became more talkative, "Sister, actually when I first came to this family, I was really upset, always feeling that my past meant my life was over." Listening to Yang Qius words, Wang Xiangxiang didnt know how to console her since their situations were not much different. "But now, Ive moved on. My sister-inw said, I can still find someone who truly cares for me, and now I am full of hope for the future." Wang Xiangxiang had heard Xiaoxiao say simr things; could it really be true? She was skeptical, but the young girl in front of her seemed to believe it. "My sister-inw said, if I take a liking to someone, I can pursue them actively." "Do you have someone you like?" Wang Xiangxiang was surprised, as Xiaoqiu seemed quiet and calm, yet Xiaoxiao had bravely encouraged her in this matter. The young girl pouted, "Not yet, because I havent had the chance to go out." "You want to go out?" "Yeah, Ive never been out of Yang Family Vige." The vige was already sparsely popted, providing little opportunity for Xiaoqiu. Seeing Xiaoqius hopeful eyes about the future, Wang Xiangxiang really wanted to help this poor young girl, "Sister will take you out." Yang Qiu just found someone she could confide in, hence she voiced her thoughts. Unexpectedly when she mentioned taking her out, she felt a mix of anticipation and hesitation, "Sister, I havent dared to tell my family about these thoughts." "No worries, when the timees Ill just say youre helping out at the Cloth Shop." Chapter 540 - 542: Mom, I want to see him

Chapter 540: Chapter 542: Mom, I want to see him

It wasnt long before Yang Mings mother came into the room; she was there to relieve Yang Qiu. "Xiaoqiu, go have your meal." Seeing that her mother called her to eat, Xiaoqiu stood up. "Okay, Sister, Ill go have my meal first." "Yes, go ahead." Wang Xiangxiang nodded; the family was probably afraid she was still not thinking straight, and they nned to take turns watching over her. However, she felt a warm sensation in her heart. "Mother, theres no need to keep an eye on me; Im really fine now, Ive epted what happened." "My girl, its good that youvee to ept it. There are still many days ahead," Yang Mings mother continued to console her. "Yes, mother, rest assured, I wont seek death again." This might have been the most foolish thing she had ever done in her life, but because of it, she had gained the most precious kinship. "Mother, is the person who saved me still in our home?" Yang Mings mother didnt know about the incident with the hoodlums harassing Wang Xiangxiang, let alone about Young Master Han saving her, so she had no idea what Wang Xiangxiang was talking about. "My girl, who are you referring to?" "The tall and strong one, with a noble and impressive appearance..." Wang Xiangxiang described Han Yongshengs appearance to Yang Mings mother. Only then did Yang Mings mother realize who she was talking about. "Ah, youre talking about Young Master Han? He is at our house. Whats the matter, my girl?" "Mother, I want to see him. Can you call him over?" "Okay, my girl, just wait, Ill go get him right now." Thinking that Young Master Han knew her daughter, Yang Mings mother didnt hesitate and went to call him. Wang Xiangxiang propped herself up and sat leaning against something, and soon she saw Han Yongshenge in. Her face heated up a bit, and she felt a little embarrassed to face him, especially after what had happened between them. Han Yongsheng did not expect this girl to want to see him. Although they were not acquainted with each other, pleasantries were still in order. "Miss, are you feeling better?" "Thank you for your concern, sir; I am no longer seriously harmed." Afterward, the room fell silent for a while. Neither of them knew what else to say since they didnt know each other. "I..." "You..." "You go ahead, sir." "No, Miss, you first." Seeing this, Wang Xiangxiang had no choice but to speak up. "Thank you for your help yesterday, sir. I am deeply grateful. May I have the honor of knowing your name?" Han Yongsheng then realized he hadnt introduced himself, which was a bit impolite, so he quickly said, "My name is Han Yongsheng, from Yongan Fish Pond in Lin County." Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang suddenly understood; he was from the fish pond in Lin County and must havee to discuss the pond matters with Xiaoxiao. It was just by coincidence that he passed by and saved her. Thus, she also revealed her identity, "I am Wang Xiangxiang." Regarding the incident of losing her chastity, Wang Xiangxiang hade to terms with it too. It was better to have been with this gentleman than those hooligans. Had she not realized her own feelings, in fact, this gentleman wouldnt have been a bad choice either. He was quite handsome, and when he had saved her, she had thought for a moment that he might be the Ruyi prince heaven had sent her. But now, all she could say was that fate was ying tricks on her; all she wanted was for him to leave her sight as soon as possible. "Thank you for stepping in to save me yesterday, sir. If theres anything I can ever help you with in the future, please feel free to ask." Because Xiaoxiao had been so firm in her stance, Han Yongsheng had resorted to a dying tactic, using the incident with this girl to observe more here for a while. But now that this girl had taken the initiative to speak, and it appeared she had a good rtionship with this family, why not have her help mediate? Chapter 541 - 543: Who is this woman, exactly?

Chapter 541: Chapter 543: Who is this woman, exactly?

Han Yongsheng stood upright, sped his hands in a salute, and his attitude was very sincere, "I do indeed have a favor to ask." "What is it?" Wang Xiangxiang was merely being polite and didnt expect him to actually have a request for her, but this was also good, they would owe each other nothing, and then she could get this person to leave quickly. Han Yongsheng revealed the truth, "Actually, I came to discuss the cooperation on the fish pond, but Madam Yang is adamant, I hope the youngdy can help to plead on my behalf." "..." Xiaoxiao refused? Then it must have been a very unreasonable cooperation, dealing with Xiaoxiao should have been the best, she was the kind that preferred if others did the work and she stayed hands-off, "What conditions did you propose?" "Our Yongan Fish Pond would provide her with fish fry, and we hope the profits could be split 40-60, I take four, they take six." No wonder, Wang Xiangxiang smiled a little at the corner of her mouth, "Is the gentleman testing the waters?" Hearing this, Han Yongshengs expression became somewhat unnatural, his ploy was seen through, she was right, he proposed such unreasonable terms to test the waters, never expecting to encounter two such difficult people in this backwater, and both were women. "Mr. Han, as I understand, Lin Countys Yongan Fish Pond monopolizes the entire fish market of Lin County and even most of our citys fishes from your Yongan Fish Pond." "The reason youvee to negotiate cooperation is that a new fish pond has appeared in our county, and you are afraid that this fish pond will take away your Yongan Fish Ponds business in our market." "Or it could be said that youre afraid this fish pond might cooperate with ponds from other counties, squeezing your Yongan Fish Pond out of our market." Hearing this, Han Yongshengs heart sank slightly, who was this woman? How could she analyze the situation so keenly? "Your advantage over others is that you were the first to learn of the intention to set up a fish pond in our county, hence you came to probe, partly out of curiosity and partly with a genuine desire to cooperate." Seeing Han Yongshengs reaction, Wang Xiangxiang knew she had guessed right, so she continued. "Because you have no choiceif the first fish pond in this county doesnt fail, it will definitely monopolize the entire countys fish market. Its inevitable that your Yongan Fish Pond will not stand firm in our market, and to get a share of the pie, you must cooperate." With this youngdys words, Han Yongsheng felt more and more that this youngdy was not simple; he had never seen such a woman. Although she was now weak and pale, when she spoke, she exuded an air of confidence. "You put forward such an unreasonable condition firstly to probe, and secondly because you harbored the hope of a stroke of luck, thinking that the other party is just a farmer, what if they agreed?" "..." She was right, he had indeed entertained that thought, it seemed he had truly underestimated them. "Before discussing cooperation, not investigating the identity of the other party is a major taboo, Mr. Han." The girl before him hadpletely be a negotiator, leaving Han Yongsheng at a loss for words; he had underestimated his opponent, not expecting to find such an exceptional woman in such a rural area, making him want to take another look at her, desiring to delve into who this woman really was. It has to be said, she had piqued his interest thoroughly. "Fish fry can be bought from other counties as well, so why must it be from you? We could have monopolized the market, so why should we share a piece of the pie with you?" In the end, Han Yongsheng looked at Wang Xiangxiang with a gaze full of admiration, "The youngdys analysis is spot on, I concede defeat. May I ask if the youngdy has any suggestions?" "If you want to cooperate, dont y tricks. Offer your utmost sincerity, thats all the help I can offer you." Chapter 542 - 544: What a Coincidence

Chapter 542: Chapter 544: What a Coincidence

Did he need to show sincerity? He really needed to think about it, as coboration was necessary. He bowed again with both hands, "Thank you for the advice, miss." Seeing Han Yongshengs sincere eyes, Wang Xiangxiang didnt find him so annoying anymore and continued asking, "Im really curious, though, where did you hear about the fish pond?" Han Yongsheng told her honestly, "It was the Young Master of the Dyeing Workshop in Lin County who told me." "Guo Feng?" "Exactly." Han Yongsheng was surprised, realizing she also knew Guo Feng, "Miss, you know Guo Feng too?" "So, it was that kid who mentioned it, I was wondering how the news about the fish pond spread so quickly." Wang Xiangxiang mumbled to herself, somewhat forgetting there was someone else there, and inadvertently showed her true colors. So, was it her unintended leakage of information that somewhat saved her from those thugs forcing themselves on her? Wang Xiangxiang gave a bitter smile, but in the end, she hadnt escaped the fate of losing her honor; perhaps that was her destined tribtion. Hearing Wang Xiangxiang mumble about that kid, Han Yongsheng found her rather endearing, "Are you very close to him?" "Yes, weve known each other since we were kids because of our families business dealings," Wang Xiangxiang didnt hold back and told the truth, figuring he probably knew Guo Feng as well. "Business?" "Oh, I forgot to mention, Im from Xiangxiang Cloth Shop in this county, and weve been doing business with the Dyeing Workshop for a long time." Hearing this, Han Yongsheng was extremely surprised, "Youre the young mistress of that Cloth Shop?" Wang Xiangxiang nodded slightly, "Yes." At this moment, Han Yongshengs heart was a mix of emotions. Sometimes things are so coincidental; previously, Guo Feng had wanted to introduce a friend of his, saying it was the Cloth Shops youngdy, praising her sky-high for her talents and looks, calling her the best choice for a wife, but he hadnt responded. Now to meet her under these circumstances, could this be fate? He suddenly felt a pang of regret. "Guo Feng and I have also been close friends since we were kids." "I see." Wang Xiangxiang replied briefly, and afterwards the room grew quiet again. Seeing that she seemed very weak and had spoken quite a lot, she really should rest, so Han Yongsheng felt it wasnt good to stay any longer, "Miss, you should rest. I will take my leave, farewell." "Alright." Wang Xiangxiang indeed didnt want to continue talking either. Being alone with him for such a long time felt rather strange, not quite awkward, but still not quite right. Han Yongsheng left the room and thoughtfully closed the door after him. Seeing him leave, Wang Xiangxiang sighed in relief, then burrowed into her covers, and fell asleep shortly after. She was indeed very tired. In Yang Dongs room As soon as Han Yongsheng returned to his room, he spoke to his attendant, "Ada, do you believe in fate?" "..." This question stunned Ada; what was up with their young master? Why had he started talking nonsense after speaking with thatdy? "Thatdy is a good friend of Guo Fengs." Ada, realizing the coincidence, said, "Young master, that really is fateful." "Indeed." Han Yongsheng replied with a smile. "..." What was their young master smiling about so foolishly? "Young master, how much longer are we staying here?" "Well stay until the coboration is settled." Han Yongsheng had been in very good spirits since his talk with Wang Xiangxiang; he was confident this matter would be sessful. "..." Chapter 543 - 545: For Your Sister-in-Law

Chapter 543: Chapter 545: For Your Sister-in-Law

After separating from Yang Ming, Chu Lian hurriedly rushed back home. He didnt quite understand how things had ended up this way. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he was besieged by his younger sister, "Brother, why have youe back again?" Chu Lian ignored her and went straight toward the inner courtyard, quickly finding a servant and instructing them to prepare bedding, clothing, and daily necessities, to be sent to the Yang Family vige. Curious about Chu Lians orders, Chu Huan asked, "Bro, who are you sending these things for?" Chu Lian was annoyed with his sisters pestering and, while continuing toward his own quarters, he said sharply, "Theyre for your sister-inw. Dont bother me; Im busy with important matters." Hearing this made Chu Huan freeze; she stopped in her tracks, watching as her brother walked further and further away. Her eyes spun with curiosity. Was her brother admitting to the matter of the sister-inw? This was a big incident, and she turned and ran towards the front hall. Master Chu and Madam Chu were in the front hall, and before their daughter even entered the room, they heard her shouting, "Dad, Mom, something big has happened." Upon entering, Chu Huan inevitably faced Madam Chus scolding, "Whats all this fuss about? Dont you have any manners of ady?" Chu Huan pouted, not taking it seriously, "Its a big issue concerning brother." Upon hearing it was about her son, Madam Chu forgot to scold her daughter, "Whats happened to your brother?" "Brother just hurried back home and had the servants prepare bedding and clothing. I asked him who it was for, and he admitted that it was for sister-inw." At these words, Madam Chus eyes immediately lit up, "Really?" Chu Huan nodded, "Absolutely certain." Madam Chu became so excited, she became incoherent, "Old Master, thats great. Our sons marriage prospects are finally settled. What should I do as a mother? Ah? What should I prepare?" Master Chu maintained a calm face, but inside he was overjoyed. He spoke slowly, "Theres nothing to do. Let the son figure it out on his own; the daughter-inw will naturally be brought home." As soon as Chu Lian returned to his own quarters, he found Acheng. Acheng thought that the young master was asking about the investigation he hadmissioned earlier, so as soon as he entered the room, he said, "Young master, there hasnt been enough time, and I havent found out anything about Miss Wang and Li Fuguis rtionship yet." "Theres no need to investigate anymore." Previously, he was foolish enough to be jealous, thinking that Fufu was Xiangxiang and Li Fuguis child. Now that he had verified it himself, knowing that Xiangxiang was a chaste girl, there was no need to continue the investigation. "I called you here to investigate another matter." Chu Lian was furious about the bullying Xiangxiang had suffered; he must find out who was responsible. He wanted revenge. "Go investigate who ambushed Miss Wang on the road from Yang Family vige to Shibao Town this morning." As Chu Lian spoke, his fist mmed heavily onto the table, "Catch all those people. I want to interrogate them myself." "Yes, young master." This was the first time Acheng had seen his young master so angry, and he quicklyplied. Chu Lian felt somewhat calmer and continued, "Acheng, find an opportunity to blend in with Miss Wang, protect her." Only by assigning his own attendant to her side could he rest assured. He did not want her to get into trouble again; this incident had already caused him too much heartache. Acheng was no ordinary attendant; he was a skilled fighter, handpicked by his father for his protection. Its just that he liked to live like an average person, so whenever he went out, he always did so alone, never taking attendants with him. Chapter 544 - 546: Bro, What Happened to Your Neck?

Chapter 544: Chapter 546: Bro, What Happened to Your Neck?

After Acheng left, Chu Lian sat alone for a long time, lost in thought. He wondered if she had woken up yet, if she had realized they had shared a room. His ears burned at the memory of what they had done that afternoon, and he could still sense the unique fragrance of her body on him. Time flew, and before he knew it, dinner time had arrived. Hearing his own stomach growl, he smiled. All the physical exertion that afternoon had made him hungry. He stood up and made his way to the dining room. Lady Chu was delighted about her sons affairs. Upon seeing him enter, curiosity struck her, "Son, Xiaohuan said you sent something to your sister-inw?" "..." Chu Huan was speechless; her mother was selling her out right in front of her. "En." Chu Lian nodded, this time not denying it. As soon as Lady Chu heard her sons admission, her face lighted up with joy, "Son, is it Miss Wang from the Wang family?" "En." Chu Lian replied with a smile, responding as he ate. Lady Chu grew even happier; they all were very pleased with that girl and she couldnt wait to bring this daughter-inw into the family, "Son, then when will the wedding be?" "When she agrees." "And when will she agree?" Lady Chus incessant questioning followed. Chu Huan, who was by the side, could not stopughing, "Mother, isnt that a redundant question? If my brother knew when shed agree, he wouldve already married her." "Son, then you must make an effort, and get Miss Wang to agree soon," Lady Chu advised while serving food to her son. "Mother, dont you worry, she will definitely be your daughter-inw." "Ah, with your words, Im relieved." Lady Chu was so delighted she was beside herself; her son had finally seen the light. The family began their meal, and today, Chu Lian ate with particrly good appetite, astonishing the family. It seemed that his good mood about this affair had really stimted his hunger. Suddenly, Chu Huan broke the silence at the dinner table, "Brother, what happened to your neck?" At her words, both Lord Chu and Lady Chu immediately stared at Chu Lians neck, unaware of the mark Xiangxiang had left there. He was puzzled when questioned, "Whats wrong with my neck?" "Just go look in the mirror," Chu Huan reminded him, thinking he might have had an allergic reaction or caught some illness. But Lord Chu and Lady Chu understood all too well; they exchanged a nce. Their son was quite capable. Both were smiling broadly, and Lady Chu even said, "Keep eating, theres nothing wrong with your neck." The family continued their meal. After finishing, Chu Lian returned to his room. He needed to rest well, for he would visit her the next day. Remembering his sistersment at the dining table, he fetched a mirror while bathing, only then noticing the mark on his neck. He smiled awkwardly. He hadnt expected her to leave a mark on him. Images of that afternoons events reyed in his mind. This woman truly captivated him, and he found himself helplessly smitten, her image ingrained in his thoughts. He washed up quickly and went to bed. He slept deeply, nning on visiting her early the next day, but ended up sleeping in until the sun was high in the sky. Upon waking the next day, he hastily dressed, skipping breakfast, and drove the carriage hurriedly towards the Yang Family vige. Soon, the carriage arrived at the Yang Family vige. The moment he stepped out, he felt hesitant. How was he to face her now? Chapter 545 - 547 What Should I Do?

Chapter 545: Chapter 547 What Should I Do?

Yang Ming coaxed his wife to sleep, then began to tidy up the house, first dealing with the tub of bloody water. He poured the bloody water into a smaller bucket and, carrying the bucket, walked outside, only to see Chu Lians carriage arrive. Chu Lian stood at the doorway, hesitating, and Yang Ming seemed to understand his feelings. He approached and, before he could even speak, he heard Chu Lian ask anxiously, "How, how is she?" Yang Ming really didnt know how to begin. He looked down at the bucket of blood he was carrying, shook his head, and said, "Not too good." Seeing Yang Mings demeanor, Chu Lians heart sank, a nameless panic welling up within him, his voice trembling, "What, what happened to her?" "Brother Chu, dont worry, shes all right now, but..." It was impossible to hide the truth; it was better to let him know sooner rather thanter. "But what?" Chu Lian asked, his voiceced with tension. "Last night, she attempted suicide by shing her wrists. Luckily, she was found in time, and her life was saved." Upon hearing this, Chu Lians mind buzzed, everything before him turning dark. She attempted suicide? Such an optimistic person, always chattering away, had sought death. How desperate must she have been? Was it because she couldnt ept having shared a bed with him? His eyes reddened, his heart feeling an unbearable, wrenching pain, "Does she know?" "Yes," Yang Ming nodded. Chu Lian, seeing the bucket of blood that Yang Ming was carrying, felt as if his own heart were bleeding. How much blood had she lost? Yang Ming hurriedly disposed of the bloody water, "Brother Chu, lets go inside." Chu Lian felt as though his legs couldnt move. Perhaps she hated him to death, maybe she never wanted to see him again. Yet, he longed to know how she was doing, his conflicted emotions rendering him indecisive. Reading his intent, Yang Ming then said, "Shes in Yang Qius room now, probably has already gone to sleep." Upon hearing this, Chu Lian followed him into the courtyard, but he still didnt dare to see her. He followed Yang Ming into the house and saw the scene of her suicide attempt. The tub of bloody water, screaming to him with its grisly contents, told him how much she despised him, to the point of seeking death. He had only just begun to like someone, did he really have no chance at all? He couldnt ept it. He left the house and stood beneath the window of Yang Qius room. They were only separated by a single wall, but to him, it felt like a vast distance. Mother Yang came into the room and saw that Wang Xiangxiang had fallen asleep, so she quietly left the room and saw Chu Lian standing under the window. "Aunt, is she asleep?" Chu Lian asked in a soft voice upon seeing Mother Yange out. "Shes asleep." If she was asleep, could he sneak in and take a look at her? "Aunt, Im going to go in and have a look at her. Ille right out." Mother Yang hesitated, unsure whether to let him in or not, but then heard her son calling her. She turned and saw Yang Ming nodding to her. Therefore, Mother Yang stepped aside, and Chu Lian opened the door and went inside. He walked to the edge of the kang bed and saw her lying there quietly, her face pale. In just one night, she seemed to have lost a lot of weight. Seeing her wrist, exposed and wrapped in white cloth, with bloodstains still faintly visible, he felt a deep, aching pain in his heart. How could she be so foolish? She could have at leaste up and hit him if she was angry. His eyes brimmed with tears as he choked up and said, "Do you dislike me that much? But Ivee to like you, what should I do?" Chapter 546 - 548 Does She Not Have Family?

Chapter 546: Chapter 548 Does She Not Have Family?

At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang was in a deep sleep, as if she had a beautiful dream. She dreamt that the man she liked came to see her, and even told her he liked her. Her lips curved into a slight smile, and she turned over. Just that turn startled Chu Lian; his heart skipped a beat. He was terribly afraid that she would wake up and be agitated upon seeing him again. Fortunately, she only turned over, and after that, there was no movement. The turn of her face allowed him to see her more clearly. Her face still showed some swelling, probably from the beating by those who bullied her. Pity filled his eyes. He didnt know what to do with her. Initially, he wanted her to change her impression of him, but now, he was afraid that she might be stimted again by his mere presence. After watching her quietly for a while, he rose silently and left the room. Seeing Yang Chun plucking chicken feathers in the courtyard, he walked over without a second thought. He heard the Bosss wife shouting from inside the house, "Be careful when youre plucking those feathers." "I know, dont worry. Its for my baby sister; it has to be perfect," Yang Chun replied to his wifes remark, and as he looked up, he saw Chu Lian approaching him. So he exined, gesturing towards Yang Qius room, "The girl lying in there is the sister Ive newly recognized." "..." He was talking about Xiangxiang, his newly recognized sister? What on earth was going on? He turned and went back to Yang Mings room, "Yang Ming, whats this about your elder brother calling Xiangxiang his newly recognized sister?" "..." How had he forgotten to mention this? Even he had only just epted it, "Big Brother Chu, my parents adopted her as their daughter, so shes now my sister." "..." Chu Lian was left speechless by this news. "Big Brother Chu, dont worry. She wont seek death anymore. She has a family now; shell definitely live a good life." "..." What did he mean by that? What was this about having a family now, "Didnt she have a family before?" Yang Ming nodded and continued, "Yes, her parents passed away more than three years ago. Shes been depending solely on her brother since." Upon hearing this, Chu Lian once again found himself choked up, unable to speak. He had known nothing, which exined why she was so desperate to earn Silver, and why she hadnt touched the zither or practised calligraphy in three years. Despite her circumstances, she remained strong and faced everyone with cheerfulness; she was truly heart-wrenching. At the same time, his heart was filled with self-reproach. How could he have been such a poor man, so petty, only consumed with jealousy over her and Li Fugui, suspicious and doubtful of her? Could someone like him really deserve her? Even he felt undeserving. She was right; he indeed couldntpare to Li Fugui. Seeing Chu Lians dejected state, Yang Ming offeredfort, "Big Brother Chu, dont be too negative. You still have a chance. Well help you." "..." Chu Lians heart was full of bitterness. Could this kind of thing really be solved with someone elses help? "Once shes better, go and express your feelings to her." Nobody could know without trying. Hed missed out on numerous asions with his wife because he never properly conveyed his feelings. "Thank you." Chu Lian patted Yang Mings shoulder; his gratitude was sincere. He took one thing to heart from what he had said: what mattered now was that she get better. As for his feelings, that was something he needed to n for in the long run. Chapter 547 - 549: Take Me to Visit the Fish Pond, How About?

Chapter 547: Chapter 549: Take Me to Visit the Fish Pond, How About?

"Yang Ming, I think I should go back. She probably doesnt want to see me. Ille back when shes almost better," Chu Lian worried that seeing him now might upset her further. She had barely escaped death and was still so weak. Once she recovered in a few days, his presence would be less of a shock, as her resilience would be stronger than it was now. "Hmm, that might be best." "Ill have my kitchen maide over every day to make her some nourishing food; you help smooth things over when the timees." "..." Chu Lian had given them a tough problem again. How could they smooth this over? Their family wasnt wealthy enough to afford a chef. "Brother Chu, maybe its better not to have the kitchen maide. Itll be discovered." After thinking it over for a moment, Chu Lian then said, "Then I wont send her. Ill have some food delivered instead, and you can take care of preparing it." "Hmm." That proposal was still eptable. Wang Xiangxiang indeed needed nourishment, and this spared them the trouble of buying the rich foods themselves. "If theres anything,e find me at the Chu Mansion or send a message through someone at Yui Restaurant." "Got it." Yang Ming thought to himself that Chu Lian, now that he had someone in his heart, had started to be excessively verbose. He wasnt like this before. So while Wang Xiangxiang was still fast asleep, Chu Lian left with his carriage. Because of Wang Xiangxiangs condition, the Yang Family hadnt gone out to work today. By the pond, Yang Wuzhu was in charge, so there wouldnt be any major issues. At the rented courtyard, the great aunt was watching over, so there wouldnt be any major issues there either. By the time Xiaoxiao woke up, it was already noon. "Husband, how is Sister Wang?" "Shes still sleeping." "..." She must be really weak, hence the need for more sleep. "Wife, since youre awake, its time for lunch. Lets go to the Main House to eat." "Hmm." Xiaoxiaos stomach was truly starting to feel hungry, so she quickly got up and followed Yang Ming to the Main House. Upon seeing the people at the dining table, Xiaoxiaos brows furrowed as she calcted in her mind, "When are Han Yongsheng and his folks actually going to leave?" After eating, seeing Han Yongsheng getting up to return to his room, Xiaoxiao stopped him. "Mr. Han, if I may ask bluntly, how long do you intend to stay with us?" Xiaoxiao had already categorized Han Yongsheng as a cunning merchant, so her tone was not very friendly. Han Yongsheng was very calm and simply said, "No rush." "..." Xiaoxiao was really frustrated to the point of feeling ill. He wasnt in a hurry, but she was! Their home was already in chaos; they hardly had time to entertain outsiders. "Mr. Han, seeing the current chaotic state of our household, perhaps you could..." Han Yongsheng caught on to Xiaoxiaos hint. She was trying to send him away. "I rarelye here; why dont you take me to see your fish pond instead?" Xiaoxiao hesitated. They werepetitors, after all. But Yang Ming quickly agreed. "Mr. Han, I had just that in mind. Why dont I take you there right now?" Han Yongsheng sped his hands in salute, "Then I shall follow your kind offer, please!" Seeing the situation thus, Xiaoxiao agreed as well. The road wasnt owned by her family. Even if she refused, they would still find out. Thus, Yang Ming drove the carriage, pulling Xiaoxiao, Han Yongsheng, and his attendant Ada, and soon they arrived at the depression. As the group got out of the carriage and walked towards the halfpleted pond, admiring the grand construction, Han Yongsheng became even more eager to initiate a partnership. "Young Master Yang, regarding the cooperation, I think we should discuss it further!" Chapter 548 - 550: Han Yongsheng Is Rejected Again

Chapter 548: Chapter 550: Han Yongsheng Is Rejected Again

"How would Master Han like to further discuss this?" Yang Ming directly countered. Xiaoxiao, however, was somewhat unfriendly, "Master Han, Im afraid theres nothing to discuss here, we are not fools." "..." This couplepletely regarded him as the viin; Han Yongsheng felt helpless, he had indeedmitted a taboo, why hadnt he checked the other partys identity before rashly proposing terms? "The conditions I proposed before were indeed unreasonable, could I be given another chance?" "Does Master Han want to propose new terms?" Yang Ming asked. "Exactly." Han Yongsheng was confident; as long as he offered reasonable terms and showed sincerity, there was no reason for them to refuse. But he encountered Xiaoxiao, who without thinking, tly rejected him, "No need to propose, I have no intention of dealing with a swindler like you." "..." How could Madam Yang be so stubborn, and why was hebeled a swindler? He turned to look at Yang Ming, hoping he would be more reasonable. Yang Ming pulled Xiaoxiao closer, "Wife, lets at least hear what he has to say." Seeing Yang Ming pulling her, Xiaoxiao gave him a look andughed, "Alright, well listen to my husband and hear him out, after all, listening wont cost us anything." Seeing the couples interaction, Han Yongsheng felt somewhat awkward; he had never seen a couple behave like this before. "Master Han, state your terms." After cating his wife, Yang Ming spoke up. "Well still supply the fish fry from Yongan Fish Pond, along with fish farming technology; this should save you a lot of trouble." Xiaoxiaos eyes flickered, but she did not show it outwardly, merely listening as Han Yongsheng continued, "A seventy-thirty split." Xiaoxiao grabbed Yang Mings hand, disregarding Han Yongshengpletely, "Husband, lets go, I told you it would be a waste of time." Yang Ming, very much in tune with his wife, moved forward, "Yeah, thankfully it didnt cost us anything." Han Yongsheng was infuriated by Yang Ming and Xiaoxiaos actions. He felt extremely frustrated; what had gone wrong? His offer was surely alluring, especially since they were novices in terms of fish farming. "Master Yang, Madam Yang, I am truly sincere about wanting to cooperate. Perhaps you could share your thoughts?" Xiaoxiao stopped walking, "If you want me to say something, then Ill say." "First, I can buy fish fry from other counties, it doesnt have to be from you." "Transporting fish fry from other counties is difficult due to the long distance." "..." He had a point there, "But its not impossible to transport." "..." Madam Yang is right; its not indispensable to deal with him. "Second, about the fish farming technology you mentioned, sorry, but I dont need it, because I know how to farm fish." Upon hearing this, Han Yongsheng was shocked. In a county without a river, someone knew how to farm fish; he had indeed underestimated the situation. This exined why their rejection was so straightforward. Now what should he do, abandon doing business in this county? "Third, our fish pond isnt finished, theres still time to research, so theres no rush to cooperate with anyone." "..." Although these were words of rejection, there was still room for negotiation, implying that they needed to research before deciding. Hope flickered in Han Yongshengs eyes, "I understand what Madam Yang says. Yongan Fish Pond isnt afraid of inspections; when the timees, I will definitely offer the greatest sincerity in cooperating with you." Chapter 549 - 551 I Don’t Know Shit

Chapter 549: Chapter 551 I Dont Know Shit

Four people rode the carriage back, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming returned to their own room. Apart from Han Yongsheng who was surprised, Yang Ming was equally astonished, "Wife, you know how to farm fish?" Xiaoxiao chuckled at Yang Mings question, he really believed everything she said, "I dont know a damn thing about it!" Yang Ming frowned, theyd been yed by their wifes little tricks, "Wife, cant you be a bit more elegant in your choice of words?" Seeing Yang Mings petty look, Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, "Alright, to be elegant, I dont know how to farm fish." "So what tricks were you just ying? Huh?" Yang Ming said, his hands getting restless again as he wrapped his arms around his wife from behind. He really felt inferior to his wifes cleverness, but far from disliking it, he found it very endearing. Xiaoxiao turned around, wrapped her arms around Yang Ming, and nuzzled her head against his chest, "Who told him to treat us like fools first? I had to shake him up a bit." Yang Ming stroked his wifes head, "So youre saying you do want to cooperate?" "Of course, we dont know how to farm fish. Moreover, husband, you know, I really hate trouble. Its so much better when others do all the work, and we just sit at home counting money." "..." His wifes greed for money was ring up again, "Arent you afraid hes a swindler?" Xiaoxiao lifted her little head with a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth, starting to share her grand principles, "Could she possibly be more cunning than me? Besides, if he could step in to save Wang Xiangxiang and fight with so many thugs, he cant be that bad, right? His terms were just a way to test the waters with us." "..." Seeing his wifes demeanor, Yang Ming felt an inexplicable urge tough; his wife always said she wasnt stupid, always proimed she was the cunning one. Talking, Xiaoxiao stretched out her hand, making a little fist-pumping gesture, "Dont worry, everything is under my control." Yang Mings face was full of exasperation, utterly defeated by his wifes antics, but having a lead on the fish pond issue was indeed great news. He pecked his wifes little mouth, "Yeah, my wife is amazing." Xiaoxiao lifted her confident little face, "Of course, who do you think I am?" While the two were feeling cheerful, Han Yongshengs face was as bitter as a gourd. As soon as the two returned to their room, Ada became anxious. He had been watching the masters conversation with those two throughout, "Young master, what should we do now? Should we go and plead with Miss Wang?" "No need, let me think thoroughly; weve met our match this time, I didnt expect the opponent to be so difficult to deal with." Han Yongsheng sat down as he spoke; this time he truly hadnt prepared enough and had underestimated the enemy. "Young master, if this doesnt work out, it wont be easy to exin to the old master," Ada reminded his young master worriedly. "I know." Han Yongshengs face showed helplessness. His father had been pressuring him with this matter, insisting that he marry his cousin. In a fit of pique, he had made a military pledge C if this deal went through, he would decide his own marriage matters. Every time he thought of his cousin, hed get a headache. She was nothing like Wang Xiangxiang; there simply was noparison. She was one without brains. Thinking of Wang Xiangxiang, he froze. Why was he suddenlyparing her? He shook his head. Seeing his young master shake his head in distress, Ada feared this would be difficult to manage, "Young master, when do we n to return?" "Stay a few more days, then well set off." Chapter 550 - 552: Has He Been Here?

Chapter 550: Chapter 552: Has He Been Here?

In the afternoon, Chu Lians carriage delivering food arrived, and Xiaoxiao, upon seeing the food, couldnt help but sigh at how wonderful the world of the rich was; there were chicken, duck, fish, and meat in abundance, enough to feed her whole family. Chu Lian really did have his heart set on Wang Xiangxiang. Xiaoxiao felt a mix of envy, jealousy, and hatred. By that time, Wang Xiangxiang had woken up. She sat up, looking a lot better than she had in the morning, while Yang Mings mother spoon-fed her the chicken soup she had prepared, and Yang Qiu stayed by her side. "Mother, did anyonee over today?" Wang Xiangxiang didnt know why she asked; she just had a feeling that someone had visited while she was asleep. "Yes," Yang Mings mother answered, "Young Master Chu came." Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiangs face turned deathly pale. He came? Does that mean he already knows what happened to me? What will he think of me knowing I attempted suicide? Her eyes reddened, and her vision blurred. She tried to calm herself, but her voice still trembled slightly, "Where is he now?" "He left in the morning." Relief washed over Wang Xiangxiang when she heard he had left. She didnt want him to see her in this pitiable state. "But he dide to see you while you were sleeping." Wang Xiangxiangs heart skipped a beat. So he had seen her after all, but he didnt wait for her to wake up before leaving. He must really dislike her. Her heart grew cold in an instant. Of course, the one he liked was Xiaoxiao; why would he want to spare her a second nce? A mournful smile appeared on her face. "My child, hurry and drink this too before it gets cold." "Okay." Wang Xiangxiang agreed, drinking the remaining chicken soup as if she had lost all taste. Yang Mings mother was quite happy to see that she finished the soup and left the room with the bowl. Wang Xiangxiang crawled back under the covers, staring nkly at the ceiling. So this was how much it hurt to love someone. "Sister, whats wrong? You dont seem as cheerful as you were just now." Yang Qiu was sensitive and noticed that something was off with Wang Xiangxiang, so she asked. "..." Was it that obvious? She really was someone who couldnt hide anything. She had to learn to keep things to herself; otherwise, how would she face him in the future? Her affection must remain hidden in her heart. She forced a smile, "No, theres nothing wrong, sister. Dont worry." "Sister, what do you think of Young Master Chu?" Wang Xiangxiang was taken aback by the question. Why did she ask that? Had Yang Qiu taken a liking to Chu Lian? Turning to look at Yang Qiu, she asked, "Why do you ask? Do you like him?" Yang Qiuughed sheepishly, "Sister, what are you thinking? I just think you two are very well matched, thats why I asked." "..." Well matched? Xiaoxiao had asked her the same thing once, and her answer had been that it waspletely impossible. Now, thinking about it, it indeed seemed impossible. "Hes a good person, but were not suited for each other." Yang Qiu was surprised by her answer and continued, puzzled, "Why? You two really are a good match, sister. Youre so beautiful, and Young Master Chu is both handsome and talented, and the statuses of your families are also well matched." "Heh." Wang Xiangxiang didnt say anything more butughed awkwardly. Talking about whether they were matched or not was now toote. If she were still pure, she wouldnt care whether he liked Xiaoxiao or not; she would have fought for him regardless. But now, it was all toote. Chapter 551 - 553: We Seek Revenge

Chapter 551: Chapter 553: We Seek Revenge

Over the following days, thanks to the care of the Yang Family, Wang Xiangxiang ate well, slept well, and was much more spirited. Her movements became unrestricted, and she often strolled around the courtyard, asionally lying on Xiaoxiaos sunbed to bask in the sun. The family was very happy to see Wang Xiangxiang recover so quickly. After repeated assurances from her, the family stopped watching over her and resumed their daily activities, bringing life back to normal. However, Xiaoxiao was worried about the now-changed Wang Xiangxiang; the lively and cheerful girl she once knew had disappeared. Now, Wang Xiangxiang often sat quietly by herself, lost in thought. Though she was still beautiful, exuding a ssic elegance, she was no longer the girl Xiaoxiao used to know and adore, the one who was always chirping and chatting. "Sister, are you troubled by something?" Xiaoxiao, following the familys lead, now dropped the formal address prefixed by Wang. Wang Xiangxiang shook her head. Troubled? She couldnt express it. "Sister, I am worried about you, youre not as cheerful as before." Wang Xiangxiang pretended to be her old self and twirled around for Xiaoxiao, her lips curving into a gentle smile, "Isnt this good too?" "..." This version of Wang Xiangxiang filled Xiaoxiao with sorrow. No, it was not good at all. Holding Wang Xiangxiangs hand and staring into her eyes, she said, "Sister, lets take our revenge. Lets find those thugs who bullied you." Wang Xiangxiang was stunned by Xiaoxiaos words. These days, her stifling state of mind had made her despondent, and she hadpletely forgotten about the thugs who said she had offended someone. She had to find out who the mastermind was, or else she and her brother would face danger again. Her eyes became clear and resolute. She grasped Xiaoxiaos hand and affirmatively said, "Yes, well take our revenge." She pulled Xiaoxiao back to the room, "Xiaoxiao, lets go to your room, I remember their faces." The two went straight to Xiaoxiaos room without a word. Wang Xiangxiang sat there, focused on drawing. Soon, she had sketches of ten robust men ready. This was Xiaoxiaos first time seeing Wang Xiangxiangs drawing skills, and she was amazed. Her talent could rival those of modern artists. "Xiaoxiao, these are the men." Xiaoxiao took the drawings, "Sister, you are so amazing, you can actually draw." Wang Xiangxiang smiled, "Im not so useless." Xiaoxiao took the drawings and rushed out, leaving Wang Xiangxiang to wonder what the hurry was. Xiaoxiao ran out the door and went straight to Han Yongsheng, handing him the drawings, "Help see if these are the men?" Han Yongsheng took the drawings, astonished, "These are the men who bullied Miss Wang that day. Where did these drawingse from?" Xiaoxiao snatched the drawings back and said, "She drew them." After speaking, she returned to the room. Now that she had confirmation, it was time to find them. Han Yongsheng was left alone in the room, stunned. She drew them? To think that in such circumstances, she could still remember their faces and draw them so uratelyhe was once again impressed by her talent. Over these days, he had observed her, and the swelling on her face had subsided, revealing her original beauty. How many more facets of her did he not know? This woman was stirring his curiosity. He even harbored the thought that, had he epted Guo Fengs suggestion to marry her, she wouldnt have had to face her current plight. Chapter 552 - 554: Her Painting

Chapter 552: Chapter 554: Her Painting

Seeing Xiaoxiao had returned, Wang Xiangxiang said, "Xiaoxiao, I need to go back home and have someone investigate this matter." Xiaoxiaos eyes whirled around, did this matter still need her? Chu Lian would definitely investigate it, but with the portrait, the investigation would be faster. "Sister, leave this matter to me, and you just focus on recovering," Xiaoxiao gathered up the portraits and then said. Wang Xiangxiang looked incredulous, "Leave it to you?" "..." That look clearly underestimated her, so she challenged with her gaze, "Whats wrong with me, havent you heard the saying money makes the ghost push the mill?" "Alright then." And just like that, the matter was left in Xiaoxiaos hands, who of course let Yang Ming take the portraits to Chu Lian. After receiving his wifes orders, Yang Ming immediately drove the horse carriage to Shibao Town, at the Chu Family mansions gate, he informed the house servant who quickly called out Chu Lian. "Has something happened to her, ah?" Hearing from the house servant that he was sought after, Chu Lian was very agitated, surely something had happened, and he grabbed Yang Ming as soon as he stepped out asking him. Seeing his reaction, Yang Ming could totally understand, "Big brother Chu, dont get excited, shes fine, not a single issue, she can even walk on the ground now, sunbathing in the yard daily, and can eat and sleep well." Hearing this, Chu Lian let go, muttering to himself, "Thats good, thats good." "Did youe here for something else then?" "Yes, I came to deliver some portraits." As he spoke, Yang Ming handed the portraits over to Chu Lian, "These are the portraits of the thugs who bullied Wang Xiangxiang, please help with the investigation." Chu Lian took the portraits, looking at them one by one, his grip nearly tearing the paper, showcasing his fury, "Where did these portraitse from?" "She drew them." Yang Ming replied truthfully. Chu Lians grip intensified, he just knew it, they were all her drawings, only she could draw them so vividly and perfectly. In his eyes was pure hatred, he thought about her mood when she was drawing these portraits, the strong resolve she must have had, to recall those terrible events. "She wants revenge, so she drew these, she initially wanted to investigate herself, but was stopped by Xiaoxiao, and we havent informed her that we asked you to investigate." "Yes, you did the right thing." Its still better not to mention him in front of her, afraid that she couldnt cope, "Yang Ming, why note in and sit for a while?" "No thanks, Im leaving." Yang Ming said as he got on the horse carriage and left. Chu Lian shook his head, Yang Ming had never entered their house, always stopping at the gate every time he looked for him, just because their family was wealthy and his was poor? Watching Yang Mings carriage depart, Chu Lians thoughts lingered, as long as she was fine that was all that mattered, he clenched the portraits, vowing to help her get revenge and make those responsible pay dearly. He turned and headed back to his yard, intending to get those portraits to Acheng as quickly as possible, to find those who had bullied her promptly. He was about to find someone to fetch Acheng, but to his surprise, Acheng returned at that moment. "Young master." "How is the investigation going?" "It has already been figured out, its very likely those men did it, our men have already detained them, just waiting for young masters interrogation." Hearing this, Chu Lian clutched his fists tightly, a fierce light in his eyes, "Acheng, lets go." Seeing that fierce demeanor of their young master, clearly with murderous intent, Acheng promptly replied, "Yes, young master." Chapter 553 - 555: An Angry and Heartbroken Chu Lian

Chapter 553: Chapter 555: An Angry and Heartbroken Chu Lian

Before long, Chu Lian followed Acheng to the ce where they were holding their captives. Upon entering, Chu Lian saw the faces of those men and couldnt control his emotions; they were the spitting image of the ones in the portraits. How could he not hate them? It was they who had harmed Xiangxiang. Had he not arrived by chance that day, heaven knows what might have happened to her... As he counted them in his heart, there were precisely ten men. Ten against one fragile woman. The mere thought of that scene was too frightening to contemte. Seeing Chu Lian enter, Achengs subordinates collectively shouted, "Young master." The ten were tied up with ropes, wailing miserably, clearly having been taught a lesson. The gang leader, upon seeing Chu Lian enter, immediately cried out, "Who are you people, why have you captured us? Weve done no wrong to you!" "No wrong?" Chu Lian snorted coldly, his voice so frigid it sent shivers down their spines. "Let me jog your memory. Seven days ago, on the road to Yang Family Vige, you felled arge tree." At these words, the gang members looked as if they remembered something, their eyes starting to dart around evasively. "Remember now?" Chu Lians icy voice rose again. The gang members, scared as though they were something else, didnt dare to make a sound, except for the gang leader who kept shouting denial, "It wasnt us, let us go." This involuntary confession only fueled Chu Lians anger even more. They all deserved to die. He clenched his fists tightly, suppressing his rage, and ignored the gang leader, turning instead to the other gang members. "Now, Im giving you a chance. Recount the events of that day, down to everyst word. Whoever speaks first, speaks the most, and speaks in detail, I will consider letting go first." Chu Lian then sat down and mmed his fist on the table. "Who will speak first?" The gang members looked around at each other, then hurried to speak out. "Ill speak first." "Let me go first." "Ill talk." Chu Lian smacked his palm onto the table again, then pointed at the person at the very front and said, "You first. If you get anything wrong, the others will supplement." "That day, we were lying in ambush as per the Bosssmand, supposedly to teach a girl a lesson. We were going to lock her up for a few days but," He nced at his aplices and then continued, "he said the girl was somewhat attractive, probably still fresh, and should be served up for the Boss to enjoy first, and then it would be our turn." Hearing this, Chu Lian, furious, grabbed a cup from the table and hurled it at the man. He wished he could kill those people for treating Xiangxiang in such a manner. He struggled to calm himself to listen further, then pointed at those behind and said, "You, continue." "Then he suggested he had Charm Fragrance Powder on him. As soon as the Boss heard about the Charm Fragrance Powder, he livened up and drugged the girl. The Boss was too impatient and wanted to sort it out there and then by the roadside, having everyone gather round to watch. Initially, the Boss wanted to undress and get on with it, but the effects of the Charm Fragrance Powder hadnt kicked in, so he started by stripping the girls clothes off..." At that point, Chu Lian, like an enraged lion, could bear no more. These people were utterly depraved and deserved no mercy. He yelled at them, "Stop talking, all of you, shut up." Seeing Chu Lians furious demeanor, the gang members instantly fell silent. Worried that Chu Lian could no longer contain his rage, Acheng became concerned, "Young master." Chapter 554 - 556: Chu Lian’s First Ruthless Move

Chapter 554: Chapter 556: Chu Lians First Ruthless Move

Chu Lian waved his hand to indicate he was fine and his sharp gaze fixed on the gang members as he spoke, "Which one of you is the Boss?" The gang members all lifted their heads in unison, signaling to him that the person who had initially denied it was their Boss. Chu Lian approached and delivered a brutal kick to the Gang Leaders stomach. "Ah." The Gang Leader was kicked into the wall behind him and had barely lifted his head before Chu Lians second kicknded, "Ah." The Gang Leader was kicked so violently it was unbearable, but this was nothingpared to what he had done to Xiangxiang. Chu Lian kept delivering kick after kick, causing the other gang members to grimace. Eventually unable to withstand the beating, the Gang Leader began to beg for mercy, "Young hero, no, Boss, please spare me, I wont dare to do it again." Chu Lian stopped his assault, "Which hand did you touch her with?" The terrified Gang Leader immediately replied, "This one." Then hurriedly shook his head, "No, Boss, I didnt touch her, please spare me." Chu Lian walked back to Achengs side, "Acheng, cripple his hand." Upon receiving the order, Acheng stepped forward without a word. A sickening crack was followed by the Gang Leaders scream, "Ah, my hand, my hand." Seeing their Bosss hand crippled, the gang members were scared half to death. Chu Lian sat there as his icy voice came again, "Arent you going to speak? Who exactly put you up to this?" Chu Lian didnt believe a bunch of small-time thugs would target Xiangxiang without reason. Someone must have put them up to this, and since they had not yet revealed their backer after much talking, it was clear they feared that person. The Gang Leader quickly knelt and begged for mercy, "Boss, no one put us up to this." Chu Lians menacing eyes turned to the other gang members, who hastily knelt and pleaded, "Boss, we lowly ones dont know whos behind this, only the Boss knows about these things." "Yes, only the Boss knows, we truly have no idea." Seeing their demeanor, Chu Lian reckoned they indeed did not know and it must be that only one person knew. So, he continued, "Acheng, cripple his other hand too." Upon hearing his other hand was also to be crippled, the Gang Leader cried out in terror, "Dont, dont cripple my other hand, Ill talk." Chu Lian gestured for Acheng to stop. "Its Dongfeng Restaurants owner, Li Fuyou." This news shocked Chu Lian; why would Li Fuyou target Xiangxiang when they seemed to have no connection at all? He said angrily, "Go back and tell that Li Fuyou that Chu Lian and he are irreconcble." Chu Lian did not wish to linger any longer and left with Acheng. He whispered to Acheng, "Leave them alive to carry the message to Li Fuyou. Blind all of them, and cripple their third leg. If Li Fuyou doesnt cripple them after they report, sell them off, and make sure they cant cause more trouble." "..." Acheng was somewhat shocked. In all the years he had followed the young master, this was the first time he had seen him this ruthless, clearly showing how much he cared for Miss Wang. He returned to the room to carry out the orders, and a symphony of agonized howls echoed to Chu Lians ears. Yet, this could not atone for their sins, because Xiangxiangs heart had been hurt, and it would likely never healpletely. Because of these people, he and Xiangxiang were drifting further apart. He clenched his fists tightly and stepped out of the courtyard. Chapter 555 - 557: Can’t Help But Go See Her

Chapter 555: Chapter 557: Cant Help But Go See Her

After Chu Lian left, he headed straight for Yui Restaurant, issuing orders for all restaurants throughout the county to strike against Dongfeng Restaurant, even at a loss. This time, Chu Lian was truly angry. He didnt want to wait for Li Fugui to deal with Dongfeng Restaurant anymore; he wanted to take matters into his own hands. After finishing these tasks, he still couldnt resist going to Yang Family Vige. Angered as he was, he couldnt regain hisposure; at that moment, he just wanted to see her. As soon as he entered the courtyard and saw Han Yongsheng still there, he was a bit surprised, but didnt think too much of it. After exchanging pleasantries, he asked, "Where are they?" Han Yongsheng replied, "Theyre in the backyard garden." Hearing that they were in the backyard, Chu Lian hurried towards it. The closer he got, the faster his heart beat. He hadnt seen her for several days; would she be afraid of him when he appeared? Finally, he reached the garden gate leading to the backyard and saw her standing there with a smile on her face. Chu Lians heart settled down. She was alright, and that was truly great. He stood there, gazing at her silently for a long time. In the garden, Xiaoxiao and the others were nting vegetables. Xiaoxiao was in good spirits. She had been there for almost five months, eagerly awaiting the nting season so she could finally have fresh leafy greens. Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang were nting for the first time, so they were both curious and excited. Due to physical reasons, Wang Xiangxiang did lighter work like cing the seeds; Xiaoxiao followed by watering them; Yang Ming dug holes. The three of them had a pretty good division ofbor, though it was uncertain whether with two beginners they could sessfully grow the crops. "Little brother, how many seeds should I put in this hole?" "Put three seeds." "Okay." Wang Xiangxiang carefully counted three seeds and ced them in the hole, moving gradually forward. Chu Lians mouth curled into a smile; she seemed to really enjoy gardening. It was good as long as she was happy. Soon Wang Xiangxiang and the other two finished nting the first row and turned back to start on the second. When Wang Xiangxiang turned around, she identally looked up and saw Chu Lian standing there watching. Her face instantly turned pale with fright, and the seeds she was holding fell to the ground. "Sister, whats wrong?" Wang Xiangxiang hastily bent down to pick up the scattered seeds, her hands trembling a bit. She feigned calm and said, "Its nothing." But her heart was pounding. He was here; how would he see her now. When Chu Lian noticed Wang Xiangxiangs panic, he knew it was because of him. He felt a bit sad, but he couldnt help but step forward. He didnt speak, but helped her pick up the seeds that had fallen on the ground. "Thank you." Wang Xiangxiang took the seeds, quickly thanked him, then turned away, taking a deep breath in a corner out of everyones sight. Seeing Chu Lian hade over, Xiaoxiao thought it was a good opportunity for them to get along, so she handed the bucket to Chu Lian, "Young Master Chu, you and my sister manage it together shell ce the seeds, then you bury and water them. Ill go make something for you both to eat." After speaking, she gave Yang Ming a look, signaling him to take cue. Yang Ming nodded, indicating he understood. Chu Lian took the bucket, mimicking what Xiaoxiao had just done, and started working alongside her. He followed behind Wang Xiangxiang, burying and watering the holes after she ced the seeds. Although they didnt speak much, being this close to her was wonderful. Their rtionship had indeed changed; it was no longer like before when they fought and bickered upon meeting. Should he go back to behaving as he did before? Chapter 556 - 558: The Two Who Resumed Their Relationship

Chapter 556: Chapter 558: The Two Who Resumed Their Rtionship

Yang Ming was digging a hole in front, constantly observing the movements of the two people behind him. The two of them were simply too quiet, having no interaction at all. His wife had told him to act ordingly, but what was he supposed to do? Chu Lian was as clumsy as him, not uttering a single word. Could it be because he was there, that they felt embarrassed? In that case, he should give them some space to be alone. He turned his head and shouted to them, "You two keep nting, Ill step out for a bit." Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian were both startled by Yang Mings words, and then they both said in unison, "Okay, alright." The replies clearly conveyed how nervous they both were. Having said his piece, Yang Ming walked towards the front courtyard, leaving Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian alone in the garden. Chu Lian knew that Yang Ming was giving him the chance to be alone with her. Seeing her unnaturally tense expression, Chu Lian felt a tinge of bitterness in his heart, "Then lets continue with the work." "En, okay," agreed Wang Xiangxiang and then continued to drop seeds into the holes, moving forward step by step. Chu Lian followed, burying the seeds and watering them. Despite the tension, their cooperation was seamless. Chu Lian wanted to ask her if she was feeling better, if he had hurt herst time, but the words just wouldnte out. Meanwhile, Wang Xiangxiang was also in turmoil, thinking he must havee here to see Xiaoxiao. It didnt take long for them to nt seeds in all the holes Yang Ming had dug. Chu Lian reached for the seed bag in Wang Xiangxiangs hand, "You must be tired, take a rest." Wang Xiangxiang was puzzled by his silence; he wasnt arguing with her as usual. Was he perhaps sympathizing with her situation? Thest thing she wanted was his pity. She snatched the seed bag from his hand, "I dont need your help; I can handle this much." Chu Lian didnt let go, his eyes intent upon her, "You havent recovered yet." Wang Xiangxiangs face paled at his words. Was he constantly reminding her that she had been vited? Still gripping the bag firmly, she growled, "My affairs are none of your business, let go." "I wont let go." Unwittingly, they had reverted to their previous way of interacting. Wang Xiangxiang felt this was better, she didnt want him to notice the changes in her feelings toward him. Chu Lian felt this was more like her true self and if she wished for it, he would y along. When Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming returned, they found the two still in standoff. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were speechlessthey had finally given them a chance to be alone, and Chu Lian wasnt seizing it properly, what was he doing? Xiaoxiao stepped forward, taking the bag that had caused their quarrel, "Give me the bag, no more objections, right? You two drink some water; we still have a lot of work to do. This whole area needs to be nted." Only then did they loosen their grip and head over to where Yang Ming had already poured them some water. Taking their cups, they gulped it down, their actions concealing their inner turmoil. Seeing the two of them like this, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao shook their headsthere was clearly a long road ahead for these two, but their way of getting along was indeed a perfect match. After drinking water and taking a short break, Xiaoxiao left to prepare dinner for everyone. Yang Ming, alongside Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang, finished the rest of the tasks. With Yang Ming present, the pair became much quieter, focusing solely on work without speaking. Soon, the rest of the family returned one by one, and dinner was ready back at Xiaoxiaos ce. They had finished nting the vegetables as well. Chapter 557 - 559: Who Are You Showing Off For? Eat Quickly

Chapter 557: Chapter 559: Who Are You Showing Off For? Eat Quickly

Yang Ming and the other two tidied up a bit and returned to the front courtyard, where they washed off the dust. Xiaoxiao then called them to have dinner. In these past few days, Wang Xiangxiang had been eating separately in a smaller kitchen, always cared for individually. Today, seeing that Chu Lian had arrived, Xiaoxiao decided that the four of them should eat together at a table in Xiaoxiaos room. The four sat facing each other, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming together, Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian together. Just as they were about to eat, Han Yongsheng arrived. "I have something to discuss with Young Master Yang, so I came uninvited. Hope you dont mind." At such a moment, they couldnt just send someone out, so Yang Ming asked Xiaoxiao to fetch another set of utensils, "Mr. Han, please sit down and join us." Thus Han Yongsheng sat down next to Wang Xiangxiang, which made her quite ufortable. Although they had been in the same courtyard for days, the two had barely interacted. Wang Xiangxiang felt it was better not to have any contact, as it would be awkward after what had happened. Now, they not only had to share a table but also sat together, which made her face turn red. This change in Wang Xiangxiang was immediately noticed by Chu Lian sitting beside her. His heart skipped a beat when he saw Wang Xiangxiang blushing at the sight of Han Yongsheng. Could it be that she had taken a liking to Han Yongsheng? Han Yongsheng was her lifesaver and came from a good family background; Chu Lian suddenly felt a sense of crisis. Xiaoxiao returned with the utensils, and the five of them sat together for the meal. Chu Lian noticed Wang Xiangxiang eating slowly and deliberately, which inexplicably made him angry. How could she act all prim and proper with Han Yongsheng around when she never used to eat like that? He picked up some food with his chopsticks and ced it in Wang Xiangxiangs bowl, intending to show care by encouraging her to eat more, but his words were harsh, "It seems youve suddenly be elegant at meals, who are you trying to impress? Eat up." Wang Xiangxiang red at Chu Lian in response, countering, "I will eat however I like. Its none of your business." Though she said this, she was actually thrilled inside because Chu Lian had never served her food before. She enjoyed the food he had served, feeling overjoyed. "You think I want to interfere? You look skinny and utterly unsightly." Chu Lian said, continuing to serve her food. Wang Xiangxiang fumed, "If Im so ugly, then dont look." Their verbal sparring continued, yet they hadnt expected Han Yongsheng to interject unexpectedly, "Miss Wang looks very pretty this way." Hearing Han Yongshengs remark, Wang Xiangxiang felt embarrassed and her cheeks reddened. She lowered her head and began to eat in silence. This reaction only angered Chu Lian further; Han Yongsheng was making suchments right in front of him, well aware of their rtionship. It seemed necessary to remind him where they stood. He looked at Han Yongsheng with displeasure and said, "Thats because you have poor taste." "..." Hearing Chu Lian say this, Wang Xiangxiang immediately raised her head to retort, "As if you have good taste." "..." Seeing Wang Xiangxiang siding with Han Yongsheng, Chu Lian ground his teeth in frustration. Xiaoxiao, observing Wang Xiangxiangs behavior, was happy for her. She had been really worried these past days as Wang Xiangxiang had been gloomy and mncholic. Now, facing Chu Lian, the expression on her face had finally changed. She was seeing the old Wang Xiangxiang again. Seeing this situation, Yang Ming felt that he had to speak up, or the three would again end up in a verbal battle. So, he asked, "May I know why Mr. Han sought me out today?" Chapter 558 - 560: Okay, Let’s Go to Lin County

Chapter 558: Chapter 560: Okay, Lets Go to Lin County

At this point, Yang Ming was getting anxious. He didnt understand what Chu Lian was up to, clearly liking someone and then speaking so unpleasantly. At this rate, when would he ever get to marry the girl? How could he be even more clueless than himself? At least he knew that after falling for his wife, he always spoke sweet words. As soon as he asked, the dining table fell silent, everyone awaiting Han Yongshengs reply. Han Yongsheng finally spoke, "Right, I n to start my journey back tomorrow, so I thought I should let you know in advance." The moment Wang Xiangxiang heard this, she breathed a sigh of relief. This man was finally leaving. If he didnt leave soon, she would feel unbearably awkward. Luckily, Han Yongsheng did not bring up the previous matter, and it was best to act as if nothing had happened. Hearing that Han Yongsheng was leaving, the host, out of politeness, feltpelled to offer for him to stay, "Young Master Han, wont you stay a few more days?" "No need, the thing is, Id like to invite you to our Yongan Fish Pond for a visit and inspection, to see if we have the capacity to coborate with you," Han Yongsheng exined his intention. At this moment, Xiaoxiaos eyes started to roll aroundthis was an opportunity. If they were to coborate, they would certainly need to see for themselves. She hadnt yet left this county; this could be a chance to travel. Moreover, Wang Xiangxiang could also go; her mood had been so poortely, perhaps a change of scenery would do her a lot of good. Although she wanted to go, she didnt show it outwardly, "We were nning to take my sister out for a change of scenery soon, so we might not have the time." Upon hearing they wanted to take a break, Han Yongsheng quickly replied, "Then why not rx in Lin County? Take this opportunity to visit our Yongan Fish Pond." Likewise feigning indecision, Xiaoxiao asked Wang Xiangxiang, "Sis, what do you think about going to Lin County for a break?" Wang Xiangxiang had originally intended to refuse; she wanted nothing to do with Han Yongsheng and certainly wouldnt rush to his turf. Just as she was about to refuse, she heard Chu Lians voice, "Theres no need to go to Lin County to rxany ce would do." Chu Lian thought to himself, he mustnt let Xiangxiang get too close to that Han Yongsheng. He had to be on guard against him. His words, however, only incited Wang Xiangxiang. She was so used to bickering with Chu Lian that she reflexively wanted to oppose anything he said. So she blurted out, "Fine, lets go to Lin County." This response infuriated Chu Lian, "You..." Seeing Wang Xiangxiang agree, Yang Ming also chimed in, "Okay, then well take my sister to have a break in Lin County. If we have the time, well definitely visit your Yongan Fish Pond." "Then Ill be waiting for you in Lin County," Han Yongsheng said cheerfully. As long as they set foot in Lin County, he would find a way to connect with them; and since Yang Ming had mentioned it, it was very likely they would visit the Yongan Fish Pond, so their potential partnership still had hope. Chu Lian, hearing that Yang Ming had decided to take Wang Xiangxiang to Lin County, felt this was throwing a wrench in the works, so he dered outright, "Then Ill also go to Lin County with you." "What are you going there for?" Wang Xiangxiang asked straight away, upon hearing that he wasing too. It was awkward enough facing Han Yongsheng, and with hering, it would be unbearable. Chu Lian, eating his food, said leisurely, "Ive been wanting to rx too, and since everyones going, it would be more lively together." "..." Xiaoxiao broke into a scheming grin, Chu Lian was indeed quick on the uptake, "Alright, lets pick a time, and the four of us will go together." Chapter 559 - 561: Stay Away from Xiangxiang

Chapter 559: Chapter 561: Stay Away from Xiangxiang

"Xiaoxiao..." Wang Xiangxiang was clearly reluctant. She looked at Xiaoxiao, hoping Xiaoxiao would refuse to go with Chu Lian. But Xiaoxiao didnt engage in the matter, "Sister, lets all four of us go together. If its just the three of us, wouldnt you feel awkward? My husband and I are meant to be together." After saying this, she gave Wang Xiangxiang a meaningful look, implying, how could you want to be a third wheel? "..." Wang Xiangxiang was somewhat speechless at Xiaoxiaos words. With just the three of them, she indeed would feel embarrassed, but with Chu Lian joining, she would feel even more ufortable, right? What should she do? At that moment, Chu Lian was feeling quite smug. Still, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao were on his side, which would provide him plenty of time to be with her. In her moment of crisis, Wang Xiangxiang suddenly had an idea. She suggested to Xiaoxiao, "Lets bring Yang Qiu along, all four of us together." Chu Lians smug expression suddenly fell. Did she really not want to be with him that much? He looked at Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao with hopeful eyes, hoping they would help him decline the suggestion. "Yang Qiu hasnt been outside yet. This would be a great opportunity to show her around!" Wang Xiangxiang continued, preferring anything over being alone with Chu Lian for fear of her racing heart. Yang Ming knew what Wang Xiangxiang meant, and he also wanted to take his sister out to see the world, but seeing Chu Lians expectant look, he found it difficult to speak up. Hed have to disappoint his sister this time, maybe they could take Xiaoqiu out another time. "This time it should just be the four of us, Xiaoqiu cane another time." Hearing Yang Mings refusal, Chu Lian looked triumphantly at Wang Xiangxiang. He really praised Yang Ming in his heart; he truly hadnt made a mistake in picking such a good brother. Wang Xiangxiang hung her head in disappointment and went back to eating her meal, with each person harbouring their own secretive thoughts. After finishing the meal, Wang Xiangxiang quickly returned to Yang Qius room, unable to face those two people any longer. She truly didnt want to meet Han Yongsheng, but Chu Lian, she actually wanted to sneak a nce at him. So, returning to the room, she started observing from beside the window and saw Chu Lian talking to Han Yongsheng, which surprised her. What could they possibly have to discuss? But they were too far away for her to hear clearly. Just as Han Yongsheng was about to enter his room, Chu Lian stopped him, "Young Master Han, wait a moment." "Young Master Chu, whats the matter?" "I just want to remind you to keep your distance from Xiangxiang." "Oh?" It was the first time someone had warned Han Yongsheng like this, and he was annoyed, especially about matters concerning Miss Wang whom he admired, "I dont need Young Master Chu to worry about what I should do." At Han Yongshengs response, Chu Lian was equally irritated, "You know Ive already shared a room with Xiangxiang. Dont you mind?" "I dont mind; you two arent married yet," Han Yongsheng retorted. Chu Lian was infuriated by his words, grabbing Han Yongsheng by his cor and gritting his teeth, "Ill say it again, stay away from her; shes mine." Han Yongsheng was clearly unfazed and very calm, "Ill say it again, youre not married." "..." Such words made Chu Lian feel like he was facing a formidable opponent. He let go, fuming, "Well see." Then he walked away. Han Yongsheng dusted off his cor and then entered his room. Even he was surprised by his own attitude. Did his subconscious truly think this way? Chapter 560 - 562 I want him to know the cost of bullying Xiangxiang

Chapter 560: Chapter 562 I want him to know the cost of bullying Xiangxiang

All these proceedings were closely observed by Wang Xiangxiang, who wondered why Chu Lian was so angry. They must have just met, right? What could have been their feud? Seeing Chu Lian leave in such a fury, she really wanted to know where he had gone. Had he left for good? Would hee back tomorrow? Yet, she could not bring herself to ask; she felt that she no longer had the right. Chu Lian had gone to find a ce to sleep. He didnt want to leave, especially since Han Yongsheng was still there. He had to see him off with his own eyes. So he went to the rented courtyard and spent the night with Yang Dong. Early the next morning, he was there, watching Han Yongsheng leave. Seeing that Xiangxiang didnt even see him off, Chu Lian felt somewhat relieved. Wang Xiangxiang was a bit excited to see Chu Lian return. After a night of reflection, she had some rity: she didnt want to avoid him anymore. Although they werent destined to be together, just being able to see him was enough for her, considering they had so few chances to meet. So, she didnt hide in her house. Instead, as usual, shey in the courtyard basking in the sun every morning, hoping that this way, she might get to spend time with him. But, unfortunately, Chu Lian did not seize the opportunity Xiangxiang had given him. He was currently in Yang Mings room discussing business. "Big Brother Chu, is there any progress with that matter?" Chu Lian sat there, bing a bit agitated at the mention of the matter, as he was reminded of how those people had treated Xiangxiang. His fists clenched and resting on the edge of the table, he said angrily, "Ive dealt with those people." "..." Dealt with? Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were a bit surprised, asking in unison, "How did you deal with them?" Hate shone in Chu Lians eyes, feeling that even that was not harsh enough, "I gouged out their eyes, and crippled their third leg." Such measures made Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming shiver with the cold realization. Chu Lian, normally a calm person, could be so ruthless in handling matters. It must have been because Wang Xiangxiang was bullied, making him too furious. As shocking as that oue was, what Chu Lian said next stunned them even more. "The mastermind behind it all is Li Fuyou." As soon as he said this, the room fell deathly silent. The faces of everyone present turned solemn, struggling to understand why Li Fuyou would target Wang Xiangxiang when it seemed they had no connection at all. "Therefore, I cant wait for Li Fugui to make his move. Our Yui Restaurant is going to strike at the Dongfeng Restaurant with full force. I want him to know the price of bullying Xiangxiang." Listening to Chu Lians words, even Xiaoxiao felt a twinge of fear, sensing that Li Fuyou was in for trouble. But the Dongfeng Restaurants strength was not weakit was not an establishment that could be taken down easily. They were in for a long battle. Xiaoxiao warned out loud, "Young Master Chu, Dongfeng Restaurant might not be easy to deal with. You need to be prepared." "Yeah, I understand. Im prepared for the long haul. Even if it leads to losses, Im determined to fight Li Fuyou to the end." This side of Chu Lian made Xiaoxiao feel that Wang Xiangxiang would be very happy with him. He was really serious. Afterward, the three of them plotted in the room on how to take down Dongfeng Restaurant, conspiring for a very long time. So long that Wang Xiangxiang couldnt wait any longer. Lying there, she let out a bitterugh. Even if she wanted to see him, it didnt mean that he wanted to see her. She stood up and went back to her room. At that very moment, Chu Lian had juste out, only to see Wang Xiangxiang returning to her room. He too let out a bitterugh. It seemed she really didnt want to see him. Chapter 561 - 563 Departure to Lin County

Chapter 561: Chapter 563 Departure to Lin County

Wang Xiangxiang returned to her room and sat by the window, unable to resist the urge to see what he was up to. Chu Lian walked over to Wang Xiangxiangs window sill and thought she should be able to hear him, so he said, "Im leaving now, Ille again tomorrow." Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened. He was telling her his whereabouts. She looked out the window to see his figure moving further away. A small smile curled the corners of her lips, as she felt content just hearing him speak to her. Chu Lian had returned because he and Yang Ming had nned many methods they wanted to implement as soon as possible. Moreover, they had decided to set off for Lin County the very next day, so he also needed to go back and make some quick preparations. Wang Xiangxiang soon learned about their ns to set off the next day. They had decided to use Wang Xiangxiangs familys carriage and bring their own coachman, so they wouldnt have to drive the carriage themselves. The coachman had always been with the Yang Family vige, living with Yang Dong, which also meant he helped look after the Yang residence. Despite having agreed on this arrangement with the coachman, a stranger arrived the next day. The person who came was Acheng, appointed by Chu Lian. Acheng sought out Wang Xiangxiangs familys coachman and bribed him with silver to rece him. He said to Wang Xiangxiang, "Miss, I am Acheng. The original coachman is my cousin, and he urgently needed to return home due to a pressing matter, so Ivee to rece him." "Miss, you can rest assured, I am very skilled at driving a carriage." Wang Xiangxiang was surprised by thest-minute substitution and worried about the possibility of him being a bad person, as she did not recognize him. She felt uneasy and wanted to refuse, being highly sensitive at the moment. However, Chu Lian had informed both Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao about the switch to Acheng, so Xiaoxiao quickly assured her, "Sister, this person should be fine. Ive heard your coachman mention his cousin before, and he looks exactly like this. Lets use him because its toote to find someone else now." Upon hearing this from Xiaoxiao, Wang Xiangxiang reluctantly agreed, realizing they didnt have other options at the moment. "Alright then." With the coachman in ce, the three of them began to prepare for their journey, loading their necessary belongings onto the carriage. Xiaoxiao suggested they keep it simple, saying that all they needed was to bring their silver, since having too much would be cumbersome. Moreover, as it was their first long trip, they should save room to bring back souvenirs. Therefore, the group prepared very few belongings. Shortly thereafter, Chu Lian arrived. Seeing that Xiangxiang appeared in good spirits today, he shared a nce with her, smiled at her, and then boarded the carriage. Wang Xiangxiang was somewhat surprised, but with time pressing, she had no leisure to ponder much and followed onto the carriage. The four of them set off like this, embarking on their first long journey. Xiaoxiao was extremely excited. This was her first time visiting another county since she had arrived, and she was eager to discover what the outside world was like. She chattered away non-stop to Yang Ming throughout the journey. "Husband, look outside; that tree is filled with flowers." "Husband, that mountain over there is so high." "..." "..." In contrast to Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming, Chu Lian, and Wang Xiangxiang on the opposite side were very quiet, watching Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming interact, both couldnt help but feel envious. How nice it would be if they too could interact like that. "Wife, calm down and sit down," Yang Ming said. Xiaoxiao sat down and noticed the silence on the other side. Her little mind began working again. No, she had to think of a way to liven up the atmosphere inside the carriage. Chapter 562 - 564 Let’s the Four of Us Play a Game

Chapter 562: Chapter 564 Lets the Four of Us y a Game

Sitting there, Yang Ming soon saw his wife deep in thought, her small eyes whirling around. The corner of Yang Mings mouth lifted, feeling certain that his wife was about to pull some trick again, and sure enough, a momentter, she spoke up. "Lets the four of us y a game, otherwise its too boring on the road." The three of them looked at Xiaoxiao in unison, quite surprised by her suggestion. They were all grown-ups, still ying games? "Are we ying or what?" Seeing that the three of them were not responding, Xiaoxiao asked again, then turned her head and tugged on Yang Mings hand, pleading, "Husband." "Well y." Yang Ming would definitely agree; whatever his wife said wasw. Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang had no choice but to nod along; it really was boring during the trip. Seeing that everyone had agreed, Xiaoxiao started exining, "Ill exin the rules of the game first. The four of us will divide into two teams, me and my hubby on one team, and the two of you on the other, then we y hands face up, hands face down, the team with the lone hand facing a certain way loses." Everyone nodded and continued to listen to Xiaoxiao, "The losing team has a punishment, which will be either Truth or Dare." "What are Truth or Dare?" asked Yang Ming on behalf of everyone. "If the losers choose Truth, then the winning team will ask the losing team a question, and they must answer honestly. For instance, I might ask, Whats the most embarrassing thing youve done from childhood to now? A question like that, and you cant lie when answering," exined Xiaoxiao. "If they choose Dare, then the winning team will make a demand of the losing team, something that the two of them have to do together. Like, I might ask you two to cheek-to-cheek for a moment. Got it?" All in chorus said, "Got it." Xiaoxiao revealed a mischievous smile, "Oh right, the demands could also involve kissing, hugging, and lifting high, you know." In her mind, Xiaoxiao figured they wouldnt really y along, the rules werepletely up to her, she could y however she wanted. Besides, this game was definitely something Chu Lian would like, it was the perfect opportunity for him, and he would surely agree. The question was whether Wang Xiangxiang would agree or not. Chu Lian was indeed quite pleased when he heard this, he nced at Wang Xiangxiang with a smile in the corner of his mouth. He hadnt expected Xiaoxiao to be so amodating and helpful. Wang Xiangxiang, on the other hand, felt a bit scared upon hearing about kissing, hugging, and being lifted high. She wanted to refuse, but seeing that the other three were ready to go, it seemed she couldnt bring down the mood and had to brace herself to join in. Seeing everyones agreement, Xiaoxiao was thrilled. She couldnt wait to see what sort of interesting things she would be able to ask in a moment. She called out excitedly, "Is everyone ready?" In unison, the three answered, "Ready." Xiaoxiao led with a shout, "So, hands face up, hands face down." They all showed their hands, and the first time Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao both had their palms up while Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang had their hands face down, so there was no clear winner or loser. "Lets continue, hands face up, hands face down." They showed their hands again, and this time it was Wang Xiangxiang who singrly had her palm up while the other three had theirs face down. Xiaoxiao immediately pped her hands and shouted, "Sis, youve lost." Wang Xiangxiang looked at Chu Lian, feeling somewhat embarrassed, "Sorry, we lost." "No worries," Chu Lian replied. "Sis, do you choose Truth or Dare?" Thinking about the dare of kissing, hugging, and being lifted high, Wang Xiangxiang felt fearful. She figured Truth would be the safer bet. She looked at Chu Lian, who gestured for her to decide, so she said, "We choose Truth." Chapter 563 - 565: Truth or Dare

Chapter 563: Chapter 565: Truth or Dare

Xiaoxiao revealed a mischievous smile, heh, Truth wasnt so fun, "Now, Im going to ask a question, do you guys currently have someone you like?" The two opposite were stunned, they didnt expect Xiaoxiao to ask such a direct question, and both felt embarrassed, but they couldnt not answer. Just as they were about to speak, Xiaoxiao warned them, "You must answer honestly, on the count of three, together." Simultaneously, they both said, "Yes." After speaking, the two nced at each other. Wang Xiangxiang wasnt surprised by Chu Lians answer because she already knew that Chu Lian liked Xiaoxiao. However, Wang Xiangxiangs answer surprised Chu Lian, she had someone she liked, but who could it be? At their responses, Xiaoxiaoughed, she definitely had to press Wang Xiangxiangter to find out who she really liked. "Come on, lets continue, hand palm hand back." "Haha, sis, you lost again." Xiaoxiao really didnt mean to bully her, but who thought she would lose again. "Truth or dare." Wang Xiangxiang didnt expect to lose again, she didnt know what to choose this time because Xiaoxiaos questions were too direct. She looked at Chu Lian again, and Chu Lian still signaled her to choose. She thought, maybe truth again, she really didnt want to do any kisses or hugs and lifts, "Truth." "Then, Im going to ask, how many people have you kissed, on the count of three, together." "One." "Two." Although they answered in unison this time, their responses were different. Chu Lian had only kissed Wang Xiangxiang, his answer undoubtedly included just her, but Wang Xiangxiangs answer surprised everyone presentshe had kissed two people. Besides him, Chu Lian, who else had she kissed? Xiaoxiao hadnt expected the game to reveal so much about Wang Xiangxiang. She actually answered truthfully; couldnt she just fabricate something? Xiaoxiao felt somewhat sympathetic towards Chu Lian now as she looked at him, his expression was indeed not looking great. She quickly said, "Alright, lets keep going." Only then did Chu Lian snap back to reality and continued ying, "Hand palm hand back." "..." Xiaoxiao was really speechless this time, Wang Xiangxiang had lost again, "Sis!" Wang Xiangxiang was really scared of Xiaoxiao now, she feared the next question would be about the name of the man she liked. Truth was really not an option anymore, so this time she directly chose dare. Xiaoxiao thought, "better not to go too harsh, so they wont feel too embarrassed." Then she said, "Now, you two hold hands, fingers interlocked, and look into each others eyes for the count of thirty." Wang Xiangxiang was clearly a bit embarrassed by Xiaoxiaos request, butpared to kissing and hugging, it was already much better, so she looked at Chu Lian and reached out her hand. The two of them interlocked fingers, gazing deeply at each other, their hearts pounding intensely. Xiaoxiao slowly counted, "One, two, three..." Seeing his wife so excited ying the game, Yang Ming understood she was helping Chu Lian, but worried whether it was getting a bit too much. His concerns were valid, as the game indeed escted, with his wife eventually suggesting kissing cheeks, foreheads, and even bizarrely, a passionate kiss to the car door. Seeing that he and Xiangxiang were treated so harshly, Chu Lian, when it was Yang Mings turn to lose, plotted his revenge, proposing some tricky questions, and soon, everyone in the car got carried away. Chapter 564 - 566: Where did we put the provisions we prepared?

Chapter 564: Chapter 566: Where did we put the provisions we prepared?

The biggest winner of the game was undoubtedly Chu Lian, who interacted more with Wang Xiangxiang and got to know a lot of interesting things about her. He silently thanked Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming countless times in his heartit was their idea, after all. However, the game also brought him some troubles, making him aware that Xiangxiang actually had someone she liked, and she had kissed someone else besides him, which drove him crazy with jealousy. Who on earth was that person? They were ying so intently that they almost forgot the time. At the peak of their enjoyment, Xiaoxiaos stomach suddenly growled, "Gurgle." At the sound of that very loud gurgle, everyone in the car fell silent, looking at each other. Yang Ming immediately realized it was his wifes rumbling and smiled at her, "Wife, lets stop ying and pull over to grab a bite to eat." "..." Xiaoxiao was somewhat speechless. Why did she always have to embarrass herself in such situations? She had eaten quite a lot for breakfast; why was her stomach growling so loudly? She looked outside, guessing it must be noon by now, and assuming everyone must be hungry too, she agreed, "Alright then, Ill let you off the hook for today. Lets eat first." Upon hearing Xiaoxiaos words, Wang Xiangxiang visibly sighed in relief. It was finally over. If it went on any further, she felt her heart couldnt take it. The questions from Xiaoxiao and the things she was prompted to do with Chu Lian, were just too embarrassing. She felt her heart was about to leap out of her chest. She spoke to the outside of the car, "Acheng, find a ce to stop; lets eat something before hitting the road again." "Alright, miss," Acheng found a ce to pull over. Xiaoxiao searched the car and her frown deepened. She turned and pouted at her husband, "Honey, where did we put our food supplies?" "Wasnt it you who packed them?" Yang Ming asked in return. "Wasnt it you?" Xiaoxiao countered back. Looking at each other, they were both dumbfounded. Oh, no, they had forgotten to bring food. Now what? The more she thought about not bringing food, the hungrier her stomach felt, rumbling even more vehemently. Hearing his wifes stomach growls, how could Yang Ming let his wife go hungry? He could stand being hungry, but his wife going hungry was absolutely uneptable. So, he opened the car door and jumped down from the coach, "You all wait here; Im going to see if I can find something to eat." Xiaoxiao was worried. The wilderness could be dangerous, and even if he did manage to find food, she wouldnt want to eat it. Without seasoning, how tasty could it be? Shed rather go hungry, "Husband, dont go. Its dangerous." "Its fine, just wait," Yang Ming gave his wife a reassuring look and then walked towards the nearby mountain. Indeed, the road they were on was nked by wastnds, and not far off was a mountain. Seeing Yang Ming walking away, Xiaoxiao jumped down from the coach without a second thought, "Husband, wait for me." And so Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming set off together. Watching the two walk away, Chu Lian gave Acheng a look, and Acheng said to Wang Xiangxiang, "Miss, the mountain is dangerous. Ill go and have a look." At the mention of danger, Wang Xiangxiang immediately grew anxious, "Okay, then hurry up. Be careful." "Alright." After responding, Acheng also dashed toward the mountain. Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian were left alone on the coach. Wang Xiangxiang felt a bit nervous about the actions between them just moments ago, and felt a bit shy, so she said, "Im going to get off the coach to get some fresh air." Chapter 565 - 567 No One Will Like You Even If You Like Someone

Chapter 565: Chapter 567 No One Will Like You Even If You Like Someone

Seeing Wang Xiangxiang jump off the carriage, Chu Lian also followed suit, "Let me apany you." "..." She already felt that they were too close, and she needed some air. How could her heart rate settle with him following? "Theres no need for you toe, Ill just walk around near the coach," she rejected. Chu Lian grabbed Wang Xiangxiangs arm, saying worriedly, "No, Im not at ease, its not safe, you must stay by my side." "..." His words made Wang Xiangxiang pause, was he worried about her? If that were the case, she suddenly felt greedy for more, "Then lets just walk around here." Chu Lian was happy with Wang Xiangxiangs invitation, his presence suggested that she didnt detest him that much. Although Xiaoxiao used that game to help him, he was quite afraid, afraid that because he kissed her again, she would ignore him. The two wandered around the vicinity of the carriage. Wang Xiangxiang was silent, distracted, as was Chu Lian; he was preupied with the nagging questions, who else had she kissed? Who did she truly like? Unable to endure these tormenting thoughts, he finally asked, "Aside from me, who else have you kissed?" "..." This question made Wang Xiangxiangs heart skip a beat. Wasnt he asking something he already knew? He knew she was no longer pure, who else could she have kissed besides him? Her face went pale, lips tightly closed, trying hard not to respond. She didnt want to answer that question, she didnt want to open up that wound in front of him again; it would make her feel like a woman of low morals. But unexpectedly, Chu Lian asked another question she wanted to answer even less, "Do you have someone you like? Who is it?" Wang Xiangxiangs heart pounded fiercely. Was he expecting her to say she liked him? She couldnt say it; he had just reminded her of her impurity, calling her damaged goods. If she confessed her liking for him at this moment, what would he think of her? She would surely be considered aughingstock. So, struggling internally, she uttered the most difficult and insincere words of her life, "I wouldnt ever like someone like you." After saying these words, she turned and quickly walked toward the carriage. As she turned, a tear trickled down from the corner of her eye. Chu Lian, hearing this, felt extremely dejected. He didnt follow her, instead stood there motionless, reying her words in his mind, "I wouldnt ever like someone like you." He hadnt even had the chance to express his affection for her when she so thoroughly rejected him. He couldnt understand where he fell short, what he needed to do to make her look upon him with favor. His eyes were filled with loss when suddenly, from up ahead, he heard a scream, "Ah, help! Wuu!" That scream resounded only once before there was silence. Hearing that voice, Chu Lian immediately looked up and ran towards the carriage. That voice was Xiangxiangs, his heart was terrified, afraid that she would get into trouble again, this time right in front of him; he hated himself for not sticking close to her. Soon, he reached the carriage and saw her held captive by a man in tattered clothes. Her mouth was covered by the mans hand, her arm was restrained, and her innocent wide eyes were brimming with tears. She struggled desperately, shaking her head as if to say to him, "Dont bother with me, get away." Chapter 566 - 568: He Bullied You

Chapter 566: Chapter 568: He Bullied You

Chu Lians heart ached terribly at this moment, and his eyes were again filled with murderous intent as he roared at the man, "Let her go." Seeing that the man did not reply, Chu Lian bellowed again, "I told you to let her go." The man, clearly intimidated by Chu Lians imposing manner, spoke with a submissive tone, "Big brother, I didnt mean to, its just that I am so hungry. I saw an empty carriage and thought to look inside for some food. I didnt expect her toe back and frighten me, thats when I..." "Stop talking nonsense, let her go." Chu Lian leaped onto the carriage and reached out to pull the man away. The man was yanked aside, releasing his grip. Without even ncing at the man, Chu Lian immediately pulled Wang Xiangxiang into his embrace, holding her tightly, murmuring, "Im here, dont be afraid." Wang Xiangxiang, being held, was somewhat at a loss. His actions made her feel like she was being protected by him, yet she relished his embrace and didnt want to push away. How wonderful it would be if this moment couldst forever, but it couldnt. Chu Lians sharp gaze caught the man attempting to flee by jumping off the carriage. Swiftly releasing Wang Xiangxiang, he followed suit and leaped down, quickly subduing the man. The man, weakened by hunger, had no strength to resist. Pinned down by Chu Lian, he could not move, pleading, "Big brother, please let me go. Ive told you nothing but the truth." But Chu Lian would not listen; his eyes were filled with rage. Those who bullied Xiangxiang would not have a good end. His fists pounded on the man unrelentingly. He was ustomed to hiding his martial skills, never showing them in front of others, but he couldnt hide them now, because Xiangxiang had been bullied. Such fury startled Wang Xiangxiang. If this continued, someone could die. It seemed that the man was telling the truth, not lying, so she hastily called out, "Stop hitting him, let him go." Chu Lian, upon hearing Xiangxiangs plea, did not cease his assault, saying, "He bullied you." His words moved Wang Xiangxiang to tears, which fell like pearls off a string. She continued to cry out, "Let him go; Im not worried about him, Im afraid something might happen to you." It was only upon hearing these words that Chu Lian stopped striking, and Wang Xiangxiang hurried over, tugging at Chu Lian, "He seems to be telling the truth; maybe hes just some beggar from somewhere. Let him go." The man, nearly beaten to death, gratefully acknowledged his rescue, saying, "Thank you. I was swindled out of my money, and I got so hungry I couldnt make it home, so I did this." "Let him go then. I dont think hes a bad person; he didnt really do anything to me. I was just scared because I was captured again." Chu Lians eyes filled withpassion upon hearing this. He knew that incident would always be her enduring pain. Wang Xiangxiangs words quenched the fury in Chu Lians heart, "Go ahead, leave." Seeing that Chu Lian had relented, the man scrambled to his feet and was about to leave when Wang Xiangxiang stopped him, "Wait." Wang Xiangxiang reached into her pocket and handed him several pieces of silver, "Take this." The man didnt take it, but Wang Xiangxiang continued, "Werent you cheated out of your money? Keep this for the road and youll also need to see a doctor since weve injured you. We really dont have any food left in the carriage, otherwise we would have given it to you." Chapter 567 - 569: Don’t Leave Me Again

Chapter 567: Chapter 569: Dont Leave Me Again

The man with the shining ck eyes stared at Wang Xiangxiang. Even though he had just taken her hostage, she was kind enough to give him silver. He epted the silver, thanked her, and then hobbled away with his battered body. "Why did you give him silver?" "I dont think hes a bad person, and you beat him up so badly," Wang Xiangxiang exined. Looking into her pure eyes, Chu Lian felt somewhat helpless. How kind she could be. "Get in the carriage, lets wait inside." Having said that, they got into the carriage. Sitting down, Chu Lian was truly scared to death; he was really afraid something else might happen to her. He spoke up, "Dont leave me again." "..." Those ambiguous words made Wang Xiangxiangs heart race. She lowered her head, hiding her shyness, "Mhm." After that, the two of them sat quietly in the carriage, waiting for Xiaoxiao and the others to return. Meanwhile, Xiaoxiao followed Yang Ming to the foot of the mountain. "Husband, theres nothing to eat on the mountain at this time, are you nning to hunt?" "Yes," Yang Ming replied. "Husband, we dont have hunting tools, and youre bare-handed. Lets just go back," Xiaoxiao expressed her genuine concern that they had brought nothing and were just wasting time. Yang Ming then took out a dagger from his waist. Xiaoxiao looked over. Wasnt this the same dagger from before? Why would he bring it when they went out? "Husband, a single dagger isnt going to be much use," she said. Seeing hispetence questioned, Yang Ming didnt say anything but gave his wife a reassuring look, took her hand, and walked forward. They hadnt walked far before they reached the foot of the mountain, and Yang Ming immediately made a shushing gesture to his wife. His ears were very sensitive; as soon as they were there, he heard the calls of pheasants. His lips curved upward; it seemed their luck wasnt bad. Xiaoxiao dared not make a sound, scared stiff by Yang Mings actions. She was very scared, alright? She didnt want to go up the mountain at all. If she had wanted to, she would have checked it out when she first arrived. She was the type to be afraid of animals; there were bound to be scary things on the mountain, like snakes or something, which she was most afraid of. But seeing that Yang Ming had gone, she was worried and followed him. Xiaoxiao stood there and saw the pheasant too. In a swift move, Yang Mings dagger urately took the pheasant down. Xiaoxiao was stunnedhow could he be so skilled? That was incredibly precise. Yang Ming walked over, picked up the pheasant, and held it up to Xiaoxiao, his eyes seemingly saying, "Praise me already,e on, praise me." "Husband, youre too amazing," Xiaoxiao excitedly ran to Yang Mings side, singing his praises. He was simply incrediblewhy bother studying? If he practiced, he might even be a martial arts champion or a general, which would be even better. Encouraged by Yang Mings performance, Xiaoxiao grew braver. No longer standing still, she ran around with Yang Ming. However, Yang Mings uracy wasnt as high afterward, and they were limited in how far they could go at the foot of the mountain, where there werent many prey to be found. In the end, they only managed to catch two pheasants. Xiaoxiao retracted her previous thoughts. What martial arts champion, generalnonsense. It wasnt that easy. They were still but mere mortals. It was better to stick to business and studythat was more reliable. "Husband, its gettingte. Lets hurry back. Two pheasants are good enough for now, just to tide us over," she said. "Yes." With that, the two set off for their return. Chapter 568 - 570: Don’t Be Afraid

Chapter 568: Chapter 570: Dont Be Afraid

Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian had been quietly waiting in the carriage when they finally saw Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming return. Wang Xiangxiangs eyes lit up, clearly delighted, and she stood up excitedly, calling out, "Youre back?" Chu Lian felt a bit disappointed. She must be so happy because she no longer had to be alone with him, but as long as he could watch over her, her happiness was all that mattered. Xiaoxiao approached with Yang Ming and said, "Weve only got two pheasants. Lets just make do for now. Once we get to Lin County, we can have a proper feast." Looking behind them, Wang Xiangxiang asked curiously, "Wheres Acheng? Howe he didnte back with you?" Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming looked at each other, a bit puzzled, and said, "We didnt see him." "Oh no, I hope nothing has happened to him. He went to look for you," said Wang Xiangxiang, growing anxious. After all, he was a rtive of her coachman, and it wouldnt be good if something happened to him while with her. "Dont worry, hes a grown man, hell be fine," Chu Lian quickly reassured her, though internally he med Acheng for not sticking with Yang Ming properly and causing Xiangxiang such concern. Even though Chu Lian said that, Wang Xiangxiang was still worried. She kept looking into the distance until she suddenly spotted Acheng. Pointing at him excitedly, she said to the others, "Look, Acheng is back." Following the direction Wang Xiangxiang pointed, they saw that Acheng had made a sessful return. Apart from Chu Lian, the three of them showed surprised expressions. Yang Ming had thought it quite an aplishment to have bagged some pheasants, but there was Acheng holding not one, but two rabbits. Yang had spent quite some time helping his wife to catch a litter of rabbits before, and here was Acheng seeding in such a short time. As soon as Acheng returned, Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang surrounded him with a flurry of praises. Yang Ming and Chu Lian stood to one side with their faces full of dismay. This Acheng had stolen their thunder. "Acheng, how did you be so skilled?" asked Wang Xiangxiang, genuinely surprised, not expecting the coachmans rtive to be so capable. "Miss, Im used to this, oh, and theres this too," Acheng spoke as he lifted his clothes slightly. Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang saw and immediately screamed in fright, "Ah!" Coiled around Achengs waist was a snake, something that both Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang were terribly afraid of. Xiaoxiao, frightened, ran straight into Yang Mings arms. Holding his wife, he stroked her head and said, "Wife, dont be afraid, that snake is dead." On the other hand, having no arms to run into, Wang Xiangxiang hugged her head, eyes closed, and screamed. Seeing this, Chu Lian quickly stepped in front of her, taking her hands from her head into his own, and said gently while looking into her eyes, "Dont be afraid." Hearing his voice, Wang Xiangxiang opened her eyes and looked up at him. Her fear gradually subsided, feelingforted by his presence. They held hands and looked into each others eyes until they suddenly realized Xiaoxiao and the others were beside them, promptly withdrawing their hands in embarrassment. Chu Lian shot a look at Acheng, who became somewhat apprehensivehis young master seemed to be angry with him. Rushing his words, he said, "Miss, I didnt know you were afraid of snakes. Ill throw it away right now." After saying this, Acheng ran off immediately, leaving Xiaoxiao and the others behind. In no time at all, Acheng had hurried back, and the groupmenced their first pic together. Chapter 569 - 571 Look at You, You’ve Turned into a Butterfly

Chapter 569: Chapter 571 Look at You, Youve Turned into a Butterfly

Afterward, several people found a spot not far away and began to pic. Saying it was a pic, in reality, was just finding a spot, setting up a rack, and grilling the game they had just hunted. Of course, such things as the rack and the firewood needed to start a fire were all handled by Acheng, who even always carried fire-starting materials with him. Anyway, Chu Lian and Yang Ming werepletely useless in this situation, and Acheng, having thrown away the snake, became the focus of the two women again. Wang Xiangxiang liked Acheng more and more as she watched him. She felt Acheng was different from previous coachmen; he seemed more meticulous and being able to hunt suggested he might know some martial arts. She had been encountering dangerstely and would feel safer with someone like him around. So, she spoke up, "Acheng, stay with us once we go back." "..." Acheng didnt speak but feigned difficulty. As soon as Xiaoxiao heard Wang Xiangxiangs suggestion, she quickly voiced her approval, "Sister, thats a great idea, Acheng is so capable, he should stay to protect you." Chu Lian was listening from the side, his lips slightly curled. This was exactly his thought; her suggesting it saved Acheng from having to find excuses. "Acheng, think about it, I wont make it difficult for you," Wang Xiangxiang continued when Acheng remained silent. "Thank you, miss. Acheng will definitely protect you well," Acheng agreed and expressed his sincerity, but internally he thought aboutpleting the young masters orders well. After Acheng agreed, Wang Xiangxiang was quite pleased, "Thats wonderful." She felt that with him, she would be much more at ease when going out in the future. She still didnt like to bring too many servants, so this arrangement would be better. At this moment, she didnt know that all this had been arranged by Chu Lian to protect her. Soon enough, the meat was ready, and they could eat. Yang Ming and Chu Lian, gentlemanly, tore a piece of meat for their favoreddies and approached them. Yang Ming sat down naturally and intimately with his wife, "Wife, here you go, be careful; its hot." Xiaoxiao took the meat, internallyining about the tough and unseasoned meat that couldntpare to modern grilled meats. However, there wasnt any other food avable, so she had to make do for now. As expected, it tasted quite poor. Xiaoxiaos face turned gloomy as she ate, and Yang Ming quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe his wifes face while saying, "Slow down, look at you, youve be like a little spotted cat." This disy of adoration made Wang Xiangxiang extremely envious. She thought they would probably never have such a day. She became a bit distracted while eating her meat, and her face also turned into a floral butterfly. Seeing her face change, Chu Lian also unconsciously took out his handkerchief, wanting to help her, "Look at you, youve turned into a floral butterfly too." This gesture made Wang Xiangxiang snap back to reality. Chu Lian was actually helping her wipe her face, and his gentle manner was just like Yang Mings. Although she was covetous, she didnt want Xiaoxiao and the others to misunderstand, so she quickly reached out to stop him, "Ill do it myself." Chu Lian didnt give the handkerchief to Wang Xiangxiang but said, "You cant see your own face." "..." Despite Wang Xiangxiangs difort, Chu Lian gently and carefully wiped the smudges off her face. At that moment, Wang Xiangxiangs face blushed with shame, and after he finished, she said shyly, "Thank you." Then she quickly lowered her head and continued to gnaw on the meat in her hands, concealing her current bashfulness. Chapter 570 - 572 You’ll Have More Fun Tonight

Chapter 570: Chapter 572 Youll Have More Fun Tonight

All this was noticed by Xiaoxiao, who stood by; her eyes were so creased withughter they were nearly shut. She hadnt expected Chu Lian to be so skilled at flirting. At this rate, Wang Xiangxiang wouldnt be able to resist and would soon sumb. And with Yang Ming and her being such divine wingmen, wouldnt the two of them reach marital bliss very soon? At that moment, Xiaoxiaos mind started to roam again. When they got married, she was determined to spice things up a bit and stir trouble in their wedding chamber. Seeing his wifes silly smile, Yang Ming knew she was letting her thoughts wander again. His wifes mind was always full of ideas. He whispered in her ear, "Wife, what are you thinking about? Share it with me so I can have a goodugh, too." Xiaoxiao gave Yang Ming a push and raised an eyebrow, "Youll get yourugh tonight." These words made Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang, who were nearby, think the wrong way. Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao really knew how to keep the affection going, even when they were out and about. Chu Lian couldnt help remembering that afternoon he spent with Xiangxiang, which made his ears start to burn. He looked at Wang Xiangxiang, wondering when he would be able to take her home. Wang Xiangxiang, who was being watched, turned pale at the thought. She too remembered that afternoon, the one she never wanted to recall, her nightmare, the chasm that would forever keep her and Chu Lian from getting any closer. Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs pale face, Chu Lian felt a pang of bitterness in his heart, guessing she must have been thinking of that afternoon as well. To alleviate the awkwardness between them, Chu Lian quickly went to Acheng to tear off another piece of meat for her, "Here, eat more so you wont be hungry." "Okay." Wang Xiangxiang took the meat, gnawing on it with her head down, yet in her heart, she was savoring this version of Chu Lian, longing to be with him, even if it was just for a moment longer. "How far is Lin County? Can we make it there today?" asked Xiaoxiao while eating. "Lin County is the closest county to us. If the carriage goes fast, we can get there by nightfall, but we have wasted time, so well only get there after dark," replied Yang Ming. "What are some fun ces to visit in Lin County?" "Lin County has a very famouske. We could go boating there," suggested Wang Xiangxiang. "Lin County has a Marriage Fate Temple," Chu Lian added, ncing at Wang Xiangxiang with his peripheral vision. He wanted to pray for their union. He never used to believe in such things, considering them to be womens fancy, but now he couldnt care less. Xiaoxiaos interest was piqued, "What else is there? We should check it out when we get there." "Wife, its gettingte. We can talk about this on the carriage," Yang Ming reminded her, indicating that time was running out. Xiaoxiao agreed, quickly taking a few more bites of the meat, "Alright, lets hurry on our way once weve eaten enough." The group quickly cleaned up the site and boarded the carriage, preparing to set off when Xiaoxiao had another need. Tugging at Yang Mings hand, she pouted, "Hubby, I need to use thetrine." Yang Ming was no longer fazed by his wifes requeststhey couldnt exactly hold it in all day, could they? "Come on, Ill find a ce for you." With that, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao hopped down from the carriage. At this point, Wang Xiangxiang on the carriage was unsettled and shyly spoke up, "Xiaoxiao, I need to go too." "Ill go as well," said Chu Lian hurriedly upon hearing Xiangxiang, insisting on going too. He couldnt leave the care of the two women to Yang Ming alone,pletely categorizing himself as Xiangxiangs man, forgetting that this would only make her feel more embarrassed. Chapter 571 - 573: Why cry, I’ve had my face slapped as a child too

Chapter 571: Chapter 573: Why cry, Ive had my face pped as a child too

Four people set off in such an awkward situation, out in the open wilderness with nothing to hide behind, heading toward the foot of the mountain. Fortunately, it was fairly close, and they eventually found a small mound that provided some cover. After all, there was no one else around besides them. Xiaoxiao spoke up boldly to Yang Ming and Chu Lian, "Do you two need to go? If so, just find a spot to take care of it. Well be right here, no peeking allowed." Once the two men had left, Xiaoxiao said, "Sister, you go first, Ill keep watch for you." Wang Xiangxiang couldnt wait any longer, so she went ahead, pulled down her pants to squat, and continuously scanned her surroundings. Right after she finished peeing and was about to pull up her pants, she screamed out loud, "Ah!" Chu Lian, hearing the scream, became extremely anxious. Having not gone far, he rushed over without a second thought, even faster than Xiaoxiaos response. Wang Xiangxiang screamed again, "Ah," when she saw Chu Lian approaching. Chu Lian realized what was happening as he saw Wang Xiangxiang still squatting there, pants not yet pulled up, catching a glimpse of a white sh. He immediately turned his back, his face growing hot with embarrassment. The situation was excessively awkward, yet he was so worried about her that even his speech stuttered, "You... first pull up your pants." Xiaoxiao, witnessing the scene, quickly moved away, taking Yang Ming, who was farther off, with her. She hadnt used the bathroom yet, so she had to find another ce now; it really wasnt convenient for her to stay. At that moment, Wang Xiangxiangs face was so red it could burst, and she quickly pulled up her pants. Chu Lian, with his back to her, asked, "Are you done?" "Done," she replied. Chu Lian turned around, took out a handkerchief from his pocket, and stepped forward to wipe her face. Wang Xiangxiang, whose face was getting wiped, looked at him with pitiful eyes brimming with tears. She felt utterly cursed. Why did a bird have to poop right when she was peeing, especially directly onto her face? And to make matters worse, Chu Lian witnessed the whole embarrassing episode, even before she had the chance to pull her pants up. She felt she had no face to show anyone; her tears just flowed down uncontrobly. Seeing Xiangxiang cry, Chu Lian felt incredibly sympathetic and gently wiped away her tears with his hand, "Why cry? These things happen; Ive had bird poop on my face when I was little, too." Wang Xiangxiang didnt respond, and Chu Lian continued, "When we get back to the car, well use the water we brought to clean your face properly. Bear with it for a bit." Wang Xiangxiang felt that throughout the trip, Chu Lian had been taking good care of her, speaking to her so gently that she almost felt deluded. "Wait for me here, Ill take a quick leak and then we can head back to the car," Chu Lian said casually, indicating he needed to urinate. Wang Xiangxiang nodded her agreement. Chu Lian, concerned for her, didnt go far; so close that Wang Xiangxiang could hear the sound of him relieving himself. Wang Xiangxiang stood there with a flushed face, waiting. When Chu Lian returned, the two of them went back to the car together. Chu Lian fetched the water bottle and asked, "Wheres your handkerchief? Mine has bird poop on it, so I cant use it on your face again." Wang Xiangxiang took the handkerchief out of her pocket and handed it to Chu Lian. He dampened it with water and cleaned her face, "Stop crying; once we reach Lin County, you can take a shower." "Okay," Wang Xiangxiang replied, no longer crying. She reveled in the kindness Chu Lian showed her, torn between not wanting to get closer to him and yet yearning to be nearer. She felt so conflicted within herself. It wasnt long before Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming returned. The group climbed back into the carriage and headed toward Lin County. Chapter 572 - 574: Checking into the Inn

Chapter 572: Chapter 574: Checking into the Inn

Since lunch had consumed quite a bit of their time, by the time they arrived at Lin County, it was already veryte. Lin County wasnt unfamiliar to Chu Lian because their family owned the Yui Restaurant there and they also had a residence. However, Chu Lian didnt go there and instead followed everyone else to an inn. This time, the trip was for leisure, and he wanted to enjoy that atmosphere. Besides, Xiangxiang was there, and he wanted to spend more time with her. It was veryte, and most of the inns were full. They finally found one where they could stay, and the group took four roomsYang Ming and Xiaoxiao naturally shared one, and the other three each had their own. After they secured the rooms, everyone followed Xiaoer to their rooms. On the way there, because the path was narrow, Xiangxiang was bumped by several mening from the opposite direction. Xiangxiangs body slightly moved, and Chu Lian quickly steadied her. Because of the bump, Xiangxiang reflexively looked towards those men, who also nced back at her. Seeing that the men looked somewhat scary, Xiangxiang hastily withdrew her gaze and followed the others to view the rooms. Xiaoxiao was quite satisfied with the rooms; after all, she was used to living in shabby ces. "Xiaoer, prepare the bathwater for this youngdys room first," Chu Lian said, thinking that Xiangxiang needed to wash off the bird droppings, so he instructed Xiaoer to take care of it first. Xiangxiang felt very grateful for Chu Lians thoughtfulness. Although she had wiped her face earlier, if she didnt take a bath to address this, she would feel ufortable all over. "Sure thing, sir. Is there anything else youd like me to do?" "Prepare some food. After this youngdy has bathed, well go eat," Chu Lian said, giving Xiaoer some small change as a tip. "Right away, sir," Xiaoer responded happily and then went to take care of it. "Well head back to our room now. Call us when its time to eat," Yang Ming said as he walked back to the room with his wife. Actually, leaving Xiangxiang in a room alone worried Chu Lian, but he had no choice. He could only stay in the room next to hers, and he instructed her with some concern, "Go inside. Im right next door. Call me if you need anything." "Okay," Xiangxiang replied and entered her room, feeling that as long as they werent contentious, this way of getting along was quite nice. Chu Lian watched her enter her room, then turned and pushed open the door that led to the room next to hers. Acheng, seeing how focused his young master was on Miss Wang, should have understood long ago that Miss Wang was likely to be his future mistress. Just as he was about to open the door to enter his room, he saw his young masters door open. They exchanged nces, and understanding dawned. Acheng directly entered his young masters room. "Young master." As soon as Acheng entered, Chu Lian instructed, "Be lighter on your feet tonight, and pay attention to the sounds from her room. Ensure her safety." "Yes, young master. Dont worry, Acheng will definitely protect Miss Wang," Acheng responded. "All right, you can go now." Acheng exited the room, and Chu Lian sat there, attentively listening to the noises outside. Hearing someone approaching, he quickly opened the door, seeing Xiangxiang also opening her door. Seeing Chu Liane out, Xiaoer asked, "Sir, do you need something?" "Carry on with your tasks," he replied. Taking that as a cue, Xiaoer and his team went in to prepare the bathwater for Xiangxiang and left after finishing. Chu Lian went in, checked the bathwater, and noting it wasnt too hot, said, "Its fine for bathing now. Call me if you need anything." After speaking, he left the room, leaving Xiangxiang baffled. Surely she couldnt call him while she was bathing, could she? Chapter 573 - 575: Let’s go back and pack. We’re not staying here anymore.

Chapter 573: Chapter 575: Lets go back and pack. Were not staying here anymore.

Wang Xiangxiang returned to her room and, mimicking his actions, used her hand to test the bathwater. When had he begun taking such meticulous care of her, even ensuring the temperature of her bath water was just right? The corners of her mouth lifted gently. This feeling of being cherished was truly wonderful. She slowly removed her clothes, revealing her immacte, fair skin. She tiptoed into the bathtub. Thinking about everything that had happened today felt like a dream, one that she didnt want to wake from. She knew it was her own desire to cling to these feelings. She wanted to treasure these few days with him, so she closed her eyes and slowly washed herself. However, unknowingly, her eyelids became heavier and she drifted off to sleep. Just then, a knife was inserted into the door crack and gently flicked upward. The bolt locked inside the door easily slid open. A few men walked into the room and saw Wang Xiangxiang in the bathtub. "Boss, this girl is pretty good-looking, very alluring. Weve really hit the jackpot this time," one of them remarked. "Keep your voice down, dont wake her up," another whispered urgently. "No need, Boss, we used sedative incense on her. She wont wake up that easily," someone reassured. "Go check her luggage for any Silver and get her clothedter. Were taking her to Yixiang Courtyard tonight," the Boss ordered. The men were none other than the same few who had bumped into Wang Xiangxiang earlier. They were roaming human traffickers who, after spotting her beauty from the collision, nned to sell her to the brothel for a hefty profit. At that moment, Chu Lian was resting with his eyes closed in the adjacent room. With only a wall separating him from Wang Xiangxiang, he faintly heard mens voices andughter from the next room. This struck him as odd and worrisome. He left his room and knocked on Wang Xiangxiangs door. "Have you finished bathing?" The traffickers inside heard the knocking and one of them hissed, "Boss, someonesing. What should we do?" "You two, go guard the door. Grab him as well," the trafficker Boss clearly underestimated Chu Lian. Following the Bosss directive, two men positioned themselves by the door, ready to act the moment someone entered. Feeling uneasy from theck of response, and knowing it was unlikely for Wang Xiangxiang to be silent after just going for a bath, Chu Lian gently pushed the door, finding the bolt unlocked to his surprise. As he entered, the two ambushing men seized him. A surge of fury erupted within Chu Lian, and with a yank, he flung one of them outwards, thenunched a kick that sent the other flying. He held no regard for the others in the room; his focus was solely on reaching Wang Xiangxiangs bathtub. Seeing her arm draped over the tub with her head resting on it, she appeared sound asleep. Relieved to see her in this state, Chu Lian softened inside. At least she was unaware. How could she go on living if she knew she had been exposed once more? The few men inside possessed only rudimentary fighting skills, and upon witnessing Chu Lian dispatch theirpanions with ease, they hastily fled. Chu Lian wanted to give chase, but he couldnt leave Xiangxiang unprotected. So he shouted, "Acheng!" Acheng burst out of the room like a shot and pursued once he saw the situation. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming heard themotion and ran out as well. Seeing Yang Mings approach, Chu Lian barked, "Donte here!" How could he let Yang Ming enter when Xiangxiang was naked? Startled by Chu Lians shout, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming halted at the door. Chu Lian continued, "Go back and pack up, were not staying here anymore." Chapter 574 - 576: Wake Her Up First

Chapter 574: Chapter 576: Wake Her Up First

Chu Lian apparently nned to leave overnight, but where would they go? "Chu Gongzi, if my husband cant go in, it should be okay if I go in," Xiaoxiao thought it would be best to at least see what was going on inside. "Thene in." Xiaoxiao gave Yang Ming a reassuring look, "Husband, wait here for now, Ill go in and have a look." "Okay." When Xiaoxiao entered, she saw Chu Lian lifting Wang Xiangxiang out of the bathtub and was stunned. What on earth was going on? "Chu Gongzi, what happened to my sister?" Chu Lian spoke with a heart full of pain, "Shes been drugged with Sleeping Powder." Xiaoxiao was extremely shocked. They had just arrived and trouble had already found them. She quickly helped Chu Lian to dry Wang Xiangxiang off and get her dressed. "Chu Gongzi, if were not staying here, where are we going? Im afraid we wont be able to find any lodging now." "Well go to my house in Lin County." "..." Okay then, youre rich, do as you please. After they had helped Wang Xiangxiang into her clothes, Chu Lian carefully ced her in the bed. At that moment, Acheng returned, calling from outside, "Young master." "Younger sister-inw, look after her. I have to step out," Chu Lian instructed Xiaoxiao before leaving. Once outside, Acheng immediately started apologizing, "Young master, Ive failed. Those people have escaped." Upon hearing this, Chu Lians expression grew very grave, "Acheng." "Young master, I understand." Acheng went out immediately. The young mastersmand was clear: quickly search for them and dont let them get away with it. After Acheng departed, Chu Lian returned inside with Yang Ming, who was now also aware of what had just transpired. Once inside, Chu Lians eyes were fixed on Wang Xiangxiang as he instructed Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming, "Dont let her know about this incident." "Chu Brother, if she doesnt wake up and we leave, how will you exin it when she does?" "..." He didnt know how to exin how she ended up out of the bathtub and dressed. "Chu Brother, shouldnt we find a doctor to wake her up first?" Yang Ming suggested. "Yes, get a doctor," Chu Lian said urgently. He had somehow forgotten about that. What if she developedplications from the drug? As he was hurrying out, Yang Ming stopped him, "Chu Brother, dont panic. You stay here with her, Ill go." Yang Ming went out to find Xiaoer and together they looked for a doctor. The doctor, upon hearing it was due to Sleeping Powder, handed Yang Ming a bottle of medicine, exining that opening the bottle and letting the unconscious patient smell it would wake her up. Yang Ming returned with the medicine, tried it on Wang Xiangxiang, and sure enough, her forehead twitched, and then she opened her eyes. Upon seeing the people in the room, Wang Xiangxiang looked perplexed, but Xiaoxiao was quick-witted. She immediately said, "Sister, your body probably hasnt fully recovered fromst time; you even fell asleep in the bath. I dragged you out of the bathtub, and it was exhausting. I was thinking we might as well let you sleep, and we would just go and eat by ourselves, but then you woke up just as we were about to leave. Lets go have a meal, Im starving." With Xiaoxiaos words, Wang Xiangxiang felt somewhat embarrassed. She quickly got up, only to feel a buzzing in her head. Perhaps her body really hadnt fully recovered. She started to believe what Xiaoxiao had said. Fearing that Wang Xiangxiang wouldnt believe her, Xiaoxiao continued, "Seeing that I hadnt yet called you out for a meal, they became worried and came over. So, I let them in." "Okay then, lets go eat." As Wang Xiangxiang spoke, she got up. Seeing that she believed him, Chu Lian was also relieved. He couldnt allow her to suffer any more shocks from this incident. Chapter 575 - 577: Eat Quickly, It’s All Yours

Chapter 575: Chapter 577: Eat Quickly, Its All Yours

Since Xiaoxiao suggested they continue eating, Chu Lian also decided to go along with it only this way, Xiangxiang wouldnt notice anything amiss. When they went to have the meal, Wang Xiangxiang noticed Acheng was missing and asked, "Wheres Acheng?" Wang Xiangxiang was indeed a good master; she never beat or looked down on her servants and always ate with them at the same table when they were out. "I just let him eat first. He still has to feed the horses and has a lot of work, so I didnt make him wait," Chu Lian casually fabricated an excuse. Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang just kept quiet and focused on eating her meal. As she ate quietly, she noticed that Chu Lian had added a heap of food to her bowl. She widened her eyes, puzzled. Fearing she wouldnt eat, Chu Lians tone became somewhat mischievous, "Taking a bath made you fall asleep; you must be really weak; you need a good nourishment." Wang Xiangxiang replied through gritted teeth, "Thank you for your kindness; I really do need some nourishment." Then she lowered her head and ate the food Chu Lian had served her. Though she looked upset on the outside, deep down, she was very pleased because Chu Lian had served her food again. On the side, Xiaoxiao, seeing the interaction between those two, got somewhat distracted. She always found their rtionship quite interesting. At that moment, Yang Ming served food into Xiaoxiaos bowl and nonchntly said, "Honey, you need some nourishment too." "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless. Cant you phrase it differently? Others nourish because they are ill; why does she need nourishment? This could easily be misconstrued. Her face broke into a mischievous smile; she picked up some food and ced it in Yang Mings bowl, saying suggestively, "Honey, youre the one who really needs nourishment. Here, eat up." Only then did Yang Ming catch his wifes implication that his capabilities werecking and that he needed to boost them. He served himself another bite and ced it in his wifes bowl, "Im quite fine; no need for that. Its your petite frame that needs nourishing." Subsequently, the couple started serving food to each other back and forth,pletely forgetting Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang at the table. Their conversation, which had started somewhat cryptically, became increasingly explicit. Listening to them, Wang Xiangxiangs face turned red, and Chu Lians expression grew stern there were other people at the table! Whats worse, their yful serving had almost cleared the dishes. What was his Xiangxiang supposed to eat? Unable to bear it any longer, he spoke out, "Enough, you two. Youve taken all the food. What are Xiangxiang and I supposed to eat?" Chu Lians words instantly made Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao realize, and they immediately stopped what they were doing and shut up. They nced at each other, then bowed their heads and began eating, giggling foolishly. Finding the couples antics helpless, Chu Lian called over Xiaoer and ordered a few more dishes. After the dishes were served, Chu Lian ced them in front of Xiangxiang and warned Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao, "This food is for Xiangxiang and me; you two keep off." Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao nced at it; if they were told not to eat, they wouldnt, especially since they were already full. Wang Xiangxiang was somewhat stunned by Chu Lians reaction because she heard him naturally call her by her name, which made her heart race again. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang not moving her chopsticks, Chu Lian served her food while saying, "Dont just stare; eat up, its all yours." The doting words made Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming almost choke. Xiaoxiao, still in a yful mood, mimicked Chu Lians tone and told Yang Ming, "Honey, eat up; its all yours." "..." Wang Xiangxiang knew exactly what Xiaoxiao meant, and her face stayed hot throughout the meal. Chapter 576 - 578 Where are we going in a while?

Chapter 576: Chapter 578 Where are we going in a while?

While everyone was eating, Acheng had finished making arrangements and returned. Wang Xiangxiang saw him and waved, "Acheng,e and have some more to eat." As Acheng approached, before he could respond, he heard the coughing sounds of Chu Lian, "Ahem! Ahem!" Acheng looked towards his young master, immediately understood, and said, "Thank you, miss, no need, Acheng has already eaten." Chu Lian was satisfied with Achengs response, and said to him, "You go and prepare the carriage, well leave as soon as we finish eating." "Alright." Acheng agreed and then went outside to harness the carriage. He felt a bit ufortable inside as his young master was now offering his food to this Miss Wang. After Acheng left, Wang Xiangxiang asked in confusion, "Where are we goingter?" "To my estate here." Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened, and she turned to Xiaoxiao, hoping Xiaoxiao could exin what was happening. Why were they suddenly going to his family estate? Xiaoxiao, being resourceful, concocted a lie on the spot, "Sister, I dont think this inn is good. Its notfortable to stay in. Since Young Master Chu mentioned that his family has an estate here, lets just go." Wang Xiangxiangs expression turned somewhat sour; her mood was a bit downcast. So it was Xiaoxiao who disliked the ce, and Chu Lian wanted to make her stay morefortable. Xiaoxiao had no idea that Chu Lian used to like her, thinking her excuse was a good one, she continued, "Besides, if we have a free ce to stay, who would want to spend silver? Moreover, we might not even stay many days, so lets save where we can." "Alright, then lets go." Wang Xiangxiang said with a bitter smile. She knew she had no right to be jealous. Chu Lian knew about Wang Xiangxiangs appetite, and seeing that she indeed had eaten quite a bit today, he also felt relieved. So everyone went back to their rooms to gather their belongings and then boarded the carriage to Chu Lians estate. They arrived at the Chu Mansion before long. The estate was not big, just a temporary residence, but the interior was tastefully decorated, and several servants were managing the courtyard. On seeing their young master, the servants hurriedly helped with the arrangements and heated the chambers and water for washing up. Since it waste, everyone washed up and went back to their rooms to rest. Yang Ming and Xiaoxiaoy down, and just when they were about to be affectionate, they heard a knock on the door. "Who is it?" Yang Ming asked. Chu Lian felt somewhat embarrassed,ing to disturb them sote, he said in a low voice, "Its me." As soon as they heard it was Chu Lian, Yang Ming quickly got up and opened the door, "Big Brother Chu, whats the matter?" Chu Lian found it hard to speak up, but he couldnt help but ask, "Yang Ming, Im worried she might get scared by herself. Could you let your wife stay with her for a few nights?" After Chu Liany down, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Even though it was his own house, the thought of her being alone in the room where she could encounter a bad person made him worried. After much deliberation, he decided to seek help from Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao. Yang Ming was at a loss for words. This meant his wife would sleep with Wang Xiangxiang instead of him; he felt a bit reluctant but then heard his wifes voice, "Young Master Chu, dont worry, Ill stay with her for the next few days." Hearing Xiaoxiao agree, Chu Lians eyes brightened, "Thank you, then Ill be leaving first." "Alright, Ill get ready and go over in a bit." After Chu Lian left, Yang Ming closed the door and hugged his wife with a pitiable expression, "Wife." "Alright now, were at someone elses ce, as if we could do much anyway." "..." Chapter 577 - 579: You Don’t Recognize Him, He’s Already Gone

Chapter 577: Chapter 579: You Dont Recognize Him, Hes Already Gone

"Alright, he admitted he couldnt do anything, but he just didnt want to part with his wife, Let me hold you a bit longer. The two embraced for a while before Xiaoxiao said, Alright, Ill make it up to you when we get home." "How will you make it up?" Yang Mings eyes curved into crescents. "You know exactly how." Xiaoxiao wriggled out of Yang Mings embrace, got dressed, and headed for the door, "Im leaving, you should go to bed early." In Wang Xiangxiangs room At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang indeed hadnt fallen asleep because she was too preupied with thoughts of Chu Lian to sleep. Suddenly, she heard Xiaoxiaos voice outside, "Sis, please open the door." Wang Xiangxiang thought something had happened, so she hurriedly got down, lit a candle, and went to open the door for her, "Xiaoxiao, what happened?" As Xiaoxiao walked in, she said in a teasing tone, "Nothing happened. Its just that Master Chu from your house, afraid you might be scared alone, sent me to keep youpany." Wang Xiangxiang bolted the door and hearing Xiaoxiao tease her, immediately denied, "What Master Chu of my house? I have nothing to do with him at all, dont talk nonsense." "..." Both of them were like that, yet she ims they have no rtionshipwho would believe that? At least they have a physical rtionship. Xiaoxiao looked at Wang Xiangxiang with disbelief and retorted, "Really, no rtionship at all?" "Really, none at all." Wang Xiangxiang firmly replied, feeling bitter inside. She must have been used. Chu Lian must have been unable to stand seeing Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao being affectionate in front of him, which is why he dispatched Xiaoxiao here. "Fine, fine, if you say theres none, then theres none." Xiaoxiao found some nkets, spread them out, and crawled into bed. Seeing her crawl into bed like that, Wang Xiangxiang blew out the candle and crawled into bed herself, thinking that the two of them would just go to sleep. But Xiaoxiao began to talk again unexpectedly. "Sis, are you asleep?" "No, whats up?" Xiaoxiao turned to face Wang Xiangxiang, "Sis, during truth or dare you mentioned someone you liked, who is he, do I know him?" The question made Wang Xiangxiangs heart skip a beat; thankfully, it was pitch-ck in the room, or her difort might have been noticed. Not wanting to reveal the truth, she lied, "You dont know him, hes gone now." Hearing Wang Xiangxiangs tone, it seemed like that person really was gone. It wouldnt be polite to inquire further about someone who had died, so Xiaoxiao didnt press on. "Sis, I really think that Chu Lian is pretty good. Since the person you liked is gone, why dont you consider him?" Wang Xiangxiang didnt respond, just listening to Xiaoxiao babble on by herself. "Moreover, he likes you quite a bit." "Look at how he has taken care of you during this journey." "Hes so attentive, even knew you needed to take a bath, offered to pick food for you at meals, oh, and he even helped wipe your face during the day." Actually, he also helped drive away the bad guy for you. "..." "..." Hearing Xiaoxiaos words, Wang Xiangxiang didnt want to listen anymore, she turned away, "Xiaoxiao, Im sleepy, stop talking, and I dont like him, dont bring it up again." Seeing Wang Xiangxiang like this, Xiaoxiao really worried for Chu Lian. It seemed like it would be tough for him to pursue her. She didnt bring it up again and turned over to fall asleep. But Wang Xiangxiang couldnt fall asleep at all; thinking about everything that had happened between them on this trip, his gentle demeanor towards her, and Xiaoxiaos wordsdid he really like her? Chapter 578 - 580: If You’re Tired, I’ll Carry You

Chapter 578: Chapter 580: If Youre Tired, Ill Carry You

Xiaoxiao had a sound sleep that night,pletely exhausted from sitting in the car all day long, but Wang Xiangxiang hardly rested at all. The next morning, she was visibly out of it with huge panda eyes. Her condition was immediately noticed by Xiaoxiao. During breakfast, while eating, Xiaoxiao asked, "Sis, did you sleep poorlyst night?" Hearing this, Chu Lian was very nervous. He had noticed as soon as he saw her in the morning that she seemed unrested, and he looked at Wang Xiangxiang with a face full of worry. "Im not quite used to the new ce yet, but Ill be better tonight," Wang Xiangxiang said somewhat awkwardly, quickly finding an excuse. She couldnt exactly say it was because she had been thinking of Chu Lian. Chu Lian quickly said with a considerate tone, "Tonight, welle back early to rest." Wang Xiangxiang understood his implication, feeling a bit embarrassed, and lowered her head to focus on her breakfast. The group quickly finished breakfast and set out. They nned to visit the Marriage Fate Temple first on the first day. The Marriage Fate Temple in Lin County was quite famous, reputed to be particrly efficacious in praying for marriage connections, attracting people from many ces. Although Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming no longer needed to pray for a good match, Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang definitely did. Still, Xiaoxiao decided to go. She yed the role of matchmaker after all, naturally considering what was best for both of them. The Marriage Fate Temple was located on a mountain. Their carriage soon reached the foothills, but they couldnt ascend further by carriage and needed to walk. Xiaoxiao looked up at the mountain, her face falling instantly as she eximed, "Oh heavens, why is it so far?" Xiaoxiao wasnt fond of walking. The thought of such a long distance gave her a headache. This was hardly enjoying the tripit was pure suffering. "Honey, its okay. If you get tiredter, Ill carry you up," Xiaoxiao cast a nce at Yang Ming. The idea of him carrying her in broad daylight made her feel awkward. Since that was the case, she decided to fully embrace the travel vibe. She took a deep breath of the fresh mountain air, raised her hands high, and cheered energetically, "Lets head to the Marriage Fate Temple." Having said that, she moved forward. This move made Yang Ming bothugh and cry. His wife was so good at lifting her own spiritsining one moment and exhrated the next. He hurried after her, cautioning, "Honey, slow down." Seeing Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao move ahead left Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian behind, sharing an awkward smile before they too followed in their footsteps. The way those two interacted truly made them envious; they were certainly not spared from this couples disys of affection during the trip. Chu Lian felt that Yang Ming was no longer the same Yang Ming from before; he had changed after meeting Xiaoxiao. Following behind, Chu Lian couldnt help but say, "Its okay. If you get tired, I can carry you too." These words made Wang Xiangxiangs heart race again. She really wanted to ask him what he meant by these ambiguous and caring words over and over again? But she couldnt bring herself to ask. Even if she did, it wouldnt resolve anything. Rolling her eyes, she quickened her pace. Chu Lian clearly felt that Xiangxiang was shy. He thought this trip was truly a great decision. He pressed his lips together in a small smile and followed her. Gazing at the Marriage Fate Temple, his eyes were filled with anticipation. He definitely nned to make a sincere wish for Xiangxiang to ept him. Chapter 579 - 581: What on Earth is Today?

Chapter 579: Chapter 581: What on Earth is Today?

The four people walking ahead could certainly be described as traveling light, while poor Acheng behind them was really sufferinghe was the one carrying the load after all. All the necessities for the group, food and drink, were on Achengs shoulders. Luckily, he was someone ustomed to constant physical training; otherwise, such work could surely exhaust a person terribly. They hadnt gone far when they noticed that the narrow path was crowded with pnquins being carried up the mountain at a pace far faster than their own hiking speed. Watching those pnquins float away into the distance, Xiaoxiaos frown deepened. What on earth were they doing exhausting themselves like this for? How had she forgotten that there was such a thing as a pnquin for transportation in this ce? She stopped walking, really wanting toin. She sighed and pouted, "Honey, why didnt you tell me that there were pnquins avable?" "..." Everyone was stunned by her question, having forgotten about this entirely. Yang Ming was someone who was used to walking, while Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian were ustomed to traveling by horse-drawn carriage. "Lets all rest right here." Faced with the reactions of the three, Xiaoxiao was speechless. It was one thing for Yang Ming, but even the other two hadnt thought of itshe might have encountered two fake rich second generations. As soon as Xiaoxiao finished speaking, she sat down right there. She absolutely needed to rest, and she saw that Wang Xiangxiang was almost at her limit. At the start of the climb, she had been thinking: all focused on ying matchmaker, but had forgotten Wang Xiangxiangs health issues. She had just attempted suicide, and not even ten days had passed since then. Even if Wang Xiangxiang seemed to be in good health at the moment, she must have been greatly weakened, and was not suited for such exhausting activities. As expected, when she turned around, she saw Wang Xiangxiang was already breathless, so she suggested that everyone rest on the spot. Chu Lian had also noticed by then and was filled with self-reproach. He shouldnt have brought her to a ce like this, too preupied with the hope of seeking a blessing for marriagehe should have considered her health. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang sitting there panting heavily, Chu Lian quickly called Acheng over and handed her the water bottle, "Drink some water." Wang Xiangxiang took the water bottle and gulped down a couple of mouthfuls. She felt a bit of guilt; they hadnt walked far before having to rest, all for her sake. If this kept up, she had no idea how long it would take them to reach the Marriage Fate Temple. Looking up towards the mountain peak, then back at Wang Xiangxiang, Chu Lian said with evident distress, "Why dont we go back then, and not visit the Marriage Fate Temple?" "No way." Wang Xiangxiang blurted out without thinking. She desperately wanted to visit; the temple was said to be quite efficacious, and she wanted to pray for her own fortune in marriage. Realizing her reaction might have seemed a bit intense, she quickly exined, "Since wevee this far, lets just go, or else well have walked all this way for nothing." "But you..." Chu Lian was worried. "Im fine, I can still walk." Wang Xiangxiang pretended to bepletely recovered, not wanting to hold the rest back. "Youre fine, but Im tired. Well continue to rest and set off againter." Seeing Wang Xiangxiang putting on a brave face, Xiaoxiao said this to help her out, and they all continued to take a break. During the rest, they saw many more pnquins being carried up the mountain. Xiaoxiao was quite puzzled, "Is the Matchmaking Temple really that popr?" "Probably everyone is looking for a good marriage match." While she could understand the desire for a good marriage match, the influx of so many people flocking to the mountain was beyond herprehension, "What on earth is the asion today?" "..." Chapter 580 - 582: Men and Women Should Not Touch Hands When Giving or Receiving Things

Chapter 580: Chapter 582: Men and Women Should Not Touch Hands When Giving or Receiving Things

Everyone was stumped by Xiaoxiaos question. What exactly was the significance of today? It seemed like an ordinary day. "Look, with so many people heading up the mountain, there must be something fishy going on," Xiaoxiao said, pinching her chin thoughtfully. She concluded that even if it were for seeking marriage prospects, typically more hikers like them would be going up the mountain, but today the number of sedan chairs outnumbered hikers, indicating that many wealthy youngdies were in a hurry to get up the mountain. Why were they all rushing up the mountain? "Regardless of the trickery at y, well find out once we get there," Yang Ming said, seeing his wife start to specte wildly again, and quickly cut in. After resting a little while longer, they resumed their journey. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang strain herself with such stubborn determination, he felt a pang of heartache. He truly wanted to take care of her. Thus, he took hold of her arm and said gently, "Let me carry you." Wang Xiangxiang shrugged off Chu Lians hand that had gripped her, "I dont need you to carry me, I can walk." She continued to walk forward with difficulty, a bitter smile appearing at the corner of her mouth. What was their rtionship? How could she possibly let him carry her? Even if there were a rtionship, it would be out of the question, especially in public. Seeing her so stubborn, Chu Lian grew impatient. He stepped forward again, grabbing her, and dered assertively and without allowing refusal, "Enough talk, Im carrying you." Wang Xiangxiang felt both furious and embarrassed by Chu Lians actions. When was he going to stop treating her like this? She yelled again, "Men and women should not touch each other, stop touching me." If he touched her again, her heart felt like it would leap out, and if he continued to be kind to her, she feared she might not be able to resist confessing her feelings. That would be awkward for both of them. Chu Lian, who got yelled at, looked extremely upset. His grip on her arm loosened suddenly. She was absolutely right; he shouldnt have touched her. She must have disliked him all along, perhaps tolerating his overbearing behavior all this way. The phrase "Men and women should not touch each other, stop touching me" deeply wounded Chu Lians heart. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming heard themotion behind them and knew those two were at odds again. Turning back, Xiaoxiao, seeing Wang Xiangxiangs condition, felt a sense of guilt. She had wanted the two to spend more time together on the road, but now it seemed better not to. She stepped forward, linked arms with Wang Xiangxiang, and they proceeded. She hoped that by supporting Wang Xiangxiang, she could lighten her burden. "Sister, if you cant hold up, lets rest. We have plenty of time; it will be the same if we reach the top in the afternoon." "Im fine, we just had a rest. Lets go a bit further," insisted Wang Xiangxiang. Xiaoxiao had no choice but toply, supporting her as they walked on. Seeing his wife helping Wang Xiangxiang, Yang Ming also moved to walk beside Chu Lian, indicating with a nce that Chu Lian shouldnt worry, to take it slow. A bitter smile crossed Chu Lians face as he followed them with a heavy heart. Watching Xiangxiang taking difficult step after difficult step, his heart, aching with empathy, couldnt help but want to care for her, to cherish her. He thought, since he couldnt help her himself, he might as well think of another way. Chu Lian, who was hurrying along, brightened up when he saw those sedan chairs C maybe there was a solution. Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang were somewhat shocked by Chu Lians next move. He actually stopped a passing sedan chair. What was he nning to do? Chapter 581 - 583: Who is she to you?

Chapter 581: Chapter 583: Who is she to you?

The pnquin carriers, upon seeing their charge intercepted, adopted a highly alert stance, and shouted in an unfriendly tone, "What do you want?" Chu Lian replied politely, "Please dont misunderstand, I simply have a request for the person inside the carriage, hence I resorted to this discourteous interception." Hearing Chu Lians words, the pnquin carriers dared not act rashly and had to ask the person inside the carriage, "Miss." The person inside the carriage, upon hearing Chu Lians words, then said to the pnquin carrier, "First, set down the carriage." After the carriage was set down, its curtain was lifted, revealing a sweet-faced woman. She looked at Chu Lian appropriately and smiled slightly, "May I know what matters you require my assistance with, young master?" Chu Lian knew that the person inside such a carriage must be a woman, but for Xiangxiangs sake, he had to take this undue measure, "I need to ask for your help. One of ourpanions is frail and unable to continue walking; after you ascend the mountain, could you please send the carriage back down for us to use?" "Oh?" The woman nced at Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang, noticing that Wang Xiangxiang was indeed the frail woman Chu Lian mentioned. She asked with keen interest, "Who is she to you?" Chu Lian hadnt expected such a question; struggling internally about how to respond, thinking it best not to speak carelessly as Xiangxiang had been repudiating him. "She is the sworn sister of a friend of mine." The woman looked at Wang Xiangxiang again, seeing her face turn pale as the man in front of her spoke these words, she seemed to understand something. Her lips curved into a smile, "Please wait here, young master, I will send someone down the mountain shortly to fetch you." "Thank you, miss," Chu Lian bowed deeply with both hands, expressing his deep gratitude; thus, Xiangxiang wouldnt have to walk up. "No need for thanks, it was a simple gesture." She then leaned in close to Chu Lian and whispered so quietly that only he could hear, "It seems thedy was not pleased with your answer just now." After saying this, she stepped back, maintaining a distance from Chu Lian, and raised an eyebrow slightly, "The youngdy Wen Nuan, shall meet again." Wen Nuan then entered the carriage, leaving Chu Lian standing there bewildered; what did she mean by Xiangxiang not being satisfied with his response? Even after Wen Nuans carriage had departed, Chu Lian had yet to recover. Yang Ming was getting anxious for Chu Lian and reminded him, "Big Brother Chu." Only then did Chu Lian snap out of it and said to everyone, "Lets rest here; a carriage wille for us soon." He finished speaking and looked towards Wang Xiangxiang, expecting her to be pleased, but she seemed very downcast. Wang Xiangxiang couldnt feel happy at that moment; her beloved had called her just the sworn sister of his friend, not even a friend himself, even though Xiaoxiao had said that Chu Lian liked her. It seemed that all were their misinterpretation. Chu Lian looked again at Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao, whose expressions were also not great; what on earth was going on? Xiaoxiao was truly worried for Chu Lian; his intellect failed him when he needed it the most,pletely off the mark. Stopping a strangers pnquin and interacting with that woman, what are you doing? Do you still want to pursue Wang Xiangxiang? Though they had solved the problem of ascending the mountain, it was a poor showing. The group sat down by the roadside, waiting for the pnquin toe fetch them, and true to the youngdys word, four pnquins did indeed arrive. They finally ascended to the mountaintop Marriage Fate Temple by pnquin. Meanwhile, Acheng,gging behind, was a mess of snot and tears as he alone continued to carry their belongings up the mountain. Chapter 582 - 584: I’ll Help You Get That Piece of Blood Jade

Chapter 582: Chapter 584: Ill Help You Get That Piece of Blood Jade

The four of them finally arrived at the Marriage Fate Temple atop the mountain. After alighting from their sedan chairs, they were astonished by the sea of people. It seemed that today the Marriage Fate Temple was hosting an unusuallyrge number of visitors, almost as if some major event was taking ce. It was onlyter that Xiaoxiao learned that, unlike other temples, the Marriage Fate Temple would asionally hold various events, and they had just happened to catch one today. Xiaoxiao was particrly excited as she pointed to the crowd, "Look, I told you there was something fishy going on! Lets hurry over and see what theyre up to." Having said that, she squeezed her way forward. Yang Ming, seeing his wife move off, quickly followed. With so many people around, losing one another would not be good. "Wife, slow down, dont get lost." Seeing the pair walk away, Chu Lian looked towards Wang Xiangxiang and anxiously instructed, "Stick close to me too, dont get separated." "Alright, lets catch up," Wang Xiangxiang didnt refuse, genuinely worried about the inconvenience if they got separated from Xiaoxiao and the others. The four finally pushed their way into the throng and saw people crowding around a makeshift stage. Xiaoxiao, dying of curiosity, wanted to find out what event was being held. The setup looked quite grand. She listened attentively to the conversations around her, looking for any gossip, but to her surprise, everyones lips were sealed tight as if by prior agreement, leaving no rumors to be overheard. Xiaoxiao and the others had no choice but to wait. A momentter, an elderly man of respectable appearance took to the stage and addressed the crowd, "Today, the Han Family will hold a womens talentpetition at this Marriage Fate Temple." A womens talentpetition? She hadnt expected such refinement in a ce so much less advanced than the modern world. The only question was, what would thepetition entail? As Xiaoxiao wondered, the old man continued, "The winner will receive this piece of Blood Jade that Im holding in my hand. I believe theres no need for me to borate on the true meaning of this Blood Jade." Upon seeing the Blood Jade in the old mans hand, Xiaoxiaos eyes gleamed with excitement. That must be a ruby, and about the size of an egg, she thought. She really wanted it. "Those who want to participate can go over there to line up and register. Thepetition will start shortly." After announcing this, the elder stepped down from the stage. The registration area was already packed with people; there were staff keeping order and taking notes. While they had thought they were only there to spectate, Xiaoxiao suddenly said, "Husband, I want that Blood Jade." "..." The others were speechless. Was it something one could just want and have? One would need topete and win, and besides, they werent here topete but to seek marital fate. "Wife, you would need topete ande out on top. Do you excel in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?" Xiaoxiao shook her head. How could she know the local music, chess, calligraphy, and painting? She was a person without any of those skills. But she really did want that Blood Jade. Seeing how much Xiaoxiao loved that piece of Blood Jade, Wang Xiangxiang felt somepassion. Xiaoxiao had helped her so much. If she liked it, Wang Xiangxiang wanted to help her get it. So she spoke up, "Xiaoxiao, I will help you im that Blood Jade." "Really? Sister, are you sure?" Although Xiaoxiao was delighted to hear Wang Xiangxiang say this, she was worried not knowing her true abilities. Wang Xiangxiang gave Xiaoxiao a reassuring look and, leaving behind the words "Just watch me," headed towards the registration area. Chu Lian watched her confident figure and smiled slightly. He absolutely believed in her, "Dont worry, your sister is a talented woman. That piece of Blood Jade is as good as yours." Having said this, he followed Wang Xiangxiang. Chapter 583 - 585: 888, Prosper, Prosper, Prosper

Chapter 583: Chapter 585: 888, Prosper, Prosper, Prosper

Hey hey hey, arent these two a bit overconfident? With so many people signing up, everyone seems so skilledit doesnt look easy to win the championship at all! "Honey!" "Dont worry, her painting skills are extraordinary." Yang Ming soothed, stroking his wifes head. "Thats true." Justst time, under such circumstances, Wang Xiangxiang managed to paint those gangsters facesit really showed her skill. Not long after, Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian came back, with Wang Xiangxiang handing a card for Xiaoxiao to see. "Whats this?" Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled. "Its a number card, I drew number eight," Wang Xiangxiang exined. Xiaoxiao pped her hands in delight, "Sis, this is a good sign!" "..." "You see, eight eight eight, lucky lucky lucky, this means we are going to make a fortune. That Blood Jade can definitely sell for a lot." Xiaoxiao said excitedly as if she was looking at a pile of shiny silver right in front of her. "..." Everyone was speechless. Wasnt the contest about passion? Why did they suddenly decide to sell it? At that moment, a girl who had helped them on the road, Wen Nuan, approached them and politely addressed Chu Lian, "We meet again." "Thank you, miss, for your help." Wen Nuan smiled and turned to ask Wang Xiangxiang, "Are you also participating in thepetition?" "Yes." Wang Xiangxiang nodded, her face slightly unnatural because she remembered how she had intentionally gotten close to Chu Lian on the road and whispered something to him. She felt like this woman was probably going to make a move on Chu Lian, which she didnt like. "Then, please be gentle on me in thepetition. Im number eighteen. See youter!" Wen Nuan said before walking away. Wang Xiangxiang stood there, determined to outperform that woman; she couldnt afford to lose face in front of Chu Lian. Shortly after, someone brought up a scroll and said, "The first round of the calligraphy contest is simple. Everyone just needs to write the content on this painting and mark it with their number. We will have someone judge it." Xiaoxiao thought this was fair. Having the numbers meant nobody knew who was whom, not even the judges. "Sis, well be cheering for you down here." Xiaoxiao said, clenching her small fists and raising them as she yelled, "Go, go!" "..." Wang Xiangxiang smiled, seemingly understanding the encouragement from Xiaoxiao, "Ill do my best." Having said that, she went up on the stage. The atmosphere fell silent for a moment as everyone watched the woman taking up the brush and diligently writing. Wang Xiangxiang was confident in her calligraphy. She had thought she would be the first to finish. After she finished writing, she looked up confidently, only to discover that Wen Nuan had finished before her and was even smiling at her. It made her feel ufortable, but she generously returned a smile. Just then, with a ng, the gong for the end of the contest sounded, and Wang Xiangxiang stepped down from the stage. Several people anxiously awaited the results of this roundit wasnt long before someone went up to announce them, "The winner of the first round of the calligraphy contest is... " Xiaoxiao kept muttering inside, "Number eight, number eight." "Number eighteen." Hearing the result, Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widenedin disbelief, she had lost to Wen Nuan. Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs dismay, Chu Lian spoke up tofort her, "Its okay, there are other contests." Chapter 584 - 586: Young Master, I Saw Miss Wang

Chapter 584: Chapter 586: Young Master, I Saw Miss Wang

The oue was something Wang Xiangxiang hadnt expected; she never thought she would lose in the first round. Just now, she had boasted confidently that she could win the Blood Jade, but now it looked like it wasnt going to be easy. For the uingpetitions, she had to give it her all. "Sister, dont lose heart; we still have a chance," Xiaoxiao continued to cheer on Wang Xiangxiang. "Okay." Before long, a small fish tank was carried onto the stage, filled with fish that were happily darting around. "We will now proceed with the secondpetition, which is about painting skills. Everyone will take a moment to nce at the fish in this tank and then create a painting based on them. You have the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. Please, hurry up to the stage." Wang Xiangxiang took a deep breath. She had to push hard this time; another defeat would mean the end of thepetition for her. Seeing her like this, Chu Lian was afraid she might be nervous, so he said, "Dont worry, you can do it,e on." He even copied Xiaoxiao and said the words e on." "Okay." Wang Xiangxiang cheered herself on. She had to make aeback in this round and couldnt afford to lose face in front of Chu Lian. After going on stage, she saw Wen Nuan again. They exchanged smiles, but sparks of rivalry flickered in their eyesneither wanted to lose to the other. Painting was Wang Xiangxiangs confidence area, but she had met her match in Wen Nuan, who was no easy opponent. All the contestants took a nce at the fish in the tank after being lifted onto the stage and then began to paint earnestly. This time, Wang Xiangxiang was extremely focused. She thought about how to bring the fish in the tank to life in her painting. While the people around her had started painting, she still hadnt made a stroke. She kept her eyes closed, recalling the moment the fish in the tank had leapt. Downstairs, Xiaoxiao and the others were anxious upon seeing that Wang Xiangxiang hadnt started painting yet. The others were probably nearly finished. When Wen Nuan almostpleted her painting and looked up to see Wang Xiangxiang hadnt begun, her mouth curved in a smile, thinking shed won again. But suddenly, Wang Xiangxiang opened her eyes, and her hand moved with remarkable speed. The way she wielded the brush and her concentrated spirit made it seem as though she was in a world of her own,pletely immersed in her painting and unable to extricate herself. Her captivating performance left Chu Lian in awe. The corners of his mouth curled up subtlyhe knew she would win because her talent was extraordinary. In a room at Marriage Fate Temple The waiting person asked unhurriedly, "Ada, hows thepetition going outside?" "Young master, I saw Miss Wang. Shes on stage; shespeting too," Ada said anxiously. "What?" Han Yongsheng couldnt believe it. They had arrived at Lin County so soon. He stood up, "Lets go and have a look." Han Yongsheng quickened his pace, and when he arrived, he saw Wang Xiangxiang on stage with her eyes closed. He witnessed her entire painting process in thepetition. Her performance left Han Yongsheng amazed as well. Her confident demeanor and her painting posture told him she was quite different. Thest time he had seen her rough sketches, he was somewhat in disbelief, but this time he saw with his own eyes. He wanted to keep watching thispetition, to see how much more talent she had. Although Wang Xiangxiang was thest to start painting, she was the first to finish. Lifting her head, she gave a slight smile to the audience below. That smile was simply captivating. With a loud gong, the announcement came, "The time for an incense stick has passed, the second round of thepetition is now finished." Chapter 585 - 587: I Actually Hope She Can Win

Chapter 585: Chapter 587: I Actually Hope She Can Win

Wang Xiangxiang stepped down from the stage, and Xiaoxiao was incredibly excited. Her performance was so cool and amazing, it was simply beyondparison. "Sis, youve definitely won this time." Xiaoxiao even gave a thumbs up, admiring groundlessly. She was just too awesome; anyway, Xiaoxiao couldnt do it, she was pretty bad at it. Although Wang Xiangxiang was very satisfied with her performance, her heart was still fluttering with unease. After all, theres always someone better out there, and she knew she couldnt take her opponents lightly, especially since Wen Nuan was not an easy one to deal with. A few of them were also very anxious, waiting for the results of the second round. It wasnt long before the host of thepetition stepped onto the stage, holding a painting in his hand, which must be the victorious one, "Sis, itsing, itsing." Feeling Xiaoxiaos grip on her hand getting tighter, Wang Xiangxiang actuallyforted her, "Mm, dont be nervous." The person on stage then said, "The winner of the second round is... number eight." Hearing number eight, Xiaoxiao got so excited, continuing to hold Wang Xiangxiangs hand, "Sis, number eight, number eight, thats you." "Yes, we won." Wang Xiangxiang felt like she wasnt the onepeting; it was as if Xiaoxiao was in thepetition, which made her even more excited than her. Chu Lian and Yang Ming were also very happy to hear that Wang Xiangxiang won; the lively atmosphere made it obvious that they were number eight. Wen Nuan was a bit stunned by the result. She had actually lost in painting, and looking over at Wang Xiangxiangs side, their excitement made her realize that she was indeed number eight. She was a bit unwilling to ept it, but seeing the host show her painting, she admitted her defeat willingly. The painting depicted a leaping fish, its form as it left the water surface. Indeed, the painting was lifelike, much better than the one she did of a fish swimming underwater. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly in a smile, knowing that a tough battley ahead. That one painting garnered the admiration of everyone present; no one had expected her to produce such a fine work in such a short time. Han Yongsheng looked over at Wang Xiangxiang and her groups location; seeing their excited demeanor, he knew without a doubt that they had won. His mood was exceptionally good. "Young master, do you think Miss Wang will win the uing match?" "I do hope she wins," Han Yongsheng replied with a curved lip. "..." Ada was a bit worried. Was the young master serious? Did he understand what it would mean if she won? After disying the painting, the host announced, "Thepetition this morning has concluded. The remaining two matches will take ce this afternoon. Everyone is now free to move about and rest." Upon hearing that they could move about and rest, everyone dispersed. During the lunch period, everyone went to eat their meals separately, recharging for the uingpetition. As long as one wins the uing match, they can enter the final round, so it didnt matter if Wang Xiangxiang lost the following match because winning this one had already secured her ce in the finals. "Sis, lets eat first, then do well in thepetition this afternoon." Since she had won one match, Wang Xiangxiang also rxed a bit, knowing at least there was still a chance. "Wheres Acheng?" Acheng was carrying the food they brought; it should have arrived by now, and indeed, Acheng had arrived early and had been waiting for a while. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang looking around, he knew she was looking for him and hefted his burden to join them. The group quickly finished their lunch, and Xiaoxiao decided they should take this time to have a good look around the famous Marriage Fate Temple. Chapter 586 - 588: Making a Wish

Chapter 586: Chapter 588: Making a Wish

Not only did Xiaoxiao and her friends think this way, but other visitors to the Marriage Fate Temple thought the same, all hoping to take this opportunity to pray for romantic ties, as it was said that wishes made here were very effective. This led to a situation where the ce was overcrowded with people. Xiaoxiao and her friends first lined up to buy incense, and then queued to kneel and make wishes. After waiting for a while, it was finally their turn. After offering the incense, the four of them knelt down, bowed a few times, then put their hands together and began making their wishes. The wishes of the four individuals varied. Yang Ming wished never to be separated from his wife. Xiaoxiao wished to have a child with Yang Ming. Chu Lian wished that Wang Xiangxiang would fall in love with him and marry him. Wang Xiangxiang wished simply to adore Chu Lian in her heart. After sincerely kneeling and worshipping, they could go and draw marriage fate lots. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming naturally didnt do so, but Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang each drew one. "Sis, quick, show me, what does your slip say?" Xiaoxiao was even more concerned about the slip than Wang Xiangxiang and began reading it aloud, "Mountains exhausting, waters depleted, doubting theres a way, yet a vige appears amidst dark willows and bright flowers." "Sis, thats a good omen! Forget past worries. Look, this slip clearly talks about a turn for the better, a new opportunity iing." Having heard Xiaoxiao read out the slip, Wang Xiangxiang naturally knew it was a good omen. It seemed to reflect her situation pretty wellat a time of utter despair, a new opportunity arose, and she was rescued, finding a family to depend on. The uracy of the slip, at least pertaining to rtionship matters, was still uncertain. Xiaoxiao then turned to Chu Lian, "Quick, see what yours says." Chu Lian quickly put away his own slip, holding it to his chest awkwardly as he said, "It doesnt say much. Lets go outside and take a look around." Seeing how secretive he was, it probably wasnt a good omen. Actually, it wasnt a bad slip at allit was considered a good one. It read: "If you scale the wall of the neighbor and embrace the maiden, you will get a wife; if you do not embrace, you will not." It was telling him that he must be bold and express his feelings, or else he would not seed. The group then went outside, where they discovered a wishing tree, simr to modern-day wishing trees, where one could write on a slip of paper and throw it onto the tree. Xiaoxiao, having never done this in modern times, decided she would write down a wish this time. The group each wrote down what they wanted to say. Yang Ming: Wife, I love you. Xiaoxiao: I want to have kids with my husband. Chu Lian: I want to marry Xiangxiang. Xiangxiang: Chu Lian, I like you. Wang Xiangxiang thought that she might never be able to say that out loud in her life; she wanted to write it down, at least to let the tree witness her intentions. "Honey, throw it higher, otherwise, it wont work," Xiaoxiao instructed Yang Ming, having heard that the higher and higher ones wish hangs on the wishing tree, the more effective it is. Yang Ming threw with all his might, and finally, the slip hung on the tree, "Honey, thats great, it hung up." "Wife, what did you write?" "I wont tell you, it wont work if I say it out loud." Watching the couples interaction, Chu Lian also threw his slip with all his might, hoping even more that his wish woulde true. In fact, his wish was already half-realized, because what Wang Xiangxiang wrote was that she liked him. Wang Xiangxiang also made an effort to throw her slip upwards, but couldnt hang it on the tree. Chu Lian quickly took over, "Ill help you," and with a swift throw, he got it very high, hanging it on the tree, and Wang Xiangxiang smiled. Chapter 587 - 589: Go Game Duel

Chapter 587: Chapter 589: Go Game Duel

Soon, the time for the afternoonpetition arrived, and the third round turned out to be a Go game, which was no simple matter. Xiaoxiao found it much harder than chessit required a high IQ, meticulous thought, and a strong overall strategy, capabilities that someone as straightforward as hercked. "Sister, you even know how to y Go?" "A little bit," Wang Xiangxiang said modestly. Then she went up to prepare. This time, it was battles in pairs, with the loser stepping down and the winner staying on the stage to keeppeting until there was only one victor. It was not a single person against many, so she had time to think about her moves. However, she could not afford to be careless. Sure enough, as she won one game after another, Wen Nuan also kept winning. Eventually, only the two of them were left topete. Some began to talk below the stage, since from the first two rounds, it was clear that these two were the victors, and now they were up against each otheran early showdown was happening. The two of them sat down, and Wen Nuan said with a smile, "I never thought Id be facing you so soon." "Neither did I." "I just cant understand why you wanted to enter thispetition." "Because I want that Blood Jade." "..." Wen Nuan found it a bit odd. Did she not understand the significance of thispetition? This was getting interesting. "I wont be holding back." "You better not," Wang Xiangxiang said, now fully treating Wen Nuan as a rival. She absolutely could not lose this match. Both highly concentrated, they started ying the game. Neither willing to concede, their closely matched skills turned the atmosphere intense, causing the audience to tense up as well. Xiaoxiao clutched at Yang Mings arm all the while, "What to do? That person seems very strong too." "Dont talk, dont disturb them on the stage," Chu Lian said,... stopping them, as he too was very nervous and afraid they might disrupt her thoughts. Indeed, it proved difficult to determine a winner; eventually, the organizers decided to give them one more period of burning incense. If they still couldnt decide the winner, it would be called a draw. The two of them remained deadlocked, and the third round ended in a draw. Having rxed a bit after thepetition ended, both had a high regard for each other, acknowledging that if the contest had continued, either could have easily lost. Wen Nuan very graciously said, "I didnt expect your skills to be so brilliant; well just have to wait for the next game to see who is superior." "The feelings mutual." After stepping off the stage, Xiaoxiao cheered, "Sister, you were incredible!" "Sorry I didnt win this round," Wang Xiangxiang said somewhat embarrassed. It seemed the Blood Jade was not so easily won. "Sister, a draw is already incredible given how formidable that person seemed," Xiaoxiao truly admired her, not having known aside from being a businesswoman Wang Xiangxiang was also a talent. If she had gone up, she would bepletely routed. "Ada, go tell them to let those two decide the victory in the next match," Han Yongsheng instructed. "..." Ada was somewhat helpless. Was the young master nning to choose directly between those two now, without considering anyone else? But the young mastersmand was not to be ignored, so he went to make arrangements. Before long, the host was back on stage. "Based on the first three matches, its decided that number eight and number eighteen will go directly into the final showdown. The next match will directly decide the winner, who will receive the Blood Jade." Chapter 588 - 590: Young Master, Who Do You Think Played Well?

Chapter 588: Chapter 590: Young Master, Who Do You Think yed Well?

Although everyone lost and had no chance to enter the final round, everyone still wanted to know who would end up with the Blood Jade, so no one left the scene, which remained impassable. Wang Xiangxiang stood on the stage, looking confident and beautiful at this moment. The Blood Jade was right before her eyes, and if she won this final round, she would be able to secure it for Xiaoxiao. This round only allowed for sess, not failure. She looked towards Wen Nuan, who was likewise looking at her, disying an easy grace that gave her a tranquil face. Yet, it was precisely this face where she could see a determined heart to win. Both smiled at each other, their eyes sparking with fire. "The fourth round will be a test of piano skills, and for fairness, we will still draw lots to decide who will perform first." After hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang and Wen Nuan stepped forward together, extending their hands to draw thebels determining the order of performance. "Sorry, Ill go first," Wen Nuan spoke up. Wang Xiangxiang smiled and said nothing, leaving the stage to Wen Nuan. "The fourth round is simple: both individuals will y a piece well-known to everyoneMusic Journey." Indeed, Music Journey was a piece familiar to everyone, a graduation piece for anyone who learned the piano. It might seem simple, yet it held deep significance and was extremely capable of revealing a persons foundational piano skills. The atmosphere at the venue was incredibly tense. Everyone was almost holding their breath while listening to Wen Nuan y Music Journey, but soon Wen Nuan entered a wonderful state, easing the tense atmosphere with this piece, transporting everyone to a joyful musical realm. Once the piece had ended, the venue was still silent, with everyone not yet rxed from that mood. Wang Xiangxiang couldnt help but admire this woman after hearing her y. She really was a true talent, and winning thispetition was by no means assured for her. At this moment, Xiaoxiao, beneath the stage, seemed even more nervous than Wang Xiangxiang. Her grip on Yang Mings arm grew tighter and tighter, causing him great pain. The situation was quite disadvantageous for Wang Xiangxiang at this point, as Wen Nuan had already captivated everyone present. Even Xiaoxiao, who knew nothing about music, felt her performance was wonderful. Whoever performed next would likely seem reactive, and even if it was well-yed, the audience might not feel the same as they had earlier. It was Wang Xiangxiangs turn now. She yed with her eyes still closed, immersing herself in the wonderful sensations the music brought her, her delicate hands producing one beautiful note after another. "Young Master, who do you think yed better?" Ada asked at his side. Han Yongsheng smiled slightly, "Miss Wang yed better." "Young Master, why cant I tell the difference?" Ada was a bit puzzled as he felt both performances were quite simr. Han Yongsheng did not exin, knowing that to match the mood of the previous performer, one must delve deeper into the heart and disy superior skills. What seemed like a simr performance was significantly more challenging for the following performer. After the piece had ended, Wang Xiangxiang opened her eyes, stood up, and bowed deeply to everyone. Regardless of the result, thepetition had ended, and she had done her best. Wang Xiangxiang and Wen Nuan stood on the stage, waiting for the result of thepetition. Backstage deliberated for a long time withouting to a decision. Finally, the host of the event came onto the stage and addressed the audience, "Both individuals yed exceptionally well, making it impossible to determine a clear winner, therefore this round can only end in a draw." Follow current novels on freewe(b)novel.c(o)m Chapter 589 - 591: Additional Test

Chapter 589: Chapter 591: Additional Test

As Han Yongsheng had predicted, judges who were not experts in the art of ying the zither could not discern that Wang Xiangxiang was superior, resulting in a tie. Hearing such a verdict, even the mostdylike youngdies in the audience started whispering among themselves. What would happen in the event of a tie? To whom would the Blood Jade belong? "What should we do?" Xiaoxiao also began to feel anxious. Yang Ming, however, remained calm. "Dont worry, they will definitely find another way to determine the winner." Chu Lian was far from calm at this moment; his palms were sweating profusely, as he was terribly worried about Xiangxiang. Indeed, the event host spoke again, "To determine the winner, weve decided to add an additional talent performance round. Each contestant will perform a talent of their choosing, and the winner will be decided by an audience vote." At this announcement, the buzz among the crowd grew even louder, signifying that everyone would be involved. They would soon cast their sacred vote to decide upon whom the Blood Jade would bestow its grace. "Everyone, please quiet down. We will decide the order of performances by drawing lots," said the host. Wang Xiangxiang and Wen Nuan stepped forward to draw lots. Seeing the lot she drew, Wang Xiangxiangs brows furrowed; how could she be so unlucky to performter again? It was disadvantageous for her. On the contrary, Wen Nuans face was adorned with a smile; she felt like fate was giving her a chancethe Blood Jade was as good as hers. "Id like to perform a dance; could someone y a tune for me?" Wen Nuan asked. She thought that since performances of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting were almost exhausted and somewhat monotonous, it would be unexpected and unique topete with a dance instead. The event host quickly arranged for someone to apany her, and soon Wen Nuans performance began. As the melody of the piano yed, Wen Nuan seemed like a sprite dancing on the stage, presenting a different side of herself. Xiaoxiao was utterly captivated, wondering how someone could be so versatile. The dance moves were as skillful as those of contemporary dancers; her body was incredibly flexible, and every posture she assumed was uniquely beautiful, like a born dancer. Xiaoxiao started to worry for Wang Xiangxiangcould she dance? Chu Lian also grew anxious. He was familiar with Xiangxiangs musical and artistic talents but had never seen her dance. Could she outperform Wen Nuan? On stage was a beautifuldy showcasing her graceful figure, and among the audience were many men, including porters brought by the youngdies; all would soon have the right to vote. This was very unfavorable for Xiangxiang. Even if Xiangxiang could dance, Chu Lian did not want others ogling her beautiful figure. Amidst this conflicted state, he anxiously watched thepetition. On stage, Wang Xiangxiang looked down at the audience and saw Chu Lian staring intently at Wen Nuan dancing. Her jealousy surfaced; ring at Chu Lian, she thought determinedly to win the Blood Jade and surpass Wen Nuan, earning his admiration. Chu Lian looked up at Xiangxiang and noticed her ring at him. His heart skipped a beat; why was she ring at him again? As the dance ended, Wen Nuan rose. She ced her hands together at her waist and bowed politely to the audience, embodying the grace and elegance of a sophisticateddy. She had the talents, the looks, and the gentlenessabination likely favored by many men. With such a performance, she stunned the audience, making Wen Nuan even more confident. She smiled at everyone, as if she had already clinched victory in this contest. Chapter 590 - 592 My Talent Show is Still Playing the Piano

Chapter 590: Chapter 592 My Talent Show is Still ying the Piano

It was Wang Xiangxiangs turn to perform. She walked to the center of the stage, and like Wen Nuan, she, too, ady from a distinguished family, possessed a presence that did not concede to Wen Nuans. Looking down at the audience, she smiled faintly, her bright red lips opening, "My talent showcase will also be ying the guqin." At these words, Wen Nuans eyes widened in shock. She couldnt believe Xiangxiang would y the guqin as well. With the current situation, it wasnt enough to win by ying the guqin alone. Why didnt she dance? Could it be she didnt know how? If she knew how to dance, it would be a reckless move to y the guqin instead. With that realization, Wen Nuan calmed down, feeling as though heaven was indeed helping hershe was assured of victory. At Xiangxiangs deration, the audience also stirred, expressing shock followed by the sentiment that if it was just another guqin performance, there wouldnt be much to look forward to. Their sacred votes were now likely to go to another girl. Upon hearing Xiangxiangs intention to y the guqin again, Xiaoxiaos first reaction was that she indeed must not know how to dance. They all felt nervous for Xiangxiang, but as soon as the melody began, Xiaoxiaos lips formed a grin. She had said itXiangxiang wasnt as foolish as everyone thought. She had indeed held back a trick up her sleeve. The sound of the guqin instantly quieted the uproar, as the melody was one they had never heard before. As regr students of the guqin, they thought they had heard many pieces, but Xiangxiangs performance was markedly different, piquing everyones interest. What was even more intriguing cameterWang Xiangxiang actually began to sing: Dont worry about how it all will end, At least we have had our moments of togetherness. Theres no need for painstaking mutual restraint, Nor for promises to be made with words. To have been in your heart is enough for me, Life is filled with many memories, I only wish that in your recollection, theres a ce for me. ... ... This song was taught to her by Xiaoxiao during the idle days she spent recuperating at the Yang Familys estate. It was her first time incorporating the song with her ying, unsure of how well she was doing. Dancing was indeed not her forte. She had already showcased her other talents, leaving only singing, but singing without musical apaniment seemed dry and was unlikely to ensure victory. To win over Wen Nuan, she boldly ventured to try. Moreover, she truly loved this piece, for the lyrics voiced her current state of mind. She felt her desires were not grand; having had Chu Lian keep her in his heart at some point was enough for her. She sang the lyrics over and over again, oblivious to the fact that she was already in tears. By this time, Wen Nuan was stunned. She hadnt realized such an emotional revtion could be part of a performance. Seeing Xiangxiang crying like that, it must have had something to do with that man. After the song finished, the venue fell into a hushed silence, everyone savoring theposition and deciphering the meaning behind the lyrics. Surely the song reached deep into the girls heart, or else she wouldnt be crying. Someone started pping, leading to a thunderous apuse from the crowd. The oue was self-evident; no vote was needed to foresee the result. Wen Nuan gracefully admitted her defeat, "No need to vote, I concede." "Actually, I dont think Ive lost to you." These words came from the heartif Xiaoxiao hadnt taught her the song, she really wouldnt have had any talent topete with. The triumphant Wang Xiangxiang visibly rxed, her tear-stained face breaking into a smile as beautiful as a rainbow after the rain. She looked towards Chu Lian in the audience with a joyful smile. She wanted him to see that she had won. But at that moment, Chu Lian was petrified. Why was she crying, and for whom? Chapter 591 - 593: Don’t you think this is fate, destiny?

Chapter 591: Chapter 593: Dont you think this is fate, destiny?

The elderly man who first came on stage, holding that piece of Blood Jade, walked over to Wang Xiangxiang, "I dere that the winner is this youngdy." After speaking, he handed the Blood Jade over to Wang Xiangxiang. Wang Xiangxiang held the Blood Jade high, gesturing to Xiaoxiao. They had finally gotten their hands on the Blood Jade, and Xiaoxiao below the stage was also overjoyed. Their trip had not been in vain. The esteemed elder spoke again, "May I ask, youngdy, from where do you hail?" At that moment, Wang Xiangxiangs merchant illness red up again. She felt that revealing her identity at this juncture would be an excellent opportunity for their Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, as they were nning to expand into this other county. So she confidently acknowledged, "I am Wang Xiangxiang, the youngdy and shopkeeper of Xiangxiang Cloth Shop from Shanshi County." The old man nodded in satisfaction. It turned out to be the girl Guo Feng had mentioned. He had not expected her to have such a destined connection with his grandson, and he quite liked her performance today. He turned around, facing the audience and announced loudly, "Now, I dere that Miss Wang from Shanshi Countys Xiangxiang Cloth Shop will be my granddaughter-inw." Upon hearing those words, Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened. What was going on? She looked at the old man, perplexed. The old man exined, "The Blood Jade is an ancestral treasure of the Han Family, passed down to daughters-inw through generations. Todays gathering of all the distinguished youngdies in the city is topete for the position of daughter-inw." At this moment, Wang Xiangxiang was stunned. She had onlye to help Xiaoxiaopete for this piece of Blood Jade. She had no idea there was this stiption. Wen Nuan saw everything clearly, confirming that Wang Xiangxiang did not understand the meaning behind the Blood Jade. This would be interesting to watch, for the young master below must be getting anxious now. Wang Xiangxiang hurriedly handed over the Blood Jade, "Elderly sir..." The old man said kindly, "Call me Grandfather." "..." Looking into the old mans sincere eyes, Wang Xiangxiang could not bear to refuse, "Grandfather, Im truly sorry, but you should take the Blood Jade back. Ie from another county and had no idea of its meaning. I only participated because I thought the Blood Jade was beautiful." "My word is as heavy as nine sacred tripods; how can I just take back what Ive said?" The old man pushed the Blood Jade back into Wang Xiangxiangs hand. The Han Family did not arrange such a grand event just for fun. Wang Xiangxiang was now so anxious that she felt like crying. She couldnt possibly agree to this marriage arrangement. Even in the past, she would not have agreed; she would not rashly consent to the marriage of someone she hadnt even met. The old man continued, "My grandson is a handsome and talented man. Youre sure to like him once you meet." He then shouted to someone nearby, "Go, bring the young master here." "Theres no need to call for me, Grandfather, I am here," Han Yongsheng interrupted. Then he walked onto the stage and smiled faintly, "Miss Wang, we meet again." "You know each other?" Han Yongshengs grandfather asked in surprise. Seeing that his grandson hade forth, it meant he consented to the marriage, so he must help his grandson. "Yes," Han Yongsheng nodded. Wang Xiangxiang never anticipated such a turn of events. She was so astonished that she found herself at a loss for words, for there was an indescribable and unclear rtionship between them. Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs expression, Han Yongsheng continued, "Miss Wang, dont you think this is fate, destiny?" "..." Was he agreeing to marry her? Could it truly be destiny that had him save her? Was it fate that brought them together? Chapter 592 - 594: Who Might You Be?

Chapter 592: Chapter 594: Who Might You Be?

Han Yongsheng truly felt that it was fate, as if destined by the heavens. After returning from Yang Family Vige, his business deal had not gone through, and his father had pressured him into marrying his cousin. He t-out refused, and that was when Grandfather thought of this strategy. Since it hade to this, he might as wellply with the will of the heavens. But he never expected that the heavens will would bring her to him, which surprised and delighted him immensely. At this moment, Chu Lians face darkened terribly down below. He had never anticipated the turn of events to unfold in this direction. He couldnt believe he had forgotten about the unspoken practices often held by prestigious families. His own mother had organised a flower-viewing feast for him, and it didnt dawn on him at all. He even encouraged her to attend. He was truly pushing her away himself. When he heard the announcement made by Old Master Han, he anxiously made his way to the front, but the crowd was too thick. By the time he pushed through, Han Yongsheng had already ascended the stage. His face was contorted with anger. Just moments before, he had been confident because he knew Xiangxiang wouldnt rashly ept a marriage proposal from a stranger, but upon seeing Han Yongsheng, he could no longer remain calm. A bad premonition arose in his heart; Xiangxiang might be drifting further away from him. "Young Master Han..." Even if it were destined by the heavens, she would refuse, but before she could speak her refusal, the Blood Jade in her hand was snatched away. She turned to see Chu Lian, with a mix of shock and joy in her eyes. When had hee over? Was he here to take her away? Chu Lian grabbed the Blood Jade and tossed it to Han Yongsheng without a word. Taking Xiangxiangs hand, he attempted to walk down from the stage. "Miss Wang." Han Yongsheng, not to be outdone, reached out to grab Wang Xiangxiangs arm. The appearance of Chu Lian caused a stir among the onlookers. Who was this handsome man holding the youngdys hand? It was quite improper, yet many felt that the youngdy was fortunate to have two handsome men vying for her in public. Old Master Han was fuming; someone was trying to snatch away his granddaughter-inw. With a wave of his hand, Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang were blocked by several men. Wang Xiangxiang, feeling the warmth of the firm grip on her hand, was reassured. He truly hade to take her away. The two who were blocked had no choice but to stop. Old Master Han stepped forward and gestured for his men to back away. "May I ask who you are, and why you wish to take away my granddaughter-inw?" "Old Master Han, she hasnt agreed to it; she is not yet your granddaughter-inw." Chu Lian held onto Xiangxiangs hand, not letting go, and answered Old Master Han head-on, "I am Chu Lian, Young Master of the Yui Restaurant." Upon hearing the neers identity, Old Master Hans brows furrowed. The other party might be difficult to deal with, but after all, he was an elder who had eaten more salt than the young man had eaten rice. Suddenly, he smiled, speaking very calmly, "I remember now, you are that Chu Family young master who was rejected upon proposing. The news of your rejection has already spread to our Lin County. I presume that the youngdy who turned you down is the one beside you." Chu Lian was left speechless, the words stuck in his throat. It was true; he had indeed been thoroughly rejected, but what did that matter? He still loved her, and she was the only one he would marry. The revtion of Chu Lians identity sent another wave ofmotion through the noble youngdies present. So this was the famed Chu Family eldest young master; he truly did possess a handsome appearance and dignified deportment. Some could barely contain themselves, and the crowd began to stir. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were both nervously watching the stage, uncertain of how things would unfold. They were so focused that they didnt even notice when they were separated by the shifting crowd. Chapter 593 - 595: The Wife is Lost

Chapter 593: Chapter 595: The Wife is Lost

"Boss, that girl has been on stage all the time. How are we going to capture her?" "Hmph, we must catch her even if it seems impossible. Because of her, weve lost several men." The speaker was the human trafficker who had nned to capture Wang Xiangxiang the previous night. Forced by Chu Lian, they had suffered losses, and today they hade to grab a few pretty girls to sell to the brothel. Unexpectedly, they encountered the same person who had caused their losses. The boss of the human traffickers had never tolerated such losses before. Therefore, he decided they must seek revenge. Capturing that girl and selling her to a brothel as a main attraction would undoubtedly fetch a high price. However, she had been on stage the entire afternoon, making it impossible to approach her. They had no choice but to find a concealed spot below the stage and wait. Soon, the crowd began to stir. One of the traffickers pointed at a crowd not far away and said, "Boss, look, the girl who came with the one on stage is alone now, this is an opportunity. How about we capture her first?" The boss of the traffickers furrowed his brows and shook his head with reluctance, "That girl isnt as pretty as the one on the stage." "Boss, they came together. If we catch this one, are we afraid we wont have a chance to catch the other?" As the boss was pondering, he heard another brother saying, "Boss, now the crowd is chaotic, and its easy to make a move. If we wait any longer, we might not catch any at all." Convinced by his brothers and although she was not as eye-catching as the one on stage, she would still bring a good price. Biting his teeth, he gestured, "All right, be careful." Disguised, the traffickers slowly closed in on Xiaoxiao. At this moment, Xiaoxiao was unaware of the impending danger. She kept her eyes on the stage, thinking of heading there, so she moved forward with the crowd. Rather than being swept away by the crowd, it was more like she had walked into it on her own. However, the crowd was too packed, making it difficult to get through. Somehow, she didnt make it through but was pushed out instead. Speechless, she thought about how other women got starstruck at the sight of Chu Lian. While she was stillining, suddenly her mouth was covered. Thinking this was bad, she quickly held her breath, but some of the Sleeping Powder still entered her nostrils. After struggling for a while, she couldnt ovee the effects of the Sleeping Powder. Seeing herself being dragged away without the strength to shout, she slowly closed her eyes, sumbing to unconsciousness. "Boss, its done," the human trafficker signaled to the boss. The boss gestured, "Lets go." For revenge, they no longer waited to capture any other girls. They needed to leave quickly. The men hurriedly ced Xiaoxiao in a sedan, tied her up and disguised themselves as sedan bearers and hurriedly carried Xiaoxiao down the mountain where someone awaited them at the base. Soon, they mounted a carriage and sped away. Yang Ming saw Chu Lian go up and spotted Han Yongsheng, fearing the situation was dir. He also became anxious to go upstage and said, "Wife, lets go too." But there was no response. Turning around, he realized his wife was no longer beside him. He looked around but could not see her anywhere. He thought perhaps his wife, even more anxious than him, had moved toward the front. He squeezed through the crowd but still could not find her. A sudden panic surged through him, and he grew frantic. His wife was missing. Chapter 594 - 596: Even if You’re Getting Married, I Will Come to Steal the Bride

Chapter 594: Chapter 596: Even if Youre Getting Married, I Will Come to Steal the Bride

The people on stage knew nothing of themotion among the crowd below. Despite the ongoing standoff on stage, Han Yongsheng immediately ordered people to disperse the crowd when the disturbance was noticed. This dispersal inadvertently provided an opportunity for the kidnappers to escape with Xiaoxiao, as more sedan chairs were continuously descending the mountain, allowing the kidnappers to brazenly carry Xiaoxiao down. In response to Han Yongshengs stern questioning, Chu Lian replied, "I will propose again, until she agrees." Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened in disbelief. Was he serious, or was this just a desperate measure to extricate herself? "So, you are openly opposing my Han Family, trying to disrupt this engagement ceremony?" Han Yongsheng retorted. Indeed, it had turned into an engagement ceremony since the entire city was aware, and the Han Family could not afford to lose face. Unperturbed, Chu Lian dered, "What does an engagement matter? Even if it were a wedding, I woulde to steal the bride." At Chu Lians bold deration, Han Yongshengs brow furrowed. Indeed, the one coveted by the Chu Familys young master was not easily obtained. His grandson had found a formidable opponent, and given that it was his grandsons first time desiring to marry a womanand such a talented one at thatthe Han Family obviously could not let her go. It was time to dete the young master Chus arrogance. "Hmph, you audacious brat, daring to run wild on my Han Familys turf." With a wave of his hand, hemanded, "Seize him!" "You wouldnt dare." Chu Lian hadnt expected Han Yongsheng to be so enraged as to have him arrested. Naturally, he wouldnt back down; he readied himself to fight and shielded Wang Xiangxiang behind him. He then shouted toward the crowd below, "Acheng!" Upon hearing his young masters call, Acheng immediately rushed over, ready to stand side by side with the young master against the burly men. "Young master, Acheng has arrivedte." Seeing the interaction between Acheng and Chu Lian, Wang Xiangxiang, foolish though she might have been, realized that Acheng was Chu Lians subordinate. What was his purpose in staying by her side? Could it be that Acheng was sent by him to protect her? While she was pondering, Chu Lian and Acheng had already started fighting with these men. Wang Xiangxiang watched, filled with worry, fear, and amazement; Chu Lian was surprisingly adept at fighting, something she never knew. What else was he hiding from her? The fight continued, and even Han Yongsheng had not expected the young master of the Chu Family to be as capable a fighter as his own grandson. How could this situation be resolved? Just then, during this critical moment, Han Yongsheng finally spoke up, "Everyone stop." At hismand, the fight finally ceased. Han Yongsheng approached Chu Lian and said, "Chu Lian, since itse to this, letspete fairly." Chu Lians fists clenched tightly. Why should hepete fairly with him, when Xiangxiang was rightfully his? Wang Xiangxiang looked at Han Yongsheng; his gaze seemed genuine. He truly wanted to marry her. Was it because of the incident before? If that was the case, he indeed was a responsible man. But she was no ordinary womanshe had her own thoughts. She was about to voice her refusal when she was interrupted by Yang Ming, who arrived breathlessly. "Stop fighting, Xiaoxiao is missing." "..." The news stunned everyone. What did he mean by missing? Yang Ming continued, "I thought she had merely wandered off, but even after the crowd dispersed, she still couldnt be found." Chapter 595 - 597: Haven’t found my younger sibling, but he fell first

Chapter 595: Chapter 597: Havent found my younger sibling, but he fell first

Upon hearing this matter, a few people on the stage began to feel anxious, and Han Yongsheng quickly exined Xiaoxiaos identity to his grandfather, "Grandpa, you go back first; Ill handle things here." Old Master Han knew the severity of the situation, so he decided not to add chaos to his grandson, and he left with his men. For a while, only a few of them were left in the Marriage Fate Temple. "Acheng." "Ada." Chu Lian and Han Yongsheng spoke in unison, both quickly sending their subordinates to look for people. "Young Master, Acheng understands." "Young Master, Ada understands." Just as Acheng and Ada were about to leave, they were stopped by Wang Xiangxiang, "Wait a moment, Ill draw a portrait first so the people below can take it with them to look for her." Everyone agreed that Wang Xiangxiangs suggestion was good, so they waited for Wang Xiangxiang to finish the drawing. Soon, Acheng and Ada left with the portrait of Xiaoxiao, and two groups of people started searching for her. At that moment, Yang Ming was extremely anxious. He had never hated his own helplessness so much; he was so weak that he couldnt even protect his own wife and had to rely on Chu Lian and the others for help. He felt he deserved to die. He jumped off the stage, saying as he walked, "Im going to search the Marriage Fate Temple again first." "Third brother, wait for me; Ille with you," Wang Xiangxiang said anxiously, tears forming in her eyes. She was truly regretful. If she hadnt insisted on helping Xiaoxiao to obtain the Blood Jade, they wouldnt have lost focus and let her go missing. Chu Lian grabbed Wang Xiangxiangs arm, stopping her, "Stay close to me; I am worried you might go missing too." Wang Xiangxiang looked at Chu Lian, filled with worry, "But..." Chu Lianforted her, "Dont worry, we will find her." "Okay." For some reason, Chu Lians words reassured Wang Xiangxiang, and she followed him, continuing the search for Xiaoxiao inside the temple. But by then, Xiaoxiao had already left the mountain, and no matter how thoroughly they searched the Marriage Fate Temple, they couldnt find her. As it was getting dark, they found nothing and everyone was tired. Chu Lian suggested, "Yang Ming, lets go down the mountain." By then, Yang Ming was extremely distressed with red-rimmed eyes, and he had no intention of leaving, "Chu big brother, you go ahead; Ill look around a bit more." Chu Lian knew that no one could dissuade Yang Ming in such a state, but he had to take Xiangxiang back down the mountain. Now that there was trouble, he and Han Yongsheng had called a truce, and it was decided that whoever got news first would immediately inform the other. Unable to persuade Yang Ming to leave, the rest of them had no choice but to head down the mountain. On the way down, Wang Xiangxiang was very worried, "Can the third brother manage by himself?" "Dont worry, he wont crumble before his wife is found." Yang Ming was left alone in the Marriage Fate Temple, very aware that if his wife had left on her own, she would have already returned by now. Given the current situation, it was highly likely that his wife had been taken by someone. He too descended the mountain, wandering through the streets one by one, hoping to find a trace of his wife. He was determined not to just sit and wait to die; the forces of Chu Lian and Han Yongsheng were not enough, he needed to seek more help. He no longer believed in the government office, so he could only rely on other means. Sometimes their Heaven Escort Agency also took on such tasks as finding or protecting people, so he thought to try the escort agency in Lin County. Having found out the location of the Lin County Escort Agency, Yang Ming quickened his pace towards the agency, but unexpectedly encountered someone on the way. Chapter 596 - 598: Recently, a group of human traffickers has arrived in Lin County

Chapter 596: Chapter 598: Recently, a group of human traffickers has arrived in Lin County

"Store Manager, what are you doing here?" The speaker was none other than one of Wang Kuis subordinates from the Xuntian Escort Agency. Upon seeing the neer, Yang Ming felt as if he had seen a savior. "Howe you are here?" "Store Manager, weve set up a base here at Xuntian Escort Agency. The Head Escort Master asked me to stay and lead everyone in expanding our influence." Yang Ming hadnt expected that his earlier suggestion to Wang Kui to expand their influence to Lin County would be put into action so soon. "How many people do we have at the agency now?" "Not many yet, currently only around fifty." A glint of determination shed in Yang Mings dark eyes. Fifty men were like coals in snowy weather to him; even one more person meant extra strength. He was even starting to feel grateful for taking over the Xuntian Escort Agency. "This afternoon, my wife went missing at the Marriage Fate Temple, and I suspect she was taken away." Upon hearing this, the Escort Head quickly replied, "Store Manager, dont worry. Our Xuntian Escort Agency has connections in both the underworld andwful societies. We will definitely find your sister-inw." Afterwards, Yang Ming followed the Escort Head to the Xuntian Escort Agencys foothold in Lin County and met the brothers there. Upon hearing what happened, they all thumped their chests, vowing to do their part in the search. Someone then said, "Store Manager, our Xuntian Escort Agency has been looking for Xiatian, so we know a bit about the goings-on in Lin County. Recently, a group of human traffickers arrived in the county. Could it be..." Upon the mention of human traffickers, Yang Ming suddenly remembered the previous nights incident involving the attempted capture of Wang Xiangxiang, wondering if it might be the same people involved. "It is said that those traffickers specifically kidnap girls to sell to brothels in other regions." Hearing this, Yang Ming couldnt stay still for a moment longer. What if his wife was truly captured by those people? "Lets go." Yang Ming led the Escort Head towards Chu Lians residence. As soon as he entered the courtyard, Yang Ming began calling out anxiously for Wang Xiangxiang, "Sister." Upon hearing Yang Mings voice, Wang Xiangxiang quickly came out of the house, with Chu Lian immediately following her. "Third brother, how is it going? Any news?" "Sister, do you remember the burly men you bumped intost night?" Chu Lian, feeling urgent upon hearing Yang Mings question, shouted out first, "Yang Ming." "Big Brother Chu, I cant worry about that right now. Those people are human traffickers. I suspect Xiaoxiao was taken by them." Chu Lian fell silent, knowing he couldnt stop him. Right now, finding Xiaoxiao was what mattered most; Xiangxiang knowing about the situation was something unavoidable. Although Wang Xiangxiang didnt quite understand what the two men were implying, as soon as she heard those people took Xiaoxiao, she quickly fetched paper and ink to draw a portrait. Yang Ming took the portrait and was about to leave. Wang Xiangxiang called after him, "Third brother, where are you going? Who is that man?" "Hes from the escort agency I found. They have connections in both the dark and the light. I think the more people we have searching, the quicker well find her. Im going to join them in the search now." Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang said nothing more. She knew Yang Ming wouldnt just sit and wait; she had to let him go. After Yang Ming left, Chu Lian said, "Xiangxiang, draw those portraits again. Ill have my men and Han Yongshengs men search as well. Well find her faster this way." When Wang Xiangxiang heard him call her by her name, her heart trembled, but in such times, she couldnt afford to be distracted. She quickly drew several more portraits and handed them to Chu Lian to assist in the search. Seeing that Xiangxiang hadnt mentioned the incident from the previous night, Chu Lian breathed a sigh of relief. Afterwards, the two of them returned to their rooms to rest, but neither slept well, waiting throughout until the break of dawn the next day. Chapter 597 - 599: This is Yixiang Courtyard

Chapter 597: Chapter 599: This is Yixiang Courtyard

Because Xiaoxiao had detected it early and held her breath from the start, she had not inhaled much of the Sleeping Powder, and thus she woke up during the rough ride of the carriage. However, she dared not act rashly and had to pretend to remain unconscious, waiting for an opportunity to escape. Her heart was pounding fiercely, and she was scared too. It was her first time being kidnapped, and she didnt know where these people were taking her. She regretted not holding onto Yang Mings hand and wandering off on her own. She carefully kept her eyes closed, trying her best not to let those people realize that she had already woken up. Her ears perked up, anxiously listening to what those people were saying? "Boss, those people fromst night are probably still searching for us," one said. The human trafficker boss spit disdainfully and said, "Tch, its really bad luck. We didnt capture anyone and only drew attention to ourselves." He nced at Xiaoxiao again, "Humph, at least we caught one. They must be anxious right now. Weve got our revenge at least." "..." Xiaoxiao realized, so these were the same people who had tried to kidnap Wang Xiangxiang the day before. Having failed then, and even being pursued by Chu Lian, they had kidnapped her today out of spite. Would she still end up okay? She continued listening. "Boss, what should we do now? Where do we sell her? Still to Beijing?" "Humph, they definitely think we will transport her out like usual. This time I wont. Lets sell her locally. Even if the price is lower, so be it." "Boss, thats a clever move. Theyd trace us thinking wed sell her elsewhere as usual and wont expect us to sell her right under their noses." "Humph, the local brothels will benefit then," he sneered. "..." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiaos heart sank. They were going to sell her to a brothel. How was she going to escape? If Yang Ming and the others really fell for their trick and searched afar instead of locally, what would she do? It seemed she could only look for a chance to act on her own, but now, with her hands and feet tied, she couldnt run away. It seemed she might only try to find a way out once she was in the brothel. The carriage traveled swiftly and soon came to a halt. She was carried away just like that. She wanted to open her eyes but dared not to. Even if she did, it wouldnt help since she was directionally challenged. She had no choice but to go in first and see. Soon she was carried into a house and ced on what they called a bed. "Madam, how does this girl look?" one of the traffickers asked. The madam nced at Xiaoxiao, shook her head, and pursed her lips, "She looks average, cant be a top draw." "Just tell us if youll take her or not." "Where is she from?" "From outside the county." "How much?" "One hundred silvers." "One hundred silvers is too much. This girl isnt worth it. At most fifty silvers." "Fifty silvers doesnt work. Its too little." "If that doesnt work, then forget it. This girl isnt worth that much." "Fine, its really bad luck. First time selling for so cheap," the trafficker said begrudgingly. Xiaoxiao justy there listening to herself being bargained over, and she was sold for just fifty silvers. They evenined that it was the lowest price they had ever gotten. Was it her fault for looking the way she did? The madam paid the silvers, and the traffickers left. The madam then brought a few tough guys in and looked at Xiaoxiao. The madam came over to Xiaoxiao, shook her a bit, and Xiaoxiao thought she might get beaten if she didnt wake up. She didnt want to be beaten, so she pretended to have just woken up and fearfully asked, "Who are you? Where is this ce?" "Girl, this is Yixiang Courtyard. Just listen and obey, and Ill treat you well," the madam said. Chapter 598 - 600 I Agree to See the Guest

Chapter 598: Chapter 600 I Agree to See the Guest

Xiaoxiao curled up into a ball, feigning an exaggerated fear, though she indeed felt somewhat afraid, "Yixiang Courtyard?" "Its a ce where men go to find pleasure," the Madame exined. Xiaoxiaos eyes darted around; how could she make these people lower their guard? She wasnt sure if her silver tongue would work this time. Typically, she should pretend to be a respectable woman and struggle while crying out loudly, which seemed more convincing. Upon hearing the Madames exnation, she began to struggle against the ropes, crying and screaming, "Let me go, I want to go home." A sinister look spread across the Madames face, "Let you go? You cost me fifty silver, youll never think of leaving in your lifetime." "Wuu, I want to go home." The Madame gently caressed Xiaoxiaos face with a lewd smile, "Once youve served a man and tasted the pleasures, you wont want to leave." The thugs nearby, upon hearing the Madames words, began to snicker lewdly, "Hahaha!" "..." Xiaoxiao suppressed her rage, vowing to make these people suffer once she got out. Continuing her frantic struggle, she put on a convincing act, and her head violently collided with the Madames, eliciting a pained "Ouch!" from her, "You wretched girl." She raised her hand to p Xiaoxiao, but Xiaoxiao quickly knelt to beg for mercy, "Sister, dont hit me, I wont dare do it again, I agree to serve the guests." This address of "sister" made the Madames heart bloom with joy; no one had called her that at her age. She lowered her hand and her attitude softened significantly, "Its good to see youre sensible, sister will treat you well as long as you obey." "Yes, sister, Ill listen to you, wuu," Xiaoxiao sobbed while speaking. Observing Xiaoxiao, the Madame thought she really was scared, so she decided not to make it harder for her. After all, a bruised and battered girl couldnt serve the guests, and the earlier she started, the sooner shed earn silver. "Thats more like it. After you bathe, sister will find you a decent man." The Madame signaled the thugs with a nce and they left. Then, two maids came in to attend to Xiaoxiaos bathing. Ostensibly there to serve her, they were actually there to monitor her. The Madame told the maids, "Make sure she looks pretty afterwards." "Yes." And with that, the Madame left, and Xiaoxiaos bindings were loosened. But she couldnt afford to let her guard down because these maids were also the Madames people; she continued to act as if she were in utter despair about having to serve a client soon. The maids tended to Xiaoxiao in silence, used to such scenes, they tried tofort her. "Miss, I advise you toe to terms with it. Theres no leaving this ce." "Yes, miss, youll get used to it." Xiaoxiao feigned ignorance and asked, "Is it really impossible to leave?" "Have you seen the thugs at the door? No one can escape. There were others who tried to run away before, but they were all caught, beaten half to death, and still ended up having to serve clients. Good behavior means less suffering." "..." So, attempting to escape didnt seem viable. She sat in the bathtub, eyes closed, pondering various strategies. Right now, the only thing she could do was to try to send a message outside, to let Yang Ming and his people know she was here. What could be the best way to do that? Chapter 599 - 601 I Want to Pick Someone

Chapter 599: Chapter 601 I Want to Pick Someone

Xiaoxiao, after much pondering, had finallye up with what she believed to be a viable idea. The only question was whether she could stall the madam of the brothel long enough to execute her n. She had no choice but to try. She said to the two maids, "Thank you, Ill wash by myself." Seeing that Xiaoxiao seemed not as dejected as before and appeared to havee to terms with her situation, the maids agreed, "Miss, these are the clothes you will wearter." "Okay." After her bath, Xiaoxiao put on the clothes that the madam had prepared for her. The clothes were decent and not revealing; she couldpletely ept them. As she walked out from behind the screen that had shielded her during the bath, the two maids were dumbstruck, "Miss, you..." "Whats wrong?" "Nothing, nothing," the maids said, although one of them ran off to find the madam straight away. Alerted by the maid, the madam hurried to Xiaoxiaos room. At the sight of her, the madam was stunned. She felt conned. The girl had looked decent enough, not a star attraction but certainly not bad. How could she look this ugly after a bath? Were her fifty Silver taels going down the drain? The madam thought the more about it and felt increasingly that the ve traders had fooled her, feeling as disgusted as if she had swallowed a fly. She said irritably, "Hurry and put on your makeup; how can you receive clients like this?" Xiaoxiao was speechless at the madams and maids reactions. She had put so much effort into her performance, crying her eyes out. It turned out to be for naught. Her makeup must have been ruined from the crying, and yet these people had not noticed. Was she the fool here or were they? But now that the madam had arrived, it was time to put her n into action. She just didnt know if the madam would fall for it. "Big sister, youre here. Ive been thinking, and though Ive agreed to take clients, it doesnt mean Ill take just anyone. I want to choose." Upon hearing this, the madams eyes widened in disbelief. She already looked the way she did and still wanted to pick her clients? She should be d if the clients werent the ones being picky. Thinking of the possibility that she wouldnt fetch a good price made the madam very annoyed. She said disdainfully, "You want to choose your clients?" Xiaoxiao looked firmly at her and dered, "Yes, I want to choose." "Hahaha, little sister, stop joking around, alright? To be honest, youre really just average. You wont fetch a high price. How can you choose?" The two Little Maids covered their mouths with handkerchiefs, trying not tough out loud, but their demeanor was clearly that of someone listening to a joke. Even the star courtesans didnt dare to pick and choose. Where did she get the courage from? "Big sister, how much do you n to sell me for one night?" "Youre not attractive, and even after makeup, youll only look passable. For one night, at most two Silver taels." The madam was full of contempt, thinking that the fifty she paid for Xiaoxiao might take a month to recover. "..." Xiaoxiao was so frustrated she felt like she was going to cough up blood. She was worth only two Silver taels a night, but the lower the price, the more likely her n would seed. She continued to entice the madam with her words, "Big sister, even as a novice, dont you think two Silver taels for one night is too little?" When the madam heard the word "novice," her interest was piqued again. If she was a novice, that indeed seemed a bit low. One could charge more for a first night, but still, there was no negotiation on choosing clients. "..." She had said she was a novice and still couldnt pick her clients? Then she had no choice but to use her trump card. "Big sister, what if I can be a star courtesan within five days and make the business of Yixiang Courtyard flourish?" Chapter 600 - 602 Although I’m Ugly, I Have Brains

Chapter 600: Chapter 602 Although Im Ugly, I Have Brains

"Hahaha." When the madam heard Xiaoxiaos words, sheughed so hard she doubled over, gesticting up and down at Xiaoxiao as sheughed, "Hahaha, little sister, arent you a bit too confident? With your looks, you want to be a star courtesan?" Two maids standing by couldnt hold back either and burst intoughter along with the madam. "..." Xiaoxiao, feeling helpless, wondered if it was necessary tough like that. She wasnt a child anymore; was what she said really so unbelievable? Xiaoxiao looked the madam straight in the eye, hoping she would believe her, "I may be ugly, but I have brains." At that, the madamughed even harder, clutching her stomach, "You say you have brains? If you were so smart, how did you get caught by traffickers and sold here?" "..." Xiaoxiao internally rolled her eyes, couldnt the madam act a bit more like her position? Although, she had to admit she was tearing her argument apart quite effectively. "Alright, I admit I wasnt using my brain at that time, it must have been caught in a door." The madam keptughing nonstop. At first, she was genuinely mocking Xiaoxiaos appearance and her bold ims, butter, she was truly amused by Xiaoxiaos way of speaking; she had never met a girl like this before. "..." Faced with the madams reaction, Xiaoxiao held her forehead in frustration. Couldnt the woman be serious? She was genuinely trying to negotiate, "Sister, if I can turn the business of Yixiang Courtyard around, would you consider setting me free?" Upon hearing this, the madamsughter stopped instantly, and she became serious. This girl was thinking of ways to escape even on the brink of death, which was entirely different from her earlier feeble appearance. Had she been pretending all along? How frightening this girl must be. The madam cast a nce at Xiaoxiao; her clothing when she arrived, her makeup, and her present unyielding manner of speaking all seemed to suggest she came from a wealthy family. The more the madam thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Could it be she had bought a hot potato for fifty pieces of silver? "Sister, what do you think about my proposal?" The madam was thinking. If things were as she suspected, then this girl should not be touched; she needed to investigate her background first. Despite these thoughts, the madams unchanging heart was causing trouble. Once youre in her ce, it isnt easy to leave, "If you can be a star courtesan within five days and get the business going, then Ill agree to let you pick someone." At these words, the corners of Xiaoxiaos mouth slightly lifted. She knew the madam wouldnt agree to release her; she just wanted to use this condition to provoke her into agreeing to the previous conditions. This way, she could use these five days to send a message outside, confident that as soon as she sent the message, Yang Ming and the others would definitelye to rescue her. "Thank you, sister. To ensure I fetch a better price, I will work on my appearance for five days, not serving any clients. If Im not sessful after five days, Ill leave it to you to deal with me." "Fine, just as you said, well wait another five days." The madam agreed because she had wanted to check Xiaoxiaos background anyway; she couldnt take action now, and besides, she was curious to see what this girl could churn up. Xiaoxiao visibly rxed, relieved that she would be safe for at least five days. The two maids could no longerugh; they hadnt expected the madam to agree. This was the first time, and they thought this girl must be very impressive. Xiaoxiao then shared her thoughts on what she nned to do the next day with the madam, who, hearing them, beamed with delight, "Do as you said; Ill get someone to prepare." Chapter 601 - 603 The Soon-to-Be Bankrupt Brothel

Chapter 601: Chapter 603 The Soon-to-Be Bankrupt Brothel

Xiaoxiao sat at the table applying makeup to herself. In fact, she hadnt really said much to the madam, merely mentioning that she wanted to perform a show in the hall that evening and asked her to help spread the word. She couldnt wait for the evening to pass; she was eager to get the message out, for Yang Ming would surely be frantic with worry if she went missing. Soon, night fell, and for Yixiang Courtyard, the real festivities were just beginning. The madam had arranged everything, and there were special greeters at the entrance of Yixiang Courtyard. "Gentlemen, we have a new girl who will perform in the hallter today. Those who wish to watch, please wait in the hall." The greeter tirelessly announced this news at the door, causing the men who hade for pleasure that day to linger in the hall, eager to see just how beautiful the neer at Yixiang Courtyard was. Considering this was the first time Yixiang Courtyard had organized something like this, their interest was understandably piqued. After waiting in the hall for a while, some people began to grow impatient. "Madam, whats going on? Why isnt sheing out?" "Exactly, all of us are waiting for her alone!" "Who does she think she is? Shes just another girl for our amusement." "..." "..." The madam hurriedly pacified these cash trees, apologizing with a smile, "Gentlemen, please be patient, she will be here shortly." "Hmph, if she doesnte out soon, Im heading over to Chunfeng Pavilion instead." "Thats right, the girls at Chunfeng Pavilion are more energetic." "Your Yixiang Courtyard seems to be on the brink of copse." "..." "..." The madam had a hard time coping with thements which made her look rather displeased, yet she still kept a smiling face, "I apologize for the dy, gentlemen, she will be here any moment." The madam couldnt express her troubles; ever since Chunfeng Pavilion opened across the street, its business had been nearly snatched away. Otherwise, she wouldnt have taken the risk of keeping the girl with the unclear background. Suddenly, a clear and melodious voice caught everyones attention, silencing the previously noisy hall instantly. Everyone was drawn to this beautiful soundwas this the new girl from Yixiang Courtyard? The sound emanated from the second floor; everyone simultaneously looked up to see a girl standing at the stair railing. From the back, she evoked Pianpian, which made one wonder just how stunningly beautiful she would be from the front. The girl finally turned around, revealing that her face was veiled, showing only a pair of lively eyes. This only increased everyones interest in her, wondering what kind of distinguished beautyy beneath the veil. As Xiaoxiao turned her head, she saw the state of the hall and was stunned. Why were there so few people? Werent the nights at the brothel supposed to be lively? This kind of lively was ridiculously cold; with so few people, how was she supposed to pass the message on? No wonder the madam had agreed; it turns out this was a brothel on the verge of bankruptcy, desperately in need of a savior! Despite the meager number of people, she couldnt give up the chance to spread the message. She had a few days left; she refused to believe that there would be so few people after tonights performance. So she continued to sing: Every single time, standing strong amidst the loneliness of wandering Every time, even if Im heavily hurt, I dont let the tears shine I know I always have a pair of invisible wings Taking me flying, flying past despair ... ... As they listened to the touching melody and gazed upon the mysterious face, the men below couldnt tear their eyes away. By the end of the song, the hall remainedpletely silent. Seeing their reactions, Xiaoxiao knew she had chosen the right song, as not every song sounds moving without apanying music. Chapter 602 - 604 My Stage Name is Love Spicy Skin Oil

Chapter 602: Chapter 604 My Stage Name is Love Spicy Skin Oil

Xiaoxiao wanted to create an effect, to give people a sense of mystery, so she turned around and pretended to leave. At this moment, someone in the hall reacted. "Hey, dont go, miss?" "Whats your stage name, miss?" "Miss, you havent let us see what you look like yet?" "Miss, Ill book you for tonight." "..." "..." At the sound of this mor, Xiaoxiaos lips curled into a smile; this was exactly the effect she needed. She turned back towards everyone from the second floor. She said, "My stage name is Love Spicy Skin Oil. I will be performing here for the next few evenings. Everyone is wee to watch. As for my appearance, only those who spend a spring night with me will see it. As for how to spend a spring night with me, in four days there will be an auction, and the highest bidder will win." Having said all this, Xiaoxiao casually turned and went back to her room. The hall erupted into noise once again. "What kind of stage name is that? Never heard a four-character one before." "Its called Love Spicy Skin Oil." "Though the name sounds a bit weird, her voice is truly pleasant." "Yeah, I didnt get enough of it." "Are youing tomorrow?" "Definitely." "Im setting my sights on that girl." "..." "..." Hearing everyones discussions, the madam was all smiles; it had been a long time since the Yixiang Courtyard had seen such a scene. She hadnt expected that girl really had some tricks up her sleeve. "Gentlemen, that girl is a newbie; you guys just go ahead and raise the price, I guarantee youll be satisfied," the madam confidently assured. The girl looked quite presentable with makeup on and knew how to sing wellcertainly bound to please these men. It seemed her aspirations to be a pir of the establishment werent just talk; she really did have some brains. "Too bad we cant get her tonight," some began to express their regrets. "Gentlemen, let other girls serve you tonight. You didnte for nothing today; all prices are halved." This was also a method suggested by that girl to attract these people and ensure they didnt want to leave once they came. Indeed, several men became interested, "That sounds good." "Girls!" the madam called out. "Coming!" Several gentlemen each took a girl and went upstairs. Xiaoxiao returned to her room and sat down, removing her veil; of course, she was not yet free, as there were guards at the door. There were also maids following her inside. Although she could move freely, she was still being controlled. She had just given a strenuous performance. She had gone all out, hoping that by tonight, her stage name might be well-known throughout the streets. Yang Ming would surelye to save her, as that message was meant only for him to understand. She had sold her night to ry a message, and if Yang Ming did not rescue her, she would belong to someone else. She was taking quite a gamble this time, but to buy time, it was a necessary strategy. Teaching someone else in five days was impossible; she had to go on boldly and face whatever came her way. Moreover, as she had told the madam, even if she taught someone else, they could not take her ce as a pir of the establishment. Before long, the madam entered the room. Her facecked the expected smile and was instead somewhat grim. Xiaoxiaos heart sank, fearing the worst, and indeed, the madam spoke, "Sister, you really did put on quite a show!" Xiaoxiao forced a smile, "Sister, this was all for the sake of our Yixiang Courtyard. If nothing goes wrong, more people wille tomorrow." "Dont beat around the bush. Tell me, what is this Love Spicy Skin Oil?" "..." Chapter 603 - 605: I’ve Already Changed Your Stage Name for You

Chapter 603: Chapter 605: Ive Already Changed Your Stage Name for You

"..." As expected, the madam wasnt so easy to deceive. Otherwise, she would not have thought to announce the artistic name right away. It was the only way to get the name out, but she hadnt expected so few visitors, which greatly reduced the opportunities. Seeing that Xiaoxiao did not respond, the madam continued, "I have already changed your artistic name for you. Its Xiaofeng now." "..." Xiaoxiao almost spat out blood. The artistic name Xiaofeng was too terrible, even worse than her original, Xiaoxiao. Xiaoxiao was not afraid, though surprised by the madams contingency. Tomorrow, if more people came, she would continue to announce herself as "Afuyou," and she refused to believe she wouldnt manage to silence that many mouths. "Stay here honestly and dont try any tricks. You two, keep an eye on her." Leaving these words behind, the madam departed. She had to check where this girl hade from and couldnt let any information leak for now. After the madam left, those two maidservants really obeyed and kept a close watch on her. No matter what Xiaoxiao did, the two maidservants were always by her side making her quite ufortable. "You two dont need to stare at me like that. There are guards outside. I cant escape." "Miss, just stay here quietly. If you run away, we will be punished too." "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless. Did she look like she was trying to escape? She wasnt stupid. Running away now would only get her beaten. She could only wait for Yang Ming to rescue her. After all, there was still time. It wouldnt be toote to run at thest moment. "Dont worry, Im not running. Go, fetch some water for me. I want to wash up." The two maidservants looked at each other; then one of them went to prepare the water. Resigned, Xiaoxiao let them watch. After they brought the water, she washed up by herself and finally threw herself on the bed. She needed to think thoroughly about what to perform tomorrow. Wondering how her performance had been today and whether people woulde to watch tomorrow, she had a long-standing question and thus asked the maidservant, "Is business at Yixiang Courtyard really that bad? Why did only a few mene tonight?" When asked this, the maidservants did not hide the truth, "Miss, its because Chunfeng Pavilion opened across from us and took away many of our clients. Now, we hardly have any visitors." "Chunfeng Pavilion? Why did it take our business?" "Because the girls at Chunfeng Pavilion are all new arrivals. Everyone is looking for novelty, and they are indeed younger and prettier than the girls here at Yixiang Courtyard." "Does that mean Yixiang Courtyard is going to close down?" The maidservants nodded, "If things keep going like this, it might notst much longer." "Is the madam your owner, or is she hired?" Upon mentioning that Yixiang Courtyard might close, the maidservants talked more, revealing everything they knew, "The madam was originally a pir of Yixiang Courtyard, and only became a madam after she got older. Ever since Chunfeng Pavilion came up, Yixiang Courtyard has been struggling. The madam used all her savings to take over Yixiang Courtyard, just so that everyone would still have something to eat." "..." Xiaoxiao was puzzled by this logic. Wouldnt it be good if the brothel disbanded? Then those people wouldnt need to sell themselves and could live a normal life, right? After hearing the exnations from the maidservants, Xiaoxiao somewhat understood why the madam had bought her and agreed to her conditions. She was just trying desperately to save the situation. However, given the current state of the brothel, her chances of getting away seemed even greater, after all, she was not without her wits. Chapter 604 - 606: The message has been conveyed for four days

Chapter 604: Chapter 606: The message has been conveyed for four days

To attract arger audience to Xiaoxiaos performance, in addition to the men who had helped spread the word yesterday, the folks at Yixiang Courtyard werent idle either. They hired several people to distribute the news on the main streets. "Lady Xiaofeng from Yixiang Courtyard has a special performance tonight, and all the attendees who address her as dy will enjoy half-price services," with such promotion, indeed more people came in the evening, slightly more than the previous day, but not to a bustling extent. This was within Xiaoxiaos expectations. To be a sensation would require time. Today, she still appeared veiled, offering room for imagination, but her performance had changed. She no longer sang but switched to performing magic tricks instead. The reason she chose to perform magic tricks was her belief that such performances would arouse everyones interest. Of course, Xiaoxiao didnt know any difficult magic tricksshe had only learned some simple ones online to amuse her young nephew in the modern times. She hoped it would be enough to fool those people, but Xiaoxiao wasnt confident deep down and had to bite the bullet and go on. The most important thing in performing magic tricks was to capture the audiences attention, get them to focus on one spot. That way, any other small actions she made wouldnt be noticed. Xiaoxiao still stood next to the handrail on the second floor. She raised a hand and waved to the crowd, asking, "Everyone, look closely. Is there anything in my hand?" The people in the hall were really supportive, all focusing intently on Xiaoxiaos hand and unanimously replying, "No." Putting on a mysterious air, Xiaoxiao clenched that hand into a fist, then waved the other hand in front of the fist. Suddenly a flower appeared in the clenched hand and was presented before everyone. This performance indeed captured the audiences attention, and surprised expressions emerged on their faces. How did she do that? Seeing the reaction of the crowd, Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief. She then produced several other objects, all thanks to the Hundred Treasures Pouch up her sleeve. For her final act, Xiaoxiao brought out her trump card, miraculously producing a live pigeon, which she then released to fly around the hall. This act caused the scene to erupt into excitement, and everyone felt their visit was worthwhile. They grew even more intrigued by the mysteriousdy on the second floor. Seeing the reaction, Xiaoxiao hurriedly repeated the message she had conveyed the day before, "Todays performance is over. Thank you all foring. I am Spicy Skin Oil. The evening after the day after tomorrow, after the performance, an auction will be held. The highest bidder will spend springtime moments with me and see my true face." Xiaoxiao was sending out the message for the second time. Even if the madam was formidable, with so many people present, news was bound to leak. She even nced at the madam; sure enough, the madam was watching her through gritted teeth. This girl really was going against her, but looking at the lively scene, the madam had to concede. Indeed, business was booming the next day. Everyone who came stayed and called for ady. On the third and fourth days, the ce could be described as extraordinarily bustling because Xiaoxiaos performances were more spectacr one after another. In the end, thedies were in such high demand that many guests, rather than leaving empty-handed, paid higher than normal prices for theirpany. The madam was grinning from ear to ear; business hadnt been this good in days. But Xiaoxiao couldnt muster a smile. The message had been going out for four days nowwhy had no onee to rescue her yet? Could the madam truly be that formidable, preventing any news from getting out? If things continued this way, what would happen tomorrow? She was practically selling herself off. Chapter 605 - 607: She Entered a Fake Brothel

Chapter 605: Chapter 607: She Entered a Fake Brothel

Xiaoxiao hadnt slept well all night, and with no oneing to rescue her, how could she possibly escape? Why was she so unlucky? Finally, Xiaoxiao managed to close her eyes in a daze, and when she woke up the next day, it was already veryte. Xiaoxiao arched her back and opened her eyes, only to be startled by the scene in the roomwhy were a group of girls staring at her from beside her bed? "You..." "Little sister, are you awake?" Xiaoxiao was very confused. What did these girls from Yixiang Courtyard want with her? Looking around, she even noticed the madam sitting beside the table in the room. She looked at the madam as if pleading for an exnation. Seeing the bewildered Xiaoxiao, the madam seemed somewhat uneasy and she slowly said, "Its them, they insisted on seeing you." "..." Insisted on seeing her? Xiaoxiao then turned to the others, "You..." "Little sister, we are the girls of Yixiang Courtyard, and we came to ask you for a favor today." Xiaoxiao stared at them uprehendingly. What could they possibly want from her? She pointed at herself, "You have something to ask of me?" "Yes, little sister, we hope that you could teach us some of the performances you perform." "..." Could it be that they felt threatened by her potential to be the leading performer? "These past few days, we have seen how, thanks to you, Yixiang Courtyards business has picked up. We are really grateful to you." "..." "But relying solely on you isnt a sustainable n, so we were wondering if we could also contribute. Please dont get us wrong; we dont intend to take your ce as the leading performer." Hearing these girls words, Xiaoxiao felt as if she had entered a false brothel. These girls seemed different from what she had initially thought. During the subsequent conversation, Xiaoxiao learned more about their situation. It turned out that these girls didnt want to leave because they felt that their bodies were no longer clean and that living outside would invite contempt and hardship, looking down upon them. They preferred to stay here where everyone supported each other warmly. The madam treated them like family, provided medical care when they were sick, stood up for them if a client mistreated them, and even selected more amenable clients for them. Here, they felt more at ease. So when the madam brought out her entire fortune to buy the brothel, everyone pitched in with their savings. Unfortunately, the brothel still nearly went bankrupt. Now, seeing Xiaoxiao revive the brothels business, everyone was thrilled and hoped to learn from her so they could help the brothel. After hearing this, Xiaoxiao was moved to tears, realizing these were individuals with hearts and feelings. Perhaps they didnt need to sell themselves; maybe they could survive well without doing so. But faced with their sincere gazes, she found she couldnt refuse them, "I can teach you." Once everyone heard Xiaoxiao had agreed, smiles of excitement appeared on their faces. Thinking it better to be upfront, Xiaoxiao realized Yang Ming might note to save her tonight. She had to rely on negotiating for her own rescue, "Actually, Ive been performing so diligently because I wanted to use this opportunity to escape. That spicy oil message was me trying to tell my husband where I am." "We know, we all know. We were just afraid that if you left tonight, we wouldnt be able to find you, so we were eager to ask for your help." Chapter 606 - 608: Tonight, you’ll still have to put up with continuing the performance

Chapter 606: Chapter 608: Tonight, youll still have to put up with continuing the performance

"How could this be?" Hearing everyones words, Xiaoxiao simply couldnt believe that everyone knew, and only she had been fooling herself with her little cleverness. "It was the madam who said it, she already knows you were caught at the Marriage Fate Temple, and that day the temple was visited by people of status, so you must be from a well-off family," "..." "These past few days, the madam has been preventing you from sending messages outside because she wanted to see what you could make of Yixiang Courtyards business. Dont be angry with her, she actually has a soft heart and was nning to let you go afterwards." Xiaoxiao looked incredulously at the madam, the person who spoke harshly and was tricky, the one who was even about to p her, was actually someone with a soft heart. Seeing the look Xiaoxiao gave her, the madam snootily turned her head away, "If I dont act tough, you lot would probably turn the heavens upside down." "..." Okay, that must be tough for her. But what now? She had made such a big scene, if she went ahead with the original n and escaped tonight, Yixiang Courtyard would likely suffer, and although she hadnt thought that much before, now she had to consider these people. "Sister, we know youre ady from a good family and dont want to tarnish your purity, and besides, you said just now, you seem to have a husband." "Yes, I am already married, and I am not a virgin. I made up those things at the time just to protect myself," Xiaoxiao replied. A few girls couldnt help but chuckle, "But the ruckus you made about auctioning your first night was too big." "..." Could she be med? How else would she attract those men toe and help her get the message out? "So, youll still need to go through with the performance tonight." "..." Was there really no other way out? "Dont worry, after you are bid on tonight, Ill take your ce," one girl assured her. "..." Xiaoxiaos eyes widened at the girl who was going to take her ce, "Are you still a virgin?" The girl nodded, "Yes, Im one of those girls who sells her art, not her body." "..." Xiaoxiao didnt know what to say, this girl, for the sake of Yixiang Courtyards livelihood, for the livelihood of her sisters, was going to sacrifice her first time. She didnt have to do this, she could just wait for Yixiang Courtyard to go under and then go live a normal life. After a moment, Xiaoxiao suddenly had a bright idea, "Ill go find my husband and have hime bid tonight, that way you wont have to rece me." "Sister, its not that we dont trust you, we have our own difficulties, and if you run off... Dont worry, I will take your ce tonight, but I hope youll keep your promise afterwards to teach the other sisters," the girl responded. "..." She couldpletely understand; if she ran away, Yixiang Courtyard would be finished, "Then have someone send a message to my husband, let hime, how about that?" The girls looked at each other and then towards the madam, who finally spoke, "Then you tell us where your husband is, and Ill have someone send the message." "My husband, hes at..." Xiaoxiao couldnt utter another word, she was directionally challenged and had no idea where Chu Lians residence was. "..." Regarding Xiaoxiaos response, everyone was speechless. All of a sudden, Xiaoxiao remembered Yui Restaurant and said, "Ill write a letter, just deliver it to Yui Restaurant. If Young Master Chu Lian of the well-known Yui Restaurant sees the letter, he will surelye to rescue me." "The famous Yui Restaurant of the whole dynasty?" "Exactly." Chapter 607 - 609: Can You Buy Yixiang Courtyard?

Chapter 607: Chapter 609: Can You Buy Yixiang Courtyard?

"..." Hearing Xiaoxiaos words, everyone felt a chill run through them; they had provoked a remarkable person, but thankfully they had pulled back at the brink. Now, it seemed, they had turned an enemy into a friend. Afterwards, the old madam quickly found someone to bring over brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Xiaoxiao swiftly wrote a brief letter stating that she was at Yixiang Courtyard, and that she would auction herself that evening. She urged them to bid on her; if they didnte, she would belong to someone else. Having taken things this far, Xiaoxiao was speechless. Later, the old madam sent someone to deliver the letter. The messenger soon returned and reported that the letter had been delivered; this allowed Xiaoxiao to rx. During the day, Xiaoxiao agonized over what performance could dazzle the audience that night. She had sung songs and performed magic tricks. On the third day, she had walked the T stage, unting her expressive eyes and eyebrows; on the fourth, she told risque jokesshe really put everything she had into her performances. Seeing those girls, Xiaoxiaos eyes lit up. Since everyone wanted to learn, why not have them all perform together? That would certainly amaze the audience. So, she found the old madam and had someone quickly prepare the costumes and props needed for the evening. Since she was there, she might as well enjoy it; it was also going to be herst performance, after all. In the course of teaching, Xiaoxiao found that the girls seemed quite talented, especially the girl who yed music without selling her body. She yed a lovely tune, just like Wang Xiangxiang. The songs she sang could bring forth melodies. This pleasantly surprised Xiaoxiao. Therefore, that girl would provide the background music for the evening performance. The other girls were also very good and learned quickly. Xiaoxiao felt that they might not need to sell their bodies; perhaps they could earn Silver just by performing their arts. So, she asked everyone what they thought, "If you could earn Silver by performing, would you still want to sell your bodies?" "Of course not, we just dont have any other choice," they replied. "Yes, if we could earn Silver by performing, who would still sell their bodies?" "But we dont have any skills, we can only sell our bodies." "..." "..." It turned out everyone waspelled by dire circumstances to sell their bodies, and they banded together out of shared misery. If there was someone to lend a hand, they too would prefer to live normal lives, perhaps even marry and have children. When Xiaoxiao asked this, the old madams eyes started turning, as she sensed that Xiaoxiaos question wasnt casualshe must have a way to help the girls live without selling their bodies. If so, that would be excellent, considering everyone would age soon, and selling their bodies wasnt a sustainable solution. Moreover, hearing about the reputation of Yui Restaurant, the old madam became even more certain of her thoughts. If they were backed by Yui Restaurant, they wouldnt be bullied in the future. So, the old madam spoke up to Xiaoxiao, "Miss Xiaoxiao, could you consider buying Yixiang Courtyard?" The old madam thought that merely teaching them a few things wasnt a long-term solution. Yixiang Courtyard would eventually close if it remained in her hands; ultimately, everyone would suffer. As she spoke, the room fell silent; everyone looked towards Xiaoxiao and the old madam. Seeing that Xiaoxiao didnt speak, the old madam continued, "If Yixiang Courtyard doesnt have consistently fresh ideas, I fear it will eventually fail. Perhaps you could take over and help keep Yixiang Courtyard running for a long time." The old madams words also struck a chord with the girls; they didnt want to see Yixiang Courtyard destroyed on their watch. "The madam makes sense. Youngdy, please buy Yixiang Courtyard." Chapter 608 - 610: A Thousand Taels, I Bought It

Chapter 608: Chapter 610: A Thousand Taels, I Bought It

Regarding everyones request, Xiaoxiao was at a loss for words. How had they concluded she had the Silver to buy Yixiang Courtyard? She was broke, okay? "I dont have any Silver." "How can that be? Arent you associated with Yui Restaurant...?" Everyone was surprised at Xiaoxiaos im of having no Silver, because they thought she had connections with Yui Restaurant. "I only know the Young Master from Yui Restaurant, but we dont have any rtionship. Actually, Im just a farmer," exined Xiaoxiao. Hearing this, everyone fell silent as if struck, the hope that had just ignited was extinguished. It was as if things werent that bad before, but Xiaoxiaos suggestion that they could survive by only selling their talents and not their bodies had raised their expectations. Seeing everyones disappointed faces, Xiaoxiao felt helpless. Indeed, they were a pitiable group, the most vulnerable in this ce. But her own capabilities were limited; she was still just a farmer. Later, Xiaoxiao began to teach everyone about the evenings performance again, but everyonecked the excitement they had shown earlier. They all looked troubled, which made Xiaoxiao feel helpless. She softened her heart and asked, "How much Silver is needed to buy Yixiang Courtyard?" The procuresss eyes lit up at Xiaoxiaos question, "Not much, just a thousand taels." The procuress really hadnt exaggerated; she and the girls had scraped together one thousand five hundred taels to secure Yixiang Courtyard. Moreover, the girls had all used their savings to buy their freedom. Otherwise, a thousand taels wouldnt have been enough; ten thousand taels would be more like it, since buying their freedom was expensive. For Xiaoxiao, however, a thousand taels was too much. Toe up with a thousand taels was like ripping her heart out; she didnt have that much Silver on hand. Wang Xiangxiang had given her five hundred taels, and she had three hundred taels left from selling pickled cabbage. She had also made some money selling underwear recently, so there should be some Silver left. But spending it all would mean they couldnt build their house. Yet, considering the future of Yixiang Courtyard, Xiaoxiao thought that if it was reformed well, it could be a cash cow. Buying Yixiang Courtyard during their time of trouble seemed like a golden opportunity. So, should she just grit her teeth and go for it? But after the fish pond, they would need Silver again; Xiaoxiao was really torn. Without money, life was truly difficult. Looking at the girls, each one with hopeful eyes, she found she couldnt refuse. She realized she was a soft-hearted person but also a businesswoman who saw the potential for profit. "No cunning, no business," probably described her. However, she still believed in having a conscience. Thus, she gritted her teeth and agreed, "Fine, one thousand taels. Ill buy it." Upon hearing Xiaoxiaos words, everyone instantly became ted, grasping each others hands. "Thats great, Yixiang Courtyard is saved." "Yes, its saved." Seeing everyones reaction, a smile appeared on Xiaoxiaos lips as she added, "Although I said Id buy it, I dont have the Silver at the moment. Ill get it when my friend arrives." "No rush, no rush. Whenever you can give it is fine." The procuress was beaming, unable to stop smiling. She had demanded a thousand taels because she wanted to use it to subsidize everyones expenses over time; otherwise, she would have taken nothing as long as she could help Yixiang Courtyard get back on its feet. Afterward, everyone started rehearsing again. Even Xiaoxiao herself hadnt anticipated that this trip to the brothel would turn out to be so dramatic. Just like that, she had be the owner of a brothel. Only, having spent all the familys Silver, would she get beaten for it? Chapter 609 - 611: Found the Whereabouts of the Human Traffickers

Chapter 609: Chapter 611: Found the Whereabouts of the Human Traffickers

Lin County, Chu Mansions front hall The entire room was shrouded in a profoundly gloomy atmosphere; it had already been the fifth day since Xiaoxiao went missing, and they had stille up empty-handed. "Weve checked everyone who went to the Marriage Fate Temple that day, and theres no problem," Han Yongsheng was the first to speak. Xiaoxiao disappeared from the talent contest held by the Han Family, which bore an inescapable responsibility. They had primarily investigated the people who visited the Marriage Fate Temple on the day, but to no avail, and no one noticed Xiaoxiaos whereabouts. "We searched every ce where humans could be trafficked, and theres still no news," Chu Lian said despairingly. He had mainly looked into human traffickers, brothels, and other such ces, but Lin County wasnt his territory, and the madam of Yixiang Courtyard was a tough character. Therefore, he did not find Xiaoxiao in the Yixiang Courtyard, and the traffickers they had checked before suddenly disappeared. At this moment, Yang Ming was already a shadow of his former self, having gone several days and nights without sleep. His beard was unkempt, and he had be considerably haggard; time passed like years for him now. He couldnt believe he had lost his wife, especially right under his nose, and he had reproached himself countless times. "Yang Ming, hows your investigationing along?" Yang Ming shook his head in anguish, "I found nothing. Its as if those traffickers vanished into thin air." It had been five days with not a single piece of news. Yang Ming had a bad feeling. Since they couldnt find anyone on all three fronts, he suspected that those people might have taken his wife to another county. He couldnt dy any longer in his own county, "Brother Chu, I need to go to other counties. Xiaoxiao might have been taken there." As Yang Ming spoke, he rose to leave. Chu Lian looked as though he wanted to say something, but was stopped by Wang Xiangxiang, "Let him go." With Xiaoxiao missing, Yang Ming couldnt sit still; it was better to let him go search. So they let him go, as there was no other option but to continue searching. Afterward, Han Yongsheng also left. Yang Ming returned to Xuntian Escort Agency, nning to lead a team to investigate in other counties once everyone was assembled. However, he received exhrating news instead, "Store Manager, weve found the whereabouts of those traffickers." "Where?" Yang Ming stood up excitedly and headed out, "Quick, take me there." Soon, Yang Ming and his group arrived at the location of the traffickers, "Store Manager, theyre in this courtyard. Our men saw one of them enter." "Some of you stay here, and the rest follow me inside," Yang Ming ordered, and they all silently entered the courtyard. Inside the courtyard at that moment "Boss, when can we get out of here?" someone asked impatiently. The human trafficker boss pped his brothers shoulder, "Look at the nerve youve got. Just bear with it a few more days. The streets are crawling with folks looking for us, do you want to get caught going out?" One of the brothers, intimidated by the bosss words, started to nervously pace, trying to leave, but was noticed by the human trafficker boss, "Where are you off to?" "Boss, Im just going to thetrine." "Im asking where you were just now?" "No, nowhere." "You better be telling the truth. If I find out you went out, youll be sorry." "Boss, I wouldnt dare." Before he could finish speaking, people were suddenly apprehended by those Yang Ming had brought into the courtyard, "Nobody move." Yang Mings team acted swiftly, quickly surrounding the people, and the human trafficker boss knew it was one of his own men who had led them there. He cursed under his breath and shouted, "Goddamn, everyone, get them!" Chapter 610 - 612 The Wanhua Building Sold to Beijing

Chapter 610: Chapter 612 The Wanhua Building Sold to Beijing

The two sides shed fiercely like that, By then, Yang Mings eyes had turned a furious red. Continuing this way would only waste time; he had to take down the enemys leader as quickly as possible to end this fight. During the fight, Yang Mings gaze was fixed on the reactions of the enemy. He spotted the recently shouted leader. Yang Ming stepped forward, rushed to the human trafficker leaders front, grabbed his arm, and twisted forcefully, producing a crack sound. The shoulder joint had dislocated, and the trafficker leader screamed, "Ahh!" Yang Ming continued to hold the dislocated arm and kicked at the trafficker leaders leg. Unexpected by the sudden move, the trafficker leader fell to his knees without any power to resist. Seeing that Yang Ming had knocked down the trafficker leader, two Escort Heads immediately seized the man and shouted into the courtyard, "Nobody move." It was then that the traffickers saw their boss captured and stopped moving, shouting, "Big brother!" In the moment they were worried about their boss, the Escort Heads quickly subdued everyone, and hence, the fight ended. Yang Ming, taking out the dagger he always carried from his waist, walked up to the human trafficker leader, pointed the knife at him, and said fiercely, "Speak fast, where did you send the woman you kidnapped from the Marriage Fate Temple?" The trafficker boss kept silent until an Escort Head punched him and also demanded harshly, "Speak up, or well beat you to a pulp." The beaten trafficker boss then spoke up, "I dont know what youre talking about?" "You dont know? Then Ill make sure you do." The voice was so menacing that it sent shivers down the spines of all those listening, all eyes on him to see what he would do next. Yang Ming then stabbed the trafficker bosss thigh without a moments hesitation, the fierce action unequivocal. The trafficker bosss thigh bled profusely while he screamed in agony, "Ahh!" "Big brother." The pressed-down traffickers also became frantic as they attempted to break free. Yang Mings actions shocked the members of the Escort Agency; usually appearing gentle and refined, they had not expected him to strike with such ferocity, revealing that their Store Manager was not someone to be trifled with. "Do I need to remind you again?" The trafficker boss really kept his lips sealed tight, wailing, "I really dont know what youre talking about, we didnt capture..." Before he could finish, Yang Mings knife moved towards his other leg, the sound of the de piercing flesh was unbearably painful to hear, "Ahh!" "Where exactly did you take the woman?" By then, Yang Ming was as furious as a rampaging lion, clinging to the only clue he had, he had to find out her whereabouts. Despite the ongoing questions, the trafficker leader remained silent. Yang Ming, his eyes zing with rage,manded, "Beat them senseless until they start talking." At this point, Yang Ming no longer cared about the consequences. His wife was missing, to hell with it, on hearing the order, the Escort Heads started beating with fists and feet. The courtyard echoed with the traffickers cries of agony until finally the leader could no longer withstand, "Stop hitting, Ill talk." Only then did Yang Ming order everyone to stop, "Speak quickly." "We sold the girls we kidnapped to the Wanhua Building in Beijing." Upon receiving the news, Yang Ming immediately stood up, instructing the Escort Heads as he walked, "Tie them all up and take them to the government office, put up a sign stating they are traffickers who fled to Lin County." After giving the instructions, he led the brothers waiting outside towards Beijing. Chapter 611 - 613: Can I Go in Men’s Clothing?

Chapter 611: Chapter 613: Can I Go in Mens Clothing?

By this time, the sky had already darkened, and the escort heads, following the instructions of the store manager, had tied the people up and taken them to the government office. Without a doubt, those people were seized and locked up in therge prison of the government office. The traffickers confined in the prison revealed a sinister smile, "Big brother, you are indeed clever." The leader of the traffickers snorted coldly, "Hmm, if our lives are miserable, we wont let theirs be any better." Then, looking at his own leg, he added, "Ow, it really fucking hurts." Regardless, the traffickers had met their end this time, and it seemed they wouldnt be leaving that cell anytime soon. At this moment, Yang Ming still didnt know he had been tricked. He, along with the escort heads, was rushing toward Beijing at full speed. Forehall of the Chu Mansion in Lin County The table inside the room wasid with plenty of food, all prepared by Chu Lians servants for Wang Xiangxiang. However, Xiangxiang had eaten very little over the past few days, and she had visibly lost weight because she was too worried and couldnt eat at all. Chu Lian saw this and felt a pang of heartache. If Xiaoxiao wasnt found, he doubted she would have the heart to listen to his confession. He served Xiangxiang some food, reassuring her, "Regardless, you need to eat. Otherwise, before your sister returns, you might copse first, and when your sisteres back, she might me me for not taking good care of you." "Mm." Xiangxiang agreed but clearly wasnt listening, her chopsticks fidgeting with the food but not bringing it to her mouth. Chu Lian shook his head; he too had no appetite but was forcing himself to eat. Shortly after, a house servant reported that Yui Restaurant had sent a letter demanding his personal attention to open it. Chu Lian thought there might be some internal issue at the restaurant and hurriedly opened the letter. Seeing its contents, Chu Lian eximed excitedly, "Xiangxiang, your sister has been found." "Really?" Hearing this, Xiangxiang also stood up excitedly. Chu Lian passed the letter to Xiangxiang. "Quick, look. She said shes in the Yixiang Courtyard and asked us to meet her there tonight." Xiangxiang hastily took the letter and read it carefully, then excitedly said, "Yes, its her handwriting, its her handwriting." The two of them, in their excitement, embraced each other. Tears filled Xiangxiangs eyes, relieved to finally have news of Xiaoxiao. Once the two had calmed down, they realized they were embracing and quickly let go, both embarrassed by their actions. To ease the awkward atmosphere, Chu Lian quickly said, "You wait here at home. Ill go to Yixiang Courtyard right now and bring her back." As Chu Lian was about to leave, he could not afford any dy, but Xiangxiang stopped him, looking at him earnestly, "Iming too." "Its not suitable for a youngdy to go to that kind of ce. Just wait obediently at home for my return," Chu Lian coaxed her as if talking to a child. "..." Xiangxiang felt embarrassed by his words, as she often frequented such ces and even took Xiaoxiao there. If Chu Lian knew, he might think she wasnt a properdy. But she still wanted to go. She couldnt wait. She wanted to see for herself how Xiaoxiao was and how she had been these past few days. Holding onto Chu Lians arm without letting go, she shyly said, "What if I wear mens clothes? Would that be okay?" Seeing the earnest plea in Xiangxiangs delicate demeanor, Chu Lians heart fluttered. He thought, let here then. He would feel more at ease with her by his side. Consequently, he called a servant, "Prepare a set of mens clothes for her." Upon hearing this, Xiangxiang immediately blossomed with joy. Chapter 612 - 614: Entering Yixiang Courtyard

Chapter 612: Chapter 614: Entering Yixiang Courtyard

Soon, Wang Xiangxiang had changed into mens attire, but her delicate features, clean and fair, still made her look unmistakably feminine. Wang Xiangxiang actually thought her disguise was pretty good. She twirled around for Chu Lian to see, "What do you think, do I pass?" "..." Could he honestly say she didnt? But seeing her determination to go regardless, he could only y along, "Yes, let us hurry then." The two boarded the carriage Acheng had prepared and hurried off to Yixiang Courtyard, where their own men had gathered around for any needed support. Thus, the three of them got off at the entrance of Yixiang Courtyard. A dedicated greeter was there at the door. Upon spotting Chu Lian and the others, the greeter immediately recognized Wang Xiangxiangs true identity as a woman. However, their madam had instructed them, reciting that Yixiang Courtyard was too rigid, and they couldnt adhere strictly to the rule that only men were allowed entry. So, the greeter weed them with a smile, "Gentlemen, this must be your first visit to our Yixiang Courtyard, yes? Today there is a grand performance, so you havee at the right time. Please,e in." With a blend of curiosity and confusion, Chu Lian and the others entered Yixiang Courtyard, the ce was bustling beyond belief. It was Chu Lians first visit to such a ce; he had thought all brothels were like this. He walked further inside while protectively keeping Wang Xiangxiang close, constantly feeling as though the men surrounding them reeked of a putrid odor. Inside, a staff member briefed them further. Tonight, a neer was to auction off her virgin night C undoubtedly, this was Xiaoxiao, mentioned in the letter that urged them to bid on her. Although unclear about Xiaoxiaos motives, they just had to cooperate for now; they would understand what was happening once they met her in person. "Find us seats, please." "Gentlemen, Im terribly sorry, but all the seats have been sold." "..." Chu Lian was speechless; he had never heard of having to buy a seat before, "Then add three seats for us, I will pay." "Right away, sir. Ill arrange that for you immediately. It will be a total of thirty Silver." As the attendant extended his hand for the money, Chu Lian pulled out thirty Silver from his pocket. He wouldnt mind paying even fifty Silver; he couldnt let his dear Xiangxiang get tired out. Soon, their seats were arranged, and the three of them sat down, quietly waiting to see exactly what kind of trick Xiaoxiao was ying. But the bustling atmosphere simply couldnt settle down. Not just the people seated in the hall, even the second-floor balconies were packed. Everyone was clearly there for Xiaoxiaos reputation, and the chatter was incredibly loud. "Hey, what do you think the show will be about today?" "What are you talking about? Its Xiaofeng." "But she keeps saying shes Love Spice every day." "Who cares? The performances are always unexpected anyway." "Absolutely thrilling; it wasnt a wasted trip." "Yes, even if we dont get her, watching the show is exciting enough." "Wonder whos lucky enough to bid on her today." "Maybe its Young Master Wang, did you see hes all set over there?" "..." "..." Such discussions reached the ears of Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang, igniting their curiosity about just what Xiaoxiao had done to bewitch these people so thoroughly. With so many people here for her, bidding might not go smoothly. And what exactly was Love Spice? Chapter 613 - 615: The Final Performance

Chapter 613: Chapter 615: The Final Performance

At this moment, Xiaoxiao and the girls were inside the room, applying makeup, waiting for the performance that would soon take ce. The Little Maid ran in excitedly, "Madame Boss, its incredible! Today the hall is packed with people; even the upper floor is filled with standing spectators." The title Madame Boss was something Xiaoxiao had asked to be called. Initially, she thought of terms like President or Director, butter felt they were too detached from reality and that Boss and Madame Boss were more down-to-earth. The position of Boss was reserved for Yang Ming. Xiaoxiao stood up, her smile slight, yet with a battle-ready air, "Ladies, lets go." Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang were anxiously waiting there, seated for a while without any sign of the show starting. Suddenly, an open space was cleared in the hall, and the candles were also arranged to be extinguished. As everyone became flustered, the beautiful melody of music began to y, and the candles were lit again. Unbeknownst to all, a veiled woman had appeared at the center of the hall, dancing gracefully. The scene quieted down immediately because everyone knew that she was the nights main character, Afuyou, starting her performance. Wang Xiangxiang recognized Xiaoxiao, who only had her eyes showing, at a nce. She grabbed Chu Lians arm and whispered, "Its Xiaoxiao, its Xiaoxiao." Chu Lian ced his hand on Wang Xiangxiangs,forting her, "Dont panic, just keep watching." Xiaoxiao danced her way towards the crowd in the hall, approached the first table, and then pulled up a man seated there. The two began to dance a social dance beside the table; her hand was on his shoulder, now bending, now spinning, now casting flirtatious nces, making the other mens eyes gleam. After a while, Xiaoxiao was spun around a few times before moving to the second table, where the music shifted to a different tune. The men seated there were incredibly nervous, all hoping that Afuyou would pull them up for a dance. Of course, Xiaoxiao wouldnt rashly pull up someone she didnt know. The people at each table were prearranged by her, all from the sisters of Yixiang Courtyard disguised in mens attire. Xiaoxiao pulled up the "man" she had arranged and began another dance. The audience was fired up because the dance moves Xiaoxiao was showing were unlike anything they had ever seen. After several different dances, Xiaoxiao finally approached the table where Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang were seated. Xiaoxiao was surprised that Yang Ming hadnte, but she didnt have time to worry about that now. After all, they were here too, and this game would soon end. This time, instead of pulling up someone she had arranged, she directly selected Wang Xiangxiang. She had words to share, and the bewildered Wang Xiangxiang, who didnt know any dances, was pulled out. Pretending to flirt, Xiaoxiao leaned close to Wang Xiangxiangs ear and whispered in a volume only she could hear, "Dont worry, just follow my lead." ying the part of the gentleman, Xiaoxiao led Wang Xiangxiang in an elegant dance. Wang Xiangxiang found herself bending, spinning,pletely befuddled, but truly being led by Xiaoxiao. During this time, she also heard Xiaoxiaos instruction, "Whatever you doter, make sure to capture me." After the dance, Xiaoxiao moved on to the next table to dance with someone else. The ce was boiling over with excitement, for this was the first time they were witnessing Afuyou veiled face-to-face. Once back in her seat, Wang Xiangxiang quickly informed Chu Lian, "Xiaoxiao said that we must capture herter, no matter what it takes." Chapter 614 - 616: You Dare to Compete with Me for a Person?

Chapter 614: Chapter 616: You Dare to Compete with Me for a Person?

Finally, the music ceased, and Xiaoxiaos performance had ended. Apuse filled the venue as Xiaoxiao, surrounded by bodyguards, was escorted upstairs amid the pping. With the hall emptied, the men who had been standing on the second floor were asked to descend and stand in the center of the hall. The girls also retreated to their rooms to change back into womens attire. Everyone was excited because they had participated in tonights performance, and it had been a great sess. Truth be told, if possible, Xiaoxiao did not enjoy putting on such performances, but she was helpless in this matterwho could me her when she was in a brothel, a ce designed to entice men to spend their money! Moreover, everything had to go ording to the original n. Xiaoxiao stood at the top of the stairs on the second floor, and with her beautiful voice, she said, "Thank you all for your patronage over the past five days. As Ive said before, only the person who spends a night of spring with me will get to see my face. So please, start bidding now, starting at fifty taels." Upon hearing the starting price of fifty taels, the venue boiled with excitement. Fifty taels was the price of a pir in the establishmentno one had expected the fiery oil to start at such a price. Without substantial family backing, bidding was out of the question. Many could only watch the excitement, but those from well-off families found the starting bid of fifty taels for this mysterious and talented woman to be very much worth it, so the bidding continued without end. "I bid sixty taels." "I bid seventy taels." "Eighty taels here." "..." "..." Listening to these calls, Xiaoxiao nearly died of regret. She should have avoided pressuring herself from the start. If she had begun by cultivating other girls, she could have made a fortune by now. No matter how the bids went up, it would always be Chu Lian who won the auction. It was all an act, and she wouldnt get a single penny out of it. Wang Xiangxiang was frantic upon seeing the state of the event. What were they to do, and when would it be appropriate for them to bid? Chu Lian, seeing Wang Xiangxiangs flustered appearance, gave her a reassuring look andforted her, "Dont worry, I mayck many things, but I certainly dontck silver." "..." Wang Xiangxiang was at a loss for words. His statement was correct, but why did it feel so awkward to hear? Sure enough, the calls to raise the bid never stopped, and the price soared to three hundred taelsa sum that could pay for several hundred women. At this point, some gave up and ceased topete. Looking around, Xiaoxiao noticed Chu Lian had yet to make a bid, but as the scene had quieted down after reaching three hundred taels, she braced herself and hinted to Chu Lian, "Ill call for the third time to signify a deal. Three hundred taels for the first timeis there anyone else who wants to raise the bid? Three hundred taels for the second time!" It was then that Chu Lian began to bid, "I bid five hundred taels." At this utterance, many turned in unison to look at Chu Lian, realizing that they were not very familiar with the neer. Wondering which familys son could be so generous, they had thought five hundred taels would seal the deal, but suddenly an unexpected turn urred. "I bid six hundred taels." "Seven hundred taels." "Eight hundred taels." "Nine hundred taels." "One thousand taels." Chu Lian did not expect the other to bid up to one thousand taels. At this rate, the two bidders would never be able to determine a victor. By this time, Wang Xiangxiang was beyond anxious. She looked at the person who was bidding against them, her eyes wide open in shock. Suddenly, she pounded the table and rose, breaking the tense atmosphere of the venue. She shouted fiercely at the other party, "Do you darepete with me for a person?" The other party was also very surprised upon seeing Wang Xiangxiang, "How did you get here?" Chapter 615 - 617 Congratulations to Young Master for Successfully Bidding 900 Taels

Chapter 615: Chapter 617 Congrattions to Young Master for Sessfully Bidding 900 Taels

Wang Xiangxiang had not expected to see him in a ce like the brothel, he wasnt the type to visit such ces. Her face turned cold and frightening, and upon seeing Wang Xiangxiang, he exchanged a few words with the person beside him and then walked over to where Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian were seated, asking quite normally, "When did Young Master Wang arrive in Lin County, and why havent youe to find me?" Seeing her dressed entirely in mens attire and appearing at a ce like the brothel, although he didnt know what she was up to, he still yed along and asked her without exposing her disguise. Wang Xiangxiang didnt answer his question but rather bluntly said, "Less nonsense, are you giving up this person today or not?" The two interacted like old acquaintances, which sparked intense jealousy in Chu Lian, especially when he saw the other man ying along with Wang Xiangxiang and speaking in a doting tone, and even spending generously, all of which made Chu Lian feel threatened. "Yes, yes, yes, how could I not yield to the person Young Master Wang fancies?" Then the man looked toward Xiaoxiao and said very courteously, "A gentleman delights in seeing others seed; since this young master has taken a liking, I will not bid." After finishing, he gave Wang Xiangxiang a meaningful look, with a smile forming at the corners of his mouth, "Is Young Master Wang satisfied now?" Wang Xiangxiang cracked a slight smile and said without reservation, "Thats more like it." Although Xiaoxiao didnt know the rtionship between Wang Xiangxiang and this man, she was obviously relieved now, as the game she had entirely scripted and directed herself was finallying to a close. For the perfect ending to this game, Xiaoxiao still feigned surprise and asked, "Are you sure, young sir, that youre not going to raise the bid?" "Certain." "Anyone else bidding?" The people at the event looked around at each other, and since no one bid, it was clear that the unfamiliar young master was set on winning, and any further bids would be pointless. Wang Xiangxiang was very excited at that moment and quickly signaled to Chu Lian, "Hurry, take out the silver note, youve won the bid." Seeing this situation, Xiaoxiao slowly walked down the stairs, approached the table of Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian, and with a coy smile, gently took the silver note from Chu Lians hand, "Congrattions, sir. Youve sessfully bid nine hundred silver notes, and now you may apany me upstairs for a moment of spring evening." "..." Chu Lians face twitched, wishing Xiaoxiao wouldnt speak like that, Yang Ming would kill him if he found out they were enacting such a scene, "Your name was Spicy Skin Oil, right? You go upstairs first, Ille upter." "Pfft." Hearing Chu Lian say Spicy Skin Oil, Xiaoxiao couldnt help but burst outughing, quickly regained herposure, and spoke very gently and politely, "Then, young mistress will wait upstairs." Afterwards, under the escort of the bodyguards, Xiaoxiao returned to her room upstairs. Once inside, she could no longer contain herself and burst intoughter,ughing at the expression on Chu Lians face when she mentioned spending a spring evening together; he looked absolutely terrified of Wang Xiangxiangeven though it was all pretended. And Wang Xiangxiangs male attire, was she sure she wasnt here to beical? Which man has such a prominent chest? fr\eewebno vel .c(o)m "Shopkeeper, what are youughing at?" the Little Maid asked. Xiaoxiao stoppedughing and said, "Nothing, nothing," but then couldnt helpughing out loud again, "Haha, hehe." "..." Chapter 616 - 618: Tonight is the Last Time the Girls Sell Themselves

Chapter 616: Chapter 618: Tonight is the Last Time the Girls Sell Themselves

The performance had ended, the auction had ended, and many people knew it was time to call for the girls, but this time Madam Brothel Keeper refused them, "Gentlemen, please stay calm and wait a little longer. Tonight, the new owner of Yixiang Courtyard will announce some matters here. After her announcement, the girls will take good care of all you gentlemen." As soon as these words were spoken, the scene started to get restless. Yixiang Courtyard was bing more and more interesting. Not only were the performances novel, but the girls were auctioned off for as much as nine hundred Silver taels. Now there was a new owner, which piqued everyones interest even more, and they were eager to hear what new tricks this new owner would y. After returning to her room, Xiaoxiao quickly changed into a different outfit and re-styled her hair to prevent people from recognizing her as the girl who had been auctioned off just moments ago. Once everything was ready, she walked over to the side of Madam Brothel Keeper, who introduced to everyone, "Gentlemen, this is the new owner of Yixiang Courtyard." Upon hearing this, everyone was amazed the new owner of Yixiang Courtyard was a girl in her teens. At this moment, Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian were also shocked. What kind of game was Xiaoxiao ying? The letter had only a few sentences, mentioning she was at Yixiang Courtyard, asking them to bid for her, without mentioning anything about this additional program. At this time, Xiaoxiao smiled slightly and lowered her voice, saying, "Greetings to everyone. I am the new owner of Yixiang Courtyard. I want to announce something today: tonight is thest night of business for Yixiang Courtyard, which means that calling for the girlster will be thest time. Starting tomorrow, the girls of Yixiang Courtyard will no longer sell their bodies." These words caused even more of a stir among the crowd. Everyone had witnessed the recent poprity of Yixiang Courtyard, and they were astonished that the new owner would choose not to continue such a profitable business and close down Yixiang Courtyard. "So, those who wish to call for the girls tonight should hurry, because this will be thest time," Xiaoxiao reminded them again, in the hopes of fetching a good priceter. Although she was reluctant to sell herself, she feared that refusing to do so tonight might provoke public anger, so she was prepared to sell herself for the final time. "Yixiang Courtyard will be closed for reorganization starting tomorrow, and will formally re-open on the first of next month. If you all wish to see performances simr to those of thest five evenings, pleasee and support us then." This was also a way to convey to everyone that Yixiang Courtyard would have even more impressive performances in the future. Xiaoxiao believed her fame from the past five days had grown significantly, and with a bit of advertising and marketing, many people woulde to watch. Thats right, Xiaoxiao intended to transform the brothel into a theater specifically for performances. Currently, there was no such venue in this ce, and even if there were shows, they werent as good as the ones in her mind. When the time came, they would charge admission per person, and people of all ages, men and women, could attend. She was confident that it would not be less profitable than the brothel. After the announcement, people expressed regret that the brothel girls would no longer be selling their bodies but looked forward to these innovative shows with anticipation. Since it was the girlsst night to sell themselves, many young masters spentvishly, with nearly every girl fetching the price of fifty Silver taels for a patron. That night, Xiaoxiao earned a substantial amount of Silverthe brothel was practically given to her for free as she recouped her investment in one night. Madam Brothel Keeper couldnt stop smiling either. She was deeply impressed by Xiaoxiaos tactics. The fact that such a capable girl was only in her teens was unbelievable. She felt fortunate for her decision to turn an enemy into a friend; otherwise, she might not even know how she would have died. Chapter 617 - 619: We Have a Childhood Sweetheart Relationship

Chapter 617: Chapter 619: We Have a Childhood Sweetheart Rtionship

Wang Xiangxiangs eyes were shining as she was amazed by Xiaoxiaos business tactics. "How could she be so capable?" she wondered. Seeing that Xiaoxiao had finally taken a rest, Wang Xiangxiang hurriedly stepped forward, "Xiaoxiao, what on earth is going on?" Not only was Wang Xiangxiang puzzled, but Chu Lian was also very confused. A person who had disappeared for five days had suddenly be the owner of Yixiang Courtyardit was utterly inconceivable. Xiaoxiao didnt answer their questions and instead asked anxiously, "Where is my husband? Why hasnt hee?" "You were lost at the Marriage Fate Temple; he was frantic with worry, constantly searching for you outside. Hes probably gone to another ce by now," Chu Lian exined. Xiaoxiao felt a bit downcast; she had not seen Yang Ming for several days and missed him. On reflection, it made senseshe had gone missing, so he must have been driven mad with worry. f|re(e)web.n\ovel. (c)o.m "You still havent said what happened," Wang Xiangxiang asked again. Xiaoxiao nced at the hall where people had not yet left. Such matters should not be overheard by others, so she whispered, "Lets go inside and talk in detail." Wang Xiangxiang caught Xiaoxiaos drift and was just about to follow her when she saw someone in the hall looking at her. Her brow furrowed and she walked over to the person, "Why havent you left? Do you want to call for a girl? Should I help you find one from the Chunfeng Pavilion across the street?" The person didnt care about Wang Xiangxiangs teasing and started to tease her back, "What act are you putting on? Dressing like neither a man nor a woman, and evening to a brotheldo you like women?" "..." Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang was so angry she didnt want to talk anymore and turned to walk away, heading back towards Xiaoxiao. When the man saw Wang Xiangxiang leaving, he quickly followed, continuing to say, "I mean, look at you, this ones not right, that ones not rightfor all these years, turns out you like women, huh?" Wang Xiangxiang was really infuriated, forgetting where she was; she turned around and shouted loudly at him, "I dont like women, I like men. Men!" Her outburst sessfully drew everyones attention. Imagine the awkwardness of someone dressed in mens clothes, shouting that they didnt like women but liked men. However, Wang Xiangxiang had already forgotten that she was dressed in mens clothing. She stormed back, but her outburst did not stop the man froming closer either, as he continued saying, "Fine, fine, fine, my little mistress, you like men. Are you happy now?" This way of speaking made Chu Lian even more disgusted; he felt as if his position had been usurped. His expression turned ugly as he spoke to Wang Xiangxiang in a measured tone, "Who is this person? Arent you going to introduce us?" Chu Lians cold tone took Wang Xiangxiang aback. Before she could introduce them, the man spoke up first, "I am Guo Feng. We have a childhood friendship." Wang Xiangxiang red at him, "Childhood friendship my foot, nobody will think you are mute if you stay quiet." "Hey, hey, hey, weve known each other since we were kids. If we arent childhood friends, what are we?" "I hardly know you." "Hey, you need to have a conscience when you speak. We just met half a month ago." "..." "..." The two of them continued their unrestrained banter,pletely disregarding the person beside them. By now, Chu Lian beside them had a face dark as coal. Chapter 618 - 620: Stop Being Picky, You’re Already an Old Maid

Chapter 618: Chapter 620: Stop Being Picky, Youre Already an Old Maid

Xiaoxiao looked at those two people. It turned out that was Guo Feng, Wang Xiangxiangs childhood friend. Although she had always denied it, from what she could see now, it was definitely the case. Only in such a rtionship would Wang Xiangxiang dare to let the other make demands so unreservedly, and the other would agree without a second word. Seeing the two chatter on endlessly, a smile yed on Xiaoxiaos lips. She guessed that must have been how the two always interacted. Looking at their dynamic, it was somewhat simr to how Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang used to interact. Speaking of Chu Lian, Xiaoxiao looked at him, huh? Why had the air pressure suddenly dropped? He couldnt be about to spill his jealousy all over, could he? Now that would be interesting. As expected, Chu Lian couldnt bear it any longer, and he finally spoke out, "Are you two done talking?" Only then did Wang Xiangxiang remember she had been talking to another man in front of Chu Lian like that. Would he think she was too arrogant and domineering? She immediatelyposed herself, and with evident embarrassment began to speak, "Let me introduce, this is my business partner, Guo Feng." Guo Feng nced at Wang Xiangxiang, correcting her, "Not just business partners." Wang Xiangxiang shot him a re, signaling him to shut up, and then continued with the introductions, "This is Chu Lian, the Young Master of Yui Restaurant, and this is my good friend, Zhong Xiaoxiao." After Wang Xiangxiang had finished introducing them, Guo Feng greeted them with politeness, "Ive long admired both of you; Xiangxiang owes much to your care." In fact, the Guo and Wang families had been friends for generations. Guo Feng had been sickly since childhood, which was why a child bride had been arranged for him. However, after the child bride was sold, Guo Fengs illness had improved. There had been attempts to matchmake the two children, but as the kids showed no romantic interest in each other, they were eventually dropped. Although they didnt have feelings of love, they indeed had a strong sibling-like bond. But Chu Lian knew nothing of this. Hearing the other calling her "Xiangxiang" made his jealousy spill overpletely, "Taking care of Xiangxiang is our duty; no need for your reminder." "..." Seeing Chu Lian was out of good words, Xiaoxiao quickly interjected, "My sister has mentioned you before, and today I finally get to meet you." "Xiangxiang has also mentioned you a lot. She even said you started a fish pond. Thats really impressive." "Oh, thats just a fluke." Mentioning the fish pond reminded Guo Feng of something, so he said to Wang Xiangxiang, "Oh, speaking of which, Xiangxiang, I should introduce you to someone someday, a friend of mine, Han Yongsheng from Yongan Fish Pond." "..." Hearing the name Han Yongsheng, Wang Xiangxiangs heart skipped a beat. That was a name she never wanted to mention again, not wanting to recall the past, "No need." Just as Guo Feng was about to say something else, he was stopped by Chu Lian, "Master Guo, its gettingte, and we have other matters. I think perhaps you should..." fre.eweb novel\.c om At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang also spoke, "You should go ahead and leave, we indeed have matters to attend to." Guo Feng understood Wang Xiangxiang too well and knew she had things to do, so he did not insist on staying longer, "Then Ill take my leave, everyone." But he hadnt walked more than a few steps before he returned, pulling Wang Xiangxiang to one side and whispered, "Xiangxiang, that Chu Lian has been hostile towards me the whole time. Has he taken a fancy to you? If he has, just marry him and be done with it. Did you hear me? Stop being so picky; youre bing an old maid." Wang Xiangxiangs face flushed with embarrassment as she watched Guo Feng walk away. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang return with a flushed face, Chu Lian felt an unprecedented sense of crisis. He felt that if he didnty his cards on the table now, rivals would be everywhere. So he said to Wang Xiangxiang, "When we get hometer, I have something to tell you." Chapter 619 - 621: You’re Getting Something for Nothing!

Chapter 619: Chapter 621: Youre Getting Something for Nothing!

Chu Lians words made Wang Xiangxiangs heart pound incessantly. What was he going to say to her? Could it really be as Guo Feng had said? By this time, everyone in the hall had left, and Xiaoxiao had also taken everyone inside the house. Upon entering the house, Wang Xiangxiang immediately hugged Xiaoxiao and cried, "Xiaoxiao, you were lost, we were all so worried. What exactly happened? Werent you lost at the Marriage Fate Temple? How did you end up being the owner of Yixiang Courtyard?" "Yes, I was kidnapped by human traffickers at the Marriage Fate Temple and sold here," she replied. "What?" Wang Xiangxiang asked as she examined Xiaoxiao anxiously, "Did they hurt you, huh?" "Sister, dont worry, Im fine, and I own Yixiang Courtyard now." "..." Seeing Xiaoxiaos condition, it was clear she was doing quite well. "Come on, tell me exactly what happened." Xiaoxiao chuckled and continued, "At first, I just wanted to send you a message to tell you I was here, so I thought of a performance to begin with, selling virginity, prostituting nightly. "I hoped that by making a big ssh, more people woulde to know, and then they could help carry my stage name out. That way, Yang Ming would hear my stage name ande to rescue me, but none of you seemed to notice." "With that stage name of yours, so unpleasant, what does it even mean?" Wang Xiangxiangined. "Oh, never mind that; my husband understands it." Xiaoxiao pouted, deciding not to exin further, and then continued, "Later, when they saw how well I performed, and I had some tricks, they pleaded with me..." Xiaoxiao rattled off the whole story to them. After she finished, Wang Xiangxiang said, "So you bought this brothel for one thousand taels of silver?" "Yes." Xiaoxiao nodded. Clutching Xiaoxiaos hands excitedly, Wang Xiangxiang eximed, "Xiaoxiao, do you realize just how lucky you are?" Xiaoxiao looked puzzled. "What do you mean?" "What do you mean, what do I mean? Dont you know, even a brothel thats nearly bankrupt is worth tens of thousands of taels, and you managed to snag it for just a thousand?" "..." Xiaoxiao truly hadnt known that. "And the girls in the brothel are also valuable. Ive looked, and there seem to be dozens of them. Just buying them all would cost thousands of taels." "..." It then dawned on Xiaoxiao, right, even she was bought for fifty taels, and she would need to ask the madam about these matterster. "And then you just earned two thousand taels in one night, with each girl fetching fifty taels. Youre truly getting something for nothing, Xiaoxiao." "Hehe." Xiaoxiaoughed awkwardly; was this fortune borne from misfortune? Chu Lian stood by, utterly admiring Xiaoxiao. Others sold into a brothel might only end up as its prostitutes, but she had directly be the owner. The group continued chatting in the house, with Xiaoxiao describing everything she had seen and heard in the brothel over the five days. Later, they also summoned the madam and only then learned that the girls were now free. Xiaoxiao grew even more admiring of these women. Such good girls would surely find their own happiness, get married, and have children one day. Xiaoxiao always believed that kind people would have good fortunes. With everything clear, they nned to return to Chu Lians residence. Before they could leave, however, some thugs hurried in to report. "Madam, there are people causing trouble at the store, and our men can barely hold them off." Chapter 620 - 622: Husband, why did you just get here?

Chapter 620: Chapter 622: Husband, why did you just get here?

"What?" Xiaoxiaos eyebrows furrowed. It was her first day taking over the brothel, and she had even nned to wash her hands clean of this business, yet someone dared to tantly barge in. "Sister-inw, dont worry, Ive brought people with me; theyre just outside." Xiaoxiao searched the room and spotted a broom. She picked it up and walked outside, calling out sharply as she went, "Im going to see who it is." "..." Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang were speechless. Was Xiaoxiao really going to handle this herself? Couldnt she just not add to the chaos? "Xiaoxiao." Wang Xiangxiang was somewhat worried and frightened. "Its fine, Im just going out to have a look, to bolster my courage." Xiaoxiao had be recklessly brave at this moment, striding forward with a bold heart. Now that she was the boss, she absolutely could not show any weakness. Seeing Xiaoxiao like this, Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang had no choice but to follow. As they walked, Chu Lian didnt forget to protect Wang Xiangxiang, "Dont wander offter; stay close to me." The group quickly descended the stairs to the hall. Yang Ming caught sight of his wife holding the broom and hurriedly ran over to her, wrapping her in a hug, ready to leave, while anxiously saying, "Wife, Im here to rescue you, lets get out of here quickly." Xiaoxiao was already dumbfounded, okay? So the intruder disrupting the ce was Yang Ming; she felt like spitting out a mouthful of blood. Was this a case of sabotaging her own establishment? She pushed Yang Ming away, asking, "Husband, did you bring those people who are causing trouble?" Yang Ming, still concerned that his wife might be worried,forted her, "Wife, dont be afraid, well be out of here shortly." Xiaoxiaos face was already lined with frustration. She wasnt afraid at all; this was her turf. She hurriedly said, "Tell them to stop immediately." Yang Ming was bewildered by his wifes action. What did she mean by this? He then nced back and saw Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang, and was thoroughly confused. Xiaoxiaos expression turned a bit unsightly as she shouted into the hall, "Everyone, stop!" The fighters looked towards Xiaoxiao, and the Yixiang Courtyards men, seeing it was their madam giving the order, ceased their actions. At this point, Yang Ming also realized that those men seemed to be taking orders directly from his wife, so he shouted to his own brothers as well, "Stop fighting." Both sides then stopped the fight. Xiaoxiao told the men, "This is your boss." The fighters collectively bowed to Yang Ming, calling out, "Greetings, Boss." The loud voices truly gave Yang Ming a start. What exactly was going on? "Husband, please withdraw the people you brought with you." With a nce from Yang Ming, his brothers retreated first, returning to Heaven Escort Agency. Once those men had left, Xiaoxiao threw her arms around Yang Ming. Regardless of how many people were in the hall, she burst into tears, "Wuu, Husband, why did it take you so long toe?" Yang Ming hugged his wife, filled with remorse, "Im sorry, I waste; Ive let you suffer." At that moment, Xiaoxiao was like a child, sobbing her heart out. In fact, these past few days had been terrifying for her. Getting kidnapped and then sold was an experience she never wanted to repeat. No matter how strong Xiaoxiao appeared to be on the outside, she was always a little woman in front of Yang Ming; it was only with him that she would let her emotions flow freely. She clung to Yang Ming tightly, "Wuu, Husband, I missed you so much." "Stop crying, I missed you too." Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang, witnessing the unabashed embrace and the overtly mushy words of the couple, felt incredibly embarrassed. Both turned their heads away in sync, muttering to themselves about keeping such matters behind closed doors. Chapter 621 - 623 It’s Actually Because of Love for Spicy Skin Oil

Chapter 621: Chapter 623 Its Actually Because of Love for Spicy Skin Oil

But those two hugged for an overly long time. Didnt they want to go home anymore? Moreover, Chu Lian had important matters to attend to, so he coughed twice, "Cough, cough!" He made the sound to remind the hugging pair. Alerted by him, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao released each other. Xiaoxiao dried her tears and said to the thugs, "Im going out tonight and wille back during the day tomorrow. Keep an eye on the courtyard." "Okay, bossdy." With that, the four of them stepped outside, found Acheng, withdrew their forces, got on a carriage, and hurried toward Chu Mansion. On the way, Chu Lian asked, "Yang Ming, werent you supposed to go out of town? How did you discover your sister-inw was in Yixiang Courtyard?" "Actually, it was because of Ai La Fu oil." Yang Ming began to recall: After leaving those traffickers, Yang Ming and his brothers hurriedly galloped towards Beijing. When they passed through the first small town, they dismounted to buy some dry food at a restaurant. Yang Ming entered the restaurant with two escorts. The restaurant was quiet, with hardly any diners. After ordering Xiaoer to prepare some dry food, Yang Ming took out his wifes portrait and approached the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, have you seen this person?" The shopkeeper looked carefully at the portrait and then shook his head, "Never seen her." Hearing this, Yang Ming felt a bit dejected and returned to his seat to wait. Just then, he heard a customer chatting with the shopkeeper. "Shopkeeper, why are there so few people today?" free\we\bnov(e)(l) "Ah, theyve all gone to see someone. Whos going to eat?" "See whom?" "A new girl arrived at Yixiang Courtyard in Lin County. They say shes extremely talented, and tonight, she will be auctioned off for the first night. Quite a few young masters have gone there." "I heard about that too. Its all very mysterious. The girl wears a veil, and only the highest bidder tonight will see her face." By then, Xiaoer had finished preparing the dry food. Yang Ming stood up to leave, not interested in listening to the gossip anymore. However, the next words stopped him in his tracks. "The girl, whose stage name is Xiaofeng, always says after performing each night that her name is love something oil. Isnt that odd?" Hearing the phrase love something oil, Yang Mings heart skipped a beat. He excitedly approached the speaker and asked, "Esteemed sir, did you mean Ai La Fu oil?" "Oh, right, Ai La Fu oil. It sounds awful." View the correct content at fr\eewe.bn(o)v\el.c(o)m Hearing the others reply, Yang Mings emotions were indescribable. Those were words his wife would say. The person must be his wife. He immediately led his brothers back through the night. When they reached Yixiang Courtyards entrance, they were stopped by the guards who said that Ai La Fu oils first night had been auctioned off for nine hundred taels. How could Yang Ming not be anxious? He quickly led his brothers in, ready to fight to the death, but he hadnt anticipated the situation turning out like this. After recalling the incident, Yang Ming still earnestly asked, "Wife, you really took a big risk, even selling yourself!" Xiaoxiao pouted, "It wasnt worth it just to make a grand show of it, hoping youde to my rescue. But you only just arrived; its toote now." Continuing in a mocking tone, Xiaoxiao said, "Nine hundred taels, Ive already been bought." Given the situation, Yang Ming knew his wife was alright, yet she still frightened him like this. ying along, he said, "Who? Have you been mistreated, huh?" "..." Meanwhile, Chu Lians mouth twitched, wondering if the two of them could flirt without involving him. Chapter 622 - 624: Tonight, The Spicy Girl is Mine

Chapter 622: Chapter 624: Tonight, The Spicy Girl is Mine

When Yang Ming asked her like that, Xiaoxiao unabashedly nced at Chu Lian, then feigned an introducing gesture by spreading her hand and said to Yang Ming, "Far in the horizon, yet close before your eyes." "..." At this moment, Chu Lian was on the verge of tears. Why must they y like this? Fine, since they were ying, everyone might as well join in. Thus, he mimicked Xiaoxiao and introduced the male-garbed Xiangxiang beside him to Yang Ming, "I merely helped out with the silver, but the real bidder was this Mr. Wang beside me." Xiangxiang raised her small face andughed, "Yes, so tonight Ai La Fu You is mine." "Pfft." Hearing Ai La Fu You from others mouths made Xiaoxiaough indecently again. She said to Xiangxiang and Chu Lian, "Haha, can you two not keep saying Ai La Fu You." Knowing the meaning of Ai La Fu You, Yang Ming also found it funny and awkward when they said it, thus he chimed in, "Right, these four words can only be said by me; you two cant say them." Seeing Yang Ming and Xiaoxiaos reaction only piqued Chu Lian and Xiangxiangs interest more. What did Ai La Fu You mean and why could only those two understand it? Chu Lian wanted to know, but since Xiaoxiao was ady, he couldnt speak recklessly. However, Xiangxiang was different, fearlessly pressing the issue, "Come on, tell me what Ai La Fu You really means! If you dont tell me, Im going to keep saying it every day, Ai La Fu You, Ai La Fu You." Being openly threatened by Xiangxiang, Xiaoxiao decided to tease her, and so she began, "You can say Ai La Fu You every day to Mr. Chu, but you cannot say it to us." free.webno(v)e\l.(c)om At that moment, Xiangxiang lookedpletely innocent and immediately retorted, "Why not?" Xiaoxiaos lips curled up as she exined, "Actually, it means I LOVE YOU, like I like you, I love you. You shouldnt just say it to anyone, right?" Upon hearing it meant "I like you, I love you," Xiangxiangs face instantly flushed red. Xiaoxiao had really set a trap for her, and even said she could tell Chu Lian every day. At this moment, she really wanted to find a hole to crawl into, especially since Chu Lian was right beside her, listening in silence with her head bowed down. Watching the bashful Xiangxiang, Chu Lians lips curved into a smile,pletely unexpected that the phrase had that meaning. He also decided then that he would say it to herter. Seeing the carriage be quiet because of Xiangxiangs shyness, Chu Lian immediately spoke up to break the silence, "It should be Ai La Wu You, not Ai La Fu You." "..." By saying that, he was implying that Yang Mings pronunciation was inurate. Just as Xiaoxiao was about to speak, she heard Yang Ming say, "Ai La Fu You is meant for my wife alone; none of you should say it. But if you really want to say it to your wife, just say Ai La Wu You instead." "Alright, alright, alright, none of us will say it." Chu Lian helplesslyplied. He was just unting that he has a wife, and he doesnt. The carriage continued on, and after enough jokes, Xiaoxiao pulled a silver note from her pocket and handed it to Chu Lian, "Here you go." Chu Lian was initially taken aback and paused. Xiaoxiao continued, "What, were you seriously thinking of buying me?" "..." Could they not bring up buying or not buying again? Yang Mings dagger-like gaze was quite intimidating. Chu Lian took the silver note and tucked it away; soon, they arrived at Chu Mansion. Chapter 623 - 625 I Only Like You

Chapter 623: Chapter 625 I Only Like You

The group quickly dismounted from the carriage, with Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao rushing ahead, eager to return to their quarters; it seemed as if they had some urgent matters to attend to, leaving Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang speechless in their wake. Seeing Xiaoxiao following Yang Ming into his room, Wang Xiangxiang realized she likely wouldnt be able to spend the night with her and thus returned to her own room. Just as she was about to close the door, she heard Chu Lians voice, "Xiangxiang, I have something to say to you." Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiangs heart pounded fiercely. He had called her Xiangxiang several times that evening. Not just tonight, but he had frequently done so over the past few days, and he had taken great care of her. What exactly did he want to say to her? Her hand, poised to shut the door, stopped in its tracks, uncertain what to do. On the other side of the door, Chu Lians heartbeat quickened. It was the dead of night, hardly an appropriate time, and he knew she must be tired and in need of rest. However, he couldnt suppress the turmoil in his heart any longer; he couldnt wait another moment. He wanted to tell her that he liked her. Seeing that Xiangxiang made no move or response, Chu Lian pushed the door open and then closed it after entering. Suddenly with Chu Lian inside, Wang Xiangxiang felt at a loss, stepping back as she nervously fiddled with her fingers. "What do you want to say to me?" she asked. Chu Lian quickly stepped forward and reached out to grab her arm, turning the back-facing Wang Xiangxiang towards him. f r\eeNovelFire.c(o)(m) As they looked at each other, Wang Xiangxiang was incredibly nervous; she was terrified. Chu Lian, somewhat excited, held onto Wang Xiangxiangs arms as he finally expressed the thoughts hed been harboring, "Xiangxiang, I want to tell you that I like you, and I want to marry you." At those words, Wang Xiangxiangs mind buzzed. What had he just said? Was she hallucinating? Chu Lian was confessing his feelings for her, saying he wanted to marry her. Seeing no reaction from Wang Xiangxiang, Chu Lian grew anxious. He shook her arms slightly and repeated, "Xiangxiang, Xiangxiang, did you hear what I said? I said I like you, and I want to marry you." Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened in shock. This wasnt a hallucination; he had truly said it. She could hardly believe it; did he really like her? Speaking nervously, her voice trembled slightly, "But didnt you like Xiaoxiao? How can this be?" As soon as she mentioned Xiaoxiao, Chu Lian grew even more agitated, fearing a misunderstanding, and he hurriedly denied it, "I dont like her, I only like you." Wang Xiangxiangs heart raced wildly, because the man she liked was now professing his love for her. Yet it all felt so unreal to her, something she had longed for but never thought feasible, especially after what had transpired. Shaking her head frantically, she growled lowly, "No, I dont believe it." Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs current reaction, Chu Lians heart ached, "Xiangxiang, please calm down and listen to me." Wang Xiangxiang then fell quiet, listening as Chu Lian continued, "You may not believe it, but its the truth. Ive never liked anyone before and didnt know what it meant to like someone. After meeting Xiaoxiao, I found her to be unique and thought that was what liking someone meant." "But since I met you, my heart has been constantly swayed by you, even my temper has been influenced by you. Although I never admitted it, you are the one I think about when I open and close my eyes, the one in my dreams. I am absolutely certain now; my feelings for you are the affection between a man and a woman." Chapter 624 - 626

Chapter 624: Chapter 626

"This kind of liking makes me insanely jealous of all the men around you." "I got angry that you didnt ept my courtship, causing all the matchmakers in the city to refuse to arrange a match for you." "I was jealous of how close you were getting to Li Fugui, so I threatened him with fifty thousand taels to stay away from you." "I was afraid you would ept Han Yongshengs familys courtship, so I went on stage to snatch you away." "I was even maddened with jealousy today because Guo Feng called you Xiangxiang." "I want to protect you, care for you, afraid that something would happen to you, so I arranged for Acheng to stay by your side." "I want to get close to you, be near you, which is why I followed you to Lin County." "..." "..." "All of this, Im very certain that I have fallen for you." Listening to Chu Lians exnation and his passionate confession, Wang Xiangxiangs heart throbbed fiercely; she felt she could hardly breathe and was so touched that she couldnt utter a word. She felt so imperfect, unworthy of everything he was doing for her. Chu Lian kept talking incessantly, and to make Xiangxiang believe him, he even extended his hand, making a swearing gesture, "Believe me, I truly dont like Xiaoxiao, I only like you, I can swear to the heavens, if I..." Before Chu Lian could finish speaking, Wang Xiangxiangs outstretched finger blocked him. By that time, Wang Xiangxiang was already a tearful mess, choking up,"Dont make a vow, I believe you, I believe." Chu Lian grabbed Wang Xiangxiangs hand that was against his mouth and ced it on his chest, "Then, do you like me?" She did like him, she liked him very much, but looking into his deep eyes, she was afraid; she couldnt bring herself to say it, shaking her head, "Im not perfect, I dont deserve this at all." Chu Lian held Wang Xiangxiangs hand tightly and didnt let go, "You are worth it, you are the most perfect Xiangxiang in my heart." His deep words made Wang Xiangxiang lose control over her emotions; she wanted to indulge just once, to fight for her own happiness just once; she was crying inconsbly, uttering between sobs, "Thank you for liking me, I like you so much too." Getting such a response, Chu Lian could only be described as ecstatic; he excitedly said, "Its me who should thank you, thank you for liking me." Wang Xiangxiang felt she was happy at that moment; she wished time would stop right then. The two held each other, and hearing Wang Xiangxiang still crying, Chu Lian patted her head, "Xiangxiang, dont cry, dont cry!" "Mm." As Chu Lianforted Wang Xiangxiang, suddenly, a thought struck him of something Yang Ming had said, so he blurted out, "Xiangxiang, love spicy house sauce." These words sessfully amused Wang Xiangxiang; she pulled away from Chu Lian, looking at him, "Youre really saying it." "Im speaking to my wife." "Whos your wife?" "..." The two of them started to tease and bicker, each wearing a happy smile on their face. It really wasnt easy, after going through so much, they finally understood each others feelings. "Thank goodness, I didnt give up!" Chu Lian eximed. "Yes, thank goodness you didnt give up." Wang Xiangxiang felt that if Chu Lian hadnt persevered, she wouldnt have had the courage. Thank goodness the two of them finally had a good oue. They gazed at each other, and their faces unconsciously drew closer. However, just as their faces were about to meet. The door creaked open. And then came Xiaoxiaos voice, "Sis, Im back!" Chapter 625 - 627: Doing Nothing, Just Sleeping

Chapter 625: Chapter 627: Doing Nothing, Just Sleeping

Xiaoxiao, remembering Chu Lians instruction to apany Wang Xiangxiang to sleep, still came despite being reluctant to part with Yang Ming. But upon pushing the door open, she was met with such an eye-searing sight that she hurriedly backed out. She couldnt interrupt their intimate moment, so as she retreated she said, "Sorry, pretend I wasnt here, carry on." Xiaoxiao ran faster than a rabbit, quickly returning to Yang Mings room and swiftly closing the door behind her. "Wife, why have youe back?" Yang Ming, surprised, sat up straight from the bed and asked when he saw his wife returning. Xiaoxiao quickly walked over to Yang Ming with a smile stered on her face, as if she had just witnessed something unbelievable, "Hubby, guess what I just saw?" "What did you see?" "Take a guess." "How could I guess." "Ill give you a hint. I saw Chu Lian in Wang Xiangxiangs room." "..." Yang Ming was taken aback by his wifes words. Chu Lians situation was different from his; he and his wife were married, while Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang werent. Nevertheless, after understanding that the two mustve already be intimate, he realized there wasnt much point in being concerned about formalities. Seeing Yang Mings surprised expression, Xiaoxiao didnt keep him in suspense any longer. She made kissing gestures with her hands and said, "I saw them cuddling and kissing." "..." Yang Ming was even more astonished; he thought Chu Lian had just visited her room, not expecting such a scene. Could it be that the pair were already together? He felt quite impressed with Chu Lian, who had managed to win Wang Xiangxiang over in just half a month, whereas it had taken him several. "Wife, are you going back thereter?" "Are you stupid?" "..." "To watch them roll around in the sheets?" "..." Yang Ming was speechless. His wifes mind was running wild again. Chu Lian wasnt that type of person. Besides, his wifes brief interruption had already disrupted them; how could they have the nerve to continue? Regardless, his wife had stayed, and a mischievous smile appeared on his face. He was finally able to sleep with his wife. "Wife,e here." "What for?" Xiaoxiao leaned in. As Yang Ming helped his wife undress, he said, "Nothing, just to sleep." "..." Nothing? She didnt believe that for a second. Sure enough, Yang Ming started to get handsy... Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian, having been startled by Xiaoxiao, quickly let go of each other. Wang Xiangxiang, her face flushed red, covered her face with her hands and said, "What should we do? Xiaoxiao saw us." "..." What could they do but face it boldly, "Shes seen it, so what? Her and her man have unted their affection in front of us countless times already." "Pfft." Wang Xiangxiang was amused intoughter again, "You should go back now, its gettingte." "Okay, but let me hold you one more time." "Who said you could hold me?" Wang Xiangxiang said as she ran further inside. Chu Lian chuckled. Sooner orter, shed let him hold her. He walked towards the door, saying as he went, "Alright, Im leaving. Ill go call your sister-inw back to keep youpany." Chu Lian thought it would be a simple matter to call Xiaoxiao back since she had just left, but he hadnt anticipated that upon reaching Yang Mings door, he would hear sounds from inside that left little doubt as to what was happening. Those two really couldnt wait even a moment. Chu Lian, feeling embarrassed, returned to the doorway of Wang Xiangxiangs room and told her, "Xiangxiang, your sister-inw probably wont be able to stay with you tonight." Wang Xiangxiang, understanding very well, replied, "Its okay, Ive been sleeping by myself these past few days, Im not scared. You should go back." Chapter 626 - 628 Actually, I have been hiding something from you

Chapter 626: Chapter 628 Actually, I have been hiding something from you

After a storm of passion, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao both experienced an unprecedented satisfaction, having suppressed their desires for so long. Still, engaging in such activities in someone elses house, Xiaoxiao felt somewhat embarrassed. Once she had money, she wanted to be like Chu Lian, owning her own properties everywhere. Lying in each others arms afterward, Yang Ming, holding his wife, began to speak, "Wife." Xiaoxiao wriggled in Yang Mings arms, "Hmm?" "Actually, theres something Ive been hiding from you." Startled by these words, Xiaoxiao suddenly looked up, unable to believe Yang Ming had been keeping something from her. Shed poured out her heart and shared everything with him, "What have you been hiding from me?" In the beginning, Yang Ming thought being the Store Manager of the Xuntian Escort Agency was just a title, and he didnt pay much attention to it, nor did he tell his wife. But now, as the Xuntian Escort Agency was showing signs of growing, his titr role seemed not to be so simple anymore. He had to tell his wife the truth. Moreover, having been with his wife for so long, he felt she was bing increasingly formidable, and he was falling behind. He couldnt just trail behind her; he wanted to venture out, to have his own ventures to pursue. "You saw the people I brought with me today, didnt you?" Yang Mings words made Xiaoxiao suddenly remember, and she asked with curiosity, "Husband, I forgot to ask, where did you find those skilled people?" "Actually, theyre my people." Xiaoxiao stared at Yang Ming in disbelief. His people? He wasnt any important figure, just a farmer; where did he get so many people? "You remember Wang Kui, the guy we yed drinking games withst time when we went to cause trouble at third aunts house?" "Yes, I remember." "Actually, hes from the Escort Agency. Two months ago, when his Escort Agency copsed, I gave him a hundred silver taels, thinking if their Escort Agency could keep going, they might help find Yang Xia. But they insisted on making me the leader of the Escort Agency in return for the hundred silver taels, so I agreed, thinking that finding Yang Xia was more important." "You mean the Escort Agency is yours now?" "Yes, you could say that. Now the Escort Agency is called the Xuntian Escort Agency, and it has even expanded to Lin County. Im nning to expand to other counties as well." Xiaoxiaos face was expressionless as she said, "Husband, is there anything else youre hiding from me?" Seeing his wife like this, Yang Ming hurried to reassure her, "No, apart from this, I really havent been hiding anything else from you. I didnt tell you before because I was afraid youd worry." Xiaoxiao immediately changed her stern expression and suddenly kissed Yang Ming, smiling, "Husband, go ahead and do it boldly. Expand the Escort Agency, and well surely find Yang Xia." Yang Ming held his wifes hand tighter, "Wife, thank you." "Hehe, Husband, always remember that I am your strong support. If expanding the Escort Agency needs silver, just let me know." Yang Ming smiled. He didnt want to rely on his wife; he wanted to rely on himself. Now that hed been honest with his wife, he could manage the Escort Agency openly and could even be an escort himself, at least to experience a few trips, "Hmm." "My sister said I catch white wolves with empty hands; it seems youre not too different, taking over an Escort Agency with just a hundred silver taels." "..." He hadnt expected things to turn out this way. "Husband, does this mean my Brothel will have someone to cover for it in the future?" "..." Chapter 627 - 629: You Must Wait for Me

Chapter 627: Chapter 629: You Must Wait for Me

The following day, before dawn, Chu Lian went to knock on Wang Xiangxiangs door in an extremely anxious manner, "Xiangxiang, Xiangxiang." Wang Xiangxiang felt as if she had just fallen asleep when she was awoken. Hearing Chu Lians voice, she immediately threw on a robe and got down to open the door. Upon opening the door, before she could even speak, she was embraced tightly by Chu Lian, "Xiangxiang." Wang Xiangxiang was taken aback by Chu Lians actions, and asked worriedly, "Whats wrong? What exactly happened?" Chu Lian held Wang Xiangxiangs hands tightly and whispered, "My sister is in trouble. I must rush to Beijing now. This trip might take ten days to half a month. You have to wait for me. When I return, I wille to your house to propose." Wang Xiangxiang, who had never known Chu Lian had a sister, quickly agreed, "Okay, then you better hurry. I will wait for you toe back." Chu Lian then kissed Wang Xiangxiang on the forehead, "Yang Ming and the others are still asleep. When they wake up, just tell them I had something urgent to handle and not to discuss it further." "Okay." "If theres anything, contact Acheng. Ive already exined everything to him." "Okay." "Then Im leaving." "Okay." The two parted with reluctance. Wang Xiangxiang watched Chu Lian walk away and immediately felt a void in her heart, feeling as if the events of the previous night were unreal. She returned to her room and sat there until dawn, barely after he had left, she couldnt help but start missing him. Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao, having chatted tillte the night before, both got upte in the morning, quickly dressed up, freshened up, and then headed to the dining hall. Upon arriving at the dining hall and finding only Wang Xiangxiang eating there alone, and Chu Lian absent, Xiaoxiao, quite puzzled, asked, "Sister, why are you alone? Where is Master Chu?" "He asked me to tell you that he had to leave for a while due to some urgent business." "..." What kind of emergency could it be for him to just abandon the recently won Wang Xiangxiang? "Sister, its fine. Hes gone, and we can have fun here on our own." "Xiaoxiao, Im also nning to leave soon." With Chu Lian not around, Wang Xiangxiang felt there was no need for her to stay; besides, there was a lot of business to take care of back home, and she had already dyed a lot of time. "Sister, Im worried about you going back alone. Wait a few more days and lets go back together," suggested Xiaoxiao, genuinely concerned, but she couldnt leave just yet as she had only recently taken over Yixiang Courtyard. "Its fine, Acheng is here, dont worry." Xiaoxiao, thinking it over, agreed, knowing Acheng was a capable person. With Chu Lian having arranged for Acheng to be beside her, there was nothing to worry about. After breakfast, Xiaoxiao helped Wang Xiangxiang pack her things. Wang Xiangxiang sighed, "Everything happened so hastily. I didnt get a chance to buy anything to bring back for mom and dad." "Sister, you dont need to buy. When we finish our business and go back, well buy. Oh, and remember to tell them about our situation here." "Okay." Thus, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming saw Wang Xiangxiang off. Before leaving, Wang Xiangxiang specifically instructed, "Now that weve both left, you can continue to stay here." "Got it. Im staying at my future brother-inws ce after all; theres nothing to feel embarrassed about." Embarrassed by Xiaoxiaos teasing, Wang Xiangxiang boarded the horse carriage, "Im leaving now." "Sister, take care on your trip, have a smooth journey." By that morning, both Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang had left, leaving Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming behind. Chapter 628 - 630: Joy Grand Theater

Chapter 628: Chapter 630: Joy Grand Theater

After Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang had left, Xiaoxiao took Yang Ming to the Yixiang Courtyard, where she nned to introduce him to everyone. Since Xiaoxiao had announced the temporary closure of the Yixiang Courtyard for restructuring the previous day, today everyone had gathered in the hall, idly chatting. "Madam, something strange is being talked about outside today," said one. "What strange thing?" replied another. "Last night, someone tied up those human traffickers and took them to the government office." "You mean the traffickers who captured our madam?" "Yes, its said that the government office has already issued a notice to rescue the girls who were sold." "..." "..." As Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming entered, they overheard the ongoing conversation. Xiaoxiao nced at Yang Ming and instantly realized it was their work from the Xuntian Escort Agency. As soon as everyone saw Xiaoxiao, they immediately fell silent and shouted in unison, "Madam, Boss." Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming walked to the center of the group, and Xiaoxiao began the introductions, "Let me introduce you all, this is my husband, and also your boss." Everyone in unison, "Hello, Boss." "Hello, everyone," Yang Ming greeted them back. Xiaoxiao continued, "My husband is the Store Manager of Xuntian Escort Agency. If I and my husband are not around, and there is an urgent matter, you can seek help from Xuntian Escort Agency." Someone asked, "Is it the newly opened Xuntian Escort Agency in Lin County?" "Exactly, from now on, the Xuntian Escort Agency and you all are one family, you can help each other out," Yang Ming replied. Everyone nodded inprehension, while internally surprised, not expecting their boss to be such a significant figure. "I heard what you were just discussing. Do we still have girls here in Yixiang Courtyard that were bought?" Xiaoxiao asked. Everyone lowered their heads upon being asked. Seeing their reaction, Xiaoxiao understood, "Sisters, now you all are free, and those who want to go home, I wont stop you." They all shook their heads, "I cant return, I really cant face going back." "..." Xiaoxiao was somewhat helpless; actually, if they went back, others didnt have to know what they did, it was just that they couldnt ovee their own mental hurdle, "How about this, wait until you all have settled down, married, and have children, then you can go back." "We can still get married and have children?" The girls couldnt even dare to think about Xiaoxiaos words. "Of course, you can. Everyone has the right to pursue happiness. Dont worry, things will get better and better," These werent justforting words. Xiaoxiao truly believed in them. If criminals could reform after serving time, why couldnt they? They had only entered this line of work out of desperation. Xiaoxiao pped her hands twice, "Alright, lets cheer up. I need to exin the restructuring. I n to transform our Yixiang Courtyard into a Grand Theater specifically for performances, and it will be officially renamed Joy Grand Theater." Although the name was a bitmon, it hit the nail on the head, being a ce that brings joy to people, a concept that she and Yang Ming hade up with during their conversationst night. She then exined how the Joy Grand Theater would be converted: first by making a new signboard, then revamping the interior, constructing a stage, setting up seats, creating a small theater look, setting the stamp, producing tickets, and arranging costumes and props... These were all external aspects. The most important were thedies talents; relying solely on Xiaoxiao was insufficient as she wasnt a professional and didnt know much. Thus, after learning about the girls talents, a hiring sign was ced outside the Joy Grand Theater. Chapter 629 - 631: Everyone is a Promising Prospect

Chapter 629: Chapter 631: Everyone is a Promising Prospect

Quite a crowd had gathered at the entrance of Joy Grand Theater, all peering at the job posting that was disyed. They engaged in lively discussions with each other, remarking on the notice. "Yixiang Courtyard is hiring? And theyre open to men and women of all ages? Thats quite amusing, haha." "What Yixiang Courtyard? Havent you read the sign? Yixiang Courtyard has been renamed to Joy Grand Theater and will officially open on the first of next month." "Why would they hire men and women of all ages, though? I can understand men and women for manualbor and maid duties, but what use would the elderly and children have? Haha." "Juste to the opening and see for yourself." "..." "..." Despite therge turnout, not a single applicant came forward; after all, the Joy Grand Theater was formerly a brothel, and people would rather work in restaurants or simr ces than in an establishment associated with pleasure and romance. Inside the Joy Grand Theater, the madam entered the room with a dejected look, "Madam boss." "Whats the matter?" "No one hase forward to apply." ...Xiaoxiao frowned, even she had not anticipated difficulties in this area, guessing that people probably didnt trust the change. Then, she broke into a smile, remembering how she alone managed to support the venue in the previous days. And now with so many others, although she knew some of the credit was due to selling first nights, she said, "Then lets not recruit." "But..." The madam was puzzled. "Its okay, we have plenty of people here, dont worry." With that, the madam stopped questioning. Surely the bossdy had a n. "By the way, whats your surname?" she inquired. The madam, though taken aback by the question, answered with her surname, "Tian." "Well, everyone will call you Manager Tian from now on. Lets drop the title madam, as this is no longer a brothel. Right, youve changed the girls names too, right? Lets all make a fresh start." "Thank you, Madam boss." The madam was moved and expressed her gratitude. The girls would surely be thrilled to hear the news. In fact, the girls from Yixiang Courtyard werentcking in skills; they could all sing and dance, and each could y a few tunes on the zither, for they had to rely on these talents to charm the guests. Therefore, Xiaoxiao didnt need to teach them much as they were quick learners. Xiaoxiao would just sing modern songs, and some of the more talented among them would be able to write their own music or choreograph dances. Hence, Xiaoxiao wasnt worried about the performances in this aspect at all. The intent to hire was mainly to find people who could tell jokes or perform skits and male actors for duet singing. Since they couldnt find anyone to hire, these acts could be dyed to ater time. However, after Xiaoxiao exined the situation to everyone, to herplete surprise, the male servants volunteered eagerly to participate in the performances, and even the maids wanted to try singing. "Madam boss, do you think we could do it?" Xiaoxiaos eyes suddenly gleamed with excitement. She had forgotten about these people, focusing only on the girls. It seemed anyone could be a hidden talent, "Yes, absolutely. Lets work together and get the Grand Theater up and running." Over the following days, Xiaoxiao took rehearsals seriously with everyone. Actually, Xiaoxiao wasnt skilled in everything, with just a superficial understanding. She could sing some songs, perform a couple duets, dance a few social dances, and had watched several ssicedy skits. As for how well they could perform, that was something Xiaoxiao couldnt predict and would depend on everyones intuition. Xiaoxiao had already decided that, if all else failed, they would just perform songs, dances, andrge choruses. But to her surprise, everyone turned out to be quite perceptive and even developed a style distinct from the modern one, which brought relief to Xiaoxiao. At the very least, the Grand Theater could open as nned. Chapter 630 - 632 Let’s not cause trouble

Chapter 630: Chapter 632 Lets not cause trouble

Xiaoxiao was busy renovating the Grand Theater and rehearsing programs, while Yang Ming was also upied, disying darts, epting darts, and delivering darts. Both were extremely busy, and before they knew it, they had spent nearly ten days in Lin County. During this period, Han Yongsheng had invited them several times, but since both were too busy, they had politely declined. However, to appease Han Yongsheng, they promised to definitely visit next month. Considering it had been over half a month since they left home, they were unsure of the situation back home and how the fish ponds construction was progressing. Thus, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming decided to return home first. They found a horse carriage, brought the gifts they had selected for their family, and set off on the road back to the city. This time, Xiaoxiao did not sit inside the carriage but joined Yang Ming in the drivers seat. Xiaoxiao, in good spirits, even started to sing a song, but suddenly, a startled horse passed by their carriage. This startled their horse as well, and Yang Ming quickly grabbed the horses reins, "Whoa!" With that, their carriage settled down. Xiaoxiao, frightened, clung to Yang Mings arm and closed her eyes, not daring to look. But when she opened them again, she saw another chilling scenesomeone seemed to have fallen off the back of the horse that had just passed them. "Husband, what do we do?" "Dont be scared, Ill go check." Clutching Yang Mings arm, Xiaoxiao was afraid, "Husband, lets not go, lets not get involved." "Its fine, we have to pass that way anyway." Xiaoxiao thought about it and agreed, realizing that in such a deste ce, there was only one road to take, so she followed Yang Ming. By then, the frightened horse had already run far away, and Yang Ming drove the carriage up to where the person had fallen. "Wife, wait for me in the carriage." "No, lets both go check it out." So the two of them got down from the carriage to look at the fallen person, who was hunched over as if holding something in their arms, with their back to them. Anxiously, Xiaoxiao asked, "Husband, could he be dead?" "Dont be afraid, let me see." Yang Ming said, reaching his hand towards the persons head. Xiaoxiao, frightened, turned her head away and clutched Yang Mings arm, urgently asking, "Is he dead?" "Ah, hes dead," Yang Ming said with regret. "What?" Xiaoxiao turned her head back, pulling on Yang Ming, and said worriedly, "Husband, lets leave this ce quickly." The further away from this kind of incident the better. Its best not to meddle in additional affairs. What if the persons family held them responsible? In the modern age where scammers are many, and with the government offices poor investigational skills, she feared nothing, but being unjustly used was the most helpless situation. However, Xiaoxiao found that she couldnt pull Yang Ming along, "Wife." "..." Facing Yang Mings expression, Xiaoxiao was at a loss for words. She tentatively asked, "Husband, youre not thinking of taking him to the government office, are you?" Yang Ming did not respond, but he didnt deny it either. Suddenly, Xiaoxiao shouted, "No, absolutely not, we need to leave right now." Xiaoxiao yanked hard on Yang Ming, hoping they would leave quickly, but Yang Ming stood still. Frustrated and angry, Xiaoxiao roared, "If you dare to meddle, Ill divorce you. I mean it." Seeing his wife that angry, he knew she was serious. Yang Ming had no choice but to get back on the carriage with her. His wifes concerns were valid; it was best they didnt meddle in other peoples affairs. But just as the carriage was about to depart, a sound seemed to carry over, "Wife, listen, do you hear something?" Chapter 631 - 633 This is a gift from heaven to me

Chapter 631: Chapter 633 This is a gift from heaven to me

"Whats that sound, lets just go." At this moment, Xiaoxiao only wanted to leave and did not ponder Yang Mings words. Yang Ming did not hurry the carriage but repeated himself, "Wife, I really did hear a sound." "Did you?" This time Xiaoxiao perked up her ears and listened carefully. The more she listened, the wider her eyes grew, "Husband, I think I hear a baby crying." "Right, lets get off." Yang Ming promptly jumped down from the carriage. The two of them returned to the spot they had just passed, and this time they heard clearlyit was indeed the cry of a child,ing from the arms of that person. Yang Ming quickly turned the person over and discovered that the dead individual was clutching a swaddled infant in their arms. The infants eyes were closed, emitting a faint cry, "Wah! Wah!" Yang Ming lifted the child out, "Wife, what should we do?" "First, give the child to me." Xiaoxiao took the child, who was surprisingly light. She looked at the babys face, which was crying with closed eyes, a red and wrinkled skin, and slightly white eyebrows, obviously a newborn, not yet a month old. Looking around, Xiaoxiao saw that the secluded road was still empty. She turned to Yang Ming with a pleading look, "Husband, lets raise this child." Feeling a pang in his heart at his wifes reaction, Yang Ming knew she must be reminded of her own infertility again. Perhaps this child could spare her from that pain, "Okay, we will raise the child, but first lets bury this person." Xiaoxiao was somewhat puzzled and also very anxious. She rocked the child and said, "Husband, lets hurry on, while theres still nobody around." Yang Ming shook his head, exining, "Wife, do you want to keep this child forever, or just for a while?" "Of course, forever. This is a gift from Heaven." Xiaoxiao, feeling that she was barren, thought that encountering this child was surely Heaven showing pity on her, a gift from above. "Then lets bury this person. Otherwise, the childs family will soon be able to find us." "..." Xiaoxiao hadpletely forgotten about that possibility. Would it be too cruel to prevent the child from recognizing their own kin? Hastily, Xiaoxiao opened up the infants swaddling to see if there was anything to identify the child, but found nothing. "Husband, quickly check if theres something on that persons body that can prove the childs identity." It was only when Yang Ming examined the body that he found that the deceased was covered in injuries. "Wife, this person has many wounds." "Are they from the recent fall?" "They should be from before the fall." "Could he have been beaten for stealing the child from someone?" "I dont think so, given how he was protecting the child as he fell from the horse, he must have been associated with this child." "..." So does that mean, this person was being pursued while carrying the child? This could be bad. The child could be a hot potato; keeping them might bring trouble. She wanted to live a peaceful life without inviting disaster. Should she leave the child behind? If she did, it would likely mean a certain death for the child. What to do was a dilemma for Xiaoxiao. As she rocked the baby in her arms, she thought of solutions and then realized the baby had stopped crying in her embrace. Xiaoxiaos heart melted; the child really seemed to have taken a liking to her. Chapter 632 - 634: It’s a Boy

Chapter 632: Chapter 634: Its a Boy

"Husband, then lets find a ce to bury the body." Xiaoxiao understood. Since the child had enemies, living a quiet life with them would be best. Moreover, they had checked and found nothing that could prove the childs identity. If in the end someone still imed the child, then it would all be considered fate; let things take their course. After all, they couldnt just leave such a small child here to die without helping. After deciding what to do, Yang Ming carried the body to the foot of a nearby hill, with Xiaoxiao following, holding the child. Without a shovel, Yang Ming found something else to use, digging for quite a while with great effort before finally burying the person. The two of them, holding the child, returned to the carriage and hurried home at a gallop. The child seemed to sense that he had been saved and slept the whole way without troubling Xiaoxiao. If the child had started crying, was hungry, or needed a diaper change, Xiaoxiao really wouldnt have known what to do. Because they had been dyed on the road, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming didnt get home until after dark. Everyone at home was startled by their return, especially at the sight of Xiaoxiao holding a child. "Youngest brother, what is this...?" Yang Dad asked on behalf of everyone. "Dad, this is a child that Xiaoxiao and I found on the road. We want to adopt him. But lets not tell outsiders we found him; say hes a rtives child, whose parents are no more, and given in adoption to us." "Eh, alright, did you all hear that? No spreading rumors," Yang Dad quickly instructed everyone. He knew about Xiaoxiao and Yang Mings inability to have children and could understand their actions. Maybe this was also for the best for the two kids. "Understood, Dad." "Waa waa." At that moment, the child began to cry. Cradling the child, Xiaoxiao said, "Mom, the child hasnt eaten all day; he must be hungry." "Eh, Ill go make some rice soup right now; just wait," said Yang Mings mom as she hurried out the door. "Little sister-inw, quickly check to see if hes wet himself." After the reminder, Xiaoxiao ced the child on the Kang bed and opened the swaddling clothes. Opening them, she cried out, "Ah!" "Whats wrong?" Hearing Xiaoxiaos cry, several people hurried over to look at the child in the swaddling clothes. Xiaoxiao thenughed, "Nothings wrong, its a boy." Yang Ming was somewhat speechless at his wifes reaction; she had clearly checked on the road and yet hadnt realized it was a boy. "I thought it was something serious, little sister-inw, why are you so jumpy?" said Bosss wife to Xiaoxiao. Xiaoxiaoughed awkwardly and then went on soothing the child gently, "Dabao, dont cry, let mommy see if youve wet yourself." Xiaoxiao lifted the childs legs and pulled at the diaper underneath, "Ah." "What is it now?" Showing her hand to everyone, Xiaoxiao grinned, "He did." "Haha." The familyughed heartily at Xiaoxiaos reaction; she obviously had never cared for a child before, managing to get herself messy while checking if the child had soiled himself. "Little sister-inw, you better go wash your hands. Ill take care of the child," said Bosss wife. The addition of a new member to the family had everyone bustling; some heated up the Kang, others cooked, while Bosss wife went to find some old baby clothes to make do for now, and Yang Qiu brought out some cotton to cut diapers for the child. Chapter 633 - 635: Yang Zhongbao

Chapter 633: Chapter 635: Yang Zhongbao

After changing the babys diaper and wiping his little bottom clean, the child finally stopped crying. His tightly closed eyes opened as well, and Xiaoxiao noticed they were quite long, with lengthy eyshes tooat the rate they were growing, he would definitely have big eyes in the future. The more Xiaoxiao looked at him, the more she liked him, and she couldnt help but pick him up again. The childs eyes kept rolling, constantly staring at Xiaoxiao. It wasnt long before Yang Mings mother brought in some rice soup. Such a small child couldnt eat solid rice, so they had to settle for thick rice soup. Since there were no bottles avable, Xiaoxiao had to feed him spoonful by spoonful. The child swallowed quite well and ate a good amount, which finally put Xiaoxiao at ease. Seeing it was gettingte, Xiaoxiao spoke up, "Dad, Mom, its gettingte, everyone should head back first." "Third sister-inw, are you sure you can handle it? Why not let him stay in my room, and Ill help you take care of him?" Bosss wife said worriedly. "Its fine, big sister-inw, I have to learn eventually, dont I?" Xiaoxiao replied with a smile. "Then everyone should go back, let them rest early as well," Yangs father ordered, and everyone gradually left. Now, the room was left with just Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming, and now they had added a little baby to theirpany. Looking at the familiar room, Xiaoxiao felt a sense of finally being home. Looking at the child in her arms, Xiaoxiao remarked emotionally, "Husband, we have a son now." "Yes, we have a son now." Yang Ming sat next to his wife, fixated on the child just like her, suddenly feeling the joy of being a father, his face unconsciously breaking into a smile. He was now a man with a wife and child. "Husband, what shall we name our son?" she asked. "What do you want to call him?" he responded. "We need a name thats connected to both of us and proves that this child is our treasure," she suggested. Following his wifes wishes, Yang Ming thought it over and suggested, "How about Yang Zhongbao? Our treasure." Pfft! Xiaoxiao couldnt help butugh at the nameYang Zhongbao, Yang Ming was really daring to suggest such names, "That wont do, that is a name from the Yang Familys generals." "Yang Family generals?" "The Yang Family generals are..." Xiaoxiao went on to exin to Yang Ming. After listening, admiration appeared in Yang Mings eyes, and he decisively said, "Lets name our son Yang Zhongbao then." "..." All her exnation had been in vain, "Isnt that a bit inappropriate?" "Thats the name. It shows hes our treasure and also shares a name with the Yang Family generals. Our son could also serve his country with loyalty like the Yang Family generals did." "..." Xiaoxiao was full of dismay. What loyalty? What service to the country? She just wanted to be an ordinary person. "No, we arent part of the Yang Family generals," Xiaoxiao disagreed. "Its settled then, lets name him Yang Zhongbao," said Yang Ming as he tenderly stroked the childs little face, "Son, what do you think of this name?" "Look, he closed his eyes and then opened them; that means he agrees," Yang Ming observed. "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless. Who doesnt close and open their eyes? But seeing how much Yang Ming adored the child, Xiaoxiao felt indescribably bittersweet. If only she could bear him a child. Never mind, if he couldnt have his own child, then they would use the name he had chosen. If by some divine grace they had their own child in the future, she would definitely not choose a name so nonchntly. Upon reflection, if it werent for the association with the Yang Family generals, the name was quite nice. She held the child in her arms, her eyes filled with adoration, "Son, you have a name now, your dad chose it." Chapter 634 - 636 Liufu

Chapter 634: Chapter 636 Liufu

The couple decided to take the opportunity to bathe the child before he fell asleep, and then put him to sleep. Yang Ming brought a basin of water into the room. Xiaoxiao began to undress the child, and then she was stunned. She could carry the child when wrapped in a nket, but this slippery little body with tiny arms and legs, weighing only about six pounds, was so small. She didnt know where to start and had to call for help, "Husband." Yang Ming saw that his wife didnt know how to hold a baby, so he said, "Let me do it." As a result, Yang Ming held the entire body of the child with onerge palm, then let the childs head rest on his arm and ced him into the water. He began sshing water over the child, helping him bathe. Xiaoxiao was utterly impressed, thinking that he didnt look like a novice at all, "Husband, youre amazing." Yang Ming smiled, "With so many kids in the family, Ive learned by watching." "..." Alright, she admitted she was clumsy, not able to learn even by watching, "Husband, give him to me this time, let me try." Xiaoxiao, copying Yang Mings approach, took the child, carefully supporting his body, while Yang Ming continued to guide her from the side, "Yes, just like that." The child seemed to really enjoy the water. Once in the water, his tiny arms and legs were lively, sshing about, causing water to ssh onto both Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming. The couple didnt get angry; instead, they praised the child. Xiaoxiao: "Haha, our son is quite strong." Yang Ming: "Haha, like me." "..." Xiaoxiao was both happy and sad about Yang Mings statement. She was pleased that he truly considered the child his own, but saddened by the fact that the child was ultimately not theirs. Together, they bathed the child, thoroughly enjoying the joy he brought them. However, before long, Yang Ming couldntugh anymore, because he had noticed the childs problem. He pulled up the childs little foot to show his wife, "Wife, look." Xiaoxiao followed the direction of Yang Mings gesture and didnt see any problem, "Whats wrong?" "Look at his toes; there are six." With that reminder from Yang Ming, Xiaoxiao saw itthe child truly had six toes on his left foot. But this wasnt a big problem; it was just a deformity. An extra toe generally wouldnt affect walking, "Its okay, its just an extra toe, it wont affect walking." "Wife, you might not know, but here theres a saying that six toes are a sign of an ominous person." Xiaoxiaos eyes widened in shock. If that was true, would the child be despised by the vigers when he grew up? Would the child feel inferior? Xiaoxiao thought for a moment. As long as they guided him correctly, the child would surely ovee this obstacle, "Husband, do you believe in that saying?" Yang Ming shook his head, "I dont believe it, but..." "But what?" "The childs six toes are too conspicuous." "Husband, maybe its because of his six toes that someone wanted to harm him. Someone deliberately sent him away, probably not wanting him to go back." "Yeah, that might be possible. Lets try not to let others discover about his six toes to avoid trouble." "Yeah, husband, lets call the child Liufu as a nickname, which means good fortune with his six toes." "Okay, your wish is mymand." The couple continued to bathe the child, and after putting on his little clothes and gently swinging him, the child fell asleep. The two alsoy down not long after, cuddling together. They didnt expect that within a day, they would ascend to the roles of parents, with a greater responsibility ahead. Chapter 635 - 637 I Don’t Want to Give Up

Chapter 635: Chapter 637 I Dont Want to Give Up

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had just fallen asleep for a short while when the baby started crying loudly, prompting both to quickly get up to check. "Its okay, just a wet diaper, honey, you keep sleeping." Xiaoxiao changed the babys diaper and, after everything was taken care of, she hummed a song and lulled the baby back to sleep. Having put the baby down, Xiaoxiao crawled back into bed and immediately fell asleep, but it wasnt long before the baby started crying loudly again. Groggy, Xiaoxiao got up to check, and this time the baby hadnt peed or poopedprobably hungry. "Wife, Ill go," Yang Ming quickly got out of bed to warm up the rice soup while Xiaoxiao gently rocked the baby, singing songs and soothing him. The couple was busy for a while before they finally got the baby to sleep. However, it wasnt long before the baby woke up again, and this time, he refused to sleep, ying instead. The two of them had no choice but to stay up with him, and by the time they finally got the baby to sleep, daylight hade. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming could say they barely slept at all that night, looking at each other with an expression that parenting was not as easy as it seemed. A newborn in its first month is both small and difficult to take care of, but since they had decided to keep the baby, they had to devote all their effort and care. "Honey, its not good for the baby to always drink rice soup, it doesnt have the nutrition of milk. What do you think about buying a milk cow or a sheep?" "Sure, Ill go to town and check it outter, if they dont have it there, Ill go to the county." "Yeah, and pick up some pots on your way, for the baby to use." They had originally nned to return and check on the fish pond before heading to Lin County, but they hadnt anticipated this change of ns. Now they had to take care of the babys needs first, get everything ready for him, and then they could go to Lin County. Neither of them felt like sleeping any longer, so they got up and started their chores. The diapers needed to be boiled in hot water, and they had to wash the babys clothes and diapers, as well as keep the rice soup warm in case the baby woke up hungry. Suddenly having a baby, Xiaoxiao found that time waspletely insufficient and there were an extraordinary number of things to do. Early in the morning, the second sister-inw came over and saw that Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had already hung out quite a few diapers to dry in the courtyard. She said, "You two are doing quite a good job at parenting." "Hehe, second sister-inw, youre here." "The baby kept you busyst night, didnt he? I heard the crying." "Its alright, maybe the baby is just not used to the new environment yet, hell be better in a few days," Xiaoxiao replied as she boiled the rice porridge. The second daughter-inw suddenly leaned in and whispered, "Third sister-inw, your husband is pretty good, helping you wash the diapers and all." Xiaoxiao smiled with pursed lips, acknowledging that Yang Ming was indeed doing very well in this respect. "Third sister-inw, I came to tell you not to worry about the babys little quilts and clothes. We will take care of it today, find a few helpers, and make sure to get everything ready by the end of the day." "Mm, thank you, second sister-inw, I really cant get away at the moment." Xiaoxiao had indeed been nning to ask them to take care of this, and she truly appreciated her sister-inws help. "Thank me for what? Youve got a child now; youre going to be tired. Just make sure not to overdo it. Who knows, you might get pregnant on your own soon." "..." Thisment made Xiaoxiao a bit embarrassed, "Mm, Ill be careful." She was no longer worried about the dangers of having a child at a young age; as long as she could get pregnant, that would be enough. She had run out of medicine in Lin County, which was why she had stopped taking it, but now she needed to start again after getting back home. After eating, Yang Ming went to town to buy a milk cow for the baby. Xiaoxiao specifically reminded him, "Husband, buy some more of my medicine too, please." "Wife." Every day, watching his wife take the medicine made Yang Mings heart ache. "I dont want to give up." Chapter 636 - 638: Rumors Resurface

Chapter 636: Chapter 638: Rumors Resurface

Yang Ming went to town to buy some items and led a dairy cow back to the vige. As soon as he entered, many people surrounded him, all curious about why the Schr had bought a cow. "Schr Yang, did you buy this dairy cow?" "Yes." "What did you buy it for?" Thinking he couldnt hide the matter of adopting a child any longer, Yang Ming decided to just tell them outright to avoid misunderstandings, "My wife and I have adopted a child from a rtives family, and we bought this cow to feed the child." After he finished speaking, Yang Ming led the cow home, but rather than preventing gossip as he had hoped, his exnation only stirred more up. "Why would Schr Yang adopt a child out of the blue?" "Hmph, it sounds nice, but its probably his own child from outside." "That cant be, the Schr seems like a very honest man." "No way, the Schrs wife is formidable. If he had a child outside, would the Schrs wife agree to adopt it?" "Maybe the Schrs wife cant have children, and she was afraid the Schr might divorce her." "..." "..." In the end, the conclusion everyone reached was that the Schrs wife, unable to have children after five or six months of marriage, feared the Schr would divorce her, so they decided to adopt the Schrs child from outside. Soon, this news spread throughout Yang Vige. Xiaoxiao merely smiled when she heard it, letting everyone gossip as they wished. She was already overwhelmed with the difficult task of caring for the child. In fact, her family had be upset and quarreled a few times because Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were being gossiped about unfairly. Likewise, Xiaoxiao feared that the rumors about Yang Ming having an illegitimate child might affect his future prospects, so she specifically sought out the Vige Chief to help rify the matter, and for the sake of the viges development, the Vige Chief was naturally willing to help. So, he gathered the vigers at therge square. "Vige Chief, why did you call us all here?" some vigers started to ask. "Listen everyone, Ive called you here specifically to discuss the matter of Schr Yang adopting that child." "Vige Chief, is that child truly Schr Yangs?" Helpless with the vigers incessant gossiping, the Vige Chief responded, "That child is not Schr Yangs child. I know the childs parents, who have passed away, and it was only out of kindness that the couple adopted the child." "Stop spreading rumors and keep your mouths shut. If this affects Schr Yangs future prospects, think about it; what future would our vige have?" After the Vige Chiefs reminder, everyone realized that if Schr Yang prospered, the vige could also prosper, which would benefit everyone. At least, it would make their vige more appealing for women from other viges to marry into, so everyone agreed to stop the gossiping. "The child is already unfortunate enough for having lost his parents. Now that Schr Yang has adopted him, you should consider the child as Schr Yang and his wifes. Dont talk nonsense as he grows up, and ensure the child does not hear such talks." "If I hear any of you spreading rumors again, you will be excluded from any future benefits our vige gains." The Vige Chief provided a strong warning, and the vigers took it seriously, promising not to spread any more rumors, and not to let their families do so either. With the Vige Chiefs help, the issue was resolved, and the Yang Family breathed a sigh of relief. However, within a few days, Xiaoxiaos family learned of the rumor from somewhere and could not bear to see Xiaoxiao endure such a great indignity. Fueled by anger, the family headed straight for Yang Vige. As soon as they entered the courtyard, Zhong Dalong bellowed, "Yang Ming, how dare you mistreat my sister!" Chapter 637 - 639: We, the Zhong Family, Have Wronged You

Chapter 637: Chapter 639: We, the Zhong Family, Have Wronged You

During the day, everyone had gone out, and in the Yang family courtyard, only Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were left. The pair had just lulled the child to sleep inside the house when they heard Zhong Dalongs angry roar. "Why has my brothere?" Xiaoxiao wondered, patting the child as she spoke. "You watch the child, and Ill go have a look," Yang Ming said as he got up to go outside, but as soon as he opened the door, he saw Zhong Dalongs solid fist swinging towards him. This time, Yang Ming didnt passively take the hit but caught the punch with one hand. "Brother, what are you doing?" Zhong Dalong was totally surprised that his brother-inw had caught the punch. His eyes widened with even greater fury, "What am I doing? Of course, I came to teach you a lesson. What did you promise before? Its only been a few days, and youve already brought back that illegitimate child from outside. What do you take my sister for?" As Zhong Dalong spoke, he didnt forget to swing his other fist, but it too was firmly held by Yang Ming. Yang Ming hadnt expected the matter to reach his uncles ears, "Brother, let me exin." "Whats there to exin?" Zhong Dalongs fists tried to break free from Yang Mings grip, but to his surprise, Yang Ming was strong, firmly restraining him. No matter, he didnt need hands when he had feet. Just as he was about to kick, he heard his sisters voice, "Brother, can you not make a fuss? Youre disturbing my sons sleep." "..." At those words, Zhong Dalong was stunned. What was his sister talking about? Her son? She had epted that child? No, this absolutely could not be allowed. How could his sister endure such a great insult? Zhong Dalong called out to his sister in anguish, "Xiaoxiao!" At that moment, Mr. Zhong and Xiaoxiaos mother also entered the room. Seeing them, Yang Ming quickly released his grip on his uncles hands, "Dad, Mom, you came." "Hmph." Mr. Zhong also had a stern face as he grunted coldly before passing by Yang Ming with Xiaoxiaos mother, moving towards their daughter, where they saw the child sleeping, not yet a month old. "Dad, Mom, you came about the child, didnt you?" Xiaoxiao asked bluntly, considering her brothers aggressive behavior and their parents grim expressions were enough indication they had believed the rumors. "Daughter, what exactly is going on? Your mother is worried to death," Xiaoxiaos mother asked anxiously. Xiaoxiao took her mothers hand and said, "Mom, the rumors arent true. Please dont believe them." "Daughter, this child..." "Mom, let me be honest with you, actually, I..." "Wife." The words hadnt beenpletely spoken when Yang Ming interrupted, afraid that she was about to reveal her inability to conceive. "Husband, I dont want you to be wronged." Yang Ming shook his head, "Wife, dont say it, I dont feel wronged." In the midst of their cryptic conversation, Mr. Zhong erupted, "Yang Ming, stop interrupting, let her speak." "Dad, this child we found on the street. The reason we kept him is that I may never be able to bear children of my own, and I thought having a child would be goodpany for us," Xiaoxiao blurted out everything that needed to be said. "Sister, what are you saying? Unable to bear children? Thats impossible," Zhong Dalong totally disbelieved his sisters words, thinking she was just making excuses for her husband. Mr. Zhong growled at his son, "Boss, shut up." "Dad!" Zhong Dalong wanted to say more but seeing his mother giving him stern looks, he had no choice but to keep quiet. Mr. Zhong sighed and then said to Yang Ming, "Yang Ming, our Zhong family has wronged you!" Chapter 638 - 640: Wronged You

Chapter 638: Chapter 640: Wronged You

The fact that their own daughter was unable to bear children was something they had long been aware of, and indeed, the son-inw had been wronged. "Dad, theres nothing to feel sorry about. I should be thanking you for marrying such a wonderful daughter to me." Yang Ming had wanted to say this for a while now, because no matter what, his encounter with his wife was inseparable from this family. At this moment, Zhong Dalong also fell silent. What man could tolerate not being able to have children? That his brother-inw could bear it showed that he truly cared for his sister. "You have been wronged," Father Zhong said with relief. He hadnt been very optimistic when his daughter chose this son-inw, but now it seemed that his daughter knew best. "Wah-wah!" At this moment, the child cried out. The baby had just fallen asleep and now was awake; their voices must have been too loud. Xiaoxiao immediately picked up the child and gently rocked him, cooing, "Son, dont cry, your grandma, grandpa, and big uncle are here to see you." Because of the babys cries, everyone gathered around. They all smiled at the sight of this adopted baby. Children are the most innocent and endearing. "Here, let grandma hold you." Xiaoxiaos mother extended her arms eagerly to hold the baby. Xiaoxiao passed the child over, but before her mother could get a good hold, Father Zhong became impatient, "Quick, let grandpa have a hold." Xiaoxiaoughed; just a second ago, they both had arrived with frowns on their faces. Now they were overjoyed and scrambling to hold the baby. Seeing his inws reaction to the child, Yang Ming felt at ease. Then he said, "Dad, Mom, please take a seat. Ill go find my parents." With the inws present, it would be impolite for his family not to show up, so after speaking, he headed out. Seeing Yang Ming leave, Dalong followed him out, "Brother-inw." "Big Brother." Yang Ming was slightly surprised that his big brother-inw had followed him. "Ille with you." The two men walked on, and on the way, a silent Zhong Dalong finally spoke, his tone somewhat heavy, "Brother-inw, thank you." Yang Ming understood everything that this brief thank you implied; his big brother-inw was finally fully epting him, "Thank you, Big Brother, for acknowledging me." Upon hearing that the inws hade, Father Yang immediately put down his work and hurried back with his family. The meal was quickly prepared, and without a doubt, the two old men got drunk again. "Boss, bring out my grandchild to join his grandpa for a couple of drinks." "Yes, yes, wheres my grandson?" At this suggestion from the two old men, the whole family was at a loss, considering this was a child who was not yet a month old. Seeing that Yang Ming did not move, Father Yang repeated, "Boss, go on, his grandpa is waiting." Yang Ming had no choice but to stand up. Seeing this, Mother Yang whispered to her son, "Dont mind your father; you can stay in the room. Just take the meal to your wife." The two old men were drunk and soon forgot the matter. Not long after, Father Zhong started to cause amotion again, "Inw, our Zhong Family owes your Yang Family an apology." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiaos mother was terrified. The old man was stirring up trouble again. Seeing this, Dalong hurriedly stepped in, "Uncle, Ill drink with you." "Yes, Boss, toast to your inw." "Boss, second brother, fourth brother, all of youe over, quickly give a toast to the inw," Father Yang also called his sons over. Xiaoxiaos mother and Dalong finally breathed a sigh of relief, having managed to divert the conversation. After the meal, Zhong Dalong hurriedly took his parents back home; he was too worried about his father. "Eh, inw, stay the night here," Father Yang, who was drunk, shouted after the departing carriage. Chapter 639 - 641: Wait and See, Prepare for Battle

Chapter 639: Chapter 641: Wait and See, Prepare for Battle

Half a month ago Acheng, following the instructions of his young master, blinded those gangsters and crippled their third leg, then threw them at the entrance of the Li Mansion in the county. "This is the residence of the person you work for, you know what to do." With those words, Acheng left with his subordinates. Upon hearing it was the Li Mansion, the gangsters desperately banged on the door. "Who is there?" A house servant of the Li Mansion opened the door and was horrified by the scene, swiftly going inside to inform others. The servant approached the Li Mansions main hall, trembling, and said, "Young Master, there is a group of blind people outside causing a ruckus wanting to see you." The sitting Li Fuyous eyes flickered, contemting something, then with a wave of his hand, he signaled his followers to take the servant away. It wasnt long before the follower returned, whispering something into Li Fuyous ear, which turned hisplexion ashen, "Bring him in." Shortly after, the gang leader was brought in. As soon as the gang leader entered, he knelt down and cried out, "Young Master Li, you must seek justice for my brothers." "Oh? Seek justice for what?" "My brothers were all working for you, and now they are blind and can no longer be men, all because of the Eldest Young Master of the Chu Family at the Yui Restaurant. You must seek revenge for us." A flicker of surprise passed through Li Fuyous eyes; these men were so miserably treated by the Eldest Young Master of the Chu Family. Since when had he be so ruthless? The previous incidents of a fake death and the poisoned pickles, the Eldest Young Master Chu had also turned a blind eye and hadnt pursued those seriously. "Speak, what did you do to provoke the Eldest Young Master Chu?" "This..." "Not talking, are you? You know what happens to those who anger me," Li Fuyou said emphatically. These words frightened the gang leader extremely, for angering this man meant no good oue, thus he stammered with trepidation, "It was because we drugged Miss Wang of the Wang family with Charm Fragrance Powder and tried to force ourselves on her, but we failed and were thwarted by a man who appeared out of nowhere." Hearing this, Li Fuyous face turned even darker. He grabbed the teapot from the table and hurled it at the gang leader, furious that these men had taken matters into their own hands, and even more so that this affair had involved the Eldest Young Master Chu. The gang leaders face was cut by the shattered teapot, horrifying him into trembling, and his voice became quieter, "The Eldest Young Master Chu also said..." "What else did he say?" "He said that he stands directly opposed to you." Li Fuyou frowned tightly, feeling that he had miscalcted this time and had antagonized a significant figure. He waved his hand, and the follower led the gang leader away. Very quickly, the follower returned, "Young Master." "Is it all taken care of?" "Yes, young master, rest assured, those men have been dealt with and will not appear again." "Well done." Suddenly, the follower knelt on one knee, hands clenched in front, head bowed, "Young Master, it was my inadequacy that has caused trouble with the Eldest Young Master Chu, please punish me." With his previously ashen face now regained calmness, Li Fuyous face showed a sinister expression. The Eldest Young Master Chu? He wanted to see just how ruthless he could be, how exactly he stood unequivocally opposed to him. "Stand up, the problem isnt with you, meddling with Miss Wang would have ended the same regardless." He hadnt expected Miss Wang to be so important to the Eldest Young Master Chu; this indirectly indicated that Miss Wang was the Achilles heel of Young Master Chu. "Then, young master, what should we do...?" "Lets watch and wait, prepare for battle," Li Fuyou said with a faint smile. Chapter 640 - 642: Meeting Miss Wang of the Wang Family

Chapter 640: Chapter 642: Meeting Miss Wang of the Wang Family

Two dayster, as Li Fuyou arrived at Dongfeng Restaurant, he heard the Xiaoer shouting at the entrance of Yui Restaurant across the street, "Dear patrons, dont miss out as you pass by, to show our gratitude to all customers, old and new, today everyone who dines in will receive one dish for free." Customers who were about to enter Dongfeng Restaurant turned their heads at the shout and ran towards Yui Restaurant instead. Yui Restaurant had a long-established reputation, and such promotions were notmon. "Lets go, well eat across the street." Seeing the customers snatched away from his own restaurant, Li Fuyou was neither angry nor annoyed; instead, a smile curled at the corner of his mouth, "Heh, I thought they would be a formidable opponent, but this is just a trivial trick." Indeed, Chu Lian hadnt done anything underhanded; it was just the beginning of a deration of war. Toppling Dongfeng Restaurant wasnt going to happen overnight. Li Fuyou entered Dongfeng Restaurant in such a manner. Unsurprisingly, the number of customers had dwindled that day due to Yui Restaurants promotion. He didnt confront the situation directly; instead, he wanted to see just how long the Eldest Young Master Chu would keep up this petty trick. But in just a few days, he sensed something was amiss when he overheard conversations from customers dining at Dongfeng Restaurant. "Ah, I didnt expect to see you dining here too. Why didnt you go across the street? Theyre offering a free dish there." "Arent you also not going there?" "Haha, I just felt like having this dish today, and its only avable here, not across the street. Otherwise, I might have actually gone there." "Thats the same for me, I also had a craving for it today, or else I would have gone across the street too, since theyre giving away other dishes there." "..." "..." His face ashen, Li Fuyou could not have anticipated being outmaneuvered by the Eldest Young Master Chu; it turns out the only reason the remaining customers came was that Yui Restaurant was too crowded or because they desired a dish that only his ce offered. "Young master, news hase from restaurants everywhere saying that because of Yui Restaurants promotion, our patronage has gradually declined. The shopkeepers are asking what to do. Should we start a promotion as well?" Li Fuyou furrowed his brow. Giving away dishesYui Restaurant wouldnt lose money, but if this continued in the long run, it would drag his business down. "Send the orders down; well also start a promotion and give away dishes, specifically the dish that they dont have." A hint of malevolence shed through Li Fuyous eyes. They were offering their signature dish, something Yui Restaurant did not have. He wanted to see how they couldpete with that. As expected, the promotion worked wonders, and many customers returned. Giving away the signature dish was indeed appealing - after all, its high price often deterred people from ordering it. What he didnt expect, however, was that within a couple of days, Yui Restaurant came up with a new strategy. Diners dining at Yui Restaurant would be charged only seventy percent of their bill. This tactic managed to draw back the customers Dongfeng Restaurant had just regained. Sitting in the private room of Dongfeng Restaurant, Li Fuyou sipped his tea with a smile at his lips. He hadnt anticipated that in order to oppose him, the Eldest Young Master Chu would continually employ such self-damaging strategies. If he continued to follow suit, only the patrons would benefit, and neither of them would make much money. "Young master, shall we do like before and send people to cause trouble in their establishment?" "No need," Li Fuyou said leisurely as he drank his tea. Getting the Eldest Young Master Chu to back down was quite simpleall he needed to do was to involve Miss Wang of the Wang Family, Chus Achilles heel. "Arrange a meeting with Miss Wang." Chapter 641 - 643: New Product Launch

Chapter 641: Chapter 643: New Product Launch

Regarding the things Chu Lian had done, Wang Xiangxiang had no idea, nor did she know that it was Li Fuyou who had orchestrated those events. When Wang Xiangxiang returned from Lin County, she immediately received an invitation from Li Fuyou as soon as she arrived home. This puzzled her greatly, as she had no connections with the Li Family, apart from Li Fugui. She didnt understand why Li Fuyou would invite her, but she did know about himall of Li Fuguis troubles were his doing. She believed it was best to avoid such a dangerous person, so she tly refused. First, she went back to the Yang Family and informed her parents about Yang Ming and Xiaoxiaos situation in Lin County. Then, taking her younger brother with her, she returned to the county town to start preparing for the new productunch. Theunch was essentially a gathering, inviting youngdies and gentlemen of various circles, using the opportunity to promote their products. Soon, the invitations were sent out, with the gathering set at their Wang Mansion. Wang Xiangxiang had arranged some settings in their family courtyard, a n previously discussed with Xiaoxiao. They had set up a splendid stage, and below it were rows of benches prepared for the visiting youngdies and gentlemen. On one side of the benches, there were rows of new sleepwear and garments disyed for everyone to admire. On the other side of the courtyard, there was a small open-air buffet, giving the guests a chance to mingle. Of course, the venue was decorated with many flowers, and a professional was hired to y the zither, enhancing the atmosphere. Throughout the busy preparation period, Wang Xiangxiang repeatedly received invitations from Li Fuyou, all of which she consistently declined. Finally, the day of the gathering arrived. Wang Xiangxiang attended in full regalia, marking her first public appearance as Miss Wang in front of a crowd. When she took the stage, it caused quite a stir below. Was this stunning beauty truly Miss Wang of the Wang Family? "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for epting my invitation to attend this gathering. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Wang Xiangxiang, the owner of Xiangxiang Cloth Shop. Today, I invited you here primarily to get acquainted and to showcase some of the new garments from Xiangxiang Cloth Shop..." As Wang Xiangxiang introduced the new products from Xiangxiang Cloth Shop on stage, the audience listened intently, deeply impressed by Miss Wangs unique take on the gathering. "Next, we will showcase the new products from Xiangxiang Cloth Shop. I hope everyone will like them." When Wang Xiangxiang finished speaking, the Zither Masters beautiful zither music began ying, and men and women walked onto the stage to disy the new garments. While the garments were being showcased, someone below was exining them to the youngdies and gentlemen. The event Wang Xiangxiang organized was much praised for its distinctive character, making the visiting youngdies and gentlemen feel that their attendance was worthwhile. Such a way of disying garments on real people walking across the stage was something they had never seen before, nor had they ever seen the new products from Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, whose styles were very unique and indescribably appealing, looking delightful on the body. Before all the garments had even finished being presented, inquiries about how to purchase them had already begun. Observing everyones reactions, Wang Xiangxiang smirked slightly; this time, she was likely to make a considerable amount of silver. After the show, Wang Xiangxiang returned to the stage, "Ladies and gentlemen, on one side below the stage, the new products were disyed. Feel free to take a closer look at the fabrics and craftsmanship of the new garmentster. These garments will go on sale at our Xiangxiang Cloth Shop three days from now." Chapter 642 - 644 Who’s the Young Master are you from?

Chapter 642: Chapter 644 Whos the Young Master are you from?

Wang Xiangxiang said, holding a small badge in her hand showing it to everyone, "Later, a badge will be distributed to all of you. This is the VIP badge of Xiangxiang Cloth Shop. With this VIP badge, you will enjoy a series of privileges..." While Wang Xiangxiang was exining the privileges, maids had already started to distribute the VIP badges to everyone below the stage. Having ess to so many favorable policies, and only for the young masters anddies present, engendered a sense of superiority among them. "Finally, I hope everyone here will get to know each other, have fun, and if youre hungry you can go to the open-air restaurant nearby." After Wang Xiangxiang stepped off the stage, the Zither Master took her ce and yed continuously, soothing the atmosphere at the event. The young masters anddies first went to see the disy of new products. During the viewing process, attentive maids were there to exin the items. Wang Xiangxiang also mingled among the guests, greeting and chatting with everyone. Eventually, everyone moved to the open-air restaurant. They found the self-service mode quite novel and each, following the instructions of the maids, took up a te and began selecting dishes they wanted to try. Some of the young masters anddies also got to know each other and started conversing. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed todays gathering. The atmosphere at the scene rxed everyone so much that many wealthy youngdies shed their reserve and began talking freely with the young masters they had just met. Then, some youngdies who had met before at the Chu Mansion suggested, "Miss Wang, its been a long time. Why not y a piece for us?" "Yes, I would love to hear it, please y a tune." Given the warm invitation from everyone, it would seem overly affected for Wang Xiangxiang to refuse, so she took the stage graciously, "I will perform a piece for everyone, to liven up the spirit and thank you all foring." Indeed, Wang Xiangxiang was very happy today, always wearing a smile on her face, behaving generously and appropriately, which set the hearts of the young gentlemen aflutter. Wang Xiangxiang still sang the same song, "Gathering of Drifting Lives." Being such a novel event, she did not hold herself back to only ying the zither in a conventional manner. As soon as the zither music began, the venue fell instantly silent because the sound of the zither was too exquisite and something they had never heard before. When Wang Xiangxiang started singing, delight shone in everyones eyes, such a voice, they had never heard before. They grew even more interested in Miss Wang of the Wang Family. Truly exceptional was Miss Wang, with beauty that could overthrow states and talents so extraordinary, deft in business, no wonder she had refused the eldest young master of the Chu Family so decisivelyshe indeed had the capital to turn down offers. After the piece concluded, Wang Xiangxiang stood up and left the stage, and continuous apuse rang out. Everyone surrounded Wang Xiangxiang, eager to ask her this and that, making her think that perhaps it was feasible to open a Grand Theater here like Xiaoxiao had mentionedsomething to discuss in earnest when Xiaoxiao returned. In Wang Xiangxiangs view, one could never have too much Silver. Wang Xiangxiang continued to converse politely with everyone, feeling as if her face was about to stiffen from smiling. She had met nearly all the young masters anddies who hade and seeing that everyone was engaged in good conversation, she excused herself to find a spot to rest. Just as she had found a quiet ce to sit down, someone approached her to strike up a conversation. "Miss Wang." Wang Xiangxiang felt somewhat resigned, but these were the money trees she had invited herself, and she must treat them well. So she stood up, greeted them with a polite, smiling face, "Hello, thank you for attending my gathering. May I know which familys young master are you?" Chapter 643 - 645: What is your purpose after all?

Chapter 643: Chapter 645: What is your purpose after all?

The man pursed his lips and smiled lightly as he spoke, "Miss Wang, its quite difficult to get a chance to see you." Wang Xiangxiang was somewhat puzzled as to why this gentleman would say such a thing, to which she retorted, "What makes you say that, sir?" "I have been rejected many times when I invited you recently, so I had no choice but toe uninvited." As soon as these words were said, Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened. The only person who had invited her several times recently was Li Fuyou, and she eximed in surprise, "You are Li Fuyou?" "It is indeed I," Li Fuyou greeted with his hands sped, feigning politeness. "..." Wang Xiangxiangs brows furrowed, clearly puzzled. She had not invited him, so how had he managed to get in? Why was he going to such lengths to find her? Regardless of the reason, they had now formally met. Wang Xiangxiang knew she had to deal with him, especially in such a setting. She regained herposure and asked, "I wonder, Mr. Li, what is so important that you went to all this trouble to find me?" Li Fuyou maintained an inscrutable smile on his face, "Miss Wang, do I necessarily need a reason to seek you out? What if I say I just wanted to get to know you?" "Mr. Li, save those words for deceiving other women. There is no need for that with me; lets cut to the chase." Wang Xiangxiang had already lost her smile, presenting an oppressive demeanor. In her eyes, Li Fugui was already a friend, and thus, an enemy of her friend was an enemy to her as well. She had to stay alert, especially since she felt that his intentions were malevolent. Wang Xiangxiangs attitude caused Li Fuyous smile to vanish entirely. The Miss of the Wang Family was actually so unappreciative, carrying herself so haughtily. He felt no need to keep up the pretense. His expression turned sinister as he leaned in close to Wang Xiangxiang, whispering in her ear, "Miss Wang, I havee to remind you about the Charm Fragrance Powder." Upon hearing the three words "Charm Fragrance Powder," Wang Xiangxiangs body involuntarily shook, nearly causing her to lose her bnce. Fear filled her eyes, gone was the domineering tone, reced with a faltering voice, "How... how do you know about it?" A wicked smile yed on the corners of Li Fuyous mouth as he spoke with a profound meaning, "Charm Fragrance Powder, incurable by any medicine, only a man can neutralize its poison. Since Miss Wang is still standing well here, it suggests that..." "Ah." Wang Xiangxiang let out a scream, interrupting Li Fuyou. Then, with her hands covering her ears, she crouched down, shaking slightly, and kept repeating, "Dont say it, please dont say it." Li Fuyou crouched down too, and to the unknowing eye, it seemed as though he was offeringfort. He continued to speak softly into Wang Xiangxiangs ear, "Miss Wang, such a loud voice, do you want to draw everyone in the yard over here? Do you wish for all to know of the disgraceful things youve done?" At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang was terrified, her heart pounding fiercely, especially upon hearing Li Fuyous threatening words. If these people found out about the matter today, she would be finished. There would be no more chances for her and Chu Lian, and while tarnishing her own name was one thing, she couldnt let Chu Lian be dragged down with her. She tried her best to calm down, standing up with bloodshot eyes ring at Li Fuyou, "How did you find out? What exactly are you after?" "Hehe, I do enjoy dealing with someone as perceptive as you." Wang Xiangxiang continued to re at Li Fuyou, her eyes filled with hatred. Her fists clenched so tightly that her nails were almost digging through her palms. She couldnt understand why Li Fuyou was doing this to her, as they didnt even know each other. Chapter 644 - 646 Why are you doing this to me?

Chapter 644: Chapter 646 Why are you doing this to me?

Looking at the malicious smile on Fuyous face, Wang Xiangxiang gritted her teeth and said, "What on earth do you want?" "Its simple, Miss Wang. If you help me do one thing, Ill keep your secret for you. What do you think?" Fuyou said as he extended his hand, trying to touch Wang Xiangxiangs face. Disgusted by Fuyous action, Wang Xiangxiang quickly turned her face away and asked through gritted teeth, "Do what?" "Make Yui Restaurant stop all promotional activities." "..." Wang Xiangxiang was somewhat aware of Yui Restaurants recent promotions, which were merely tactics to attract customers. Fuyou could easilypete fairly, yet he chose to threaten her over such a matter, proving himself a despicable viin. She sneered, "Young Master Li, you must be mistaken, Im not familiar with Yui Restaurant." "Not familiar?" Fuyou smirked darkly, turned around, and looked at the crowd, threateningly saying, "Then how about I go tell everyone about the nasty things Miss Wang has done? Given my status as the young master of the Li Family, people will likely believe me." "You..." Wang Xiangxiang pointed at Fuyou, fuming, "Youre really despicable." "Me, despicable? Im being quite merciful already. You know, if I wanted to sabotage Yui Restaurant, it would be easy." Wang Xiangxiang clenched her fists tightly. His words seemed not entirely false. Fuyou, a despicable scoundrel, was capable of poisoning and framing his own brother; causing trouble in Yui Restaurant wasnt out of the question. But this time, he had not resorted to those tactics; instead, he came directly to her, and she wondered why? "Why? Whye to me?" asked Wang Xiangxiang in confusion, staring intensely at Fuyou. Fuyous face suddenly closed in, looking straight at Wang Xiangxiang; their noses were almost touching. "Why, you ask? Perhaps out of curiosity, wanting to see what Chu Lian, the eldest scion of the Chu Family, cherishes deeply." After saying this, Fuyous face moved away from Wang Xiangxiang and he straightened up, continuing to speak insultingly, "I cant deny that youre a beauty. If it werent for the fact that someone had been with you, I would indeed like to try for myself!" "You..." Stimted, Wang Xiangxiang stretched out her hand to p Fuyou. But the hand she raised was forcefully grasped by Fuyou, "I havent finished my words yet, Miss Wang. How can you get angry, hmm?" As her hand was forcibly lowered, Fuyou continued, "The eldest young master of the Chu Family knows youve been dishonored and even fought for you. Dont you think youre his cherished one? Doesnt this make you the most effective person to target?" At that moment, Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened in disbelief. He imed that Chu Lian had avenged her, even going so far as to wreak havoc. Why did Fuyou know these details so clearly? Chu Lian must have been extremely secretive while conducting these activities. A terrible thought popped up in Wang Xiangxiangs mind, "Was the gang attack on me your doing?" "Ah, Miss Wang, youre just realizing? I thought you already knew. It seems Chu Lian has been protecting you very well." Every word from Fuyou stabbed at Wang Xiangxiangs heart. She never knew the extent of what Chu Lian had done for her. Perhaps this time Yui Restaurants actions against Dongfeng Restaurant were also a form of vengeance for her. She fought hard to keep her tears from falling, angrily demanding, "Why? I have no grievances with you, why do you harm me like this?" Chapter 645 - 647: I Agree

Chapter 645: Chapter 647: I Agree

Seeing Wang Xiangxiang being coerced by himself, being angered by himself, Li Fuyou actually felt a sense of excitement, even more so than sending people to create trouble at Yui Restaurant. He preferred seeing the look of despair on others faces in front of him, which delighted his mood even more. That was also why he targeted Miss Wang, touching her scars to cause her pain, which in turn indirectly struck at Chu Familys young master. It was killing two birds with one stone. "It seems you know nothing, then let me enlighten you," Li Fuyou smirked, finding pleasure in tormenting others, "Who asked you to help Li Fugui out of boredom?" "..." This reasonpletely dumbfounded Wang Xiangxiang. Just because of such a reason, he wanted to destroy her purity. He was truly a devil. She thought Li Fuyou was an absolute madman. "Anyone who helps Li Fugui is opposing me," Li Fuyous face revealed a sinister expression, "That Little Maid was the first, you are the second, who will be the third, hmm?" Li Fuyou then burst outughing, "Haha!" At this moment, Li Fuyou seemed to have gone mad, his demeanor making Wang Xiangxiang tremble uncontrobly. This man was truly frightening when enraged. It was him who forced Li Fugui and Xiaotian apart, all the misfortune of others was his doing. Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs pitiful look, Li Fuyou tempered the devilish aura he had just exuded, and instead said, "Scared?" "Heh, dont worry, I wont harm you, as long as you agree to my demands." At this time, Wang Xiangxiang was pondering whether this devil-like vile man would truly keep his promise. But the thought of her loss of chastity bing public frightened her; even if Chu Lian could ept her, his family surely wouldnt. For the sake of being with Chu Lian, she wanted to be selfish just this once, and thus she struggled to utter those few words, "I agree." Li Fuyou wore an inexplicable smile on his face, finding women really easy to threaten. "I will make Yui Restaurant stop the promotional activities; correspondingly, you must ensure that you do not divulge that matter." Although knowing that negotiating terms with such a vile person might be useless, Wang Xiangxiang still spoke. "Hehe, that depends on Miss Wangs actions. I want to see Yui Restaurants promotional stop as of tomorrow morning." "..." Wang Xiangxiang had not expected such haste; she simply could not contact Chu Lian, nor could she handle this matter in such a short time. "Tomorrow wont work, I am not familiar with Yui Restaurant, and I cant contact the young master of the Chu Family." "That is your problem now, I await your good news," Li Fuyou said as he leaned closer to Wang Xiangxiang, whispering in a voice only she could hear, "You really are very beautiful." Wang Xiangxiang blushed at these words, and Li Fuyouughed as he swaggered out of the Wang Familys mansion. Seeing Li Fuyou leave, Wang Xiangxiangs entire tense body suddenly rxed, she squatted down, crying uncontrobly. How would she live through the future days, always feeling that she would be threatened by this devil for a lifetime. He wasnt just using this incident to threaten her; he also threatened that anyone helping Li Fugui would end badly. Werent the Yang Family and Chu Family in great danger? How could she ever get rid of this devil? She didnt want everyone to suffer the same fear as her. She could only bear it alone; perhaps she should tell Chu Lian. Chapter 646 - 648: Acheng is on it, Ms. Wang please rest assured.

Chapter 646: Chapter 648: Acheng is on it, Ms. Wang please rest assured.

"Miss, miss, why are you here? The party is about to end, and everyone is waiting for you." At this time, a maid hurried over to find Wang Xiangxiang, and seeing her in tears, she anxiously asked, "Miss, what happened to you?" Seeing that the maid had arrived, Wang Xiangxiang, in her panic, quickly stood up and wiped away her tears. "Im fine." The maid saw her mistresss pitiful state and knew she couldnt meet people like this, so she quickly said, "Miss,e back to your room with me, Ill help you tidy up before we go out again." Knowing her own embarrassing state, Wang Xiangxiang followed the maid back to her room. She had pulled herself together in no time and returned with a smile, bidding each of the departing young masters anddies farewell. After sending them off, she returned to the front hall. As soon as she was back in the room, her expression instantly fell, for because of that devil, she felt everything had changed, and her life might now be spent in constant fear. Li Fuyou had actually demanded that she cancel Yui Restaurants promotion the following day. She had no such power; she couldnt contact Chu Lian at all. The only person she knew from Chu Lians side was Acheng. Would Acheng help her? She remembered what Chu Lian had said before he left: if there was an issue, she should seek out Acheng. She had no choice but to try. If it didnt work out, then it was just her fate, and the whole city would probably know of her disgrace by the next day. She got up, determined to find Acheng, but before she even left, Acheng had already entered the hall. "Miss Wang." "Acheng," Wang Xiangxiang called out, as if she had seen her savior, visibly excited. "Miss Wang, the young master has sent a letter." Acheng handed over the letter to Wang Xiangxiang as he spoke. Wang Xiangxiang excitedly took the letter from Acheng, her hands trembling. She frantically opened the letter and, as she read the words that Chu Lian had penned stroke by stroke, her tears fell like pearls slipping off a string. He said he missed her, he asked her to wait for him, he mentioned he might returnte... "Acheng, can I reply to the letter?" Acheng shook his head and said, "I apologize, Miss Wang, but Im not quite sure of the young masters specific whereabouts. We can only receive his letters but cant send a reply." Unable to send a reply, Wang Xiangxiang felt somewhat disappointed, but she knew he must be dealing with something important. If he chose not to tell, she wouldnt ask. She would just wait here for his return, and when he came back, they could find a way to deal with that devil together. Right now, she couldnt let the entire city learn of her disgrace. So she spoke up, "Acheng, he said before he left that I could turn to you if I needed anything." "Yes, Miss Wang, whatever you may need, you can ask me to handle it." "I want to cancel the promotional activities targeted at Dongfeng Restaurant at all the Yui Restaurants around the country." Wang Xiangxiangs request took Acheng by surprise; he couldnt understand why she would make such a demand. "Is it difficult?" Seeing that Acheng did not respond, Wang Xiangxiang inquired. "No." Acheng agreed because the young master had specifically instructed him before he left to obey whatever Wang Xiangxiang asked. No matter the reason for her request, his first priority was to agree; as for dealing with Dongfeng Restaurant, that could wait until the young masters return. Wang Xiangxiang hadnt expected Acheng to have such authority, but she also breathed a sigh of relief. At least this matter could be staved off for a while. "Can you handle this tonight?" "Yes, I will take care of it right away. Please rest assured, Miss Wang." Chapter 647 - 649: Another Marriage Proposal Team Arrives at the Door

Chapter 647: Chapter 649: Another Marriage Proposal Team Arrives at the Door

Dongfeng Restaurant "Young master, Yui Restaurant has indeed stopped the promotional activities," reported the attendant of Li Fuyou. A touch of surprise shed in Li Fuyous eyes. He had only mentioned that to test Wang Xiangxiang; he didnt expect that girl to resolve the matter so quickly. As far as he knew, Chu Lian was not in the area at that time, which meant that Chu Lian must have left someone to take orders from her. It seemed she was indeed Chu Lians darling. "Heh," a cryptic smile appeared on his face, amusing himself with the thought of having found an interesting toy. The panic-stricken expression of that girl was quite entertaining. Wang Xiangxiang, upon hearing the news, also breathed a sigh of relief. No rumors of her losing her virtue had spread through the county; she could finally feel safe for a while. Everything else would have to wait until Chu Lian returned. She focused on the Cloth Shops business, and thanks to the new productunch they had organized, the sales of pajamas were exceptionally hot, with a nice flow of silver filling Wang Xiangxiangs pockets. Several dayster, a marriage proposal procession marched through half of the county, eventually stopping at the gates of the Wang Family. This attracted quite a crowd of onlookers, all curious about which young master was proposing this time. Since the visit from the eldest young master of the Chu Family, no one else had dared to propose. Wang Xiangxiang was dining in the front hall when she heard the house servant report, "Miss, theres another marriage proposal procession at the door." At the servants words, Wang Xiangxiang was so excited she could hardly contain herself. He had returned; he hade to propose. Before the house servant had finished speaking, she put down her tableware and ran towards the courtyard gate; she was as happy as a child. He must have wanted to surprise her by leading the proposal procession himself. After reaching the gate and opening the door, she saw the long line of the proposers, but looking left and right, she couldnt see Chu Lian anywhere. Could it be that he hadnte? Without seeing Chu Lian, Wang Xiangxiang felt disappointed. At that moment, the matchmaker spoke up, "Is this the Wang Familys youngdy?" "Yes." "Congrattions to Miss Wang, Im here on behalf of Lin Countys Han Family, to propose marriage for their young master, Han Yongsheng." "..." Hearing these words, Wang Xiangxiang was deeply upset. The marriage proposal procession wasnt led by Chu Lian; he hadnte back at all. She had never imagined that the procession would be from the Han Family of Lin County; she had already rejected them so outright C why hadnt they given up? "Go back and tell your young master that I refuse. Tell him not toe proposing again," Wang Xiangxiang said before closing the big gate. Back in her room, she couldnt bring herself to eat anymore. When exactly would Chu Lian return? It had been nearly half a month; each day felt like a year to her. She had read Chu Lians letter so many times shed lost count. Inside her room, Wang Xiangxiang was unaware that, due to her recent rejection, she had once again be the focus of local gossip. "Another proposal at the Wang Family, and the Miss has refused again." "Which young master was so unlucky to be rejected this time?" "Its the young master from Yongan Fish Pond this time." "What? Yongan Fish Pond is quite influential, isnt it?" "Yeah, I dont know what kind of man Miss Wang is looking for; she already refused the richest man in the county, and now another one." ... ... The crowd chatted back and forth; news of Miss Wang rejecting Young Master Han spread like wildfire across the county. Chapter 648 - 650: Acheng, We Go to Yang Family Village

Chapter 648: Chapter 650: Acheng, We Go to Yang Family Vige

She thought a direct refusal would suffice, but what Wang Xiangxiang hadnt expected was that the Han Familys marriage proposal team was as persistent as ever,ing every day, exactly like the Chu Family had done before. Wang Xiangxiang was somewhat helpless. Why did all these families handle things this same way? Couldnt they just send a matchmaker over, take a rejection, and then stoping? Instead, they had to make everything so public, ending up with everyone losing face. "Acheng, lets go to Yang Family vige." The Han Familys marriage proposal team was driving Wang Xiangxiang crazy, so she decided to head to Yang Family vige to also see if Xiaoxiao hade back and to discuss business matters. "Okay." Acheng drove the carriage, and soon they were on their way to Yang Family vige. As soon as they arrived at Yang Family vige, Wang Xiangxiang was startled by the sight of so many diapers hanging in the courtyard. The youngest of their own children was almost four years old and no longer needed such things. What was going on? Before she had time to think further, she heard a childs crying from Xiaoxiaos room, "Wah! Wah!" Wang Xiangxiang hurried into the room and saw Xiaoxiao changing a diaper. She was extremely surprised, "Xiaoxiao, whose child is this?" "Sister, youre here! This is my son, Liufu." Xiaoxiao said while continuing to change the diaper. "..." Her son? In just a few days, a son had popped up, "Quickly, tell me what happened." After Xiaoxiao had finished changing the diaper, she held the child and began to exin the childs origins to Wang Xiangxiang. "So you two have adopted this child?" "Yes." Xiaoxiao nodded. "Here, let me hold him." Wang Xiangxiang said and took the child from Xiaoxiao, clearly delighted by the childs appearance, "Liufu, Im your great-aunt." After ying with the child for a while, Wang Xiangxiang began to ask, "Hows it going with the Grand Theater?" "Almost ready, its opening in a few days. I have to rush back soon," Xiaoxiao replied. "Xiaoxiao, if its a sess, you could also consider opening one in our county," Wang Xiangxiang suggested. This time, Wang Xiangxiang didnt propose a partnership. Xiaoxiao was already capable of handling it on her own and didnt need her investment. Moreover, Wang Xiangxiang felt she wouldnt be much help with the Grand Theater affair, and if she were to just sit back and collect earnings, she would feel embarrassed. "Yes, once its on track over there, and if its profitable, Ill consider it." Xiaoxiao was indeed thinking about it. Yang Mings Escort Agency nned to expand everywhere, and if possible, she also wanted to establish Grand Theaters all over. "By the way, when you go to Lin County, who will take care of the child? Should I help you with him?" "You know how to take care of children?" Xiaoxiao was somewhat skeptical. "Of course, I do. I took care of Fufu," Wang Xiangxiang asserted. "..." Alright, she had forgotten about that, "No need for you to help. The family will help take care of him for a few days, and once hes a bit older, Ill take him with me." Seeing Xiaoxiao so tired made Wang Xiangxiang feel sympathetic, "Xiaoxiao, you must be really tired now." "Not tired, Im actually quite happy." Xiaoxiao smiled. This was the son Heaven had granted her; she would be happy even if it exhausted her to death. "Sister, now tell me about yourself. Has Young Master Chu returned?" "Not yet." Mentioning Chu Lian, Wang Xiangxiangs mood fell slightly. Han Yongsheng was also enough to drive anyone mad. Wang Xiangxiang then recounted everything that had happened after her return to Xiaoxiao, of course omitting the part about Li Fuyou. After listening, Xiaoxiao was quite puzzled. Knowing full well about Wang Xiangxiangs situation with Chu Lian, why would Han Yongsheng continue to pursue her? What could his intent possibly be? Chapter 649 - 651: You Reject Yours, I Propose Mine

Chapter 649: Chapter 651: You Reject Yours, I Propose Mine

Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang were chatting idly inside the house, when a carriage stopped at the entrance of the old Yang Familys house. "Who hase?" Xiaoxiao asked, holding a child. "I dont know, Ill go take a look." Wang Xiangxiang said and walked outside. Upon stepping outside and seeing who had entered the yard, her entire demeanor changed. Why would hee here? Surely he wasnt here to pursue her? "Why have youe?" "Miss Wang, long time no see." Han Yongsheng greeted her with a bow, very politely. "..." Wang Xiangxiangs mouth twitched. If possible, shed rather never see him again. Seeing that Wang Xiangxiang didnt reply, Han Yongsheng continued, "I came to see how the fish ponds excavation was going, and I didnt expect to run into you here. It seems we really are fated." "..." Fated? She felt it was more of a curse. "Young Master Han, since weve met, can you take your familys marriage proposal team back with you? Im not going to agree." "Do you feel Im not sincere enough? How about if I personallye to propose?" "Dont, I could never agree. Making such a big deal out of this, the whole town knows now. It would be embarrassing for everyone." Wang Xiangxiang was speechless. It had nothing to do with whether or not he personally came to propose; she just didnt like him. "At the Marriage Fate Temple, you personally seized the Blood Jade. The entire city knows about our families marriage affair. Now you refuse, what do you take our Han Family for?" Faced with Han Yongshengs questioning, Wang Xiangxiang felt somewhat guilty; she was the one who had ruined his marriage proposal. "Young Master Han, Im truly sorry about this. I didnt understand the significance of the Blood Jade at the time. If I had, I certainly wouldnt have dyed your marriage proposal." "Doesnt this just show that we are indeed fated?" "..." How could this man be so unreasonable? Fuming, Wang Xiangxiang asked, "Are you really willing to be manipted by your family? Cant you find someone you truly love?" Han Yongsheng, with a smile on his face and a very serious look in his eyes, said in his pleasant voice, "How do you know Im being manipted by my family? How do you know I dont like you?" "..." Wang Xiangxiang stared with wide eyes. At a loss for words by Han Yongshengs statements, what was he implying? Could he possibly like her? She was so startled by this that she shuddered, "Young Master Han, dont waste your efforts. I could never agree." Han Yongshengs face did not show any displeasure at Wang Xiangxiangs rejection, as he had expected it. In fact, he had lied earlier; he wasnt here for the fish pond at all, but specifically to see her. The family patriarch had already epted her, and he didnt dislike her, so he had decided to try and make contact. "Miss Wang, lets not speak so absolutely. Try to get to know me, and perhaps youll find me more suitable than Young Master Chu." "Impossible." Wang Xiangxiang dismissed the idea without a second thought. "Alright then, since it is so, you keep refusing, and Ill keep proposing. Maybe one day, youll agree." Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs staunchly resistant attitude, Han Yongsheng did not persist further, leaving these words behind as he headed towards the yard. "..." Wang Xiangxiang was on the verge of a breakdown. What did he mean by she keeps refusing, and he keeps proposing? Was there something wrong with this man? She sighed. It didnt matter; as soon as Chu Lian returned, shed ept his proposal, and this man would disappear on his own. Having rified this in her mind, Wang Xiangxiang quickly followed, "Xiaoxiao, its Young Master Han who hase to see the fish pond." Chapter 650 - 652: I Indeed Have a Fondness for Miss Wang

Chapter 650: Chapter 652: I Indeed Have a Fondness for Miss Wang

Hearing Wang Xiangxiangs words, Xiaoxiao was very surprised. Wang Xiangxiang had just finished telling her about Han Yongshengs marriage proposal, and now the man himself had arrivedcould it be that he was pursuing Wang Xiangxiang? "Young Master Han." "Madam Yang, sorry for intruding uninvited again," said Han Yongsheng with a smile as he entered the room. Wang Xiangxiang took the child from Xiaoxiaos hands and gave her meaningful nces, "Xiaoxiao, Ill look after the child for you. Hes here to see the fish pond, so youd better take him quickly." Wang Xiangxiang thought that after showing him the fish pond, she would get him to leave quickly. If he didnt leave, then she would. In any case, she couldnt stay with this man. "Alright, then. You watch the child, and well be back soon." In fact, she had wanted to visit the fish pond for a long time but couldnt get away from taking care of the child. Since Wang Xiangxiang was asking her to escort the visitor away, she took this opportunity to go and have a look. So the two of them got on the carriage and set off for the fish pond with Ada driving ahead. Inside the carriage, Xiaoxiao kept her gaze on Han Yongsheng, but inside, she was thinking that if it werent for Chu Lian, who had acted first, actually, this Han Yongsheng wouldnt be too bad either:ing from a good family, handsome, and a decent person to boot. Wang Xiangxiang imed she couldnt find a match, yet here she was with two outstanding suitors showing up one after another. Upon getting into the carriage, Han Yongsheng noticed Madam Yang staring at him and felt a tingling on his scalp, so he initiated a conversation, "Madam Yang?" "Hmm?" "Madam Yang, do you have something to say? Youve been staring at me." "..." Xiaoxiao suddenly realized her rudeness and quickly sat up straight, starting to speak, "Young Master Han, I dont know if its appropriate for me to ask a question?" "Madam Yang, please go ahead." "Why did you propose marriage to Wang Xiangxiang? Was it because of your familys pressure?" Han Yongsheng didnt expect Madam Yang to bring up this matter and said candidly, "Since Madam Yang is asking, I will be direct. My family did indeed apply some pressure. After all, the marital arrangement between our two families has been settled at the Marriage Fate Temple, and the whole city knows about it." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao frowned., He really wasnt sincere, was he? But then she heard Han Yongsheng continue, "However, I can withstand that pressure. If I didnt agree, the Han Familys proposal team wouldnt havee." "So what you mean, Young Master Han, is..." "Thats right, I indeed have a favorable impression of Miss Wang," Han Yongsheng admitted generously. He did have a certain liking for that Miss Wang, not to the point of it being her or no one, but enough that he wanted to confirm his feelings. Xiaoxiao was extremely surprised by Han Yongshengs words. So, it turned out that Han Yongsheng truly liked Wang Xiangxiang, and that was why he proposed. But there was something she didnt understand, "Young Master Han, but you know there has been something between the two of them." "That was not her will; she is a victim." "..." Xiaoxiao suddenly remembered what she had told Wang Xiangxiang beforethat she would find someone who didnt care about her being defiled. And now, such a person had really appeared. Although it was a pity, and as much as she didnt want to dash his hopes, she had to speak the truth, "Young Master Han, forgive my bluntness, but those two are now as close as can be. Im afraid you dont stand a chance." "Not necessarily. He hasnt even proposed. It seems I still have a chance." "..." Xiaoxiao was at a loss for words. Sometimes, knowing something wasnt possible and still being so persistent wasnt necessarily a good thing. Suddenly, she felt anxious for Chu Lian. With such a formidable rival appearing, and still no sign of him, what was he doing? If he didnt return soon, she might be snatched away. Chapter 651 - 653: How is the Consideration for the Fish Fry Matter Going?

Chapter 651: Chapter 653: How is the Consideration for the Fish Fry Matter Going?

The fish pond was soon reached, and the two dismounted from the carriage. Since her visit to Lin County, Xiaoxiao hadnt been to the fish pond. She had only heard about it from Yang Ming, and seeing it with her own eyes was still a shockthe fish pond was almostpleted. Looking at it, it was no longer a mud pit but a vast source of water. Xiaoxiao felt the magic of nature as groundwater surfaced continuously. She really wanted to dive in and swim. It seemed that they needed to hurry up with the fish fry. Han Yongsheng was also extremely surprised. Their fish ponds were naturally formed, and he hadnt expected that a fish pond could be dug out like this. Xiaoxiao ran towards the fish pond, so excited that she forgot Han Yongsheng beside her. Yang Ming was sitting on the shore nning the follow-up work when he spotted his running wife. He quickly went to meet her. "Wife, what are you doing here? Whos looking after our son?" Yang Ming was all about their son these days, making Xiaoxiao asionally jealous. "My sister came over; shes watching him." "Come on, Ill show you around the fish pond." As they walked towards the shore, they discussed enclosing the fish pond, raising ducks and geese there, building houses around it, hiring someone to watch over the pond, and many other subsequent steps. Han Yongsheng, who had caught up, was speechless. Did he seem so insignificant that Young Master Yang had failed to notice him and his wife hadpletely forgotten him? Well, let those two keep chatting; he would check out the fish pond himself. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were discussing the fish fry when Xiaoxiao remembered Han Yongsheng. "Oh right, Young Master Han came too, where is he?" Xiaoxiao looked left and right. Yang Ming was used to his wifes mannerisms. He hurriedly looked around and finally spotted Han Yongsheng not far off. They quickly approached him, and Yang Ming apologized, "Young Master Han, Im sorry for neglecting you." "Its nothing, are you two finished talking?" "" Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were somewhat embarrassed by hisment. "How are the ns for the fish frying along? I see the fish pond is ready, so its time to consider this," Han Yongsheng got straight to the point. Han Yongsheng had been a great help in Lin County, and although it wasnt he who found Xiaoxiao in the end, they were very grateful to him and had agreed to visit Yongan Fish Pond. "Young Master Yang, I have made a genuine offer. Heres the deal: well provide the fish fry, and although you mentioned having fish farming techniques, perhaps ours are different, so we offer those too. Most importantly, our Han Family holds a major share of the countys fish market. If we partner up, we can directly solve the issue of selling the fish. Regarding the revenue split, it would be thirty for us, seventy for you." Han Yongsheng had indeed shown great sincerity, which pleased Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming. With the fish pond soon to be operational, they did not want to keep Han Yongsheng waiting. However, to be prudent, they still needed to inspect the fish pond before making a decision. So Yang Ming said, "Young Master Han, you have indeed shown great sincerity. How about this: lets set out for Lin County in two days to see your Yongan Fish Pond. If we find it satisfactory, we can sign the contract on the spot, and then Ill send someone to learn fish farming techniques from you." "Its a deal." "Its a deal." And so, the trip to Lin County in two days was settled. Chapter 652 - 654: Thank you for the hint, Madam Yang

Chapter 652: Chapter 654: Thank you for the hint, Madam Yang

After the three of them had discussed, they returned to the Yang Family. As soon as they entered the house, Wang Xiangxiang asked, "Youre back?" "Yes, sister,e on, give me a hug with my son," Yang Ming replied, asking for the child from Wang Xiangxiang. "..." Wang Xiangxiang was at a loss for words. It was already surprising to her that Xiaoxiao liked children, but Yang Mings enthusiasm was even beyond Xiaoxiaos. Handing over the child, she then saw Yang Ming smiling broadly as he yed with the child. These two people liked children so much, why didnt they have one of their own? As Wang Xiangxiang thought this, she saw Han Yongsheng enter the room, and he even smiled at her. She frowned, wondering when exactly he would leave. After chatting in the house for a while, Wang Xiangxiang learned the crux of it; this man was not nning to leave, and he had even agreed with Xiaoxiao and the others to return to Lin County together. Since he wasnt leaving, she had to be the one to leave; after all, she wouldnt stay with him. So she said, "Xiaoxiao, younger brother, you guys go about your business then. Ill be heading back to the county town first." "Sister," Xiaoxiao was about to make an effort to retain her but then she realized, realizing she was avoiding Han Yongsheng, she agreed, "Okay then, I will see you off." As they spoke, they walked toward the outside. At the door, Xiaoxiao said, "Sister, Ive asked around. That Mr. Han seems serious." "..." Wang Xiangxiangs facial expression turned awkward. She felt the same but to prevent Xiaoxiao from worrying, she said, "No worries, Ive already rejected him. He should give up after a few days." Since it was a sensitive matter, Xiaoxiao couldnt intervene too much and thus did not say more, "Sister, are you going to Lin County? The Grand Theater is just opening." "I wont be going. The Cloth Shop is pretty busy these days. Oh, right, here," Wang Xiangxiang said as she pulled out a silver note from her pocket, "your recent share." Xiaoxiao took the silver note, her eyes lighting up; she really needed money now. "Sister, you are so good." Wang Xiangxiangs mouth twitched. Giving her a silver note, and suddenly she was the good sister? All it took was money, "Dont just focus on the Grand Theater. You need to take care of the Cloth Shop too. We rely on you for new products." "Got it, sister, dont worry about it. The staff you hired are way more talented than me." Wang Xiangxiang smiled, called for Acheng, and then boarded a carriage back to the county town. When Xiaoxiao returned to the house, she saw the two men ying with the child again. This scene was priceless, Han Yongsheng had be so down-to-earth too. Upon seeing Xiaoxiao enter the room, Han Yongsheng stated, "I wille over the day after tomorrow morning, and we can set off together then." "Mr. Han, are you leaving?" "Yes, I cant stay here. I have to go ask for a match tomorrow." "..." Xiaoxiao was at a loss for words. Had Han Yongsheng never pursued a girl, "Mr. Han, this is somewhat inappropriate. Who proposes marriage without being acquainted first? No one would agree to that." A sh in Han Yongshengs eyes, he bowed with his hands sped, "Thank you, Mrs. Yang, for the advice. I will consider getting to know each other first before proposing marriage. I take my leave." Having said that, Han Yongsheng left the yard, leaving Xiaoxiao full of bemusement. What exactly was he nning? "Husband, did I say something wrong just now?" "What do you think?" "..." It seemed so. She was inadvertently causing trouble for her sister. She quickly ran out of the house, catching up with Han Yongsheng, "Mr. Han, I didnt mean to encourage you to pursue my sister. I was asking you to give up." "Thank you, I know what to do now. I take my leave." Chapter 653 - 655: Husband, Are You Relieved?

Chapter 653: Chapter 655: Husband, Are You Relieved?

Han Yongsheng had left in the carriage like that, and Yang Ming, after setting the child down, came out to see the guest off but was toote. Xiaoxiao helplessly shook her head and returned to the room with Yang Ming. "Husband, what on earth does this Master Han mean? I always feel like hes up to something." "I dont know either," Yang Ming shook his head; he had no idea what Han Yongsheng was thinking. "..." Asking him was a waste, considering Yang Ming was probably clueless about these things. Xiaoxiao sighed and continued toin, "And theres no telling what Master Chu is up to; the wife is about to be whisked away, and hes still not back." "Wife, dont worry about it. Havent you got enough to keep you busy for a day? They are older than us and can handle it," and besides, Yang Ming believed that Chu Lian had already hooked up with Wang Xiangxiang. Han Yongsheng couldnt possibly cause any waves no matter what. Convinced by Yang Ming, Xiaoxiao thought the same, assuming that Han Yongsheng wouldnt be able to cause trouble for much longer. Once Chu Lian was back, could he still jump around? Then Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "Husband, arent you relieved?" "Relieved about what?" Yang Ming was puzzled. What had his wife suddenly thought of now? "Relieved that your wife looks An Quan, unattractive to others. Look how beautiful our sister is; shes got people eyeing her, and Chu Lian has to be on guard against all sorts of rivals at all times." "..." Yang Ming pursed his lips. What was there for him to be relieved about? How could his wife look An Quan? Wasnt she coveted by Brother Chu? He was so jealous and tormented back then, but hed better keep this to himself, "Yes, yes, I am relieved. No one is trying to steal you from me." "So, youre saying I look An Quan, like Im unattractive?" "..." Yang Ming felt that his wife was setting a trap for him to fall into. No answer seemed right, "My wife isnt unattractive; my wife is the most beautiful." "Do you really think its okay to tell such tant lies with your eyes wide open?" "..." Indeed, there was no right answer. Women really are tough to please, "Im not lying, you are beautiful." Xiaoxiao held Yang Mings face in her hands andughed, "Husband, let me have a good look, to see if there is something wrong with your eyes." "..." What kind of act was his wife pulling now? The two were looking into each others eyes, their faces getting closer and closer, when suddenly Xiaoxiao nted a kiss on Yang Mings lips and thenughed, "After careful examination, theres nothing wrong with your eyes; I am indeed beautiful." "..." His wife was flirting with him, and her unabashed self-confidence was exactly what he loved. He pulled her in and kissed her deeply on the lips. The two shared a passionate kiss,pletely forgetting about the child on the kang. Suddenly the childs cry broke the mood, "Waah, waah." Hearing their sons cry, Xiaoxiao quickly broke away, "Our son is crying." The couple hurried over to their son, who had wet himself. Xiaoxiao quickly changed his diaper, while Yang Ming held the babys little hand, saying, "Son, can you not create trouble while your mom and dad are having a moment?" "Pfft!" Yang Mings words amused Xiaoxiao, "Hes still so young, and youre already talking to him about these things?" "Our son understands, dont you, son? Youve got to know when to turn a blind eye, especially when mom and dad are making you a little sister. Got it?" Yang Ming was dead serious as he spoke to his son. "..." Xiaoxiaos face was covered in ck lines. Yang Ming wasnt going to be regrly inculcating the child with such things, was he? Chapter 654 - 656: Notify everyone to go to Lin County

Chapter 654: Chapter 656: Notify everyone to go to Lin County

"Alright, lets talk business," Xiaoxiao said as she finished changing the babys diaper. "Today my sister gave me her share of the earnings from selling the underwear." "Mhm," Yang Ming merely acknowledged, not inquiring about the amount. He knew it must have been substantial. "Husband, I was thinking of giving each family fifty taels this time. Its been a while since weve handed out pocket money, and everyone has been working hard at home. We havent done anything. Look at the nting this time, everyone did the sowing, and the corn seedlings were already sprouting by the time we got back." "Okay, whatever you say." Every time this came up, Yang Ming couldnt help but feel grateful for having married such a good wife and having such a good family. Often, when people were poor, theyd stick together, but once rich, theyd squabble over silver, red-faced and hoarse. Thankfully, their family wasnt like that. "Then you can go to the county town tomorrow to exchange the silver notes," Xiaoxiao continued, handing the silver note to Yang Ming. Then she instructed, "And see what the family iscking, buy something for everyone." Yang Ming took the silver note and put it away carefully. "Mhm, got it. So, what do you want?" "I dont need anything," Xiaoxiao replied without a second thought. "..." He knew it, his wife would say just that. So, he suggested, "How about we leave the child with your sister-inw tomorrow and both of us go? I dont quite know what to buy for everyone. Youd better choose for them." Xiaoxiao nced at the child, then at Yang Ming, feeling he might be right. As a man, he wouldnt know what to buy. "Alright, well go together tomorrow." A smile curled at the corner of Yang Mings mouth. As long as his wife came along, it didnt matter what theyd buy; he could treat her to something nice. "Right, how about we take my eldest brother, second brother, and fourth brother with us to Lin County this time? The coboration with the Han Family is already a done deal, so we might as well go straight there. Then have the three of them stay to learn the fish farming technology. Once theyve learned enough, they can bring back the fry. Just in time for the Grand Theaters opening, they could enjoy themselves too," Xiaoxiao proposed. "Okay, Ill talk to them at dinner," he replied. Soon it was dinner time. Since Xiaoxiao had to look after the child, she ate in her own room. Yang Ming brought her food to her and then went to eat in the Main House because he had to discuss this matter with the family. "Dad, Xiaoxiao and I have decided to go to Lin County the day after tomorrow," he said. "Sure, you two go. Dont worry about the child; they will take good care of him," said Old Master Yang. "Third brother, you can rest assured, we will definitely take good care of your son, and hell be plump and healthy," the second brothers wife also guaranteed. "Thank you, second sister-inw," Yang Ming then told them about taking them to Lin County. "Sure, take them along," Old Master Yang advised his sons after that, "You three, dont cause trouble for your third brother." "We know, Dad," they chorused, all promising toply. "Third brother, they are going for a few days, right? What should I pack for them?" the second brothers wife asked. "Second sister-inw, Im not sure how long it will take to learn this fish farming technology, so just bring a few changes of clothes," he replied, not having asked Han Yongsheng how long it would actually take. Afterward, the family discussed matters concerning the fish pond. Yang Ming instructed Old Master Yang to oversee the fencing and building of houses; they would discuss the rest upon his return. Yang Dong was tasked with finding rtives to look at the workshop. After dinner, everyone returned home to prepare for the trip to Lin County. Chapter 655 - 657: If you accept my marriage proposal, no one will dare to bully you

Chapter 655: Chapter 657: If you ept my marriage proposal, no one will dare to bully you

The next day, Wang Xiangxiang was in quite a good mood, because the Han Familys marriage proposal delegation finally didnte anymore. Could it be that Han Yongsheng had seen reason? She didnt know how he hade to his senses, but in any case, she breathed a sigh of relief. Early in the morning, Wang Xiangxiang went to the Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, but as soon as she arrived at the entrance, she was not okay at all. Because she saw the person she least wanted to encounter. Han Yongsheng stood at the entrance of Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, smiling and greeting Wang Xiangxiang, "Miss Wang, good morning." "..." Everything had been fine, but now she was not fine at all, and Wang Xiangxiangs face turned ugly. Her good mood hadpletely vanished, and she didnt want to deal with him, so without speaking, she opened the door and entered the shop. Han Yongsheng intended to follow her in but was unexpectedly blocked. The person who stopped him was Acheng, "Young Master Han, please go back, my miss does not wish to see you." Acheng stopped Han Yongsheng entirely for his young masters sake; how could he watch the woman about to be his young madam being chased by another man? Han Yongsheng didnt take Achengs blocking to heart, his lips curling up, "Heh, but youll have to be able to stop me." As Han Yongsheng said this, he attempted to continue forward, but Acheng had no choice but to act. Han Yongsheng responded to the attack, and the two of them started fighting right at the entrance of Xiangxiang Cloth Shop. After more than a dozen moves, neither could prevail over the other. "Heh, didnt expect you to be quite a fighter," said Han Yongsheng, seemingly amused. "Youre not bad yourself," Acheng replied. Afterwards, the two continued to exchange blows, each move fiercer than thest, yet still indistinguishable. This exciting fight attracted many onlookers, who watched as if it were a martial arts contest, cheering both men on. Wang Xiangxiang tacitly approved of Achengs reaction; she thought by fighting like this, they could drive Han Yongsheng away. But she hadnt expected Han Yongsheng to be such a formidable fighter. After all, he had repelled so many ruffians before; how could he possibly be defeated? She really hadnt been using her head. If they continued to fight like this, how could she open her shop for business? So, she came out and shouted at the two men, "Both of you, stop it now." Hearing Wang Xiangxiangs voice, both men ceased their actions. Han Yongsheng, with a smile, said to Acheng, "Lets spar another time; Miss Wang has called for a halt." Acheng snorted, walked toward Wang Xiangxiang, and said, "Miss." "Acheng, Im fine, dont worry about me. You may step back," Wang Xiangxiang told Acheng. She thought that Han Yongsheng was here for her; force couldnt solve the root of the problem, she had to deal with it herself. After hearing Wang Xiangxiangs instructions, Acheng reluctantly stepped back. His martial skills were not sufficient to help Miss Wang, and he resolved to train even harder when he returned. Seeing Acheng leave, Han Yongsheng walked up to Wang Xiangxiang, somewhat triumphantly, "Miss Wang, my fighting skills are pretty good, arent they?" "..." "If you agree to my marriage proposal, no one would dare bully you." Wang Xiangxiang let out a coldugh. She was originally worried about being unmarried, but now suddenly she had two suitors; it was quite troubling, wasnt it? She sighed deeply, extremely helpless, turned around, and walked toward the shop, murmuring as she went, "Come in then." Hearing Wang Xiangxiangs words, Han Yongsheng entered the Xiangxiang Cloth Shop in a good mood. Chapter 656 - 658: This is something I specifically bought for you.

Chapter 656: Chapter 658: This is something I specifically bought for you.

As soon as he entered the room, Han Yongsheng pulled out an exquisite box from his pocket and handed it to Wang Xiangxiang, "Here, this is for you." Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened in confusion. What was he doing? Surely, he wasnt seriousactually pursuing her? Her face darkened, "Sorry, I cant ept this." Han Yongsheng didnt get angry at Wang Xiangxiangs attitude. He opened the box and took out its contents, a jade bracelet that was crystal clear and obviously of high quality. The instant Wang Xiangxiang looked at the bracelet, Han Yongsheng grabbed her left hand, causing her to cry out in rm, "What are you doing?" Wang Xiangxiang tried to pull away, but her hand was held firm. Han Yongsheng said, "I bought this especially for you. Put it on. It will cover up your scar nicely." "..." Wang Xiangxiang was speechless. Although his intention was good, his behavior left her feeling anything but moved. She continued to protest, "Let me go! I dont need it." Han Yongsheng, as if not hearing her, went on, "Ill help you put it on." His imposing behavior repelled Wang Xiangxiang. Seeing him insist on putting the bracelet on her wrist, and failing to do so, she sneered, "Look, even the bracelets size isnt right. This proves we are not a match." Since the bracelet wouldnt fit, Han Yongsheng let go of her hand, put the bracelet back into the box, and then put the box back on his person. Somewhat embarrassed, he said, "Sorry, I didnt know there were size issues with bracelets. Next time Ill buy a different gift for you." "..." Wang Xiangxiang felt that Han Yongsheng simply didnt listen to her. The issue wasnt about what gift it was, okay? Wang Xiangxiang shook her head in resignation. She managed to control her burgeoning rage and said cidly, "Master Han, let us have a talk." "Sure, I have something to tell you too." "..." He had something to say? Then she might as well hear it first, "You go ahead." "Miss Wang, Ive thought it over. It was indeed inappropriate for me to propose marriage so rashly without knowing you well. I am sorry for the trouble I caused you." "..." Had hee to a realization? No, his actions just now didnt seem so. Sure enough, Han Yongsheng continued, "So Ive called off the proposal procession. Ive decided that we should get to know each other first, see how it goes. What do you think?" "..." Wang Xiangxiang was so frustrated she felt like spitting blood. So much for himing to a realization, "Not good at all. We dont need to know each other." "I think getting to know each other is necessary. It gives you another option. What if you find out that Im quite good too?" "..." Huh, was he serious? His relentless pestering was making it impossible for her to see any good in him now, "Master Han, I apologize again for disrupting your engagement when I went after the Blood Jade unintentionally. Please, just let me be." Han Yongshengs smile faded. Let her be? She used such strong words; he hadnt done anything wrong. The proposal procession had already been called off. He hadnt brought Ada because he wanted them to understand each other better. And although he messed up with the gift, that wasnt his faulthe had never given a woman a gift before and had no idea about sizes. Chapter 657 - 659: Let’s Have Lunch Together, Your Treat

Chapter 657: Chapter 659: Lets Have Lunch Together, Your Treat

Xiangxiang continued, "You saved me, and Im truly thankful for that, but that cant be a reason for me to agree to your proposal." "Miss Wang, youre thinking too much. I didnt take saving you too seriously. The reason I came to propose is purely because of my personal fondness for you," Han Yongsheng hastily exined. At this moment, Han Yongsheng was dead serious, and Xiangxiang knew he wasnt lying, but disliking is disliking, "But I have already rejected you multiple times. It really isnt possible between us." "Really not possible?" "Really not possible." Xiangxiang shook her head, her eyes extremely serious. Seeing Xiangxiangs earnest attitude, Han Yongsheng decided to take a step back to advance, "Very well, I am terribly sorry for the inconvenience these days. I will return to Lin County tomorrow." Upon hearing Han Yongsheng say this, a glimmer of hope shone in Xiangxiangs eyes, this man was finallying around, "Thank you." "..." He gave up, and she was that happy? At this time, Han Yongsheng felt utterly defeatedit was his first time initiating affection towards a woman, and he hadnt expected such a thorough rejection. It seemed that even his status as the son of the Han Family wasnt omnipotent, "Miss Wang, lets have lunch together." These words instantly changed Xiangxiangs just-rxed expression to one of displeasure. What was he ying at now, "Sorry, I refuse." "Consider it an honor for my sincerity, please give me a chance," Han Yongsheng continued. "Sorry, we arent familiar enough to have a meal alone together." "..." Ah, so that doesnt work, Han Yongshengs lips slightly curled up, "Then consider it as a thanks for saving you, lets have lunch togetheryou can treat." "..." Xiangxiang was holding back her temper with great difficulty. He did save her, but she had paid with her chastity. How could he still use that as a reason to have her treat him to lunch? Its just a meal, isnt it? Shed endure it. Once this meal was over, they would be even. She gritted her teeth and said, "Fine, Ill treat." Han Yongshengs smile widened, "Its a deal, then. You carry on with your morning, Ille pick you up at noon." After saying that, he cheerfully left the Xiangxiang Cloth Shop. As soon as Han Yongsheng left, Xiangxiangs tense body rxed. She copsed there, feeling utterly drained. These days, if it wasnt Li Fuyou, it was Han Yongsheng. She felt that if Chu Lian didnte back soon, she wouldnt be able to stand it anymore. All morning, Xiangxiang was distracted from work, and soon noon arrived, finding Han Yongsheng waiting as promised at the entrance of the Xiangxiang Cloth Shop. As soon as Xiangxiang stepped out, she saw Han Yongsheng with a smiling face, not at all appearing like someone who had just been rejected. "Miss Wang, shall we go?" Xiangxiang nced around, noticed he was alone and hadnt brought a carriage, and then said, "Wait a moment, Ill call for our carriage." Before she could find Acheng, Han Yongsheng interrupted her, "Lets walk. I need to buy some gifts for my family, and you can help me choose." "..." She had agreed to a meal, not to apany him shopping, "Young Master Han, do not overstep." "Miss Wang, its just on the way, and it wont take much of your time. Plus, look, Im not good at choosing gifts. The first time I bought a bracelet, it was a disaster. If I buy such gifts again, my family will ridicule me. Please help me out." Seeing Han Yongshengs pleading look, Xiangxiang felt helpless and reluctantly agreed, "Alright then." Han Yongshengs smile slightly lifted at the corners of his mouth, his eyes gleaming with triumph as they walked off together. Chapter 658 - 660 We Are Not That Kind of Relationship

Chapter 658: Chapter 660 We Are Not That Kind of Rtionship

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming asked their elder sister-inw to look after the children, and the two headed for the county town for a major shopping spree. They looked here and there, bought this and that, seeming to be in very good spirits. Suddenly, Xiaoxiao pulled Yang Ming to one side, adopting a secretive manner, and whispered, "Husband, who do you think those two are?" Yang Ming followed where his wife was pointing, peered out, and his eyes widened in surprise, his reaction no less astonished than Xiaoxiaos; how could those two be together? "Husband, lets follow them," Xiaoxiao said, excited like she had stumbled upon a huge piece of gossip. She had actually seen Wang Xiangxiang and Han Yongsheng shopping together. This was practically a date! She simply had to follow and see what was happening. "This...isnt this a bit inappropriate?" Yang Ming hesitated, as trailing someone truly wasnt the act of a gentleman. Xiaoxiao pouted; her husband was really so old-fashioned. "Whats wrong with that? Arent you close to Master Chu? Shouldnt you be going to see what is actually going on for his sake?" "This..." "Hurry up, or well lose them." Xiaoxiao pulled Yang Ming and they followed behind. Seeing Han Yonggui and Wang Xiangxiang enter the Silver Pavilion, Xiaoxiao was about to follow when Yang Ming pulled her back, "Wife, if we just walk in like this, wont we be discovered?" "Oh, right, right." Xiaoxiao quickly took a handkerchief out of her pocket, intending to cover her face with it, but no matter how she arranged it, it didnt seem right. Then a lightbulb went off, "Husband, when we go inter, lets buy two fans. The weather is getting warmer anyway, and it wont be strange for each of us to hold a fan to block our faces." Fortunately, this Silver Pavilion was thergest in the area, not only selling jewelry. She was simply too clever. The two went inside and quickly bought two fans. They found a discreet corner, held the fans in front of their faces, pretending to look at the merchandise, but in fact, they were all ears. On Wang Xiangxiang and Han Yongshengs side Xiaoer, upon seeing their attire, knew they were from an affluent family and greeted them with a beaming smile, "What can I do for you two guests today?" "Do you have any novel jewelry?" Han Yongsheng asked. "Speaking of novel jewelry, our store is proud of a pair of rings. You two are a perfect match of talent and beauty, a couple made in heaven; those rings are the most suitable for you both...." Xiaoer assumed Wang Xiangxiang and Han Yongsheng were a couple and kept praising how well-matched they were. Wang Xiangxiang listened with a face full of displeasure and quickly interrupted Xiaoer, "Stop, stop, stop, were not in that kind of rtionship, so stop ttering us with such words, its pointless, and besides, you might scare off a potential jewelry sale." Xiaoer smiled awkwardly, "Sorry, the two of you, I was unaware." Hearing Xiaoer say that he and Wang Xiangxiang made a great match, Han Yongsheng was quite pleased. He thought about his and Wang Xiangxiangs appearances, and indeed, they were a good match. He wore a smile on his lips, "Show us those novel rings then." "Certainly," Xiaoer replied, leading the two to the area disying rings and brought out the exquisite pair of rings, presenting them to both. Seeing the pair of rings, Wang Xiangxiang smiled knowingly; she knew it would be like this, these were the ones designed by Xiaoxiao. "This isnt suitable for gifting, dont buy it. Lets look at something else." "Why?" Han Yongsheng was puzzled; he had taken a liking to them, and it was the first time he had seen such unique jewelry. He wanted to purchase it. Chapter 659 - 661: On the Means of Chasing Girls

Chapter 659: Chapter 661: On the Means of Chasing Girls

Wang Xiangxiang exined with a smile, "These rings were designed by Xiaoxiao as tokens of love, and just like that bracelet, they are sized. You cant just buy and wear them directly." Han Yongshengs eyes flickered with surprise, not expecting such a delicate item to be designed by Lady Yang. He said to Xiaoer, "Let me try them on then." "You..." Wang Xiangxiang didnt expect him to still want to try them on after her clear exnation. "I think they look pretty good." "..." Wang Xiangxiang was speechless. Fine, let him buy whatever he wants to buy, its none of her business anyway. Han Yongsheng began trying on the rings, and after several attempts, finally found one that fit him. He wore it on his hand and extended his hand to Wang Xiangxiang, asking, "How does it look?" Wang Xiangxiang grimaced and offered noment. Then, Han Yongsheng said, "Ill take this pair. Please wrap them up for me." Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened in surprise. He was buying it just like that? "Are you buying this for yourself?" she asked, curious. "Yeah." Han Yongsheng nodded. "Youre buying them without even knowing the size of the other half?" Wang Xiangxiang reverted to her mode of dispensing concern like someone munching on a salty radish without much taste. Han Yongsheng smiled slightly, his smile particrly lethal. "Hehe, lets leave it to fate. Besides, its not necessary to wear it on the hand. You could hang it on a chain around the neck, which would also make a pair," he said. "..." He seemed to make sense. Following Xiaoers rmendations, the two then looked at chains suitable for holding the rings, and eventually, Wang Xiangxiang helped pick out two. The initially wary Wang Xiangxiang had nowpletely let her guard down. Noticing the change in her attitude towards himself, Han Yongshengs face broke into a triumphant smile. He felt what hecked was just the opportunity to spend time together. After choosing for a while, Wang Xiangxiang noticed something amiss, "Young Master Han, didnt you say you were buying gifts for your family? Howe youre only buying for yourself?" Laughing, Han Yongsheng replied, "Its mainly because that ring was so unique I couldnt help but buy it. Now lets start picking gifts for the others." "..." "I have a grandfather at home, the same one you saw at that meeting the other day. Dont be fooled by my grandfathers appearance that day. He is actually quite easy-going. He and my grandmother..." Seizing the opportunity, Han Yongsheng talked a lot about his family and even introduced his family members to Wang Xiangxiang. He wanted her to understand that his family was very amicable. Indeed, the simple Wang Xiangxiang was amused by the funny stories about his family. The interaction between the two was very natural as they continued to pick out gifts together. Most of the gifts were purchased, and in the end, they even bought a silk flower. To see how the silk flower looked when worn, Han Yongsheng even helped Wang Xiangxiang try it on her head. "Hmm, it looks quite pretty. Well take this one." They paid with silver and left the Silver Pavilion, chatting andughing as they headed to the restaurant for a meal. By now, the hidden Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were utterly dumbfounded, werent they? What was going on with those two? Han Yongsheng was incredibly slick. They thought he didnt know how to chase girls, but it turns out when ites to courting techniques, Chu Lian might not be able topare. If he didnte back soon, the pure and harmless Wang Xiangxiang might really be whisked away. Xiaoxiao put down her fan and looked at Yang Ming, "Husband, what should we do?" "We need to catch up quickly." Yang Ming no longer felt that following them was ungentlemanly. He now saw the seriousness of the situation. They had to catch up and check on what was happening. Chapter 660 - 662: Sit in the Hall

Chapter 660: Chapter 662: Sit in the Hall

Wang Xiangxiang and Han Yongsheng were walking along the road when Wang Xiangxiang suggested, "Lets go eat at Yui Restaurant." "Do you really think its a good idea to eat at my rivals restaurant?" Han Yongsheng still had a faint smile, but his tone surprisingly carried a hint of coquetry. "I was just rejected, and Im hurt. No, definitely not." "..." Wang Xiangxiang could hardly believe it. Was this really the Eldest Young Master of the Han Family? She even thought that Han Yongsheng might have a twin brother because his tone waspletely different from yesterday. But the naive Wang Xiangxiang was at a loss, "Then where do you want to go to eat?" "Lets go to Dongfeng Restaurant across the street." When she heard the name of Dongfeng Restaurant, Wang Xiangxiangs heart missed a beat, and her smile instantly froze because she remembered that devil, Li Fuyou. She felt a bit scared, and with that thought preupying her mind, Wang Xiangxiang became absent-minded. Unconsciously, she followed Han Yongsheng to the entrance of Dongfeng Restaurant. "Here we are. Lets go in." Only then did Wang Xiangxiang snap back to her senses. She had just forgotten to object, but by this time, Han Yongsheng had already entered. She had no choice but to brace herself and follow him inside. "Xiaoer, do you still have a private room?" Han Yongsheng asked as soon as he entered. "Guest, I am sorry, but there are no private rooms avable today. How would you feel about sitting in the main hall?" When Wang Xiangxiang heard there were no private rooms, she hurriedly suggested, "If theres no private room, lets leave." "Lets just sit in the main hall. Im hungry," Han Yongsheng ignored Wang Xiangxiangs suggestion and found a table in the main hall to sit down. "..." Wang Xiangxiang had no choice but to sit down as well. "What would you like to eat?" Han Yongsheng asked. "Anything is fine. You order," said Wang Xiangxiang, who was not in the mood to eat, havingpletely lost the good mood she had at the Silver Pavilion. She was restless and anxious, fearing she might run into Li Fuyou. She kept her head down low, not daring to look around, afraid of being noticed. Han Yongsheng noticed her condition and asked with concern, "Whats wrong?" "Nothing. Lets hurry up and eat so we can get back." Han Yongsheng reluctantly ordered some dishes, and as they began to eat, he noticed that Wang Xiangxiang barely touched her food. He thoughtfully asked Xiaoer to bring over somemunal chopsticks and tes and helped her pick some food, cing it in front of her. "Eat." Only then did Wang Xiangxiang realize that her fear might be too apparent. Moreover, it wasnt certain that she would be unlucky enough to bump into Li Fuyou, so she raised her head and tried to calm herself down. "Thank you." Han Yongsheng smiled faintly, "No need to thank me. Eat up." "Okay." The two of them dined very harmoniously. Throughout, Han Yongsheng behaved like a perfect gentleman. He did not know why she was so afraid, but he still shared some of his own amusing stories to help ease her mood. Under Han Yongshengs considerate care, Wang Xiangxiang began to feel better. As he dined, Han Yongsheng asionally nced around the hall at two people who were shielding themselves with fans. His face wore a puzzled smile. Were those two here for augh? He did not know why he would be worth tracking, nor did he expose it. After all, he was acting openly and wasnt doing anything excessive. Meanwhile, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were hiding in a corner, unaware that the astute Han Yongsheng had already spotted them. Chapter 661 - 663: No need to look any further, we can still afford to eat

Chapter 661: Chapter 663: No need to look any further, we can still afford to eat

Seeing that Wang Xiangxiang had finished eating and was sitting there without moving her chopsticks, just waiting for him, Han Yongsheng asked, "Are you full?" "Yes, Ive finished eating, you take your time." Han Yongsheng also put down his chopsticks; he had actually finished eating a while ago, but he was afraid Wang Xiangxiang would feel embarrassed to eat more, so he had been eating along with her, "Then Im full too, lets head back." Wang Xiangxiang nodded, took out some Silver from her pocket, and prepared to pay the bill, but Han Yongsheng stopped her, "You sit and wait, Ill go pay the bill." Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened, clearly a bit embarrassed, "We agreed that I would treat." "You think I could really let you treat? If Guo Feng found out I had a meal with his sister and let her pay, he might beat me up." "..." If she wasnt the one treating, wasnt hering here today for nothing? "I should still..." "You just sit," Han Yongsheng interrupted Wang Xiangxiang, and then walked toward the cashier counter to settle the bill. Wang Xiangxiang had no choice but to give in and wait. But just when she thought they would be leaving Dongfeng Restaurant soon, she encountered the person she least wanted to see. "Miss Wang." Upon hearing this voice, Wang Xiangxiang shuddered and looked up abruptly, her eyes widening and her face immediately turning pale with fright. She quickly got up and walked towards Han Yongsheng. She wanted to leave this ce immediately. Li Fuyou, seeing Wang Xiangxiang scared like a little kitten, suddenly took pleasure in teasing her, following her toward the cashier counter. "Young Master Han, are we good to go?" Wang Xiangxiang asked anxiously. Han Yongsheng turned around to see Wang Xiangxiang looking very distressed, and even more afraid than just a moment ago. He didnt know what was wrong with her, but he knew she wanted to leave immediately, so he said to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, please settle my bill first." Han Yongsheng was just about to hand over the Silver, when he heard a voice speak up, "His table is on the house." "Dear guest, our young master says theres no need for your Silver." Only then did Han Yongsheng realize that it was his table that was beingped. He looked at the speaker, a man he didnt recognize, but he heard clearly enough that he was the young master of this restaurant. He turned to Wang Xiangxiang, realizing that the person she had been afraid of was him. Han Yongsheng smiled wryly and handed over a silver note, "No need for change, we can afford our meal." After saying this, he grabbed Wang Xiangxiangs arm, "Lets go." At this moment, Wang Xiangxiang felt as if Han Yongsheng was her savior. She followed him toward the exit, but a chilly voice rose from behind them, "Miss Wang, are you sure youre just going to leave like that? Dont you want to catch up with me?" The threatening tone made Wang Xiangxiang stop in her tracks. Was he going to use that incident to threaten her again? By now, Li Fuyou had caught up, his smile making Wang Xiangxiang shudder with fear. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang scared to this extent, there was a stir in Han Yongshengs heart, and unthinkingly, he stepped in front of Wang Xiangxiang. Li Fuyou still wore a smile, speaking to Han Yongsheng who was protecting Wang Xiangxiang, "Dont misunderstand, I only want to have a little chat with Miss Wang, catch up on old times." Wang Xiangxiang, who was hiding behind him, felt that this situation would always be her nightmare. She couldnt be threatened by him for the rest of her life. If he wanted to disclose it, then let him. Secrets cant be kept forever; this matter was bound toe to light someday. Her rtionship with Chu Lian would have to be left to fate. So, gathering her courage, she stepped out from behind Han Yongsheng, "Young Master Li, Im not on familiar terms with you, theres nothing to catch up on." With that, she ran out of Dongfeng Restaurant. Chapter 662 - 664: This Hundred Taels Are Mine Now

Chapter 662: Chapter 664: This Hundred Taels Are Mine Now

Fuyous eyes shed with surprise, and his feet involuntarily stepped forward, only to be blocked by Han Yongsheng who stood before him. "My fellow, I dont know what hold you have over her that frightened her so, but I advise you not to provoke her anymore," Han Yongsheng said. Fuyou scoffed coldly. He had not expected the young wildcat to have so many protectors, the Chu familys eldest son being one, and the man before him another. His face bore a malicious smirk. What would happen if he told this man what he knew? "There is indeed a hold. Would you like to hear it?" Han Yongsheng red at Fuyou angrily. No wonder Xiangxiang was so terrified; this man revealed his sinister nature in just a few words. "No need," he replied. "If she wishes to tell me, she will do so herself. I dont need your information, farewell." After speaking, Han Yongsheng also rushed out of Dongfeng Restaurant, eager to chase after Xiangxiang. Watching the two leave, Fuyou was not angered but wore a sinister smile instead. He had not expected the young wildcat to bristle up; he was not done ying yet. Turning, he returned to the counter and picked up the silver note. Ha, a hundred taelshe hadnt expected the man to be so generous. Just then, the silver note was snatched from his hand, astonishing Fuyou. Who could it possibly be, daring to steal the silver note from him? Xiaoxiao grabbed the silver note, her eyes wide in astonishment. That Han Yongsheng really squandered moneythose few meals worth just a few taels, and yet he had given a hundred taels for Xiangxiang. "Who are you?" Fuyou had never imagined that the person snatching the silver note from him would be a woman. Xiaoxiao spoke indifferently, "Mr. Li, you should keep your word. You just dered a waiver of the bill, so this hundred taels belong to me now." "I did say its on the house, but that doesnt mean the hundred taels should go to you," Fuyou had not expected this woman to be so bold. "Of course, its my turn. Im with those two who just left," she answered. Fuyou looked at the shopkeeper, who quickly intervened, "Theyre not together; they entered one after the other and did not sit at the same table." "Whether we sit at one table or not, is that your business? We prefer to sit separately." Fuyous usually calm demeanor was upset for once. "Are you looking to cause trouble?" At this moment, the other workers in the store also stepped forward. Yang Ming quickly protected his wife behind him. "Mr. Li, we are not trying to cause trouble; were just stating the facts." "How are you going to prove youre with them?" challenged Fuyou. Xiaoxiao suddenly smiled, stepped close to Fuyou, and whispered, "You hired thugs to harm my sister. Does that not make us opponents?" There was a moment when Fuyous eyes clouded over, then he said, "Let them go." Xiaoxiao, holding the silver note, swaggered out of Dongfeng Restaurant. Once outside, Yang Ming expressed his concern, "Wife, are you trying to scare me to death?" "Haha, Im not letting that Li Fuyou get off cheaply. Thats a hundred taels after all." "..." Is my wife choosing money over life? "But now were openly opposing Li Fuyou." "It was bound to happen sooner orter. The victims are your sister and your brother-inw. Do you think our family could have escaped this?" Xiaoxiao snapped back, infuriated by the threatening demeanor Fuyou exhibited earlier. Xiangxiang must have known that it was Fuyou causing her harm, which exined her fear. Their familys plight was something Fuyou must have known about for some time; escape was not an option. "Come on, lets hurry. I dont know if we can still catch up with them." Chapter 663 - 665: You hit someone and you want to leave?

Chapter 663: Chapter 665: You hit someone and you want to leave?

Wang Xiangxiang, who had just run out, was charging wildly in the streets, her heart in utter despair since her recent attitude meant that Li Fuyou was very likely to reveal the incident of her lost virginity. At this moment, she didnt even know which street she was on; she just kept running, stumbling until she reached the entrance of a gambling house, where she identally collided with someone at the door. She stopped in a panic and quickly apologized, "Im sorry, Im so sorry." The person, seeing Wang Xiangxiangs opulent attire and beautiful features, had a sh of sinister intent in his eyes and spoke with a nasty tone, "So you bumped into someone, and you think a sorry is enough?" Wang Xiangxiang looked at the burly brute before her, sensing his ill intentions but still continued with her apologies, "Im sorry, big brother, it really wasnt intentional." "Hmph, for bumping into someone, you need topensate with Silver," the burly man insisted relentlessly. It was apparent that he was after Silver, and at this point, Wang Xiangxiang was furious. One after another, they were all bullying her; was it not just a minor bump without any harm done? Wasnt this extortion? Wanting nothing to do with such people, she turned to leave but was grabbed tightly by the burly man, "You bumped into someone and now youre trying to leave?" Wang Xiangxiang struggled fiercely, shouting loudly, "Let go of me, let go of me!" The burly mans face was filled with malice, "Let go of you? You think youre in the right after bumping into someone? Pay up with Silver quickly." At this time, several of the burly mans aplices from the gambling houses entrance joined in, grabbing at Wang Xiangxiang. She cried out in fear, "Let go of me, let go of me! Isnt Silver what you want?" "Toote, now the brothers here want to have some fun with you." Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened in terror; she was extremely frightened as the current situation reminded her of a previous encounter when she was cornered by hoodlums. Her face was covered in tearswho woulde and save her? The moment Han Yongsheng stepped outside, he saw no sign of Wang Xiangxiang. After searching several streets, he heard noises from the next street over and hurriedly made his way there. He saw Wang Xiangxiang being harassed by several burly men, and he was furious. He kicked one of them and shouted, "Let her go!" "Ouch," the man cried out from the kicks pain, and they all let go of Wang Xiangxiang and surrounded Han Yongsheng. Having been let go, Wang Xiangxiang ran away, scared. The burly men didnt take Han Yongsheng seriously, circled him in the middle, and shouted, "You dare to meddle in our business? Brothers, lets get him." By this time, Han Yongsheng was utterly furious. He was already angered by Li Fuyous attitude at Dongfeng Restaurant and had nowhere to vent it. Now, these men were bullying Wang Xiangxianghe simply couldnt tolerate it. With a burst of energy, he delivered a series of kicks, putting all those men in their ce. The burly meny on the ground in pain, wailing miserably, quite unlike their fierce appearance, repeatedly pleading, "Boss, please spare our lives." "Hmph, if you encounter thedy from just now, youd better keep your distance. If I find out youre troubling her again, you wont be as lucky as today." "Yes, yes, of course," they agreed readily. Han Yongsheng didnt want to linger any longer since Wang Xiangxiang had disappeared, clearly in distress when she left. He hoped nothing else would happen to her. She hade out with him, after all, and besides, she was Guo Fengs important sister. Chapter 664 - 666: What Did He Threaten You With?

Chapter 664: Chapter 666: What Did He Threaten You With?

Having left, Han Yongsheng ran through several streets but found no trace of Wang Xiangxiang. His heart was filled with anxious urgency. He became flustered and, in the end, only managed to rush back to Xiangxiang Cloth Shop to try his luck. If she wasnt there, he would have to seek help. His footsteps were quick as he hurried into Xiangxiang Cloth Shop, asking the shop assistant, "Has your miss returned?" The shop assistant looked up and, recognizing the man who hade with their miss in the morning, replied, "She has returned; shes in the back room." At these words that she had returned, Han Yongshengs heart, which had been suspended in mid-air, settled down, and he quickly walked toward the room at the back, pushing open the door. He saw Wang Xiangxiang bent over the table, clutching her head and sobbing bitterly. Seeing her, so heartbroken, his heart ached with sympathy. He walked over and took out a handkerchief from his pocket, passing it to her, "Wipe your tears." It was then that Wang Xiangxiang realized Han Yongsheng hade in. She hurriedly sat up, not epting the handkerchief he extended, but turned away, pulled out her own handkerchief from her pocket, and frantically wiped her tears, fixing her makeup. She couldnt allow herself to show such vulnerability, especially not in front of Han Yongsheng. Once she hadposed herself, Wang Xiangxiang turned around, facing Han Yongsheng, and managed a strained smile, speaking softly, "Mister Han, thank you for just now, for saving me once again." Thinking back to thest time he saved her, a flicker of sharpness passed through Han Yongshengs eyes. Could it be? "Miss Wang, those hooligans that Ada and I drove offst time, were they sent by that man we saw at Dongfeng Restaurant?" Perhaps that was why she was so scared. Upon hearing Han Yongshengs words, Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened, and the tears she had fought to hold back finally rolled down uncontrobly. She turned away, her hands covering her mouth, her sobbing silent, her shoulders shaking violently. She didnt answer, but her reaction was a silent confirmation. Han Yongshengs expression became somber, and a ripple stirred within him. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang so heartbroken aroused his protective instincts, and his tone was gentle, "Dont cry, Ill help you." At Han Yongshengs words, Wang Xiangxiang quickly turned back, her face revealing panic, "No, Mister Han, please dont get involved. That man is a devil, capable of anything." She didnt want others around her to suffer as she had. Just getting close to Li Fugui had brought her such treatment; that man might do something even more ruthless. Thinking back to the threats in the mans tone at Dongfeng Restaurant, Han Yongsheng asked, "What did he threaten you with?" "He..." Wang Xiangxiang bit her lip, clearly finding it difficult to speak. "Did he threaten you with the matter of your lost honor? Is he nning to expose the affair to everyone?" Han Yongsheng was an astute man. Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs reaction and considering the mans attitude, he thought this was the most likely possibility. Wang Xiangxiang remained silent, but her increasingly fierce weeping confirmed Han Yongshengs guess. Han Yongsheng mmed his fist on the table, having never seen such a despicable person. He felt a sense of powerlessness, knowing how vile the man was but unable to deal with him, which fueled his indignation. It seemed necessary to inform Guo Feng about the matter now. He calmed his emotions and then offered constion, "Miss Wang, please dont cry. You must believe that the wicked will not meet with a good end; Heaven will ultimately take him down." Chapter 665 - 667: If You’ve Thought It Through, Send Me A Message

Chapter 665: Chapter 667: If Youve Thought It Through, Send Me A Message

"Ill take you home, you cant do much here anyway; go home and take a good rest," Han Yongsheng continued to speak. Wang Xiangxiang was at her most vulnerable at this moment, havingpletely let down her guard against Han Yongsheng, and she nodded in agreement, "Okay." Wang Xiangxiang stopped her tears and tidied up her appearance before both of them stepped out of the door. As soon as Han Yongsheng went outside, he said, "Wait here for me, Ill go call the carriage." "Eh, my familys carriage is fine," Wang Xiangxiang called out to Han Yongsheng, but he was already far away. Han Yongsheng walked directly to the corner of the nearby street, where Adas carriage was parked. Saying he would walk was just an excuse to find an opportunity to spend time with her. A momentter, the carriage stopped in front of Xiangxiang Cloth Shop. Han Yongsheng opened the carriage door and gantly helped Wang Xiangxiang inside. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming came out of Dongfeng Restaurant and had walked many streets without finding Wang Xiangxiang and Han Yongsheng. So the two decided to check the Wang Mansion, and after asking around, they learned Wang Xiangxiang had not returned. They were about to leave when they hadnt gone far before they saw Ada driving the carriage towards them. Xiaoxiao quickly took Yang Ming and hid themselves; Yang Ming was somewhat speechlesshaving reached the doorstep, there was no need to hide anymore. Xiaoxiao peeked out and said seriously, "Didnt you see thats Han Yongshengs carriage? Lets wait and see if hes bringing our sister back." So the two of them hid around the corner to watch what was happening. The carriage stopped at the entrance to the Wang Mansion; Han Yongsheng opened the door, and both of them got out of the carriage. "Thank you for everything today, Ill head back in now," Wang Xiangxiang said. "Hey, wait a moment." Just as Wang Xiangxiang was about to enter, she was stopped by Han Yongsheng, wondering what else he wanted to do? She then saw Han Yongsheng get onto the carriage and soone down again, holding a box, which he handed to her, "This is for you, take it." "..." Wang Xiangxiang was stunned; why was he still giving her something? "Im sorry, I cant ept the gift you are giving me." Han Yongsheng gave a knowing smile, "Dont misunderstand, its not anything valuable; its the Silk Flower we just bought, to thank you for apanying me to choose a gift." "..." So he had her try it on because it was meant for her? She wanted to refuse but listened as Han Yongsheng continued, "Even though you rejected me, todays encounter made me feel that if we were to marry, our life together probably wouldnt be bad, so my proposal still stands. If you change your mind, just send me a message." Han Yongsheng pushed the box into Wang Xiangxiangs hands and quickly got onto the carriage; the carriage then departed. Todays interaction did make Wang Xiangxiang recognize Han Yongshengs good nature; he was right, perhaps their life together as a married couple wouldnt be bad, but not loving means not loving. Her heart already belonged to Chu Lian. Wang Xiangxiang shook her head helplessly and entered the Wang Mansion with the box in hand. Seeing Han Yongshengs carriage leave and Wang Xiangxiang entering the house, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming popped their heads out and nned to enter the Wang Mansion to check on Wang Xiangxiang. Just as they were about to walk, they were startled by a voice from behind. "Youve been tracking for most of the day, arent you tired?" Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming turned around and saw Han Yongsheng standing there. Xiaoxiao, waving her hand, quickly yed dumb, "Hi, Young Master Han, what a coincidence, I didnt expect to bump into you here." Yang Ming was speechless; his wifes ability to y dumb was unmatched, clearly, they had just been pointed out for tracking. Chapter 666 - 668: What Play Are You Singing?

Chapter 666: Chapter 668: What y Are You Singing?

"Lady Yang, youre right, it is quite a coincidence, isnt it? From the Silver Pavilion to Dongfeng Restaurant, and then from Dongfeng Restaurant to here. Later, we might even coincidentally end up at Yang Family Vige, dont you think that would be nice?" Han Yongshengs tone was teasing. Xiaoxiaos face, which had been full of smiles, now lost all traces of joyso they had been discovered from the start. They were found out, yet not exposed. They were being yed like fools. Feeling very embarrassed by such a revtion, Yang Ming felt the need to apologize. "Young Master Han, about todays events, we are truly sorry. It was indeed inappropriate of us." "Hehe." Han Yongsheng pursed his lips in a smile, looked at Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming with his harmless face, "You were acting out of concern for Miss Wang, I can understand that." Han Yongsheng hadnt really taken the tracking to heart from the beginning, otherwise he wouldnt have let them follow him all this time. As soon as Wang Xiangxiang was mentioned, Xiaoxiaos curiosity was piqued, and she asked, "Young Master Han, what exactly are you doing? You take my sister shopping at the Silver Pavilion, then dining, and in the end, escort her home, not forgetting to give her gifts." It was practically a date. From the Silver Pavilion to the restaurant, then escorting her homeall so considerate it was almost too sweet to handle. He even threw out a hundred taels at Dongfeng Restaurant. Ah, if only Chu Lian hadnt made his move first, she would totally ship this couple right now. In response to Xiaoxiaos question, Han Yongsheng still smiled and replied, "For that, I must thank Lady Yang for her advice." "..." Her advice? It couldnt be that offhand remark she made, could it? "I believe Lady Yang made a very sensible point. It wouldnt be right to propose marriage so rashly; we should get to know each other better first." "..." It was indeed her own thoughtless words that had led to this. Han Yongsheng said this and even nodded slightly, as if he were deep in thought, "After spending the day together, I feel that Miss Wang and I are quitepatible." At this moment, Xiaoxiao didnt know what to say. So, had she really brought such trouble upon Wang Xiangxiang? "So, you really dont n to give up?" "Lady Yang, seeing as youve followed us all the way, dont you think Miss Wang and I enjoy a good atmosphere when were together?" "..." Xiaoxiao was at a loss for words to his question. Indeed, they had a good vibe together, so good that even she, an outsider, was almost persuaded. No matter what Xiaoxiao thought, Yang Ming felt that this was not right. He was firmly on Chu Lians side, so he spoke up, "Young Master Han, they say it is better to tear down ten temples than to destroy a single marriage. Im sure youre aware of her past with Chu Lian. I advise you to give up before you be too emotionally invested." "Young Master Yang, youre being too serious. I havent broken them up. Ive simply given Miss Wang a chance to choose," Han Yongsheng replied. "Lets hope so." Yang Ming could say no more on the matter, as after all, it was something only the parties involved could handle, and outsiders were powerless to intercede. Seeing Yang Mings stern expression, Han Yongsheng smiled and said, "Dont worry, Young Master Yang. By the way, you should go in and see her. Shes not as strong as she appears to be." Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had observed Wang Xiangxiangs reaction at Dongfeng Restaurant after encountering Li Fuyou, and indeed had concerns, which is why they had followed her here. "Young Master Han, well take our leave then. See you tomorrow morning." "All right, Ill head to Yang Family Vige early tomorrow morning." As Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming left, Han Yongsheng suddenly remembered something and called out to them, "Youd better watch out for that person from Dongfeng Restaurant." Chapter 667 - 669: Do You Know Something?

Chapter 667: Chapter 669: Do You Know Something?

Hearing what Han Yongsheng said, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao stopped in their tracks and turned around, sensing that his words held a deeper meaning. "Master Han, do you know something?" Xiaoxiao asked outright. Han Yongsheng shook his head, unaware of the specifics of their conflict, but he felt a reminder was necessary, "That person is very cunning and deceitful, everyone should be careful, its always good." Xiaoxiao felt that even if there had been a minor incident at Dongfeng Restaurant just now, Han Yongsheng wouldnt act like this without a reason. Either Wang Xiangxiang had told him something, or he guessed something, so she said, "Master Han, we are very worried about my sister, if you know anything, please tell us." Han Yongsheng thought it would be inappropriate for him to speak about such matters, but to help her was better than to let her say it herself. After all, it would pain her every time she mentioned it, so he said, "That person is the one who originally hired thugs to vite her." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were not surprised, as it matched their suspicionsshe must have known, which was why she acted that way. But what Han Yongsheng said next shocked both Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming. "That person is still using the fact that she has lost her chastity to threaten her, which is why Miss Wang was so afraid of him today at Dongfeng Restaurant. She fears he will expose the matter." "What?" Xiaoxiao was truly startled by this revtion, having not considered the consequences of Li Fuyou knowing about Wang Xiangxiangs loss of chastity. Han Yongsheng continued, "As you know, if a woman is not yet married and loses her chastity, she would be scorned by society if it became known. Otherwise, why would she have chosen to try to end her life back then?" "Husband, lets go." Xiaoxiao pulled Yang Ming toward Wang Mansion, unable to remainposed. Her mind was filled with thoughts of Wang Xiangxiangs current state, convinced that she must be suffering. "Thank you for the information, Master Han. We shall take our leave now." Yang Ming, being pulled along, did not forget to bid farewell to Han Yongsheng. Just as Han Yongsheng was about to say something, he swallowed it back, helplessly shaking his head. Surely they wouldnt be foolish enough to directly say he was the one who told them. Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao had unrestricted ess to Wang Mansion, and as soon as they entered the courtyard, Xiaoxiao began shouting, "Sister, sister!" Wang Xiangxiang had just entered the courtyard when the house servant told her about Xiaoxiao and the others visit. She regretted returningte but did not expect them toe back again so soon. She hastily adjusted her downcast mood, ran out, and smiling, said, "Why have you twoe? Is there something wrong at home?" "Nothing is wrong. We were just in County to buy some things, and we thought wed stop by to see you on the way," Xiaoxiao replied, seeing that Wang Xiangxiang seemed alright. She simply couldnt bear to bring up the painful topic again, to rub salt into the wound. The group naturally avoided the troubling issue and instead, they sat together chatting about household matters, what they had bought that day, when they would return after setting out the next day, how much the lingerie had sold for, and so on... Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming still had a lot to buy and silver to exchange because they had been upied with following up on the case, so after a while, they left. "Husband, what do you think about this matter?" "Losing her chastity before marriage, this matter will likely be hard to keep under wraps. The best solution would be for Brother Chu to marry her as soon as possible." "..." It was exactly what she had thought, but when exactly would Chu Lian return? Chapter 668 - 670 Rehearsal

Chapter 668: Chapter 670 Rehearsal

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming exchanged some silver and bought some food and hurried back home. After arriving home, they distributed fifty taels to each family and instructed the children on what to do. On the morning of the next day, after meeting with Han Yongsheng, the group drove carriages towards Lin County. Since the Grand Theater was about to open, Xiaoxiao decided to visit Yongan Fish Pond after the opening of the Grand Theater, so they parted ways with Han Yongsheng after reaching Lin County. This time, they chose not to stay at Chu Lians residence but decided to stay at the Grand Theater instead. As they entered the Grand Theater, the gatekeeper greeted them, "Boss, madam boss, youre back." "Yes, has everyone rested?" "Not yet, everyone is still practicing on stage." "...." Xiaoxiao was quite surprised. It was alreadyte, yet everyone was still practicing so diligently. The group walked towards the stage, and when the performers noticed Xiaoxiao and others, they promptly stopped their rehearsal and shouted in unison, "Boss, madam boss." "Everyone has worked hard. Dont overexert yourselves, rest properly, dont ruin your voices." This was indeed what Xiaoxiao was worried about, as there were no microphones here, and everything depended on loud voices. "Madam boss, dont worry, we understand," they assured. The manager, Tian, even added, "Madam boss, our opening is the day after tomorrow, why dont you check out our performance now?" "Alright, lets see the fruits of yourbor these days." Since she wanted to watch anyway, and everyone was so enthusiastic, they might as well watch it now. Xiaoxiao and the others found a spot and sat down below the stage. The stage was designed with curtains that had to be manually drawn by someone. All the performances were arranged like a Spring Festival g, although they did not have as many acts. It began with a dance by the actors an opening dance routine. After that, a host came on stage for announcements, followed by songs, ballroom dances, sketches,edy duos, and other performances,sting for two hours altogether. Everyone gave their all, as this was essentially their means for survival at the moment. Sitting there, Yang Chun, Yang Gang, and Yang Dong were watching such a performance for the first time. They found it unbelievable, and Yang Dong was particrly excited, pping his hands, "Brother, sister-inw, this is so impressive." Seeing his younger brother like this, Yang Ming quickly interjected, "Keep it down." "Oh, oh," Yang Dongplied, continuing to watch intently without looking away. Xiaoxiao herself was also taken aback; such a performance was more than enough to draw a crowd. Once everyone got used to this pattern and kept designing new acts routinely, the Grand Theater should be able to operate sessfully. The most important aspect was the content of the programs without fresh input, they would eventually be doomed. After the whole rehearsal was over, everyone stood in unison on the stage, looking at Xiaoxiao, hoping for her feedback. Xiaoxiao was of course generous with her praises, "Everyone performed incredibly well." While speaking, she also gave a thumbs-up with both hands to everyone, "The performance the day after tomorrow will definitely be a sess, keep it up." Excited by her words, they all expressed special anticipation for the Grand Theater, a ce where they could earn their living without selling themselves. Just then, Manager Tian came over, announcing that dinner was ready. Xiaoxiao called everyone, "Lets go have dinner now." Chapter 669 - 671: Parade Ticket Sales

Chapter 669: Chapter 671: Parade Ticket Sales

The next day, the Grand Theater was all set, and Xiaoxiao took a group of people onto the streets for a charity performance to sell tickets. The main event was a parade performance, where everyone followed the music and danced as they walked. This had been rehearsed in advance, and to rid everyone of the lingering poison of Yixiang Courtyard, Xiaoxiao had also purposely arranged for men to dance along. She wanted everyone to know that Yixiang Courtyard was no longer a ce for selling oneself, but a venue for performances that men, women, and children of all ages could attend. Yang Ming even dispatched people from the Escort Agency to provide protection and prevent any disturbances. There were also people exining at the front, "Dont miss out as you pass by, our Joy Grand Theater will officially open tomorrow. When the timees, there will be a variety of unique performances, and everyone is wee toe and watch." "If you want to watch the performances, you must buy tickets in advance. The prices vary, whether youre an ordinary citizen or a noble official, you can enjoy the joyful experience our Joy Grand Theater offers." "The Joy Grand Theater has three shows daily, a morning, an afternoon, and a midnight show. Whenever you want to watch, buy tickets for that time. Each show only has a hundred tickets, and no entry is permitted without a ticket." "Dont think that only men can enter the Joy Grand Theater, people of all genders and ages are wee to watch. If you want to have fun with your family and find nowhere else to go when youre bored,e to our Joy Grand Theater. We guarantee you wont regret it and will want toe back." "..." "..." Such a parade attracted many onlookers. Everyone was very surprised by this approach and there was much discussion. Many were drawn to follow the procession all the way. In fact, this parade was just a formality. Xiaoxiao wanted to publicize the Grand Theater to everyone, so they would know about it. The tickets for the opening day had almost sold out. Manager Tian used to be a madam and knew many nobles and officials. Moreover, because of Xiaoxiaos previous performances, many former clients of Yixiang Courtyard had bought tickets. Although the parade was spectacr, it also faced challenges. Many people were resistant, mainly women who didnt understand. "Heh, sounds nice, but its still just the same people from Yixiang Courtyard who sold themselves." "Its just another way of selling." "Exactly, the ones who go are still those men." "If my man dares to go, Ill break his legs." "Haha, you always say that, but your mans legs seem fine, still walking without a problem." "Anyway, we all need to keep an eye on our men, cant let them go to such ces." "..." "..." The dancers heard every word of this conversation clearly. Even though they had grown tough-skinned from their past, now that they had reformed, such words still hurt. Could they never escape the worlds scorn? Xiaoxiao was watching the girls expressions and felt very distressed herself. She wanted to lead them to a better life, but these deeply ingrained attitudes couldnt change overnight, maybe it would take a long time. The Grand Theater was more than just a means to earn money; it was these peoples hope. Xiaoxiao hoped for them to be epted by society, which is why the tickets were affordable for ordinary people. Was it a mistake to have the girls parade? No, she had to encourage them. She was about to speak when a voice caught her attention. "Dont talk about them like that." Chapter 670 - 672: All the Tickets Are Sold Out

Chapter 670: Chapter 672: All the Tickets Are Sold Out

The voice defending the girls was a crisp female voice. Xiaoxiao looked over and was immediately surprised. She had seen this woman before, the one who had confronted Wang Xiangxiang at the Marriage Fate Temple, and she was also the one who helped them hail a sedan chair. "Everyone is equal, and you have no right to judge their pasts. Besides, they have reformed now. They work hard to live a good lifewhats wrong with that? I actually admire their courage. Could you do the same if you were in their shoes? Probably not," she said. "In my eyes, you are no better than them, always gossiping and finding fault in others. It would be better to go home and look in the mirror. Why are your husbands looking at others instead of you?" After finishing, Wen Nuan walked toward Xiaoxiao, leaving the crowd speechless and unable to respond. Seeing Wen Nuan heading her way, Xiaoxiao said with a smile, "Thank you for just now, for speaking up for thedies." Xiaoxiao was genuinely grateful. Although she very much wanted to tear those people to shreds herself, as a member of the Grand Theater and, more so, as the proprietress, publicly tearing into the crowd would be very inappropriate and could seriously damage the Grand Theaters image, which would be very detrimental to its development. But having the public tear into the public was a different matter. "It was nothing. I only spoke the truth," Wen Nuan said with a gentle smile on her face. "Do you still have tickets? Ill buy one." Xiaoxiao handed her a ticket, "This ones on me, to thank you for helping us just now." "Hehe, no need. Thedies have worked hard, and it would be disrespectful to watch for free," Wen Nuan declined, pulling out silver to give to Xiaoxiao. Wen Nuans actions left Xiaoxiao no choice but to ept the silver, which represented recognition of the girls efforts, "Then thank you." "Dont mention it. I am Wen Nuan. How about you?" "Zhong Xiaoxiao." "Thats a very nice name. Last time at the Marriage Fate Temple, things were too hurried to get acquainted." "Its not toote to get to know each other now." "Thats true." The two shared a smile, and Xiaoxiao felt an indescribable sensation, as though the woman before her was quite unique and could perhaps be a good friend. "Well, you must be busy, I should get going. See you tonight." "Alright." Wen Nuan walked away, disappearing into the bustling street. With Wen Nuans help, the girls were no longer downcast; finally, someone recognized and spoke up for them. Smiles returned to their faces, and they continued with their dancing. It wasnt long before Yang Ming spoke up, "Wife, all the tickets are sold out." "Already?" Xiaoxiao was very surprised. They had brought three days worth of tickets to sell, and this was just one morning. "Yes, I didnt expect it either." Yang Ming was also amazed because his wife said they were only out to promote the Grand Theater and hadnt expected to sell many tickets, yet they sold so many. Perhaps it was the people-friendly prices that made them sell so quickly. Xiaoxiao did a rough calction; even if the theater was packed with customers, after distributing the silver among everyone and deducting expenses, she would only have a profit of three hundred taels per month for the Grand Theater. That was much less than what she made running the brothel. If there were any mishaps, they might even run at a loss, but she had no regrets. To gain recognition for this art form and for the girls, she felt it was very necessary. Once everything was on the right track, it wouldnt be toote to start some small theaters to make silver. Chapter 671 - 673: Grand Opening Ceremony

Chapter 671: Chapter 673: Grand Opening Ceremony

By the next day, the grand opening had arrived. Everyone today could be described as radiant and spirited. Whether the Grand Theater could continue depended on todays sess or failure. Early in the morning, Xiaoxiao arranged for some people to be at the entrance of the Joy Grand Theater. The sound of gongs and drums, the music, and the Yangge dance created a festive atmosphere that attracted many people. Those holding theater tickets were also willing to watch from outside and were not angered by the inability to enter. Amidst this joyful atmosphere, suddenly the gongs and drums stopped, the music ceased, and the Yangge dance halted as two peculiarly dressed individuals, a man and a woman, appeared at the entrance of the theater, catching everyones attention. "Dear people of Lin County, under the bright sun and warm spring breeze, in this spring of revival and brimming life, we solemnly hold the opening ceremony of Joy Grand Theater..." As the voice rang out, everyone instantly quieted down to listen to the two speakers. "Next, I announce the official start of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Joy Grand Theater. The first item, fire the cannon salutes." The person responsible for the firecrackers was ready; hearing the hosts instruction, a barrage of loud firecrackers sounded, startling much of the town. Festive music yed once again, immersing the onlookers in a distinct atmosphere. "Next, let me proudly introduce the guests who will cut the ribbon for our Joy Grand Theater. They are the Young Master Han from Yongan Fish Pond, Young Master Guo from Fengtian Dyeing Workshop, Store Manager Yang from Xuntian Escort Agency, andstly, Miss Zhong, the owner of Joy Grand Theater. Please wee them with apuse." In this county, Xiaoxiao didnt know many significant figures; thus, she could only rely on these few individuals, who together formed a striking scene. The three men were handsome, and both Guo Feng and Han Yongsheng were well-known in Lin County and could hold their own. Well-prepared individuals then presentedrge red flowers and silk, and shears were offered. "Now, please, our guests to cut the ribbon for Joy Grand Theater." The individuals followed the hosts instructions, took the shears, and cut the silk. It was their first time encountering such a ceremony, and though they were puzzled, they proceeded as instructed. "Now, the floor is given to Miss Zhong from Joy Grand Theater." Today, Xiaoxiao wore beautiful makeup and appropriate attire. This was her first time meeting everyone with such a clear appearance; thest encounter had been in the dimness of the night, which hadnt been very clear. "Hello, everyone. Thank you foring. Our main focus at Joy Grand Theater is performing, and our initial intent is to bring joy through these performances. To help more people enjoy this form of entertainment, we have set affordable ticket prices. We hope after today, youll have a deeper understanding of Joy Grand Theater." "Dont misunderstand that Joy Grand Theater is still a ce where girls sell themselves. We no longer engage in that business," Xiaoxiao continued in a yful tone, "If you desire a moment of love, go across the street." Thisment caused the audience to burst intoughter. "Lastly, I hope you all have fun today." Having finished, Xiaoxiao moved aside to signal the host, who approached and continued, "Now, I dere the Joy Grand Theater officially open. Please, guests with tickets for the morning show, enter in an orderly manner." Chapter 672 - 674: Entry

Chapter 672: Chapter 674: Entry

Guests holding tickets for the morning show had begun queuing at this time, under the arrangement of the staff. Outside, many onlookers who did not have tickets were still unwilling to leave. "Please dont worry, those without tickets who wish to watch the performance at Joy Grand Theater can queue at this ticket booth to purchase tickets. We are currently selling tickets for three days from now, and there are only a few left, so please hurry to make your purchase." The street parade and opening arranged by Xiaoxiao attracted many people. Everyone believed the performances inside must be spectacr. Seeing that the ticket prices were not too expensive, they all queued up to try. Although they could not watch frequently, the price of a single ticket was still affordable. Some people adopted a wait-and-see attitude, waiting for those inside toe out to ask about the situation before deciding whether to buy or not. Regardless, the situation outside was very good. Xiaoxiao had specially arranged for people to exin the ticket pricing issues, such as why there were different prices, because seats differed in location; front row tickets were more expensive than those in the back. Once purchased, tickets cannot be refunded, even if unused, as it could disrupt further sales, and so on. Xiaoxiao saw that the outside staff had handled everything very well, so she also entered the theater. Inside, everything was also organized in an orderly fashion. "Please walk slowly, dont rush, everyone has a seat. Your tickets have numbers on them, so please take your seats ording to these numbers. After sitting down, remain quiet, and do not make any noise. Making noise could prevent you from hearing the actors. Please cooperate, thank you." Everyone was amazed by the design inside the Grand Theater, Yixiang Courtyard hadpletely transformed in such a short time. The entire indoor hall had been opened up, extending the space even further. There was arge drop-down stage in the front, and rows of closely-spaced seats in front of the stage, but not too crowded, and each row of seats was progressively elevated, allowing everyone a clear view of the big stage. This arrangement saved more space, allowing the hall to amodate more people. "The performance will start in half an hour, those who need to use the restroom can go now." Everyone took their seats as directed by the staff. Not onlymon folk came, but many officials and nobles as well. They had traveled far and wide and seen many things, but had never seen anything like Joy Grand Theater, and a look of anticipation was in their eyes. Xiaoxiao nced over the audience, noting few female guests among mostly male attendants, which was expected. However, it did not matter, as one day, the Grand Theater would be a ce that men, women, old, and young would all like to visit. Several front row seats were reserved for Han Yongsheng, Guo Feng, and their families. Xiaoxiao walked over, smiled at everyone, and joined them in waiting for the performance. "Please remain quiet, the morning performance at Joy Grand Theater is about to begin." Staff members reminded the guests all around. Suddenly, the grand curtain on the stage was pulled open. As the music started, about ten girls came on stage, wearing exotic costumes and dancing cheerfully. It was an opening dance showcasing various dances, solo dances, and couple social dances, all of which dazzled the audience. At the end of the song and dance, everyone struck a pose, and then the curtain closed, and the performers left the stage. The curtain was pulled open again, and two hosts appeared on stage. "Hello everyone, I am the host..." "I am the host..." Chapter 673 - 675: Sold Out

Chapter 673: Chapter 675: Sold Out

The host announced the program with enthusiasm, and the actors gave their all in their performances, which elicited round after round of thunderous apuse from the audience. Nobody held back their apuse because the actors performances truly deserved such acim. The show at the Joy Grand Theater was something they had never heard of or seen before. Each person in the audience felt incredibly impressed, believing the performance was brilliant and the ticket price worthwhile. Their trip had not been in vain. Everyone remained immersed in the joyous atmosphere of the Grand Theater, and before they knew it, an hour and a half had passed. "The mornings performance has nowe to an end. I invite all the actors toe on stage and take a bow," said the host, just as everyone was longing for more. Following the hosts direction, the actors came up on stage in an orderly fashion, waving and expressing their gratitude to the audience. The audience rose to their feet, pping and cheering for the actors, praising their excellent performances. At this moment, the actors were extremely excited because such a scene proved that they had seeded today. They had never been happier, and they could foresee a bright future for themselves. As the grand curtain closed, the guides voice echoed around the theater, "Please dont crowd and exit in an orderly manner. Those in the back rows should leave first, followed by those in the front. If you enjoyed the actors performances, feel free toe again." With the assistance of the staff, everyone exited orderly. There had been no disturbances during the event, and everyone behaved politely and harmoniously. This gave Xiaoxiao a sigh of relief, as the Escort Agencys people had been stationed around the venue, preventing any potential incidents. People waiting outside rushed forward when they saw othersing out of the Grand Theater, eager to find out what they thought. "The performance was simply fantastic. Theres nothing like it in the whole dynasty. It truly was worth the trip," one of them remarked. "Yeah, the sketchedy was so funny; I couldnt help butugh." "And the er-ren-zhuan was really good; never heard anything like it." "The singing was also great." "Oh, every single act was good. It made me not want to leave at all." "You cant get this feeling anywhere else." "..." "..." Having seen the show, people were enthusiastically sharing their thoughts and talking about the acts they had seen. Those who hadnt seen the show were somewhat surprised. Was it really that good to be praised like this? "It really was good, it made me happy. No way, I have to go buy more tickets and bring my family." "Right, right, me too, I need to go get tickets." "..." "..." People who had just seen the show started lining up to buy tickets again, which shocked those outside and Xiaoxiao too. Xiaoxiao had not expected such an effect if she wanted to receive praise and publicity. Now with even more convincing results, those who were hesitant outside also began to line up as if following a trend. When people arrived at the Joy Grand Theater for the afternoon show, they were taken aback by the long queue. The show was known to be innovative, but this level of excitement seemed exaggerated. Entering with doubts, they came out with the same reaction as those from the morning show and joined the line to buy tickets. "Give me five tickets." "Im sorry, sir, but we only have tickets for ten days from now. Is that all right?" "It doesnt matter which day, as long as there are tickets. Ah, better make it eight then." The ticket booth was overwhelmed by such demand, and in just one day, the half months worth of tickets that Xiaoxiao and her team had prepared sold out. The ticket sellers were exhausted. Chapter 674 - 676: Why hasn’t Xiangxiang come?

Chapter 674: Chapter 676: Why hasnt Xiangxiange?

To express their gratitude to Han Yongsheng and Guo Feng for their support at the event, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming decided to invite them for a meal. The chosen venue was Yui Restaurant. Upon entering Yui Restaurant, they heard a vivid and colorful speech in the main hall. Someone asked with great enthusiasm, "Hey, did you go to the morning show at Joy Grand Theater?" "No." The speakers face showed regret, "What a pity, you really should have bought tickets to see it." "You went? Tell us about it." Seizing the moment, the speaker adopted a tone suggesting he had done something quite impressive, "Well, then Ill tell you about it, let me start off with some jokes I heard there..." The narrator was so animated, Xiaoxiao felt he could have performed at the Grand Theater himself, and everyone listened with particr seriousness, bing greatly interested in the Joy Grand Theater. After the story, some asked, "Is it true that the girls from Yixiang Courtyard were performing?" "Not only them, there were male actors too." "Male actors too?" "Of course! You think Id lie to you? The opening this morning was particrly grand, and their owner dered on the spot that Joy Grand Theater sustained itself on performances and if anyone wanted women, they should head over to Chunfeng Pavilion; they were not selling themselves at his ce anymore." The storyteller continued his lively narration about the performance at Joy Grand Theater. Xiaoxiao felt quite pleased; this was far better than any self-promotion they could have done themselves, and the group proceeded to a private room. "Mrs. Yang, I must say, I admire you, your Grand Theater has be so popr," said Han Yongsheng as soon as he entered the room. He was genuinely impressed. She, a girl in her teens, had so many ideasfrom the ring that came from her to the likely proposal of the fish pond. He thought such a woman was anything but simple, and spected what the vista would be if the fish pond were to coborate with her. "Ha ha, its all just busy work, not much silver to be made," Xiaoxiao replied modestly. "So popr and yet no silver to be earned?" Guo Feng was surprised and inquired bewilderedly. "Thats right, the tickets are cheap and we have many people to support." Her Grand Theater had set locations and prices, and anyone could do the math and know whether she was making money or not. Upon hearing this, Guo Feng and Han Yongsheng thought there was sense in it, but they still couldnt understand why she would open it knowing the profits were so slim. Guo Feng didnt pursue the matter further, but instead sought another topic of conversation, "Why isnt Xiangxiang here this time?" "My sister is busy with business at home." "Her, always busy with her little business and paying no mind to the important matter of marriage. Were worried for her," Guo Fengined as soon as Wang Xiangxiang came up in conversation. "Hehe, itll be soon," Xiaoxiao was rather envious of Wang Xiangxiang; though she had no rtives at home, she still had so many people caring about her. "Huh?" Guo Feng expressed his surprise and then turned to ask Han Yongsheng, "Did your proposal go through?" "Its not him," Yang Ming hurriedly exined, "Its Chu Lian, the Young Master of Yui Restaurant. Those two are in love; its just a matter of them marrying." After his initial surprise, Guo Fengmented, "So its that kid. Not too bad, better than no one at all, at least shes getting married." "Hey now, Guo Feng, is my sister really that bad? Its as if youre saying any man will do, as long as shes married off." "Haha, isnt she always picking and choosing? In the end, she was left to choose from what remained,"ughed Guo Feng. Hearing the conversation among the three, Han Yongsheng felt somewhat indignant and spoke up, "Heh, its not decided who shell marry yet!" Chapter 675 - 677: You Went to Yixiang Courtyard?

Chapter 675: Chapter 677: You Went to Yixiang Courtyard?

As soon as he said this, all three of them turned to look at Han Yongsheng together, sensing that there was more to his words. Guo Feng even voiced out, "Kid, what do you mean by that?" Han Yongsheng smirked and chuckled, "Haha, nothing much. Before I came back, I talked to her about the marriage proposal. She said if she figured it out, she could send me a message, so I still have a chance." "..." It wasnt that Xiaoxiao wanted to crush his hopes, but there really was no chance, "Mr. Han, you might as well stop waiting for my sisters reply. Theres absolutely no chance." "Thats not necessarily true," Han Yongsheng argued back. Seeing his brothers serious attitude, Guo Feng felt a bit worried because it depended on whether Xiangxiang was willing, "Kid, who are you ming? I offered to introduce you before, and you refused it. Isnt it a bitte now?" "..." Han Yongsheng fell silent. He had not known that the person Guo Feng wanted to introduce was her. Now he regretted it and regretted even more that when Wang Xiangxiang kissed him under the influence of the drug in the carriage, why didnt he just help her detoxify? If he had helped her detoxify, there would be nothing to do with that young master of the Chu Family. Xiaoxiao looked over. This Guo Feng, he treated Wang Xiangxiang very well and didnt just side with his friend Han Yongsheng. Instead, he cared more about whoever Xiangxiang chose. Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "Mr. Guo, youre really good to my sister. When you came to Yixiang Courtyard, at a word from my sister, you let it go?" "What? You went to Yixiang Courtyard?" Han Yongsheng was quite surprised when he heard this. "Is there something wrong?" Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled. "Thats really not right. How could he possibly go to Yixiang Courtyard for fun." "He did go, and even spent a thousand taels for mypany for a night," Xiaoxiao said jokingly, but it was also the truth. Han Yongshengs eyes widened as he looked at Guo Feng, who was extremely embarrassed and exined, "This was because there was a big business dealing from Beijing. We thought of bribing him, but then we met Xiangxiang and had to give up. That girl Xiangxiang is really something." "Thats what I said, how could a person like you go to Yixiang Courtyard." Han Yongsheng continued, "You dont know, hes reallymitted. Hes been waiting for his wife for many years and finally found her recently, and shes been well-hidden. I havent even seen her once." Xiaoxiao had heard this for the second time, the first being from Wang Xiangxiang. "Haha, my wife is pregnant now and has gone to the countryside with my mother to nurture the fetus. Ill introduce her to you when theres a chance," Guo Feng said with a smile. "Congrattions then, Mr. Guo," Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao both congratted. "Thank you. Enough about me; lets talk about you. Mr. Yang, you really keep a low profile. I didnt expect that Xuntian Escort Agency to be yours." "Where, where, I didnt do much, its all thanks to my brothers. If theres anything Xuntian Escort Agency can help with in the future, just say the word," Yang Ming also took this opportunity to converse with them, hoping it might help draw some business to Xuntian Escort Agency. "You should mention it, ces like our Dyeing Workshop routinely need to send goods to various ces. Well look for your Xuntian Escort Agency then." "We regrly ship fish from our Yongan Fish Pond too." "Thank you both then." The conversation around the dinner table was very enjoyable because everyone had amon connection through Wang Xiangxiang. They had many topics to discuss. The opening of Joy Grand Theater was also very sessful, so Han Yongsheng decided toe pick them up early the next morning to visit the Yongan Fish Pond. Chapter 676 - 678: Arrangement

Chapter 676: Chapter 678: Arrangement

Several people finished their meal and parted ways. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming returned to the Joy Grand Theater, where there was one more midnight show before everyone could rest. Yang Ming went to the venue to check with his colleagues on the situation while Xiaoxiao headed backstage to see how everyone was doing, "How is everyone feeling? Tired?" "Not tired, bossdy, were actually really happy now." "Yes, were much happier than before." "Life before felt like walking corpses, but now we finally have something to look forward to." "..." "..." Seeing each persons face brimming with excitement and happiness, Xiaoxiao felt she had done something incredible. If they didnt make money, so be it, as long as they didnt lose any. After all, the Grand Theater came to her hands effortlessly, without her investing any money into it. She had only put in a bit of effort, and for things like the shows, those were mostly up to everyone to think about; she didnt have to be involved much. Xiaoxiao started arranging some matters within the Grand Theater, "Starting tomorrow, everyone should stagger the shows, and not perform every day. Leave time to rehearse new shows. Manager Tian, please arrange this." "Okay, bossdy, Ill take care of it." "Everyone should also take care of their voices and their health. If youre sick, dont just endure it; report it immediately to avoid affecting the performances at the Grand Theater." Actually, seeing how hard the girls were working made her heart ache; they wouldnt care about such things unless she mentioned the impact on the performances. "Understood." Everyone answered in unison. "Also, arrange for people to start working on the outdoor theater in the courtyard. Its too stuffy inside during summer. Additionally, renovate a few smaller theaters specifically for the nobility. Our Grand Theaters tickets are cheap, and the profits just cover the expenses; we dont make much money." "Bossdy, isnt the Grand Theater making about a thousand taels a month now?" Manager Tian asked. Although it was not as much as the bossdy used to make in one night, a thousand taels was still considerable. "Dont I have to share it with you all?" Upon hearing this, everyone hastily waved their hands, "Bossdy, we dont want the money; were happy with how things are now." "You dont want the money? Working for free? Are you foolish? I might not give much, but its enough for you to live onter." Xiaoxiao didnt n to keep these people tied here forever; they could leave whenever they wanted. "Bossdy, were not leaving." Xiaoxiao shook her head; these people probably couldnt be convinced for the time being. Well, then lets all work together to live a good life. Maybe they could even make a few celebrities out of this, and who knows, people might be crying and begging to marry them. By then, she wouldnt have to ask them to leave; they would want to go on their own, and hopefully, the Grand Theater wouldnt have to shut down. Xiaoxiao began daydreaming again; its always good for a woman to have a secure future. Afterwards, Xiaoxiao arranged some more work, and everyone had dinner before the midnight show started. Xiaoxiao was still backstage helping everyone out, as they needed to perform on the front stage, thene backstage to change costumes before going back up. The midnight show wasnt diminished by theck of lighting; Xiaoxiao could hear waves of cheers from the front even from backstage. The midnight show ended quickly, and Xiaoxiao was in a good mood, d that everyone could finally rest and have a good nights sleep. But just when she thought the day had ended perfectly, someone hurriedly ran to the backstage from the front, "Bossdy, theres trouble, someone is causing a disturbance in the front." Chapter 677 - 679: Disturbance at the Venue

Chapter 677: Chapter 679: Disturbance at the Venue

In the venue, all the actors were taking their bows on stage when suddenly a man rushed onto the stage, grabbing one of the female actors by the hand and refusing to let go, "Yanzhi,e with me, Im buying you out tonight." Yanzhi was the stage name of that female actor. She was terrified by this sudden incident; trying to break free, she trembled and said, "Young Master Zhu, Im not for sale anymore." "Not for sale? Whats this joke, who are you trying to fool? Clearly, youre just out to sell yourselves." The man still wouldnt let go, "Im not without payment; Ive got plenty of silver." "Young Master Zhu, please, let me go." Yanzhi was so frightened she was close to tears, her eyes swirling with them. She didnt want to live that kind of life anymore. Members of Xuntian Escort Agency, who were in charge of security at todays venue, quickly made their way to the stage. Yang Ming also swiftly got on stage and grabbed the mans wrist, "Sir, please conduct yourself with dignity." "Let go of me, is this how you treat a guest?" The man, his wrist in pain, yelled at Yang Ming, "Ha, its not like Im not paying. Ive been with Yanzhi for quite some time, howe youre acting all high and mighty now?" Yang Mings brows furrowed, his expression ice-cold, "Sir, please show some respect. Joy Grand Theater is a ce for performances, not that kind of worldly establishment anymore. If youre looking forpany of ady for fun, please head to Chunfeng Pavilion across the street." "Humph,ing to you was an elevation." "We dont need that kind of elevation, please leave immediately and refrain from disturbing the others here." Yang Ming gestured to his brothers as he spoke. Men from Xuntian Escort Agency stepped up in front of the man, who cowered and began retreating, still mouthing off, "Hmph, whats so great about you, just you wait and see." Yang Ming told his brothers, "See him out." The man was escorted out of the Grand Theater by the formidable Xuntian Escort Agency. At this time, the other guests in the venue hadnt left yet. Yang Ming continued addressing everyone from the stage, "I apologize for that little incident just now. While I have this opportunity, let me repeat, Joy Grand Theater is now a ce that brings joy through performances; we will no longer permit ourdies to be sold. I hope everyone will give these girls a chance to start anew. I thank you all here." As he spoke, Yang Ming sped his hands and bowed deeply, then continued, "To express our apologies, Joy Grand Theater is going to perform two extra acts for everyone. I hope you have a wonderful evening here." Once Yang Ming finished, the host immediately understood and said to the crowd, "Please take your seats and remain quiet, the performance will begin shortly." The actors took this opportunity to head backstage. As Yang Ming stepped down from the stage, he saw his wife standing there looking at him. He hurried over and brought her backstage. "Why did youe out?" "I wanted to see who the blind one was, adding trouble for me." Xiaoxiao, having heard themotion backstage, was truly upset and had rushed out to see what was happening. Fortunately, Yang Ming had resolved the situation on stage. Given the girls special status, it was inevitable that something like this would happen sooner orter. This incident ultimately served to show the other guests that indeed, the girls of Joy Grand Theater were not for sale anymore. "Dont worry, Im here." Yang Ming reassured her. "Okay." Following this incident, Xiaoxiao decided to station more people around the stage to prevent guests from rushing up and causing trouble. Chapter 678 - 680: A girl outside says she wants to see you

Chapter 678: Chapter 680: A girl outside says she wants to see you

The additional two performances ended swiftly, and Yang Ming went out to help maintain order, guiding everyone to leave. After a day of performing, the actors could finally rxall returned backstage to remove their makeup. Xiaoxiao was in the backstageforting Yanzhi, who had just been frightened, "You dont need to be scared in times like these; everyone will stand by you and wont let you be taken away." "Boss, Im afraid that Young Master Zhu might take revenge on us. He left saying just wait and see. If he retaliates against us, what should we do?" Yanzhi said tearfully, with fear in her voice. "Its nothing. We have so many people here; why should we be afraid of her? Stop crying," Xiaoxiao continued to reassure her. At that moment, someone entered from outside, "Boss, theres a girl outside who wants to see you." "..." A girl? Xiaoxiao was somewhat surprised. Who could it be looking for her? She didnt know anyone here. Anyway, since it was a girl, there likely wouldnt be any danger, so Xiaoxiao said, "Let her in." A momentter, a girl was brought in. As soon as she entered the room, she called out, "Xiaoxiao." Looking up, Xiaoxiao showed a sh of surprise. Why would shee here? She then called out, "Wen Nuan." Xiao Xiao had not expected it to be her who came looking for her. Wen Nuan walked over to Xiaoxiao and smiled faintly, "I hope you dont mind me calling you Xiaoxiao." "Not at all, thats what everyone calls me." Xiaoxiao thought to herself that this Wen Nuan seemed a bit too familiar. In this conservative ce, people generally wouldnt address each other like that unless they were very close. Although Wen Nuan appeared gentle and elegant, her eyes shed with curiosity, "Xiaoxiao, the actresses were truly wonderful, I couldnt resisting over to have a look." "Ladies, Miss Wen is giving youpliments," Xiaoxiao announced to everyone. "Thank you, Miss Wen!" Everyone was very pleased and thanked her in unison. "Its nothing; you truly deserve the praise," Wen Nuan said smiling to everyone, and then turned to Xiaoxiao, "Those exotic costumes of yours, which Cloth Shop made them?" "I really dont know; Manager Tian handled all of that." "I see." Wen Nuan showed a hint of disappointment. "Whats the matter?" Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled. "Hehe, its nothing, just that since my family runs a Cloth Shop too, I get interested when I see new and novel clothing," Wen Nuan exined. "Your family owns a Cloth Shop?" Xiaoxiao was a little surprised. The business of Xiangxiang Cloth Shop had yet to expand to other counties, and because of the previous suicide incident, it had been dyed. "I forgot to introduce myself; I am the youngdy from Xianghe Cloth Store in Lin County," Wen Nuan stated inly. "Ah, then maybe you could coborate with my sister," Xiaoxiao thought that since Wen Nuan was interested in those clothes, she might also have some authority over the business at the Cloth Store. Revealing a bit wouldnt hurt. "Oh?" "My sistershes the one whopeted with you on stage at the Marriage Fate Temple that day. Shes from our Countys Xiangxiang Cloth Shop." With Xiaoxiaos reminder, Wen Nuan caught on, "How are she and Young Master Han getting along now?" "Oh, them? No chance. We had no idea what the Blood Jade meant at the time. My sister only went on stage to grab it for me because I thought the Blood Jade was pretty." Realizing what she had just said, Xiaoxiao remembered Wen Nuan wanted to marry into the Han Family that day, so she said apologetically, "Sorry, I messed up your marriage opportunity." Chapter 679 - 681: You, put your clothes on quickly

Chapter 679: Chapter 681: You, put your clothes on quickly

Hearing Xiaoxiao speak like this, Wen Nuan felt a tinge of embarrassment. She had been so confident, yet she didnt expect a dark horse to emerge in thepetition. However, it was she herself who had helped raise this dark horse. If she hadnt lent a hand, perhaps Xiaoxiao wouldnt have been able to participate in thepetition at all. Maybe it was all destined by fate. She revealed an epting smile on her face, "Its nothing, perhaps its all destined, outskilled by someone better." When Xiaoxiao looked over, her expression was not at all pretentious, and her gentle and elegant demeanor was also very appealing, "How old are you?" Wen Nuan hadnt expected Xiaoxiao to suddenly ask about her age, but she replied generously, "Im sixteen this year." "Then were the same age, Im also sixteen." Xiaoxiao hadnt expected Wen Nuan to be sixteen, she looked like she should be younger. Indeed, there was a difference between country girls and city girls. A sh of surprise crossed Wen Nuans eyes as she too was taken aback that they were the same age, "Really? When is your birthday?" "February fourteenth." Xiaoxiao thought since she had epted her original identity, she should say everything ording to it. "Then youre a bit older than me, mine is April thirtieth." "April thirtieth? Wasnt that just yesterday?" Xiaoxiao was quite surprised, realizing that yesterday was Wen Nuans birthday, "Though its a dayte, I still wish you a happy birthday." "Hehe, thank you." Wen Nuan still wore a faint smile on her face. "Actually, you were also amazing on stage that day, not bested by my sister." What Xiaoxiao said was the truth. That day, Wen Nuan truly performed exceptionally well. "Hehe, being outskilled is just being outskilled, a loss is a loss." Wen Nuan shook her head, fully convinced in her defeat. Wang Xiangxiangs final performance that day was indeed remarkable, the song lyrics were very simr to what she saw at the Grand Theater today. The reason she came was also to see this kind of innovative performance style; what she had learned was too old-fashioned. "Actually, you dont have to feel outskilled. How old are you? My sister is already twenty, four years older than you. By the time youre twenty, you will definitely surpass her." Wen Nuan was amused by Xiaoxiaos words, "You really know how tofort someone." "Im speaking the truth." In any case, Xiaoxiao felt that they were all talented enough, unlike her, who knew a little bit of everything but wasnt an expert in anything, just mediocre. "Lets not talk about this anymore. Oh right, what did you mean when you just mentioned that your sister and I could coborate?" Xiaoxiao guessed correctly; Wen Nuan indeed had actual power in her familys Cloth Shop. She was different from other youngdies because her father was ambitious. Hoping she would grow up to marry into a good family, capable of being apetent household mistress on her own, he had started training her in various aspects from a young age. The visit to the Marriage Fate Temple was also her fathers requirement; whom she would marry was not for her to decide. "Actually, my sister and I are selling lingerie, sleepwear, that kind of stuff." "Hmm?" "Come here, Ill show you." Saying so, Xiaoxiao pulled Wen Nuan into the changing area. Once inside, Xiaoxiao started stripping off her clothes to reveal her bra to Wen Nuan, "This is it." Wen Nuan and Wang Xiangxiang were entirely different types. Both were talented, but Xiangxiang lived more for herself; she wouldugh heartily with her hand on her belly, eat without concern for her image, and talk noisily. But such behavior was not allowed for Wen Nuan. Her family had molded her into the image of a poised and gentledy. Seeing Xiaoxiaos actions, she blushed like a cooked shrimp and her speech lost its calmness, "You, you should put your clothes back on quickly." "..." Huh? Chapter 680 - 682: Then, Let Me See Again

Chapter 680: Chapter 682: Then, Let Me See Again

Ever since Xiaoxiao met Wen Nuan at the Marriage Fate Temple, she had always thought of her as genteel and graceful, always wearing a gentle smile on her face. On the street, when she helped her out with the crowd, she was poised and unruffled. However, Xiaoxiao had not expected her to be such a shy person in this respect. Xiaoxiao had no choice but to get dressed. She too felt a bit embarrassed. How could she behave so foolishly again? She had evenmented that Wen Nuan was too familiar by calling her by her first name, yet her own behavior was even more presumptuous, "Wen Nuan, Im sorry, I didnt realize you were so shy." Wen Nuan turned around; she also felt that she had panicked a bit too much just now, yet she was genuinely startled by Xiaoxiaos action. Seeing that Xiaoxiao had put her clothes on, Wen Nuan tried to calm herself, "Its okay, I was just a bit shocked just now." Xiaoxiao hurriedly exined, "Sorry, Im a bit silly sometimes. I was just eager to show you what we sell, which is actually quite simr to bellybands." "Simr to bellybands?" "Yes, its selling quite well in our county. Most buyers are wives and youngdies from wealthy families. We n to expand our business to other counties and are considering partnering with cloth shops there. Today, since you mentioned you own Cloth Shop, and I find you nice and youve helped us before, I thought Id ask if youre interested?" Hearing Xiaoxiao saying nice things about her made Wen Nuan a bit embarrassed, but she was indeed interested in the business proposal. After all, she was a businesswoman too. So she softly spoke up, "Then, let me take another look at the lingerie you mentioned." "..." Another look? Xiaoxiao was somewhat speechless. Would another look make her not shy anymore? With a somewhat incredulous look, Xiaoxiao said, "Youre not shy anymore?" "..." Wen Nuan felt awkward when asked, as she still couldnt ept looking at someone elses body. Her etiquette education didnt allow for it. Seeing Wen Nuans expression, Xiaoxiao knew she was still shy, so she said, "Lets not look at it today then. Wait for the next time. Next time Ie back from home, Ill bring the products over, and you can have a look and try them on then." Wen Nuan felt that this was the most appropriate approach, as it also avoided the former awkwardness, thus she said, "That sounds good. Just remember to bring the products next time." "Yes, dont worry. Next time Ill have my sister talk to you about it." Although Xiaoxiao was not very familiar with Wen Nuans Cloth Shop, from her talents and various actions, her family background seemingly wouldnt be poor. Cloth Shop must be a prestigious grand cloth shop. "All right, then I wont disturb you any longer. Its gettingte, and I should head back too. When you bring the products over, have someone send me a message; you can find out our location by asking around," Wen Nuan said, heading towards the door. "Its sote; Ill have someone escort you," Xiaoxiao said worriedly, seeing that she was alone. "No need, I came here with people, and they are waiting outside," Wen Nuan straightforwardly rejected. "Alright then, see you next time." "Yes, see you next time." After seeing Wen Nuan off, the night at the Grand Theater quieted down as well, and everyone went to bed after tidying up. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were also waiting for the next day, as they had ns to visit Yongan Fish Pond. Early the next day, Xiaoxiao and her group were ready, just waiting for Han Yongsheng toe and pick them up. But although he did arrive, he brought with him some startling news. Chapter 681 - 683 Did My Sister Accept Your Marriage Proposal?

Chapter 681: Chapter 683 Did My Sister ept Your Marriage Proposal?

Today, Han Yongsheng was in a particrly good mood, brimming with energy and beaming with joy. At the entrance of the Grand Theater, upon catching sight of Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao, he hurried over to greet them, "Young Master Yang, Lady Yang." "Young Master Han." "Young Master Han." Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming responded with equal politeness. Seeing him so cheerful, Xiaoxiao even thought it was because they were going to inspect the Yongan Fish Pond, so she didnt think much of it. Taking Yang Ming by the hand, she headed toward the carriage by the door, saying as they walked, "Then lets be on our way." "Lady Yang, wait a moment," Han Yongsheng called out to Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming. Stopped in their tracks, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming turned around, and with a puzzled look, Xiaoxiao asked, "Whats the matter? Lets go, there are still many things to do." Looking at Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming with an apologetic expression, Han Yongsheng said, "Young Master Yang, Lady Yang, Im terribly sorry, but Im unable to apany you to the Yongan Fish Pond today. I will arrange for someone to take you there, and we can discuss the contract signing upon my return." A look of surprise flitted across Xiaoxiaos eyes. Han Yongsheng had been looking forward to their visit, and now that they were finally going, he was not apanying them. It made her wonder what could be so pressing. Although she knew it wasnt quite proper to pry into someone elses affairs, she couldnt help but ask, "Young Master Han, is there some urgent matter? If so, perhaps we should postpone our visit." "Indeed, Im tied up with an important matter," Han Yongsheng replied, his face alight with happiness. Seeing his reaction, Yang Ming spoke up, "Then lets reschedule for another day." Han Yongsheng, concerned that they were reluctant to visit the Yongan Fish Pond without hispany, exined, "Its about Miss Wang." "Whats happened to my sister?" Xiaoxiao asked, very puzzled. With a smile of pride on his face, Han Yongsheng boasted, "Yesterday, upon returning, I received a letter from Miss Wang agreeing to my marriage proposal. She wants me to visit today to discuss the wedding arrangements, so I cannot apany you to the Yongan Fish Pond. I must first go to Miss Wangs ce." "What did you say?" Xiaoxiao could hardly believe her ears, thinking she must have misheard. She asked again for confirmation, "My sister has epted your proposal?" "..." Han Yongsheng was somewhat exasperated, seeing Lady Yangs reaction as overly intense. After all, he wasnt a bad match, and he had gotten along well with Miss Wang. It was perfectly normal for her to ept the proposal. "Ive said before, its not certain whom she would marry. Now that Miss Wang has epted my proposal, its an absolute fact, and theres no need for you to doubt it." "Show me the letter from my sister," Xiaoxiao demanded almost furiously. It had been just a few days since she left home, and before she departed, Wang Xiangxiang had said that a match with Han Yongsheng was impossible. How could it be that she had epted so quickly? Left without choice, Han Yongsheng reluctantly took out the letter and handed it to Xiaoxiao. Skeptically, Xiaoxiao took the letter and hurriedly opened it. Yang Ming, seeing how agitated his wife was, quickly tried to calm her, "Wife, dont be upset just yet. Lets see what the letter says." The two of them began reading the letter, and Xiaoxiao was stunned; indeed, it was Wang Xiangxiangs handwriting. It clearly stated that she had epted the proposal and hoped to discuss the wedding arrangements together. Xiaoxiao sneered. That Chu Lian had disappeared for a good twenty days, and now, it seemed, his wife had finally been snatched away. Chapter 682 - 684: Have You Seen This Person Before?

Chapter 682: Chapter 684: Have You Seen This Person Before?

This matter made Xiaoxiao very emotional, but Yang Ming was calmer than Xiaoxiao. He felt that Wang Xiangxiangs agreement to Han Yongshengs marriage proposal must have some hidden circumstances, so he spoke up, "Wife, lets go back too." "Right, we should go back too. I need to ask my sister." Xiaoxiao said as she turned to look at her family members, "Eldest brother, second brother, youngest brother, lets all go back. We cane again after a few days." "Okay." Everyone agreed and went back to pack up the simple bundles they had brought along. Han Yongsheng was utterly helpless. He always felt that if this family returned home, they would ruin his good fortune. Soon after everyone was ready, they got into the carriage and set off on the road home. In the carriage, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming started chatting. "Husband, whats all this about? I clearly saw those two kissing that night. Could it have been fake?" "..." Reminded by his wife, Yang Ming was also bewildered. He hadnt seen Chu Lian since that night, and it had always been just as his wife said, that those two had gotten together. Could his wife have misunderstood? "So, did the two of them really get together or not?" "They did, I guess. Later, when I talked with my sister, I kept mentioning her and Young Master Chus matters, and she didnt object," Xiaoxiao said, somewhat puzzled. She was confused herself. "Dont worry, well find out once we ask when we get back," Yang Mingforted his wife, though he was also anxious for Chu Lian. The carriage had just left the city when they were forced to stop not far from it. "Everyone in the carriage, get out." Xiaoxiao and the others in the carriage heard someone outside shouting at them to get out, and the tone was very unpleasant. Could it be that they had encountered robbers? Yang Ming held his wifes hand, signaling her not to be scared, then opened the carriage door. After opening the door, they were all stunned. Why had they encountered government soldiers? What did the soldiers want with them? "Government officer sir, is there a problem?" Yang Ming asked. The officer was visibly impatient, "Stop the chatter and get out of the carriage quickly." With no choice, Xiaoxiao and the others followed the officersmand and got out of the carriage, lining up to the side all together. "Lift your heads up so I can get a good look." Yang Ming and the others lifted their heads, just to see the officer scrutinizing each of their faces carefully, and then heined, "Its not them." Xiaoxiao was extremely puzzled, what exactly were they looking for? At this moment, the officer produced a portrait and looked it over in front of them, "Take a look, have any of you seen this person?" Xiaoxiao looked over and her heart skipped a beat. Wasnt this the man who had fallen off the carriage clutching Liufu? She was extremely nervous, continuously gripping Yang Mings hand. Yang Ming held his wifes hand, signaling her not to be afraid, then said, "Government officer sir, we have not seen this person." "Look carefully, this is a serious criminal wanted by the imperial court." Yang Ming pretended to look carefully again and then shook his head, "Government officer sir, we really havent seen him." Seeing Yang Ming deny having seen the man, the officer then turned to Yang Dong and the others, "How about you? Have any of you seen him?" Yang Dong and the others also shook their heads in turn. "If you encounter himter, you can report it to the government office. There is a substantial reward." "Understood, government officer sir. If we run into him, we will definitely report it," they replied. Seeing that no one had seen the man, the officer had no choice but to let them pass, giving a gesture indicating they could proceed. Yang Ming led his group back into the carriage. Inside the carriage, they could still hear the officer grumbling, "What bad luck, its been several days and we still havent found him." Chapter 683 - 685: Yes, I Agreed

Chapter 683: Chapter 685: Yes, I Agreed

After getting on the carriage, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming tacitly avoided bringing up the matter. They opted not to let the family know about it to prevent worry. At this moment, Xiaoxiao felt scared. They had indeed found themselves in big trouble, now even the government office had gotten involved. Because of her fear, Xiaoxiao was very quiet during the journey. The other few people were naturally not talkative, so there was hardly any noise inside the carriage throughout the trip. The carriage traveled quickly, reaching Shanshi County before nightfall. Xiaoxiao was also worried about Wang Xiangxiangs situation and decided to stay with her at Wang Mansion for one night. However, she was very concerned about Liufu at home as well, so she said to Yang Ming, "Husband, drop me off at the entrance of Wang Mansion and you can return home with the others. Remember to keep a close eye on Liufu when you get back." "Alright, Ille to pick you up tomorrow." Yang Ming thought that several men like themselves would not be able to contribute much in terms of conversation. Such matters were best handled by the wives. Besides, he understood his wifesst sentence. The soldiers had arrived; she was worried their son might be taken. He needed to go home. Upon reaching Wang Mansion, Xiaoxiao got off the carriage, and Yang Ming led the rest of the family back to Yang Family Vige. After disembarking, Xiaoxiao hurriedly knocked on the grand doors of Wang Mansion. The house servant opened the door and saw Xiaoxiao, "Miss Xiaoxiao." "Is my sister at home?" "The miss is at home, I will go and let her know." "No need." Xiaoxiao said as she hastily walked in, calling out, "Sister, sister." Inside the room, Wang Xiangxiang was in tears. Hearing Xiaoxiaos voice, she thought she was hallucinating. Xiaoxiao was supposed to be in Lin County; there was no way she could appear at her home. "Sister, sister." But Xiaoxiaos voice came again, getting closer and clearer. This time, Wang Xiangxiang was certain; Xiaoxiao had reallye. She quickly wiped away her tears and tidied up her appearance. She couldnt let Xiaoxiao see her like this. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out to greet Xiaoxiao, smiling, "Xiaoxiao, what brings you here? Arent you in Lin County? How did the Grand Theater opening go?" "Sister, lets not talk about that right now. I need to ask you, did you ept Han Yongshengs marriage proposal?" Xiaoxiao didnt have the luxury of time to answer those questions; her mind was solely focused on this issue. Hearing Xiaoxiaos question, Wang Xiangxiangs heart skipped a beat; she hadnt expected Xiaoxiao to find out so quickly. Pretending to be calm, she smiled and said, "Yes, I epted. What about Young Master Han? Has hee?" While saying this, Wang Xiangxiang looked toward the main entrance, acting anxious to see Han Yongsheng. "..." Although Xiaoxiao was already shocked when she learned about this, hearing Wang Xiangxiangs affirmative answer and seeing her anxious to meet Han Yongsheng was still hard to ept. "Sister, what on earth is going on?" Right at this moment, Han Yongsheng entered the courtyard, and Wang Xiangxiang, seeing him as if he were her savior, hurried toward him, feigning delight, "Young Master Han, youve arrived." Upon seeing Wang Xiangxiang, Han Yongsheng kept a smile on his face, "Yes, upon receiving your letter, I hurried over as fast as I could." "Lets go inside then." As Wang Xiangxiang and Han Yongsheng walked past Xiaoxiao, Wang Xiangxiang said to her, "Xiaoxiao, Young Master Han and I need to discuss our marriage. You can enjoy yourself around the mansion for now." "..." Chapter 684 - 686: What are your thoughts three days later?

Chapter 684: Chapter 686: What are your thoughts three dayster?

Hearing Wang Xiangxiangs statement, Xiaoxiao waspletely taken aback. Were things developing too quickly? The two were about to enter the house to discuss marriage. Expecting her to y in the yard? She wasnt a child. Should she eavesdrop? As Xiaoxiao pondered this, her body involuntarily moved towards the door where the two were discussing matters; as soon as her face almost touched the door, it creaked open, startling Xiaoxiao intensely. She swiftly turned around, "The weather is quite nice today, quite sunny and mild." "..." Wang Xiangxiang was speechless. Xiaoxiao indeed knew how to feign ignorance, but it was better if she and Han Yongshengs conversation wasnt overheard by Xiaoxiao, so she started, "Step back a bit, no eavesdropping allowed." Xiaoxiao had no choice but to walk further away. She could only wait for them to finish their discussion and then ask. Wang Xiangxiang closed the door, and the smile on her face disappeared; Han Yongsheng, being highly intelligent, saw through her facade. She must have had her reasons for willingly marrying him, but regardless of the reasons, the oue was what he wanted. "Master Han, I have invited you here today to discuss the wedding date," Wang Xiangxiang took a deep breath, then spoke, as the matter had to be addressed. "Which date do you desire?" Discussing the wedding day was something he was pleased about. "Three days from now, the sixth of May; what do you think?" Surprise shed in Han Yongshengs eyes; he hadnt expected her request to be for such an imminent date. What exactly made her so anxious to marry him? Seeing that Han Yongsheng did not respond, Wang Xiangxiang felt slightly disheartened, "Master Han, is this a bit difficult for you?" "Not at all, its just that three days seems rather hasty. I fear it might be too rushed for you," Han Yongsheng exined. It was also his first marriage; perhaps a more borate ceremony would be appropriate. "Master Han, if possible, lets skip all the pre-wedding rituals. I wish to get married as soon as possible," Wang Xiangxiang stated. "Very well." Although the timeline was tight, the Han Family still had the capacity to prepare everything within three days. Seeing Han Yongsheng agree, Wang Xiangxiang visibly rxed, "Master Han, you might not be fully aware of my familys circumstances, so let me exin a bit." Han Yongsheng interrupted her, "I understand; I had already looked into your familys situation before I proposed. I dont mind it." "..." So he had already investigated. Perhaps he truly did want to marry her, Wang Xiangxiang felt a pang of guilt, "Well, I still need to say that my younger brother is still too young, and I need to manage the Cloth Shop business, so I may not always reside in Lin County." Wang Xiangxiang knew her request was somewhat excessive, but she had no choiceher brother was too young, and all her business was in Shanshi County. She had to help her brother. "Thats fine. Given that Lin County and Shanshi County are not far apart, a days travel is manageable. You can reside in both ces," he was aware of her real circumstances and was not an insensitive person; he could agree to such a request. Wang Xiangxiang was surprised and grateful that Han Yongsheng agreed; the man in front of her might truly be worthy of her lifelongmitment, yet... "Thank you, and about the Wang Familys assets, when my brotheres of age, I will transfer ownership of the Cloth Shop to him." "Thats okay; our Han Family does not care about the Wang Familys assets." Chapter 685 - 687: Getting Married in Three Days

Chapter 685: Chapter 687: Getting Married in Three Days

"I want to marry from the Yang Family home, and in three days, your procession will need to go to Yang Family Vige to collect me." Although the man standing before her wasnt the one she wished to marry, marriage was a once-in-a-lifetimemitment. She still wanted to marry with the blessings of her kin. The Yang Family should count as her kin, and she didnt wish to marry alone in this mansion. "Alright, I will arrange for the wedding procession to go to Yang Family Vige to collect you." Han Yongsheng spoke, pulling out a ne with a ring attached from his pocket, his mouth curling into a slight smile, "Ive brought the ne, which also serves as my token of love for you. Ill put it on you now; you cant reject it anymore." Wang Xiangxiang hadnt expected him to bring the ne along. He was truly well-prepared and indeed quite thoughtful. She nodded lightly, "Yes." Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs consent, Han Yongsheng carefully ced the ne with the ring around her neck. Seeing her head bowed and her cheeks slightly flushed, he felt a distinct stir in his heart. After hed put it on, he took out the ne he wore around his neck to show Wang Xiangxiang. He smiled and said, "Look, Im wearing one too." Wang Xiangxiang looked over, feeling an indescribable emotion. She might have hurt another good person. "Yes." "Miss Wang, Ill be leaving now, I need to go back and prepare for all this. Well meet in three days." Han Yongsheng decided to return overnight, needing to arrange everything as quickly as possible. Although time was tight, he did not want to let her feel aggrieved. His grandfather would certainly be overjoyed once he knew. "Okay, see you in three days." Seeing Han Yongsheng leave, Wang Xiangxiangs smile faded, and tears poured forth. "Im sorry, Im not a good person, I used you." She then leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and after a moment, she suddenly opened her eyes, sat up straight, and took off the ne she wore in front of her chest. She removed the ring, tried it on her finger, and sighed. Indeed, it wasnt her size. Perhaps that meant she really wasnt destined for him. Outside, Xiaoxiao, who had been waiting, hurried up to Han Yongsheng as he appeared. She asked anxiously, "Master Han, have you finished talking with my sister?" "Yes, we finished." "..." Whats with that happy expression? Could it be that Wang Xiangxiang really agreed to marry him? "Did you settle it?" "Yes, we settled it. Well marry in three days." Hearing this, Xiaoxiaos eyes widened in surprise, speechless. She couldnt have imagined things progressing so swiftly, so rapidly that nobody had a chance to react. With just three days, it was likely toote for Chu Lian to return. "Soon well be rtives, Mrs. Yang," Han Yongsheng said with a smile. "I still have to prepare for the wedding, so I wont stay long. Farewell." "Oh, okay." As Han Yongsheng disappeared from her sight, Xiaoxiao felt dazed. Shed better go inside and ask Wang Xiangxiang. She quickly walked to the door, calling in, "Sister, may Ie in?" Hearing Xiaoxiaos voice, Wang Xiangxiang hurriedly slipped the ring back onto the ne and put it around her neck again. After everything was in ce, she felt ready and called out to Xiaoxiao, "Come in." Xiaoxiao pushed the door open, walked quickly to Wang Xiangxiangs side, and asked, "Sister, Master Han said the wedding would be in three days. Why so soon?" Chapter 686 - 688 Sister, You Must Be Happy

Chapter 686: Chapter 688 Sister, You Must Be Happy

"Well, three days from now is a good day indeed." Wang Xiangxiang forced a smile. "..." Three days from now, the sixth of May, whats so good about it? She couldnt see it. "Sis, dont you like Master Chu? Why did you agree to Master Hans marriage proposal?" Xiaoxiao always felt that this matter was too sudden, so sudden that it felt odd. That night, she had clearly seen Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian being intimate, and it didnt look forced; she was certain they both had feelings for each other. Wang Xiangxiang didnt answer Xiaoxiaos question, but looked at her earnestly and asked, "Xiaoxiao, what do you think of Master Han as a person?" "What do I think?" Xiaoxiao thought for a moment, then said, "His family is decent, hes handsome, has good skills, is of suitable age, seems considerate, not dull..." Xiaoxiao listed quite a few of his good points. "See, you also think hes a good person." Xiaoxiaos eyes widened. She felt she had been led into a trap. She thought Han Yongsheng was fine, but the most important thing was for Wang Xiangxiang to like him herself. "Sis, do you like Master Han?" Xiaoxiao needed to confirm. If she truly liked Han Yongsheng, even if she had been intimate with Chu Lian, she would still stand by Han Yongshengs side. In matters of marriage, liking each other is the most important thing. To convince Xiaoxiao, Wang Xiangxiang nodded and made up a reason that would persuade her, "After spending time together, I feel that Master Han is more suitable for me. He is considerate and attentive, capable of taking care of me, unlike Master Chu. Every time I meet with Master Chu, it always ends in an argument." "..." Xiaoxiao thought carefully about Wang Xiangxiangs words, and it seemed true. Thest time she followed them, she felt that Han Yongsheng was very much the gentleman throughout, to the point where even she, an outsider, almost changed allegiance. In contrast, when she thought about the encounters between Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian, indeed, they were always arguing. But Xiaoxiao still wanted to remind Wang Xiangxiang, hoping she wouldnt regret it, as they hadnt known Han Yongsheng for very long, "Sis, you dont have to be in such a hurry to get married in three days, right?" "Hey, Ive been looking for years and havent found anyone. Now that someone finally wants me, shouldnt I hurry up and get married? What if something changes?" Wang Xiangxiang remarked with a pout. "..." Is she that eager to get married? Three days is too fast. "Sis, thats too hasty. You need to think it through, dont regret itter on." "I wont regret it. Dont worry," Wang Xiangxiang said, and she even took out the ne she was wearing around her neck and showed it off to Xiaoxiao, "Look, he just gave this to me. The ring you designed." Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs demeanor, Xiaoxiao could only wish her well. In fact, choosing Han Yongsheng was not a bad thing. Fate is unpredictable. She could only feel sorry for Chu Lian. After all, it was his own disappearance that caused this. Who else could be med? Xiaoxiao took Wang Xiangxiangs hand, "Sis, you must be happy." "Yes." Seeing Xiaoxiao finally believed her, Wang Xiangxiang breathed a sigh of relief, "Xiaoxiao, I want to get married from the Yang Familys house. I told him to send the wedding procession there to fetch me." "Youll definitely have to leave from the Yang Familys home, we are your family, after all." Xiaoxiaoughed, but then said, "Oh my, three days is too short. I dont even know what preparations our family should make. This wont do, I must rush back and discuss it with everyone." Chapter 687 - 689: No Need to Return to Wang Mansion

Chapter 687: Chapter 689: No Need to Return to Wang Mansion

Xiaoxiao was about to leave when Wang Xiangxiang grabbed her, "No need to prepare anything, just everyone being there is enough." Wang Xiangxiang thought to herself, having someone send her off was already very good, she didnt expect anything more. "That wont do, this is the first time our old Yang family is marrying off a daughter, we must prepare, no, I must go back now, let Acheng drive me back," Xiaoxiao freed herself from Wang Xiangxiangs grasp, signaling her to be at ease. Xiaoxiaos words moved Wang Xiangxiang so much she almost cried, the warmth in her heart was overwhelming, this feeling of having kin was truly wonderful. Though she couldnt marry the man she loved, perhaps her life hereafter would still be blessed. "Alright then, let Acheng take you," seeing Xiaoxiao like that, Wang Xiangxiang could only agree. The two of them went out together, Wang Xiangxiang called for Acheng, and she said to him, "Acheng, you take Xiaoxiao back to Yang Family Vige, and afterwards, you dont need to return to Wang Mansion." "Miss Wang, why is this?" A sh of surprise crossed Achengs eyes. The young master had tasked him to stay and protect Miss Wang, how could he leave? "Ive agreed to the Han Familys proposal, you are Master Chus man, its not good for you to stay with me anymore." Wang Xiangxiang couldnt face having someone from Chu Lians side stay by her side any longer as she told them about marrying someone else, it pained her heart, but she had to say it. "Understood, Miss Wang, after Acheng leaves, he wont return," Acheng could onlyply with Wang Xiangxiangs arrangement, as this had been specially instructed by their young master before he left, and at this juncture, he felt he should go and find their young master instead. If their young master knew that Miss Wang had agreed to anothers proposal in his absence, he would probably go mad. Xiaoxiao got onto the carriage, saying to Wang Xiangxiang, "Sister, then I am going back, remember toe to Yang Family Vige in these two days." "Okay, after I arrange everything here, I will head over to Yang Family Vige," Wang Xiangxiang promised, seeing Xiaoxiao off. The carriage headed towards Yang Family Vige. By then, it was already dark, Xiaoxiao opened the small window at the front, and asked, "Acheng, what exactly did your young master go off to do?" "Madam Yang, concerning the young masters affairs, Acheng doesnt really know," This time Acheng didnt lie; he honestly had no idea what the young master was up to. "Then did he say when he would be back?" "He did not." "Then can you find him?" "Acheng doesnt know where the young master is currently." Xiaoxiao was infuriated by Achengs responses, all this ignorance was so frustrating, although she hadnt said anything just now and had epted Wang Xiangxiangs choice, she still felt somewhat unhappy. "Acheng, let me tell you, my sister is getting married to the Han Family in three days, if your young master doesnt return soon, there really wont be any chance left," Xiaoxiao thought it best to inform him, as for the oue, that was left to fate. Acheng was also surprised by the news, now he could only rely on himself to find the young master, "Thank you, Madam Yang, for informing me." Soon, they arrived at Yang Family Vige, Xiaoxiao alighted the carriage, Acheng spurred his horse onwards, gathered a few brothers, and rushed towards Beijing at high speed. This time their young master had left in a particrly hurried manner, Acheng only knew that something serious must have happened, for when the young master left, his expression was particrly grim, and the situation was too secretive, so secretive that even he wasnt told. Upon entering the courtyard, Xiaoxiao went straight back to her room to see her son, thinking it waste, she would discuss this matter with everyone tomorrow. Chapter 688 - 690: Cutting Toes is Imperative

Chapter 688: Chapter 690: Cutting Toes is Imperative

Yang Ming had gotten the child from his sister-inw as soon as he got home, thinking it was better to take care of the child himself. The family actually already knew about the childs six toes. He and Xiaoxiao had told the family before they went to Lin County. Living together, such a thing could not be hidden; asking the sister-inw to take care of the child would inevitably expose it sooner orter. Although everyone initially rejected the idea, fearing that the six toes were a bad omen, they were persuaded by Old Father Yang to keep the matter secret and not let the vigers find out. Once discovered, they feared the vigers might drive the child away or even them. Yang Ming had just soothed the child to sleep when he noticed his wife hade into the room. He was somewhat surprised, "Wife, how did youe back?" As soon as Xiaoxiao entered the room, she called out, "Son." "Shh!" Yang Ming quickly gestured, "The child has just fallen asleep, keep it down." "Oh, oh." Hearing that her son was asleep, Xiaoxiao tiptoed to the side of the kang and nced at her son, who appeared to be sleeping soundly. "Wife, how did youe back, werent you supposed to stay there for the night?" "Yeah." Xiaoxiaos mood was clearly low; she had been in a carriage all day and had only just gotten home,pletely exhausted. She then flopped down onto a chair by the kang, leaning back, "Husband, Im so tired." Yang Ming quickly came over, massaging his wifes shoulders, and asked, "What exactly happened?" While enjoying Yang Mings massage, Xiaoxiao said in a low tone, "Its confirmed, my sister is getting married to the Han family in three days." Upon hearing this news, Yang Mings hands paused for a moment but then continued massaging his wifes shoulders, too shocked toprehend, How could this be? "In three days, my sister will marry out from our home, how could I note back for that, as we need to discuss with our parents what all we need to prepare." "Isnt this too sudden?" "What can we do? Sister has made up her mind; all we can do is bless her." Xiaoxiao continued, "But, Ive already told Acheng, he should be able to go see Master Chu; anyway, thats the situation." Yang Ming had intended to visit Chu Mansion to check if Chu Lian had returned, but it seems he had not; they could only rely on Acheng now. "Wife, I want to discuss our sons matter with you." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao became alert, sitting up straight, "Husband, those soldiers today..." Yang Ming nodded, "Yes, I fear they came for our son; they werent here to take the child back. In my view, they came to take his life." These words made Xiaoxiaos heart skip a beat, she had thought the same, "Husband, actually in our ce, having six toes is no big deal; we can find a doctor to remove one and hell look just like a normal person. Do you have such doctors here?" Xiaoxiao expressed her thoughts; she initially did not consider the six toes to be a big deal, but after encountering the soldiers, she no longer felt the same. For the sake of their sons future safety and to live normally in the vige, removing a toe was imperative. Hearing his wifes words, Yang Mings eyes lit up, if it was as his wife said, then their son would be safe, "Wife, then lets find such a doctor." "Yes, but we must not talk about it everywhere, to avoid exposure." Chapter 689 - 691 Yang Family Prepares for the Wedding

Chapter 689: Chapter 691 Yang Family Prepares for the Wedding

The next morning, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao told everyone about Wang Xiangxiangs marriage to the Han Family. "Thats great, that young master Han is indeed a talented man, well-suited for her, well-suited indeed." Yang Patriarch happily said, "Old woman, you all hurry and prepare the dowry for the girl. Even though shes not our own flesh and blood, she still calls us father and mother." "Yes, I know." Yang Mings mother agreed, but then she expressed her concern, "But there are only three days left, Im afraid we wont be able to prepare everything." "Prepare as much as we can, we shouldnt shortchange the child." Yang Patriarch said with a smile on his face; he was truly happy. Although the child was adopted, it was still the Yang Familys first time arranging a marriage for a daughter, and this feeling was different from arranging a marriage for a son. At this moment, Boss Yang Chun spoke, "Dad, how about we also have a big feast this time? Were not so poor anymore, and we can afford it." "Yes, Dad, I agree with big brother," Yang Gang, the second brother, followed, "Sister Xiangxiang choosing to get married from our home shows she doesnt see us as outsiders, and we shouldnt make it too shabby, right?" "The fifty taels that Third Sister-inw just handed out, I dont want it, lets use it for the banquet," Yang Dong, the fourth brother, added. "Theres no need for you to spend your own money on the banquet, our family has enough," Yang Ming said. "..." "..." Listening to his sons discuss the banquet, Yang Patriarch felt very heartened and nodded repeatedly, "Alright, lets do as you guys said and have a big celebration. Boss, you take charge of this, get a lead pig, and invite the whole vige to enjoy the meat without contributing money." Having a banquet for a non-biological child and still asking for money might invite idle gossip. After all, this event is supposed to be a joyful one, and it should not be a source of unhappiness for the child. While they were discussing the banquet on one side, the daughters-inw were discussing the dowry preparations on the other side. "Bosss wife, Second Brothers wife, Xiaoqiu, the matter of the wedding dress, I entrust it to you three, and it must be rushed out within three days," instructed Yang Mings mother. Third Brothers wife doesnt know how to do these things; she could only be assigned other tasks, "Third Brothers wife, you are in charge of the dowry, go buy fabric,bs, embroidered shoes, mirrors, Ruyi scales, measuring cups, abacuses, scissors..." "Mom, wait a moment, I cant remember it all," Xiaoxiao was somewhat speechless, was the dowry supposed to include so many things? Why didnt her mother prepare these when she came, and only gave twenty taels of silver, instead? "Mom, Ill go back and write it down." "Well, never mind, I will go and buy them with you," seeing as Third Brothers wife didnt even know this bit about dowries, she could only apany her, nning as they went, "Bosss wife, you take care of Liufu, Second Brothers wife, youe with us to the county to buy stuff, Xiaoqiu goes to the workshop area, and Third drives the carriage." "Got it, mother." Everyone acted ording to Yang Mings mothers instructions. "Wait a moment, we need to buy the fabric for the wedding dress first, then Second Brothers wife, you must hurry back with it, and you others hasten to make it..." Yang Mings mother rambled on as Yang Ming, driving the horse cart, took them to the county for a major shopping trip. Boss and the others went to catch the pig as well, and notified the vigers that on the fifth day of May, the day before the wedding, the whole vige was invited to their house for the celebration. During these days, the Yang Family busied themselves with Wang Xiangxiangs wedding preparations. This made Xiaoxiao feel that the marriage was a settled matter. Chapter 690 - 692: The Young Master Has Returned

Chapter 690: Chapter 692: The Young Master Has Returned

Chu Mansion Chu Lao, Madam Chu, and Chu Huan, the three of them, sat quietly in the main hall. The jovial atmosphere that used to fill the room was gone, reced by a heavy air of oppression that had been lingering in the Chu Mansion for almost a month now. They were all anxiously waiting for the return of the eldest young master of the Chu Family, Chu Lian. "Father, Mother, why isnt my brothering back? Its already been almost a month since the incident," Chu Huan asked impatiently. With a grave expression, Chu Lao replied, "Dont panic. Your brother has gone to handle it, and over there he has Grandfather and Uncle to meet him; nothing will go wrong. We just need to wait quietly." "Master, our Lingling wont be in danger, right?" Madam Chu asked with tearful eyes full of worry. "No, that person still cant touch our family. Lingling wont lose her life," Chu Lao said,forting his wife and daughter. "Even if she doesnt lose her life, I fear her future wont be easy," Madam Chu said as she started to cry again. "Why does my Lingling have such a hard fate?" Just then, a house servant rushed in to report, "Master, Madam, the young master is back, the young master is back!" "What?" The three people inside the room stood up excitedly and moved toward the door to greet him. Chu Lian strode in with great steps. "Father, Mother." "How did it go?" the three of them asked, looking at Chu Lian with hopeful eyes. Chu Lians face was extremely ugly as he shook his head, "I didnt seed in the mission. My sister has been ced under house arrest, and our familys influence is being secretly eroded by that person." "What?" Upon hearing this news, Madam Chu couldnt withstand the shock; she copsed. "Mother!" Chu Lian and Chu Huan shouted anxiously. "Madam." Chu Lao, with quick reflexes, caught Madam Chu before she hit the ground, and immediately started to pinch her Renzhong acupoint, continuously calling out, "Madam, wake up, wake up." After being pinched on her Renzhong, Madam Chu slowly regained consciousness. Grabbing Chu Laos arm, she spoke excitedly, "Master, my Lingling, what shall we do about Lingling?" "Madam, dont worry, we will think of another way, Lingling will be alright," Chu Lao said, still trying tofort her, then ordered his daughter, "Xiaohuan, take your mother back to rest." "No, Master, I want to listen," Madam Chu shouted, pleading. She didnt want to leave, didnt want to miss out on any news about her daughter. Seeing the state Madam Chu was in, Chu Laos heart softened, "Then Madam, no matter what, you must not be agitated. We need to take a long-term view on this matter." "Yes," Madam Chu nodded fervently. Chu Huan helped her mother to a chair, and once the family was seated, Chu Lian recounted the entire event for everyone, "This is the current situation." After listening, Chu Lao said, "The situation right now is not the worst it could be for us. There is hope for Lingling, but we will have to put her through some difort for a while." The family plotted together in the room for a long time until Chu Lian finally returned to his own quarters. He hastily took a bath, washed up, and changed his clothes. These past days his mind had been constantly strained by the situation, and he had found no chance for respite. Now that he had finally managed to find time toe back, he needed to see her immediately. The whole family had been in a constant state of turmoil because of this incident; it probably wasnt a good time to propose marriage. He wanted to seek her forgiveness, hoping she could wait a little longer. He wondered how she had been doing recently. He also needed to find Acheng to inquire about the situation. He quickly got himself together and hurried towards Wang Mansion in the county town. Chapter 691 - 693: Our Young Lady is Waiting to Get Married in Yang Family Village

Chapter 691: Chapter 693: Our Young Lady is Waiting to Get Married in Yang Family Vige

Chu Lian had driven the carriage himself and soon arrived at the entrance of Wang Mansion. His current mood could be described as excited because he hadnt seen her for nearly a month, and he missed her dearly. He quickly got down from the carriage and knocked on the grand door of Wang Mansion. A momentter, the grand door opened, and Chu Lian anxiously asked, "Is your young mistress at home?" The house servant who opened the door recognized Chu Lian and said, "Are you the eldest young master of the Chu Family? Our young mistress is not at home; shes currently in Yang Family Vige waiting to be married." Hearing the house servants words, Chu Lians eyes widened. He felt like he was hearing things. What did he just say? Waiting to be married? To whom was she marrying? "What did you say? I didnt hear it clearly, could you please say it again?" he asked. "I said our young mistress is currently in Yang Family Vige waiting to be married." This time Chu Lian had heard correctly. He had said waiting to be married. He grabbed the front of the house servants garment in a rush and growled, "Shes getting married? To whom is she getting married?" "Ah, Master Chu, let go of me," the house servant hurriedly shouted. Chu Lian then realized he was being too impolite and released his grip, "Im sorry, whom is your young mistress marrying?" "Our young mistress is getting married tomorrow to the Han Family from Yongan Fish Pond in Lin County." At that moment, Chu Lians head buzzed. The Han Family? Was it that Han Yongsheng who always flirted with Xiangxiang? With the news, Chu Lian quickly got on the carriage, his heart aching immensely. He couldnt understand what had happened in this month? Before leaving, they had agreed, waiting for his return, but now why was it ending like this? Chu Lian kept whipping the horse as he sped toward Yang Family Vige. At that time, the Yang Family courtyard was bustling with activity because they were hosting a grand banquet inside the courtyard, whichsted all day, attracting almost all the men, women, old, and young from the vige. The people of the same age as Old Man Yang spoke while eating, "Old Yang the Second, youre blessed to have recognized such a fine daughter." Old Man Yangughed, "Haha, indeed, even in my old age, Ive gained such a good son and daughter." The people in the courtyard wereplimenting Old Man Yang, making him somewhat tipsy. Inside the house Wang Xiangxiang looked at the dowry and wedding gown that the Yang Family had prepared for her and felt indescribably moved. She looked around at the women in the room and said, "Thank you, mother, thank you everyone for preparing all this for me." In fact, she had wanted to marry simply, just not wanting to be alone in Wang Mansion, but she had not expected the Yang Family to take it so seriously, going as far as hosting a grand banquet and preparing a dowry. "Thank you for what, its my first time marrying off a daughter, Im happy," Yang Mings motherughed as she spoke, then remembered something, "Daughter, there are some things about getting married you might not understand, let me exin..." Afterward, Yang Mings mother, in front of everyone, gave Wang Xiangxiang a lesson primarily about the marriage bed, which made Wang Xiangxiang blush and keep her head down, yet her heart felt warm knowing her mother was discussing this because she was getting married. The other few people in the room also felt embarrassed, and Old Yangs daughter-inw even said, "Mother, we are all in the room, and youre discussing this?" "Whats the matter, youre not maidens anymore, why be shy?" "..." A few daughter-inws were speechless; their mother was never so open before. The few continued chatting about the marriage inside the house when suddenly a male voice broke the cheerful atmosphere, "Xiangxiang." Chapter 692 - 694: Don’t marry him, okay?

Chapter 692: Chapter 694: Dont marry him, okay?

"Xiangxiang," Chu Lians voice was sexy and full of maism. Upon hearing that voice, Wang Xiangxiangs heart clenched in painit was the voice of the man she yearned for day and night. She lifted her head and saw him standing at the door. He hade, he had rushed over the day before her wedding. Why did he have toe? She was afraid she wouldnt be able to resist falling into his arms again. Chu Lians arrival also surprised Xiaoxiao. Could it be that Acheng had found him? But didnt it seem a littlete now? At that moment, Chu Lians eyes saw only Wang Xiangxiang; no one else existed for him. He walked towards her, step by step, until he stood before her, and with his trembling voice, he said, "Xiangxiang, are you really going to marry Han Yongsheng?" Seeing this situation, Xiaoxiao felt it was necessary to give them space. She signaled everyone with her eyes, and the family quietly left the room. Inside the room, only Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian were left. Chu Lian continued to ask with a heartache, "Xiangxiang, didnt we agree? Wait for me toe back to propose. Why are you marrying Han Yongsheng?" He didnt want to believe it, but when he arrived at the Yang Family house and saw the banquet in the courtyard, and the red silk hung on the main gate, he had to face the truth no matter how unwilling he wasthe Xiangxiang he liked was about to marry someone else. At this moment, Wang Xiangxiangs heart throbbed violently. She feared that the facade she had maintained for so many days wouldpletely copse in front of his questioning. No, she couldnt let her efforts be in vainshe was just one step away. She tried her best to calm herself, her face adorned with a feigned smile. She lifted her head, looked straight into his eyes, "Young Master Chu, yes, I am going to marry Han Yongsheng." Hearing her say it herself, Chu Lians heart ached unbearably. He felt the Xiangxiang before him was not the same person. Her tone made him feel so alienated. He roared in a low voice, "Why?" Seeing his painful expression, Wang Xiangxiangs heart was in turmoil, but she had to do this. She couldnt let him be humiliated; she had to let him give up on her. He deserved a better woman. "Young Master Chu, during the one month you were away, Han Yongsheng and I got along very well. He is more considerate than you, better at taking care of people. I am very happy with him. In contrast, every time with you, we were always arguing. So, after thinking it over, I feel he is the better choice." Hearing Wang Xiangxiangs words, Chu Lians mind buzzed, his legs wobbledhad she fallen for someone else in the month he was away? Did she not like him anymore? But she had clearly told him she liked him that night. No, she couldnt marry someone else; he couldnt live without her. He stepped forward excitedly, grabbing Wang Xiangxiangs shoulders, and pleaded eagerly, "Xiangxiang, Ill never argue again, Ill do everything your way, just dont marry him, please?" Listening to Chu Lians pleading, Wang Xiangxiang felt she could hardly keep up her resolve. She struggled to say something heartless, "Young Master Chu, I am now Han Yongshengs bride-to-be. Please show some respect." Chu Lian nearly shouted out, "No, you are not his; you are mine." After saying that, he pressed his lips forcefully against Wang Xiangxiangs in a kiss. The sudden kiss caught her off guard, and she nearly sumbed. But she knew she couldnt. She hastily broke free, tears already streaming down her face. She looked at Chu Lian with eyes as cold as ice and said once more with resolve, "Dont make me hate you." Chapter 693 - 695 I Will Wait for You

Chapter 693: Chapter 695 I Will Wait for You

Seeing her cold, frosty face, Chu Lians heart plummeted to the bottom. He felt she was incredibly serious at this moment and feared he would lose her forever. He stood there, deste, like a soulless walking corpse, not knowing what to do. What exactly should he do for her to change her mind? Should he kidnap her now to prevent the marriage from happening? Just as he was thinking this, he heard Wang Xiangxiang speak ruthless words again, "Dont do something as foolish as taking me away by force. Dont make me hate you for the rest of my life." "..." She had actually guessed that he was contemting taking her away by force. Wang Xiangxiang had to repeat her heartless words, because she was afraid, afraid that he might genuinely take her away by force and ruin her n. "Since everything has been said, you should leave. There are so many people in the yard, and itll affect my reputation if they see us together in the same room," Wang Xiangxiang said, urging him to leave because she could no longer bear it, she could no longer pretend; she had to make him leave. Looking at the resolute Wang Xiangxiang, Chu Lians eyes were red with emotion as he uttered the most shameful and tolerant words he would ever say, because his heart belonged to her, "Xiangxiang, if he doesnt treat you well, if you find yourself unhappy, would youe back to me?" Chu Lian turned and walked towards the door, feeling as if his legs weighed a thousand catties. As he walked, he spoke with a heartache, "Xiangxiang, I like you, I will wait for you." After he said these words, the door shut with a loud bang. Seeing him leave, Wang Xiangxiang quickly walked to the door andtched it. At that moment, she could no longer control her emotions, leaned against the door weeping uncontrobly. Fearing others might discover her, she kept her hands over her mouth, forcing herself not to make a sound. She whispered in her heart, "We have no destiny in this life, but if there is an afterlife, I will definitely be with you." Outside the door, Chu Lian had not left. He too leaned against the door, unwilling to go, because the person he loved was inside, and he wanted to be as close to her as possible. The reality hit him so hard, he was utterly heartbroken, and hot tears had already scorched his cheeks without him realizing. "Young Master Chu, when did you get here?" At that moment, Elder Yang noticed Chu Lian leaning against the door and called out to him. Chu Lian quicklyposed himself and approached, "Uncle Yang, I just arrived. Congrattions, you are marrying off a daughter today." "Haha, yes, Im so happy today,e join me for a drink." "Alright, Uncle, Ill have a drink with you." And so, Chu Lian sat down, joining Elder Yang and the vigers in drinking one cup after another. At that point, all he wanted to do was to numb himself with alcohol to forget about everything. But he found that the more he drank, the clearer his thoughts became. Seeing Chu Lians reaction, Xiaoxiao guessed that he had been rejected by Wang Xiangxiang and was drowning his sorrows in alcohol. She knew this wasnt a solution and was worried he might drink too much and cause trouble, so she sought out Yang Ming, "Husband, you should take him back." Yang Ming too felt regrettable about the situation but was helpless since such matters concerned two people, and if one did not agree, he couldnt force the issue, "Brother Chu, stop drinking. Let me take you home." At this moment, Chu Lian was clearly drunk and shouted, "I wont go back, how can I go back." "She is getting married." "Why didnt she wait for me." Seeing Chu Lian about to make a scene, Yang Ming quickly grabbed him, put him on the carriage, and sent him back to the Chu Mansion in Shibao Town. Chapter 694 - 696: If Only I Had No Heart

Chapter 694: Chapter 696: If Only I Had No Heart

Chu Mansion A house servant heard a loud knocking at the door and hurried to open the gate. Upon opening the door, he saw his own young master being supported by someone, mumbling something under his breath. "Young master," the house servant eximed in surprise. "Your young master had too much to drink; youd better help him inside," Yang Ming said as he handed Chu Lian over to the house servant. The house servant quickly supported his young master. "Thank you, young master, for bringing our young master back." "No need; just take him inside quickly. I must return as I still have matters to attend to. His carriage is still at my ce; let hime and retrieve it in a few days," Yang Ming said as he got on his carriage and headed back to Yang Family Vige. The house servant helped Chu Lian towards the courtyard. At this time, Chu Lian was still making drunken remarks, "Im not drunk; I can still drink." The house servant was seeing his young master like this for the first time. He was extremely surprised and felt that he must report this matter to his master and mistress. He promptly sent someone ahead to inform them. Master Chu and Madam Chu, still submerged in sorrow from learning that their daughter was imprisoned, heard the news that their son was terribly drunk and hurried over to check on him. Seeing Chu Lians condition, they were dumbfounded. "Quick, get him inside," Madam Chu urgently ordered. Soon, Chu Lian was helped into his bedroom and ced on the kang bed. Chu Lian sat up on the kang bed and continued, "I can still drink; Im not drunk. Why wont you let me be drunk?" Seeing their son like this, Master Chu, enraged, scolded him, "Drink, drink, drink; what time do you think this is? All you think about is drinking. Your sister is still imprisoned, do you even care?" Upon hearing Master Chus words, Chu Lian burst into hystericalughter, "Hahaha." This reaction terrified Madam Chu. She did not understand what was wrong with her son or why he reacted this way. Could it be that Linglings matter had traumatized him? She looked at Master Chu with concern, "Master." At this moment, Chu Lian spoke again, uttering sarcastic words, "Am I heartless? If only I were heartless." "Son, dont scare your mother. Whats wrong with you?" Madam Chu stepped forward, supporting her son and asked with concern. Chu Lian suddenly hugged his mother as if he had found sce, and he began to weep bitterly, "Sob, sob." Madam Chu was heartbroken by Chu Lians reaction. She felt that her son must be facing some great trouble. She gently patted her sons back, "Son, what is it? Tell mother." "She is getting married to someone else tomorrow." "She clearly said she would wait for me to ask for her hand." "I really cant be without her." "Why did my sister have to have trouble at this time?" "I cant ept this." "Sob, sob." "..." "..." Thus, under the influence of alcohol, Chu Lian poured out all his feelings for Wang Xiangxiang, causing Madam Chu to continuously wipe her tears. After so many years, her son had finally fallen in love, yet he was hurt so deeply. If it werent for Linglings trouble at this time, her son might have been able to marry Miss Wang from the Wang Family, truly a cruel twist of fate. "She said she hates me." "What should I do?" "..." "..." As Chu Lian spoke, his voice gradually faded until he finally closed his eyes and fell asleep. Seeing their son finally asleep, Master Chu and Madam Chu ced him on the kang bed and pulled over a nket to cover him. Madam Chu also stopped her tears and turned to Master Chu, "Master, look ..." "Let me think about this matter," Master Chus face showed no emotion as he thought seriously. Chapter 695 - 697: The Wedding Procession Has Arrived

Chapter 695: Chapter 697: The Wedding Procession Has Arrived

The wedding day arrived swiftly, on the sixth day of May, and the people of the old Yang Family were up before dawn, preparing for the bridal procession. The Han Familys procession had already reached Shanshi County the previous day, and they woulde to fetch the bride early this morning, for the journey to Lin County was far, and they needed to arrive before sunset to avoid missing the hour of the wedding ceremony. Naturally, due to special circumstances, the pnquin originally nned for was reced with a caravan of horse-drawn carriages. At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang sat in the room, having her hairbed by Yang Mings mother. As shebed, Yang Mings mother recited, "With the firstb,b till the end; with the second, may my daughters white hair reach her brows; with the third, may my daughters children and grandchildren fill the earth; with the fourth, may the lord have good fortune, and when out, may he meet nobles; with the fifth..." Xiaoxiao muttered to herself, "When did Mother be so articte?" The second daughter-inwughed and said, "Hehe, Mother specially learned this set when she went to visit the girls family. Its pretty proper, isnt it?" "..." It was indeed pretty proper. Soon, the hairbing waspleted, and the next step, applying the makeup, began. Originally, a professional makeup artist was to do this, but Wang Xiangxiang said there was no need for such trouble, that Xiaoxiao could do her makeup, and so Xiaoxiao took on this role. Wang Xiangxiangs features were very well-defined; even without makeup, she was strikingly beautiful, and heavy makeup would have marred her beauty, so Xiaoxiao only applied light makeup on her. "Youngest daughter-inw, the makeup is too light; add a bit more red," Yang Mings mother instructed. "Mother, its fine like this; any redder and it would be frightening," Xiaoxiao replied. Wang Xiangxiang was naturally beautiful; there was no need to paint her face as red as a monkeys bottom. Doing so would only hide her beauty. "Alright, this will do." Wang Xiangxiang, looking at her reflection in the mirror, also felt it was just right. Seeing that Wang Xiangxiang herself approved, Yang Mings mother no longer insisted, but rather instructed, "Then quickly put on the wedding dress; the bridal procession will arrive soon." "Yes." Wang Xiangxiang nodded and put on the bright red wedding dress that her family had prepared for her. Outside, Yang Dong called out joyfully, "Mother, the bridal procession has arrived!" "Eldest daughter-inw, quickly bring the seat the bride meal," Yang Mings mother ordered. "Ai." The eldest daughter-inw left the room and soon brought the seat the bride meal. "My girl, sit on your mothersp, let your grandmother feed you the meal." "Yes." Wang Xiangxiangplied, sitting on Yang Mings mothersp and was fed by Yang Mings grandmother. The olddy, also doing this for the first time, said as she fed her, "My girl, after eating this meal, may you have abundance every year, and may your life be prosperous." While Wang Xiangxiang was fed the seat the bride meal, Yang Mings mother and the others busied themselves packing Wang Xiangxiangs dowry. After everything was prepared, Yang Mings mother took the red bridal veil, covered Wang Xiangxiangs head with it, and said, "My girl, once you reach your husbands home, only he should lift the veil in the bridal chamber; dont you lift it halfway there, do you hear me?" "Yes, Mother, I understand," she replied. "Good, now before you leave, cry a little, as a formality." Wang Xiangxiang cried out softly, "Wuu wuu." Although she was asked to pretend to cry, Wang Xiangxiang, veiled, was indeed crying for real. "Alright, thats enough crying," Yang Mings mother halted Wang Xiangxiangs cries and called to her son, "Boss, carry your sister to the carriage." Boss Yang Chun carried Wang Xiangxiang to the front of the carriage and ced her into the red-decorated carriage. And just like that, the entire Yang Family watched as the bridal procession departed. Chapter 696 - 698: Sent into the Bridal Chamber

Chapter 696: Chapter 698: Sent into the Bridal Chamber

The wedding procession left just like that. In this ce, the custom was for the bridegroom to wait at his home while the matchmaker led the wedding party to the brides home to fetch her. After the bride was taken away, the brides rtives could not go to the grooms house to attend the wedding banquet. The Yang Family quieted down in an instant. At this moment, Wang Xiangxiang sat in the wedding carriage, covered by a red bridal veil. Her eyes were already red from holding back tears, struggling not to let herself cry out; she did not want the Han Family to see her so unwilling. She wished the road to Lin County would stretch on indefinitely, but to her dismay, she arrived at her destination before sunset nheless. Covered by the bridal veil, Wang Xiangxiang had no curiosity about the Han Mansion. She was in low spirits and merely wished to quickly end the wedding ceremony, so she obediently sat inside the carriage, waiting for someone to give her instructions. She heard a mans voice which must be the voice of the steward in charge of the wedding, "Please, groom, kick at the carriage door thrice." At this moment, Wang Xiangxiang, sitting in a carriage, could only listen as the groom kicked the carriage door three times in response, and she kicked from the inside as a gesture of acknowledgment. The carriage door opened, and the matchmaker handed over a big red embroidered ball. Wang Xiangxiang grabbed one end of the embroidered ball and followed it into the courtyard. Upon entering, she heard the stewards voice again, "Please, the bridal couple, step over the fire basin so that your life together may be prosperous and thriving." Covered by the red veil, Wang Xiangxiang could not see the path before her and walked with tiny steps. Upon seeing the fire basin beneath her feet, she stepped over it. After walking a bit further, the stewards voice reminded them once more, "Please, the bridal couple, step over the saddle so that you may live a peaceful and safe life." Wang Xiangxiang followed all these steps, after all, the Han Family was a big and established household, and it was normal to have many rules. Having crossed the saddle, Wang Xiangxiang followed into the front hall. By now, there should have been many guests gathered in the front hall, but since Wang Xiangxiang was under the veil, she could not see and could only wait for further instructions. Inside the room, the stewardsmanding voice rang out, "Bow to the high hall." Wang Xiangxiang stood in her designated spot, guided by the matchmaker beside her. Hearing the instruction, she bowed deeply to what was in front of her. "Bow to heaven and earth." Wang Xiangxiang gracefully turned around and, through the veil, bowed once again towards what she presumed was the sky outside the door. "Husband and wife bow to each other." Wang Xiangxiang turned, glimpsing Han Yongshengs figure in a bright red robe, and they both bowed to each other. "Escort to the bridal chamber." Thus Wang Xiangxiang was led to a room adorned in festive redsher bridal chamber. Seeing Han Yongsheng leave the room after having brought her there gave Wang Xiangxiang a sigh of relief. The ceremony was finallyplete, and no one had disrupted the process, allowing her to enter the Han Family as she had wished. It also signified that she and Chu Lian were now destined to be strangers for life. Thinking of Chu Lian getting fall-down drunk at the Yang Family the previous day, her heart ached with the desire to cry, but she resigned herself to the idea that it was all the work of fate. Wang Xiangxiang, deste, sat there. Having not had a drop to drink on the way, she felt neither thirst nor hungerperhaps it was the result of her emotions. She really felt exhausted under that bridal veil. Her mother told her it was up to the groom to lift the veil, as it would be unlucky otherwise. But her current state rendered such superstitions irrelevant. Just as she was about to lift the veil, she heard the sound of a door opening. She straightened up in fright, hardly daring to breathe, while she waited for Han Yongsheng toe closer. Chapter 697 - 699

Chapter 697: Chapter 699

At this moment, Wang Xiangxiangs heart was filled with bitter pain as she lifted her veil. Lifting the veil should have been a moment of joy and excitement for a bride, but she couldnt feel happy or excited. She only felt nervous because the wedding night was soon to follow. Could she refuse? If she voiced her refusal, would he agree? She thought, no man would probably agree. Her nervous hands clutched at the festive wedding gown, as she hung her head down, waiting for Han Yongsheng to lift her veil. Soon, Han Yongsheng approached, and she lowered her eyes, only faintly seeing him getting closer and closer, bit by bit. Finally, her veil was lifted. Head bowed, she didnt dare to look up at him. She thought, surely no man would want to see a grim face on the bride he was bringing home. She sensed her hand being gently pulled by him. She didnt know what he intended to do, but nheless, she couldnt help but lift her head to look at him. The moment she saw him, her heart hammered violently, and she was so shocked she couldnt speak. Why was it him? "Xiangxiang, I still couldnt bear to watch you marry someone else. Even if you hate me for the rest of your life, I still have to marry you. We have already paid our respects at the altar, and the whole city knows youre my wife, legally wedded to me, Chu Lian." Wang Xiangxiang could never have imagined he woulde to rescue her, how could he disrupt her ns like this? She jerked her hand away, ring at him with rage, her wordsing out through gritted teeth, "You... are... despicable." Chu Lian spoke with a mix of excitement and heartache, "Yes, I am despicable. To marry you, I schemed against Han Yongsheng, but what of it? Even if the whole city curses me, I dont care, because all I want is to marry you." The fact that Chu Lian hade to take her as his bride moved Wang Xiangxiang; it undoubtedly showed that his feelings for her were genuine. She wasnt good enough, didnt deserve such actions, she wasnt fortunate enough. Holding back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes, she ran towards the door, still spewing harsh words with determination, "Chu Lian, dont make me hate you. Take me back immediately." Chu Lian grabbed Wang Xiangxiangs hand, not allowing her to leave, calling out in agony, "I wont, youve already paid respects with me, you are now my wife." Being held, Wang Xiangxiang still couldnt hold back her tears, crying out as she struggled, "I am not, please take me back right now." Chu Lian refused to let go, adamant, "I wont, you are my wife, no one can take you away." As Chu Lian dered his love for her over and over again, Wang Xiangxiangs tears continued to flow. Yet her only option now was to marry into the Han Family. She struggled fiercely, using all her strength to break free, and yelled the words that contradicted her heart, with resolution, "Chu Lian, I hate you." After shouting those words, Wang Xiangxiang only felt darkness before her eyes, and without catching her breath, she copsed. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang so agitated and then slowly sliding down into his arms, Chu Lian was terrified. Frantic and heartbroken, he cried out, "Xiangxiang, Xiangxiang, whats wrong with you? Dont scare me, please. Ive only just managed to marry you." But at this moment, Wang Xiangxiangy motionless in Chu Lians arms. Suddenly remembering what his father had done when his mother fainted the day before, he hurriedly pinched Wang Xiangxiangs philtrum, but after several tries, she still didnt wake up. In desperation, Chu Lian shouted towards the door, "Someonee quickly. Someone! Is there nobody there?" Chapter 698 - 700: The Young Madam is Pregnant

Chapter 698: Chapter 700: The Young Madam is Pregnant

Upon hearing Chu Lians shout, Chu Familys Patriarch, Madam Chu, and Chu Huan, who were poised at the door ready to eavesdrop, immediately entered the room. Together, the family had tricked Miss Wang toe to the Chu Family home, surely Miss Wang wouldnt let the matter rest after finding out. The three of them were truly anxious, so they hurried over to listen to the situation but didnt expect to hear Chu Lians loud shout as soon as they approached. The moment the three entered the room and saw Chu Lian on the ground holding what seemed to be an unconscious Miss Wang, they felt that things didnt bode well. "Son, what happened?" Madam Chu asked anxiously. Chu Lian couldnt stay calm at this time, he didnt know what to do, and said anxiously, "Mother, shes fainted." At this time, it was the old master who wasparatively calm. Heforted, "Son, dont worry, father will arrange for someone to find a doctor immediately." The old master went to the door and ordered the servants to quickly go fetch a doctor. "Son, quickly carry her to the bed." "Okay." Chu Lian picked up Wang Xiangxiang and ced her into the big red wedding quilt prepared on the bed. He sat there, continuously holding her hand without letting go, just quietly watching her. His eyes were full of self-me and distress. Since she was bullied by thugsst time, her health had declined. Could it be that what he had done today was truly a mistake? He felt some regret; he really shouldnt have upset her further. What could be more important than her being alive? "Brother, dont worry, sister-inw will definitely be alright." Chu Huan was seeing her brother like this for the first time and offered her words offort. "Yes, son, the daughter-inw will have a good omen, she definitely will be fine," Madam Chu also voiced her reassurance. But, at that moment, Chu Lian couldnt take in anyones words; he just stared motionlessly at Wang Xiangxiang. The family, seeing Chu Lians state, also stayed silent and kept himpany in the room. Soon, the doctor was brought in by the servant, "Boss, the doctor has arrived." Upon hearing the doctors arrival, Chu Lian quickly got up and rushed to the doctors side, "Doctor, please check whats wrong with my wife?" "Young Master Chu, do not panic. Let the old doctor take a look first," the doctor said. The old doctor followed Chu Lian to the side of the bed. Chu Lian presented Wang Xiangxiangs left hand for the doctor to take her pulse. When he saw the clear scars on her wrist, a pang of pain hit his heart once more. He thought to himself, if she woke up and still insisted on marrying into the Han Family, then he would let her go. The old doctor sat by the bed and took Wang Xiangxiangs pulse seriously. The pulse-takingsted slightly longer than usual, which made everyone in the room extremely tense; Chu Lian was afraid she might deteriorate while the other three feared that Chu Lian might break down because of her condition. Finally, the old doctor finished taking the pulse, with an expression that was somewhat inscrutable. "Doctor, how is my wife?" As soon as the doctor finished taking the pulse, Chu Lian asked anxiously. "This..." The old doctor hesitated whether to speak or not; after all, the entire city knew that the Eldest Young Master Chu was getting married that day. Seeing the doctor stammer, Chu Lians heart twisted in pain. Could it be that her illness was very serious? What had she gone through in the month he was away? "Doctor, whats really wrong with my wife? You can rest assured I can handle it." Seeing the expression of Young Master Chu, the old doctor finally spoke, "Well, the Young Madam is not in grave danger. The reason she fainted, I believe, was due to excessive emotional agitation." "..." As he had thought, it was because of him, Chu Lian felt an indescribable difort in his heart. "Moreover... the Young Madam is with child and needs some fetus-preserving medicine." Chapter 699 - 701 Of Course the Child is Mine

Chapter 699: Chapter 701 Of Course the Child is Mine

"What did you say?" Upon hearing the doctor dere that Wang Xiangxiang was showing signs of pregnancy, Chu Lian waspletely dumbfounded. Xiangxiang was pregnant? Did this mean he was going to be a father? He could hardly believe it; the news was too sudden and too much of a pleasant surprise for him. Seeing such a surprised expression on Young Master Chus face, the old doctor was clearly exasperated. Although he sympathized with the situation of his young bride being pregnant so soon, he could not fabricate a diagnosis, so he repeated, "As I just mentioned, the young mistress is exhibiting signs of pregnancy, less than two months along." "Thank you, Doctor, thank you," Chu Lian, delighted, repeatedly expressed his gratitude. "Now that my wife is pregnant, what should I be mindful of?" "..." The doctor was baffled by the response of the Chu familys eldest young master, but still advised, "For the childs sake, be cautious with intimate rtions and pay more attention to her diet among other things..." Chu Lian listened very seriously to the old doctors instructions, noted everything down, and after seeing off the doctor, instructed the servants to follow the doctor and collect the fetus-preserving medicine. After the doctor left, only their family remained in the house, with no outsiders present. Madam Chu could no longer restrain herself; the news was simply too shocking. "Son." Chu Lian, still ted about bing a father, responded, "Mother, youre going to be a grandmother. Arent you happy? Havent you always looked forward to it?" "..." Madam Chu felt apprehensive. She had longed to be a grandmother, but was this child truly her sons? Now looking back, they had discovered marks on their sons neck in the past, but... "Brother, are you saying the child is yours?" Chu Huan interjected, clearly shocked by the news as well. Hearing his sisters seemingly doubtful words, Chu Lian frowned. He wouldnt allow anyone to nder his Xiangxiang. "Nonsense, of course the child is mine." "Son, its not that Mother doesnt believe you, but I just want to ask you one thing, are you sure?" Chu Lian felt that if he didnt rify the situation, his family would certainly misunderstand Xiangxiang, so while Xiangxiang was still asleep, he exined the whole story to his family, "So the child is definitely mine; Im the one whopromised her virtue." "Are you sure she hasnt been with anyone else since then?" Upset by his mothers distrust, Chu Lian almost roared, "Impossible! She even attempted suicide because she lost her virtue; how could she possibly do such a thing again?" Madam Chu looked at the girl lying on the bed with her eyes tightly shut. The girl was so kind; she surely wouldnt do anything so disgraceful; perhaps she was really overthinking it. She spoke to calm her son, "Son, dont be upset, Mother is just too worried about you, I believe you now." Madam Chu truly believed it now; she was both happy and excited. "My lord, we are going to be grandparents soon." "Wife, its not certain to be a grandson, it might be a granddaughter." "My son is so capable, it hit the mark on the first try, it must be a grandson." "Maybe your sister-inw will have twins, a grandson and a granddaughter." "It has to be one; if there were two, wouldnt the doctor have mentioned it?" "Oh, we should have asked the doctor." "..." "..." The family continued chatting endlessly in Chu Lians bridal chamber, and for a time, the gloom that had enveloped Chu Mansion because of Lingling was dispelled by this new little life. Chu Lian looked at the three people somewhat helplessly. "You all should go out if you want to talk; my wife needs to rest." Chapter 700 - 702: Are you here to persuade Mom and Dad to reconcile?

Chapter 700: Chapter 702: Are you here to persuade Mom and Dad to reconcile?

"Yes, yes, yes, lets keep our voices down," Madam Chu urged the other two hurriedly. "Our daughter-inw doesnt know when shell wake up yet. Lets not disturb her and just wait quietly." "Mother, you should all go out. Youve all been standing guard here, and it might startle her if she wakes up. Tomorrow morning, when she gets up, Ill take her to pay respect with tea," Chu Lian suggested, and he truly meant it. Especially since he and Xiangxiang had been arguing earlier, he didnt know what state shed be in when she woke up. It would be better not to have so many people in the room. "But..." Madam Chu was still reluctant to leave, as she was concerned about her daughter-inw and the baby in her womb. "Madam, the son makes a good point. Having so many people here isnt quite appropriate, and the doctor just mentioned that she should be able to wake up naturally, so you neednt worry too much," Master Chu persuaded, "Besides, today is your sons wedding day." Hearing Master Chus persuasion, Madam Chu agreed with difficulty, "Fine then. When the servantes back with the medicine, remember to instruct them to prepare it, and to give it to her when she wakes up. The servants are all waiting outside; if anything arises, send someone immediately to report it. A woman with child gets hungry easily. Ive asked them to prepare meals, so remember to eat when she wakes up..." Madam Chu was making arrangements one by one, afraid that there would be any negligence or oversight. Master Chu quickly led Madam Chu towards the door, "Madam, enough now, the young master has his own judgment. Lets go, we shouldnt be influencing our son here." Madam Chu was thus pulled to the doorway by Master Chu, when she suddenly remembered something and turned back to give one more instruction, "Son, dont consummate the marriage tonight, be mindful of my grandson. If you harm my grandson, Ill fight you for it." "Pfft." Chu Huan was truly amused by her mothers endless chatter, pushing on her parents from behind, "Mother, please go. If you dont leave now, my brother might start throwing punches." The three of them left the room, and Chu Lian really felt helpless with his mothers fussing. In this state, how could he even think about consummating the marriage? Moreover, with the current state of his rtionship with Xiangxiang still up in the air after their argument, whether he could soothe her once she woke up was a matter of debate; he didnt have much confidence in himself. He sat beside Xiangxiang, holding her hand, and gazed at her exquisite beauty, his heart aching for her. At the same time, he was very excited and thrilled. She was pregnant, with their childbelonging to the both of them. The arrival of this little life truly filled him with joy. He ced his hand on Wang Xiangxiangs belly, caressing the small life within, and whispered in his heart, "Child, did you know your parents were arguing, and so you came to make us reconcile?" "Whether your mother gets better all depends on you." Chu Lian really felt that the timing of this childs arrival was perfect, as if the child was his savior. What reaction would she have once she knew about her pregnancy? No matter what, he couldnt upset her again. Holding her hand, he spoke his innermost feelings. "Xiangxiang, do you know? During these days when we were apart, I thought of you every single day." "I finally made time toe see you, only to learn that you were to marry someone else. Do you know how heartbroken I was?" "I dont believe that you could fall in love with someone else. You must be lying to me, right?" "Im sorry. I promised not to disturb you, but I couldnt help myself and I took you away." "Please dont hate me, okay?" "..." "..." Chapter 701 - 703: Shall We Raise the Child Together, Alright?

Chapter 701: Chapter 703: Shall We Raise the Child Together, Alright?

At this moment, Wang Xiangxiang felt as if she was dreaming, a very beautiful dream. She seemed to hear Chu Lian speaking to her, saying many words that pierced deep into her heart, and her tears silently fell. As Chu Lian was talking, he saw the tears at the corners of Wang Xiangxiangs mouth, witnessed her trembling eyshes and, overwhelmed with emotion, he cried out, "Xiangxiang, have you woken up?" Wang Xiangxiang heard Chu Lians shout and her eyes opened slightly, seeing the anxious Chu Lian before her. Seeing that Wang Xiangxiang really had awoken, Chu Lian could only be described as ecstatic. His eyes full of concern, he rushed to say, "Xiangxiang, youve finally awakened, you really scared me just now." Wang Xiangxiang had not expected things to turn out this way. Maybe it was because she had been too emotional just before. In recent days, because she was to marry Han Yongsheng, she had worried so much that she hadnt slept for days. Other than a few bites of food she had in the morning before getting onto the bridal sedan, she had not had a drop to drink all day, which must have weakened her body too much. She stretched her hand beneath the nket toward her stomach, whispering to herself apologetically, "Sorry, Mother shouldnt have neglected your safety." "How are you feeling now?" Chu Lian asked with a face full of concern. Seeing Chu Lian like this, Wang Xiangxiangs heart ached unbearably. Her marriage into the Chu family was harming him; she couldnt let this happen. She sat up, trying to get out of bed, still voicing her misguided thoughts, "I need to go back." Seeing her intent on leaving, Chu Lian became frantic, "Xiangxiang, listen to me, the doctor was here just now, and theres something I need to tell you. Please, dont get too excited when you hear it." Chu Lian felt it was better to prepare her first, to prevent her from fainting again in shock. Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened. Her heart pounded fiercely; he knew, he still knew. It was better for him to know, she thought, then he would give up hope. She shouted at him, "Thats right, Im pregnant." Chu Lian was shocked to hear this. She knew about the pregnancy, so why did she still agree to marry Han Yongsheng? Seeing such a surprised look on Chu Lians face, Wang Xiangxiang gave a bitter smile. He must mind, she thought; no man could tolerate the woman he loves bearing another mans child. She tried hard to mask her inner turmoil and continued to speak the harsh words, "Its Han Yongshengs, so shouldnt you send me back now?" These words truly hurt Chu Lian. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. When had they been together? His voice trembling, he asked distinctly, "When~were~you~together~with~him?" He was terrified of her answer, yet he had to ask. His fists clenched tightly, he struggled immensely to control his emotions; how dare that Han Yongsheng defile his Xiangxiang. It pained her to speak on the matter, so why did he persist in asking? Heartbroken, she put on her shoes, thinking she must leave, she must, even if it meant going back. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang still so resolute, Chu Lian quickly got off the bed and hugged her from behind, once again offering concessions, all he wanted was to keep her, "Even if the child is his, I will ept it, please dont leave." After uttering those words, Chu Lians eyes reddened, his voice shaky. He buried his head in the nape of her neck, his tone extremely low, as if sobbing. "Xiangxiang, dont leave. We are already married; weve bowed at the altar. Even if you leave, it wont change the fact that youre my wife. Its impossible for me to allow a divorce. Stay, lets raise the child together, alright?" Chapter 702 - 704

Chapter 702: Chapter 704

Wang Xiangxiang could no longer pretend upon hearing how Chu Lian had so patiently restrained himself for her sake. For the sake of their being together, he, the Eldest Young Master so high above all else, was willing to humble himself so deeply. If she were to continue to push him away coldly, she dared not imagine what would be of him. By now, she was already crying her heart out, wanting to respond to him, to warm his heart at this moment. Tell him that she loved him, deeply, dearly; she couldnt be without him. She reached out and pried his fingers open one by one. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang still pushing him away, Chu Lian felt his heart plunge into the abyss. Was he unable to retain her affection even after all this? His arms fell limply to his sides as he stood there in defeat, as if his soul had been lost, feeling disappointment, helplessness, agony! At that moment, he saw her turn around suddenly, throwing herself into his embrace. She sobbed uncontrobly, crying as she spoke, "Wuu wuu, how can you be so foolish? How can you be so good? How can you? I dont deserve you doing all this for me, really dont know... Im bad, very bad." Such a reaction made Chu Lian ecstatically surprised. He raised his drooping hands, patting her head as thoughforting a child, "You do deserve it. For you, I would dly climb mountains or plunge into raging seas." These words deeply moved Wang Xiangxiang, who felt his strong and forceful heartbeat and wept even more, "I wont let you climb mountains or plunge into seas; you mustnt do such dangerous things, you mustnt." "Alright, I wont, whatever you say, as long as you stay by my side, whatever you say is fine." The two immersed themselves in their mutual love, with both of their hearts filled with sweetness, so very sweet! After a long while, the two finally let go of each other. Chu Lian used his hands to wipe away Wang Xiangxiangs tears, coaxing her, "Stop crying, today is our day of great joy, you should smile, you know? You look the most beautiful when you smile." "Yes, I wont cry anymore, Ill smile." Wang Xiangxiang halted her tears, she couldnt cry anymore, not just for the sake of the child within her. A smile broke through her tear-stained face. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang had stopped crying, Chu Lian looked into her eyes and asked earnestly, "Then now we..." Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened in shock. What were they about to do? Suddenly frightened by a thought, she lowered her head, her face blushing, "No..." Before she could finish speaking, she saw Chu Lian walk over to the table, then with two cups filled with wine in his hands, he handed her one, "Let us drink the wedding wine. Youre pregnant now, so just a symbolic sip is enough." In an instant, Wang Xiangxiangs face turned beet red. What had she been thinking just now? She took the wine cup, and theypleted the sacred ceremony. Chu Lian took the wine cup from Wang Xiangxiangs hand and ced it on the table. Looking at her under the light of the candles, she indeed looked beautiful. He moved closer slowly until he was standing in front of her, his head gradually lowering. In this moment, how could Wang Xiangxiang not understand Chu Lians intentions? She closed her eyes slowly. The two savored their mutual feelings and the intense love they had for each other. "Gurgle." Suddenly, a gurgling sound interrupted them, but they did not open their eyes. "Gurgle, gurgle." But the continuous gurgling sounds forced them to pull away from each other. There stood Wang Xiangxiang, embarrassingly shy. She lowered her head, not daring to look at him. Her stomach chose this beautiful moment to betray her with such noises, and she felt incredibly embarrassed. Chapter 703 - 705 I Want to Vomit

Chapter 703: Chapter 705 I Want to Vomit

Watching her shy demeanor, Chu Lianughed and said, "Our child is protesting. He wants to eat. Just wait, Ill have them bring in the food right now." Chu Lian then walked to the door, opened it, and instructed the servants to prepare the meal. Hearing Chu Lians words "our child," Wang Xiangxiang felt an indescribable bitterness in her heart. If only the child were his, what a happy family they would have been, but unfortunately, that was not the case. After Chu Lian returned, he had Wang Xiangxiang sit at the table. He grabbed a handful of peanuts from the table and, while peeling them, said, "You wait, Ill peel some peanuts for you first. Have these as a little nibble." Soon enough, a peanut was peeled, and Chu Lian held it out to Wang Xiangxiang, saying, "Open your mouth." At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang felt an unparalleled happiness. She didnt speak but obediently opened her mouth, wanting to fully savor this bliss. And so, she ate the peanuts Chu Lian fed to her, one by one. After having a few, Wang Xiangxiang also started peeling peanuts and held them out to Chu Lian with a beaming smile, saying, "You eat too." Looking at Wang Xiangxiang, Chu Lians eyes were filled with doting affection. He opened his mouth and ate the peanut kernels Wang Xiangxiang fed him. The two of them continued in this way, feeding each other, in a happiness that was both sweet and serene. A momentter, there was a knock at the door, "Young master, the meal has been brought over." Chu Lian immediately stopped what he was doing to open the door. The maidservants brought in quite a spread of dishes and ced them on the table, then withdrew. Chu Lian passed the chopsticks to Wang Xiangxiang, "You must be hungry, go ahead and eat." Wang Xiangxiang took the chopsticks and began to eat ravenously, not forgetting toin, "Whoever came up with the rule that brides cant eat sure made me starve." At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang no longer had the bitter expression that she wore at the beginning of her marriage. Her face was filled with happiness, and driven by that, she also felt hunger. Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs current actions, Chu Lians eyes were full of indulgent love. This was the vibrant Xiangxiang, back again. As he served her dish after dish, he said, "Then you should eat more." The pair enjoyed their meal intimately, but before they could take more than a few bites, Wang Xiangxiang covered her mouth, looking around the room for something. The pained look on her face sent Chu Lian into a panic as he hurriedly asked, "Whats wrong?" Wang Xiangxiang, hand over her mouth, seemed on the verge of tears, "I want to throw up." Upon hearing this, Chu Lian quickly fetched the spittoon from the corner, "Throw up here." "Wow," Wang Xiangxiang, finding a receptacle she could use, vomited with a ssh. Chu Lian continued to pat her back, asking, "Feeling better now?" "Ugh!" Wang Xiangxiang kept vomiting, and the little food she had eaten came right back out. After throwing up, Wang Xiangxiang felt much better. She gasped for air inrge breaths, and Chu Lian hurriedly passed her a cup of water from the table, "Rinse your mouth quickly." Wang Xiangxiang took the cup and rinsed her mouth vigorously before Chu Lian helped her back to her seat. Seeing her in distress, Chu Lian anxiously said, "Xiangxiang, you cant go on like this, we need to see a doctor. I didnt realize you were experiencing this symptom." As Chu Lian went toward the door, Wang Xiangxiang caught hold of him, saying shyly, "Dont go, this is normal. It happens when youre pregnant." Chu Lian was taken aback upon hearing this. The doctor had instructed him on so many things but hadnt mentioned vomiting. He felt ashamed of his ignorance in this area. He sat down and continued to help her with dishes, "Then try to eat a little more." Chapter 704 - 706: Don’t Call Me by My Name, Call Me Husband

Chapter 704: Chapter 706: Dont Call Me by My Name, Call Me Husband

Wang Xiangxiang, who had sat down, hadpletely lost her appetite due to vomiting, but seeing Chu Lian so concerned about her, she endured and ate a little not to worry him. Relieved to see her eat, Chu Lian also realized how hard it was to be pregnant. A momentter, there was a knock at the door, "Young master, the medicine for the young madam is ready." Chu Lian opened the door and took the medicine from the maids hand, instructing, "Take all these away, and take the spittoon too. Remember to bring a few more spittoonster." The maids came in to clear the table and took the spittoon out. Chu Lian, holding the medicine, went over to Wang Xiangxiang, "Xiangxiang, this is the fetus-preserving medicine the doctor has just prepared." "..." Seeing the dark soup medicine, Wang Xiangxiang really felt an urge, how good it would be if she didnt take the medicine and the child was lost, yet she couldnt bear it, after all, she had so few blood rtives, and although the childs timing wasnt right, it was still her flesh and blood, whom she wanted. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang a little reluctant to take the medicine, Chu Lian held the bowl, stirring it with a spoon, and scooped a spoonful. He blew on it again and again, until he was sure it wasnt hot, and then brought it to her lips. Seeing such a considerate Chu Lian, Wang Xiangxiangs heart was filled with mixed feelings, feeling undeserving and apologetic toward him. She didnt drink the medicine, instead called out his name, "Chu Lian..." She wanted to thank him properly, for so generously epting her and the child. But before she could finish, Chu Lian interrupted her, "Dont call me by my name, call me husband." Wang Xiangxiang looked at Chu Lian, with his face full of expectation, shyly said, "Husband." "Mydy." Chu Lian was very excited, she had called him husband, which meant she acknowledged her role, he had actually wanted to call her mydy just now, but he was afraid... Now it was alright, he could call her so openly, his mood so uplifted he called out several times, "Mydy, mydy, mydy..." Seeing Chu Lian in such a state amused Wang Xiangxiang, causing her to forget what she had wanted to say just moments before, "Alright, stop calling, werent you going to feed me the medicine?" "Mydy, call husband once more." "Husband." "Eh!" Chu Lian responded loudly, then began to spoon-feed hisdy the medicine, one mouthful at a time. "Bitter?" Wang Xiangxiang shook her head, her heart now so sweet, she couldnt taste any bitterness. She drank the medicine Chu Lian fed her, spoon by spoon, until the bowl was empty. Seeing that she had finished the medicine, Chu Lians mind was put at ease. He didnt want anything to happen to her, the baby had to stay safe; danger to the baby meant danger to her too. "Mydy, lets bathe now, bathing will be good before sleep." Wang Xiangxiang, her cheeks flushing, agreed, "Mm." Chu Lians room was veryrge, with the bathing room right next to it. He called the servant to prepare everything for the bath. "Young master, everything is ready, you and the young madam may bathe now," "Alright, you may leave." Wang Xiangxiang followed Chu Lian into the bathing room, where Chu Lian, as caring as ever, tested the water temperature, just like that time at the inn, "Alright, call for me if you need anything." "Mm." After Chu Lian left, Wang Xiangxiang shed her clothes and sat down in the bathtub. The Chu Family had thoughtfully scattered many flower petals on the water. Sitting among them, Wang Xiangxiang felt as if all this was like a dream. Chapter 705 - 707 My Heart Has Always Only Had You

Chapter 705: Chapter 707 My Heart Has Always Only Had You

Wang Xiangxiang quickly finished her bath. She stood up, stepped out of the tub, and slipped into the bedtime attire prepared for her by the Chu Family. To her surprise, it was the same style of pajamas that her Xiangxiang Cloth Shop had been selling like hotcakes recently, a bright red set, and there were also ones for men. Surely, Chu Lian wouldnt be wearing the same thingter. After she got dressed, she returned to the bedroom and shyly said to Chu Lian, "Im done washing." At this moment, she was still a bit nervous. After all, she was about to share a bed with Chu Lian for the first time. "If youre tired, lie down for a bit. Ill be back soon." Watching Chu Lian leave, Wang Xiangxiang knew that he was off to take a bath. She sat on the big red wedding quilt, not lying down, thinking it would be better to sit and wait for him to return. Looking at the brightly decorated bridal room and the formal wedding ceremony that took ce today, Wang Xiangxiang couldnt help but admire once again the capability of the Chu Family. Justst night, Chu Lian had been dead drunk, yet he managed to pull this off the next day. While Wang Xiangxiangs mind was filled with scattered thoughts, Chu Lian came back. "Wife." "..." Sure enough, he was wearing a set of pajamas that matched hers. She shyly called out from her seat, "Husband." Chu Lian approached her. "Wife, lets go to sleep." The mention of sleep made Wang Xiangxiangs body stiffen. She was somewhat afraid. Chu Lian noticed Wang Xiangxiangs unease. "Wife, although tonight is our wedding night, the doctor said that its not suitable for you to consummate the marriage given your current physical condition." Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened. The doctor even mentioned that? She had just been worrying about how to refuse him without making him angry, and now it turned out he knew everything all along. "Thank you." Chu Lian said with a smile, "Then lets lie down." "Mm." The two of themy down, both very proper despite sharing the same quilt. Once in bed, Wang Xiangxiang couldnt fall asleep. She was worried about what had happened that day. "Husband, how did you trick Han Yongsheng?" "I just had someone hold up their wedding procession." Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang breathed a sigh of relief. She had thought he had nted a stand-in bride for Han Yongsheng, who would surely hate her to death for it. She was the one who wanted to use him initially. "So he wille to our door soon. Husband, Im afraid..." "Dont be afraid. If I dare to snatch a bride, I dare to deal with him." A single Han Family was within the capability of the Chu Family to handle. "Husband, can we not deal with him?" Chu Lian felt a bitter taste in his heart hearing her plead on behalf of another man, feeling a tinge of jealousy. He was bing afraid now, fearful that she truly had feelings for that other man. He turned and pulled Wang Xiangxiang into his embrace. "Dont think of that Han Yongsheng anymore. From now on, I am the only one in your heart." Wang Xiangxiang understood his words; he was jealous. Her head resting on his shoulder, she had a slight smile on her lips and whispered softly, "You are the only one in my heart; he never was." These words made Chu Lians heart thump wildly. He was exhrated and moved by knowing he was the only one in her heart. "So youre saying that you only married him for the childs sake?" "..." Wang Xiangxiang didnt reply. She didnt know what to say; in fact, there were other reasons. Chu Lian had a lingering question in his heart. Since Xiangxiang had already chosen him, it was best to ask. "Why were you so sure the child was his and not mine?" Chapter 706 - 708: Can You Forgive Me for That? Hmm?

Chapter 706: Chapter 708: Can You Forgive Me for That? Hmm?

Upon hearing these words, Wang Xiangxiang widened her eyes in disbelief. Was he joking? The furthest they had ever gone was kissing; how could they possibly imagine the child was his? Surely he couldnt be unaware of this fact? The more Wang Xiangxiang thought about it, the more she believed it was possible. A slight smile curved up the corners of her lips, not taking his words seriously but amused by his ignorance. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang remain silent, Chu Lian continued, "The more I think about it, the more I feel that the child could indeed be mine. The doctor also said that the child is not even two months old." As he spoke, Chu Lians grip around Wang Xiangxiangs hand tightened, and his other hand rested on her stomach as he smiled and said, "Perhaps, this child is indeed mine." Chu Lians actions made Wang Xiangxiang stiffen. Had he really just touched her stomach? She removed his hand from her belly and asked nonchntly, "How do you think this child in my stomach is yours?" She wanted to hear what he would say. If he imed that holding her or kissing her resulted in a child, she mightugh all night. Chu Lian,pletely unaware of Wang Xiangxiangs thoughts, continued, "That day, when I was administering the Charming Fragrance Poison Antidote, I put in a great deal of effort all afternoon. Perhaps the child was conceived then." "What did you say?" Wang Xiangxiang suddenly sat up upon hearing this. Her heart was pounding, as she just might have heard something incredible. Was it him that day? She struggled to recall the events of that day and felt it impossible. She had only seen Han Yongsheng at the Yang Familys home and had not seen him. "..." Why was Xiangxiang reacting so strongly to this? Did she still mind what happened that day? He had always kept silent about that incident, owing her an apology. So he sat up too, took her hand, and looked into her eyes seriously, saying, "Mydy, I offended you that day, and I am truly sorry, but I could not help it. I had just realized my feelings for you. How could I possibly watch you die? I would rather you hate me upon awakening than see you dead." "..." At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang was too shocked to speak, tears swirling in her eyes. Did he mean that it was him with her that day, not Han Yongsheng? "Indeed, after you awoke, you chose to take your own life because I had taken your purity. Icked the courage to apologize to you, fearing you could not handle the mention of it. But now, we are married. You are destined to be mine. Can you forgive me for that incident, please?" Upon hearing Chu Lians words, Wang Xiangxiang could no longer control her overwhelming emotions and burst into loud sobs. Her crying in the quiet night was particrly grating. This time, instead of enduring as she usually did, she unleashed all the frustration and helplessness that had umted over the days, crying like a child, unable to stop. Hearing her heart-wrenching sobs, Chu Lian felt a deep pain in his heart, regretting immensely. Perhaps she truly could not bear it? He pulled Wang Xiangxiang into his arms, his voice filled with remorse, "I was wrong, it was all my fault. I will never bring up that day again... please do not cry..." But no matter how Chu Lian tried tofort her, it was futile; Wang Xiangxiang cried so hard she nearly passed out. Chu Lian was terrified, fearful she might faint again, "Mydy, think of the child, for the sake of the child, please calm yourself." Chapter 707 - 709: Wife, We Have a Child Now

Chapter 707: Chapter 709: Wife, We Have a Child Now

When children were mentioned, Chu Lians words finally took effect, and Wang Xiangxiangs crying gradually lessened, eventually stopping altogether. All Chu Lians eyes showed was sympathy as he wiped her tears while saying, "Mydy, youve nearly cried yourself dry, you must not cry like this again." Seeing Chu Lian treat her this way, Wang Xiangxiang lifted her head, smiling at him with a face full of joy, thinking to herself that with a husband like this, what more could she ask for? Chu Lian felt goosebumps from being stared at. He sensed something was off with Xiangxiang, and sure enough, she soon began to shake withughter, eventually sumbing to her amusement and bursting into uncontrobleughter. This scared Chu Lian terribly. Xiangxiang had just been crying so hard, and now she wasughing so strangelywhat on earth was going on? He began calling to her, hoping she would return to normal, "Mydy, mydy." As he grew increasingly anxious because of the situation, suddenly Xiangxiang lunged towards him, almost knocking him over. She hugged him tightly, excitedly saying, "Husband, why didnt you tell me earlier? You almost killed me!" "..." At that moment, Chu Lian was utterly dumbfounded, not understanding what Xiangxiang was talking about,pletely at a loss for words. Then he heard Xiangxiang continue, "I thought Han Yongsheng had taken my innocence, so I didnt want to live anymore. If I had known it was you, why would I have thought of dying? Why didnt you tell me sooner?" "What are you talking about?" Chu Lian was shocked by Wang Xiangxiangs words. He quickly pulled her away from his embrace and looked into her eyes, realizing it was his own silence that had caused her suffering. He had thought she knew it was him and that was why she had chosen to end her life. Wang Xiangxiang also looked deeply into Chu Lians eyes, her face radiant with happiness. She took Chu Lians hand and ced it on her stomach, "Husband, you were right, the child is yours. I always thought the man that night was Han Yongsheng, which is why I mistakenly believed the child was his." Hearing such words, Chu Lian was ecstatic. He pulled Wang Xiangxiang into his arms, smiling like a child, babbling incoherently, "Haha, mydy, were having a baby, our very own baby, mydy, you are mine, still mine." In fact, he wasnt generous at all. Knowing the child was Han Yongshengs had been a huge blow. But for Xiangxiang to stay by his side, he had chosen to bear it. Now, alls well; Xiangxiang was still his, and the child too. "Its all your fault Ive been so miserable for so long." "Yes, yes, yes, its all my fault, you can hit me." "Who wants to hit you?" "If you arent hitting me, lets go to sleep." "Im not sleeping with you." "If youre not sleeping with me, who will you sleep with?" "..." "..." The two of themy down in each others arms, bantering back and forth, each feeling incredibly sweet inside. They embraced each other tightly. "So youre saying you liked me back then?" "Who liked you!" "You did." "Oh, stop moving." "Im just feeling our son." "Who said it was a son?" "I nted the seed, so of course I know." "What will you do if its a daughter?" "Ill dote on her, just like I dote on you." "Shut up, you dont dote on me." "..." "..." Unknowingly, the two of them reverted to their usual way of interacting, teasing and arguing with each other, but even their arguments were filled with love, something quite enviable. Eventually, unable to fight off their sleepiness, they fell asleep in each others arms. Chapter 708 - 710 The Bride Was Taken Away

Chapter 708: Chapter 710 The Bride Was Taken Away

Wang Xiangxiang thus married into the Chu Family, while the Yang Family had no idea; they still thought she had married into the Han Family of Lin County. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had even felt pity for Chu Lian all night, until the next morning. The family was eating breakfast inside the house when they suddenly heard the sounds of music and drumming outside, which left them quite puzzled. It sounded like a wedding procession, but they hadnt heard of anyone in the Yang Family Vige getting married that day. The music and drumming grew louder, as if it had entered their own courtyard, and the family couldnt stay seated any longer. They hurried out to see what was happening. As soon as they stepped out, they were all stunnedthe wedding procession had indeed entered their home. A middle-aged woman in red attire approached them with auspicious words, "Congrattions, dear father-inw, I am Matchmaker Zhu, representing the Han Family of Lin County to wee the bride over." Hearing these words, the familys eyes widened in surprise. If this was the Han Familys wedding procession, then who hade yesterday? Although they were perplexed, they roughly guessed that the bride might have been taken by someone else. Yang Familys patriarch stepped forward, "Matchmaker Zhu, yesterday was the sixth of May, which was the joyous day for my daughters wedding, and the Han Familys wedding procession already took her away. Are you really from the Han Family? If so, shouldnt you havee yesterday? Why today?" Matchmaker Zhu felt a bit embarrassed, as their procession had been intercepted by unknown people yesterday, and they were only released this morning; hence, they could arrive only today. The situation must have been sabotaged by someone. They had already sent someone back to the Han Family at a gallop to inform them, and the reason they came was to see if the bride was indeed kidnapped as they suspected. Sure enough, she had been taken away. Not having brought the new bride back would surely result in punishment for them; they could only redeem themselves by finding the bride. "Dear father-inw, to tell you the truth, our wedding procession was intercepted yesterday. We were held up all night and were only released this morning. After we got out, we hurried over here and, sure enough, something did happenthe bride has been taken away." "..." "Now you must hurry and find the bride. You owe the Han Family an exnation. Otherwise, offending them will make life difficult for everyone." Hearing the matchmakers words, the family realized the gravity of the situation. Thus, the patriarch spoke, "Matchmaker Zhu, you go back first. We dont know what happened either, let our family discuss this thoroughly." "Alright then, the Han Family will soon learn of the news. When the young master Han arrives, think about how youll exin it to him," Matchmaker Zhu said before taking the wedding procession and leaving Yang Family Vige. After the wedding procession departed, the family returned inside the house. Upon entering, Yang Mings mother anxiously asked, "My childs father, where exactly did Xiangxiang end up marrying off to?" Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao exchanged nces, both already having an idea in their minds. Yang Ming spoke up, "Dad, Mom, Im afraid this is Brother Chus doing. My sister might have married into the Chu Family." The family was astonished to hear Yang Mings words; no one had seen any signs between those two. "Dont worry, I and Yang Ming will head to the Chu Mansion in Shibao Town right away," Xiaoxiao said reassuringly, while also admiring Chu Lians audacity to pull off such a bold act as kidnapping a bride. The two entrusted their child to the elder sister-inw and set off for the Chu Mansion in Shibao Town in a horse-drawn carriage. Chapter 709 - 711: Beating You Up

Chapter 709: Chapter 711: Beating You Up

In the Chu Family that night, one could say that Wang Xiangxiang had the most peaceful sleep she had had in a while, perhaps because Chu Lian was by her side, or perhaps because knowing the truth had calmed her heart. In any case, she slept until she woke up naturally. As soon as she opened her eyes, she saw Chu Lian lying beside her, propped up on one elbow, staring at her. Seeing that Wang Xiangxiang was awake, Chu Lians face broke into a smile, "Madam, youre awake?" "Yes." Wang Xiangxiang smiled softly, feeling an immense sense of happiness at that moment. She hadpletely pushed aside the fear that Li Fuyou had caused her and had also forgotten about the imminent storm from the Han Family. Chu Lian yfully flicked Wang Xiangxiangs nose and said, "Then lets get up quickly and go offer tea to my parents. You cane back and sleep after we eat." Reminded by Chu Lian, Wang Xiangxiang suddenly remembered that she needed to perform the tea ceremony for her inws. This wasnt her own home anymore. She sprang up, flustered, and rummaged through her dowry chest for clothes. "Madam, take it easy. Be careful about my son," Chu Lian followed her, worried her hasty actions might cause a mishap. "Keep talking about a son; watch out, Ill hit you! What if I cant have a son? How embarrassing would that be?" Wang Xiangxiang turned around, clenched her fists, and made a motion as if to punch Chu Lian on the face. Chu Lian grinned foolishly, "Then what should we call him? There should be a name, shouldnt there?" Wang Xiangxiang pondered with her chin in her hand but soon realized she couldnt think of one, "Forget it, call him whatever you want." "Hehe, then Ill still call him son." "..." Wang Xiangxiang didnt bother with him anymore. She needed to hurry and get ready to meet her inws, so she continued sifting through the dowry chest that she had brought, which contained a few clothes for temporary wear. "Husband, which one do you think looks better on me?" "You look good in everything." "Ill hit you! Hurry up and say, does this pink one look better, or the blue one?" Wang Xiangxiang, holding up the clothes for Chu Lian to see, naggingly asked, "Which color does your mother like? Does this blue look too old-fashioned?" "..." Chu Lian was somewhat speechless; he realized Xiangxiang had added a new catchphrase to her vocabry. That was, to hit him. At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang felt the nervousness of an ugly daughter-inw meeting her parents-inw, her characteristic calm and poisepletely vanished. Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs nervousness, Chu Lian grabbed her shoulders, "Madam, dont be nervous. My parents are nice people; they wont eat you." "Whos nervous? I am being solemn, understand?" Wang Xiangxiang retorted, unwilling to admit it, "How about this one then?" "Wait here." Seeing Wang Xiangxiang like this, Chu Lian said indulgently, then walked to the door and opened it. The maids had already been waiting at the door, and when they saw the young master open it, they quickly bowed, "Young master." After receiving a signal from the young master, they entered the room one by one with items in hand, and upon seeing Wang Xiangxiang, they bowed and said, "Young madam, these are the toiletries prepared for you." "Young madam, these are the clothes prepared for you." "Young madam, these are the jewelry prepared for you." "..." "..." Wang Xiangxiang hadnt expected the Chu Family to have prepared everything so thoroughly. She smiled and said, "Put the things there, and you all go out." Looking at their young master, the maids hesitated to leave; they still needed to stay to help the young madam style her hair. "From now on, whatever the young madam says, just follow her instructions." "Yes." Only after the young master spoke did the maids exit. Chapter 710 - 712: Don’t Look

Chapter 710: Chapter 712: Dont Look

The maids had left, and Chu Lian immediately asked, "Mydy, do you have a personal maid?" "Whats the matter?" "Youre pregnant now, and Im not toofortable with no one taking care of you by your side." Chu Lian thought, although he had married her, due to his familys affairs, he couldnt always be by her side. Since she was inherently restless, he simply couldnt rest easy. It was a must to have someone attend to her closely. Wang Xiangxiang knew that Chu Lian was worried about her, and she too thought that his words made sense. Although she disliked having someone attending to her, for the sake of the child, it was better to be cautious. "Alright, then lets do as you say and find a maid to attend to me." "Alright." As Chu Lian spoke, he handed over the clothes the maids had brought to Wang Xiangxiang. "Quickly change into them; theyre all ready." Wang Xiangxiang was anxious too. Her inws must still be waiting for her to serve tea. She, this daughter-inw, had gotten up sote, she was afraid she would be gossiped about. She snatched the clothes from Chu Lians hands and without a thought, began to untie her nightgowns sash. Chu Lian was dumbfounded at that moment, his heart pounding. He hadnt expected Xiangxiang to be so unabashed, starting to change her clothes right in front of him. He swallowed hard, feeling incredibly thirsty. As Wang Xiangxiang untied her sash, her mind buzzed, and she widened her eyes at Chu Lian. Her face instantly reddenedwhat was she doing? She waspletely unguarded in front of Chu Lian. She red at him fiercely, "Dont look." Then, holding the clothes, she ran to the nearby bathroom. Once there, she leaned against the wall, covering her chest with her hands, her heartbeat fierce. In the room, seeing her shy demeanor, Chu Lians lips slightly curved upwards. He shouted toward the bathroom, "Youre my wife; theres no part of you I havent seen. Otherwise, how would we have gotten this child?" Wang Xiangxiangs face reddened even more, recalling that day. Although her mind had been unclear, she distinctly knew she had been very proactive and happy. She patted her cheeks with her hands, smiling with pursed lips, "Just dont look regardless." "Not looking, not looking, quickly change." Wang Xiangxiang quickly changed in the bathroom and came out, only to find Chu Lian changing his clothes. She immediately turned around, covering her face with her hands, "Couldnt you have given a warning before changing?" "..." Who could have anticipated her speed? He had thought he could change in the meantime. Chu Lian dressed leisurely. "Its alright, you can see at any time." Wang Xiangxiang turned around, only to find Chu Lian already standing in front of her. Chu Lian merely looked at her shy demeanor, wanting to tease her a bit. Of course, he knew their sons existence. Otherwise, why would he struggle so hard? "Alright, no more teasing. Lets hurry and wash up; mom and dad are still waiting." "Alright." Afterwards, the two of them quickly washed up, and then sat in front of the dressing table, doing their hair and make-up. Once everything was ready, they left the room, with Chu Lian leading Wang Xiangxiang to the front hall. Chapter 711 - 713: The Young Master and the Young Mistress Have Not Awoken Yet

Chapter 711: Chapter 713: The Young Master and the Young Mistress Have Not Awoken Yet

Chu Mansions front hall Chu Mansions front hall Early in the morning, Master Chu and Madam Chu were waiting in the front hall with utmost solemnity, eager to drink the Brides Tea. They had been waiting for this moment for several years, and finally, the day had arrived. Their son and daughter-inw werete ining, and they had already sent several servants to check on them. Each time, the response was the same, "The young master and young mistress havent woken up yet." Seeing his wifes anxious demeanor, Master Chu reassured her, "Madam, dont worry. Youll definitely get to drink the Brides Tea. Dont you trust our son? Im sure he sealed the dealst night." "Its not that I dont trust our son, but look at the time. Its almost lunchtime, and those two still havente over." Madam Chu wore an expression of worry, afraid that their daughter-inw was still angry with them since they had conspired to trick her intoing. Moreover, she was concerned about her sons self-control. "Mother, my sister-inw must be tired. Yesterday, our familys carriage took her on a long journey, and upon arriving, she went through the formal bowing ceremony. Then, she found outst night that the groom had been switched. Anyone would be exhausted, not to mention shes pregnant." Chu Huan tried to persuade from the side. The three of them sat in the front hall, waiting continuously. Finally, the maid who had been sent to watch came running back, "Master, Madam, the young master and young mistress are on their way here." Upon hearing that her daughter-inw would soon arrive, Madam Chu quickly straightened up, tidying her clothes and patting her hair down, "Xiaohuan, is my hair a mess?" "Does this outfit look alright?" "..." Xiaohuan was somewhat speechless. Her mother was supposed to be a formidable mother-inw, the type to provide a stern test for the new bride. Why was she so flustered, acting as if she were the new bride herself? "Mother, youve asked so many times already. Your hair is fine, and the clothes are appropriate. Dont worry." As Madam Chu finally settled down, Master Chu became flustered as well. He stood up and straightened his own clothes, "Madam, do I look alright?" "Yes, you look good. Please sit down, the children are about to arrive." "..." Xiaohuan was dumbfounded. Her father had just been so calm and collected while consoling her mother, and now he too was acting anxious. She felt like crying at the foolishness of her parents. Master Chu and Madam Chu quickly adjusted themselves and sat down in their ces, waiting for their son and daughter-inws arrival. Outside, walking on the road, Wang Xiangxiang was also very nervous. She didnt know what her father-inw and mother-inw were like. Were they good people, easy to get along with? She had caused a scene at Chu Mansion thest time. Would they hold a grudge against her, think she was without propriety, and feel she wasnt worthy of Chu Lian? And her sister-inw, Xiaohuan. The thought of the young girl made Wang Xiangxiang suddenly stop in her tracks. "Whats wrong?" Chu Lian asked. "Lets go back, Husband. I forgot to bring a gift for your sister," Wang Xiangxiang replied. "Its okay, she wont mind. We can make it up to herter." "No, I mind." Wang Xiangxiang insisted as she ran back. She had brought a gift for her sister-inw, but it was originally prepared for Han Yongshengs sister. Now it would have to suffice, andter she would buy whatever Xiaohuan liked. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang so nervous and earnest, Chu Lian had no choice but to follow. As he ran, he called out, "Mydy, dont run, be careful with our child." After catching up to Wang Xiangxiang, the two of them switched from running to walking quickly. Chapter 712 - 714 Aunt, Is That You?

Chapter 712: Chapter 714 Aunt, Is That You?

Chu Mansion Front Hall Chu Lians father and mother were waiting for their son and daughter-inw with smiling faces when suddenly the Little Maid dashed in again, flustered, "Master, Madam, the young master and his wife have returned." "Master? Whats this..." The wife of Chu Lian was unsettled again, wondering why their son and his wife had turned back halfway. "Lets wait a bit longer," said Chu Lians father, although he too was calcting in his heart what exactly had happened. "Dad, Mom, its alright, theyll definitelye. They must have just forgotten something and gone back for it," Chu Huan felt that her sister-inw marrying into their family was surely a blessing from her previous life, cherished by her brother and their parents, and she was very fond of her sister-inw as well. "Yes, Xiaohuan is right, lets not panic." After a short while, Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang arrived in the front hall with gifts for the meeting. Before they could even enter the room, Wang Xiangxiang was so nervous that she stumbled over the threshold of the front hall, eximing anxiously, "Ah!" In the front hall, sitting in the main seats, Chu Lians father and mother inhaled sharply out of fear, quickly standing up, worried that their daughter-inw would have an ident. Chu Lian, who was by her side, acted swiftly to support Wang Xiangxiang, thus preventing her from taking an embarrassing fall, "Walk slowly, be careful of our son." "I didnt want to fall either," retorted Wang Xiangxiang, but realizing the situation was not suitable, she immediately shut her mouth and lowered her head, her face blushing with shame. Seeing their daughter-inw was unharmed, Chu Lians father and mother breathed a sigh of relief and settled back into their seats. Chu Lian brought Wang Xiangxiang in front of the two elders, his face lit with joy and satisfaction, "Dad, Mom, this is your daughter-inw, Xiangxiang." Chu Lians father and mother were nodding continuously upon seeing Wang Xiangxiang, indicating their satisfaction. "Mydy, this is my father, this is my mother," Chu Lian was introducing his wife to his parents. Raising her head with a hint of shyness, Wang Xiangxiang called out softly, "Father, Mother." "Ah, yes," the wife of Chu Lian was repeatedly responding with joy, then instructed a servant to serve tea. Kneeling on a prepared cushion, Wang Xiangxiang received the tea that the Little Maid brought over, "Father, please have some tea." "Ah," answered Chu Lians father, taking the tea. Wang Xiangxiang then took another teacup, "Mother, please have some tea." "Good, good," Chu Lians mother took the tea with a smile and drank it down, finally having her new daughter-inw serve tea. Afterward, Chu Lians father and mother each handed over a red envelope; Wang Xiangxiang epted them with a smile, thanking them, "Thank you, Father, thank you, Mother." Chu Lian helped Wang Xiangxiang to rise, then introduced his sister, "Mydy, this is my sister, Chu Huan." "Xiaohuan, call your sister-inw," Chu Lian conveyed through a look to his sister. "Sister-inw, hello," called out Chu Huan cheerfully. Wang Xiangxiang took out the gift she had prepared for the meeting, "Xiaohuan, this is the gift your sister-inw prepared for you. Your sister-inw didnt know she would marry here and didnt prepare something special for you, so dont mind it. Whatever you liketer on, your sister-inw will prepare it for you." Hearing this, Chu Lians mother and father nodded repeatedly, fond of the childs unsophisticated and candid nature. "Thank you, sister-inw," responded Chu Huan, receiving the gift with great happiness. Later, the family sat in the hall chatting idly, mainly about Wang Xiangxiangs belly. Chu Lians mother, with an amiable face, held Wang Xiangxiangs hand, instructing her to be mindful of this and that. Wang Xiangxiang nodded and agreed to each point, but as they talked, she started to feel that something was off. Why did her mother-inw look so familiar? Suddenly remembering something, her eyes widened, "Auntie, is it you?" Chapter 713 - 715: You’re Not Mistaken, It’s Her

Chapter 713: Chapter 715: Youre Not Mistaken, Its Her

Wang Xiangxiang became more and more convinced that this mother-inw looked just like the beggar who had appeared at the entrance of Cloth Shop earlier. She couldnt help but voice her thoughts aloud. As soon as she spoke, the room fell instantly silent. Wang Xiangxiang looked at the few people around her, noticing something off about their facial expressions. It was over, she feared she had spoken out of turn. Even if that person was her mother-inw, she shouldnt have publicly embarrassed her. She had to think of a way to smooth things over and, with a smile, she said, "Mother, I just mistook someone else for you, Im sorry." "You didnt mistake her. Its her," Mr. Chu interjected at that moment, feeling that his wifes behavior was indeed inappropriate. Mrs. Chus face bore a hint of embarrassment, but as someone who had weathered many storms, this was nothing. Besides, she did owe up to her own mistake. She began, "Xiangxiang, back then your mother was simply too curious about the girl her son had taken a liking to. And not wanting to reveal my identity, I resorted to such a petty trick." "Pfft." Wang Xiangxiang couldnt help butugh, then took Mrs. Chus hand, chuckling, "Mother, youre so amazing, you really had me fooled." "Sister-inw, dont mind her, she does this kind of thing often," Chu Huan chimed in, undermining his own mother. Wang Xiangxiang had not expected Chu Lians family to be so easy to get along with. The mother-inw even had such adorable quirks. Smiling, she continued, "Hehe, actually, that trick wasnt mean at all. If mother had pretended to be some formidable guest giving me trouble, I probably wouldnt have been able to withstand it." Wang Xiangxiang really broke out in a cold sweat internally. If that were the case, her short temper might have led to a confrontation with her mother-inw, ruining all her image. "Xiangxiang, thats not a bad idea. Next time I have the chance, Ill try out that act," Mrs. Chu remarked. "..." She had only said it offhandedly. This mother-inw was just too yful. "Mother, maybe you should just forget about it and stay quietly at home," Chu Huan finally voiced his fear of his mothers unpredictable antics. Chu Lian, watching Xiangxiang getting along so well with the family, was especially happy. He couldnt help but remind everyone, "Alright, stop chatting. My wife and I havent had breakfast yet." "Oh, right, right, lets hurry to the dining hall," Mrs. Chu said, pulling Wang Xiangxiang by the hand toward it. Chu Lian, left behind, felt as if hed been slighted. Chu Huan trailed them, nced at his brother with a curl of his lip. He thought to himself that he was the one whod been pushed aside, alright. The family then proceeded to the dining hall, where the meal was already prepared. Once everyone was seated, Mr. Chu said, "Alright, lets eat." They began their meal, and Chu Lian was particrly attentive to Wang Xiangxiang, offering her this and that, leaving her somewhat embarrassed. She whispered, "I can do it myself." "Xiangxiang, dont be shy. Eat up. Now that youre pregnant, you need to eat more to help the baby grow strong and healthy," her mother-inw encouraged. "Yes, mother, I know," Wang Xiangxiang replied, no longer reserved and began to eat heartily. She was, indeed, quite hungry. Amidst the meal, a house servant came to report, "My lord, madam." "What is it?" "Theres a young master at the door asking for our young master." Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiangs heart skipped a beat. Had Han Yongshenge so quickly? Nervously clutching Chu Lians arm, Wang Xiangxiang listened as Chu Lian reassured her, "Dont be afraid. Whats inevitable wille. Ill go out and meet him right now." Chapter 714: You dare to snatch someone from me, Han Yongsheng?

Chapter 714: You dare to snatch someone from me, Han Yongsheng?

"Im going with you," Wang Xiangxiang said to Chu Lian, holding onto him with determination. Seeing her steadfast gaze, Chu Lian had no choice but to agree, "Father, Mother, well step out for a bit. Theres no need for you to intervene in this matter." Chu Lians parents nodded in agreement. Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang went to the courtyard gate, mentally prepared for a confrontation, and the house servant opened the door. Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao, hearing the gate being opened, immediately went to greet them and, sure enough, came face to face with Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang. "Sister, you really are here." Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang were also surprised; they had thought Han Yongsheng was at their door. Now they realized it was too soon for that and they were just overanxious. "Sister, arent you going to introduce us, and howe youre here?" Feeling a bit embarrassed by thement, Wang Xiangxiang pulled Chu Lian along with her, "This is your brother-inw." Xiaoxiao revealed a face full of confusion and elongated her voice, "Oh? Brother-inw?" Then she shouted out loud, "Hello, brother-inw!" Chu Lian knew Xiaoxiao was just teasing him, but he really did like hearing the term brother-inw. "Lets go inside and talk if theres anything to say." So, the four of them entered the courtyard, and Chu Lian led them to his own residential area. This was Yang Ming and Xiaoxiaos first visit to the Chu Mansion, but they were not in the mood to tour around, quickly entering the house instead. Once inside, Chu Lian didnt ask why they hade or if the Han Family had been looking for them; instead, he excitedly said to Yang Ming, "Yang Ming, Im going to be a father." "..." Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were left dumbfounded by the news. Xiaoxiao looked at Wang Xiangxiangs belly, "Sister, are you pregnant?" Wang Xiangxiang nodded a bit shyly. "Chu, congrattions," Yang Ming said, congratting him. He hadnt expected Chu Lian to be a father so quickly, and to seed on the first try. "Why call him Chu? You should follow our sister and call him brother-inw," Xiaoxiao chided Yang Ming with a p on his shoulder. The group teased each other andughed. Xiaoxiao could see that these two were destined lovers who had finallye together and even had a child on the way; they seemed very happy. Chu Lian then recounted the event of the bride kidnapping. It turned out that Chu Lian hade home the day before and drunk himself into a stupor, not having time to organize the kidnapping. The entire affair was orchestrated by Chu Lians father, mother, and Chu Huan, which made Xiaoxiao very interested in Chu Lians family. When Chu Lian sobered up the next day, he was told everything and was asked if he was up for it. Naturally, his answer was yes, leading to the subsequent events. He was now extremely grateful for his entric family members; without them, he wouldnt have his current happiness. "The Han Familys wedding procession came to the Yang Family this morning to demand the bride back. The Han Family will be arriving soon; what do you n to do?" After chatting for a while, Yang Ming brought up the question. "Its as expected; we can only wait for them to show up and deal with them as theye." The brides abduction couldnt be kept a secretsooner orter, the Han Family would find out. In truth, Chu Lian didnt have any good solutions for this situation. "Thats all we can do." While they were discussing in the house, a house servant ran over in a panic, "Young Master, theres trouble! Someone has stormed our mansion, iming theyvee to settle ounts with the Young Master." Everyone in the room exchanged nces; without a doubt, Han Yongsheng hade knocking. The group hurriedly went outside, only to hear Han Yongshengs thunderous voice bellow, "Chu Lian! You dared to snatch someone from me, Han Yongsheng?" Chapter 715 - 717: Bring It On

Chapter 715: Chapter 717: Bring It On

Han Yongsheng arriving at this time was unexpected for everyone; it indicated that Han Yongsheng had brought people to rush over through the night. As soon as Chu Lian stepped out, he confronted Han Yongshengs fierce gaze. Before he could react, Han Yongsheng had already briskly approached him. All they heard was Wang Xiangxiang shouting loudly, "Be careful!" In a critical moment, Chu Lian raised his hand in front of his face to block the punch Han Yongsheng swung at him, his hand veins bulging as he exerted all his strength. However, Han Yongshengs movements and position were more advantageous at that moment; with one effort, he forced Chu Lian to retreat repeatedly until his back hit the wall. "Young Master Han, must your anger be so fierce?" "Humph, it is your Chu Lian who has gone too far." Chu Lian stretched out a leg and freed himself from Han Yongshengs hold, "Xiangxiang is already my wife, your actions now are utterly pointless." Han Yongsheng obviously knew it was pointless; he just couldnt swallow his pride and needed to teach Chu Lian a lesson, "Face my move." Seeing that talking to Han Yongsheng was futile, Chu Lian had no choice but to face the attack, and so the two of them began to fight in the courtyard. The two exchanged blows, neither yielding to the other. This scene greatly distressed Wang Xiangxiang; if it werent for her provoking Han Yongsheng, this situation would not have arisen. She shouted at the two men, "Stop fighting, Young Master Han, all that has happened today is my fault..." No matter how Wang Xiangxiang tried to persuade them, the two men did not stop, and their fight intensified. Yang Ming could only try to separate them upon seeing this, so he stepped forward, but he was stopped by Han Yongshengs man, Ada, whose martial skills were excellent, not inferior to Han Yongshengs. Although Yang Ming had also been practicing hard recently, he still found it somewhat difficult to deal with Ada. Ada knew about the young masters business dealings with Yang Ming, so his moves werent too harsh, "Young Master Yang, my apologies." "Ada, dont stop me; those two must be stopped," Yang Ming said while fending off the attacks. "Sorry, but I must support what the young master is doing," Ada replied. Thus, Yang Ming was entangled by Ada and unable to approach Chu Lian and Han Yongsheng. Seeing that the situation had spiraled out of control, Wang Xiangxiang had no choice but to summon the house servants; however, when the house servants came close, Chu Lian shouted, "Donte any closer!" This matter was between him and Han Yongsheng, and if a fight could resolve it, then they should fight on. Wang Xiangxiang, desperate, wiped away her tears, "Xiaoxiao, what should we do?" Xiaoxiaos mind raced rapidly. This matter was indeed Chu Lians fault; any man would beat him unless Han Yongsheng wasnt a man. What happened had happened, and it was an irrevocable loss that Han Yongsheng had definitely incurred. "Sister, its okay, no need to worry; they will stop when they are exhausted. We can talk then." "But..." Wang Xiangxiang was still very uneasy. "Sister, this matter is indeed my brother-inws fault. Let him take a beating to let Young Master Han vent. Besides, I see my brother-inw isnt really being beaten," she was more concerned about Yang Ming at the moment. Sure enough, as Xiaoxiao had predicted, after a long fight, both Chu Lian and Han Yongshengy on the ground, gasping for air, no longer able to continue fighting. Lying on the ground, Han Yongsheng, looking up at the sky, said, "If it werent for knowing that Miss Wang was reluctant to marry me, do you think I would let this go so easily?" "Thank you, Young Master Han; this matter is indeed something I, Chu Lian, owe you. If there is ever a need for my assistance in the future, please feel free to ask." Chapter 716 - 718 Thanks to You All

Chapter 716: Chapter 718 Thanks to You All

At this time, not far inside the courtyard, stood a slender youngdy, whose skin was as white as frost and snow, tinged with a hint of pink. Her lively eyes were fixed on everything happening in the courtyard, and her lips were slightly curled, making it difficult to discern what she was thinking at that moment. As the fight was nearly over, she moved her graceful, delicate steps slowly toward the two lying on the ground. From her cherry-red lips came a clear voice, "Master Chu, long time no see." Lying on the ground, Chu Lian heard the voice and removed the arm that had been shielding his eyes. A look of surprise shed in his eyes. He quickly propped up his weary body and stood up. At this moment, Xiaoxiao and the others also hurried over. Seeing the youngdy, their faces also registered surprise. Why would she appear at the Chu Mansion? The youngdy gave Xiaoxiao a slight smile, "Xiaoxiao, we meet again." "Miss Wang, long time no see." "Wen Nuan, what are you doing here?" Xiaoxiao asked, baffled. Indeed, she was none other than the youngdy from the Cloth Shop they had encountered a few times before, Wen Nuan. Wen Nuan smiled without responding. At that moment, Han Yongsheng, who had been lying on the ground, stood up. He walked over to Wen Nuans side, "Thanks to you all, Wen Nuan and I got married yesterday." "..." At this revtion, everyone was too shocked to speak. No one had expected things to take such a dramatic turn. Seeing everyones surprised faces, Han Yongsheng smirked, "Arent you going to congratte us?" Xiaoxiao was the first to recover, quickly offering her congrattions, "Master Han, congrattions! I really didnt expect you two to end up together, but you truly are a perfect match, both talented and beautiful, a match made in heaven." "..." The corner of Han Yongshengs mouth twitched. What did she mean they ended up together? If not for their meddling, would things have turned out this way? Yang Ming also spoke up to offer his congrattions, "Congrattions to you both on tying the knot." Seeing this situation, Chu Lian stepped forward, raised his palm, and the two men sped hands in the air, as if sealing a brotherhood. Chu Lian didnt offer congrattions but instead said, "Thank you." Chu Lian was genuinely grateful. Han Yongsheng had his bride snatched away and ended up married, yet he chose not to pursue the matter. Chu Lian doubted he could have swallowed such an affront. Han Yongsheng smiled silently. What else could he do? The incident had already urred, and should he henceforth be an enemy of the Chu Family? Certainly, that was not the wisest course of action. He was well aware of the force behind the Chu Family; he was no fool like the owner of the Dongfeng Restaurant, recklessly throwing himself against the odds. Han Yongsheng was an exceptionally astute man. He had clearly analyzed the pros and cons. Now, forming an alliance with the Chu Family seemed the best choice. Had Miss Wang not married, with the strength of the Han Family, there might have been room to contest. But now there was no need. He nced at Wang Xiangxiang. The main reason was that he hadnt really had feelings for Miss Wang, so he felt no great regret. Seeing Han Yongsheng looking at her, Wang Xiangxiang felt somewhat embarrassed. This whole affair had started because of her, so she should apologize. Thus, she began, "Master Han, this matter started because of me. I am truly sorry. If it hadnt been for me..." "Miss Wang, theres no need for apologies. This situation was also of my own making. I dont know why you agreed to marry me initially, but I knew you were reluctant and yet I consented. As expected, things didnt go as smoothly as anticipated." Chapter 717 - 719: The Chosen One

Chapter 717: Chapter 719: The Chosen One

"No matter what, thank you for making this possible for us," Wang Xiangxiang said, feeling quite embarrassed. She hadnt even figured out who she had been with from start to finish, and this was truly shameful. At that moment, Chu Lian suggested, "Young Master Han, since wevee to know each other through conflict, why dont we all go inside and talk, andter have a meal at Chu Mansion." "Well said about getting to know each other through conflict, lets have a few drinkster." Seeing that Han Yongsheng agreed, Chu Lian quickly arranged for the servants to prepare the meal and then led everyone inside. As soon as Wang Xiangxiang entered the house, she took out the token of love that Han Yongsheng had given her, "Young Master Han, since I have already married someone else, I should return this to you." Han Yongsheng took the so-called token of love, nced at Wen Nuan sitting beside him, and suddenly a thought shed through his mind. He removed the ring from the chain, walked over to Wen Nuan, took her hand, and slid the ring onto her ring finger. The ring fit perfectly on Wen Nuans delicate and exquisite finger, which made Han Yongshengs heart quiver. Could this be his fated person? The size he had bought on a whim was actually his wifes size. Wen Nuan was surprised by Han Yongshengs action. Although they were married, they had rushed to Shanshi County overnight and hadnt consummated the marriage; this was their first skin-to-skin touch. She looked at the ring on her hand, unsure of its significance, aware only of its beauty, and politely said, "Thank you." "Wow, it fits?" Xiaoxiao was extremely surprised. Everyones finger size is different, and nine times out of ten, a ring bought without trying would not fit. Yet, Wen Nuan could wear the ring Han Yongsheng boughtit seemed their fate was indeed great, "Wen Nuan, it looks like you and Young Master Han are destined for each other." "Hm?" Wen Nuan didnt understand Xiaoxiaos words and couldnt help but ask aloud. "This ringes in a pair. It was designed by Xiaoxiao. Each half of a couple has one. Young Master Han didnt know his other halfs size when he bought it, but look, it fits you perfectly. Doesnt that show that you two are a natural match?" Wang Xiangxiang exined. Wen Nuan just smiled. A natural match? She didnt think so deeply. Her father told her whom to marry, and she had no choice in the matter. Seeing that Wen Nuan seemed skeptical, Xiaoxiao chimed in, "Dont doubt it. This is fate. Its not something everyone can wear. My sister cant wear it." "Okay," Wen Nuan smiled. Seeing the three men sipping tea on the side, probably uninterested in the womens chattering, Wang Xiangxiang suggested, "How about we change locations and talk? Lets go to my new room." "Oh, yes, yes, Id love to see it," Xiaoxiao eagerly agreed. Wen Nuan looked towards Han Yongsheng, who nodded and said, "Go ahead." With permission granted, Wang Xiangxiang led Xiaoxiao and Wen Nuan into the new room. Upon entering the new room, Wang Xiangxiang took Wen Nuans hand. Actually, she had suggested this solely to speak privately with Wen Nuan. Because of her, Wen Nuan married into the Han Family; was it willingly? "Wen Nuan, I dont know what to say, I just want to ask, how did youe to marry Han Yongsheng?" Chapter 718 - 720: Not Dislike

Chapter 718: Chapter 720: Not Dislike

Wen Nuan hadnt expected to be asked about this matter. In fact, when she married into the Han Family, even she was bewildered. She hadnt evene to terms with it, and she was already sitting in the Han Familys bridal room, slowly recalling the events that had transpired... She remembered that just yesterday afternoon, she was practicing her calligraphy in her boudoir when she heard her fathers excited voicee in. "Wen Nuan, get ready, someone from the Han Family hase to have you marry immediately." A look of surprise shed in Wen Nuans eyes, "Father, whats going on? Isnt the Han Family supposed to marry the youngdy from the Cloth Shop in Shanshi County today? Why am I being sent to marry instead?" "The wedding procession hasnt returned, and the Han Family is in a hurry to find a recement. Its your good fortune to be chosen; so many others are queuing up." "Father..." She didnt want to go, but she couldnt defy her family. So, amidst the servants bustling in and out, she found herself dressed in a wedding gown, her head covered with a bridal veil, and taken away by the people sent by the Han Family. The wedding ceremony concluded quickly, and she was escorted to the bridal chamber, where she sat on the festively adorned bed. She felt anxious, having no idea whether Han Yongsheng knew it was her he was marrying. Indeed, when Han Yongsheng lifted the veil, he eximed in surprise, "Why is it you? Wheres Miss Wang?" His shout startled her, yet she remained silent, wanting to see how he would react. As expected, he stormed out of the room in anger. She thought he must be unable to ept the fact that the bride had been switched and had gone to confront his family about it. She thought perhaps he would send her back to the Wen Family when he returned. She thought that might be for the best; she wasnt particrly willing to marry, merely following her fathers arrangements. After waiting for a short while, she saw him return and approach her, asking, "Your name is Wen Nuan, right?" "Mhm," she nodded her head. "Since Ive married you, you are my wife now." She was extremely surprised; she thought he wouldnt ept her. Somehow, his family must have persuaded him after he went out. "However, I must now hurry to Shanshi County to find Miss Wang. The wedding procession wouldnt be absent for no reason until now. If something unfortunate happened on the road..." He paused before continuing, "But dont worry, after I find her, I will sincerely apologize and tell her I cannot marry her because Ive married you." She hadnt expected such an oue, "I understand what youre saying. I dont want Miss Wang to be in any trouble, but could you take me with you to Shanshi County..." "Alright." She hadnt even finished speaking, and he had already agreed? "Change out of your clothes, and well leave immediately." Wen Nuan snapped out of her recollections and returned to the present, saying to Xiaoxiao and Wang Xiangxiang, "It turned out that we encountered someone on the way back to deliver the message, and he guessed that someone had been up to mischief. Later, we ran into the wedding procession, and he guessed that it was Master Chus doing, so we went straight to find them." Wen Nuan paused before continuing, "In truth, I cant me him for being so angry just now; after all, hes the biggest victim in this affair." Listening to Wen Nuans story, her expression remained faint, concealing her inner thoughts. Wang Xiangxiang always felt it was because of her that those two were hastily joined. Clutching Wen Nuans hand, Wang Xiangxiang asked with concern, "But what about you, do you like him?" Wen Nuan still wore a faint smile, "Weve only just met; its too early to talk about liking or not liking, but I dont dislike him." Chapter 719 - 721: Three Congenial People

Chapter 719: Chapter 721: Three Congenial People

This Wen Nuan, after several interactions, Xiaoxiao felt that she was a nice girl; consequently, Xiaoxiao spoke more, "Wen Nuan, as youve described, I think Han Yongsheng is a responsible man. Think about ithe was tricked into marriage, yet he bore it and treats you quite well, and hasnt ignored you." "Mm." Wen Nuan nodded; she felt the same, maybe this time her father found a good person for him. "You see, inadvertently you might end up with a good marriage." Flustered by what Xiaoxiao said, Wen Nuan quickly changed the topic, "By the way, wasnt there talk about Ms. Wang and me having a business coboration?" "Hm?" Wang Xiangxiang was puzzled. "Oh, right, sis, Wen Nuan is from the Xianghe Cloth Store in Lin County," Xiaoxiao hurriedly exined. "Oh, I see, that actually makes sense. Weve been thinking about expanding the lingerie business to Lin County and coborating with the cloth shops there. Oh, do you know about our Xiangxiang Cloth Shops lingerie?" As she spoke, Wang Xiangxiang began to pull at her clothes to show Wen Nuan; she thought letting Wen Nuan see the effect on herself would be more convincing, "Just like this one." "..." Wen Nuan was a bit embarrassed; this Ms. Wang was acting just like Xiaoxiao, no wonder they got along so well. "Sis." Xiaoxiao quickly gave a look, signalling Wang Xiangxiang to pull her clothes back down. Seeing Wen Nuan a bit embarrassed, Wang Xiangxiang quickly put her clothes down, then smiled and said, "How about this afternoon I take you to the store to look at our samples?" "Sis, you two just got married, honeymoon! Theres no need to rush," Xiaoxiao was speechless. Wang Xiangxiang was truly a workaholic, even pregnant and still not forgetting about work. Wang Xiangxiangughed awkwardly, "Hehe, oh right, my apologies, I forgot. Well then, in a few days, Ill send someone to deliver samples to you, and you can discuss the details with them." "Hehe, no worries, I forgot too. We really dont have time this time. We might have to hurry back this afternoon. Coming here overnight was already quite impolite to our families, without even time to pay respects." Wang Xiangxiang then took Wen Nuans hand again; she felt that Wen Nuan was like a little well-behaved younger sister, no tears or fuss, always with a gentle smile on her face, "Its all because of me." "Its okay." Wen Nuan still smiled serenely, "You all said it, maybe this is a good marriage." "Wen Nuan, now that you have married into the Han Family, will your dad still let you manage the cloth shop?" asked Xiaoxiao. In this ce, it was rare for women to do business, let alone those who were married, and managing her familys business might not be appropriate. "I need to ask Han Yongsheng. If Han Yongsheng agrees to let me appear in public, then I can manage." "Why do you still call him Han Yongsheng? It sounds so distant; you should call him husband. Han Yongsheng is what we call him," Xiaoxiao teased. "Hehe, Im not yet used to it." "..." "..." The three of them chatted like this, ranging from insights on clothing, to grooming and adornment, to Xiaoxiaos Grand Theater... The three got along very well, with a feeling of regret that they did not meet sooner. Of course, with Xiaoxiao there, it was inevitable to discuss topics about helping Wen Nuan win over Han Yongsheng. Wen Nuan was no longer just serenely smiling as before; her smile grew richer. The conversation inside the room was lively, with heartyughter asionally bursting through, making the three people outside wonder, what on earth were these women talking about? Chapter 720 - 722: Seeing the Guest Off!

Chapter 720: Chapter 722: Seeing the Guest Off!

"Knock, knock." While several people were engaged in an animated conversation, the sound of knocking interrupted, followed by the maids voice, "Young Madam, lunch is ready." "Alright, we know, well be right there," Wang Xiangxiang replied. The three nced at each other, stood up, and Wang Xiangxiang smiled, "Come on, lets go eat." As they left the bridal chamber and arrived at the front hall outside, they joined Chu Lian and went to the dining hall. Since they were Chu Lians guests, they did not go to the main courtyard but stayed in Chu Lians own dining hall. The meals were alreadyid out; upon reaching the dining hall, everyone took their seats, naturally each couple together. All came from prestigious families, so each person sat very properly. Yang Ming was also handling everything well; only Xiaoxiao was not quite ustomed, but she still sat there calmly, waiting to start eating only after the host invited them to. As expected, Chu Lian stood up, raised his ss, and uttered a string of elegant words. Thest sentence she understood was the cue to start eating. Everyone then began to eat; the Chu Family had prepared a sumptuous meal, and Xiaoxiao indeed enjoyed it immensely. However... "Wife, eat this, the doctor said this is good for the baby." "Wife, have this, its lighter, to prevent nausea." "Wife, this is your favorite, have some more." "..." "..." Throughout the meal, Chu Lians affectionate words to Wang Xiangxiang were constant; he had turned into a doting husband, making them almost envious. While Chu Lian was taking care of Wang Xiangxiang, he did not forget the others at the table. Since he was the host and they were guests, he asionally raised his ss to drink with everyone. "Master Han, this ss is for you, congrattions on your union with Miss Wen Nuan." "Thank you." The table was filled with lively conversation. Since this time Han Yongsheng had really suffered a setback, Yang Ming dered at the table his willingness to cooperate with Yongan Fish Pond and even signed a contract on the spot, scheduling his brothers to go learn fish farming techniques in a few days. But since the Yang Familys fish pond was not yet fully prepared, and the houses in the pond area were unbuilt, it was decided to move the fishlings after the houses werepleted, the timeframe set for the end of the month or early next month. Han Yongsheng also agreed to Wen Nuans request to continue doing business, and Wang Xiangxiang and Wen Nuan fixed a few dayster to meet for detailed talks. The coboration between the two cloth shops was certain. Everyone was very pleased with this oue. If Han Yongsheng had chosen to stand against them at this moment, many matters would not have progressed so smoothly. Just as the meal was about to end satisfactorily, a Little Maid rushed in. She said anxiously, "Young master." "Whats the matter?" The Little Maid, trembling, said, "Young master, thedy has sent a message for you." Chu Lian puzzled, unsure what his mother needed but seeing that the Little Maid meant for it to be private, calmed everyone before following her out. A momentter, Chu Lian returned but his face was ashen. He quickly approached Han Yongsheng, and before anyone could react, he had grasped Han Yongsheng by the cor, his voice filled with indignation, "I never thought you could be so despicable." After saying this, Chu Lian fiercely flung his hand away, turned his face angrily, and roared, "Show the guests out!" Chapter 721 - 723: If Not Him, Then Who?

Chapter 721: Chapter 723: If Not Him, Then Who?

This situation shocked everyone in the room. They all didnt know why Chu Lian reacted like this. The atmosphere had just been so good moments ago, how did things turn hostile again in the blink of an eye? Wang Xiangxiang quickly walked over to Chu Lians side, "Husband, what is this? What on earth has happened?" Chu Lian did not speak, just looked furious. Han Yongsheng straightened the clothes that had just been grabbed and stood up straight, speaking out, "Master Chu, what is the meaning of this?" "You know very well what youve done," Chu Lian said. "Ha, I really dont know. I would ask Master Chu to enlighten me," Han Yongsheng scoffed with augh, now also angry. He, the biggest victim, had chosen to endure for the sake of the bigger picture. And what act was this heir of the Chu Family putting on now? Chu Lian still did not state the reason but continued angrily, "See the guest out. We of the Chu family do not wee you." Both parties just stared at each other like this, and the scene nearly copsed. Seeing this, Yang Ming quickly stepped forward, "What on earth happened? Lets all sit down and talk this through. We had just reconciled, so why are we at each others throats again now?" Chu Lian nced at Yang Ming, "Yang Ming, do not interfere with this matter, its between the two of us." "Ha, what exactly have I done to make you so angry? Come on, say it, let everyone hear," Han Yongsheng said. Han Yongsheng stood his ground, showing no intention of leaving. If he left, it would imply his tacit admission; he was known for his integrity. Except for the engagement gift he had sent to Miss Wang before their marriage, he really couldnt think of any other beef he might have with the young master of the Chu Family. It was then that the ever-calm Wen Nuan spoke up, her voice filled with some agitation, "Master Chu, what is your intention here? Clearly, you have wronged him. You took away his betrothed and forced him to marry me. Now he isnt pursuing the matter, so what more do you want from him?" Wen Nuans words sent a jolt through Han Yongshengs heart. He hadnt expected that the seemingly frail girl speaking up for him would be the very bride he had inadvertently married. Wen Nuan went on with agitation, "Master Chu, pardon my bluntness, but on this matter, you owe a debt you could never repay in this lifetime." "You..." Chu Lian was left speechless by Wen Nuans retort. Seeing this situation, Han Yongsheng quickly moved to protect Wen Nuan behind him, and the two parties faced off, as if ready to erupt at any moment. Xiaoxiao had not expected things to develop in this way. She felt there must be some misunderstanding, "Brother-inw, what is it that has angered you so much? Speak out and let everyone listen. I think Mister Han is not the type of person to do something and not admit it." "He..." Chu Lian struggled to hold back and refused to speak. "Husband, I believe in Mister Hans character. Could you have misunderstood him?" Wang Xiangxiang clutched Chu Lians arm, also speaking up for Han Yongsheng. Everyone in the room chose to believe that Han Yongsheng was a good person, even Xiangxiang thought so, which made Chu Lian even more furious. He finally blurted out, "That thing, it suddenly spread everywhere outside, if not him then who else could it be?" Although Chu Lian did not specify, everyone quickly realized he was talking about the rumors that Wang Xiangxiang had lost her chastity before marriage, spread by someone with an agenda. Wang Xiangxiang was so frightened that she started to tremble, feeling nauseous to the point of wanting to vomit. She quickly covered her mouth, "Ugh!" "Xiangxiang." Chu Lian hurriedly supported her. Wang Xiangxiang tried to steady herself and said weakly, "It wasnt him, it wasnt Mister Hans doing." Chapter 722 - 724: Not the Doing of Young Master Han

Chapter 722: Chapter 724: Not the Doing of Young Master Han

Chu Lians eyes were full of surprise. Why was Xiangxiang so sure that it wasnt Han Yongshengs doing? It was clear that besides Han Yongsheng, who was an outsider, none of them would have spoken of this matter, not even the doctor who saw her yesterday; he had made sure of that. He helped Wang Xiangxiang to her seat and kept smoothing her back with his hand. At this moment, Wang Xiangxiang was afraid. She had not expected the matter to be exposed so quickly. Although it was now clear that Chu Lian was her partner in this matter, the fact that she had been looked over by a ruffian before her marriage was a disgrace to the Chu Family. After the threat, she lived in fear every day, dreading the exposure of the affair. If she really married Chu Lian, the Chu Family would be shamed because of this incident, bing theughingstock of the entire city. She thought that only by marrying into the Han Family could she protect the Chu Family from bing the scorn of the public. At this time, she discovered she was pregnant, and mistakenly believed that the child was Han Yongshengs, which further strengthened her resolve to marry into the Han Family. She wanted to use Han Yongsheng to bear the brunt, even if the affair was exposed, it would be she and the Han Family who were ridiculed. However, things did not go ording to her n. The person she was involved with was Chu Lian, the child was Chu Lians, and she had married into the Chu Family; and now the affair was also brought to light. "Husband, it was not Young Master Hans doing, it was Li Fuyou." "What?" Chu Lian was taken aback. He punched the table with regret in his eyes; he was to me for everything. He had acted like a gentleman by leaving a survivor to dere war on Li Fuyou,pletely forgetting that Li Fuyou was a despicable scoundrel. All of a sudden, he remembered something. "Where is Acheng?" Since his return, one thing had followed another, and he had been caught off guard, without having the chance to ask Acheng about recent events. "I sent Acheng away. At the time, I thought I was going to marry into the Han Family, so there was no need for your man to stay by my side," Wang Xiangxiang said with a hint of embarrassment. "Brother-inw, Acheng went looking for you. Didnt you meet with him before you came back?" Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled. Chu Lian shook his head, then looked at Han Yongsheng, who appeared embarrassed. He had been too impulsive just now; he hadpletely lost his head over this matter, "Young Master Han, Im truly sorry for what happened just now; I misunderstood you." Han Yongsheng nced at Chu Lian but did not reply; his anger hadnt subsided. He felt he had offered genuine friendship to everyone, but he was the first to be suspected when the problem arose. Seeing that Han Yongsheng was silent, Xiaoxiao tried to smooth things over. "Ah, we are all friends here, it was just a misunderstanding. Lets not dwell on it too much. Everyone should shake hands and make up." Hearing Xiaoxiaos suggestion for shaking hands and making up, Chu Lian quickly extended his hand, "Young Master Han, I apologize. This was indeed my fault; please be magnanimous." At that moment, Wen Nuan gently tugged at Han Yongshengs arm. Only then did he extend his hand, agreeing to the handshake and reconciliation. He then said, "Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, Wen Nuan and I will not impose any longer. I believe you have more important matters to discuss." Han Yongsheng was right; this matter was indeed of the utmost importance. Therefore, they did not ask him to stay any longer, "Alright then. Lets all get together another time." The group saw Han Yongsheng and Wen Nuan off to their carriage. "Wen Nuan, lets get together again next time." "Sure, next time youe to Lin County, make sure to look us up." "Will do." After saying their goodbyes, Wen Nuan and Han Yongsheng drove away, while Chu Lian led the others back to the front hall. Chapter 723 - 725: Does He Dare to Threaten You?

Chapter 723: Chapter 725: Does He Dare to Threaten You?

As soon as they returned to the room, Chu Lians anger surged once more, and with a punch on the table, he said fiercely, "That Li Fuyou is so despicable, this is revenge for my handling of Dongfeng Restaurant." His eyes were dark and frightening. Then he asked, "Right, how is Dongfeng Restaurant being affected now?" He had been busy with his sisters affairs during this period and hadnt asked about the restaurant, so he didnt know the current situation there. "Well, my lord, there hasnt been any action against Dongfeng Restaurant," said Wang Xiangxiang, her voice tinged with embarrassment. "Impossible. When I left, I clearly had many strategies in ce. Could Dongfeng Restaurant really hold out for so long?" Chu Lian was puzzled. The strength of Dongfeng Restaurant shouldnt be so great that it could withstand the continuous pressure. Though it might not copse immediately, it should have suffered significant damage. "Well, I asked Acheng to stop attacking Dongfeng Restaurant," murmured Wang Xiangxiang, her head lowered. Chu Lian looked at Wang Xiangxiang with confusion. Why would she do that? Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs troubled look, Xiaoxiao spoke on her behalf, "Brother-inw, you cant me my sister for this. Its all because Li Fuyou is too despicable. He must have threatened her with this matter." "What? He dared to threaten you?" Rage filled Chu Lians eyes. Li Fuyou had actually threatened her while he was away; how had she endured this past month? Wang Xiangxiang bit her lip and said, "Yes, he threatened that if I didnt stop undermining Dongfeng Restaurant, he would reveal that incident of me being drugged and losing my virtue. I was scared, so I ordered Acheng to stop." Hearing this, Chu Lian felt heartbroken. He thenforted her, "My wife, dont me yourself for this. Its all because I didnt consider everything thoroughly." Indeed, he hadnt thought this through; he shouldnt have fought a gentlemans battle. Feeling somewhat afraid, Wang Xiangxiang clutched Chu Lians arm and asked anxiously, "My lord, my parents know about this incident now, can they still ept me?" "Dont worry, didnt you have a good talk with my parents this morning? They can ept you. Besides, you havent followed anyone else; the child in your belly is mine." Yet, Wang Xiangxiang remained worried, "But can they bear beingughed at?" If this matter were to be exposed, she wasnt concerned about being ridiculed herself, she was worried that the Chu Family would be shamed, bing the butt of peoples jokes, unable to lift their heads. "Dont worry, theyve beenughed at before too. There were even people who used to say I was fond of the love of the dragon and the sun, did I? And yet, havent I married a wife?" With a snort, Wang Xiangxiang was amused by Chu Lians talk of the love of the dragon and the sun, "Stop talking." "Alright, dont worry, Ill take care of this," said Chu Lian, patting Wang Xiangxiangs head as he continued to console her. Watching the interaction between the two, Xiaoxiao thought that Chu Lian was truly good to Wang Xiangxiang, even mentioning the love of the dragon and the sun tofort her. "Brother-inw, what do you n to do about this incident?" Yang Ming asked, seeing that Wang Xiangxiangs mood had stabilized. In Chu Lians eyes shed a hint of ferocity, "Fight fire with fire." "..." Xiaoxiao instantly understood what Chu Lian meant by that. To deal with a viin, one must use viinous tactics, since the other side had gone too far, they couldnt afford to be too gentlemanly. Seeing that it was gettingte, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao decided to hurry back to Yang Family Vige, as the family was waiting for their news. Chapter 724 - 726: News Reaches Yang Family Village

Chapter 724: Chapter 726: News Reaches Yang Family Vige

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming rushed back to Yang Family Vige, spurring their horses on. As they passed the main square, they were drawn to the sound of a group of womens loud voices. "Let me tell you, today in town I heard something unbelievable." "What is it? Tell us." "That foster daughter recognized by the Yang Family, she didnt marry into Lin County as the Yang Family imed, but instead married into our Countys wealthiest Chu Family." "It must be that Young Master Chu who always visits our vige, right? Isnt that a good thing? Last time, Young Master Chu himself said that they were engaged." "The point isnt that, the point is that people outside are spreading rumors that the Yang Familys foster girl lost her innocence before her wedding." "What? That really happened?" "Rumors, I dont believe it." "That Miss Wang doesnt look like that kind of person." "Dont be so sure its not true. Those people are giving very specific details, saying Miss Wang has a mole on her backhow would anyone know if it werent true?" "By that logic, isnt Young Master Chu cuckolded?" "..." "..." Everyone was enjoying the gossip immensely, but Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had never imagined that this incident would so coincidentally be heard by the people of Yang Family Vige, and even spread within it. If this continued, things would probably end badly. Wang Xiangxiang and the others would return in a couple of days, they couldnt let this stand. "Wife, wait here, Ill go over." "Dont, how can you, a grown man, fight with those old women? Let me go." Xiaoxiao said, leaping down from the carriage with vigorous steps towards the crowd. With a p of her hands, Xiaoxiao startled everyone, causing them all to turn around. Stepping into the center of the crowd with a grim expression and pursed lips, Xiaoxiao said, "You all seem to be having a great time chatting, arent you?" Seeing Xiaoxiaos foreboding face, someone in the crowd quickly spoke up, "No, no, Schrs wife, we were just thering." "thering yet you still spoke?" Xiaoxiao raised an eyebrow. "We wont talk anymore," a few people promised repeatedly. "Let me tell you, aunties, the affairs ofrge households are not something we littlemoners know about; sometimes they invent things just topete. Did you really believe it?" "We didnt believe it, not at all," several people said, looking embarrassed, as if they had been caught badmouthing someone. Xiaoxiao continued, pausing for effect, "Im telling you, if my sisteres to our vige and gets upset over your idle gossip, you all will be in big trouble." "If that happens, Ill take each one of you to the government office for spreading rumors," she threatened. Fearful at the mention of the government office, they assured her, "Schrs wife, we wont speak nonsense anymore, rest assured." "My sister did indeed marry into the Chu Family, and thats because Young Master Chu liked her so much that he whisked her away. Think about itif my sister werent pure, would Young Master Chu act like that? Thats the position of a youngdy of the house, not a concubine. Even if Young Master Chu agreed, would his parents?" The crowd nodded, finding Xiaoxiaos words reasonable, "Schrs wife, now that you exin it, it does make sense. We will absolutely not spread rumors anymore." "Good, I trust you aunties. Ill be going now, bye!" At that moment, Xiaoxiao smiled and waved goodbye to everyone, but as soon as she turned around, the smile vanished. These people just love to chatter about nonsense, reveling in chaos. Its difficult to avoid rumors; Xiaoxiao knew it was futile but still needed to scare them a bit, trying to prevent the situation from escting. Chapter 725 - 727: They’re All Pregnant

Chapter 725: Chapter 727: Theyre All Pregnant

Afterward, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming returned to the Yang Family home. As soon as they entered the courtyard, the family weed them. Yang Mings mother asked anxiously, "Third son, is Xiangxiang that girl at the Chu Family?" "Yes, Father, Mother, you can rest assured. Shes at the Chu Family, everything is fine, and the Han Family wont pursue the matter any further." "The Han Family isnt pursuing it?" Old Master Yang was somewhat surprised. Could the Han Family really let such a big issue go so easily? "Yes, the Han Family isnt pursuing it, and weve also settled on a fish pond partnership with them. In a few days, Ill have the older brother and the others go to Lin County to learn how to raise fish. Our fish pond should be ready for stocking by the end of the month, or early next month at thetest." Everyone in the family was excited by this news; the fish pond project had been underway for over two months, and in another month, they would finally see fish. Yang Ming continued, "Now we just need to focus on building the house for the fish pond, aiming to stock the fish by the end of the month." "Building the house should still be managed by your fifth uncle, along with the people from Xiawa Vige." Old Master Yang proposed. "Yes, okay, lets go with fifth uncle. They all do good work and were ustomed to using them." Then Yang Ming continued, "Father, Mother, theres something I must tell you. I wanted to keep it a secret, but now it cant be concealed any longer. Thest time my sister tried tomit suicide, it was because she was drugged by some thugs and then saved by Han Yongsheng on her way home. But when we sought a doctor at home, the doctor said there was no antidote for the drug she took, and the only way to cure her was through intercourse with a man. So... the person who helped detoxify her was Chu Lian." This news shocked everyone speechless. They had not at all anticipated the situation to be like this. No wonder the girl didnt want to live at that time; she had suffered such a great trauma. "Now my sister is married into the Chu Family, which is a satisfactory oue. Moreover, because of that time, my sister is pregnant." "Xiangxiang that girl is pregnant?" "Yes." Yang Ming nodded, continuing, "Now there are people who wont let go of the matter that my sister lost her purity before marriage. Theyre spreading rumors outside. Dont take it to heart. And when sisteres over, dont mention this matter again to avoid upsetting her. Also, if theres any talk in our vige, just deny it." "Well do as the third son says." Old Master Yang hurriedly instructed the rest of the family. "Its really unexpected, Xiangxiang that girl is pregnant; does this mean our family is going to add a new member?" Yang Mings mother said sentimentally. "Mother, what do you mean also going to add a new member? Who else is having a baby?" Xiaoxiao asked. "This morning, your fifth uncle and his wife came over, and your fifth aunt is pregnant. Your grandmother was so happy, and she kept praising you." Xiaoxiao was genuinely surprised; the good news from her fifth aunt came so fast, and in fact, she didnt even have a clue, and it was just about giving them hope. But what was her grandmother praising her for? What did it have to do with her? Yang Mings mother continued, "Your third aunt also came this morning, saying that Hehua is pregnant too, which made your third aunt extremely happy, going around proiming that their family is going to add a new member." "..." Xiaoxiao was once again taken aback by this news; Hehua was also expecting. One by one, they were all getting pregnant, yet no matter how hard she tried, her belly remained empty. Yang Ming noticed Xiaoxiaos despondent look and quickly made an excuse to leave with his wife, "Father, Mother, now that weve finished talking, my wife and I will head back. I need to check on my son." "That little fellow is sleeping soundly inside the house, so lets all return to our own rooms then." Chapter 726 - 728 Spit Milk

Chapter 726: Chapter 728 Spit Milk

The family also entered the house, and Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming returned to their own room. As soon as Yang Ming entered, heforted his wife, "Wife, dont take it to heart, let them have their own kids." "Okay." Although Xiaoxiao agreed, her heart still felt unpleasant. If the Yang family found out that she couldnt have children, would they still allow her and Yang Ming to stay together? After all, carrying on the family line was a major matter here. "Husband, if I still cant have children in a few more years, you should find someone else." "What are you talking about? Youre not allowed to say such things ever again." Hearing his wife say these words, Yang Ming felt heartache. How could he possibly find someone else? His heart had room for only his wife. "Hehe." Xiaoxiao gave an embarrassedugh, then went to the side of the kang bed to check on Liufu. Little Liufu had grown a lot, gaining eight pounds in just a few days, and his face had filled out. His little face whitened, his eyebrows darkened, and his eyes were particrly spirited. If you waved something in front of him, his head would follow, showing that the childs eyesight was good. Xiaoxiao had also tested his hearing; if she suddenly pped her hands, the child would look for the source of the sound, indicating that his hearing was fine, too. Watching this little life grow day by day, Xiaoxiao marveled at the magic of life. "Husband, our son really changes every day." Xiaoxiao expressed her sentimentality, thinking about how there were neither cameras nor smartphones here. If there were, she would definitely take a lot of pictures. "Yeah,st time he still had white eyebrows, look at him just a few dayster." Yang Ming also came over to look at Little Liufu, saying with emotion. The two of them stared at the child like this, growing more and more fond of him, but suddenly, the child who was sound asleep arched his head and spat up milk, which terribly frightened them both. Xiaoxiao quickly held the child upright and gently patted his back,forting him with her voice, "Liufu, dont cry, dont cry, youll feel better after youve spit up." Yang Ming also hurried to find a cloth to wipe the childs mouth, saying as he wiped, "Son, dont cry, its not ufortable." The sight of the child vomiting broke their hearts, and they soothed him until he finally calmed down, stopped vomiting, and stopped crying. They quicklyid the child down and helped him change out of his dirty clothes. The two temporary parents worried that something might be wrong with the child like this, so they sought advice from their rtives. The family members said that it is normal for a child to spit up milk, that all children do it, and it wasnt a big problem; perhaps he had eaten too much or didnt eat well. Feed him a little less, and the child would slowly get better, they exined. After hearing this from their family members, the two of them felt reassured, and they also thought that they were probably too nervous, that the family members had more experience in these matters than they did. But in the middle of the night, the child vomited milk again, and Xiaoxiaos heart ached. Vomiting is distressing for adults, let alone a child, but the child was too young to speak and could only express himself with his crying. After a busy time, the child finally fell asleep. "Husband, could the child be sick?" "Lets observe a bit more tomorrow. If he still vomits, well go to town to find a doctor." They went to sleep with restless hearts, but the next morning, the thing that worried them happened; the child vomited again. Xiaoxiao really couldnt stay calm anymore, "Husband, lets go see a doctor." "Okay, Ill go get a doctor." "No, husband, to save time, lets take the child there." Chapter 727 - 729: The Child Might Have Been Poisoned

Chapter 727: Chapter 729: The Child Might Have Been Poisoned

The two hurried the carriage and quickly arrived at the towns medical clinic. Despite going early in the morning, there were still a few patients lined up before them. Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao had no choice but to wait with their child on the side. Xiaoxiao asked anxiously, "Husband, you say there cant be anything wrong with the child, right?" The main reason for bringing the child for a check-up was the fear that the childs spleen and stomach might be affected. Not knowing if such a young child could be examined, and having no experience in child-rearing, Xiaoxiao thought it was better to be cautious. "Dont worry, it should be normal for infants to spit up milk. We are just being cautious," Yang Mingforted her. "En." After waiting for a while, it was finally their turn, and the couple carried the child inside. "Whos here for the consultation? Please sit down," said the doctor. Xiaoxiao quickly sat down with her child, "Doctor, its my son." Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had been to this medical clinic a few times before and recognized the doctor who usually held the consultations, but todays doctor was a stranger. "Whats wrong with the child? How old is he?" "The child is about a month old. He spit up milk yesterday afternoon, then again at midnight, and once more this morning," Xiaoxiao hurriedly exined the symptoms. "Bring the child over for me to have a look," said the doctor. Xiaoxiao quickly passed the child to the doctor to examine, and eventually, the doctor took the childs pulse. Xiaoxiao felt uncertain; could a pulse be clearly taken from such a small child? After a moment, the doctor spoke, "Its normal for a child to spit up milk, this is amon urrence with infants. It could be due to overfeeding or something he ate. Theres no need for medicine." Upon hearing this, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief. What the doctor said was exactly the same as what their family had suggested. It seemed they really were just too nervous, "Thank you, doctor, thank you." "I havent finished speaking yet." When the doctor indicated there was more to say, Xiaoxiao and Yang Mings hearts tensed up again, "Doctor, please continue." "The child may have been poisoned." "What?" Xiaoxiao eximed in shock. How could this be? "This poison is rare, a chronic type, introduced while in the womb." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao felt a sudden jolt in her heart. That meant someone had administered a slow-acting poison to the childs mother, didnt it? "This is a poison administered to the childs mother, aimed at taking the childs life. This poison wont take the mothers life but it will take the childs." Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming exchanged nces. The doctors words undoubtedly meant someone had wanted the childs life even while he was still in his mothers womb. "Doctor, is there any cure?" The doctor shook his head, "This poison, I only know of it by chance. I can detect it, but I cannot cure it." Hearing this, the couple felt indescribably disheartened. If the childs poisoning was incurable, didnt that mean there was no hope? The child was so young; they had only just begun to bond with him. "Doctor, is there truly no cure for this poison?" "Divine Doctor Xue of Medicine King Valley might be able to cure this poison, but Divine Doctor Xues whereabouts are unpredictable and nobody knows where he is. Perhaps you could try your luck in Medicine King Valley. However, you need to be aware that, even with a slow-acting poison, the child only has two months to live since after being born, he cannot survive beyond three months." "Thank you, doctor." Regardless, there was still hope for the child; they had two more months. Xiaoxiao paid the consultation fee. As she was about to leave with the child, she heard Yang Ming say, "Wife, you go ahead and take the child outside. I have a few words to say to the doctor." Chapter 728 - 730: Husband, Can You Hypnotize?

Chapter 728: Chapter 730: Husband, Can You Hypnotize?

Xiaoxiao didnt know what Yang Ming had to discuss with the doctor, so she still took the child and went out to wait. A momentter, Yang Ming came out, and the two of them, holding the child, got into the carriage. The carriage didnt move, as both of them first had a secret conversation inside thepartment. As soon as they boarded, Xiaoxiao asked, "Husband, do you think what the doctor said is credible? Shouldnt we take the child to see another doctor just in case?" She had thought a lot about this matter. What if it was a misdiagnosis? How could such a small child be poisoned, and with that kind of poison, at that? Even as a modern person, she hadnt heard of it. "The doctor said the poison is rare, and he learned of it by chance. I think other doctors might not be able to identify it, its better to believe it exists than not. We shouldnt dy the childs treatment just because other doctors might not recognize the poison." Xiaoxiao felt that Yang Ming made sense. They should indeed try to find that Divine Doctor Xue, but even in the modern world, where everything is so advanced, its difficult to find someonelet alone here. Could people really be that easy to locate? If so, Xiaotian wouldnt still be missing. "Alright, husband, Ill listen to you." "Lets head to Medicine King Valley and try our luck. Even if we cant find Divine Doctor Xue, there are surely other doctors in Medicine King Valley." "Alright, but, husband, do you know where Medicine King Valley is?" With such a grandiose name like Medicine King Valley, it always seemed like a very secretive ce, and that Divine Doctor Xue was notoriously elusive. Yang Ming shook his head. "I dont know, but lets go to the Escort Agency first. The couriers travel a lot and know many ces; perhaps theyll know." "Right, husband, what were you talking to the doctor about just now?" "Nothing much, I hypnotized the doctor. If the child truly is poisoned, then someone intentionally administered it. We must be cautious not to expose this matter, so as to avoid bringing trouble upon ourselves." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiaos eyes widened in shockYang Ming could hypnotize? When had he be so formidable? "Husband, you can hypnotize?" "Not much, I know quite a few brothers in the Escort Agency, and they know a lot of skills. I just asionally learned a little from them." "..." Xiaoxiao was somewhat startled. Just how good was Yang Mings talent if he could learn hypnosis so casually? "Husband, you havent hypnotized me before, have you?" She couldnt help but feel it was terrifying to have someone capable of hypnotism by her sideperhaps everything had been pried out of her unknowingly. "Wife, youre overthinking it. How could I possibly use it on you?" Yang Ming smiled. His wife really had a wild imaginationhow could he dare to do such a thing? "Wife, Im going to drive the carriage now. Lets hurry to the Escort Agency." "Okay." Yang Ming stepped out of the carriage, climbed up to the drivers seat, and steered the carriage toward the Escort Agency. As Xiaoxiao held the child and looked at him, her mood grewplicated. Was it really a mistake to have decided to keep this child in the first ce? Or was it that the heavens were punishing her, not even allowing her to raise someone elses child? Now, it all seemed increasinglyplicated. The officials were investigating the whereabouts of a fallen man, and the child had been found to have been poisoned in the womb. She had a feeling the childs origins would bring them significant trouble. But now she couldnt let go. One cant just abandon a child, especially one who had not yet taken hisst breath. Since they couldnt abandon the child, the only thing they could do now was make the utmost effort to save him. As for whether the child would survive, that truly depended on his fate. "Son, with your dad and mom working so hard to save you, you too must fight for your life." Chapter 729 - 731: Heard He No Longer Treats the Sick

Chapter 729: Chapter 731: Heard He No Longer Treats the Sick

The carriage soon arrived at Xuntian Escort Agency, and it was Xiaoxiaos first visit here. Cradling the child, Xiaoxiao stepped down from the carriage. "Wife, let me hold the baby, youve been holding him the whole way." Yang Ming reached out to take the child, but Xiaoxiao twisted away and refused, "Forget it. You can hold him when we get home. These are all your people. It wouldnt look good for them to see you holding a baby." "Im holding my son, whats there to be afraid of? Give him to me." Seeing that Yang Ming was insistent, Xiaoxiao relented, "Go slow." Yang Ming, holding the child, walked into the courtyard with Xiaoxiao and saw quite a few people practicing their fist techniques. Among them, some were practicing military boxing. Xiaoxiao always felt that military boxing wasnt very useful, but perhaps they could discover something from it. It was good as a body exercise, anyway. Everyone looked surprised to see Yang Ming carrying a child as they entered, but they still called out in unison, "Store Manager." "Yes, is Head Escort Master Wang Kui around?" Yang Ming replied, thinking it best to consult Wang Kui as he might know more. "Hes inside." "Then you all carry on." Yang Ming said as he led Xiaoxiao inside the building. Upon entering the room, Wang Kui noticed Yang Ming and greeted, "Store Manager." "Thedy hase too?" Xiaoxiao smiled and teased, "Head Escort Master Wang Kui, long time no see. Youve kept yourself well-hidden. I never expected you to be with the escort agency. Back then, I guess you yed me for a fool." Wang Kuiughed sheepishly, "Absolutely not, dont think too much." "Head Escort Master Wang Kui, Im here today to inquire about Medicine King Valley. Do you know where it is, and also about Divine Doctor Xue?" Yang Ming asked outright, as time was of the essence and there was no leisure for idle chat. After pondering, Wang Kui replied, "I have heard a bit. Divine Doctor Xue is an extremely peculiar person who enjoys wandering and sightseeing. His whereabouts are uncertain, but Ive heard that he no longer treats people. As for Medicine King Valley, it should be near a valley close to Beijing. You can find out more when you get to Beijing..." Hearing Wang Kuis words, Xiaoxiao felt they hadnte in vain; to their surprise, Wang Kui actually knew where Medicine King Valley was. However, Wang Kui also brought some unwee news: Divine Doctor Xue no longer treated patients. Even if they found him, it was uncertain whether he could detoxify their child. "After all this chat, Store Manager, whose child are you holding?" Wang Kui asked with interest. "My son." "You have a son?" Wang Kui hurriedly came forward to look at the child, "You know, Store Manager, your son does look quite like you." "..." Xiaoxiao was speechless, since when had Wang Kui be such a tterer? Without any blood rtion, how could there be any resemnce? "If my son doesnt look like me, who else could he resemble?" Yang Ming answered proudly and then said, "Alright, I have to make a trip to Medicine King Valley soon. Keep an eye on things here for me. The Escort Head you dispatched to Lin County is managing quite well; were now able to take on escorts normally." "Dont worry, Store Manager," Wang Kui assured him. "Oh, and if possible, lets breed some carrier pigeons formunication between the various strongholds of our escort agency. Also, we should increase our number of horses." Yang Ming still had to give instructions, as he did not know how long he would be away this time. "Understood, Store Manager. I will arrange everything one by one." Having given his instructions and bid farewell to his brothers, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao took the child and hurried back to Yang Family Vige. Chapter 730 - 732: Heading to Beijing

Chapter 730: Chapter 732: Heading to Beijing

The two had already discussed it on the road, they could not tell their family about the child being poisoned. The family only knew that this was a child found on the road, and persuading them to adopt someone with the ominous trait of six toes had been quite difficult. If they were to know at this time that someone wanted the child dead, or that someone was after the childs life, even the kindest of people would probably not ept it, because it ultimately concerned their own personal safety. Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao decided that they would set off for Medicine King Valley early the next morning. If the child was lucky enough to be saved, they would bring him back; if he unfortunately died, they would tell the family that they had lost him outside. The pair quickly arrived home and as soon as they entered the yard, Yang Mings mother came to greet them. "Third son, what did the doctor say? Is the child alright?" Yang Ming tried his best to control any strangeness in his demeanor and replied, "Mother, the child is fine, just like we said, he might have eaten poorly, or too much." Yang Mings mother said with augh, "I told you, all of you vomited when you were little, and you all got through it, didnt you? Now that youve seen the doctor, you feel relieved, dont you?" Xiaoxiao also tried to restrain her despondency so as not to let her mother-inw notice, and she nodded, "Yes, relieved." Afterward, the two of them took the child back to their room and got busy. Because they were taking the child on the road, they needed to prepare luggage. A childs belongings were much more voluminous than an adults. The childs nkets, pillows, spare clothes, diapers, a bowl for drinking milk, a basin for bathing, and so on and so forth. It was practically moving house, and after packing bothrge and small bags, Xiaoxiao went to prepare dry food. She made quite a few snacks for the road, food that wouldst several days. The journey to Beijing was longer, and the condition of the road was unknown, so it was better to be safe than sorry. It was just the two of them, with a child in tow; they truly didnt have the luxury of time to go hunting for food in the mountains. During dinner, Yang Ming spoke up, "Father, Mother, has Big Brother told you about the Xuntian Escort Agency matter already?" "Yes," Yangs father nodded, the third son had stirred up trouble with the Escort Agency in his search for Yang Xia, and they had been informed by the eldest when he returned from Lin County. "I n to expand over to Beijing and want to go there to check out the situation. Ill set out tomorrow." "So soon?" Not only was Yangs father surprised, the whole family thought it too quick, "Your sister is about to return to her husbands home, couldnt you wait?" At that moment, Xiaoxiao joined the conversation, "Father, the news of my sisters wedding came so suddenly, I left behind a mess at the Grand Theater in Lin County and rushed back. Anyway, Yang Ming and I have already seen my sister yesterday, so we wont wait for them to return, well first go to Lin County, then head over to Beijing." "Third sons wife, youre going too?" "Yes, I have never been to Beijing, and now I have the chance, I might as well go see it. We dont know how long we might stay, so we n to take the child along." Upon hearing this, Yangs father frowned, "The two of you going is well enough, why take such a small child running around? Leave him at home for Xiaoqiu to watch over." "Father, wed rather take care of the child ourselves. We will be gone for a long time and will miss him," said Yang Ming. The family could not argue with the couple and thus agreed. Afterwards, Xiaoxiao did not forget to entrust the fishpond to their care, suggesting that by the time they returned, the fish might be ready to eat. The next day, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao set off with theirrge and small bags. Since the child needed milk, they had to use a milk cow to pull the cart. This was also the reason they were eager to leave, as the cow-pulled cart was very slow. Chapter 731 - 733: Visiting the Bride’s Home After the Wedding

Chapter 731: Chapter 733: Visiting the Brides Home After the Wedding

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming took the child and left, and soon it was time for Wang Xiangxiangs homing after marriage. On this day, the old Yang Family had been bustling since early in the morning, as they had always taken marrying off and receiving daughters-inw seriously, but it was their first time dealing with a daughters homing. Therefore, they valued it greatly. Old Man Yang even deployed the fourth son of the Yang Family, Yang Dong, to keep watch at the entrance to the vige. As soon as Yang Dong saw the arrival of the carriage adorned with red cloth strips, he knew they had arrived, and he ran back home frantically to report, "Dad, Mom, theyre here, theyvee, at the vige entrance, and theyll be here any moment." Hearing this, the family hurried out of the house, all standing at the front door waiting. The carriage soon stopped at the doorway of the Yang Family. As the carriage door opened, Chu Lian hopped down first, then helped Wang Xiangxiang out of the carriage. Seeing her waiting family, Wang Xiangxiang felt a rush of emotion as well, her face was flush with color as she called out, "Dad, Mom." Chu Lian offered a deep bow and said, "Father-inw, Mother-inw." "Eh, eh," Old Man Yang hurriedly responded, "Pleasee inside quickly." The family then entered the house one after another, and the coachman also brought the homing gifts inside before withdrawing. All the womenfolk, except for Yang Mings mother, went off to prepare the meal for midday. As they settled inside, Old Man Yang began, "Master Chu, I really didnt expect that in the end it would be you who married our Xiangxiang." "Father-inw, you should call me by my name, Chu Lian, or simply call me your son-inw." "Ah, right, Im not used to that yet. Chu Lian, I felt something was off with you that day, why were you so drunk? So thats what it was all about, hehe," Old Man Yang said with augh. "Father-inw, I made a fool of myself that day," Chu Lian replied somewhat embarrassedly, probably having made a fool of himself in front of his father-inw, "Father-inw, were family now, rest assured, I will take good care of Xiangxiang." Old Man Yang nodded repeatedly, "I believe you." "..." "..." The men sat drinking tea, chatting with each back and forth. With two elder brothers-inw and one younger, Chu Lian couldnt avoid being queried about how he stole the bride, and he could only answer each question as they came. On the other side, Yang Mings mother took Wang Xiangxiangs hand. She was, after all, a woman, and more attentive than those old gents. She was more concerned about whether Wang Xiangxiang was carving out a good life for herself, especially with such events being talked about outside, and if a prominent family could ept such matters? "My girl, are your mother-inw and father-inw treating you well?" "Mom, they treat me very well, you dont need to worry," Wang Xiangxiang spoke truthfully. They hadnt been unkind to her because of that incident or shown her a cold shoulder; on the contrary, they evenforted her, telling her not to care about others opinions, so she was no longer afraid or fearful now. Seeing that she seemed to be in good spirits, Yang Mings mother was reassured, "As long as they treat you well. I heard from the wife of your third brother-inw that you are with child, how severe is your morning sickness?" "Its not severe, I only vomit maybe once or twice a day," Wang Xiangxiang responded, thinking that Xiaoxiao would certainly exin it to the family when she returned, and she couldnt hide her pregnancy. "Now that you are pregnant, you must be extra careful yourself. Be cautious when walking to avoid falls, and dont overexert yourself. If the morning sickness bes severe, get something sour..." Once the topic turned to pregnancy, Yang Mings mother, usually a woman of few words, became more talkative, starting to instruct Wang Xiangxiang on the matters rted to her pregnancy. "Mom, Ill take care, dont worry. They treasure this child even more than I do," replied Wang Xiangxiang. Chapter 732 - 734: Visiting the Bride’s Home After the Wedding【Part 2】

Chapter 732: Chapter 734: Visiting the Brides Home After the WeddingPart 2

The family quickly began their reunion dinner, and it was during the meal that Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian noticed that Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao were not present. Wang Xiangxiang asked, "Dad, why arent the third brother and Xiaoxiao here?" "They went to Lin County. They said there was still some business unfinished at the grand theater there, and after that, they nned to go to Beijing," the elderly Mr. Yang replied. Chu Lian was even more surprised and voiced his question, "What are they going to Beijing for?" "The third son has set up an escort agency. He wants to explore opportunities there." "An escort agency?" Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian said in unison, unaware of this development. Could it be the escort agency Yang Ming had found in Lin County? He never said it was his. Mr. Yang then sighed, "Ah, these are the sins of our Yang Family. In order to find his sister Yang Xia, the third son established an escort agency to search for her." "So thats it, Dad, but you neednt get so worked up. Were sure to find Sister Yang Xia. Ill have my husband help look for her too," Wang Xiangxiang said, quicklyforting her distressed father. Although he was clueless about Yang Xia, it seemed Xiangxiang knew something and, giving him a meaningful look, Chu Lian hastened to add, "Yes, father-inw, Im experienced in people-searching. Dont worry too much. Ill start sending people to look as soon as I get back." "Right, Dad wont lose his temper. This kind of thing cant be rushed. Its been almost eighteen years, a little longer wont hurt." Mr. Yang knew his children were just trying tofort him, aware how hard it was to find someone in this vast world. They had been searching for months with no news yet. "Today is a day of great joy, lets not speak of it anymore. Lets all hurry up and eat," he concluded. Wang Xiangxiang then remembered something else and said, "Theyve both gone, then who is taking care of the child? Should I take care of him for a while?" "You are pregnant yourself, why would you take care of the child?" Yang Mings mother spoke up. "Its fine; I have maid servants to help, it wont be physically taxing," Wang Xiangxiang said with a smile. "Besides, Ive looked after Fufu, and I have more experience than Xiaoxiao." "Even if you have experience, you dont need to take care of him. Just look after yourself; the child went with the couple," Yang Mings mother said with a smile. "They took him?" Wang Xiangxiang asked, surprised. "How long do they n to be gone that they even took the child with them, and left so hurriedly without a word?" "What child?" Hearing their conversation, Chu Lian felt utterly lost, as if he had missed many events over the past month. He had no knowledge of what they mentioned about Yang Xia and now this child popped up unexpectedly. "Recently the couple fostered a child from rtives. Now, not sure how long will they be gone, they insisted on bringing the child with them because theyll miss him too much," Mr. Yang exined about the childs origin, while simultaneouslyining about them taking the child with them. Upon hearing Mr. Yangs words, a look of surprise shed across Wang Xiangxiangs eyes, but she quickly realized, "Xiaoxiao and her partner truly love that child, constantly calling him son. They saidst time that when the child is older, Xiaoxiao would take him everywhere. I didnt expect that even at this young age, they couldnt bear to leave him behind." "..." "..." As the family continued talking, they ate their meal. Chu Lian joined several elderly men of the Yang family in drinking quite a bit, and it wasnt untilter in the afternoon that the two of them hurried back to Shibao Town. Chapter 733 - 735: You Just Realized Now?

Chapter 733: Chapter 735: You Just Realized Now?

As soon as the two boarded the carriage, Chu Lian had a bellyful of questions to ask. He took Wang Xiangxiangs hand and started, "My dear, howe I wasnt aware that Yang Ming had a sister?" "This story is a long one, want to hear it?" "Yes." Chu Lian nodded his head. How could he bepletely unaware of his father-inws family affairs? "It starts with Yang Mings grandfather. When he was alive, he believed the words of a Jianghu fortune-teller who imed that for the Yang family to prosper, all granddaughters must be sent away. Yang Mings grandfather believed it, and thus all born granddaughters of the Yang family were sent away nicely put as sent away, but in truth, they were sold." "..." Chu Lian was extremely shocked after hearing this. Although human trafficking wasmon, such an ignorant practice was something he had never heard of before. "So you see, the Yang Family is all men, with no women. Yang Qiu was the first daughter that the Yang Family managed to bring back." "So thats how it is. Then, do you have any leads on Yang Xia?" Wang Xiangxiang nodded, "Yes, there are leads, but she cant be found. Ive been searching for several months now." "..." Xiangxiang had been searching for months? Something suddenly came to Chu Lians mind, so he asked, "Previously, when you and Li Fugui were whispering to each other, talking about finding or not finding, were you talking about her?" "Yes, what else did you think?" "..." Chu Lian felt a bit embarrassed, he hadnt assumed anything in particr; he was just angry at the time, thinking they were close and had secrets, "I can understand the Yang Family searching for her, but why would Li Fugui want to find her?" After Chu Lian asked this, he soon realized, "Does Li Fugui know Yang Xia?" "Youre just realizing this now?" Wang Xiangxiang was speechless, surprised that Chu Lian was totally unaware, "Have you heard the story about Li Fugui and that Little Maid?" Chu Lian caught on, having heard some of it during his academy days, "I heard he fell in love with a maid in his household and even rejected several marriage arrangements arranged by his family because of her." Wang Xiangxiang nodded, jokingly said, "I was the one whose marriage proposal he rejected." Chu Lian was truly astonished by this revtion. He had dispatched Acheng to investigate their rtionship and had not expected this, "You were refused, and yet you seem to be on good terms with him, so good that I was madly jealous at the time." "We werent on good terms initially, but I was moved by his and Yang Xias storyter on." "Then tell me their story, let me be moved as well." Chu Lian looked at Wang Xiangxiang indulgently, thinking his wife was a tender-hearted, naively sincere person. As they traveled, Wang Xiangxiang recounted the parts she knew to Chu Lian. After finishing, she suddenly remembered something, then said, "Husband, actually, the reason why Li Fuyou harassed me this time is entirely because I helped Li Fugui." "..." Chu Lian was puzzled, "How so?" Wang Xiangxiang bit her lip, revealing the threatening words Li Fuyou had said to her that day. "A few days ago during a gathering at the Wang Mansion, Li Fuyou sneaked into the mansion, found me, and threatened me to cancel the promotional event at Yui Restaurant, saying if I didnt, he would expose my affairs. I asked him why he was doing this to me, and he said it was because I helped Li Fugui, anyone who helps Li Fugui is opposing him, and none ends well; the Little Maid was the first, Im the second, then he asked, Who will be the third?" Chapter 734 - 736: Li Fuyou, I’m Looking for You

Chapter 734: Chapter 736: Li Fuyou, Im Looking for You

Hearing Xiangxiangs words, Chu Lians heart ached terribly; that Li Fuyou had actually threatened her like this and even infiltrated her home. He held Xiangxiang in his arms, "My dear, youve suffered. Now that Im back, dont be afraid. Your husband will take care of him." Wang Xiangxiang smiled. Now she wasnt afraid at all. The matter had been brought to light, and with Chu Lian by her side, what was there to be afraid of? "Husband, I am not afraid now, Im just worriedworried that he might do something terrible to everyone. I dont want anyone to get hurt." "Dont worry, it wont happen." Chu Lian saidforting her, yet a harsh glint shed in his eyes. He had met with Acheng yesterday; how well did he handle the tasks he had been given? ****** That night, A silent street with a carriage speeding along, a man inside sat resting with closed eyes. Suddenly, the carriage shook, followed by the horrified neighing of the horses. The man driving the carriage quickly pulled the reins tight, and the carriage came to a stop. A masked man swiftly approached the front of the carriage, wielding a sharp sword, and thrust it into the carriage. "Young master, be careful!" the man outside the carriage shouted. He rushed over quickly, knocked the sword from the masked mans hand, and tackled the attacker to the ground. The masked man broke free, rolled on the ground, and picked up his sword again. With a swing, a dark cold light aimed straight for the throat of the carriage driver. The sword hadnt reached him yet, but the driver kept retreating, his back hitting the wall. With each change of sword y from the masked man, the weapon thrust straight ahead. The carriage driver had no room left to retreat; his body sidestepped as he was pressured relentlessly by the masked man, unaware that he was being forced further and further away from the carriage and further from his young master. The man inside the carriage, hearing his followers shouts, opened the carriage door only to see his retainer being entangled by the masked man. He was well aware of his retainers skills, which shouldnt have been so easily overpowered, so he decided not to intervene, also considering his ownck of martial arts prowess. He calmly sat back inside the carriage, closing his eyes to rest, waiting for his follower to handle the masked man. But what he didnt expect was the carriage door to be flung open with a ng the masked man had aplices. He opened his eyes, a fiercer glint within, "Who are you? Dont you know who I am?" "Li Fuyou, were here for you." Indeed, the man inside the carriage was Dongfeng Restaurants Li Fuyou, and the man being osted was his personal attendant. After the masked man spoke, he pulled Li Fuyou out of the carriage. Although Li Fuyoucked superior martial arts, he could still fight a little. After several exchanges with the masked man, he was overpowered and defeated. Despite his defeat, Li Fuyous tone remained arrogant, "Who sent you? What exactly do you want to do?" "Nothing much, just giving you a taste of the same medicine." After saying this, the masked man pinned Li Fuyou down, grabbed his chin, and poured a powdery substance into his mouth. Li Fuyou struggled, and even with his mouth mped shut, he still managed to utter muffled threats, "Let me go, or youll regret this." But no matter how many threats Li Fuyou made, it was in vain; the powdery substance still entered his mouth and was swallowed. Just when Li Fuyou thought it was all over, he was thrown onto the carriage. Chapter 735 - 737: The Oppressed Li Fuyou

Chapter 735: Chapter 737: The Oppressed Li Fuyou

After the carriage had sped away, the man in ck mercilessly threw Li Fuyou out of the carriage. Li Fuyou, lying on the ground, propped himself up. His face was as cold as ice, his eyes full of rage. He couldnt believe that he, Li Fuyou, would also be tricked by someone. Even though he was foolish, he knew what the powdery substance he had been forced to ingest was. He strode forward, too preupied to look for his attendants. He needed to hurry home to his maid to get an antidote. He found the women of the brothel repulsive and disdainful to visit such a ce. But after only a few steps, he felt an unbearable heat spreading through his body as the drug took effect, quickly spreading throughout. It felt as if countless ants were crawling inside him, making it unbearable. He gasped for air, his consciousness growing more and more blurred. In this state, he staggered down the street. Meanwhile, the man in ck in the corner had been watching all this unfold. Seeing that the drug had taken effect on Li Fuyou, he motioned with his hand, and several men dressed as beggars immediately appeared on the street and headed toward Li Fuyou. Each mans face bore a wicked smile as they quickly surrounded Li Fuyou. Li Fuyou, still slightly conscious, full of disgust, pushed them away while shouting, "All of you, get lost!" But the beggars, sent on a mission, were not about to let go of this fair-skinned man. One of them had already grabbed Li Fuyous arm. At that moment of contact, Li Fuyou lost consciousnesspletely and began to frantically scuffle with the beggars. From time to time, their filthy voices could be heard on the quiet street. Of course, the beggars had been instructed that Li Fuyou was to be the one submissive. The reason they had taken Li Fuyou some distance away was also to prevent his attendant from arriving too quickly. Sure enough, Li Fuyous attendant, constantly harassed by the man in ck, couldnt escape. He felt a bad premonition that his young master might be in danger, but he couldnt break free, as more men in ck soon arrived andpletely subdued him. By this time, the sky was already showing the light of dawn, and the streets were beginning to see a small number of pedestrians. These people were suddenly drawn by a scream, "Ah, someonee quick, its terrible!" The crowd moved toward the screaming, only to witness a shocking scene. Several men were lying naked on the street in verypromising positions, making it clear what they had been doing there. Someone eximed, "Hey, isnt that man Li Fuyou, the owner of Dongfeng Restaurant?" "Indeed, its the owner of Dongfeng Restaurant. This is unbelievable. He actually has such tendencies." "This is simply shameful, and it even happened out on the street." "Look at those grimy people; theyre probably just beggars. Its unbelievable that Li Fuyou, who appears so respectable, would stoop so low." "..." "..." The murmuring grew louder, awakening Li Fuyou and the others. The moment Li Fuyou opened his eyes and realized what had happened, he roared like an angry lion, "All of you, get lost!" At that moment, Li Fuyous attendant, who had been released, rushed over. He pushed through the crowd and, seeing his young master naked among a group of beggars, hurriedly picked up clothes from the ground to cover him. "Get lost, get lost!" Li Fuyou roared in anger. All he could do was shout to tell them to leave. The crowd continued to whisper and point, making it impossible for Li Fuyous attendant to do more than carry his young master away. Chapter 736 - 738: Revenge Taken, Feeling Better?

Chapter 736: Chapter 738: Revenge Taken, Feeling Better?

Seeing Li Fuyou being carried away, the crowd continued to shout, "Thats Dongfeng Restaurants owner, Li Fuyou, no doubt about it, the man carrying him is always by his side, they must have something going on between them." "You say that, and it seems true, the two of them are alwaysing and going together." "..." "..." By now, the news that Dongfeng Restaurants owner, Li Fuyou, openly had an affair with a beggar on the street all night had spread throughout the entire Shanshi County. The story had overshadowedpletely the news of the Chu Familys new daughter-inw losing her innocence. It appeared that everyone was more interested in Li Fuyous scandal, and afterwards, no one mentioned Wang Xiangxiangs affair again. This matter also quickly reached the ears of Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang. Wang Xiangxiang was extremely surprised by the news. She knew that Chu Lian had a n, and he said he would fight fire with fire, but she never expected it to be like this. This move was too ruthless. She looked at Chu Lian, "Husband." Chu Lian also looked at Wang Xiangxiang. His doting gaze asked, "Youve had your revenge. Do you feel better now?" "Yes, I feel better." Wang Xiangxiang nodded with a smile and then hugged Chu Lian. She felt that with Chu Lian by her side, she could fear nothing, as he would protect her and clean up after her. However, Chu Lian, while being hugged, had a sharp look sh in his eyes where Wang Xiangxiang couldnt see it. He felt that this was not enough to make up for the harm Li Fuyou had inflicted upon Xiangxiang. His Xiangxiang nearly died because of that incident. And she had been so sad and depressed for so long. He wanted to make Li Fuyou pay a thousandfold, ten thousandfold. Wang Xiangxiang left Chu Lians embrace, then asked worriedly, "Husband, he must know it was us. He will definitelye after us, what should we do?" "Do you think your husband is afraid of him?" Chu Lian gave Wang Xiangxiang a reassuring look. "Im worried about you." "Dont worry, if I had the guts to go after him, Im not afraid of him knowing." Chu Lians smile was slightly lifted, thinking that Li Fuyou might be at home wailing, unable to get out of bed. "So, what do we do now?" "We press on, continue to squeeze his Dongfeng Restaurant, and catch him off guard." Chu Lian then said, "Alright, dont worry about these things. Leave it all to your husband." "Okay." "These days, just stay home and dont go out. If theres anything with Cloth Shop, let your people discuss it at home. In case Li Fuyou goes crazy, and does something, even with someone protecting you, I wont feel at ease. At home, youre safest." It wasnt that Chu Lian was afraid of Li Fuyou, he just felt it was better to be safe than sorry. Right now, Xiangxiang was important for two people, and he couldnt take it lightly. "Okay." Wang Xiangxiang nodded in agreement, thinking Chu Lian made sense. Li Fuyou was just too sinister, and if he became enraged by this incident, he might do something terrible. "Husband, be very careful, that Li Fuyou is really too sneaky." "Alright, dont worry. If you worry, our son will worry too. If our son worries, it wont be good for his growth, and if he doesnt grow well, youll be sad. We cant have this cycle, can we?" "Pfft." Wang Xiangxiang was amused once again. Now Chu Lian, in order to make Wang Xiangxiangugh, would deploy all sorts of tactics. As long as it kept Xiangxiangs spirits up, that was all that mattered. "Alright, lets go eat." Chapter 737 - 739: You Have the Face to Come Back?

Chapter 737: Chapter 739: You Have the Face to Come Back?

The murmuring of the crowd behind him had been filling Li Fuyous ears, making him feel both furious and utterly humiliated. Even though Li Fuyou held everything in disdain, no one could tolerate such extreme disgrace; from today onwards, he would be theughingstock of the entire city. Enraged, the veins on his forehead bulged, and he ground his teeth with an audible gritting sound. Rage zed in his eyes uncontrobly, like a lion provoked into fury. This deep grudge, this great hatred, he, Li Fuyou, must avenge. Momentster, he finally calmed down and said, "Amo, find a secluded spot to let me down." "Yes, young master." Li Fuyous attendant, Amo, ignored the pointing and gossiping on the streets, and carried Li Fuyou quickly, finally finding a secluded spot to set him down. Li Fuyou, once set down, grimaced in pain and hissed, "Damn." "Young master." Amo was worried. Seeing the young masters body covered in bruises, he realized the extent to which his young master had been bulliedst night. How could his young master endure such humiliation? Li Fuyous eyes reddened again, and, clenching his fists, he trembled with anger all over. Those beggars had beaten him to the point where moving even slightly caused excruciating pain. What he couldnt bear even more was the pain in his buttocks, as if they were about to split open. He quickly dressed himself, enduring the pain, and said, "Amo, lets go back." Watching his young master limp with an uneven gait, Amo was filled with regret for having fallen for the enemys strategy yesterday, which led to him being pushed back repeatedly and separated further from the young master. He hurried forward to support his young master, "Young master, wait here for me. Ill find a carriage and be back quickly." Li Fuyou nodded. Indeed, he could no longer walk. With every step he took, his entire body ached unbearably, his buttocks especially. Amo quickly returned with a carriage, helped Li Fuyou onto it, and headed for the Li Mansion. Finally, the carriage arrived at the entrance of the Li Mansion, and Li Fuyou was helped off by Amo. As soon as the two entered the Li Mansion, a scolding female voice came. "Li Fuyou, you still have the face toe back? Youve utterly disgraced me. Now the whole town is gossiping that the owner of Dongfeng Restaurant has a penchant for male lovers, cant stand the loneliness, and mixes with beggars in public. Tell me, what exactly are you doing?" The woman sized up Li Fuyou, with not the slightest bit of sympathy, but instead poured salt on his wounds, "Looking at you like this, it seems its true. Youve thrown away all my dignity. Useless son, fancying men..." Lady Li prattled on with her rebukes, and Amo could no longer stand to listen, "Madam, the young master is a victim; the young master is not into that kind of rtionship." "You, a servant, stay out of this." Li Fuyou, listening to his mothers scolding, sneered coldly. Ha, this was his mothers true face. Every time something happened, she would neither care for norfort him; she would only rebuke him. In the past, when Li Fugui teased him, his mother would always scold him for being useless, while Li Fuguis mother would dote on Li Fugui in every possible way. This made him jealous, and his personality grew increasingly entric. His current state was entirely crafted by his mothers own hands. Hisplexion turned exceedingly cold, his pale lipspletely bloodless, trembling slightly like willow leaves. Finally, he spoke up, his voice filled with resentment, "Dont forget, everything of the Li Family is mine now. If youre unwilling to stay, then get lost." Chapter 738 - 740: Young Master, You Have a Fever

Chapter 738: Chapter 740: Young Master, You Have a Fever

"Who are you telling to get lost? Your life was given by me; without me, where would you be..." Lady Li was ustomed to scolding her son, and naturally felt displeased when her son spoke to her in such a manner, continuing to berate Li Fuyou incessantly. Listening to his mothers scolding, Li Fuyous brow furrowed deeply, his face as cold as frost, and he spoke, "Amo, take her back to her room. Without my permission, she is not allowed toe out." "Yes, young master." Amo obeyed and approached Lady Li. Lady Li crossed her arms in front of her chest, holding herself haughtily. She snorted coldly, "Hmph, you darey hands on me, you dog of a servant?" "My apologies, madam." After saying this, Amo grabbed Lady Lis arm and forcefully dragged her towards the house. Amo had long been displeased with the way thedy treated the young master, and now, atst, the young master had begun to fight back. Lady Li struggled, still shouting, "Let go of me! You dare touch me, you dog of a servant? Be careful, or Ill make sure you regret it." But no matter how she struggled, it was useless; she was still dragged into the house. After the servant had enough of her cursing, she turned her wrath towards her own son, "Li Fuyou, you are utterly unfilial! How can you treat your mother this way? Are you not afraid of being struck by lightning?" After dragging Lady Li inside the house, Amo instructed the servants, "Keep an eye on her. Without the young masters order, none of you is to let her out. If you do, youll have me to answer to." The servants nodded in fear, indicating they understood. Lady Li, unable to bear this indignity, hurriedly walked to the door to open it, but there was a servant blocking it. She grew even angrier. She had been used to having her way in Li Mansion for months, and now suddenly being restrained, she could not stand it, "You dare block me, too?" "Madam, please go back to your room and dont make things difficult for us. If the young master finds out, everyone will be punished." The house servant pushed thedy back inside and closed the door. Lady Li, confined in the room, unable to leave, resorted to cursing loudly, "You ungrateful wretch, I raised you for nothing. How dare you confine your own mother... " Li Fuyou, listening to his mothers cries and screams, sneered. Unfilial, huh? Heh, he had been unfilial since the moment he ended his fathers life with his own hands. "Young master." Amo, having finished the task, returned to Li Fuyous side. Li Fuyous face showed no emotion as he spoke softly, "Lets go back to the other house." "Yes, young master." Li Fuyou limped along, supported by his followers, and finally reached the other house. Upon arriving at the other house, Amo instructed the servants to begin preparing a bath for their young master. After bathing, Li Fuyouy on the bed, his body aching so much that it might take days to subside. The most painful for him was the pain in his buttocks; he felt as if they were torn apart. He couldnt ask for a doctor, and even using the restroom was extremely difficult. Hey there, feeling as though his body had been hollowed out, utterly weak, his eyelids growing heavier and battling to stay open. A momentter, Amo brought in some food. He ced it on the table, "Young master, please get up and eat something." Li Fuyou tried to get up, but he realized he no longer had the strength to do so. He had never been so utterly downcast before. Seeing this, Amo quickly came forward to help, but while supporting his young master, he realized that his young masters body was burning hot. "Young master, you have a fever." Chapter 739 - 741: Let Him Go

Chapter 739: Chapter 741: Let Him Go

Amo was extremely anxious and continued, "Young Master, wait, I will immediately send someone to find a doctor." "Dont." Li Fuyou used all his strength to bellow. The events of today had already be a joke throughout the city. How could he let the news of his buttocks being blown apart spread again. His eyes were filled with hatred, and even his frail face showed a fierce determination. He would certainly avenge todays humiliation. A momentter, he spoke, "Dont let the doctore, just buy some fever medicine and some for healing wounds." Amo hesitated, then realized the likely condition of his young masters health and nodded in agreement. He instructed the servants to go and buy and prepare the medicine. Soon, under the care of Acheng, Li Fuyou ate, took his medicine, and his fever subsided somewhat, regaining some strength. Hey there, contemting everything. Without much thought, he knew that this was done by the young master of the Chu Family because the method was exactly the same as what Miss Wang suffered previously. He figured that he had been dosed with Charm Fragrance Powder. Just after Miss Wangs incident was exposed, he had an ident. This was certainly no coincidence. Surely, the eldest young master of the Chu Family became angry, believing he was responsible. Li Fuyous gaze darkened. He mocked himself, for he was not so brainless. He had used the incident to threaten that wildcat, ensuring that Yui Restaurant no longer targeted Dongfeng Restaurant. How could it leak out again? He was merely bluffing that wildcat. "How is the investigation going?" he then asked. Amo knew what his young master was referring to, having been instructed to investigate when he learned that Miss Wangs issue had leaked. He had just received the news, so he replied, "Young Master, it was done by the gang leaderst time." Li Fuyous eyes darken greatly, his lips parted coldly, "Didnt I tell you to handle it?" "Young Master, it was Amos oversight." Amo was now full of regret. If not for his failure, allowing a fish to slip through the, his young master would not have suffered such humiliation today. He continued, "That man has been locked up. Young Master, rest assured, this time I will deal with him cleanly, making sure he can no longer cause trouble." "No need, let him go." "Young Master?" Amo couldnt believe his young master would ask him to release the man. If it werent for this person leaking the news, his young master would not have faced such a humiliating disgrace today. Even dismembering him wouldnt be too extreme. Seeing Amos doubt, Li Fuyous cold voice came again, "Amo, are you also disobeying my orders?" "Amo dares not." Amo bowed his head. Li Fuyou, lying there, had a harsher look in his eyes and a calcting smile on his lips. Since that person had chosen to leak the news the day after the eldest young master of the Chu Familys wedding, it indicated he deeply hated the eldest young master of the Chu Family. It was understandable. An eye for an eye, a vengeance so deep rooted, how could it go unavenged? Now, by releasing this person, who knew what he might do next? He just needed to sit back and reap the benefits. He thought to himself, "Eldest Young Master of Chu Family, you brought this upon yourself." "Amo, you may leave now, I need to rest. Dont disturb me unless its important." "Yes, Amo will be outside. Call me if you need anything, young master." Amoplied and left, closing the door behind him. He thought the young master was ill and indeed needed rest. Chapter 740 - 742: Who is Really Helping Yuelai Restaurant

Chapter 740: Chapter 742: Who is Really Helping Yui Restaurant

Li Fuyou, having been severely ravaged by illness, fell sick again. He slept unusually deeply, from the afternoon straight through to the next mornings dawn. In the morning, Li Fuyou slowly opened his eyes, and, as usual, got up early to relieve himself. Propping up his exhausted body, he got out of bed to heed natures call when he looked down to attend to his third leg. His face instantly turned ashen white, and his heart couldnt help but flutterwhat on earth was happening? Why wasnt his third leg "rising" this morning? He tried hard to calm himself downit couldnt be. He must be overthinking it. It must be because he was sick, weakened by his illness. In a few days, when he regained his strength, it would be fine again. It had to be. Limping back into the room, he heard a knock at the door, "Knock knock." Then came Amos voice, "Young master!" "Come in. The doors nottched." Amo walked into the room, his demeanor hesitant, and Li Fuyou, surprised, then said, "Whats the matter? Spit it out!" "Young master, Yui Restaurant has started targeting us at Dongfeng Restaurant again yesterday." Acheng still spoke up. The young master would have to find out sooner orter; better he knew early on to prepare a response. Upon hearing this, Li Fuyous face darkened menacingly. His hands, which hung at his sides, clenched into fists, his bulging veins clearly visible. He had not expected the Chu Familys eldest to go so far; this was an attempt to thoroughly ruin him. He furrowed his brows, striving to control the rage bubbling within him, his voice low, "What tricks have they yed this time? How low did they drop their prices now?" "Young master, they havent lowered their prices this time." Li Fuyou couldnt figure out how they could target Dongfeng Restaurant without dropping prices, "Then what have they done?" "For some unknown reason, Yui Restaurant has introduced nearly thirty new dishes overnight, and theyve made bold ims that new dishes will keeping. Those who went to try them yesterday were full of nothing but praise for their new menu, and after leaving, theyve been spreading the word. If this continues, our patrons will be poached by them." Li Fuyous eyes flickered with surprise, such a situation was incredibly rare. Did they hire some culinary genius? But even with a culinary genius, a never-ending stream of new dishes was impossible. Yet this situation was decidedly unfavorable for them. Their restaurant hadnt introduced new dishes for a long time. If this were to continue, Dongfeng Restaurants clientele would bepletely taken by Yui Restaurant. Amo continued, "Theres another issue. Among the new dishes introduced by Yui Restaurant, some are the signature dishes of our Dongfeng Restaurant." "What?" Li Fuyou eximed in surprise, his eyebrows furrowing, "Has Dongfeng Restaurant been betrayed from the inside?" "Not necessarily, young master, because everyone says that the same dishes at Yui Restaurant taste much better than ours at Dongfeng Restaurant." With these words, Li Fuyou could no longer rein in his seething anger. He grabbed a teapot from the table and violently hurled it to the ground, "Investigate! Find out who is helping Yui Restaurant. Once found, bring him to our Dongfeng Restaurant." Having calmed down, Li Fuyou gently sat down in a chair. His eyes glinted maliciously, the corners of his mouth twitching upward ever so slightly. He was determined to find the chef who was aiding Yui Restaurant and recruit him to Dongfeng Restaurant. Such a talented chef was a veritable goldmine, and how could he possibly let that go? Chapter 741 - 743

Chapter 741: Chapter 743

Just as Yui Restaurant had proimed with great ambition, in the following days, new dishes continued to appear on its tables. Endless streams of customers, drawn by its reputation, flocked to Yui Restaurant, which had not even resorted to price reductions or giveaways, yet it became bustling with activity. This undoubtedly dealt a heavy blow to Dongfeng Restaurant, and even other distant restaurants felt a significant impact. To retain customers, everyone resorted to price cuts and promotional methods. Only Dongfeng Restaurant was still observing. "Young master, the servants below are asking how we should respond," Amo spoke up. After hearing the news, Li Fuyou once again exploded in rage, smashing his teacup to the ground where it shattered, and he bellowed, "A bunch of useless fools, what use is it to keep them, always asking me for everything?" "..." Amo did not speak, the young masters temper had grown increasingly worse these past days, frequently breaking things. The young master of the past never acted like this, always calm and collected; he thought, the young master must have been provoked by the recent beggar incident. Amo just stood there quietly, and then heard his own young master yell again, "Tell every one of them to think of a solution, and if they cant, let them pack up and leave. I wont keep a bunch of useless people." "Yes, young master, Ill go right away." Li Fuyou stopped his furious outburst and tried to calm himself down. He sat there, looking at the mess he had caused in the room, and then he said, "Tell a servant toe clean this up." "Okay." After agreeing, Amo left and called Little Maid Xiaohong. Xiaohong arrived at the door of Li Fuyous room and knocked repeatedly, "Young master, your servant hase to clean your room." "Come in." Xiaohong pushed the door open, bowed to her young master, and began to tidy up the room that Li Fuyou had turned into a mess. Sitting there, Li Fuyou could no longer be concerned with Dongfeng Restaurant, his mind entirely upied by that matter. After a few days of recuperation, his body had recovered, and he could walk normally again, but he... This left him irritable all day long, wondering if he would never be humane again? He looked up, peering at the Little Maid who was cleaning the room, an idea shing across his eyes: could he be humane? Why not try and see? So he moved towards the Little Maid and attacked her from behind. "Ah." Startled by her young masters sudden action, Xiaohong screamed out, trembling with fear yet not daring to resist her young master, only managing to voice her fright, "Young... young master." The Little Maid was terrified to tears, left silently crying. Li Fuyou, concerned only with his own matters, paid no attention to how the Little Maid felt. A momentter, he stopped his assault, barked angrily at her, "Get out, get out of here." Not understanding why her young master had acted thus, but regardless relieved to be spared, Xiaohong grabbed her clothes and ran out. Li Fuyou sat there, his eyebrows tightly furrowed, his gaze icy cold. He hadnt expected such a result. He couldnt believe it, couldnt believe it was possible! His body had always been strong; how could he be discouraged by such a trivial matter? Impossible, he was Li Fuyou, what problem could bring him down? No, he wouldnt ept this, there must be some mistake. He determined to try again. Chapter 742 - 744: Get Ready, We’re Going to the Brothel

Chapter 742: Chapter 744: Get Ready, Were Going to the Brothel

Thinking of this, Li Fuyou shouted toward the outside, "Amo!" Amo, who was outside, saw the Little Maid run out bare-bodied and knew something was wrong. He hurried into the room and saw his young master disheveled, sitting there. He anxiously began, "Young Master." Li Fuyou couldnt bear this blow. His eyes bloodshot, he barked harshly, "Send all the maids in the mansion to my room." "This..." Amo was puzzled. The young master had never deigned to touch those people, how could he suddenly...? "Havent you gone yet!" Li Fuyou roared again. Amo had no choice but to obey the order, gathering all the Little Maids in the mansion to Li Fuyous room. Amo waited outside and heard nothing but wailsing from within the room; without a doubt, the maids of Li Mansion were being ravaged by Li Fuyou. However, the result did not change; Li Fuyous "third leg" still wouldnt work. "Get out, all of you, get out!" He furiously drove the maids out of his room. Seeing the maids being chased out one after another, Amo hurried into the room. It was the first time he saw such a look of despair in his young masters eyes. He anxiously began, "Young Master." Unable to ept reality, Li Fuyou suddenly became extremely irritable. He stood up, grabbed a chair from the ground, and started wildly smashing everything in the room. This situation terrified Amo. He quickly stepped forward and wrested the chair from his young masters hands, "Young Master, please, calm down." Li Fuyou, deprived of the chair, didnt speak but grabbed another one and continued smashing furiously. Seeing Li Fuyous madness, along with the state of those maids, even the usually slow Amo understood what was happening. His eyes filled with both heartache and anger, realizing this incident had rendered his young master incapable of being a man. "Young Master, calm down. Lets try again. It may not be your fault; maybe those maids just dont know how to serve properly." Hearing this, Li Fuyou paused, hope flickering in his eyes. Amo was right; it had to be the maids fault, not his own inability to be served by them. Seeing his young master finally settled down, Amo quickly soothed him, "Young Master, dont think too much. Youve been sick these past few days,cking the strength. Wait a few days until youre better; youll improve as well." Clearly, Amos words had an effect on Li Fuyou. He decided to take good care of his health and thus spoke, "Amo, find a doctor, I want to improve my health." Quickly, Amo brought a doctor. Of course, for secrecy, they didnt let the doctor look into the issue with men, but instead focused on general health. The doctor said his body was very robust, needing no improvement. Li Fuyou didnt believe it and still had the doctor prescribe a pile of tonics. He took the tonics for nearly ten days, his mind preupied with his bodys condition, whether he could be a man, whether he could continue the family line. The issue made him fall into despair. As for Dongfeng Restaurant, he just went along with what the shopkeepers suggested, organizing promotions to barely maintain the restaurants expenses. One morning, unable to bear the continued dysfunction of his "third leg," Li Fuyou decided to try his luck with the women from the brothel. It was said that the women of the brothel were unrestrained; perhaps they could arouse his desire. "Amo, prepare yourself, were going to the brothel." "Yes, young master." There was a look of deep sympathy in Amos eyes. His young master had always scorned going to the brothel, but now... Chapter 743 - 745 Huaman Building

Chapter 743: Chapter 745 Huaman Building

The carriage soon came to a halt at the most famous brothel in Shanshi County, Huaman Building. After alighting from the carriage, Li Fuyou was filled with disdain, but in order to prove his capability, he still stepped into this ce of carnal pleasures. "Oh, young master, is this your first visit? You look quite unacquainted," the madam called out in greeting, eyeing Li Fuyous attire and knowing immediately that he was a wealthy young man. Li Fuyous expression was cold; he turned his head away. Upon seeing the madam, who was dolled up despite being well into her fifties, her face caked with rouge and powder, he found her odor truly nauseating. "..." The madam, seeing Li Fuyous reaction, felt a profound contempt in her heart, yet she still greeted him with a smiling face, saying, "Young master, what kind of girl are you looking for? Would you like someone gentle or someone coquettish, or maybe..." Li Fuyou remained silent, and it was then that Amo spoke, "Find someone who is beautiful and knows how to attend to people for our young master." "Alright, our top girl, Mudan, is beautiful and knows how to serve. She is reserved only for esteemed guests like you, sir. Please follow me," said the madam leading the way for Li Fuyou. Following the madam, Li Fuyou entered Mudans room, leaving Amo to wait outside. Indeed, Mudan was the star of this ce, exceptionally beautiful, which even made Li Fuyous heart flutter upon seeing her. "Young master, would you like to enjoy a tune first, or shall we proceed directly to..." Without saying a word, Li Fuyou grabbed Mudans hand. "My, young master, youre quite eager," Mudan feigned a demure and innocent demeanor, trying to push Li Fuyou away. "No more nonsense." Impatient, Li Fuyou demanded that Mudan use all her skills on him. True to her reputation as the top courtesan, she took the initiative throughout. Just as Mudan thought it was almost over and reached for that part of Li Fuyou, she was stunned, "My lord..." At that moment, Li Fuyous face turned ashen. He hadnt expected that, despite being stimted by such an astonishing woman, he still could not perform. He feared he was utterly ruined. "Stop with the nonsense, again," he ordered. He grabbed Mudan once more, kissing her wildly, trying multiple times, but in the end, it was still no use. Now Mudan was shocked; this was her first time encountering a guest who just couldnt perform. Beads of sweat rolled down Li Fuyous forehead. He couldnt ept this reality and began to lose control, treating Mudan with increasing roughness. Mudan was tormented by Li Fuyous brusque actions, crying out in pain. Li Fuyou had gone mad; he couldnt ept the fact that he was no longer a man... Amo, who was standing guard outside the door, heard the noises. He was overjoyed for his young master, who could stand proud once againing to this brothel was not in vain, after all. A short whileter, Mudan was utterly spent, barely hanging on, and Li Fuyou finally ceased his actions. He dressed himself and, throwing a silver note onto Mudans face, stepped out the door. Just then, the madam was leading another man over. Upon seeing Li Fuyou, she called out, "Young master, leaving so soon? Were you satisfied with how Mudan served you?" Li Fuyou snorted coldly, about to leave, when a sharp and mocking voice came from behind. "Oh, isnt this the son of the owner of Dongfeng Restaurant? What brings you here, looking for some pleasure?" With those words, the nearby onlookers all turned their gaze to him, scrutinizing Li Fuyou as if watching a monkey, whispering among themselves, "Thats Li Fuyou, huh? He looks decent enough; who would have thought he was into men." Chapter 744 - 746: That Gentleman Cannot Be Reasoned with

Chapter 744: Chapter 746: That Gentleman Cannot Be Reasoned with

"Silence," Amomanded, unable to bear the sight of his young master being humiliated, bellowing in anger. Yet the other party was not intimidated by Amos bellowing and continued with their acidicments, "Young Master Li, you dare to do but not to own up to it? Many people saw what happened that day." Li Fuyous eyes were ominously dark and terrifying as he spoke with contempt, "You are the eldest son of the Zhouji Pawnshop, arent you? I, Li Fuyou, will remember this." The man chuckled, "So what if you remember? Can you eat me? Your Dongfeng Restaurant is about to be crushed by Yui Restaurant, and here you are, still having the leisure to visit a brothel. I truly admire you, truly." "Hmph, whether I have the leisure or not is none of your concern, Young Master Zhou," Li Fuyou paused, then said to Amo, "Lets go, Amo." Just as the two were about to leave, Lady Mudan crawled out from inside, clinging to the madams trouser leg, and said in a dying breath, "Madam, save me." The madam looked down, startled by Mudans appearance. What exactly had Mudan gone through just now? No matter what it was, it was undoubtedly a cruel abuse. She shouted loudly, "Young Master Li, you cannot leave." Li Fuyou and Amo halted their steps and turned back to see the madams ferocious face, pointing at Mudan and asking, "What is the meaning of this?" When the crowd heard the madams voice, they too lowered their heads to look at Mudan at the madams feet. Everyone gasped in shock. Was Li Fuyou not only homosexual but also such a brutal person? The once radiant Lady Mudan had been tortured beyond recognition. Amo was startled. Could it be that his young master had been abusing Lady Mudan inside, and it was not as he had imagined? Li Fuyou, unconcerned, said scornfully, "I paid with silver." This sort of filth, even Li Fuyou himself felt his hands were dirtied by the touch, he would have never bothered if not to prove his virility. "Young Master Li, we run a brothel business here. Indeed, the girl is at your disposal once you have called for her, but we have a rule, you cannot torture someone to the point they cannot serve other clients. You are affecting our business," the madam said. "And what would you have me do?" Li Fuyou inquired. "With her injuries, shell need at least twenty days of rest. Lady Mudan charges fifty taels a night. Pay a thousand taels, and you can leave," the madammanded with a wave of her hand, as her enforcers surrounded them. Li Fuyou, who had been consumed with fury earlier at his impotence, was shocked that he had so carelessly squandered a thousand taels. Not paying seemed to mean they could not leave the ce, so he produced a stack of silver notes, "Take it. I, Li Fuyou, can afford to y." The madam took the silver notes, released them with augh, and Li Fuyou and Amo finally left the brothel. Meanwhile, the crowd had not dispersed, still watching Lady Mudan, who was helped up. The madam scolded, "Mudan, what is this? You cant even serve a customer properly?" Feeling wronged, Mudan spoke up about the truth, "Madam, its not entirely my fault. That gentleman is impotent. No matter what tricks I tried, it was useless. He took out his anger on me and tortured me like this." Upon hearing this revtion, everyone present was astounded. Li Fuyou of Yui Restaurant not only had homosexual proclivities but was also impotenta scandalous piece of news. At this moment, Li Fuyou was unaware that after his visit to the brothel, the news of his impotence had already been leaked. By the time he found out, it was already toote, as the news spread like wildfire across the entirety of Shanshi County overnight. Chapter 745 - 747: The Old Man is Powerless

Chapter 745: Chapter 747: The Old Man is Powerless

Li Fuyou left the Huaman Building with an ashen face, silent throughout the journey, which weighed heavily on Amos heart. But there was nothing he could do about such a matter, trailing behind as the young master stumbled forward. The two quickly returned to Li Mansion. After alighting from the carriage, Li Fuyou had an indescribable look of destion about him, as if he had aged overnight. The sprightly youth of eighteen was nowhere to be found. He spoke faintly, "Amo, go back." Amo had no choice but to obey his young masters instructions and left the room. However, out of concern, he didnt go far, instead standing guard outside the door. Sure enough, once alone in the room, Li Fuyou had another outburst. Unable to ept the inhumane reality, after Amo left, he flipped the table over instantly. The teapot and cups on the table scattered everywhere, clinking and ttering. Fragments of the cups, due to inertia, rebounded onto Li Fuyous face, causing blood to drip down instantly. But Li Fuyou didnt feel the pain at all. All he wanted to do at that moment was to vent his madness. He picked up a chair and smashed it violently, his eyes bloodshot, like a lion on a rampage, furiously demolishing everything in the room. Hearing the noise, Amo rushed into the room. Seeing the chaotic scene and the injury on his young masters face, he was heartbroken. He quickly grabbed his young master, shouting, "Young master, calm down, please, calm down." But Li Fuyou couldnt calm down. He kept struggling and acting out, "Amo, let go of me." Amos eyes also turned bloodshot as he yelled back, "Young master, you cant give up on yourself like this. You werent always helpless before, youre just sick now. We can see a doctor, if its an illness it can be treated." Hearing this, Li Fuyou stopped his actions and calmed down, but the fierce sharpness he once had was also gone. He spoke softly, "Go and fetch the doctor." With a glimmer of hope in his eyes upon hearing this, Amo sent the servants to invite the doctor. He also asked the servants to clean up the mess. The doctor soon arrived at the mansion, and Amo had already informed him at the door about the particr illness to look into, in case the young master couldnt speak for himselfter. After listening, the doctor followed Amo into the room. Momentster, the doctor came out after examining the patient. He shook his head at Amo, "I am powerless to help; Im afraid he will be unable to conduct himself properly for the rest of his life." Heartbroken by this news, Amo knew his young master could not go on like this. He returned to the room and said to the young master, "Young master, the doctor just said theres nothing wrong with that aspect. Youre just shaken. As long as you dont dwell too much on this matter and shift your attention, you will gradually get better." Sure enough, Amos words seemed to persuade Li Fuyou, who brightened up, his gaze clearing once again. He dered that he couldnt possibly be ruined and that there must be some reason for his condition. Indeed, all of this had been orchestrated by the eldest son of the Chu Family, and the humiliation he suffered today was due to him. This deep hatred, Li Fuyou resolved, must be avenged. These past days, he had been preupied with the matter, neglecting the wine business. Now knowing that he wouldnt be affected, he wanted to check on his establishment. "Amo, we will go to the wine shop tomorrow." "Alright." Amo felt an indescribable joy, his young master had finally returned to normal, finally taking interest in the wine business. He too breathed a sigh of relief. Chapter 746 - 748: The News Spreads

Chapter 746: Chapter 748: The News Spreads

Li Fuyou, who had decided to go to Dongfeng Restaurant, set out on the second day. The carriage to Dongfeng Restaurant traveled especially slowly due to the need to pass through a bustling street. Sitting inside the carriage, Li Fuyou, as usual, closed his eyes to rest. However, suddenly, the buzzing of the crowds gossip reached his ears, causing his frown to deepen and hisplexion turned frosty. He called out to the driver ahead, "Amo, stop the carriage." Amo had no choice but to obey the young mastersmand and stopped the carriage. He too had heard the murmurs of the crowd, but he believed the young master would find out sooner orter. He trusted that the young master would be able to bounce back. Once the carriage stopped, the gossip of the crowd could be heard clearly inside. "Something big has happened again." "What big thing?" "The owner of Dongfeng Restaurant, Li Fuyou, went to Huaman Buildingst night and sought out the top courtesan, Mudan." "Who would have thought Li Fuyou was such a libertine? This is indeed big news." "What? Itd be better if he were a libertine." "Whats going on?" "Hes impotent." "What? Who told you that?" "Because of his impotence, he could only torment Lady Mudan, nearly killing her in the process." "Is that so? By what youre saying, does that mean he can only be dominated by men?" "Yes, yes." "Haha, I never imagined that Li Fuyou, who always acts so high and mighty, is impotent and to be dominated by men. What a great delight to hear." "..." "..." As the crowd continued their chatter, inside the carriage Li Fuyou struggled to control his raging emotions. His veins were popping, and his gaze turned icy. He hadnt expected the events of the previous night to spread so quickly. He was always cautious in his dealings, yet this time he had slipped. His fists clenched tightly, he was determined not to ept this humiliation. He would reim his honor. He spoke softly, "Amo, lets go." Seeing that the young master had not lost his temper, Amo was relieved, and the carriage continued on its way, soon arriving at Dongfeng Restaurant. Li Fuyou stepped out of the carriage and entered Dongfeng Restaurant. The once crowded hall was no longer as it had been; now it was deste with only a few scattered customers. In contrast, across the street, the ce was bustling, and there was even a line of people waiting. Li Fuyou sneered. In just a few days, his Dongfeng Restaurant had been eclipsed by the rival Yui Restaurant. Li Fuyou entered a special room in Dongfeng Restaurant designated for his use. After sitting down, his gaze was inscrutable, and he slowly said, "Amo, hows the investigation? Where does Yui Restaurants new dishe from? Whos behind it?" Amo was filled with self-reproach as he hadnt managed to fulfill the young masters task, "Young master, I havent found out yet." Li Fuyou dropped his gaze in silence, deep in thought. After a moment, he lifted his head, his eyes shing with schemes, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly, "Go and poach the chefs from Yui Restaurant." "Yes, young master," Amo replied, suddenly enlightened. The chefs at Yui Restaurant were familiar with those recipes, so bringing them over would serve as a temporary fix. He would then continue to search for the person behind it all. Li Fuyous fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, showing none of his previous dejectedness. He pondered on how tobat Yui Restaurant. His deep eyes were clear, and his thin lips curved, "No matter what, we must find the chef behind Yui Restaurant." Chapter 747 - 749: The Isolated Li Fuyou

Chapter 747: Chapter 749: The Isted Li Fuyou

A momentter, Li Fuyou spoke again, "Amo, go and send out invitations to those young masters and say that I, Li Fuyou, would like to invite everyone to gather at the Dongfeng Restaurant." "Sure, young master, should it be scheduled for..." Amo started to ask. "Lets do it tonight, arrange the kitchen staff to prepare well. Go now." Li Fuyou felt that he couldnt just sit back and wait for his doom at this time; he needed to first win over those young masters. These young masters often dined out, and their family businesses frequently entertained guests at restaurants, making them all potential patrons. Moreover, those people had often frequented Dongfeng Restaurant in the past and had a good rtionship with him. "Understood, I shall make the arrangements right away," Amo said, grasping the intent of his young master, and quickly got everything ready. Li Fuyou, having made the arrangements, was in a rather good mood; his crimson lips curled slightly as he snorted with contempt, "Hmph, thinking that Dongfeng Restaurant will fall so easily, not so simple." Evening arrived quickly, and Li Fuyou was on time, waiting in the elegant private room of Dongfeng Restaurant; the kitchen had everything ready, just awaiting his order to serve the dishes. However, Li Fuyou waited and waited, and after a quarter of an hour, those young masters were still unwilling toe. His brows knitted together tightly, his face dark as coal, he worked hard to suppress the unpleasant emotions rising within him. A little whileter, still none of them had shown up, not even Amo had returned. Li Fuyous temper was on the verge of exploding at any moment. At this time, Amo was imploring those young masters, hoping they would gather with his own young master. However, no one agreed, the reason was simple; they were all proper gentlemen and could not associate with someone rumored to be involved in homosexual rtionships, lest they be misunderstood. Moreover, todays Dongfeng Restaurant was not as prestigious as before, and they were in no mood to muddle through the mess. Amo had no choice but to return and report. Disappointed, he came back to Dongfeng Restaurant, trying hard to conceal his dejected mood so as not to let his young master notice, "Young master, lets not wait any longer. Those young masters are unable toe today. They happen to be busy; we can reschedule for another day." "Oh? Then tell me, which day will theye?" Li Fuyou scoffed, his deep eyes frighteningly intense. Amo didnt know how to respond and stayed silent, suddenly hearing his young masters voice, cold as piercing bone, "Amo, youve been with me for quite some time, and you should know my temper. Are you starting to lie to me too now?" "Amo wouldnt dare." "Would not dare? I think you dare quite a bit," Li Fuyou scoffed, suddenly yelling, "Out with it now!" Left with no other choice, Amo could only tell the truth in a halting voice, "Young master, those young masters cante. Because of your reputation outside, they feel they cant be seen with someone suspected of homosexual rtions, for fear of gossip." "Hahaha." Hearing this, Li Fuyou suddenlyughed uncontrobly, not having expected that even he, Li Fuyou, would face such a day, taken down by this issue. He noted every one of those who had made him look bad, vowing to get back at them one day, "Hehehe." "Young master, young master." Such behavior from the young master worried Amo; his young master had faced one blow after another recently, how could he handle it all? After Li Fuyous uncontrobleughter subsided, he finally stopped smiling, his face ominously dark, his eyes filled with hatred towards the Chu familys eldest son and Yui Restaurant. "Amo, lets go back." "All right, young master." Amo drove the carriage, and the two of them returned to Li Mansion. Chapter 748 - 750: My Lady, I Have Good News for You

Chapter 748: Chapter 750: My Lady, I Have Good News for You

After their marriage, Chu Lian didnt head back to Beijing again, because his grandfather and uncle had sent word that things there had pretty much settled down. His presence would be pointless by now, besides, hearing that he had just gotten married, they suggested he stay in Shibao Town. Chu Lian followed his grandfathers arrangements, stayed at home to apany Wang Xiangxiang, and devoted himself to dealing with Dongfeng Restaurant. One day, Acheng hurried back from outside and whispered something into Chu Lians ear. He entered the room with a smile on his face, "Mydy, I have some good news for you." "What good news?" Wang Xiangxiang was flipping through some misceneous records at the table, simply to pass the time. "Stop looking at those; its tiring. You need to rest." Chu Lian approached the table and snatched the booklet of records from Wang Xiangxiangs hands. "All I do is eat and sleep, sleep and eat all day long. Its unbearably boring." She was being honest. Since she had married into the Chu Mansion, she felt she was bing useless, with everything taken care of by others. Now she was left with nothing but eating and sleeping. And that had been just for half a month, yet she felt she had gained weight. "Bored? Shall I have someone sing a tune for you?" Chu Lian suggested, holding Wang Xiangxiangs hand. "Lets not. Those tunes are not even as good as Xiaoxiaos singing," Wang Xiangxiang responded with a purse of her lips, not beating around the bush, "Last time, Wen Nuan told me that Xiaoxiaos Grand Theater is really popr, with lots of programs and fantastic shows. The ones youre talking about would surely be utterly boring. No, I wont watch them." Chu Lian: "..." Are they really that bad? Those singers are also well-known performers. "What was the good news you were talking about just now?" Wang Xiangxiang then asked. "Oh, right, this piece of news will definitely make you happy, Im sure itll keep you in high spirits all night," Chu Lian said with great confidence, believing it to be a truly joyous development. "Stop keeping me in suspense, out with it!" "Li Fuyou is impotent now!" "What?" Wang Xiangxiang was extremely surprised at this news. Li Fuyou became impotent? No wonder his thinking was so distorted; such a thing would be hard for any man to ept. But she was still a little skeptical, "Husband, who told you this?" "Its all over the streets now. My intention was to use Li Fuyous scandal to distract from our own affairs, but just as that news had begun to spread, Li Fuyou went and sealed his own fate." "How did he seal his fate?" Wang Xiangxiang asked, puzzled. "Last night, he went to Huaman Building and called for the top courtesan, Mudan. Since he was impotent, he nearly tortured Mudan to death." "What?" Wang Xiangxiang stood up, rmed, "How is Mudan doing?" "Mydy, do you know Mudan?" Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs worried expression, Chu Lian was surprised. Mudan was the top courtesan at Huaman Building, and Xiangxiang seemed quite acquainted with her. Wang Xiangxiang nodded and exined, "Mudan is a big client of mine; shes brought me a lot of business, and we get along very well and have great rapport." "I see. Although Mudan was severely mistreated, she didnt die. Because of that incident, Li Fuyou had topensate with a thousand taels of silver." Chu Lian smiled at this. This time, Li Fuyou had really lost on both fronts C his wife and his soldiers. The affair was causing a huge stir outside, and it would certainly give Li Fuyou enough trouble to deal with. Seeing Xiangxiangs concerned appearance, Chu Lian continued, "Mydy, dont worry, that Mudan is fine." Chapter 749 - 751: You Really Are Forgetful!

Chapter 749: Chapter 751: You Really Are Forgetful!

Upon hearing Chu Lian say this, Wang Xiangxiang also felt relieved, but since Mudan had an ident, her mood was not very high. Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs mood was low, Chu Lian then said, "Mydy, let me take you to Yui Restaurant." Indeed, this sentence piqued Wang Xiangxiangs interest, her eyes brightened, but then she thought, "Havent you forbidden me from going out?" "I forbade you from going out alone. Now that I am with you, isnt it fine?" Chu Lian said with a smile filling his eyes. "Then lets go quickly." Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang could no longer restrain herself. She grabbed Chu Lians hand and headed out. She had been cooped up in Chu Mansion these past few days until she felt she was going moldy. She couldnt stand staying in any longer, and she also missed Fufu. "Mydy, slow down, be careful of our son." Thus, the two of them took the carriage to Yui Restaurant. As soon as they arrived at the restaurant, Wang Xiangxiang was startled by the overcrowded scene. She had heard Chu Lian mention the restaurant before, but seeing it with her own eyes still gave her a shock, especially since it wasnt even mealtime yet. Moreover, this was just a restaurant in Shibao Town; the ones in Shanshi County could perhaps be even more bustling. Due to the crowd, Chu Lian, fearing that Wang Xiangxiang would be squeezed, kept her protected with his hand throughout, his actions very affectionate. This affectionate gesture was noticed by a woman in the hall who was eating. Her brows furrowed, her expression unreadable. When Chu Lian embraced Wang Xiangxiang, she mmed the table and stood up, causing amotion in the hall. Yet, she paid no heed to themotion and walked towards Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang with a furious expression. The Little Maid hurrying behind her called out, "Youngdy, where are you going?" The woman quickly walked up to Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang and unceremoniously knocked Chu Lians hand off Wang Xiangxiang. Chu Lian was taken aback by this confrontation. He quickly shielded Wang Xiangxiang behind him and said with a displeased face, "Miss, who are you? What does this mean?" "You dont recognize me now? You really are forgetful!" "..." Chu Lian tried hard to remember, but he genuinely did not recognize this woman. Could she be another of his admirers? "Im sorry, I dont know you." "Heh, what a thing to say, well, if you dont know, then you dont know. But first, tell me who she is?" the woman scoffed, using her hand to point at Wang Xiangxiang behind him. At this moment, Wang Xiangxiangs face looked very unpleasant. It was clear to her that this woman was one of Chu Lians unwanted admirers from outside. Before Chu Lian could speak, Wang Xiangxiang, angered, stepped out from under Chu Lians protection and said, "Miss, I am his wife. Who are you?" Upon hearing this, the woman became even angrier, ignoring Wang Xiangxiang and staring at Chu Lian, "Hmph, I thought you were a honest and decent man. Who would have guessed youre this fickle? Shes your wife?" The woman raised an eyebrow, "Then what about that wife you married officially a few months ago?" Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian finally realized that the woman before them must have mistaken him for someone else. Hence, Chu Lian said, "Miss, you must be mistaken. I am the Young Master of this Yui Restaurant, named Chu Lian. This is the wife I just married half a month ago. I have not married anyone else before." "What?" Upon hearing this, the woman expressed surprise, her face a mix of disbelief and shock. She looked towards the crowd, and everyone nodded in agreement, affirming that what the man said was true. Chapter 750 - 752: In This Regard, I Follow My Dad

Chapter 750: Chapter 752: In This Regard, I Follow My Dad

The woman had a look of confusion, as if she didnt know who she was or where she was, and her fair face instantly flushed red, but she remained perplexed, since she clearly hadnt mistaken anyone. She immediately changed from her angry expression to a shy smile, and said quickly while looking down, "Sorry, I just mistook you for someone else, how rude of me. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and an early birth of a noble child." After saying that, she ran off faster than a rabbit, asionally looking back to gesture to her maid to follow her, her strange behavior and expressions leaving Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian in a daze. The little maid hastily paid the bill, shouting, "Miss, wait for me!" and then she too ran out. After this episode, the shopkeeper quickly spoke up to calm everyone down, and everyone returned to their seats to continue their meals. Although the restaurant was crowded, Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang still had a seat, as every Yui Restaurant reserved a private room specifically for their own family members. As Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang entered the private room, Wang Xiangxiang asked, "Husband, do you have any unwanted suitors outside?" "No, absolutely not," Chu Lian replied seriously. "Its better if there arent." Wang Xiangxiang pursed her lips. Although she said this, she was well aware that in a family like the Chu Family, taking concubines was normal, and even if Chu Lian wanted to take a concubine, she couldnt object. Chu Lian seemed to see what Wang Xiangxiang was thinking, and taking her hand, said indulgently, "Dont worry, you are the only one for me in this lifetime." Wang Xiangxiang was extremely surprised by his words. How many men were willing to forego taking concubines? "My dad had only my mom his entire life. In this matter, I follow my dad." "Puhahaha." Wang Xiangxiang felt warm inside. To find someone who would be yours alone in this lifetime was such good fortune. She had spent several years searching and finally, it was not in vain, "Thank you, husband." Chu Lian patted Wang Xiangxiangs head. "Alright, stop overthinking, that kind of thing is absolutely not going to happen, just rest easy." "Okay." Wang Xiangxiang nodded, "By the way, that girl was really interesting, so young and yet so bold, daring to publicly use you of being fickle." Wang Xiangxiang thought to herself, what a daring girl from an unknown family she was, to confront someone so openly in public. Typically, women were much reserved in public, especially unmarried girls. If seen behaving this way, it might be difficult for them to get married. That girl was obviously around fourteen or fifteen years old, still unwed. Clearly, she was standing up for a friend, and to disregard her own reputation for someone elses sake was no small feat. Plus, her actions as she was leaving had been quite cute to Wang Xiangxiang. She recognized most of the youngdies from Shanshi Countys families, yet this girl was unfamiliar to her. "I am definitely not fickle, heaven and earth can attest to that," Chu Lian immediately added. Wang Xiangxiang smiled wryly, "Hehe, I know youre not fickle. I just thought that girl was very interesting. I wonder which familys youngdy she is?" Chu Lian thought for a moment, he really had no recollection of the girl, "Perhaps shes new here, Ive never seen her before." "Alright, lets stop talking about her. I brought you today to try something delicious, the new dishes at Yui Restaurant are sure to please you," Chu Lian said with full confidence, knowing well Xiangxiangs special affection for good food. Chapter 751 - 753: The Number One Restaurant of the Dynasty

Chapter 751: Chapter 753: The Number One Restaurant of the Dynasty

Very soon, Xiaoer had brought out all the dishes until the table was brimming with food. Wang Xiangxiang counted roughly twenty dishes. Although she loved to eat, this seemed excessive. "Husband, isnt this a bit much?" she asked. "They havent even brought everything yet, but lets just start with these for now. We can eat the rest another time," he replied. Gazing at the table full of dishes, their aroma wafting enticingly, Wang Xiangxiangs appetite was indeed stirred. She picked up her chopsticks and started eating. As she ate, she couldnt stop praising the food. "Mmm, its so delicious. We hardly ever see these dishes in Shanshi County," she said. Chu Lian reminded her, "Eat slowly, dont choke." Up until now, he still felt as if marrying her was like a dream, surreal. Yet these days, she really had been sleeping by his side. Watching her every move, even just a smile, filled his heart with joy. Wang Xiangxiang ate and marveled at the same time, "Did Li Fugui make all this? It hasnt been that long. Hes really impressive." It had only been a couple of months. "Yes, mainly its Li Fuguis achievement. But I also sent many cooks to help him, so many of the dishes have been improved. In short, the n this time was a sess, and we were able to serve the dishes quickly," he exined. "Husband, Ive realized that youre the real mastermind here. With Li Fugui, Yui Restaurant has taken off. Youre aiming to be the number one restaurant in the dynasty," Wang Xiangxiang teased, raising an eyebrow. Chu Lian curled his lip, "Yui Restaurant has always been number one in the dynasty. Which other restaurant can you find everywhere?" She was speechless. No other establishment had the strength to expand their business everywhere like that. She also wanted to expand Cloth Shop to other ces, but shecked the manpower, material resources, and finances. She could only make do in Shanshi County. "Husband, does the Chu Family have any other businesses besides the restaurant?" Wang Xiangxiang suddenly became curious. "What other kinds of businesses would you like the Chu Family to have?" he asked. "What do you mean would I like? Im asking if there are any other businesses," she rified. "No, the Chu Family currently only runs restaurants. But if my wife wants another type of business, Ill make it happen right away," Chu Lian said affectionately. Wang Xiangxiang was speechless. It was as if she hadnt spoken. "By the way, does Li Fugui know about our n to hit Dongfeng Restaurant? You did promise him he could return there," she remembered. "Dont worry, Li Fugui and I are now rted by marriage. When the timees, Dongfeng Restaurant will be reserved for him," he assured her. "You talk as if you could really snatch Dongfeng Restaurant away," she teased. "Just watch if I can take it," he retorted. He had never bothered topete before, but now he was serious. "If Li Fugui really goes back to Dongfeng Restaurant, whats that got to do with your Yui Restaurant? Li Fugui is so talented," Wang Xiangxiang yfully pointed out. This was indeed a matter for concernhow would the two restaurants coexist peacefully in the future? "Do you think your husband is any less capable than Li Fugui?" he questioned. Wang Xiangxiang nodded with augh, "Well, Im not wrong. Your culinary skills really dont match up to Li Fuguis." He could not allow his wife to believe he was inferior to anyone, in any aspect. "Wife, when we return home, Ill practice my cooking diligently. I promise you and our son will enjoy delicious meals," he vowed. "No!" she protested. She had heard from Chu Huan that Chu Lian had poisoned their family for several daysshe wanted to live a little longer. "What, you dont believe me?" he asked. Wang Xiangxiang waved her hands frantically, "No, its not that. I just dont want you to tire yourself out. If youre busy learning to cook, who will keep mepany?" Chapter 752 - 754: Aren’t We Supposed to Meet Fufu?

Chapter 752: Chapter 754: Arent We Supposed to Meet Fufu?

Indeed, Wang Xiangxiangs words were very effective, and Chu Lian decided to apany her instead of learning to cook. Wang Xiangxiang also felt relieved. She was unwilling for him to tire himself out for her sake, and also believed that his time should not be wasted in such a manner, as everyone has their own strengths. Wang Xiangxiang enjoyed this meal very much; she ate happily and was well-sated, without experiencing any morning sickness. As the two of them prepared to return, Chu Lian noticed Wang Xiangxiang hesitate to speak. He took the initiative to ask, "Wife, whats the matter?" After some thought, Wang Xiangxiang spoke up, "I would like to see Fufu." "Lets head back now." Seeing that Chu Lian agreed, Wang Xiangxiang couldnt contain her joy. She had known that he wouldnt restrict her. If it werent for fear of Li Fuyou causing trouble, she would havee out earlier. She happily followed Chu Lian into the carriage, but after a while, the carriage stopped. "Lets get off." Wang Xiangxiang was perplexed. They couldnt possibly have reached the county that quickly. Nevertheless, she followed his lead and alighted from the carriage. Once she did, she was distraught to find they were at Chu Mansion. She was angry. Was he not allowing her to see her brother? Was he trying to limit her freedom? With a pout, she showed her displeasure and stood there, refusing to enter. She was ready to throw a tantrum. "Lets go inside." "I wont." "Didnt you want to see Fufu?" Chu Lian said, holding Wang Xiangxiangs hand, with a pampering tone. On hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang was extremely surprised. What did he mean? Could it be that Fufu was inside? She turned to look at Chu Lian and saw him looking back at her with a smile. Knowing she was right, she eagerly gripped Chu Lians hand and walked towards the house. "Is Fufu really inside? When did you bring him over? Why didnt you tell me?" The corners of Chu Lians mouth lifted slightly. He knew she would be overjoyed. He was aware of her daily longing for Fufu, and he couldnt bear to see her unhappy from missing him. Thus, he decided on a day and sent Acheng to bring Fufu over. After all, Fufu was just a little child; how could they leave him alone at Wang Mansion? No matter how well the servants looked after him, they werent family. "Acheng went to fetch him today." "Thank you," she said. "Theres no need for thanks between us two." The couple reached the front hall quickly. Before they even entered, they heard Little Fufus voice. He seemed very happy, in thepany of Old Master Chu, Madam Chu, and Chu Huan. As Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang entered the room, Little Fufu heard the sound of the door and turned to see Wang Xiangxiang. He ran over and clung to her leg, "Sis, Ive missed you so much. You havente home for so many days." Wang Xiangxiangs eyes filled with tenderness. She crouched down to embrace Fufu, "Sis missed you too." Wang Xiangxiang then attempted to lift Fufu, but Chu Lian stopped her, "Youre pregnant now." After speaking, Chu Lian turned to Fufu and exined, "Fufu, you cant let your sister carry you. Shes got your big nephew in her belly, and it will tire her to lift you." Little Fufu seemed only partially to understand, but he grasped the idea that his sister holding him would make her tired, and he nodded in agreement. "Okay, I wont let Sis carry me." Wang Xiangxiang held Little Fufus hand, "Fufu, this is your brother-inw, call him brother-inw." Little Fufu sweetly called out, "Brother-inw." This one term of endearment made Chu Lian exceedingly happy. He eagerly responded, "Eh." "..." Wang Xiangxiang was at a loss for words. Was he really this happy to be called brother-inw? Chapter 753 - 755: Living Here From Now On

Chapter 753: Chapter 755: Living Here From Now On

Fufus presence made Wang Xiangxiang particrly happy, her smile fully disyed on her face. She pulled Fufu inside to where Old Master Chu and Madam Chu were and sweetly called out, "Father, Mother." Then, turning to Fufu, she asked, "Fufu, do you know how to properly greet people? Do you know what to call them?" "Fufu knows, its Uncle, Auntie, and Sister." Little Fufu spoke in a baby voice, showing no shyness at all. Madam Chu too smiled warmly. It had been many years since the Chu Mansion had such a small child. She was particrly delighted, "Fufu is especially well-behaved and sensible. He even showed us how he could recognize characters just now." "Ha ha, Mother, its good as long as Fufu hasnt caused you any trouble." Wang Xiangxiang spoke somewhat shyly; Fufu was so young that it wouldnt be good if he caused any trouble for everyone. "Its no trouble at all; we really like Fufu. Besides, we old folks dont have much to do all day, and its rather boring. Having Fufu around just livens things up for us," Madam Chuughed. "Thank you, Auntie, for liking Fufu. Then Fufu will recite the Three Character ssic for Auntie." Little Fufu was quite the charmer and knew how to make himself liked. Upon hearing this, Madam Chus face lit up with joy, and she quickly pulled Fufu into her arms. "Fufu is so amazing, already able to recite the Three Character ssic." Little Fufu then recited from Madam Chus embrace, "People at birth, are naturally good, their natures simr, their habits make them different..." Seeing Fufu getting along well with his grandmother, Wang Xiangxiang felt reassured. She turned to Chu Lian and said, "My love, can Fufu stay here for a few nights?" "Not just a few nights, but from now on," Chu Lian looked at Wang Xiangxiang with a smile. Wang Xiangxiang was both shocked and delighted by this statement, implying they wanted Fufu to stay with them permanently. She could hardly believe it, as its rare for a younger brother to live at his sisters house. "Really?" "Of course. Fufu is such a small child, how can we leave him alone in the Wang Mansion? Its all my oversight. Actually, we should have brought him over much sooner." Though Chu Lian said this, Wang Xiangxiang was still somewhat worried because her inws had not yet agreed. She turned to look at Old Master Chu and Madam Chu. Old Master Chu nodded, "Lets keep Fufu here. Look how well he gets along with your mother." Madam Chu held Fufu and added, "Yes, this child is so endearing. Lets keep him here; Ill help you take care of him." "Sister, dont worry. Dad and Mom get so bored every day. Its good for them to have something to do," Chu Huan also spoke the truth, to prevent her mother from causing any trouble. Having a small child around, she wouldnt have time for other things. Wang Xiangxiang was overjoyed upon hearing this. She had always been worried about her brother, and leaving him in the Wang Mansion wasnt suitable. Wanting to bring him to the Yang Family felt ufortable, and the best solution was to have him close by, but she had been unable to broach the subject. To her surprise, her inws broached the topic first, which moved her deeply. She quickly expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, Father, thank you, Mother, thank you, Sister." "All right, no need for such formalities among family. Come on, lets go see Fufus room. Its all prepared," Chu Lian said, beckoning to Fufu, "Fufu,e, lets go see your room with your sister and brother-inw." "Okay, then Uncle, Auntie, Sister, Fufu will go first," Little Fufu politely said goodbye, then took Wang Xiangxiangs and Chu Lians hands and left the front hall. Chapter 754 - 756 Sister, I Want to Sleep with You

Chapter 754: Chapter 756 Sister, I Want to Sleep with You

They quickly returned to Chu Lians courtyard, and Little Fufus room was arranged next to theirs. Moreover, the maid who was specially assigned to take care of Fufu at the Wang Mansion also came with them. As they entered the room, the maid bowed to Wang Xiangxiang, "Miss." Seeing the maid, Wang Xiangxiang understood everything; Chu Lian had taken care of all the details thoroughly. Little Fufu was also very pleased with his new room and curious about Chu Lians separate courtyard, happily following the maid around to explore the yard. Watching Fufus joyful demeanor, Wang Xiangxiang felt happy herself, her gratitude beyond words. After Little Fufu came back, Chu Lian took a jade pendant from his own room and gave it to Fufu, "Fufu, this is your brother-inws gift for our first meeting." "Thank you, brother-inw." Little Fufu took the jade pendant to fiddle with, seemingly very interested in it. "Fufu, dont break it, your sister will keep it for you. When you grow up, Ill give it back to you." "Oh." Little Fufu agreed and obediently handed the jade pendant to Wang Xiangxiang. "This is for Fufu, why did you take it away?" asked Chu Lian. "Fufu is still too young to wear something so valuable. When hes older, Ill give it back to him," Wang Xiangxiang exined. "..." He wanted to say that if Fufu broke it, he would buy another one, but this approach wasnt conducive to educating the child, so he remained silent. Little Fufu seemed very satisfied with this new home, spending the whole day in high spirits and getting along well with everyone. Soon it was time to sleep at night, and Little Fufu was taken to wash up by the maid. Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian were washing up inside the room, just getting ready to sleep, when they heard Little Fufus voice, "Sis." The maid, feeling quite embarrassed, called out from outside, "Miss, young master, Im sorry. Ill take Fufu back right away." Wang Xiangxiang hurried to the door and opened it, "Fufu, whats wrong?" Little Fufu clung to Wang Xiangxiangs thigh, "Sis, I want to sleep with you." The Little Maid hurriedly said from behind, "Young master, lets go back to sleep. We shouldnt disturb sister and brother-inw." But Little Fufu clung to Wang Xiangxiangs thigh and wouldnt let go, "No, I want to sleep with sister. Its been so many days since I slept with her." Seeing Fufus demeanor, Wang Xiangxiang said to the maid, "You go back first." "Yes, Miss." The maid had no choice but to leave. Wang Xiangxiang led Little Fufu into the room, and Chu Lian heard all their conversation. He felt as if he had brought back a little rival for himself. He spoke up, "Fufu, just for one night. Can you go back to your own room to sleep tomorrow night?" "..." Little Fufu said nothing, clearly unwilling. Chu Lian continued, "Sister has a little baby in her belly. If you sleep with her and your feet identally kick her belly, the baby will get upset. That little baby is your grandnephew. If he gets upset, he wont y with you when hees out." "When will hee out?" "He wille out in a little over seven months, so now you need to protect your grandnephew. From tomorrow on, youll go back to sleep in your room, okay?" "Okay." Little Fufu nodded in agreement. Wang Xiangxiang pursed her lips and smiled; he was quite good at coaxing children. Children fall asleep fast. Little Fufu was asleep as soon as he climbed onto the bed. Wang Xiangxiang tucked him in properly and saw Chu Lian open up his own corner of the quilt, smiling at her. Feeling shy, Wang Xiangxiang smiled and then snuggled into the bed. Chu Lian covered her with the quilt, wrapped his arms around her, and the two of them fell asleep sweetly. Chapter 755 - 757 Do not touch my son under any circumstances

Chapter 755: Chapter 757 Do not touch my son under any circumstances

Shanshi County That night, Yui Restaurant closed, and Chef Wu left the restaurant, walking on the quiet streets, heading to his residence. Suddenly, he waspletely covered by a sack, and he panicked, shouting, "Who? What do you want? Let me go immediately." But the other party said nothing, dragging him as he struggled and shouted, "Someone, help! Help, is there anyone?" Upon hearing Chef Wus shouting, one of them chopped down a hand signal, and he was knocked unconscious. The unconscious Chef Wu was thrown into a horse carriage, which sped away. In an inconspicuous courtyard in Shanshi County, Li Fuyou was waiting there. Amo dragged Chef Wu in the sack into the house, "Young master, I have brought the man." Upon hearing Amos words, Li Fuyou nced at the sack, "Open it." After Amo removed the sack, Chef Wu was revealed. Li Fuyous lips slightly curled up, "Wake him up." "Yes, young master." Amo shook Chef Wu, and finding no response, ordered someone to fetch a bucket of ice-cold water and sshed it on Chef Wus face. Chef Wu immediately jerked awake from the ssh, shaking his head, "Who, who is it really?" Seated there, Li Fuyou, with eyes as deep as the night, slightly smiled and looked down, "Chef Wu, do you know who I am?" Hearing the voice, Chef Wu, disregarding his drenched state, looked towards the source of the voice. His eyes widened instantly, "Its you, Li Fuyou, the owner of Dongfeng Restaurant." "Exactly, it is I," Fuyou replied. Chef Wus expression flickered as he spoke, "I wonder why the owner of Dongfeng Restaurant would kidnap me?" Sitting there, Li Fuyou chuckled coldly, "Oh, Chef Wu, you indeed feign ignorance." Chef Wu yed dumb, "How would I know if you dont tell me?" Li Fuyou gave Amo a look, who then spoke, "Our young master would like to invite you to be a chef at our Dongfeng Restaurant." Chef Wu looked up, struggling and said discontentedly, "Is this your way of inviting someone?" Li Fuyou scoffed, "Release him." Only then was Chef Wu released by the men restraining him and he quickly sorted out his disheveled appearance. "Chef Wu, as long as youe to our Dongfeng Restaurant, I assure you will never have to worry about food and clothing," Li Fuyou stated. "No need, I cannot possibly work for you," Chef Wu tly refused. Hearing this, Li Fuyou, with a fierce look that seemed murderous, "Chef Wu, do not take punishment instead of drinking a toast. Do you think you can leave today if you refuse?" Chef Wu stood there, still silent, and at a signal from Li Fuyou, Amo beat him up. "Ouch!" Chef Wu kept crying out in pain, but still refused to agree. While Chef Wu was being beaten, Li Fuyou suddenly spoke, "Chef Wu, I wonder how your son has been recently?" Hearing this, Chef Wu reacted immediately, shouting, "What have you done to my son?" "We havent done anything to him, but if you refuse, its hard to say what might happen to your son," Li Fuyou casually uttered the threat. "I agree, please do not harm my son," Chef Wu reluctantlypromised. Hearing this, Li Fuyous face was full of triumphant smiles, "Rest assured, as long as you perform well." Li Fuyou then gave Acheng a look, "Take him down and clean him up." "Yes, young master." Chapter 756 - 758: It is Said That This Person’s Tongue is Unmatched

Chapter 756: Chapter 758: It is Said That This Persons Tongue is Unmatched

Soon, Chef Wu, having been tidied up, was brought up again. Li Fuyou was still sitting there, eyes closed, leisurely tapping on the table with his fingers in a rhythmic manner, the sound of tapping echoing continuously in the room. "Young Master," Amo called out to remind him. "Mm," Li Fuyou nodded, opened his eyes, and looked at Chef Wu. He pushed the paper and ink forward on the table and spoke slowly, "Chef Wu, heres the writing material. Please take the trouble to write down the dishes." Chef Wus eyes were full of unwillingness, but he had to obey, so he walked up to the table, sat down, picked up the brush, and began to write. Li Fuyou was very pleased with Chef Wus performance; the corners of his mouth carried a sinister smile, and his eyes were extremely sharp. It wasnt going to be easy for Dongfeng Restaurant to copse. After a while, Chef Wu stopped writing. Amo presented the list of dishes written by Chef Wu, and upon receiving it, Li Fuyous brows furrowed tightly, and his face looked extremely unpleasant. He flung the recipes onto Chef Wus face and said coldly, "Chef Wu, are you ying games with me? With more than a hundred dishes at Yui Restaurant, you only wrote down these few?" Looking at the scattered papers on the floor, totaling at most thirty, could a chef only know this handful of dishes? Despite having the papers pped on his face, Chef Wu did not get angry. Instead, he picked up the dishes he had written and then said, "Young Master Li, you are overestimating me. Yui Restaurant doesnt have just one chef. There are many chefs, and each one only manages a few dishes. I never had the chance to get involved with the other dishes. These thirty dishes are precisely the ones I was responsible for at Yui Restaurant." Li Fuyou hadnt expected the Chu Familys young master to be so meticulous in his thinking. It wouldnt be easy to demand all the recipes from Yui Restaurant, but having these thirty dishes should help them persevere for a while, especially since some of them were the new dishes recently introduced by Yui Restaurant. He spoke fiercely, "Youd better be telling the truth, or else you will regret it." "Young Master Li, every word I say is true," Chef Wu assured. Li Fuyous gaze was piercing as he then asked, "The new dishes at Yui Restaurant, who is behind them?" "I dont know about that, but its said that persons taste is exceptional. As long as he has tasted a dish, he can discern every ingredient used in it. Yui Restaurant has been able to create so many new dishes because of him. Its said that this person is currently traveling around, tasting dishes from different ces." Hearing this, a hint of surprise shed through Li Fuyous eyes. There was actually such an incredible person in the world. If this person were to join Dongfeng Restaurant... Feeling there was nothing more to ask, Li Fuyou then gave Amo a look, and Amo took Chef Wu away. After a while, Amo returned, and Li Fuyou said, "Let Chef Wu take over the kitchen in Dongfeng Restaurant in the county tomorrow. I want to see how good his culinary skills really are." "Yes, Young Master. What about the other taverns in town..." Amo voiced his question. Li Fuyou gave a slight smile, "First send down the dishes, let them try making them. In a few days, once the chefs in the county restaurant have learned them, they can go teach the others." Amo nodded and continued to ask, "Young Master, should we capture more chefs?" "No need," Li Fuyous lips curled up slightly. How would the Chu Familys young master react if he found out the chefs had run off to their ce? "No matter how many people are sent, they must find the person Chef Wu mentioned." "Yes, Young Master." Chapter 757 - 759: Isn’t there a mole among you?

Chapter 757: Chapter 759: Isnt there a mole among you?

The next morning, Dongfeng Restaurant hung a sign at the entrance announcing new dishes at lower prices than those of Yui Restaurant across the street. To spread the news further, they even sent Xiaoer out to shout about it. "Ladies and gentlemen, our Dongfeng Restaurant also introduced new dishes today. Everyone is wee toe and try them; they are absolutely delicious and very affordable..." Xiaoers shouting indeed attracted a crowd of onlookers. The dishes at Dongfeng Restaurant werent bad at all; the reason it had been so quiet was solely because of the new dishes introduced by Yui Restaurant across the street. These dishes, after all, were brought in from outside the area, and many people were eager to try something new. Now that Dongfeng Restaurant had introduced the same dishes, it was only natural for customers toe back, especially since the prices were even lower than those at Yui Restaurant. As expected, on the first day itself, Dongfeng Restaurant regained many of its customers. However, the numbers were still less than before, as many people were still watching and waiting. The same dishes at Yui Restaurant had already made a name for themselves, and people were unsure about the taste at Dongfeng Restaurant. This situation resulted in fewer people in front of Yui Restaurant; after all, Shanshi County was only so big, with a limited poption and a finite number of diners. If they werent dining at one ce, they were at another. Yui Restaurant Xiaoer, looking quite annoyed, ran into the building and eximed, "Shopkeeper, theyve started offering the same dishes as us across the street." Shopkeeper Wang wasnt too surprised by what Xiaoer said and instead asked, "Has Chef Wue in today?" "Now that you mention it, howe Chef Wu hasnt arrived yet?" Xiaoer asked in return. "Alright, go attend to the customers," Shopkeeper Wang waved him off. Xiaoer then went to attend to the customers. Due to the buzz created by Dongfeng Restaurant across the street, many people in the hall were talking about it. Some of the regrs even voiced their concerns, "Im saying, Shopkeeper Wang, howe they are offering the same dishes as you across the street? You dont have a mole, do you?" "Thank you for your concern. Rest assured, we at Yui Restaurant have no mole," Shopkeeper Wang exined. The conversation soon shifted to other topics, "Even if the dishes are the same as those at Yui Restaurant, I wont go there. The owner of Dongfeng Restaurant has a taste for male favorites; who knows who might be targeted next." "Haha, arent you being a bit paranoid? With your looks, they wont target you!" Thisment caused everyone to burst intoughter, "Hahaha." "Even if he targets someone, it wouldnt matter. Hes always the one being dominated," someone joked. This remark provoked another round of heartyughter, "Hahaha." "That Mr. Li is indeed quite handsome, with his fair skin and all. He also looks quite feminine and is young too." "..." "..." Suddenly, everyone started discussing Mr. Li Fuyous inability to conduct himself properly and his taste for male favorites. This topic would likely be a staple among the people of Shanshi County for a long time toe. Whenever Mr. Li made a move, it would give people something to talk about. Seeing everyone engaged in lively discussions, Shopkeeper Wang didnt interrupt. Instead, he returned to the counter and instructed someone to go to the Chu Family in Shibao County to inform them about this development. Chu Lian soon learned of this news. He wasnt overly surprised but revealed a knowing smile, "I see. Go back and tell Shopkeeper Wang to continue business as usual and watch for changes." Chapter 758 - 760: Is it a misunderstanding? Let everyone judge for themselves

Chapter 758: Chapter 760: Is it a misunderstanding? Let everyone judge for themselves

Because of Chef Wus reputation, Dongfeng Restaurant had regained its usual business within just three days. That day, Li Fuyou was sitting in a private room of Dongfeng Restaurant, enjoying his tea with a rather pleasant mood, a smile lingering at the corners of his mouth, "Amo, has the Chu Familys young master been up to anything these past few days?" "Young master, Yui Restaurant hasnt made any other moves, just conducting business as usual," Amo replied. "Heh," Li Fuyou chuckled lightly, werent they supposed to crush me? It seemed they had ceased their actions so soon. Was the Chu Familys young master not as formidable as he thought? He stillcked the viciousness. He then inquired, "Has that person been found?" "Not yet." "Keep looking," a cold light shed in Li Fuyous eyes, he was determined to find the person behind the scenes. "Yes, young master." As the two were talking, suddenly amotion arose from the main hall, a look of surprise shed across Li Fuyous eyes, and his brows furrowed. Was someone causing trouble on his turf? He gave a look, and Amo, taking the cue, went out the door. In the main hall Suddenly, someone stood up, eximing in surprise, "Hey, what is this?" Such an exmation drew the attention of others dining in the hall; they all looked toward the source of the noise, only to see that person poking through the food with chopsticks and then pulling something out, followed by another shout, "Ah, its a cockroach!" The man, frightened, threw down his chopsticks, and the discarded cockroach, by a stroke of bad luck,nded in the dish of another table, causing the diners there to cry out in rm, "Ah, it really is a cockroach!" Both tables were angered by the incident, and they called out loudly, "Shopkeeper!" Upon hearing the guests screams, the shopkeeper hurried over, equally startled by the situation; how could there be cockroaches in the food? "Dear guests, could there be some misunderstanding? Our Dongfeng Restaurants dishes are very clean." The expression on that guests face was one of rage as he picked up the cockroach with his chopsticks to show the shopkeeper, indignantly saying, "Misunderstanding? Then exin this to me, will you?" "Dear guest, this is indeed a cockroach, but it might not havee from our dishes; there must be some mistake," the shopkeeper argued. The guest roared, "So what are you implying? That I brought it and am framing you? I was just having a meal, why would I trouble myself like this?" Clearly, the guests words swayed the crowd, and many began to murmur in agreement. "No, dear guest, I did not mean that. I was just thinking it could havee from somewhere else..." the shopkeeper tried to cate the guest with a smile, but the man was not having any of it. Instead, he shouted in the hall, "Everyone, stop eating! Come and see! Theres a cockroach in the food at Dongfeng Restaurant, the food is unclean, who dares to eat now? You might get a stomachache, and if someone dies from it, then its even worse." The shopkeeper quickly interjected, "Dear guest, please dont talk nonsense." "Im talking nonsense? The evidence is right here, is the cockroach also fake?" the guest argued back, then continued, "Who knows, maybe your kitchen is full of these cockroaches. Whether its a misunderstanding or not, let everyone have a look and well know." "This..." the shopkeeper was at a loss for words. But by this time, the crowd had already been stirred up, "Yeah, shopkeeper, is there something wrong with your restaurants food? Lets all go to the kitchen and find out." Chapter 759 - 761: Entering the Kitchen

Chapter 759: Chapter 761: Entering the Kitchen

Shopkeeper didnt know what to do anymore; public outrage had already erupted, and it seemed impossible not to lead everyone to inspect the kitchen. "Shopkeeper, looking at you like this, there must be something wrong with your restaurant, right? Otherwise, why wouldnt you dare to let everyone go see?" "Theres definitely an issue, otherwise how could there be cockroaches in the food?" "I said we should eat across the street, but you all insisted this ce was cheaper. Now look whats happened." "Who would have thought this ce was so deceitful? If I had known this, I wouldnt havee here even if you killed me." "No wonder its cheaper than the ce across the street, turns out its because the food isnt clean." "..." "..." The crowd was in an uproar, everyone was discussing the issue heatedly, saying that Dongfeng Restaurant was inexpensive because there was something wrong with the food, and eventually, the topic turned back to Li Fuyou. "The owner of that ce is problematic himself, indulging in unnatural rtions, and now it turns out his restaurant has problems too." "From now on, we cant deal with such people." "..." "..." As soon as Amo stepped out, he heard everyone discussing his young masters indecency, and he was immediately furious, "All of you shut up." But the crowd simply couldnt be stopped. "Oh, isnt this hisckey? We start talking and he gets this angry, there must be something going on between them." "Young man, you are so blindly loyal to your young master, but your young master cant stand being alone, turning to beggars, and going to brothels, it really must be tough on you." Amo was so angered by what everyone was saying that he shouted at the crowd, "Shut up, all of you, our young master is not sick at all, and if anyone says otherwise, watch out, Ill beat them." Seeing Amo so angry, the crowd no longer brought up the topic of Li Fuyous indencency. But the cockroach issue hadnt been resolved yet, and the patron who had found it was relentless, "You must give us an exnation today, this cant just be let go." "Thats right, we need an exnation. Let everyone go see the kitchen." As the crowd spoke, they had already begun walking towards the kitchen; the staff from Dongfeng Restaurant couldnt hold them back, and like a swarm, everyone rushed into the kitchen. As soon as they reached the kitchen, they started rummaging about, inspecting the ingredients. Then, someone cried out in rm, "Ah!" There were actually live rats crawling on the floor of Dongfeng Restaurants kitchen, scaring everyone into screaming and hopping about to avoid them. The kitchen became a scene of chaos, "Youre still iming your food is clean? Besides cockroaches, there are even rats! Who would dare to eat here in the future?" "Indeed, this is intolerable. Today, you must give us an exnation." "Report to the authorities, we must report it." "We cant let such establishments harm themon folk." "..." "..." Seeing the situation was out of control and irretrievable, Amo could only open his mouth to say, "Everyone, listen to me. Todays incident at Dongfeng Restaurant is surely a misunderstanding. Theres no need to involve the government office. Look, how about this, no one has to pay for their meals today." "After all this, with things found in the food, who would pay? Were not fools. No, you mustpensate us." It was clear that nobody was taking Amos words seriously. Amo, having no choice, continued to propose, "We willpensate each person five taels, what do you all think?" "Five taels is too little; what if it kills someone?" "Then you tell me, how much?" "At least ten taels." "Fine, ten taels it is. But please, keep this matter confidential." Chapter 760 - 762: Chef Wu’s Whereabouts Unknown

Chapter 760: Chapter 762: Chef Wus Whereabouts Unknown

In handling this, Amo felt helpless, but it was in front of a crowd, and they couldnt provoke public outrage. If possible, he also wished to solve it with force. Given the current situation, the cockroaches and rats indeed came from Dongfeng Restaurant, and they couldnt refute it. When Amo suggested keeping the matter confidential, some people didnt buy it, "Your food was unclean to begin with, and now you dont want people to talk about it?" "Esteemed guest, I have nothing to say about what happened today because you saw the cockroaches and rats with your own eyes, but its also possible that we have been falsely used." At this point, the customer who found the cockroach became unwilling again, "What youre saying implies that Im falsely using you? So its my fault I experienced unclean food?" "..." At this moment, Amo felt he was at a loss for words, facing such relentless customers he didnt know what to do. "Esteemed guest, for this incident, I apologize on behalf of Dongfeng Restaurant. As a gesture of apology, Dongfeng Restaurant is also willing topensate each of you with ten taels of silver, and we guarantee that this situation will not ur again. This incident is truly idental, no one wants to ruin their own reputation." After speaking, Amo bowed deeply to everyone to express his apology. "Enough, enough, just quickly pay the silver," someone said impatiently. Amo hurriedly called the shopkeeper topensate everyone with silver, and only then did they manage to send the customers away. The atmosphere in Dongfeng Restaurant quieted down for a moment as everyone lined up in the hall, waiting for Amos scolding. Sure enough, Amo spoke, "What happened? How could you not pay attention to this? How could there be cockroaches and rats?" he asked, "Who is responsible for this?" "I am, I clearly cleaned up this morning, and there were absolutely no cockroaches or rats," one of the kitchen helpers spoke up. At that moment, someone suddenly spoke, "Where is Chef Wu?" As soon as these words were uttered, everyone looked around, but Chef Wu was nowhere to be seen. Amo had a bad feeling inside. He then said, "Alright, everyone get back to work, give the entire restaurant a thorough cleaning." After hearing the order, everyone went back to work, and Amo returned to the private room where Li Fuyou was. At that moment, Li Fuyous face wore a sinister expression. He had heard everything that happened in Dongfeng Restaurant. His brows were furrowed, his veins bulged, and those people were still talking about his indiscretions and inhumanity. "Young master, Im afraid this was orchestrated by Chef Wu, who is now nowhere to be found," Amo said. A sh of surprise crossed Li Fuyous eyes, then turned fierce, "I just knew it! I took over from Chef Wu, and the Chu familys young master didnt react at all. It turns out this was his sneaky n, quite vicious indeed. I take back my earlier words; the Chu familys young master is even more ruthless than me." Thinking about it now, everything about Chef Wu was an act, and I was deceived. That being said, those recipes might also be fake; indeed, vigers have reported that their cooks couldnt prepare delicious meals following the recipes. At that moment, Li Fuyou could no longer control his furious emotions andshed out again. He flipped over a table inside the room, and the contents crashed to the floor with a loudmotion. "Young master," Amo said, concerned. Li Fuyou clenched his fists tightly, his gaze murderous, "Chu familys young master, Li Fuyou and you are irreconcble." Chapter 761 - 763: I am Here to Seal the Tavern on Orders from My Superior

Chapter 761: Chapter 763: I am Here to Seal the Tavern on Orders from My Superior

Seeing that his young master had lost his temper again, Amo felt deeply pained. He hated his own ipetence, as misfortunes for the young master kept urring one after another, yet he was helpless to stop them. He quickly tried to restrain his young master, hoping he would stop being so enraged. He reminded aloud, "Young master, we should think about how to handle this situation." Amo thought to himself that if this matter couldnt be resolved, Dongfeng Restaurant would probably be doomed. Li Fuyou, who was being held back, was also trying hard to control his emotions. His eyes were dark and frightening as he said through gritted teeth, "Amo, lets return to the Li Mansion." The eldest son of the Chu Family had performed this deed with clear intent and a set n. If he were to counterattack, he must think it through, and not act rashly as he had in the past. Dongfeng Restaurant was already in this state, and his staying there was useless. He needed to go back and think things over properly. "Alright, young master." Just as the two of them were leaving the private room, they were surrounded by a group of government soldiers before they could even exit Dongfeng Restaurant. Li Fuyous brows furrowed tightly. He had been thoroughly outmaneuvered this time. Those people had not gone far, and the government office had arrived incredibly fastwithout a doubt, this had been prearranged by someone. The encirclement of Dongfeng Restaurant by government soldiers caught the attention of people on the street, who curiously crowded around to see what was happening. It was Arrest Officer Guan leading the team, who shouted toward the inside, "Everyone inside,e out." Li Fuyou, apanied by Amo, exited Dongfeng Restaurant and said, "Arrest Officer Guan, I trust youve been well, what brings you here unexpectedly?" "Young Master Li, I wont beat around the bush. Withdraw your people. I am here to seal the restaurant by order of my superior." Upon hearing this, the crowd began to stir, with some people shouting in rebuke. "Rightly sealed. Such a shady establishment should be closed down." "Their food is unclean. It should have been sealed long ago." "Exactly, who would dare toe to such a ce? Good riddance." "..." "..." Such words reached Li Fuyous ears. He let out a coldugh as the Li Familys young master had indeed orchestrated a fine act even rallying the public. Li Fuyou spoke slowly, "Arrest Officer Guan, there must be some misunderstanding. Is there a way to work this out? I would like to meet with Lord Li." "Young Master Li, forgive my bluntness, but this orderes directly from the superior." Arrest Officer Guan paused before continuing, "Please dont make it difficult for us who are just carrying out our duties. Withdraw your people for now, and if this proves to be a misunderstanding, the superior will send us to lift the sealter." "You few, go inside and clear the ce out," instructed Arrest Officer Guan, directing the other arrest officers. Swiftly, all the employees inside Dongfeng Restaurant were herded out, and the entrance was sealed. "Well, Young Master Li, we shall take our leave." The government soldiers left like that, but the crowd lingered, still discussing the sealing of Dongfeng Restaurant. Unable to stand it any longer, Amo roared at the crowd, "All of you, scram! Stop your gossip here or youll regret it if you stay." Only then did the crowd disperse. "Young master, lets go back," Amo said. After sessive setbacks today, the young master should return and rest first. Amo was right. Li Fuyou indeed felt provoked by the relentless issues. He couldnt believe that within just a few short months of taking over Dongfeng Restaurant, it hade to this, and he even began to doubt his own abilities. "Amo, lets go to see Lord Li." Chapter 762 - 764: This matter can be easily settled

Chapter 762: Chapter 764: This matter can be easily settled

"Yes," Amo replied, and soon after the carriage arrived, the two of them headed toward the county government office. They quickly arrived at the entrance of the county government office. Magistrate Li, he had dealt with before, had cost him quite a bit of silver to get Li Fugui out of the jail previously. This time, to have sealed the restaurant in such an unfriendly manner, it must be that Magistrate Li was short on funds and wanted to extort some silver from him. As long as Magistrate Li still recognized silver, the matter would be easy to deal with. All it would take was for Magistrate Li to remove the seal himself and post a notice saying the incident was a misunderstanding, and that their restaurants food was clean, then Dongfeng Restaurant could turn the danger around. His lips curled up slightly, now he was actually grateful that the magistrate of Shanshi County was a corrupt official. After spending some silver, he finally got an audience with Magistrate Li, but he was required to go alone and could not bring Amo. Spending silver was, of course, something Magistrate Li wouldnt want outsiders to witness, "Amo, you stay outside and wait for me." "Yes, young master," Amo could only wait outside. Li Fuyou followed the government official into the back courtyard and finally met with Magistrate Li. As soon as he entered, he knelt down and kowtowed, "Your humble subject Li Fuyou pays respect to Magistrate Li." The Magistrate Li, sitting there, nced at the bowing Li Fuyou, a strange gleam shing in his eyes, before speaking, "Rise." "Thank you, Magistrate." Li Fuyou stood up. "Please sit," said the magistrate. "This humble one does not dare," surprise shed in Li Fuyous eyes. The previous dealings with this magistrate were nothing like this; he was very authoritative. Now, he was being asked to sit, but he didnt have the luxury to dwell on it. "Dont be so formal. We are old acquaintances after all, please sit," Magistrate Li insisted. "Thank you, Magistrate." Li Fuyou had no choice but to sit down. After sitting, he began, "Magistrate Li, regarding the matter of Dongfeng Restaurant being sealed, do you think there might be some misunderstanding here?" "Young Master Li, regarding the restaurant being sealed, I too am helpless, someone brought the issue to me, and I cannot just ignore it," Magistrate Li said meaningfully, "Finding cockroaches in the food and the kitchen swarming with cockroaches and rats, themon people are watching. Its difficult for me as well." "Magistrate Li, our Dongfeng Restaurant has always been careful. This time we were framed. I hope you can help. I believe you will give your humble subject justice," Li Fuyou said, pushing a bundle of silver notes toward Magistrate Li. But this time, unlike his usual self, Magistrate Li didnt ept the silver notes and pushed them back, "Young Master Li, rest assured, I always handle matters impartially. If its truly a frame-up, your restaurant will surely be fine." "..." What does Magistrate Li mean? Could it be that he despises small amounts of silver, or did the Chu Familys young master spend even more? Li Fuyou took out more silver notes from his pocket, added them to the ones already there, and pushed them again toward Magistrate Li, "Magistrate Li, please help with this matter. Your humble subject will be most grateful." Magistrate Li still pushed back the silver notes, instead reaching out to touch Li Fuyous fair and smooth hands, smiling slyly, "Young Master Li, about this matter, lets talk nicely. As long as you..." "Magistrate!" Li Fuyou was startled by Magistrate Lis action, quickly withdrawing his hand and standing up abruptly. He hadnt thought that Magistrate Li would be such a person; he thought he was just avaricious, but he did not expect him to also have such tastes. His brows furrowed tightly, enduring immensely. Chapter 763 - 765: I’ll Give You Three Days

Chapter 763: Chapter 765: Ill Give You Three Days

Seeing how Li Fuyou swiftly retracted his hand, Magistrate Li spoke up, "Whats the matter? There are no outsiders here." As he spoke, Magistrate Li stood up and once again tried to touch Li Fuyou, his hand reaching out towards him anew. Li Fuyou wore a look of disgust, quickly dodging the Magistrates grasping hand. His gaze was dark and terrifying; only because the other was a county magistrate did he lower himself to such a degree, yet he hadnt expected... Should he continue to endure, he feared he himself would be toyed with by Magistrate Li. He spoke out, "Magistrate Li, I think you have misunderstood something. I am not inclined toward male favorites as the rumors suggest. If you, Magistrate Li, have such tastes, I can send some people over for you to enjoy." These words, as expected, infuriated Magistrate Li, who instantly shifted from his jovial demeanor to one of imposing coldness. "Hmph, so many beggars have had their way with you, and now that I, an official, take an interest in you, it is an honor for you." "Magistrate Li, thest time I was framed," Li Fuyou persisted in his exnation with restraint. But Magistrate Li was not listening and seemed determined to have him at all costs, once again reaching out for Li Fuyou while saying, "If you follow me, I will ensure Dongfeng Restaurant remains untroubled, and I will even help you catch the person who framed you." Once more, Li Fuyou dodged away, his eyes icy, feeling an urge to strangle Magistrate Li. However, he was the head of a county, and all Li Fuyou could do was endure. "Magistrate Li, let me find you a few exceptionally good-looking ones, Im sure youll like them, or you can have all those silver notes, enough for you to find many." Li Fuyous repeated evasions further irritated Magistrate Li, who spoke with a cold snort, "Hmph, dont refuse the toast only to drink the forfeitter. Ill give you three days. If youre wise, youlle to me on your own ord. Otherwise, wait for Dongfeng Restaurant to close down." After saying his piece, Magistrate Li left, hands behind his back, walking away indignantly. Watching Magistrate Li leave, a hint of hatred shed in Li Fuyous eyes as he clenched his fists tightly, feeling an unbearable injustice. He had no such sexual inclinations, yet he had to suffer such indignityall because of what the Chu Familys young master had done to him today. He hadnt expected an official he thought could be handled with silver to also kick him while he was down at this time. Waiting outside, Amo hurried to greet his young master as soon as he saw him emerge, asking anxiously, "Young Master, what did the magistrate say? When will the restaurant reopen?" Li Fuyou shook his head, "Amo, lets go back." Seeing his young masters demeanor, Amo knew the affair had not been settled and said no more, going to ready the carriage. After returning home, Li Fuyou kept himself locked in his room, asking not to be disturbed by anyone. Worried, Amo had no choice but to stand guard at the door. Only when the evening brought news from the restaurants in town did he have no choice but to knock on the door. "Knock, knock." "Dont bother me unless its something important," came Li Fuyous voice from inside the room. "Young Master, theres news from the restaurants in town." A momentter, Li Fuyou said, "Come in." Only then did Amo push the door open and step inside. This time, his young master was unlike before; instead of raging and smashing things, he sat quietly, seemingly deep in thought. "Go ahead." "Young Master, the messenger from the towns restaurant said that because of todays events, not a single customer has stepped into our establishments," said Amo, though it pained him to ry the news. At this, Li Fuyou was remarkably calm, simply replying, "Understood, you can go out now." Chapter 764 - 767: Young Master, the Lady is Sick

Chapter 764: Chapter 767: Young Master, the Lady is Sick

The food at Dongfeng Restaurant was unclean, and the quick spread through Shanshi County about its kitchen being infested with cockroaches and ratsand subsequently sealed by the government officehad disastrous results. Because of this situation, no customers came knocking on Dongfeng Restaurants doors anymore, leading to its utter downfall. Mrs. Li had been imprisoned by Li Fuyou for many days already. She had initially spent her days cursing and causing a scene, but eventually epted her fate when she realized that no amount of yelling would change her sons determination to keep her locked away. That day, as she was napping in her room, she faintly heard the servants chatting outside and quietly approached the door to eavesdrop. "Hey, did you all hear? The Li Family is done for." "Its all over town that their restaurant has no customers left and was sealed by the government office." "Yeah, I really didnt expect it to go under just a few months after the second young master took over." "What are we going to do now that the Li Family is finished?" "What can we do? Just wait for a new master, I guess." "But even though the restaurant is done for, they still have quite a bit of property to sell off. Even a dying camel is bigger than a horse." "Shh, keep it down, dont let the mistress hear this." "..." "..." Mrs. Li waspletely stunned by what she heard, the situation crushing her. She dazedly walked back to the table and sat down, wondering how the Li Family could copse so quickly. It had taken her such effort to secure her position. She bit her lip, fingers trembling, and realized her son was indeed useless. Momentster, a calcting glint passed through her eyes, the Li Familys wealth would have to be hers. She approached the door again, supporting herself on it. The servant guarding outside heard the noise and quickly said, "Madam, please dont keep shouting to go out, dont make it difficult for us servants." The young master had been in a terrible moodtely and had dealt harshly with them, reducing many maids to tears; they couldnt afford another mistake. Inside, Mrs. Li, although seething with resentment towards the servants attitude, feigned a weak voice, "I wont shout anymore, but I am feeling quite ill. Could you find a doctor for me?" On hearing this, the servants opened the door to see for themselves and indeed found Mrs. Li looking frail and unsteady on her feet. The Little Maid quickly supported her, "Madam." "Xiaohong, please go fetch the doctor; Im truly feeling terrible," Mrs. Li persisted in acting frail, seemingly about to copse at any touch. Xiaohong nced at the house servant at the door, then decided to head out. Mrs. Li remained locked in the room by the house servant, and the moment the door shut, Mrs. Lis face twisted into a vile expression. Xiaohong didnt go straight for the doctor but instead went to the young masters quarters. Despite being terribly mistreated by him on a previous asion, as a servant, she couldnt resist, only obey, even though she was frightened. Still, she had to report the situation. She knocked on Li Fuyous door, "Knock knock." "Young master, the madam is ill and has asked me to fetch a doctor. May I go?" Only then did Li Fuyou remember that he had locked up his mother for many days. With the consecutive setbacks overwhelming himtely, he hadpletely forgotten her, yet no matter her actions, she was still his mother. So, he responded, "Go ahead." "Yes, I will go now." Xiaohong, receiving the young masters permission, immediately left to summon the doctor. Chapter 765 - 768: Longing Turns into Sickness

Chapter 765: Chapter 768: Longing Turns into Sickness

The doctor was soon invited and arrived at Mrs. Lis room. Mrs. Li pretended to be very weak andy on the kang. When Xiaohong led the doctor in, Mrs. Li feigned weakness and spoke, "Xiaohong, I want to drink the lotus seed porridge you made. Please go and prepare it now." "But, Madam..." Xiaohong was in a difficult position, as it wasnt good for her to leave while her madam was being seen by the doctor. "Look at me, I cant run away, and besides, the house servant is still outside." Mrs. Li continued to persuade Xiaohong, hoping to send her away. Xiaohong looked at Mrs. Li and then at the house servant by the door, reluctantly spoke, "Well then, I will go and make it." Xiaohong spoke and left the room, closing the door behind her, with the house servant still standing outside. After Xiaohong had left, the doctor took Mrs. Lis pulse. A momentter, he frowned deeply, his expression troubled, and slowly spoke, "Mrs. Li, forgive my bluntness, but your body is in excellent condition and you are not ill." Hearing this, Mrs. Li stopped pretending, changed from her weak state, and sat up straight,ughing as she spoke, "Indeed, I am not ill. You truly are a skilled doctor." "..." "The reason I asked you here is because I need your help with something," Mrs. Li said straightforwardly. "What is it?" The doctor was both startled and displeased. There were other patients in his clinic and calling him here for no ailment was nonsensical. "All you need to do is go out and tell the house servant and the maid at the door that my illness is due to longing, pining for my son," Mrs. Li spoke as she handed Silver to the doctor. Seeing the Silver, the doctor became furious. Such actionspromised his medical ethics, and he retorted angrily, "Humph, I have no time for your nonsense." The doctor was about to leave, but Mrs. Li grabbed his arm. Her face was a picture of scheming, "Doctor, dont be in such a hurry to leave." "Mrs. Li, please show some dignity." "Hehe, Doctor, if you dont help me, I will scream and use you of indecency. How will people talk about a respected doctor if youmit such an ugly act? How will you continue to practice medicine?" "You..." The old doctor was so angry he was gnashing his teeth. Yet, he saw Mrs. Li looking as if she was about to shout any moment. He jerked his hand free from Mrs. Lis grasp, fuming, "Dont involve me in such matters in the future." Mrs. Lis lips curled into a smug smile, then shey back down and feigned weakness once again. Sure enough, the doctor reached the door, opened it, and began to shout, "Yourdy is ill from missing someone so much. Her condition is all because she misses her son. Its uneptable... find him quickly. Her son has made her like this, such a neglectful young master..." After saying a lot, the doctor stormed off angrily. The house servants thought the young mastersck of filial piety had caused Mrs. Lis illness and that was why the doctor was so upset, not knowing he was actually infuriated by Mrs. Lis threat. When Xiaohong came back with the cooked porridge, she heard the house servants discussing the madams condition. She entered the room and saw Mrs. Li lying there weakly. "Madam, the lotus seed porridge is ready. Please drink it while its hot." Xiaohong helped Mrs. Li sit up, and Mrs. Li spoke weakly, "Xiaohong, the doctor said I am ill from longing. I really havent seen Fuyou for several days. See if you can call him for me, ask him toe see me, considering my illness..." Chapter 766 - 769: The Deceived Li Fuyou

Chapter 766: Chapter 769: The Deceived Li Fuyou

Regarding Mistress Lis demeanor, Xiaohong was quite astounded. Mistress Li had always held herself above others and frequently berated the servants. Had the young master finally subdued her? Moreover, she did not resemble a mother toward the young master, yet now she imed to be sick from missing himan assertion Xiaohong found hard to believe. But after all, they were mother and son. Even if their rtionship was poor, they surely had some affection. Thus, she believed her. "Mistress, rest assured, I will go find the young master for you." Xiaohong handed the porridge to Mistress Li and then left the room. The proud look was evident on Mistress Lis face as Xiaohong departed. What fools, they were all duped by her acting. Soon, Li Fuyou received the news, and hearing from the Little Maid that his mother had fallen ill from missing him delighted him. He did not think further and rushed to her, longing for his mothers care and affection. Mistress Li still feigned weakness, lying on the kang, thinking her good-for-nothing son would surelye upon hearing of her illness. Indeed, before long, she heard the hurried footsteps approaching, her lips curling into a smile. When Li Fuyou entered the room, Mistress Li pretended to be very weak, reaching out and grabbing Li Fuyou, murmuring, "Son, you finally came. Mother has missed you so terribly these days, missed you to sickness, truly." Li Fuyou quickly stepped forward to support his mother. Hearing those words from her mouth, he could hardly believe it, yet a ripple stirred in his heart. Mistress Li continued her fervent performance, tears glistening in her eyes, "Son, Mother was wrong, I should never have spoken to you that way. You are the best son in Mothers heart." "Mother." Seeing her sons softening heart, Mistress Li continued, "For years, Mother always scolded you for being useless, always pushing you topete with your elder brother. Mother was wrong. All we need is to be together, living happily as a family. What are properties or wealthpared to my son?" "Mother." Hearing this, Li Fuyou was obviously moved. In fact, he did not care much about the Li Familys wealth; he just wanted to get along well with everyone, it was just the mindset of fighting for the inheritance that his mother had instilled in him since childhood. "Mother is fine, just missed you terribly. Staying in this room all day makes me think too much. Now that Ive seen you, I feel relieved. If youre busy, go attend to your matters," said Mistress Li, having delivered her rehearsed lines with a bit of constion added. "Mother, I indeed have many matters to attend to these days, and youve been inconvenienced." Had it not been for the serious matters urring in their family recently, he would never have confined his mother. How could he bear it over these years? "Mother doesnt feel wronged. You did right in confining me, otherwise, I wouldnt havee to understand these matters. Go on if you have matters to attend to. Im all right now. Seeing you, Mother feels her illness has already healed." Li Fuyou did indeed have many tasks to handle, so after reassurance, he took his leave. As he was leaving, he spoke to the house servant at the door, "From now on, theres no need to guard my mother anymore. Let it be like before; my mother is the mistress of the Li Mansion." After Li Fuyou left, Mistress Lis face shifted from its previously frail and kind appearance to one of viciousness. Her son could be ruthless toward anyone, but he could never harden his heart against her. A slight maniption, and her son believed her. With a smirk on her lips, she hummed, "Im finally free." Chapter 767 - 770 The Person Behind Has Been Found

Chapter 767: Chapter 770 The Person Behind Has Been Found

The next day, Li Fuyou still decided to go and see the situation at the restaurant in the town below. As the reports from below indicated, not a single customer wasing through the doors. People passing by the entrance of Dongfeng Restaurant would point fingers and talk in hushed tones. "This is the one, dont go eat there, the restaurants of the county have all had cockroaches found in them." "Their kitchen is crawling with lots of cockroaches and rats, its disgusting." "Its so unclean, who would dare to go? What if you get sick or even die from eating there." "Now its been sealed by the government office, but why not seal the restaurant in the town as well? They should seal it too, to prevent harming others." "..." "..." All these words entered Li Fuyous ears, and his eyes turned dark and frightful; he sneered with downcast eyes. He even started to doubt his own abilities, as he had only taken over Dongfeng Restaurant for a few months and had already led the Li Family to this state. The shopkeeper of Dongfeng Restaurant was still trying desperately to rify and retain customers. "Everyone, please listen to me. Dongfeng Restaurant was framed. The food we make is absolutely clean. If you dont believe it, you can follow me inside to see for yourselves. We would never joke with our customers health and lives. Moreover, the government office will soon clear up this matter and restore Dongfeng Restaurants reputation." But no matter how the shopkeeper of Dongfeng Restaurant tried to argue, no one was buying it, and no one was willing to go back to that restaurant to dine. "The government office has already sealed it, how could it be false? Even if you clean it now, we wont go there." "Yes, knowing that theres a history of problems, who would still go eat there? If something happens again, who here is foolish enough to risk it?" "Exactly, exactly." "..." "..." Faced with this situation, Li Fuyou knew clearly that Dongfeng Restaurant was utterly doomed. To regain trust and start anew, they might only be able to change the name ande back with a fresh te. He looked up at the sign of their restaurant. The four big characters of Dongfeng Restaurantwas this really the end of the road for them? His heart was filled with bitterness. The first step for Dongfeng Restaurant to make aeback was for the government office to lift the seal, but this step was utterly impossible. Because that official Li wouldnt be swayed by Silver and had made such an excessive demand. How could he... He clenched his fists tightly, holding back his unwillingness, but had to admit that he had lostpletely this time. The Chu Familys young master was truly more skilled, forcing him into a corner with the same move. Now, thinking of what the people said, it was very likely that official Li would unreasonally seal the restaurant in the town, and by then, the Li Family would bepletely finished. Li Fuyou no longer had the luxury to oppose the Chu Familys young master. What he needed to do was to step back and seek to preserve the Li Familys assets for a future resurgence. As he was contemting this, Amo arrived. "Young master, the person backing Yui Restaurant has been found." "Who is it?" Li Fuyous eyes shed with excitement, his heart filled with great joy. Was this a sign that theres always a silver lining? With this person, the Li Familys resurgence was hopeful. "Young master, the other party did not reveal their name, but we have arranged a meeting. They said we could meet tonight, and the location is at our Dongfeng Restaurant in Shibao Town," Amo replied, also pleased to have found that person. This news was undoubtedly great for Li Fuyou. "Then lets head to Shibao Town right now." Chapter 768 - 771 That’s right, it’s me

Chapter 768: Chapter 771 Thats right, its me

At dusk, the kitchen staff at Dongfeng Restaurant in Shibao Town was bustling with activity because their boss was about to meet with someone who could save their business. Today, Li Fuyou was full of vigor, no longer showing any signs of previous disheartenment. Sess or failure would be determined tonight. He had made all the preparations, and was determined to bring that person over to his side. "Amo, is the kitchen ready?" "Young master, everything is ready. Dont worry, we are just waiting for the guest to arrive." While the two were waiting in the private room, Xiaoer suddenly ran in, flustered, "Young master, young master." "Whats the matter?" Li Fuyous brow furrowed. If Dongfeng Restaurant was to turn things around, everyone would need to be retrained. How could they treat guests so nervously? "Young master, itsits..." Xiaoer continued to stutter without getting the words out. "Spit it out." "Its the former Young Master of Dongfeng Restaurant who hase." Xiaoer finally managed to say what he needed to say all in one breath. "What?" Li Fuyou rose from his seat in surprise, pping the table. Why would hee at such a crucial time? As far as he knew, over two months ago, Li Fugui had left the Yang Family Vige without a trace. "Throw him out," Li Fuyou said without any courtesy. Today was the day he was meeting with an important figure, and he couldnt allow any disruptions. "Yes, young master." Xiaoer responded and started to back toward the door, but as soon as he stepped out, he bumped into Li Fugui who wasing in, "Ouch." Looking up and seeing Li Fugui, Xiaoer became so frightened that he started to stammer again, "YoungYoung master." At this moment, Xiaoer did not know whether to refer to the current young master or the former one, so he quickly ran away. Seeing Li Fugui barge in, Li Fuyous eyes became cold, and he spoke icily, "What are you doing here?" Li Fugui did not speak but instead started striding toward Li Fuyou, the airs of his once noble status seemingly returning with each step. He looked at Li Fuyou with a casual smile and said lightly, "My dear brother, I have returned." At these words, Li Fuyou felt an ominous premonition, as the tone reminded him of how he used to speak to his brother. "Youre not wee here. Leave immediately," Li Fuyou said with urgency, wanting Li Fugui to leave quickly so as not to dy the arrival of his guest. Instead of leaving, Li Fugui grabbed a chair and sat down, the corners of his mouth curving slightly upwards as he said, "Didnt you want to see me? Now that Im here, you want to drive me away? Is this how you treat your guests?" At this statement, Li Fuyou was stunned, hisplexion instantly turning ashen, "Its you who have been helping Yui Restaurant." Even though he already had his answer, he couldnt help but voice the question. Li Fugui looked at Li Fuyou, smiling knowingly, "Indeed, it is me." Li Fuyou red at Li Fugui, his fists clenched at his sides. He was shocked by this revtion; his big brother, who seemed not so sharp, was unexpectedly this cunning. They had never known about this side of him before. His brothers presence here was not to help but to relish in his misfortunes. He realized he had beenpletely yed. He now wanted to keep his reputation outside and the predicament of Dongfeng Restaurant hidden from the brother he had once brought to ruin. "Heh," Li Fuyou suddenly let out a coldugh, "Now that Big Brother has seen my oue, you can go back." Chapter 769 - 772: Everything Is Your Own Fault

Chapter 769: Chapter 772: Everything Is Your Own Fault

Seeing Li Fuyous downfall today, Li Fugui did feel heartache, since this was his brother as close as a limb. But even so, could it outweigh the lives of his parents? But even so, could it outweigh the pain of losing Xiaotian? But even so, could it outweigh the suffering Miss Wang had endured? No, none of it could. Remembering this, Li Fuguis gaze turned icy, and he suddenly said fiercely, "Li Fuyou, the misfortunes of today are all of your own making." Hearing these words, Li Fuyou scoffed coldly, "Heh, my own making? Who caused my current state, who caused the Li Family to be like this?" Li Fuyous eyes were bloodshot as he finally bellowed, "Its all you, all because of the Chu Familys eldest son." He felt that everything started with the Chu Familys eldest son drugging him, havingpletely forgotten why the other had targeted him. "Dont you still realize what you did wrong?" Li Fugui suddenly grabbed Li Fuyous cor, saying angrily. "Let go of our young master." Seeing his own young master being grabbed, Amo quickly intervened. "Amo." Li Fuyou called out, signaling him not to interfere. Li Fugui continued angrily. "If it wasnt for you drugging the pickled vegetables to frame me, would I have left the Li Family?" "If it wasnt for you framing me and sending me to jail, would my parents have both died?" "If it wasnt for you driving Xiaotian into a corner, would she have left me?" "If it werent for the people you sent to bully Miss Wang, would she have lost her chastity? What did Miss Wang do wrong? She just helped me find Xiaotian, and you cant stand to see anyone good around me? You drove her nearly to suicide." "If it wasnt for you threatening Miss Wang, would the eldest son of the Chu Family have been so ruthless to you? What he did was not excessive at all, because it was exactly what you did to them. He was just returning it to you." "All of this, every bit of it, was brought on yourself." "Do you still say youve done no wrong?" Li Fugui roared and then flung Li Fuyou away; Li Fuyou stumbled back several steps. Li Fuyou was rendered speechless by the litany of condemnations; for a moment, he was stunned, unable toprehend he had unwittingly done so many things? No, he wasnt wrong; how could he seize the estate if he wasnt ruthless? This was what his mother had always hoped for. If it werent for the bullying he faced since he was young, would he have be so merciless? His only mistake now was letting him out of prison, allowing him to team up with the Chu Familys eldest son against him, letting him see his own downfall. He shouted, "No, I did nothing wrong; its all because of you, all your own doing." Seeing Li Fuyou like this, Li Fugui shook his head in sorrow. His brother waspletely beyond salvation; even now, he still thought he was in the right, "Li Fuyou, are you indeed not nning to turn back?" Li Fuyou responded with a coldugh. Turn back? He had long been unable to; moreover, he now harbored a new grudgethe humiliation brought by the Chu Familys eldest sonhe could not let it go just like that, even if not now, one day he would seek his revenge. "My affairs, the Li Familys affairs, are none of your business; youre no longer one of the Li Family, so get out, leave immediately!" Li Fuyou continued to roar. Originally, Li Fugui had wanted to be mindful of their brotherly rtionship, to let him suffer a bit and then pull him back on track; now it seemed aplete waste of effort. Just let him self-destruct; everything he got was his just deserts. Good and evil will be repaid in the end; he was not worth a shred of sympathy. Chapter 770 - 773: She Got Married

Chapter 770: Chapter 773: She Got Married

Li Fugui sighed and was about to lift his leg to walk away, but suddenly stopped. He turned to Li Fuyou, saying with great sorrow, "Li Fuyou, for the sake of our brotherhood, I ask you, where did you take Xiaotian?" Upon hearing this, Li Fuyous eyes became frighteningly sinister. The corners of his mouth twisted slightly in a smile. Had he lost? No, he hadnt lost; he had won because his brother and that Xiaotian would never be possible again. He suddenly burst into wildughter, then eventually lifted his head, stopping theughter, and began speaking coldly, "My dear brother, let me give you some good news. You and Xiaotian will never be together again." At that information, Li Fugui became agitated; a sense of foreboding suddenly gripped his heart. Could it be that Xiaotian had been killed by himno, that couldnt be true. Li Fuyou continued, feeling the more he spoke, the more his brother would be hurt, "Ha, what do you hope I did to her? Hah, I actually regret not doing something to her; that would make you even angrier." "You..." Li Fugui pointed at him in anger. But his hand was brushed aside by Li Fuyou, who was suddenly in a much better mood and went on, "Dont rush me, let me tell you some news about her. Shes married now, so its impossible for you to be with her in this lifetime." Hearing such news, Li Fuguis heart shook violently. The news was undoubtedly a huge blow to him, but even such news was a hundred times better than that of death. At least he needed to know whether she was doing well and where she was now. He asked urgently, "Where is she now? Who is it with?" Li Fuyou sneered, "Hah, thats something I cant divulge. Dont you have the means? Find out for yourself." Li Fugui knew his brother would not tell him anything more, so he looked up and left, saying as he went, "You better take care of yourself." As soon as Li Fugui left, Li Fuyou sat down and punched the table, full of regret. He should never have gotten him out of jail. If he hadnt, none of this would have happened; without him being released, Miss Wang wouldnt have had a chance to speak up for him. "Young master," Amo said with concern in her voice. Li Fuyou, suppressing his feelings, thought that by finding out who was backing Yui Restaurant, he could rely on that person to help Dongfeng Restaurant make aeback. Now it seemed impossible. "Amo, lets go back," he said. They had waited the whole night for nothing and hadnt even had a meal. The two quickly returned to Li Mansion and felt something was amiss the moment they entered the courtyard. Normally, the mansion was brightly lit at night, with candles flickering in many of the rooms, but tonight, Li Mansion was shrouded in darkness, and there was no sign of life. As they moved forward, they asionally stumbled over things on the ground, "Young master, be careful." After passing through the courtyard and finally reaching the main hall, "Young master, wait here. Ill light some candles," Amo said. Soon, the candles were lit, and the room brightened. But the sight that met them made them both jump; the entire room looked as if it had beenpletely ransacked. Amo quickly went to check the other rooms. Without a doubt, all of them were the same, and the entire courtyard was deserted. Li Fuyou sat down and sneered, seeing this, what more was there not to understand? All of it was the handiwork of his mother, his mother who had indeed taken great pains, to deceive him. Chapter 771 - 774: Leaving Li Mansion

Chapter 771: Chapter 774: Leaving Li Mansion

It seemed that all his hopes were nothing but wishful thinking; he had foolishly believed that his mother would care for him, only to find out she had only been nning to grab the money and flee. She really loved money, continuously instilling in him the need to fight for the family fortune. Now that he had secured it, she abandoned him for the sake of wealth. He felt utterly pathetic; there was not a single person in this world who truly cared for him. At this moment, he could only be described as utterly disheartened. "Young master," at this time, Amos eyes were filled with hatred for the mistress. How could she treat the young master this way? He had been struck a blow by his own brother earlier in the day, and now by his own mother. He couldnt handle it. "Amo, Im alright, lets return to the other residence," he said. The two of them returned to the other residence, and upon arrival, Li Fuyous heart sankpletely; the other residence was also ransacked. No longer able to control his emotions, Li Fuyou burst into bitterughter; such an oue was indeed ironic for him. "Young master," Amo began anxiously, "young master, you still have Amo." Li Fuyou looked at Amo. Yes, these years, the only one who remained truly loyal to him was Amo. He stifled hisughter, stood up, and moved the cab that was against the wall, revealing a hiddenpartment. Seeing that the items in thepartment were still there, Li Fuyous lips curled into a slight smile. Luckily, he had been cautious; otherwise, all these would have been taken by his mother. He took the items from thepartment and handed them to Amo, saying, "Amo, sell off Dongfeng restaurant in our town within two days." Indeed, what he handed to Amo was thend deed for Dongfeng Restaurant in town, a matter he had already decided on during the day. The demands of the corrupt official were something he could not agree to. If he had agreed, he would truly be in eternal darkness. He could not yield; he still had a chance. He had to sell the restaurant before the corrupt official seized his other restaurants. With the money, he would flee; he could no longer stay in this County, tired of being the subject of pointing fingers. If it were only the Chu Familys eldest son, he could have fought back, but against the government office, he stood no chance. Now, his only option was topromise, safeguard his wealth first, and make aeback elsewhere. As for his vengeance, he still remembered it well. "Young master." "Amo, lets make aeback somewhere else," he said. "Yes, young master," Amo agreed, feeling that the young masters decision was the right one, as everyone in the county was talking about the young master. Perhaps it would be better for him to live elsewhere. The next morning, Li Fuyou was awakened by shouting from outside. "What are you doing?" Amo yelled out. A man holding a deed spoke up, "Were just here to collect the house. This mansion has been bought by our young master; hurry up and leave, we need to clean up the courtyard." Hearing this, Li Fuyous eyes filled with hatred. He hadnt expected his mother to go to such extremes, not sparing even Li Mansion. Probably the reason Li Mansion was deserted was that his mother had sold the servants for money. Amo looked at his young master, and upon seeing him nod, said, "Allow us to gather our things, and we will leave right away." "Make it quick," the man said impatiently. After collecting the items from the hiddenpartment, Li Fuyou and Amo left Li Mansion. Sitting in the carriage, Li Fuyou suddenly thought of the time he had driven Li Fugui out of the rented courtyard; so this was what it felt like to be driven out? Chapter 772 - 775 Madam, Close Your Eyes First

Chapter 772: Chapter 775 Madam, Close Your Eyes First

Chu Mansion That day, Wang Xiangxiang was leisurely basking in the sun in the courtyard, her lips curled up slightly, her face radiating bliss, because Fufus arrival meant she no longer had any worries. Moreover, the Chu Family treated Fufu very well, which made her feel incredibly lucky to have married Chu Lian. Shey there, eyes closed, breathing in the fresh air when suddenly she heard a noise in the courtyard. She opened her eyes and looked toward the sound, seeing Chu Lian leading a few people into the courtyard. Wang Xiangxiang rose to her feet, walked over curiously, and asked, confused, "Husband, what are you all doing?" Seeing Wang Xiangxianging over, Chu Lian hurriedly supported her, afraid she might stumble, and cautioned, "My dear, be careful." Wang Xiangxiang rolled her eyes speechlessly. She wasnt some invalid, and besides, her belly wasnt even showing yet. If it were like this now, might they not let her walk at all when it did show? She brushed Chu Lians hand away, saying, "I can walk by myself, Im not helpless." "Alright, alright, you can walk; can we hold hands then?" Chu Lian said indulgently, not annoyed. Wang Xiangxiang smiled, took Chu Lians hand, feeling sweet inside, and pointed to the people, asking, "What are they doing?" Chu Lians eyes nearly crinkled withughter as he mysteriously said, "My dear, what do you think they are doing? Take a guess?" Wang Xiangxiangs eyes darted around, then she looked at the people, noted the things they brought, her eyes widened suddenly, shocked and excited beyond belief. Werent those materials for a swing? They were going to install a swing here. She, holding Chu Lians hand, looked up at him, "Husband." Chu Lian smiled, nodded, and said, "Yes, I had them set up a swing here for Fufu to y with, and our son can also use it when he arrives." Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang pouted, the implication being that she wasnt meant to y on it, her childlike spirit crushed. Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs disappointed little face, Chu Lian touched her cheek gently and said, "Of course, my wife can also y, but only with my supervision, because you are pregnant now, you know? We need to think of our son." True to form, as soon as Chu Lian finished speaking, Wang Xiangxiangs eyes lit up. "Okay, I understand. When will it be ready?" "It will be ready in a moment, but we cant use it for a few days, you know? We have to make sure its secure, to avoid any danger," Chu Lian exined with a smile. "Okay, then well y in a few days." "My dear, the construction noise is too loud. Lets go inside; I have something else for you." Chu Lian said, taking Wang Xiangxiangs hand and walking toward the house. Thus, she was led by him, and the two entered the house. Wang Xiangxiang was very curious. What else did he have for her? She was genuinely surprised by the swing. She hadnt expected him to be so thoughtful, considering Fufu was still young and needed some toys. If Fufu knew, he would be delighted. "My dear, close your eyes." "Huh?" Wang Xiangxiang was puzzled butplied. "Close your eyes?" "Hurry and close them; I want to give you a surprise." Seeing Chu Lians expectant look, Wang Xiangxiang closed her eyes, her face radiating happiness, incessantly asking, "Is it ready? What is it exactly?" "Wait a moment; dont rush, and dont open your eyes." "Okay, I wont open them." Wang Xiangxiang promised. Chapter 773 - 776: Would I Not Know the Size of My Own Wife?

Chapter 773: Chapter 776: Would I Not Know the Size of My Own Wife?

Chu Lians lips curled with a smile as he took out a very exquisite box from his pocket, opened it, and insidey a crystal-clear jade bracelet. He took out the bracelet, gently grasped Wang Xiangxiangs scarred left hand, and carefully slid the bracelet onto her wrist, "Okay, you can open your eyes now." Feeling the coolness on her wrist, Wang Xiangxiang had already guessed what it was. She opened her eyes, lifted her hand, and saw a crystal-clear bracelet on her wrist. She shook it slightly; the size was just right. She smiled. Suddenly, she remembered the time Han Yongsheng had given her a bracelet. If it wasnt suitable, it just wasnt, even if forced. It was like that ring, Wen Nuan could simply wear it, but she couldnt. "Do you like it?" Chu Lian asked. "Yes, I like it," Wang Xiangxiang nodded, smiling and teasing, "My lord, how did you think of buying a bracelet? Wouldnt it be very embarrassing if the size wasnt right?" "Would I not know my own wifes size? If I didnt, I wouldnt be a very qualified husband," Chu Lian said as he pulled Wang Xiangxiang into his embrace, confidently. Actually, he had wanted to give her the bracelet for a long time. Ever since she had attempted suicide, he had been thinking about it, but the right size had always been elusive until today, when he finally found a suitable and excellent piece of jade. He bought it immediately and couldnt wait to put it on her. "Besides, is there any part of you that I dont know?" Chu Lian said, teasingly. Wang Xiangxiang, who was still smiling, blushed instantly on hearing this. She turned away, extremely embarrassed as she recalled how, these past days, although they had not gone all the way, Chu Lian had thoroughly examined and kissed her body every night. Even though they already had children, she was still very shy. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang so bashful, Chu Lian turned her around to face him directly and lifted her scarred left hand, kissing the scar tenderly, his eyes full ofpassion. If he had been clearer in his words, she wouldnt have suffered so much. "Does it still hurt?" he asked tenderly. The corners of Wang Xiangxiangs mouth lifted, "No, it doesnt hurt anymore. Its been several months; it healed a long time ago." Chu Lian then ced Wang Xiangxiangs hand on his chest and continued, "Promise me youll never do anything so foolish again. It would break my heart, you know?" "Yes, I know," Wang Xiangxiang nodded. "Now that Ive given you a present, shouldnt you give something in return?" Chu Lian said, pointing to his own lips with his finger, hinting that Wang Xiangxiang should kiss him. "..." Wang Xiangxiang was speechless, looking at Chu Lian but refusing to kiss him. He was always finding excuses to ask for kisses. "No gesture in return?" Chu Lian put on an innocent and pitiful face. Helpless, Wang Xiangxiang tiptoed and nted a light kiss on his lips, then quickly moved away, saying, "There." Looking at Wang Xiangxiangs shy demeanor, Chu Lian was full of amusement. How could that be enough? He pulled Wang Xiangxiang close, pressed her against him, and bent his head down to kiss her deeply. "Mmm~!" Wang Xiangxiang couldnt help but make a sound as she was kissed. She knew it would end this way, but still, she closed her eyes, extended her tongue, and responded to his kiss. She couldnt help it because she loved him. And so, the two of them continued to kiss tenderly inside the room. Chapter 774 - 777 Why Did You Hit Him?

Chapter 774: Chapter 777 Why Did You Hit Him?

Kissing her intently, Chu Lians hands began to roam again, traveling across her back as his kisses shifted from her lips to her cheeks, ears, and down her neck. Wang Xiangxiang herself was kissed into oblivion, almost ready to give in when suddenly Chu Lian pushed her away. In his eyes was nothing but affection as he grasped Wang Xiangxiangs shoulders and managed to say, "Mydy, Im sorry, I just forgot about our son again." Chu Lian was on the verge of tears, how did he fail at the first hurdle, resulting in him now being unable to eat what he desired, only able to look but not touchhe was utterly frustrated. Seeing Chu Lian like this, Wang Xiangxiang felt helpless too. Every time he endured the hardship for her and the child, her heart ached for him; she also felt lucky to have found such a loving man. But was it really okay for him to always be like this? Wouldnt he develop some issues from the restraint? "Husband," she called out to him with a tinge of heartache. He let out an awkwardugh, took Wang Xiangxiangs hand, and they both sat on the edge of the kang. His hand rested on Wang Xiangxiangs belly and, with a dazed look in his eyes, he feigned a strict tone, "Son, dont you think youre being too well-behaved now, too An Quan, just wait till youe out, Dads going to give you a good spanking first thing, okay?" Wang Xiangxiang frowned, puzzled as to why he suddenly wanted to spank the child, "Why would you hit him?" Chu Lian looked up, his gaze meeting Wang Xiangxiangs, "If not him, who else? Hes the one causing trouble for mom and dad." "Pfft, haha," Wang Xiangxiang couldnt help butugh at Chu Lians remark. "If you dare hit him, I dare hit you, and then youll really have nothing to eatter." "..." Chu Lian felt helpless; how could he have forgotten that his wife had recently acquired a new skillhitting him. He had a bad feeling that Xiangxiangs love would be divided with their son, and the mother and child would certainly be in cahoots. It seemed that the only proper course was to bribe his son; he touched Wang Xiangxiangs belly and said, "Son, Dad misspoke just now, I wont spank you, but when youe out, you must side with Dad, okay? Say some good words about me in front of your mom." "..." Chu Lians behavior left Wang Xiangxiang somewhere betweenughter and tears; how did she feel like she had gained another son? "Son, when youe out, youll train with Dad, and well protect your mom together so no one can bully her, okay?" "When youre out, you must listen to your mom, you cant be naughty or cause trouble, and dont make your mom angry." "Your mom can be quite fierce, you know." "..." "..." There sat Chu Lian, chatting with his son. Listening to him, Wang Xiangxiangs frown deepened. Was she really that fierce? She had always been quite the demuredy. Then her lips curved into a broad smile, "Husband, am I really as fierce as you say?" Only then did Chu Lian realize that Xiangxiangs smile was quite unnervingly eerie, probably because he had upset her. He quickly put on a smiling face, "How could that be? My wife is not fierce at all; she is the gentlest woman in the world, adorable when she smiles, exceptionally charming, and, oh yes, my wife is also a woman of talent, iparable to anyone else..." "Pfft, haha." Hearing Chu Lian apuding her in so many different ways, Wang Xiangxiang burst outughing, "Husband, am I really as good as you say?" "Of course, if you werent good, why would I have married you? My standards are very high; I wouldnt settle for just any wealthydy," Chu Lian said with a smile. "Yeah right, as if you were such a catch." "Whether or not Im a catch, dont you know?" Chapter 775 - 778: Husband, what have you done?

Chapter 775: Chapter 778: Husband, what have you done?

"..." Wang Xiangxiang didnt say a word but rolled her eyes instead. Seeing Wang Xiangxiang roll her eyes, Chu Lian took it seriously. He took Wang Xiangxiangs hand, his eyes gleaming as he began, "Mydy, do you think Im not good enough?" "..." Wang Xiangxiang rolled her eyes again, knowingly asking a rhetorical questionsince she had given him her heart, how could he not be good? "Yes, yes, yes, youre very good, youre the best husband in the whole wide world." "Mydy, you seem rather unwilling to say that, dont you?" Wang Xiangxiang smirked and changed her tone, "My husband is the best husband under the heavens." After saying that, she added, "Can it do now?" "..." Chu Lian was speechless; if only she hadnt added thatst part, it would have been fine, but with it, her reluctance was obvious. Seeing Chu Lians unnatural expression, Wang Xiangxiang suddenly looked down andughed softly before lifting her head and sweetly saying, "Husband, to hold your hand and grow old with you." Sure enough, Chu Lians eyes brightened at these words, and the corners of his mouth turned upward. The two of them gazed at each other with affectionate eyes, "Mydy." "Heh, you look rather silly, dont you?" Chu Lianughed, willing to be a fool as long as he had her love, "Mydy, since youve expressed your love like this, let me tell you some good news." "What good news?" Wang Xiangxiang asked curiously. Chu Lian smiled and said, "The Dongfeng Restaurant in the county has been closed down by the government office." "Really?" Wang Xiangxiang could hardly believe it. Was Dongfeng Restaurant finished just like that? How did he manage it? Curious, she asked, "Husband, what have you done?" "..." Chu Lians mouth twitched, and he tapped Wang Xiangxiangs forehead with his index finger, saying affectionately, "You should be asking what he did." "Oh, oh, what did he do?" "Cockroaches were found by a customer in his restaurant, and there were rats in the kitchen," Chu Lian exined. Wang Xiangxiangs eyes widened; how could that be? Running a restaurant and having such problems was a big no-no, and Li Fuyou was no fool. Even if there were issues, they should be hidden well enough not to be noticed by customers. She looked at Chu Lian again and said, "Husband, did you do this?" "..." Chu Lians mouth twitched again, unable to hide anything from Xiangxiang, "Ive already said, do unto others as they have done unto you." In dealing with Li Fuyou, he didnt actuallye up with other tricks; they were all tactics Li Fuyou had used on them. He had simply returned the favor in kind. All he did was hire some people to ensure everything went smoothly. Wang Xiangxiangs interest was fully piqued, and she excitedly asked, "Husband,e on, tell me, how did you do it? Did you pay someone to cause trouble in their restaurant? Pretending to find cockroaches? Thats quite a vicious move..." Wang Xiangxiang rattled off a bunch of guesses as Chu Lian listened, bemused by her imagination. Seeing that Chu Lian remained silent, Wang Xiangxiang continued, "Husband,e on, tell me, I want to hear." Seeing how interested hisdy was, Chu Lian had no choice but to speak, "Actually, if he hadnt started scheming again, Dongfeng Restaurant wouldnt have fallen so quickly." What Chu Lian said was true; Dongfeng Restaurant had already been struggling due to their interference, and if he had sent people to make trouble in the restaurant at that point, it wouldnt be effective due to the scant number of customers. "What did he do again?" Wang Xiangxiang asked, curious. Chapter 776 - 779: Do I need you to tell me? I’ve already arranged for someone.

Chapter 776: Chapter 779: Do I need you to tell me? Ive already arranged for someone.

"He kidnapped our Chef Wu from Yui Restaurant and took him to their Dongfeng Restaurant." Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiangs brow furrowed. The deed was certainly in keeping with Li Fuyous modus operandi. Couldnt he engage in fairpetition for once instead of resorting to such underhanded tactics like threats? Just as Chu Lian was about to continue, he was interrupted by Wang Xiangxiang, who said with great excitement, "Husband, let me guess, that Chef Wu is your man, isnt he? After he went to Dongfeng Restaurant, he colluded with someone to release cockroaches and rats, am I right?" Chu Lians lips curved into a smile, his voice filled with doting affection, "Right, my wife has such a sharp mind." "But, theres something I dont understand." "What is it?" "Husband, you could have just sent someone to cause trouble in the restaurant by iming there were cockroaches, without kidnapping Chef Wu. Why wait until Chef Wu was taken there?" Wang Xiangxiang was puzzled. Wasnt that unnecessary? Chu Lian replied with augh, "For the n to be more sessful, of course." "Huh?" Wang Xiangxiang didnt understand. "At the time, Dongfeng Restaurants business was dismal. There werent many people dining there to begin with. If we caused a scene then, with so few witnesses, the impact would be minimal. No matter how many people I sent, it couldntpare to the word of mouth from actual customers." Chu Lian paused before continuing, "It just so happened that he took Chef Wu away. Chef Wu could use his dishes to boost Dongfeng Restaurants business again. At that point, I would send people to collude with Chef Wu. Eventually, everyone would be led to the back kitchen, achieving a much better effect." After listening, Wang Xiangxiangs eyes lit up. She hadnt expected Chu Lian to have considered every aspect so thoroughly, "Husband, youre really amazing." "But, if Li Fuyou finds out that Chef Wu tricked him, wouldnt he face a terrible fate?" Wang Xiangxiang asked with concern. Chu Lian chuckled, "Chef Wu and his family have already been sent by me to our Yui Restaurant in another county. Even if he wanted revenge, he wouldnt be able to find them." Wang Xiangxiang couldnt help but give Chu Lian a figurative thumbs-up, impressed by how well thought out his n was. Could it be, "So that means, you also had a hand in bringing the government office into this?" Wang Xiangxiang thought to herself that even with cockroaches and rats, the restaurant wouldnt necessarily be shut down. Chu Lian shook his head. The involvement of the government office was outside his calctions; he only intended to use public opinion to force Dongfeng Restaurant to close. He hadnt anticipated the government getting involved. That corrupt official must have seized the opportunity to extort some Silver, he thought. Either way, the closure by the authorities certainly expedited Dongfeng Restaurants demise, especially with the news that Li Fuyou was now selling off his property. It was an unexpected oue, indeed. He had assumed Li Fuyou would be able to handle the government with Silver, yet the result turned out to be... Could it be that he had given up on dealing with the government? No matter what, this oue yed right into their hands. Dongfeng Restaurants reputation was now in tatters, and coupled with the pressure from Yui Restaurant, no one dared to buy it to continue running it as a restaurant, unless they changed it to a different type of business. If he yed his cards right during this time, he could purchase Dongfeng Restaurant at a much lower price. "Wife, Dongfeng Restaurant is thoroughly done for now. Li Fuyou is selling off the towns properties." "Really?" Wang Xiangxiang could hardly believe it. Was he finished just like that? Chu Lian nodded, "Yes, absolutely true. Perhaps he also feels that the situation is beyond redemption. After all, its not easy to recover from such a tainted reputation." "Husband, lets hurry and buy the restaurant then." "Do you even need to say it? Ive already sent someone." Chapter 777 - 780 Long Time No See

Chapter 777: Chapter 780 Long Time No See

Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang were inside the room, chatting eagerly, when they heard a knock at the door, "knock, knock." "Whats the matter?" Chu Lian asked. The Little Maid at the door answered, "Young master, young madame, a house servant at the door reports that theres a gentleman named Li Fugui seeking an audience." Hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang eximed in surprise, "Li Fugui is back?" Chu Lian felt a twinge of jealousy. Li Fugui was backdid she need to be that excited? "Bring him to the side courtyard." "Yes, young master." The Little Maid agreed and went downstairs. After the Little Maid left, Chu Lian asked, "Will you go?" "Of course, I willits been over two months since west met," Wang Xiangxiang replied without hesitation. Chu Lian: "..." He knew it would be like this. They tidied up their appearance in the room and changed their clothes before they held hands and went to the front hall. A momentter, a servant led Li Fugui into the front hall, where upon entering, he sped his hands in greeting, "Brother Chu, Miss Wang, its been a long time." "Brother Li, its indeed been quite some time," Chu Lian greeted back with sped hands. Wang Xiangxiang smiled at Li Fugui, and all three of them sat down; the Little Maid served tea. As soon as they sat down, Li Fugui began, "Brother Chu, Miss Wang, congrattions. I never thought that shortly after I left, the two of you would get married." "Hehe, thank you, but you should no longer call her Miss Wang," Chu Lian said with a smile. Li Fugui felt somewhat embarrassed, "Ah, indeed, my apologies, Madam Chu." Wang Xiangxiang felt awkward hearing the two of them address each other so formallythey were already so familiar with each other, such formality was unnecessary. Therefore, she spoke, "Husband, the two of you are speaking too formally. Were all so familiar with each other, just using first names is fine." Wang Xiangxiang then turned to Li Fugui and said, "Li Fugui, you might not know, but during these past two months that you were away, the Yang Family has taken me in as their daughter. If we go by what Xiaotian says, Im now Yang Xias older sister; you should follow Xiaotians lead and call us older sister and brother-inw." Li Fugui was very surprised to hear this news but was happy for Miss Wang. "Right, Li Fugui, have you heard any news about Xiaotian during the months youve been away?" Wang Xiangxiang asked with concern. The question dimmed Li Fuguis spirits, and he shook his head, "Not a single piece of news; its as if hes vanished off the face of the earth." "Li Fugui, dont be too anxious. Ive only recentlye to know of this matter, and I will help you look for him," Chu Lian immediately said, trying to offer some reassurance. Li Fugui nodded and then said, "Yesterday, I went to see Li Fuyou." "You went to see him?" Wang Xiangxiang was surprised. "Yes, I wanted to ask about Xiaotians whereabouts." Li Fugui had run out of optionsthere had been no news of Xiaotian for so long, and it was all caused by Li Fuyou. He thought perhaps only Li Fuyou would know. "And what did he say?" Li Fugui spoke somberly, "He said that Xiaotian has already gotten married." Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiangs brows furrowed. Such news was too cruel for Li Fuguihow could it be possible? "Li Fugui, he must be lying to you. Hes gone mad now, and hes trying to provoke you with such words. You mustnt fall for his tricks," Wang Xiangxiang said urgently. "Li Fugui, Dongfeng Restaurant is about to go out of business soon. I will spread the word in various ces, and once Xiaotian hears about it, she will definitelye back to look for you," Chu Lian said, seeing Li Fuguis downcast look and trying tofort him. Chapter 778 - 781 A Favor to Ask

Chapter 778: Chapter 781 A Favor to Ask

Hearing such words, Li Fugui tugged at the corner of his mouth, feeling an immense bitterness inside. He thought that most of what Li Fuyou said was true, because now he was the only one who knew about Xiaotians whereabouts. He was very worried, who was the other party? If they found out she had lost her chastity, would they still treat her well? No matter what, he had to find her and make sure she was doing well, even if there was no longer any possibility between them, he still wanted to see her once more. "Then, thank you so much, Brother Chu." "We dont need to say thanks between us, and besides, I think my wife is right, from now on we are family. You should just call us sister and brother-inw; it would be better," Chu Lian said teasingly. "..." Li Fugui felt helpless, always having the feeling that he was being taken advantage of. Everyone was about the same age, yet Chu Lians words were on point. By saying so, they acknowledged his rtionship with Xiaotian and didnt treat him like an outsider, but, could there really still be a possibility for him and Xiaotian? He looked towards Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian, and spoke awkwardly, "Sister, brother-inw." Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian smiled with pursed lips; this made their rtionship feel even closer. They didnt believe they would be enemies in the future. After a moment, Li Fugui thought it over and decided to speak up, "Brother-inw, I came today to ask a favor of you." "What is it? If I can help, I definitely will." "Its about the Dongfeng Restaurant. Li Fuyou is already selling the Dongfeng Restaurant in town, and I was hoping you could help me buy it first. I will definitely repay you in the future." Even though it was difficult to ask such a favor, Li Fugui still did so because given the current situation, he was powerless and could only seek help. Right now, the only person who could help was Chu Lian. "I thought it was something else. Ive already sent someone to arrange it, dont worry. Dongfeng Restaurant will be reserved for you," said Chu Lian with a smile. Li Fugui felt extremely grateful for Chu Lians response; even though they were rivals, Chu Lian was willing to help him take back Dongfeng Restaurant. Knowing that, it wouldnt be difficult for Chu Lian to make Dongfeng Restaurant thrive again. Yet, he still offered help. Therefore, Li Fugui knew he had to show sincerity, "Brother-inw, rest assured, the three-year agreement still stands. I will continue to develop more dishes for Yui Restaurant. In three years, if you need it, I will help too." "Ha ha, what three-year agreement? I initially thought you were interested in my wife and thats why I sent you away," Chu Lianughed as he spoke the truth. "I know." "..." Chu Lian frowned, when did he be so clever? "Now you cane back anytime. Dongfeng Restaurant will soon be reimed, and then you can make youreback." Li Fugui teased with augh, "Arent you afraid that if Ie back, Ill steal your business?" "Do you think Im that weak?" Although Li Fugui had a sharp tongue, Yui Restaurant wasnt so easy to defeat. Wang Xiangxiang added fuel to the fire, "Its not that youre weak, its that hes too strong." "..." The three people in the roomughed together, creating a very harmonious atmosphere. After a short while, Li Fugui spoke again, "Rest assured, I promise that even if Dongfeng Restaurant reopens, it wont steal Yui Restaurants business because I n not to run a restaurant anymore." Upon hearing this, Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian were extremely surprised and asked urgently, "If youre not running a restaurant, what do you n to do?" Chapter 779 - 782: Inn?

Chapter 779: Chapter 782: Inn?

"Li Fugui, its truly a waste that youre not in the food business. Look at you, your tongue is so sharp, and youre able toe up with so many dishes," Wang Xiangxiang said bluntly. Although Chu Lian would have one less formidablepetitor, objectively speaking, it wasnt a wise move. "Indeed," Chu Lian echoed, their Yui Restaurant hadnt weakened to the point where he needed to give up his Dongfeng Restaurant. Besides, it wasnt only their two establishments; there were others in the County and town doing the same thing. Li Fugui shook his head, he had considered this matter for a long time. Ever since he fell on hard times, only the Yang Family and Chu Family, who hadnt gotten along well with him, helped him. He knew he could never repay this kindness in his lifetime. No matter what the others thought, he considered them friends close enough to entrust with his life. He didnt want external possessions to spoil the rtionship they had just begun to mend, turning them back into enemies. These days, he hade to realize that family wealth wasnt as important as the people around him. "So if youre not going to run a restaurant, what do you n to do?" Li Fugui smiled and said, "I n to transform the restaurant into an inn. But that will have to wait until my brother-inw helps me get the restaurant back." "An inn?" Li Fugui nodded, "I have considered transforming it into an inn. In Shanshi County, aside from the government offices post house, there are few well-knownrge inns. Even therge inns dont have a presence in every town like Dongfeng Restaurant." Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian listened intently to Li Fuguis analysis. "If we convert all Dongfeng Restaurants into inns at this time, it would be thergest inn chain in Shanshi County. We could then put some effort into the inns decor and the food offered. I believe we could make it work," he said. Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lians eyes lit up after hearing his analysis. Li Fuguis reasoning made a lot of sense, but since when had Li Fugui be so clever? "Its just that..." "Just what?" "The biggest Dongfeng Restaurant has been seized by the government office. Li Fuyou cant sell the restaurant right now, so we cant take it back. Perhaps well have to find a new location in the County," Li Fugui spoke with a hint of regret. "Ill think of a solution," Chu Lian said after some thought. The corrupt official should be easy to handle. The main thing was, he believed Li Fuguis idea was feasible, "Li Fugui, Ill provide the silver for the inns renovation." Li Fugui shook his head, feeling ufortable epting more help from them. Just taking back Dongfeng Restaurant would already require a lot of silver, "Theres no need, Ill figure out the silver issue myself." "What can you possibly think of? Not to speak out of turn, but right now, only the Yang Family and we can help you," Wang Xiangxiang bluntly said again, "Youre not nning to wait a few years to save up the silver, are you? By then, other inns in the County might have already grown strong, and what would you have to do with it?" Li Fugui was extremely embarrassed at that moment; she was absolutely correct, and these were things he had already considered. He had gathered a lot of courage toe here today because it was, after all, an optimal opportunity to take back Dongfeng Restaurant. But for other matters, he really didnt have the heart to ask. "Husband, it all depends on you now. Whether Li Fugui can open an inn rests entirely on whether you can take back Dongfeng Restaurant. If we cant get it back, all this talk is for nothing." Chapter 780 - 783: Aunt, I’m Back

Chapter 780: Chapter 783: Aunt, Im Back

Chu Lian doted on Wang Xiangxiang with augh and said, "Haha, my wife speaks the truth. Then lets discuss this matter after we reim Dongfeng Restaurant." Li Fugui nodded. Seeing Chu Lian and Wang Xiangxiang together filled him with envy. Where could his Xiaotian be? "Li Fugui, have you been to the Yang Family since you came back?" Wang Xiangxiang suddenly asked. Li Fugui shook his head and replied, "Not yet, I was nning to go after leaving Chu Mansion." "Husband, why dont we go together? It has been a long time since west visited," Wang Xiangxiang suggested. Thest visit was during their homing, and it had been quite some time. She really missed it. "Alright, then lets depart right away," Chu Lian agreed. After the three of them had discussed their ns, they left the house. Li Fugui brought many gifts with him, mainly food ingredients, because he wanted to go back and cook a delicious meal for everyone. The carriage soon arrived at Yang Family Vige. As soon as the carriage arrived, Yang Mings mother noticed it. Recognizing Chu Lians carriage, she quickly went out to greet them. She saw Chu Lian helping Wang Xiangxiang down from the carriage and eximed, "Daughter, son-inw." "Mother," the two of them called out in unison. Yang Mings mother hurried to help Wang Xiangxiang, worried that in this remote and deste ce, something might happen to her body. She waspletely unaware of another person in the carriage. At that moment, Li Fugui also got off the carriage and called out, "Auntie." Hearing the voice, Yang Mings mother turned around, and upon seeing the neer, she became a bit excited, "Fugui is back." Hearing these words, Li Fugui felt a twinge of emotion. She hadnt said Fugui hade; she said Fugui hade back. "Yes, Auntie, I have returned." "Oh, thats good, thats good,e inside quickly," Yang Mings mother urged eagerly. "Yes, Auntie, just a moment, let me get the things from the carriage." Li Fugui went to fetch the things he had brought, big and small packages aplenty. "Look at you all, justing back would have been enough. Why bring so much stuff? What dont we have at home? Besides, its summer now, and the yard is full of vegetables." Yang Mings mother couldnt help but nag a little upon seeing all the food Li Fugui had brought. She had been frugal all her life and didnt want her children to spend money unnecessarily. Li Fugui smiled, "Auntie, its all food, didnt cost much Silver. Later, Ill cook and let everyone taste my skills." Wang Xiangxiang, her arm looped through Yang Mings mothers, joked, "Mother, hes a top-notch chef now. Youre in for a treat. The food he cooks isnt something just anyone can taste." After hearing this, Yang Mings mother chuckled, "Really? Well, your aunt will have to try it outter." Chu Lian helped carry things too, and the group quickly entered the house. As soon as they were inside, Li Fugui asked, "Auntie, where is everyone?" "Your eldest sister and the others have gone to the rented courtyard. The three kids have been sent to School in town. Your uncle and the rest have gone to the fish pond." "The three kids are at School? Do theymute back and forth?" Li Fugui was very concerned about the three little ones, as he had taught them for a period. "Theres a bullock cart in the vige that will bring them back this afternoon," Yang Mings mother replied. "Mother, how is the fish pond doing?" Wang Xiangxiang asked. "Ah, you might not know yet, but your eldest brother and the others have returned. The house by the fish pond has been built, and they stocked it with fish fry yesterday. Now they are just waiting for the fish to grow. Theyre basically living at the fish pond now, so it leaves me, the idle one at home, with nothing to do but cook for them." Chapter 781 - 784: I’m Fine Living by Myself

Chapter 781: Chapter 784: Im Fine Living by Myself

"So soon?" Wang Xiangxiang was quite surprised. The coboration with Han Yongsheng was even signed at their house, and she hadnt expected the fry to be ready this quickly. "Isnt that so? Time flies so quickly. Its been about twenty days since Yang Ming left. We have no idea how hes doing, and he hasnt sent any news home," Yang Mings mother said anxiously. "Where did Yang Ming go?" Li Fugui asked, puzzled. He hade back in such a rush that he had no time to inquire about the Yang Familys affairs. "Didnt the third brother start an Escort Agency? He went to look for his sister in Beijing this time, saying he wanted to check the ce out. Oh, right, Fugui, do you have any news of Yang Xia?" Li Fugui shook his head, his mood somewhat downcast as he said, "Auntie, I havent found her either." Although she expected this answer, Yang Mings mother still sighed, "Ah." "Auntie, dont get too upset. Ill go out and search again in a few days. Well find her eventually." Li Fugui offeredforting words when he saw Yang Mings mother so disheartened. Yang Mings mother shook her head and said, "Auntie is worried about you, silly child. If you cant find her, how long are you willing to wait? Youre not getting any younger." "Auntie, Im fine living alone," Li Fugui responded. "Nonsense, who can live alone?" Yang Mings mother looked at Li Fugui with eyes full ofpassion, feeling sorry for the hardship he had endured waiting for her daughter, her motherly heart spoke, "If you truly cant find her, youll have to make ns for yourself." "Auntie..." Li Fugui was touched by her concern, but he had made a vow that he would only marry Xiaotian in this lifetime. Even if Xiaotian married someone else, he was not nning to look for anyone else. "Mom, when will dad and the others be back?" Seeing Li Fugui was almost unable to cope, Chu Lian quickly stepped in to divert the subject. "Soon, they should be back by dinner time. Weve hired someone to take care of the fish pond, so they dont need to stay there. The rented courtyard is also being watched over by someone." Speaking of this, Yang Mings mothers face was all smiles. Compared to before, their familys situation had improved by many times over, and she was very content. "Auntie, then Ill go prepare dinner for them. That way, they can eat as soon as they get back," Li Fugui said promptly. "Okay, auntie wille and give you a hand," Yang Mings mother stood up, ready to help. Chu Lian stopped her quickly and said with augh, "Mom, you dont need to give a hand. Ill do it. You sit and chat with Xiangxiang." Yang Mings mother looked at Chu Lian skeptically, doubting if this grown-up son was capable of helping out. "Mom, let him go. You and I can chat in the room," Wang Xiangxiang said, pulling on Yang Mings mother. "Well, okay. Ill enjoy myself today and savor the meal cooked by my two sons-inw," Yang Mings mother said cheerfully and settled down. Being called son-inw made Li Fuguis ears turn somewhat red. The corners of his mouth slightly raised, he thought how wonderful it would be if Xiaotian returned to such a family. "Auntie, just wait for the meal," he said. Li Fugui and Chu Lian took the ingredients and headed to the Bosss kitchen. After the two left, Yang Mings mother began to show concern for Wang Xiangxiangs health, "Xiangxiang, how have you been recently? Is the morning sickness severe?" "Its not severe," Wang Xiangxiang replied with a smile. "How is Fufu doing? Its been a few days since Ive seen him." "Mom, Fufu has been taken to the Chu Family," Xiangxiang said. "Really?" Wang Xiangxiang nodded, "Yes, their family treats me and Fufu very well." Yang Mings mother took Wang Xiangxiangs hand, "Thats wonderful. Youve found a good family to marry into." Chapter 782 - 785 Sorry

Chapter 782: Chapter 785 Sorry

Li Fugui and Chu Lian were preparing food in the kitchen. Chu Lian had intended to help, but realized he couldnt really be of much assistance. Li Fugui handled everything in an orderly manner, and the only thing Chu Lian could help with was washing the vegetables. Since it was just the two of them, Li Fugui felt the opportunity hade, so he stopped what he was doing and said, "Im sorry." "Hmm?" Chu Lian was genuinely surprised. Why was he suddenly apologizing? Li Fugui continued, "If it werent for my connection, Li Fuyou would not haveid a hand on her." When Li Fugui had learned of the news, he was deeply distressed. He had never expected his brother to be so heartless, to harm Miss Wang just because she had helped him. Fortunately, nothing serious had happened. If something had gone wrong because of that incident, he would never have forgiven himself in this lifetime. "Hey, I thought it was something else." Chu Lian patted Li Fugui on the shoulder and continued, "Dont take it to heart, it was all Li Fuyous fault." Li Fugui shook his head, "Its all because my brother resented me that this happened. If it werent for me, she wouldnt have suffered so much." Seeing Li Fugui still ming himself, Chu Lian said, "Li Fugui, you cant me yourself for this. It must be fate. Moreover, that incident wasntpletely bad. Because of that, we ended up having a child by some twist of fate. In that case, I should even thank you." Hearing this, Li Fugui widened his eyes. No one had told him this news; he awkwardly smiled, realizing he really knew how to give him a way out, "Well, congrattions to you two then." Chu Lian smiled, "Alright, lets get back to preparing. Theyll be back soon. Mother is waiting for your cooking skills, my son-inw here is absolutely a dead weight." Hearing Chu Lian repeatedly calling him son-inw, Li Fugui felt somewhat embarrassed. He pursed his lips and resumed his task. While working, he added, "Actually, youre also good. The dish you madest time was quite nice." Chu Lianughed, "Ha, you shouldnt bring that up. I went home and learned from the kitchen maid, practiced many times just topete with you, but in the end..." "You made it especially for her, didnt you?" "You caught me there." "Ha-ha, next time Ill teach you." "Sure, Id like to learn a few dishes. Shes always having cravings now, and is quite picky. I need to learn a few." "..." "..." The two continued preparing the food while chatting in the kitchen, creating a pleasant atmosphere. Shortly after, they heard children shouting from the courtyard, "Grandma, were back!" Upon hearing this, Li Fuguis eyes lit up. He immediately put down what he was doing, stepped out of the kitchen, and called out to them, "You guys are back!" Hearing the voice, the little ones immediately stopped in their tracks, turned their heads with surprise, and while running toward Li Fugui, they said, "Teacher, youre back!" "Yes, Im back. I heard you guys started school. Have you been studying well?" Li Fugui asked, touching the childrens heads. "Yes, teacher, were doing the best, learning a lot that is now taught at home too," Yang Shushu proudly said. "Is that so? But remember not to becent, keep studying hard, understand?" "Understand," the three little ones nodded. "Alright, go y, and Ill make you something tasty to eatter." Chapter 783 - 786: I Will Never Let Everyone Down in the Future

Chapter 783: Chapter 786: I Will Never Let Everyone Down in the Future

It was getting dark, and the Yang Family members were returning home one after another. Everyone was surprised to see Li Fugui at home, and they were all very happy. They were even more surprised that Li Fugui had prepared such a feast for them, and soon everyone sat down at the table, ready to eat. Old Man Yang was particrly cheerful and said, "Today is really a good day, I didnt expect Fugui toe back, and also the daughter and son-inw." "Uncle," Li Fugui stood up, picked up the wine pot and poured a ss for Old Man Yang, then filled his own ss, "Uncle, I toast to you, to thank you for taking me in before." "Youre family," Old Man Yang hurriedly said. "Uncle, let me finish," Li Fugui interjected. Seeing the serious look on Li Fuguis face, the family fell silent, waiting for him to continue. "Honestly, I wasnt a good person before, you could even say I was a bad person. Ive done many bad things. Sister-inw knows, I once caught her. Today, Yang Ming isnt here, so Ill say this tooI used to look down on him a lot, always making sly remarks about him." Li Fugui paused, then continued, "But even though I treated you all like that, you still took me in when I was most down and out without bearing a grudge. Im truly grateful." Li Fugui said, looking at Wang Xiangxiang, "And Miss Wang, no, I should call you sister now, we had issues before, and you might not know, but we once quarreled publicly. I insulted her, yet she still helped me without bearing a grudge." Li Fugui then looked at Chu Lian, "And brother-inw, our rtionship was even more like enemies, you could say archenemies. That business with the cabbages was my doing, yet he still helped me, and even worked to help me take back the Li Family." As Li Fugui spoke, his eyes reddened, and his voice choked up, "When I left Li Family, when Xiaotian left me, I sought out people I thought I was on good terms with, but not one was willing to help me. They all shunned me, staying far away. Later, I realized that they only associated with me because I was the young master of Li Family. But you all werent like that; you genuinely cared about me." After saying all this, Li Fugui drank the entire ss of wine in his hand, "Today, I, Li Fugui, make a statement hereI will never let you all down again. If I do, I am at your mercy." Li Fuguis words were sincere, and everyone present was moved. Old Man Yang, visibly excited, waved his hands, indicating Li Fugui to sit down, "Son, youre taking it too seriously. Who hasnt hit a rough patch? Fortunately, thats all behind us now. From now on, we are all family. Alright, lets eat, lets taste Fuguis cooking." "Exactly. Fugui has been cooking all afternoon, and so has Chu Lian, our son-inw. They prepared this whole table together," Yang Mings mother added. Chu Lian, feeling shy, said, "It was all Li Fugui; I just assisted." "Lets eat now, you all have been thoughtful. In my old age, I get to enjoy some peace," Old Man Yang called everyone to start eating. "Alright," the family agreed and began to eat. The feast prepared by Li Fugui was sumptuous, and everyone nodded continuously, singing his praises. Chapter 784 - 787 How are you at making fish?

Chapter 784: Chapter 787 How are you at making fish?

"Teacher, your cooking is so delicious, I want to learn to be a chef from you in the future." Yang Shushu said, his mouth greasy from eating, and he didnt forget to praise the dishes as he ate. The little guys words drew everyones attention, and Bosss wife even jokingly asked, "Shushu, you didnt say that during the New Year. At that time, you said you wanted to learn from your third uncle, to study and pursue a government position." The little guy thought about it, torn between choices, and finally said, "Then Ill learn to be a chef and study as well. Wouldnt that work?" Yang Shushus words made everyone burst intoughter, "Hahaha." After theughter subsided, they heard Yang Dong also saying, "The food really is delicious, much better than what the fancy restaurants serve." The whole family looked at Yang Dong, who sure dared to say so, as if he had dined in many fancy restaurants. Bosss wife couldnt help but ask, "Fourth brother, what fancy restaurants have you eaten at?" While eating, Yang Dong replied, "We ate in Lin Countyst time, Boss and second brother ate too. If you dont believe me, ask them." "Yeah, we did eat at a restaurant in Lin Countyst time: it wasnt Yui Restaurant, and I cant remember the name; it truly wasnt as good as Li Fuguis cooking," Boss Yang Chun said. "Indeed, Li Fuguis cooking is much tastier," Yang Gang, the second brother, echoed. Feeling a bit embarrassed by thepliments, Li Fugui said, "Dont say that, I still have a lot to learn." The family continued to eat, and Old Man Yang asked, "Fugui, how long do you n to stay this time? Are you leaving again?" "Uncle, I cant stay for many days; I have to go out again in a few days." He had grown ustomed to being outside: creating dishes while also searching for Xiaotian made life quite enjoyable for him. "Ah, where do you n to go this time?" Old Man Yang asked, knowing very well why the young man wanted to venture out. "I havent decided where to go yet. Ill think about it when I get back." He had returned too hastily and hadnt yet decided on the next destination. "Wherever you go, dont forget to send a message home. Dont be like your third brother, whos been gone for so many days without any news." Old Man Yang, having had a little drink, began toin. "Mhm, Uncle, I will send messages," Li Fugui promised. Not long afterwards, Yang Dong asked, "How are you with cooking fish?" This question stumped Li Fugui, who hadnt yet researched any fish dishes. "I dont know how to cook fish yet." All they heard Yang Dong say was, "That wont do, youve got to research it. Our family is about to start selling fish." Reminded by Yang Dong, Li Fugui also thought it made sense. Since he hadnt found his next destination yet, he could go to Lin County, where people were particrly skilled at preparing fish dishes. He looked at Chu Lian, "Brother-inw, for our next ce, lets go to Lin County and learn about fish dishes there." Chu Lian nodded, not expecting Yang Dong to make such a good point. They were indeed weak at preparing fish dishes. "Okay, then you can take everyone to Lin County in a few days." "There are a few friends in Lin County; you can meet them when you get there," Wang Xiangxiang interjected. "Alright." As soon as Lin County was mentioned, Yang Dong began to chatter, "You must visit the Grand Theater when you get to Lin County; I guarantee youve never seen anything like it. Its just amazing..." "Sure, Ill definitely go see it," Li Fugui replied with a smile. The meal was a joyful one, and after finishing, Li Fugui, Chu Lian, and Wang Xiangxiang rushed back to Shibao Town. Chapter 785 - 788: No Response

Chapter 785: Chapter 788: No Response

After being forcibly evicted from the Li Mansion, Amo asked Li Fuyou, who was sitting in the carriage, "Young master, where are we going now?" Li Fuyou, sitting inside the carriage with his eyes closed, spoke faintly, "To the small courtyard we bought a few days ago." "Yes, young master." Amo agreed and drove the carriage away. Soon, the carriage stopped at the entrance of the small courtyard. The two got off the carriage and Li Fuyou looked around inside the dpidated courtyard, even the main gate was broken. To think that the once impoverished eldest son of the Li Family had lived in such a ce. With a creak, the gate was pushed open by Amo, "Young master, Amo will clean up first; itll be done soon." "Mmm." Li Fuyou, standing in the middle of the courtyard, looked around the courtyard, which consisted of just one room, a kitchen, and a privy, pitifully small. He let out a coldugh, never imagining hed have to experience this himself. Indeed, this courtyard was the one where Li Fugui and Xiaotian lived after they left the Li Family. Li Fuyou had forced Li Fugui into a corner and had Amo buy this courtyard. The choice to stay here was not because he was without Silver. Even though the Li Mansion had been sold and the inside items taken away by Mrs. Li, and Dongfeng Restaurant was closed and unvisited by customers, he still had some Silver on hand for his living expenses. The reason for staying here was that it was more secretive than other ces, making speaking and taking action more convenient without being discovered. Besides, he had decided to sell Dongfeng Restaurant and leave, so enduring a few more days was no hardship. Momentster, Acheng came out from inside the house, "Young master, the cleaning is done; you can go inside now." "Mmm." Li Fuyou nodded, entered the room, and found a spot to sit down. He said, "Amo, time is pressing, immediately spread the word that we are selling Dongfeng Restaurant, and remember to only let the wealthy families know, absolutely do not let the County Magistrate find out." Li Fuyou had good reasons for saying this; he feared the County Magistrate finding out about his ns to flee and any resultingplications. "As for the price, it doesnt matter if its a bit lower; it would be best if we could sell it by tomorrow night." "Yes, young master, Amo will take care of it right away." After saying this, Amo left the rented courtyard to spread the news. Amo returned at noon to bring Li Fuyou lunch, then went out again in the afternoon. Li Fuyou waited in the small courtyard until the evening when Amo returned with food and ced it on the table, saying, "Young master, eat while its hot." "Amo, how did it go with the task?" Amo didnt want the young master to worry, but he had to report, "Young master, the message has been sent out, but so far, there has been no response; I will contact them again tomorrow." Sitting there, Li Fuyous brow furrowed tightly, a cold air emanating from his eyes. He had anticipated this oue; the reputation of Dongfeng Restaurant was now malodorous, making it difficult to sell, which is why he thought to drop the price. Yet even with this, the sale might not be sessful, and it appeared that Dongfeng Restaurant would soon be confiscated by the County Magistrate. Li Fuyou clenched his fists tightlyno, he could not admit defeat, under no circumstances could he ede to the County Magistrates demands. He stood up, "Amo, lets go." "Young master, where are we going? You havent had your dinner yet?" Amo voiced his concerns. "No need to eat, lets go to the teahouse." Watching his young master walk out, Amo could only follow behind, driving the carriage towards the teahouse. Chapter 786 - 789 Tea Tasting Residence

Chapter 786: Chapter 789 Tea Tasting Residence

It was not long before the carriage stopped at Tea Tasting Residence, thergest tea house in Shanshi County. This ce was not just for tea tastingthere were women singing softly to the strumming of their pipas, thus it was a popr gathering ce for wealthy lords and young masters. Standing at the entrance, Li Fuyous gaze was icy. He snorted, remembering a time when everyone curried favor with him; now they avoided him like the gue, not bothering to keep their appointments. Since no one was keeping their appointments, he had to take matters into his own hands and show up in person. He also wanted to try his luck to see if he could find someone interested in buying Dongfeng Restaurant. Inside Tea Tasting Residence, due to the presence of women singing with pipas, all the customers congregated in the main hall. Being business folks, they found much inmon to discuss. They listened to the songs while engaging in casual conversation. A plump, wealthy lord suddenly spoke, "Lord Zhou, has the Li Family sent you a message? They are nning to sell Dongfeng Restaurant in town." The questioned Lord Zhou stroked his beard and replied, "Yes, theyve sent a message." "So, do you n to buy it? Your family is also in the restaurant business," the plump lord inquired. Lord Zhou frowned and shook his head, "Ah, currently, Yui Restaurantpletely dominates Shanshi County, and my own restaurant is barely surviving. How could I think of buying another restaurant?" He paused and continued, "Moreover, Dongfeng Restaurants reputation has declined severely, and its proximity to Yui Restaurant doesnt help. Its probably no longer viable as a restaurant." The plump lord nodded, "You make sense; taking over Dongfeng Restaurant and continuing it as a restaurant is indeed not feasible." "Yes, and Im not familiar with other trades. Otherwise, with its current low price, transforming it into something else might work. Right, Lord Zhao, you could buy it and expand your Silver Pavilion," the plump lord suggested. Upon hearing Lord Zhous words, Lord Zhao pondered internally; this was an opportunity to expand his Silver Pavilion. Li Fuyou, who had just entered, overheard their conversation. His lips curled into a slight smile, seeing a glimmer of hope so soon in finding a suitable candidate. He approached them, "Lord Zhao, I am Li Fuyou, the owner of Dongfeng Restaurant. I think Lord Zhous suggestion is excellent. May we discuss this in detail at the table over there?" Lord Zhao looked at Li Fuyou, calctions running through his mind, and then followed him to the adjacent table. "Lord Zhao, the location of Dongfeng Restaurant is bustling even by town standards. Turning it into a Silver Pavilion would definitely be a sound choice," Li Fuyou stated. "However, Dongfeng Restaurants reputation is already tarnished. It might be difficult to seed in another venture, and remember, business relies heavily on good feng shui," Lord Zhao countered. "Lord Zhao, the feng shui of Dongfeng Restaurant is undoubtedly excellent; otherwise, it wouldnt have prospered for so long. It was merely due to betrayal that I find myself forced to sell," Li Fuyou asserted. Seeing Lord Zhao still silent and contemting, Li Fuyou pressed on, "Lord Zhao, since weve encountered each other here, it must be fate. Ive only just released the news, not many know yet. If you decide now, its a steal. If we wait a few days until everyone knows and has thought it over, I fear that..." Lord Zhao was indeed considering. Their Silver Pavilion was not the biggest in the county and they hadnt expanded to the town yet. If they secured Dongfeng Restaurant now and converted it into the Silver Pavilion, opening simultaneously in all seven towns, their reputation would certainly improve. Chapter 787 - 790: I Advise You Not to Buy It?

Chapter 787: Chapter 790: I Advise You Not to Buy It?

"Lets talk about it, seven towns, a total of seven Dongfeng Restaurants, whats the total price?" Master Zhao became somewhat interested and began to inquire about the price. Upon hearing this, a hint of smugness crossed Li Fuyous eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled slightly upwards, "Master Zhao, Dongfeng Restaurant is currently in trouble, the price is very appealing, I guarantee youll be satisfied." "How much?" Li Fuyou stretched out his hand and gestured the price. Master Zhao had a good idea of the worth of Dongfeng Restaurant and, upon seeing the gesture Li Fuyou made, it was indeed much lower than the actual value. However, times had changed and Dongfeng Restaurant was in its hour of need, so its price had naturally plummeted. He still could press for a lower price, so he put on a not-so-satisfied expression. His brows were deeply furrowed, and hisplexion wasnt too pleasant either, "Young Master Li, you dont seem to have offered your utmost sincerity." Li Fuyou felt displeased at this; this Master Zhao really was cunning and greedy, still trying to squeeze him at a time like this. Even if the Dongfeng Restaurant had fallen on hard times, its location and expanse were still premier, among the best. If it wasnt for the desire to sell quickly, he would not have lowered the price so much. "Master Zhao, youre also an old hand in the marketce, you understand pricing better than I do, I didnt ask for too high a price." Even knowing the price was reasonable, no merchant was without guileeveryone wanted to buy at the lowest possible price. So, Master Zhao shook his head and stretched out his hand, gesturing a counter-offer. Seeing Master Zhaos gesture, Li Fuyou almost spat blood in anger, but he held back for the sake of selling Dongfeng Restaurant quickly. If he didnt sell it now, once the government office seized it, he wouldnt get a single copper coin. Thus, he nodded, "Master Zhao, then let us make the transaction today, cash against thend deed, which I have brought with me." Master Zhao was in a good mood, stood up, "Then lets go, I will go back and get the silver notes now." "Good." Just as the two were about to leave, a voice rang out, "Master Zhao, are you buying his Dongfeng Restaurant?" Upon hearing the voice, Li Fuyous brows knotted tightly, his gaze ice-cold. Why run into Zhouji Pawnshops eldest son at a time like this, "Young Master Zhou, please step aside, we have business to attend to." Young Master Zhou didnt pay any attention to Li Fuyou, but instead continued speaking to Master Zhao, "Master Zhao, I advise you not to buy." "Why is that?" Being stopped, Master Zhao knew there was something more to this. "Master Zhao, dont you know? Dongfeng Restaurant has ended up like this today all because it offended the eldest young master of the Chu Family, you know about the Chu Family, right? Theyre one of the wealthiest merchants in the whole dynasty, do you still dare to buy Dongfeng Restaurant? Wouldnt that mean you want to oppose the Chu Family? Do you think your small Silver Pavilion canpete with them?" Hearing this, Master Zhaos face turned quite ugly, and he promptly said, "Young Master Li, lets forget our previous discussion." "Eh, Master Zhao, lets talk it over again, you cant just listen to his nonsense." But Li Fuyous words didnt recall Master Zhao, and he left the tea house just like that. Li Fuyou was biting his teeth in anger, "Young Master Zhou, I, Li Fuyou, will remember todays grudge." Young Master Zhou sat down with a smile, continuing to listen to the tune. News of what had just happened spread throughout the tea house. Because the eldest young master of the Chu Family was involved, even fewer were willing to buy Dongfeng Restaurant now. Li Fuyou could only leave in a huff. Chapter 788 - 791 How have you considered it?

Chapter 788: Chapter 791 How have you considered it?

Li Fuyou, having left the Dongfeng Restaurant, did not get directly into the carriage but punched a fist against the wall of the restaurant, his hand instantly smeared with blood, showing the tremendous force he had exerted. "Young master," Amo expressed with concern. At this moment, Li Fuyou was brimming with rage, the bone-chilling hatred distinctly visible in his eyes. Ever since his public humiliationst time, not a single thing had gone his way, and apart from Amo, he wished death upon everyone. He punched the stone wall repeatedly, and his hand rapidly became tattered. "Young master," seeing his own young master self-harming, Amo was full of heartache and reached out to stop him, advising his young master, "Young master, dont do this; Where there is life, there is hope. For now, our priority should be to sell the restaurant. We can exact our revengeter." A momentter, Li Fuyou finally calmed down and said in a low voice, "Amo, lets go home." "Yes, young master." Seeing that the young master had settled down, Amo was relieved, and they drove the carriage away. Soon after they returned to the courtyard, and upon entering the house and seeing the cold food, Amo remembered and said, "Young master, you havent eaten all night. I will go out and buy something for you right now." Just as Amo was about to leave, Li Fuyou stopped him, pointing to the cold food and saying, "Theres no need for that, just heat those up." "This..." Amo hesitated, when had his young master ever eaten reheated food? "Arent you going yet?" "Yes, young master." Soon, the meal was heated. Thankfully, the kitchen was still usable, all with utensils Li Fugui had used before. As they ate, Li Fuyou spoke up, "Tomorrow, dismiss all the staff in the restaurant, and lower the price again. We need to sell it no matter the price, as we will be leaving the day after tomorrow." "Young master..." "Even if we cant sell it, we still have to leave." The mere thought of the magistrates smug face made it clear that Li Fuyou would neverpromise. He was not utterly destitute and without Silver; he still had some of the Li Familys assets and could easily make a fresh start elsewhere. He didnt need to die on this hill in Shanshi County. The vendetta this County had given him, he would repay another day. "Yes, young master." The two had their meal quickly and then rested. The next day, all the staff at Dongfeng Restaurant were dismissed, and the price was dropped to the lowest, but still, no one was interested in purchasing. Time was pressing against them, and if it didnt work out, they would just have to give up, yet he was reluctant to just hand over the restaurant to that corrupt official. Once the restaurant was sealed, everything would be up to that corrupt official. At this moment, he sat in Dongfeng Restaurant in Shibao Town, the ce already devoid of people except for him and Amo. "Young Master Li, you sure were difficult to find. Who would have thought youd run off to Shibao Town," said someone. Upon hearing this, Li Fuyou looked up and saw that a government officer had arrived. His brow furrowed, his heart sankcould it be that theyvee to seal his Dongfeng Restaurant? That magistrates actions were too swift, utterly ruthless. "Officer Guan, may I ask what brings you here today?" Li Fuyou stood up and bowed with his hands sped together. "Young Master Li, I am here today to deliver a message from my lord. The lord says the three-day deadline is almost upon us; have you given it any thought?" At these words, Li Fuyou clenched his fists tightly, suppressing his emotions, "Thank you for rying the message, Officer Guan. Once I have made up my mind, I will go to see Master Li." Chapter 789 - 792: Is Stealing Wife a Sufficient Reason for Revenge?

Chapter 789: Chapter 792: Is Stealing Wife a Sufficient Reason for Revenge?

After the government officer left, Li Fuyou mmed his fist down on the table, his eyes filled with rage. He had not expected the corrupt official to be so brazen or to send an officer to remind him, feeling greatly insulted. In Shanshi County, with that official around, he feared he might never return. Having understood the situation, he stood up and said, "Amo, prepare everything. Were not selling the restaurant. Well set off today and leave Shanshi County." "Yes, young master." Just as the two were about to leave, a stern-faced person entered through the door. The visitor looked to be in his forties, and judging from his attire, seemed to be a steward of some wealthy family. The man asked, "May I have the pleasure of speaking with Young Master Li?" A flicker of confusion passed through Li Fuyous eyes; he did not know the man or his purpose. "Indeed, I am he. And you are?" "Zhang is my name, just call me Steward Zhang. Im here on behalf of my young master. I heard you wish to sell Dongfeng Restaurant?" Upon hearing this, Li Fuyous interest was piqued, thinking that fortune cane from misfortune. Just as he nned to leave, a buyer hade knocking. "May I inquire as to who your young master is?" "Young Master Li doesnt need to know that. We offer silver, you take the silver, and thats it." Li Fuyous brow furrowed upon hearing this. He spected internally. Could it be someone from the Chu Family? If so, he would rather die than sell. He couldnt let the restaurant fall into the hands of the Chu Familys eldest son. "I apologize, but if you wont disclose the identity of your master, then Im not selling the restaurant." Upon hearing this, a crafty look shed in the mans eyes and his lips turned up slightly. "Well then, you have met my young master before. Some days ago, he dined with Miss from the Wang Family at the Dongfeng Restaurant in the county town and left behind a silver note of a hundred taels. Thats all I can reveal." With those words, Li Fuyou instantly recalled the scene. The man who defended Miss Wang, though he did not know which familys young master he was, the ease with which he tossed away the silver note, and his fine clothes, indicated that he came from a wealthy family lineage. "Why does your young master want to buy my Dongfeng Restaurant?" The man had clearlye prepared and replied, "To contend with Yui Restaurant. Is vengeance for stealing his wife a sufficient reason?" A sh of surprise crossed Li Fuyous face, and then he caught on. His lips subtly curved upward. He wasnt the only one who detested the Chu Familys eldest son. "May I have the honor of meeting your young master?" "That may be possible in the future. Let us discuss the restaurant for now. Whats your price?" "Seven thousand taels for the seven restaurantsbined." The man chuckled. "Ha ha, Young Master Li, that is a bit disingenuous. Others dont get such a rate." "..." Li Fuyou frowned, realizing the man had thoroughly investigated him. "Fine, five thousand taels for the seven restaurants." The man shook his head once again and held up two fingers. "No more than two thousand taels." At that moment, Li Fugui felt like he was about to explode with anger. Two thousand taels was not even the price of one restaurant, yet the man wanted to purchase all seven, taking him for a fool? He said angrily, "Steward Zhang, your price wouldnt buy even one restaurant; Im not selling." Li Fuyou had expected the other party to raise the offer upon his refusal. Instead, the man said, "Then let it be. My young master only asked me to try. After all, dealing with the Chu Familys eldest son wont be easy. Theres the risk of losing silver." Chapter 790 - 793: New Owner of Dongfeng Restaurant

Chapter 790: Chapter 793: New Owner of Dongfeng Restaurant

Upon hearing this, a calctive glint shed in Li Fuyous eyes. He couldnt take his revenge now, but before he left, he wanted to cause some trouble for the young master of the Chu Family. "Fine, two thousand taels." "Young Master Li, how about adding another five hundred taels, making it a total of two thousand five hundred taels, and sell us the restaurant in the county that was sealed off as well?" Seeing that Li Fuyou had agreed, Steward Zhang spoke up again. Li Fuyou was somewhat surprised. The one in the county had been sealed off, and even if he sold it, it couldnt be used, unless he could persuade the Lord County Magistrate. However, how he would convince that corrupt official was his own problem. After selling all the restaurants, that corrupt official couldnt find him anymore. Just thinking that the eight restaurants were worth almost twenty thousand taels, yet he had sold them for only two thousand five hundred taels, the pain was tangible. But at this point, he had no other choice. "Alright, two thousand five hundred taels, its a deal." "Young Master Li is indeed a straightforward man. Lets exchange the silver for the deed to the property," Steward Zhang said. The two quickly made the exchange, and Li Fuyou, with the silver note worth two thousand five hundred taels, left with Acheng. No sooner had they left than a smug smile appeared on Steward Zhangs face. He hadpleted the task given by his master. That same afternoon, Steward Zhang sent people to take down the signs of the seven Dongfeng Restaurants. Thus, news of the downfall of the Li Family and the change of ownership of the Dongfeng Restaurant spread far and wide. "Hey, have you heard? The Dongfeng Restaurant has been sold?" "What? Its really sold? Who would dare to oppose the Chu Family?" "I dont know about that." "If you ask me, maybe it was the Chu Family that had someone buy it." "Thats hardly possible. Would the young master of the Li Family sell the restaurant to his rivals?" "Why wouldnt he? Its all for silver." "But its such a pity for the Li Family. When Old Master Li was alive, how glorious was the Dongfeng Restaurant. Its not even been half a year since his demise, and theyve fallen. The family once had tens of thousands of taels, and now caused a stir to sell for just a few thousand." "s, whos to me? Its because Old Master Li had two disappointing sons." "..." "..." Li Fuyou, who was about to leave, overheard these discussions. His gaze turned icy as he let out a scoff. Hmph, youve all guessed wrong this time. Just wait and see how the new owner will deal with Yui Restaurant. When they spoke of his father, his eyes dimmed, masking the rage. Why must they alwayspare him to his father, to his brother? This time he admitted that indeed, he had squandered the Li Familys fortune, but he wouldnt ept defeat. One day he would make aeback. "Young master." Li Fuyous thoughts were pulled back by Amo. He said, "Amo, well go back to the county to pack up. We leave tonight without dy." "Yes, Young Master," Amo replied, and the two got into the carriage, heading towards the county. Not long after the carriage entered the city, it was forced to stop, as the road ahead was blocked by a crowd and they couldnt pass through. Li Fuyou, sitting in the carriage, asked, "Amo, whats happening?" "Young Master, it seems there is a quarrel up ahead." Li Fuyou furrowed his brows, feeling exasperated. He was about to leave and still got dyed. "Amo, take another route." "Yes, Young Master," Amo agreed. Just as they were about to leave, they heard a mans furious roar from the crowd, "Go find your undutiful son, dont bother me." Then, a sobbing womans voice followed, "Wu wu, you cant leave, Ive given you everything." Chapter 791 - 794: Retribution Has Arrived

Chapter 791: Chapter 794: Retribution Has Arrived

Li Fuyou, hearing the voices, furrowed his brows tightly, his face extremely unsightly. Without needing to go over, he knew from the voice that it was his mother. How had it all fallen apart so soon after he had left the Li Mansion just a few days ago? "Young master." Hearing that it was hisdys voice, Amo didnt know whether to leave or stay, so he asked. "Lets stop here, we can goter," Li Fuyou indifferently uttered. So, the carriage did not move, but instead stopped in the middle of the road. At that moment, within the noisy crowd The man kicked Mrs. Lis stomach and cursed fiercely, "Get lost, dont follow me anymore." Mrs. Li clung to the mans legs, refusing to let go, and sobbed, "You cant be so heartless; after all these years with you, you cant just abandon me!" "Stop talking nonsense," the man said, and then kicked her again, showing no mercy, the ferocity clear on his face. Mrs. Li continued to cry and scream, unconcerned with her image, "Over these years, I have given you so much silver, how can you treat me like this, ooh." "Go find your son and stop bothering me; otherwise, youll regret it." The man then brutally kicked Mrs. Lis stomach again, knocking her to the ground, before walking away from the crowd. There Mrs. Liy, holding her stomach, continuously crying and sobbing, "You cant leave, I gave you all of the Li familys assets, I have nothing left, ooh." Mrs. Li was thus surrounded by the crowd, which pointed and gossiped about her. "Isnt that Mrs. Li from the Li Mansion?" "Yes, indeed it is." "She just said shes been with that man for many years, but Mr. Li only passed away recently." "That means Mr. Li has been cuckolded for a long while." "Maybe that son of his isnt even Mr. Lis." "Shes getting her just deserts now, that man doesnt want her anymore." "Shes past her prime and just another mans concubine. Its just the silver she had that he was after. Now that the Li family has fallen, theres no silver to dig, of course, hed ditch her; why would he keep her around?" "..." "..." The crowd kept talking loudly, when suddenly Mrs. Li, like a madwoman, stood up and shouted at the crowd, "What are you saying about the Li family falling? The Li family wont fall; we have so many restaurants, how could we fall? Stop spreading rumors!" "Oh, Mrs. Li, are you still in the dark? The Dongfeng Restaurant was transferred to a new owner today; the Li family is already finished." "What did you say? Repeat that," Mrs. Li, upon hearing this, frantically grabbed the person who spoke. "Hey, whats wrong with you?" The person rebuffed her sharply, shoving Mrs. Li back, causing her to fall to the ground again. "The Li family is finished, and that inhumane son of yours might have already run away with the money from the sold restaurants at this moment." Upon hearing this, Mrs. Li stumbled to her feet, "All of you get lost, just get lost!" The crowd dispersed amidst her shoving and shouting, and Mrs. Li, looking up, saw Amo at the drivers seat. Her eyes lit up, and she ran towards the carriage. Upon opening the door, she indeed saw Li Fuyou sitting inside. Her face, twisted with ferocity, no longer pretentious, she roared at Li Fuyou, "Li Fuyou, tell me, is what theyre saying true? Did the Li family change hands?" Chapter 792 - 795: Leaving Shanshi County

Chapter 792: Chapter 795: Leaving Shanshi County

Li Fuyou, sitting in the carriage, had a face pale as death, having heard every sobbing word his mother had just said. He could hardly believe ithis mother had been unfaithful to his father for many years. Who was he, then, the son of? Even he began to doubt his own lineage. Seeing that Li Fuyou remained silent, Lady Lis face twisted with malice. "Im talking to you! Are you deaf? Did you sell the tavern?" As Li Fuyou still said nothing, Lady Li started cursing, "You useless son, a waste of space! The Li Family has only been in your hands for a few days, and youve already run it into the ground, havent you?" "All of the Li Familys property belongs to me, give me back my Silver." "How much did you sell the tavern for? Hand it over, now." "Im speaking to you, have you gone mute?" "Dont you y dumb with me. Without me, where would you be?" "..." "..." Lady Lis mouth kept spewing curses, and her hands were not idle either. She tried to drag Li Fuyou out of the carriage, and when she couldnt, she climbed up herself, rummaging through his clothes, determined to find the silver notes on him. Seeing such a mother, Li Fuyous eyes glinted with a sinister sharpness, his face frighteningly cold. Suddenly he spoke up, "Are you really my mother?" "Nonsense. If Im not your mother, who is? Quickly hand over the Silver." Hearing her tone, Li Fuyou let out a coldugh, "Heh." This was his mother, always with Silver on her lips, not a single word of concern for him. He had suffered so much these days, and yet none of it could earn her slightest concern. At this moment, his heart was filled with despair. Clenching his fists that rested on his legs, his scarred hands looked as though they could bleed anew. He growled, "Amo, get her off the carriage." "Yes, Young Master." Amo obeyed, dragging Lady Li off the carriage. "You cur, youlle to no good end," Lady Li, still maintaining her haughty air, yelled as she was dragged away. But to no avail, she was still dragged along, eventually starting to curse her son, "You unfilial child, are you going to imprison your own mother? Arent you afraid of being struck by lightning..." "You good-for-nothing, you deserve to be denied a proper life..." By now, a crowd had gathered around the carriage, dumbfounded by Lady Lis words. What mother would treat her son like this? The crowd began to whisper among themselves about the mother and son. Seeing that his mother had had enough, Li Fuyou spoke indifferently, "Since you think I have shamed you, and I am a waste, we might as well sever our ties. From this day on, Ill not have you as a mother, and youll not have me as a son." "If you want to cut ties, thats fine, but give me the Silver from the sale of the tavern," Lady Li shouted. Pained by his mothers words, Li Fuyou felt a deep anguish, "Here are five hundred taels, enough for you to live out your life in some rural ce." After speaking, he said to Amo, "Amo, lets go." "Yes, Young Master." The carriage soon left the crowd behind, with Lady Lis curses still in the air, "You unfilial son, five hundred taels are not enough for me to live on, youre shooing me away like a beggar, you useless thing, to actually abandon your own mother..." Listening to his mothers scolding fade away, Li Fuyou wished only to leave the ce quickly. In no time, the two had returned to the courtyard, hastily packed some belongings, and left Shanshi County that very night. Chapter 793 - 796: Someone Beat Us to the Punch

Chapter 793: Chapter 796: Someone Beat Us to the Punch

Chu Mansion At that moment, Wang Xiangxiang was sitting in the room, getting her pulse checked by the doctor. Chu Lian was holding her other hand, his face etched with tension. After a short while, once the doctor had finished taking the pulse, Chu Lian eagerly asked, "Doctor, how is my wifes health? And the baby?" The doctor withdrew his hand and said with a cheerful smile, "Young Master Chu, rest assured, yourdy is perfectly fine, and the baby is growing well. Theres no need for her to take the fetus-preserving medicine anymore." Hearing this, Chu Lian was overjoyed and quickly offered his thanks, "Thank you, Doctor, thank you." He then called for a maid to see the doctor out. Seeing Chu Lian so anxious, Wang Xiangxiang sat there with a smile pursing her lips, "I told you, Im fine; Ive been able to eat and sleep welltely. Im already better." "Mm, still, its more reassuring after the doctors confirmation." The reason for calling the doctor today was to follow up after Wang Xiangxiang had faintedst time, to check if her condition had improved and if the baby was stablejust to be more at ease. Chu Lian touched Wang Xiangxiangs belly and said, "Son, hold on, in just seven more months youll be able to meet your mom and dad." "Husband, shall we take the baby to swing on the swings?" "Mydy, youre quite eager, arent you? We only installed that swing yesterday; no, we must wait at least another two days." "Alright then," Wang Xiangxiang pouted, willing to wait. "Lets go, Ill take you out to the yard for a walk and some fresh air. Dont just stay cooped up in the room." Chu Lian took Wang Xiangxiangs hand and walked towards the outside. Just as they reached the main hall, they saw Acheng hurriedly enter. "Young Master, Young Madam." "Is there something the matter?" Acheng seemed to have a hard time speaking, and noticing that he was reluctant to let her know, Wang Xiangxiang considerately said, "Husband, you talk first. Ill wait outside for you." Chu Lian pulled Wang Xiangxiangs hand and said, "Theres nothing she cant hear. Acheng, go ahead." "Yes, Young Master." With the young masters permission, Acheng reluctantly began, "We werent able to purchase Dongfeng Restaurant." "What?" Upon hearing this, Chu Lians brow furrowed deeply. Having arranged everything so meticulously, how could they have failed to make the purchase when they were just waiting to strike a deal at a lower price? Continuing, Acheng said, "By the time our people arrived, Dongfeng Restaurant had already changed hands." "Who was it?" This news was incredibly surprisingwho else would dare rival the Chu Familys interests in the county? Acheng shook his head and replied, "The other party is very secretive; we have yet to determine their identity. Moreover, Li Mansion has also been bought out, and its said that even the Dongfeng Restaurant in the county that was sealed off was purchased with it." " ..." If that was the case, then the person was targeting the Li Familys estate. "Go investigate; we must find out who this person is." "Yes." After saying this, Acheng left the room. Once Acheng was gone, Chu Lian looked toward Wang Xiangxiang. He had assured her with full confidence that he would secure Dongfeng Restaurant, and yet, unexpectedly, someone else had intercepted the deal. Xiangxiang was quite concerned about Li Fuguis issue. He spoke to reassure her, "Mydy, dont worry. Even if someone else has snatched it away, we can still get it back." "Husband, who do you think it could be?" The news had truly baffled Wang Xiangxiang. Everyone had agreed on a satisfactory deal, and once they had Dongfeng Restaurant in hand, the n was to convert it into an inn. But now there had been an unforeseenplication. Chu Lian shook his head, "Well know once we investigate." However, it seemed likely that for the short term anyway, Li Fugui wouldnt get his hands on Dongfeng Restaurant. Chapter 794 - 797 The Plan Failed

Chapter 794: Chapter 797 The n Failed

Shanshi County At this time, it was the dead of night and everyone had already fallen asleep when suddenly a young worker living in the back courtyard of Yui Restaurant shouted, "This is bad, the fire has started, everyone get up quickly." The voice was extremely piercing, awakening several fellow workers lodging in the back courtyard, who all began to panic and cry out. "What? A fire has started?" "Quick, get up quickly." "Stop sleeping." "..." "..." Several workers hurriedly got up, threw on their clothes haphazardly, and ran toward the front courtyard of the restaurant, only to see thick smoke billowing in the hall of Dongfeng Restaurant, causing great anxiety. Someone shouted, "Quick, go fetch water." Several people rushed to the well to draw water, bucket after bucket they tried to extinguish the fire in the hall, but the fire continued unabated. Some workers frantically used wet rags to p at the mes in hopes of putting them out, but to no avail. The workers faces and bodies had already turned pitch-ck from the smoke, and someone suggested, "Quick, go to the street and find people to help." Upon hearing this, the young worker hurried out to find help, waking up anyone living in the backyards along the entire street. When people heard that Yui Restaurant was on fire, they all came running with buckets of water to assist. Thanks to everyones relentless efforts, the fire at Yui Restaurant was finally extinguished by dawn. Everyones face was covered in soot and they were so exhausted that they simply copsed to the ground. Seeing that the fire was finally out, the workers of Yui Restaurant breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly went to the back courtyard to fetch water for everyone to wash their faces, and made tea for everyone to drink. By morning, pedestrians were already on the streets; seeing the scene at the entrance of Yui Restaurant, they gathered around and started to discuss the situation. "How could a fine restaurant like this catch fire?" "Look at the damage, I guess nothings left now." "It might have been arson." "Really? With the Chu Family being so powerful, who would dare oppose them?" "It must have been someone with deep hatred, then." "..." "..." Shibao Town, Chu Mansion Chu Lian was embracing Wang Xiangxiang, still in the midst of sleep, when he suddenly heard urgent knocking, "Knock, knock." The noise woke them up. Chu Lian frowned, irritated by the early disturbance, he said sharply, "Dont they know the young mistress is sleeping?" Wang Xiangxiang pulled Chu Lian, signaling him not to get angry, "My husband, maybe theres a reason?" The Little Maid at the door quickly apologized, "Young master, Im sorry, but someone at the door has reported that Yui Restaurant in the county has caught fire." This news startled the couple who had just been awoken. How could it suddenly catch fire? "Understood, you can go now." "Yes, young master." The Little Maid acknowledged and left. Chu Lian quickly dressed while saying, "My wife, you go back to sleep, Ill go check on the county town." "Husband, could this be," Wang Xiangxiang had a bad premonition, feeling that the restaurant wouldnt catch fire without reason. There must have been someone who set it. "Dont worry, I am here. Ill go check it out first." Chu Lian was patting Wang Xiangxiang on the head, "Yes." After quickly washing up, Chu Lian took Acheng and galloped towards Yui Restaurant in the county town. Upon arriving, it was just after the fire had been put out. He pushed through the crowd and saw the burnt state of Yui Restaurant. Seeing Chu Lian arrive, the workers seemed to find their backbone, "Our young master is here." As they called out, they approached Chu Lian, "Young master, it was all thanks to the help of these neighbors." Chapter 795 - 798: Someone Deliberately Set Fire

Chapter 795: Chapter 798: Someone Deliberately Set Fire

Chu Lian looked toward the neighbors with his hands sped in a salute, "For todays events, thank you all for your help. Once Yui Restaurant reopens, Ill treat everyone here to a meal to show my gratitude." Everyone repeatedly said it was nothing significant and then they all went back, dispersing the crowd of onlookers. Chu Lian entered the main hall of Yui Restaurant, inspecting the fire damage. The main hall was severely burned, beyond salvageable, and the kitchen waspletely disfigured; only the upstairs had been spared. "Young master, the fire seems to have started in the kitchen," Acheng reported after the inspection. After hearing this, Chu Lians brows furrowed. He too had noticed that the kitchen had suffered the most damage. The fire must have spread from there into the main hall, "Acheng, how do you think this fire started?" "Young master, I think someone deliberately set the fire," Acheng expressed his opinion. "How so?" "Our people wouldnt make such a mistake. We extinguished the fire source with water before leaving the kitchen to ensure there were no sparks left. That it still caught fire can only mean it was set intentionally," Acheng shared his thoughts. Chu Lian nodded. He had already suspected as much. Their management at Yui Restaurant was extremely strict; an ident like this was nearly impossible. "Young master, should we report this to the authorities?" The corner of Chu Lians mouth slightly turned up, report it to the authorities? It was better not to bother the greedy officials with such a personal vendetta, "No need to report it." "Get someone to redecorate the restaurant quickly and reopen as soon as possible." "Yes, young master," Acheng agreed, and then went to make arrangements. At that moment, Li Fugui, having heard the news, rushed in. Upon seeing Li Fugui, Chu Lian greeted him, "Youve arrived." "Brother-inw, this must be the doing of my brother, Li Fuyou," Li Fugui said indignantly as he came in. He couldnt believe his brother would go to the extreme of setting fire to Yui Restaurant. "We havent caught anyone red-handed, so its hard to conclude," Chu Lian said, although he also suspected Li Fuyou was behind it, without evidence it was hard to judge. A thorough investigation was still necessary. Li Fugui clenched his fists, his emotions running high, "It has to be him, theres nothing he wouldnt dare do. Ill go find him right now." Seeing Li Fugui about to go after Li Fuyou, Chu Lian quickly held him back, "Dont get worked up, we need a careful n for this matter. Theres no rush. Lets investigate further before deciding." "Do we still need to investigate? It must have been him," Li Fugui continued to say heatedly. "Dont worry, he wont get away," Chu Lian gave Li Fugui a reassuring look. This incident might really have been caused by Li Fuyou. From the start of the conflict, Li Fuyou had always been on the receiving end of their attacks. It wouldnt be normal if Li Fuyou hadnt done something in retaliation. Unable to deal with Li Fuyou, Li Fugui felt extremely remorseful. He said, "Brother-inw, this incident, again because of me, has implicated Yui Restaurant, and I owe you another favor." "Hey, we were nning to refurbish Yui Restaurant anyway. This is just an opportunity. Besides, without your involvement, Dongfeng Restaurant and I were already enemies, bound to face off sooner orter," Chu Lian said. Li Fugui shook his head, he knew very well that it all stemmed from his rtionship with Li Fuyou, "Regardless, Im very sorry about this incident, and for the retrieval of Dongfeng Restaurant, thank you." "..." Chapter 796 - 799: Heading for the Li Family

Chapter 796: Chapter 799: Heading for the Li Family

Hearing Li Fuguis words, Chu Lian was extremely embarrassed; it must be that Li Fugui had only heard about the change of ownership at Dongfeng Restaurant and assumed he had sessfully taken it over. "Li Fugui, I need to tell you something, and I dont want you to get excited," Chu Lian said. "What is it?" Li Fugui asked, puzzled. "I wasnt able to help you take back Dongfeng Restaurant," Chu Lian confessed, as this was something Li Fugui was bound to find out sooner orter. Li Fuguis eyes widened in shock at these words, "What? What exactly happened? Its all over town that Dongfeng Restaurant has changed hands." Chu Lian had no choice but to tell the truth, "Indeed, the ownership has changed, but it wasnt me who bought it. By the time our people got there to purchase Dongfeng Restaurant, it had already been bought by someone else. Its my fault for not acting sooner without bargaining." It was indeed apse in judgement by Chu Lian; he had not anticipated that despite everything being perfectly nned, an unexpected turn of events would lead to someone else beating them to the punch. Hearing that Dongfeng Restaurant had not been retaken, Li Fugui indeed felt some disappointment; however, he couldnt me Chu Lian for it, it was only because he was too weak now, not powerful enough, "This, I dont me you for," he said. Li Fugui paused and then asked, "Do you know who the other party is?" "Someone has already been sent to investigate the buyer, but brace yourselfthe buyer might have been targeting the Li Family specifically. They bought not only the Li Familys house but also the sealed restaurant across from it. Its going to be difficult to take it back from them now," Chu Lian exined. Chu Lian still disclosed the reality to Li Fugui, unlike what he had said to Xiangxiang, as he did not want her to worry. Hearing this, Li Fuguis mind filled with questions. He couldnt think of anyone else who would want to take everything from the Li Family. Could it be that he truly had no fate with everything belonging to the Li Family? "Hmm, I understand, Ive alreadye to terms with it. Wealth is just an external possession. I only wanted to reim the Li Familys property to take revenge on Li Fuyou. Now that Li Fuyou has fallen, I dont need to be so fixated on the Li Family any more," he reasoned. Even though Li Fugui spoke in such a manner, deep down he still hoped to take back his familys estate, the ce where he grew up and which represented his fathers hard work. At that moment, amotion across the street caught Chu Lian and Li Fuguis attention. As they stepped outside, they saw government officers unraveling the seal at Dongfeng Restaurant. Chu Lians eyes narrowed as he spected in his mind. The person behind this must be very powerful to have settled things with the government office in one day. If not backed by a strong background, then an abundance of silver must have been involved to sway the corrupt official. Although Li Fugui imed indifference, he was still curious about who had bought Dongfeng Restaurant. He approached one of the officers and asked, "Excuse me, officer, may I know who the new owner of Dongfeng Restaurant is?" The government officer replied, "Its not that I dont want to tell you, but I dont really know myself. Im just carrying out tasks for the Magistrate. However, from what I know, this person is not from our county." "Thank you, Officer," Li Fugui said in gratitude. Walking back to the entrance of Yui Restaurant, Li Fugui told Chu Lian, "They said the person isnt from this county." "..." How could someone from another county have received the news so quickly, when it had been less than three days since the restaurant went up for sale? "I will help you look into this matter, and you shouldnt worry too much about it," Chu Lian reassured him. Chapter 797 - 800 Someone at the door brought something

Chapter 797: Chapter 800 Someone at the door brought something

In the past few days, Li Fugui had not gone to Lin County as nned but stayed in Shanshi County instead. He wanted to see what the new owner would do to Dongfeng Restaurant. Surprisingly, after the purchase, apart from taking down the signboard, there were no other actions. In these days, Yui Restaurant was also actively undergoing renovations, striving to open for business as soon as possible. Chu Mansion "Husband," Wang Xiangxiang spoke with a pleading tone. Chu Lian asked with a smile, "Mydy, whats the matter?" Wang Xiangxiang pursed her lips, "Hehe, can I y on the swing now?" "..." Chu Lian was speechless. His wife was about to be a mother, yet she was still like a little child. However, he liked her genuine nature, straightforward and doing whatever she liked. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, and he said indulgently, "Come on, let your husband take you there." Indeed, upon seeing Chu Lians consent, Wang Xiangxiang smiled happily, "Okay." Thus, hand in hand, the two of them went to the courtyard. Chu Lian even considerately brought a cushion from the house and ced it on the swing seat, "There, sit down, and Ill give you a push." Wang Xiangxiang nodded, holding the swings ropes as she sat down, and said excitedly, "Ready." "Hold on tight, Im going to start pushing," Chu Lian cautioned. "Okay, Im ready. Go ahead." Chu Lian began to swing the swing. Since Wang Xiangxiang was pregnant, his pushes werent vigorous, but rather very gentle. "Husband, can you push a bit higher?" Wang Xiangxiang felt the swing barely moved and thus spoke up again. "Mydy, youre pregnant now; you need to be careful. Thats why we cant swing too hard." "..." Wang Xiangxiang was speechless. Of course, she knew she was pregnant, but wasnt this barely moving at all? "Husband, just a little more, just a tiny bit more." Seeing Wang Xiangxiangs begging look, Chu Lian agreed and gave the swing a slightly harder push, but just a tiny bit. "Husband, nobody swings like this. Its practically not moving at all! Besides, youre right here next to me, I really wont fall." Chu Lian looked at the swing and then at Wang Xiangxiang. It seemed he was indeed too nervous. A little more swinging shouldnt be a problem. So, he agreed, "Alright, but only for a little while." "Alright." Indeed, this time the swing moved normally, and Wang Xiangxiang yed happily. Seeing her so joyful, Chu Lian also felt happy. Laughs from the two of them echoed in the courtyard from time to time. After a moment, Chu Lian asked with concern, "Mydy, do you feel dizzy?" "Not at all. Its not that high," Wang Xiangxiang said, and although Chu Lian had agreed, he didnt swing her very high. "Mydy, let me help you down. Youve been on there too long," Chu Lian suggested worriedly. "Alright." Wang Xiangxiang knew Chu Lian was concerned about her and the child, so she agreed. As Chu Lian helped Wang Xiangxiang off the swing, a house servant rushed over, holding something in his hand, "Young master, young madam." "What is it?" The house servant replied, "Young master, someone at the door delivered something, saying it was for the young master." The servant handed the item to Chu Lian; he took it leisurely and opened it to find his eyes widening suddenly. He urgently asked, "Where is he?" "Young master, he left after delivering the item." Chu Lians brow furrowed, and he ordered, "Get Acheng to find Li Fugui." Chapter 798 - 801: Anonymous

Chapter 798: Chapter 801: Anonymous

Quickly, Acheng found Li Fugui and brought him over, "Sister, brother-inw, whats the matter? Why the urgency to have mee here?" Sitting there, Xiangxiang and Chu Lian both had very solemn expressions. This was a serious matter. Chu Lian handed over the item in his hand to Li Fugui and said, "Take a look." Li Fugui took the item Chu Lian handed to him and pulled it out. Once he saw it, just like Chu Lian, he was shocked and his eyes widened in surprise. In addition to being shocked, he was excited. He looked at Chu Lian, "This..." "Someone brought it to me today," Chu Lian said. The item was none other than the house deeds of the Li Mansion and those of eight Dongfeng Restaurants, together with a letter. The letter read: Li Fugui, the property of the Li Family has been delivered to you in full. The signature was Anonymous. This situation baffled everyone. They estimated that the other party was targeting the Li Family, but they didnt expect it to be someone helping Li Fugui. Who exactly was the other party, and why did they want to help Li Fugui win over the Li Family? "Li Fugui, what do you n to do about this?" Chu Lian asked. "I cant ept it," Li Fugui replied without hesitation. He had no idea if the other party was friend or foe, and even if they were a friend, he couldnt ept such arge property that someone else had given him. Getting the Li Familys property this time was an opportunity from heaven, which is why he had asked Chu Lian for help. Otherwise, he wouldnt even want to ask Chu Lian. Seeing how firm Li Fugui was, Chu Lian suggested, "Then lets keep these things here for the time being. Dont do anything with the Li Mansion and the Dongfeng Restaurant. Well wait until we find this Anonymous." "Alright," Li Fugui nodded. "Li Fugui, do you have any clue who this Anonymous might be? Who do you think might help you?" Xiangxiang asked. Li Fugui shook his head. He couldnt figure out who else would help him. If there had been someone, he wouldnt have fallen into such a state in the first ce. "Li Fugui, could it be possible that you have some incredibly significant rtive?" Li Fugui shook his head, "No." His family had been sparsely popted. They had always passed on from one generation to a single descendent until his fathers generation, which produced him and Li Fuyou. He was very certain that it was not possible for a rtive to be involved. "We can only leave the matter at this for now. Well look for this Anonymous first. Li Fugui, I need to talk to you about Li Fuyou. Because of the fire at Zhayui Restaurant these past few days, I also checked up on Li Fuyous situation." "Okay, tell me, was the fire set by him?" "We cant determine that yet, but Li Fuyou left Shanshi County that very night." "He left?" Li Fugui was somewhat surprised. Chu Lian nodded, "Yes, he left. After Dongfeng Restaurant was sealed, he went to the County Magistrate, but for some reason, aftering out from there, he hurriedly sold off all the restaurants. He probably wanted to take the money and leave Shanshi County. And that Li Mansion was secretly sold by his mother." "She sold it?" Over the past few days, there actually had been much talk regarding Li Fuyous mother, saying that she took a lot of the Li Familys money for other men, only to be abandoned by them, and so on. Now it seemed, after all the struggles Li Fuyou went through, that he ended up being treated that way by his own mother could truly be seen as karma. "Yes." Upon learning this news, Li Fugui decided to keep the Li Familys property as is for the time being, resolving to find Anonymous first. He also decided to set out for Lin County the next day. Chapter 799 - 802: The Rules of Medicine King Valley

Chapter 799: Chapter 802: The Rules of Medicine King Valley

Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao werepletely unaware of the impending confrontation between Dongfeng Restaurant and Yui Restaurant. The day before Wang Xiangxiang and Chu Lian returned from their visit, they had already set out on their journey to Medicine King Valley. The cart, pulled by a dairy cow, moved very slowly, but wherever it went, it became a beautiful scene. Because carts with cabins are usually pulled by horses, it was quite rare to see one pulled by a cow. Country carts, whether pulled by oxen or horses, typically do not have cabins because they need to go into the fields to work, to pull farm tools and crops, and are not the cabin type. Only the Yang Family, because of Xiaoxiaos role as head of the household, had specially made a cabin cart for transporting people, which also made it more convenient for them to travel. The road to Beijing required passing through Lin County, so they nned to visit the Joy Grand Theater there before setting off. Considering the trip might take an indeterminate amount of time, Xiaoxiao even prepared a basket for the baby, to avoid having to carry him all the way. Actually, Little Liufu was easy to take care of. He was just a month-old baby, and his cries were basically due to needing a diaper change, being hungry, or both. As long as his bottom was clean, and he was well fed and hydrated, he would lie there with his eyes open, ying. He couldnt roll over yet, so it seemed quite easy to handle him without worrying about him falling off anywhere. If he still fussed, it was because he was sleepy, and after a bit of fussing, he would sleep for about two hours. At that moment, Little Liufu had just been lulled to sleep by Xiaoxiao and ced in the basket. Xiaoxiao opened the small window and started talking to Yang Ming, who was driving the cart, up front. "Husband." Hearing his wife call for him, Yang Ming quickly responded, "Wife, whats the matter? Does the baby need to breastfeed?" "No, the baby has just fallen asleep; he doesnt need milk right now. We can express milk when he wakes up. I was wondering, since Divine Doctor Xue is said to be so amazing, are the other doctors in Medicine King Valley also that impressive?" "Yes, they should be, which is why we are heading to Medicine King Valley first. Even if Divine Doctor Xue isnt there, we can still confirm whether the baby has truly been poisoned. After all, the doctors in Medicine King Valley are much better than those in our remote countryside." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao suddenly realized that Yang Ming also had his doubts about whether the child was poisoned; yet, he chose to go to Medicine King Valley for fear of dying the babys treatment. But then, Xiaoxiao asked worriedly, "Husband, if it turns out that the baby is indeed poisoned, wont the people in Medicine King Valley find out? Are you going to hypnotize them all?" Yang Mings mouth twitched. His wife was making his hypnotism out to be a remarkable skill, but he wasnt that powerful. He wasnt a godhaving learned it didnt mean he was an expert, he just knew some basic techniques. Hypnotizing the doctor in town had been a desperate act, as they couldnt risk exposure, and luckily, it was sessful. "No need, Ive heard that Medicine King Valley has a rule that patient information must not be disclosed. If someone leaks it, they will be expelled from Medicine King Valley and forbidden to practice medicine from then on. So, wife, rest assured." With Yang Ming saying so, Xiaoxiao rxed. It seemed that there were rules even in the world of Chinese medicine which was reassuring. "Alright, husband, then lets hurry to Medicine King Valley." "Alright." But momentster, Xiaoxiao became speechless because the ox cart was excruciatingly slow. She had just said they should hurry, and this pace was even slower than her walking speed. At this rate, it would take them an eternity to reach Medicine King Valley. Time waits for no one, and she felt as if shed made a mistake. Chapter 800 - 803: Finally Arriving at Lin County

Chapter 800: Chapter 803: Finally Arriving at Lin County

Xiaoxiao began toin, "Honey, this ox cart is so slow. At this rate, when will we ever reach Medicine King Valley? Were wasting all our time on the road." This time, they had indeed miscalcted, only thinking about the problem that their child had no milk to drink, but forgetting that dairy cows are such slow creatures. "Wife, after we get to Lin County, lets buy a little milking goat," Yang Ming suggested upon hearing his wifesints, "Well leave the dairy cow in Lin County and switch to a horse carriage." "..." A milking goat? Is that feasible? But anyway, its probably faster than a dairy cow, but, "Husband, can the goat keep up with the speed of the horse carriage?" "In Lin County, lets find someone to modify this carriage, lengthen the back and load up the milking goat." Upon hearing this suggestion, Xiaoxiaos eyes lit up. He was so smarther 21st-century brain hadnt thought of that at all. She knew nothing about these cows and horses, "Husband, lets do as you said, well buy a milking goat in Lin County. How are you so smart, whats your brain made of..." Xiaoxiao showered Yang Ming with praises. Yang Ming smiled, having only thought of this idea while driving the cart because he couldnt stand the ox carts speed anymore. The ox cart was indeed very slow; a journey that would take a horse carriage a single day took them three days, with stops along the way. Moreover, with no viges on the road, they had to spend two nights in the cart. Filled with regret for making his wife spend the nights in the wilderness, Yang Ming med himself for his oversight. Finally, on the afternoon of the third day, they reached Joy Grand Theater in Lin County. It was just the time for the afternoon show, and Xiaoxiao got off the cart to see the crowd lined up to enter, well-organized. Looking at the other side, there was a long line for tickets, again very orderly. Seeing this scene made Xiaoxiao very happy. The Grand Theater had been open for ten days already, and the ticket sales were still booming. This assured her that the business would continue to thrive for a while, which meant her journey wouldnt be an issue. She felt relieved. Seeing that the queue now included not only men but women and children too convinced her that the transformation of the Grand Theater was a huge sess. People had finally changed their perception of the former Yixiang Courtyard. The ticket seller saw Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming and immediately shouted, "Bossdy, boss!" Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming approached with their child. Xiaoxiao asked, "How are the ticket sales going?" "Bossdy, tickets for next month are already sold out," the ticket seller said with excitement and pride. Hearing this, Xiaoxiao was extremely surprised. She had not expected the business to be this booming. If that was the case, her being away for a while posed even less of an issue, "Then you keep selling tickets, were going inside." "Okay, boss, bossdy, take your time," the ticket seller continued selling tickets. Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao, holding their child, entered the Grand Theater. Upon entering, they were spotted by Manager Tian, "Bossdy, boss, youre back." "Yes, have someone heat up some water; we need to clean up first, well talkter," Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had been on the road for three days without a proper chance to wash up, and with a child, they definitely needed to tidy up. "Alright, Ill take care of it right away." Chapter 801 - 804: The Name Has Spread

Chapter 801: Chapter 804: The Name Has Spread

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming first cleaned up Little Liufu, then they took turns taking a hot shower, and the family of three immediately felt refreshed. "Honey, you watch our son, Ill wash the clothes we changed out of," Yang Ming said as he got to work. Holding the child, Xiaoxiao thought about the uncertain future ahead. Manager Tian quickly arranged for a meal, and it was the first hot meal Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had in three days. After feeding Little Liufu milk, the afternoon performance had already ended. Seeing that Little Liufu wasnt sleeping, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had no choice but to take their child backstage. As soon as they entered, Xiaoxiao shouted, "Im back, did anyone miss me?" The actors backstage turned towards the door in unison, their faces lighting up with smiles, "Bosss wife, boss, youre back." As they spoke, they walked towards Xiaoxiao, quickly surrounding her and Yang Ming. After these days together, everyone had grown close, feeling more like friends than employer and employees, so they dared to say anything. "Bosss wife, is that your child youre holding?" Xiaoxiao looked at Liufu in her arms, then raised her head and smiled at everyone, "Yes, my son." As she spoke, Xiaoxiao pulled out Liufus little hand and shook it, "Son, say hello to all the uncles and aunties." Little Liufus hand was being shaken, and his little eyes darted around, looking at the people in the room. That adorable look melted the hearts of everyone inside. Many had drunk Contraceptive Soup and didnt know if they would have the chance to have children in the future. Everyone waved their hands at Little Liufu, "Hello there." "Bosss wife, your son is so adorable, can I hold him?" Xiaoxiao understood their feelings, so she passed the child over, and everyone took turns holding Liufu, talking and ying with him. A good whileter, until Liufu peed, did he return to Xiaoxiaos arms. After tidying up Little Liufu, Xiaoxiao asked, "How has the Grand Theater been these past few days Ive been away? Any issues?" When asked about the Grand Theater, everyone burst into conversation. "Bosss wife, the Grand Theater hasnt had any problems, these days have been packed with guests." "And the tickets are selling fast, next months tickets are already sold out." "Our Grand Theaters reputation has spread, and now many peoplee from out of town just to buy tickets to see our shows." "Now people are talking about us everywhere on the streets, and if you mention youve seen a performance at our theater, its a big deal." "Yes, yes, and bosss wife, your reputation has spread too. They say youre a great person who saved us, and many sisters from other brothels are envious of us." "Yes, bosss wife, now they no longer refer to us as Yixiang Courtyard, and some people even want toe work with us." "Bosss wife, dont worry, well perform well and keep the Grand Theater going strong." "..." "..." Seeing everyones enthusiasm, Xiaoxiao was happy for them. Even she didnt expect the Joy Grand Theater to be this sessful, with its reputation spreading beyond. Chapter 802 - 805: Last Instructions Before Departure

Chapter 802: Chapter 805: Last Instructions Before Departure

"Manager Tian, since the Grand Theater is doing so well, we should recruit some actors. The programs need to change from time to time, or else well lose guests eventually." "We also need to hire some guards to maintain order; we cant always rely on the Escort Agency people, as they have other tasks to handle." "Youll take care of the Silver; our Grand Theater may host more and more people in the future, and if we run out of space, we should buy some houses outside." "And dont forget to pay everyone their wages." "If the small theater is renovated, start selling tickets immediately." "The matters of the Grand Theater will continue to increase, and for everyone to do a better job, we cant be disorganized. I will assign tasks to each of you shortly; there will be specific people managing specific things, and everyone needs to follow the instructions given by the people Ive designated." "Also, I might not be able toe over for a while, so Ill be relying on all of you here. I hope that when I return, the Grand Theater will still be running as sessfully as it is now." "..." "..." Xiaoxiao made arrangements little by little, because she truly didnt know when she would return from this trip, perhaps as long as two months. Everything that could be arranged had to be arranged, and she could only rely on everyone elses hard work. She believed that everyone could do it. "Bossdy, dont worry, we will definitely do our best." "Yes, bossdy, we will follow your instructions." "..." "..." Sure enough, everyone responded and guaranteed theirmitment. After all the instructions were given, everyone began to get busy with their own tasks, as they needed to prepare for the next performance. Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao then carried their child back to their room. "Husband, I really didnt expect the Grand Theater to be this sessful." "Yes, my wife is truly amazing." Yang Ming praised his wife, while inwardly feeling a bit inferior, thinking he was increasingly falling behind his wife, who was so good and might be taken away by someone else. "Its everyones credit," Xiaoxiao said humbly. Moreover, it really was. With her little experience, she couldnt manage it alone. Her only advantagey in having seen a lot. Yang Mings lips curled up. His wife was so kind, having helped so many people. "Wife, Ill go to the Escort Agency to check on things and be back shortly." "Okay, you go ahead, and make the arrangements as we might not return for two months on this trip." After Yang Ming finished speaking, he left the Joy Grand Theater to visit the Escort Agency to check the situation. The situation was the same, with no news of his sister, so he gave some instructions before returning to the Grand Theater. The next day, Yang Ming went to arrange for the carriage and the youngmb. Arranging the carriage was easy, but finding a suitable youngmb was challenging; he had to go through the entire Lin County to find one of appropriate size. After finding the youngmb, they modified the carriage ording to thembs size, and soon the carriage was ready. When the carriage returned with the youngmb, Xiaoxiao praised, "Husband, this is great. It will save us a lot of time." "Yes." Seeing his wife so happy made Yang Ming feel that all the effort was worthwhile. To reach the Medicine King Valley as quickly as possible, the two decided to set off that very day. They entrusted the cow to the Grand Theater, loaded their belongings onto the carriage, and set off with their child. They werent far from Beijing, and since the Medicine King Valley was on the way there and thanks to Wang Kuis guidance, they reached the Medicine King Valley smoothly within a few days. Chapter 803 - 806: Medicine King Valley

Chapter 803: Chapter 806: Medicine King Valley

Medicine King Valley, just from the name it sounds like a very mysterious and prestigious ce, probably a valley filled with herbs and many doctors studying medicine and herbs. As soon as you approach Medicine King Valley, the air feels different, a very fresh scent hits you, slightly fragrant, making you feel rxed and joyful. Xiaoxiao breathed in deeply, eximing, "The smell of nature is just so different, sofortable." With the window open, looking outside, those patches that look like a sea of flowers might be the so-called herbs, but Xiaoxiao doesnt know herbs; seeing them is pointless since she knows nothing about them. She has to make sure not to eat or touch them randomly to avoid poisoning. Soon, the carriage came to a stop, and Yang Ming said, "Honey, get off, weve arrived." Upon hearing Yang Mings voice, Xiaoxiao opened the door, holding the child as she got off the carriage, seeing the gate of the so-called Medicine King Valley. "Who are you?" The gatekeeper saw Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming, asking. "Brother, were here seeking medical help, hoping you can let us in." Yang Ming spoke up. "Do you have a letter?" "What letter?" Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled. "Who rmended you here? Our Medicine King Valley requires a rmendation letter to enter," the guard exined. Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiaos brow furrowed, not expecting Medicine King Valley to have such a rule. Who made it so unempathetic, refusing to treat the sick, isnt this going to cost many lives? "Brother, could you please help report us? Wevee a long way. It wasnt easy finding this Medicine King Valley; the child at home is sick, weve seen many doctors but none could help, thats why were here." Xiaoxiao decided to plead tearfully. But the gatekeeper refused without a second thought, "No, its the rules of Medicine King Valley, cant break them. If the child is sick, you should quickly find another doctor, Beijing is just ahead, there are many doctors there too." "Brother, look, wevee all this way, and the childs illness cant wait. If we go to Beijing now, Im afraid the child wont hold on, can you make an exception?" Xiaoxiao pleaded, holding up the child for the gatekeeper to see, hoping he would sympathize. But the gatekeeper remained unmoved, "No, no, if you dont have a letter, leave quickly." Seeing this gatekeeper so rigid and unempathetic, Xiaoxiao became anxious, looking to Yang Ming, unsure what to do. Faced with this oue, Yang Ming feared they might not be able to enter Medicine King Valley, so he asked, "Brother, is the Divine Doctor Xue in Medicine King Valley?" "The Divine Doctor Xue is not here." This single "not here" felt like a severe blow; they couldnt enter Medicine King Valley to see if the child was poisoned, and the Divine Doctor Xue wasnt there, so what should they do? Are they really supposed to go to Beijing as the gatekeeper suggested? "Brother, do you know where the Divine Doctor Xue went?" "The Divine Doctor Xue is always wandering outside, we dont know exactly where," the gatekeeper replied, gesturing again, saying, "You should leave; without a letter, you cant enter Medicine King Valley." Seeing the gatekeeper was resolute, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had no choice but to leave the Medicine King Valley gate, returning to their carriage. "Husband, what do we do now?" Chapter 804 - 807: Door God

Chapter 804: Chapter 807: Door God

"Are we really going to take the child to Beijing?" Xiaoxiao felt that entering the Medicine King Valley was truly impossible; Doctor Xue wasnt around, and they might actually have to follow the young guards suggestion and go to Beijing to find some famous doctors. "We cant go to Beijing." Yang Ming frowned and refused outright. He didnt want to say much, not wanting his wife to worry too much. His wife was from another ce and wasnt very familiar with things here, so he hadnt said much before, but now... "Why?" Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled. "Wife, the child cant go to Beijing. The child is being chased, soldiers have been dispatched, and hes been poisoned. I suspect the child came from Beijing, we cant go there." He suspected the child had ended up with them because they were close to Beijing. Everything made him feel that the childs identity wasnt ordinary like their family or a prominent family like Wang Xiangxiangs; it must be connected to Beijing. Even if Yang Ming didnt say it, Xiaoxiao could also guess. Although she didnt understand much, she had watched a lot of TV dramas and the like. Although most TV dramas were deceptive, she had thought of everything she should think of. She was just confused because there was no way now. The two had already guessed in their hearts, but hadnt revealed it to each other, both fearing that the other would be too worried or frightened by it. The arrow was already on the string, and they couldnt let go, so everything would wait until two monthster. Xiaoxiao thought for a moment and said, "Husband, lets stay here as Door Gods until they agree to let us in." They couldnt let anyone else know about the childs situation. The rules of Medicine King Valley were so strict; having someone from Medicine King Valley treat the child was the best choice. After the two decided, they started living at the gate of Medicine King Valley, with the child, eating, drinking, relieving themselves, and sleeping right there. This situation left the young guard dumbfounded. He observed for a long time and saw that the family of three still hadnt left, so he ran inside to report. Seeing the young guard rush inside, Xiaoxiao gave a smug smile. She didnt believe she couldnt get into Medicine King Valley. A momentter, the young guard returned and even opened the door, running toward them. Xiaoxiaos eyes lit up. Did it work? "Brother, are we allowed to go in?" Xiaoxiao walked up to ask. The young guard shook his head and said, "You should leave quickly; the rules of Medicine King Valley cant be broken. If you want toe in, you need to go back and get an introduction letter." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiaos face fell instantly. If they could get an introduction letter, would they be in this situation? She ignored the young guard and returned to the cart to check on her son. The young guard thought she was going back to leave, but what he didnt expect was that the family of three not only didnt leave but started preparing to eat. He shook his head and went back to his duty of guarding the gate helplessly. "Husband, eat this." Yang Ming took the pancake Xiaoxiao handed over, which had been freshly prepared at the Grand Theater. "Wife, do you think this strategy will work?" "Lets wait and see." She wasnt confident either. Anyway, they had no other options now. There were only two oues: either the other side would soften and let them in, or they would harden and use force to drive them away. Chapter 805 - 808: I’ll Go Run an Errand

Chapter 805: Chapter 808: Ill Go Run an Errand

The family of three really ate, drank, slept, and relieved themselves at the gate, due to the child being young, the sound of the child crying could often be heard. The guard at the gate was left speechless after trying to persuade them to leave several times, but it was useless. Xiaoxiao and her family remained adamant not to leave unless they were let in. The young man was helpless, so he returned and continued to guard the gate. This went on for two days. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming felt even more unsure in their hearts. If this continued, they would really be out of options because the food they brought was almost gone. If they couldnt get in, they would really have to make a fire and cook on the spot. During these two days, Xiaoxiao also observed that other people came seeking medical help. Some were turned away, while others were let in. It appeared that Medicine King Valley strictly followed the rulesthose without a letter were turned away, while those with a letter were allowed entry. Of course, those who were turned away did not persist as Xiaoxiao and her family did. They heeded the suggestion of the gatekeepers and went to Beijing to seek medical help. On this day, Little Liufu started crying loudly again, annoying the young man guarding the gate, who came running over once more. Impatiently, he said, "Youve been here for days. Youve seen it. Its really no use; you should leave and quickly find another doctor for the child." Seeing the gatekeepering again, Xiaoxiao decided to use her persuasive skills, reasoning that as a woman, she would be more effective than Yang Ming. So, she held the child, trying to soothe the crying child, as she spoke, "Young man, please be kind and ask for us once more. You see, the child is really sick; otherwise, as parents, we wouldnt bear it to bring such a young child here to suffer. The child is indeed sick; weve seen other doctors, and no one can cure him. We had no choice but toe to Medicine King Valley. If there were any alternative, we wouldnt be doing this." As Xiaoxiao spoke, she wiped away her tears, crying, "As the saying goes, saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-tiered pagoda. Please consider the face of the Buddhas and help this child. If the child isnt treated soon, he might die. Imagine the news of someone dying at the gate of Medicine King Valley; it wouldnt be good. You have so many doctors inside, yet someone died outside. How would that be perceived?" "This..." The gatekeeper seemed somewhat moved by her words. Seeing this, Xiaoxiao continued, "People outside wouldnt say Medicine King Valley was heartless; they would definitely say Medicine King Valleys medical skills arecking. So many doctors couldnt save a child. Do you think its bearable if Medicine King Valley is rumored to have poor medical skills?" Xiaoxiao went on soothing the child, "Look at this child, still so young, so cute. It would be such a tragedy if he lost his life. Medicine King Valley just needs to open the door to save this child. I beg you." Xiaoxiao was about to kneel, but the young man stopped her, "Alright, alright, you dont need to kneel. Ill go make a trip." But after the young man left, Xiaoxiao kept crying earnestly. Yang Mingforted his wife, "Honey, dont cry, maybe this time theres hope." Xiaoxiao didnt want to cry, but she wasnt acting; it was a true emotional outpouring. Heaven had finally granted her a child, and she felt it was destiny. Even if given another child, it wouldnt be right if it wasnt this one. Chapter 806 - 809: Xue Shiyi

Chapter 806: Chapter 809: Xue Shiyi

Within the Medicine King Valley, several people sat in the front hall, their appearance immediately giving away their advanced age and esteemed reputation. As soon as the young Gatekeeper entered the door, he was met with reproach from these individuals, "Xiao Eleven, reckless and rash, how improper, you must pay attention to your own cultivation and virtue." Upon hearing the elders words of me, Xiao Eleven immediately steadied his steps and tidied himself. "Whats brought about this reckless rush?" Once Xiao Elevens breathing calmed, he spoke, "Masters, its still that family of three at the entrance, and no matter what, they refuse to leave." Upon hearing this, the elders frowned deeply, a trace of surprise shing in their eyes. It had been three days already, yet they were still at the entrance, "How have you handled this so poorly, cant even manage such a trivial matter, tell them to hurry and find another doctor to treat their illness." Xiao Eleven expressed his innocence, he started saying, "Masters, Ive said everything that needed to be said, informed them that without an introduction letter its of no use, told them to quickly find another doctor, but they wouldnt listen. They said theyve already looked all over for other doctors, no one could save them, thats why they turned to our Medicine King Valley." Upon hearing this, one of the elders frowned even more deeply and slowly opened his mouth, "Xiao Eleven, is that childs illness very severe?" "I cant really tell." Xiao Eleven answered softly, as the childs face truly showed no apparent ailments. As soon as these words were out, the elder immediately rebuked, "Xiao Eleven, just what have you learned all day? Is it that your medical skills regressed over a few days, cant even determine a childs illness?" "..." Xiao Eleven had no choice but to listen to the reprimand, unable to refute, indeed, he was not merely a Gatekeeper; he was watching the gate simply because he was being punished for a mistake. In fact, he was one of many disciples of the Medicine King Valley, ranked eleventh. Although his medical skills couldntpare to many elders, they werent exactlycking either. After reprimanding, the elder turned his head to look at the person beside him and said with a very grave expression, "What should we do about this matter?" The elder next to him wore a cold expression, "We must not break the rules of our Medicine King Valley. Let Xiao Ten go and drive them away." Upon hearing this, Xiao Eleven raised his head and, somewhat hesitantly, said, "That woman said..." "Said what? Speak clearly and directly." "That woman said, if the child dies at the gate of the Medicine King Valley, it would harm our reputation. Outside people might say we stood by and did nothing, or perhaps theyll say so many people couldnt save a single child, indicating our Medicine King Valleys medical skills are mere reputation without substance." Xiao Eleven ryed all of Xiaoxiaos intentions in one breath, braving the risk of being scolded or angering them. Indeed, after hearing this, the expressions of several elders became very unpleasant, and one of them angrily pped the table and stood up, "What audacity for a mere woman to dare defame our Medicine King Valley in such a way." Xiao Eleven continued, "And she also said..." "What else did she say?" the elder sternly asked. "She also said, saving a life grants more merit than building a seven-story pagoda. They hope we overlook human faults forpassion, that the child is barely over a month old, and if not for the illness, they wouldnt bring the child here to suffer, Masters, I felt that family of three is quite pitiful, so I thought wed..." Xiao Eleven still wanted to speak, but the master interrupted him, "This has nothing to do with you, return to your post at the gate." Xiao Eleven saw that he had said all he could, unsure if he could assist that family of three, but he had done his best, so he returned to the entrance. Chapter 807 - 810: We’ll Leave Now

Chapter 807: Chapter 810: Well Leave Now

Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming waited outside for a long time, but did not see the young brother who was guarding the cee out. Xiaoxiao was getting anxious and uncertain, "Honey, do you think theres hope this time?" "It should be about time. Hes been inside so long probably discussing whether to treat us or not. Lets wait a bit more." Yang Ming replied. Hearing Yang Mings analysis, Xiaoxiao felt it made sense, "Yes, lets wait a bit longer. But if it still doesnt work, what should we do?" Xiaoxiao was still worried and continued, "Weve run out of food, almost finished the water, and these arent the main problems. Most importantly, theres no water to bathe the child. If this continues, the kid will stink." If it were just the two of them, they could stay for as many days as needed. But with a child, there were indeed many inconveniences. "Lets see how it goes. If it really doesnt work, Ill go into the mountains. We have a cooking pot, so Ill go get water." "Okay." Xiaoxiao nodded. If it really didnt work, they would leave and look for the Divine Doctor Xue outside. A momentter, they saw the young brother return. Xiaoxiao immediately went up to him, "Young brother, how is it? Can we go in? Will they treat us?" "Ive said all I could. Theyre making a decision now. I believe there will be a result soon." said Xue Eleven. "Thank you, young brother." Xiaoxiao nodded and bowed in gratitude. No matter what, this news gave a glimmer of hope, indicating that there was still someone inside who stood on their side. "No need to thank me. Just wait a bit longer." Xue Eleven said and returned to the gate. Xiaoxiao looked at Yang Ming, her eyes filled with joy. Days of waiting were finally not in vain. The two couldnt hide their joy at that moment and embraced each other, "Honey, theres hope, theres hope." "Yes, theres hope, theres hope." Xue Eleven saw their behavior, shook his head, and a smile emerged at the corner of his mouth. A momentter, someone came out from Medicine King Valley. Seeing the person, Xue Eleven frowned, having a bad premonition, "Tenth Brother, why did youe out?" "Master asked me to handle it." Xue Ten looked at Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming and then walked towards them, Xue Eleven quickly followed. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming saw a new face emerge. They quickly got off the carriage. Xiaoxiao looked at Xue Eleven, "Young brother, this is..." Xue Eleven didnt speak, instead Xue Ten spoke unceremoniously, "The rules of Medicine King Valley cant be broken. Without an introduction letter, no one can enter the valley. Youd better hurry back and find another doctor for the childs treatment. If you keep being stubborn, dont me me for chasing you away." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao was utterly heartbroken. She thought there was hope but didnt expect the people inside to be so stubborn. Xiaoxiao was furious, "Medicine King Valley, what a broken ce. The people living inside are no good either. Having medical skills is useless if you have a problem with your character..." Seeing Xiaoxiaos words, Xue Ten furrowed his brow and began to drive them away, "No matter what strategy you use, it wont work. The masters decision cannot be changed. Hurry up and leave." As Xue Ten spoke, he went to kick the things Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had ced outside the carriage. Yang Ming quickly stopped him, "Young brother, were leaving now." "Honey." Xiaoxiao called out angrily. "Dear, lets leave first. This matter needs to be deliberated further." Yang Ming advised. Chapter 808 - 811: Kneeling to Death at Medicine King Valley

Chapter 808: Chapter 811: Kneeling to Death at Medicine King Valley

Xiaoxiao had no choice but to get on the carriage, and Yang Ming drove it away. Once on the carriage, Xiaoxiao hugged her child and began to cry uncontrobly. She had never felt so aggrieved; she started to feel that all of this was her retribution. "Sob sob." Tears unknowingly dripped down, and Yang Ming, who was driving the carriage, heard his wifes cries and felt heartbroken. He drove the carriage to a spot where it couldnt be seen from the entrance of Medicine King Valley before stopping. He climbed into the carriage, pulling his wife and child into his arms, saying with sympathy, "Honey, dont cry. Well think of another way." "What other way could there be? Sob sob." Xiaoxiao continued crying, unable to even confirm if the child was poisoned. If they left, who knows when they could find the Divine Doctor. Compared to finding him, the Medicine King Valley right here seemed like the best choice; as long as they could enter, they could find out if the child was poisoned. "Honey, dont cry. Dont worry just yet. Ill head into the mountains right now, get some water, and see if theres food. Well prepare everything and then go to the Medicine King Valley entrance. If they still dont let us in, well force our way in." "Force our way in?" Xiaoxiao eximed in surprise. Is it feasible? "Yes, force our way in. Find a doctor first, and even if we have to take one hostage, well do it. If we fail, well beg on our knees to bring one." Seeing Yang Mings resolute expression, Xiaoxiao seemed to find her pir of support. She wiped away her tears and resolved that shed do whatever it took at Medicine King Valley for her childs treatment, "Alright." Yang Ming released Xiaoxiao and the child, saying, "Honey, wait here with the child. Ill head into the mountains now." "Darling, lets go into the mountains together. Its not easy for you to carry the water down. Why dont we take the pot and basin up the mountain, handle it all and thene down." Yang Ming hesitated at his wifes suggestion, "But the mountain is dangerous." "Darling, staying at the foot of the mountain with the child is actually dangerous too." Despite being afraid of climbing the mountain, she preferred to be together with her family despite the risk in this deste wilderness. "Alright then." Later, the family of three took their belongings and headed up the mountain. They were actually searching for a water source, not food, as they had brought plenty of provisions. Luckily, they didnt have to walk far before encountering a river. Xiaoxiao eximed excitedly, "Darling, theres a river." Relieved to find a water source so close, Yang Ming breathed a sigh of relief, very worried that his wife and child would face danger in the mountains. At this position, they should avoidrge animals, and they should be quite safe. Yang Ming set up a stand beside the river and ced the pot over it. Soon, he had water boiling. Both of them bathed the child, who was finally able to take a bath, and was so happy, iling around, showing a smile. "Darling, hes smiling at us." Xiaoxiao shouted excitedly. "Yes, hes smiling." Both were very happy; it was the childs first smile, something very memorable. Quickly finishing the childs bath, they then gathered water for themselves to drink, tidied up slightly, and washed their clothes before heading down the mountain. The horses and goats at the bottom of the mountain had mostly fed themselves with roadside grass. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming took the child and returned to the entrance of Medicine King Valley. Seeing them, Xue Shiyi was shocked and hurried over, "Why are you here again? Its useless, leave quickly." Chapter 809 - 812: Continuing as the Door God

Chapter 809: Chapter 812: Continuing as the Door God

Xue Shiyi looked at this family of three so determined and felt helpless. He advised, "Im telling you, the masters decisions are hard to change. The rules of Medicine King Valley cant be broken at will. You better leave quickly and find another doctor for the child; dont dy the illness." "Young man, thank you. No one else can treat the child; only Medicine King Valley can. Otherwise, we wouldnt be so persistent," Yang Ming began to say. "Sigh." Xue Shiyi shook his head helplessly and had no choice but to return to the entrance of Medicine King Valley, letting them be. He hoped they would reconsider and leave quickly; otherwise, when Xue Shi arrived, it might not be a pleasant scene. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming returned to the car. Xiaoxiao asked puzzledly, "Husband, werent we going to storm in? Why arent we doing it now?" "Lets wait two more days. If it really doesnt work, we can try to storm in. Knowing that we still refuse to leave, the people inside will definitely discuss it again, and perhaps there will be another opportunity," Yang Ming exined. Xiaoxiao nodded, thinking Yang Ming made a good point. It wasnt yet a situation where they had to force their way in, so the two of them continued to wait at the entrance of Medicine King Valley. Since they had run out of dry food, they had no choice but to start cooking at the entrance of Medicine King Valley. They set up a pot and a stove, and the firewood was just gathered from the mountains. They lit the fire, and thick smoke rose. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming didnt bring pic food, only simple provisions, so they could only make some porridge. Soon, the aroma of rice porridge wafted from the pot, and they sat there eating. Seeing this, Xue Shiyi shook his head again helplessly. The couple really nned to live at the entrance of Medicine King Valley. Xiaoxiao saw Xue Shiyi looking their way and offered a bowl, "Young man, would you like a bowl?" "..." Xue Shiyi was speechless. Seeing that Xue Shiyi had no intention of epting, Xiaoxiao could only bring the porridge back. If he didnt eat it, they would. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming finished the porridge and were just about to clean up when the young man who had tried to chase them away earlier came out again. Xue Shi had gone back to report that the family had left, but when he arrived at the entrance, he found they had returned, making him furious on the spot. "Are you done or not? I told you to leave quickly. Dont interfere with our Medicine King Valley." "If you dont leave, I wont be polite." "You..." "..." "..." No matter how harshly Xue Shi spoke, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao seemed not to hear him and continued doing their own thing, infuriating Xue Shi to the point where he was about to kick the iron pot. This time, how could Yang Ming let him act recklessly? He grabbed Xue Shi. Xue Shi was even angrier when he was stopped and swung his fist toward Yang Mings face. But how could Yang Ming let him hit? No matter how Xue Shi attacked, Yang Ming could perfectly dodge. Furious, Xue Shi had no choice but to let go, leaving a harsh word before running into Medicine King Valley, "You, wait and see." Seeing the situation, Xue Shiyi quickly came out to advise, "You should leave quickly. Hes definitely gone to report this, and there might be othersing out to drive you away. You wont be able to handle them if there are many people." Xiaoxiao looked at Xue Shiyi. This young man had a kind heart; its just a pity hes just a junior and couldnt help them. Theyre now hoping that this young man could pass on the message that theyre still at the gate inside, increasing their chances, "Thank you, young man." Chapter 810 - 813: Ah! Snake!

Chapter 810: Chapter 813: Ah! Snake!

Xu Shiyi saw that he couldnt persuade them, so he went back, letting this couple handle the matter on their own. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were tidying up, while Little Liufu was sleeping soundly in the car. Just as Xiaoxiao had almost finished packing, she suddenly felt a chill on her ankle, and her heart skipped a beat. Looking down, she saw a snake coiled around her ankle. Her face turned pale with fear, and she quickly kicked her leg and jumped up, screaming, "Ah! Snake!" Hearing his wifes scream, Yang Ming immediately turned his head and saw his wife jumping anxiously with a pale face. He rushed to her side as fast as he could, hugged her, andforted her, signaling her not to be scared. Meanwhile, he nced at the area around his wife and spotted the snake slithering on the ground. He swiftly pulled out a dagger he carried and, with a swoosh, stabbed it precisely and forcefully at the snakes vital spot, killing it instantly. Yang Ming wasnt sure where he got such uracyperhaps he cared too much about his wife, fearing she might be scared or harmed. Seeing the snake no longer moving, Yang Ming held his wife and patted her back,forting, "Honey, dont be afraid, its okay now, the snake is dead." Xiaoxiao was indeed scared of these things; she was terrified. When Yang Ming came over, she seemed to find her support, clinging entirely to him. Only upon hearing Yang Mings voice did she get off him, turning her head to see the snake on the ground that had been killed. She let out a long sigh of relief, "I was scared to death." "Its alright, having snakes around here is normal, well just be more careful from now on," Yang Mingforted. "Lets quickly check if the child is okay?" Xiaoxiao was genuinely frightened, realizing they need to constantly watch over their child in such a dangerous ce, even at the foot of the mountain. "Okay." Just as they were about to head towards the car, Xiaoxiaos heart skipped again as she took her first step forward, feeling pain in her leg. When she had forcefully kicked the snake earlier, it was the same. She worried aloud, "Honey, was that a venomous snake?" Xiaoxiao was a bit scared, looking again at the snake, thinking that such a beautiful snake was most likely venomous. Hearing his wife ask this, Yang Ming furrowed his brows, looking worried. He grabbed his wife and nervously asked, "Honey, were you bitten? Where? Let me see quickly." At this moment, Xiaoxiao was full of fear, stammering, "Ho... honey, I might actually have been bitten." "Where were you bitten? Huh? Was it the leg?" Yang Ming anxiously asked, crouching down to check his wifes pant leg. When he saw the spot behind the ankle with snake bite marks, and her fair leg already red, swollen, and bruising, his heart sank; his wife really was bitten by a snake, and it was venomous. At this moment, Xiaoxiaos tears were streaming down, and she cried out, "Wah wah, honey, am I going to die? Boo boo, I dont want to die." Hearing his wifes cries, Yang Mings heart ached. He was terrified too, knowing many stories of people dying from venomous snake bites. "Honey, dont be afraid, its just a snake bite, you wont die." Though scared, he still spoke tofort his wife. Yang Ming then picked Xiaoxiao up horizontally and quickly got on the carriage, cing her on the seat. Chapter 811 - 814: You Dare Break Into the Valley?

Chapter 811: Chapter 814: You Dare Break Into the Valley?

After getting in the car, Yang Ming lifted his wifes leg high, lowered his head, and began sucking fiercely at the part bitten by the poisonous snake. He wasnt sure if this would work, he had heard hunters talk about it. "Honey, dont suck on it, the blood is poisonous." Xiaoxiao protested, pulling at her own leg with all her might. She didnt want Yang Ming to be poisoned with her. But Yang Ming wouldnt listen. All he could think about was his wife; he couldnt live without her. He used all his strength to hold her foot steady and sucked out the poisonous blood, spitting it out after each mouthful, repeating this process several times. Xiaoxiao was shedding tears, overflowing with emotion. Many lovers choose themselves at thest moment of life, but Yang Ming chose her. She felt her vision bing increasingly blurry, her consciousness fading. She thought it must be due to the bite, and with thest fragment of her awareness, she softly said, "Honey, rinse your mouth, be sure." After speaking, she lost consciousness and fainted. Yang Ming was devastated; his eyes were bloodshot, repeatedly calling to his wife, "Wife, wife." Little Liufu seemed to sense Xiaoxiaos danger and also began to cry loudly. Little Liufus cries pulled Yang Ming back from his grief. He couldnt copse nowhis wife and child needed him. He rocked the child gently, "Son, dont make noise now. Your mother is in trouble, and daddy needs to save her." Little Liufu seemed to understand Yang Mings words and actually stopped crying. Yang Ming quickly ced him in the basket. At this moment, a rity filled his eyes. He had to break into Medicine King Valley to cure his wife. Originally, he nned to wait a couple of days, but his wifes poison couldnt wait. He had heard that when a poisonous snake bites, the toxin spreads quickly, posing a risk to life at any moment. There was no time to find another doctor; his son also couldnt wait. Medicine King Valley was right in front of himeven if he had to tie someone up, he would bring them to treat his son and wife. Before going, he had to ensure his own safety, so he followed his wifes instructions before she fainted and carefully rinsed his mouth. With everything prepared, he headed to the gate of Medicine King Valley, determined to break in. "Brother, Im sorry, I cant wait any longer. I must break into Medicine King Valley today." Yang Ming knew the young man guarding the gate was a good person; perhaps his actions would implicate him, but he had no choice other than to say sorry to the young man. Upon hearing this, Xue Shiyi frowned. He had just stepped away to use the bathroomhow did this person suddenly want to break into the valley? He voiced his advice, "Brother, dont be impulsive. Breaking into the valley is no small matter; especially alone, you might not be able to withstand so many people in Medicine King Valley." "Thank you for your advice, brother, but I have no time left. My wife was just bitten by a poisonous snake, her life is in danger. Even if those in the valley beat me to death, I must try to save her. I cant ignore the lives of my wife and son." "Bitten by a poisonous snake?" Xue Shiyi was surprised upon hearing this, feeling deep sympathy for this poor family. "Yes, so brother, my apologies." Yang Ming said, attempting to pull Xue Shiyi aside. He was determined to enter the valley. Xue Shiyi stumbled as he was pulled, falling to the side. At this moment, Xue Shi led several people out. Seeing Yang Ming break in, he was furious, "You dare to break into the valley?" Chapter 812 - 815: I’ll Help with Your Wife’s Poison

Chapter 812: Chapter 815: Ill Help with Your Wifes Poison

"Thats right, Im going to trespass the Valley." Yang Mings eyes were resolute, ready for a fight; even if he were to die here today, he would still break into the Medicine King Valley. At this moment, the people brought by Xue Ten had already surrounded Yang Ming, each holding a stick, just waiting for Xue Tensmand. Hearing Yang Ming wanted to trespass the Valley, Xue Tens face turned extremely ugly. He hadnt expected this person to be so difficult to deal with; he wouldnt leave when driven away and wanted to trespass the Valley. He couldnt fail the task given by the masters, had to drive him away, so he shouted, "Everyone, attack together." Thus, a chaotic brawl began. The people of Medicine King Valley mainly focused on medicine, were fundamentally not skilled at fighting, but they were all grown men with some strength, moreover holding sticks and having the advantage of numbers. Though Yang Ming had learned some moves, dealing with a few people might be manageable, but ten or so people were too much for him. Yet for the sake of his wife and child, he must forge ahead. His eyes were bloodshot at this moment, like an enraged lion, swinging his fists and arms, knocking down many sticks, inching towards the inside. Due to Yang Mings fierce determination, everyone hesitated to move forward, angering Xue Ten to shout again, "Dont be afraid, get up there quickly, we have so many people." Due to Xue Tens shout, everyone picked up their sticks again and charged forward. At this moment, as Yang Ming had sucked blood for Xiaoxiao, he had ingested some toxins, making his movements slow and increasingly overwhelmed. Seeing Yang Ming in pain, everyones courage grew, one stick after another striking Yang Mings body. Hearing the sound of sticks hitting the body, Xue Eleven standing aside was extremely worried, quickly walking up to Xue Ten, "Ten Senior Brother, if this continues, well hurt someone. Its one thing not to treat outsiders in Medicine King Valley, but if we beat someone to death, it wont sound good if word gets out. The masters definitely dont want you to chase people away like this." Hearing Xue Elevens reminder, Xue Ten frowned. He was focused onpleting the task given by the masters, and being angry from just now being hit by this person, he forgot such an important matter. The reputation of Medicine King Valley was still very important, so he shouted, "Stop." Everyone stopped, but Yang Ming continued to walk inside. He must find a doctor inside to treat his wife; in critical moments, a persons mind tends to be muddled; he hadnt considered that those fighting with him might be doctors and might also be able to treat illnesses. Seeing Yang Ming still going inside, Xue Ten was practically spitting blood in anger, wanting to advance again, but was held back by Xue Eleven, "Ten Senior Brother, let me persuade him." Only then did Xue Ten refrain from advancing, only to see Xue Eleven walk to Yang Mings side, supporting the seemingly dazed Yang Ming due to the toxin. He spoke, "Brother, please go back, dont trespass the Valley, you cant defeat everyone." Yang Ming shook his head; he had to find a doctor to detoxify his wife, "Little brother, my wife is poisoned; I cant ignore it." Seeing him in this state, Xue Eleven realized he was determined to go inside, but if this continued, their family of three would really die here in Medicine King Valley. He truly couldnt bear it, so he spoke softly, "Brother, you go back first. I will help check your wifes poison." Upon hearing this, Yang Mings eyes widened instantly; wasnt he just a gatekeeper? Is he also a doctor? Chapter 813 - 816: Don’t Say a Word

Chapter 813: Chapter 816: Dont Say a Word

However, Xue Elevens words ignited hope in Yang Ming. He was just about to speak when Xue Eleven stopped him and said in a voice only they could hear, "Dont make a fuss, go out first, and drive the carriage to the ce with fewer people. Ille find youter. Trust me." "Thank you, young brother," Yang Ming nodded, his eyes full of gratitude. He listened to Xue Elevens instructions and turned towards the gate of Medicine King Valley. Xue Ten and his group followed. Yang Ming went out, pulled the dagger from the snakes body, collected the pot from the ground, and quickly drove the carriage away. Seeing they had indeed left, Xue Ten sighed in relief and led everyone inside. As he was leaving, he said, "Eleven, Master said you dont have to watch the gate anymore; your punishment is over. But be cautious in the future; dont make mistakes again." "Okay," Xue Eleven agreed happily, yet in his heart, he was thinking he was about to make a big mistake again. If the masters knew that he secretly helped people outside with treatment, he didnt know what kind of punishment he would face. But lives were at stake, and he couldnt worry about that. He was puzzled by Medicine King Valley treating only those with referrals; how could their medical skills improve if they werent allowed to treat others? In any case, now that he didnt have to watch the gate, he could move more freely. He quickly returned to Medicine King Valley to fetch some herbs for treating snake venom. Rushing out the door, he was startled by a voice from behind, "Eleven, where are you going again?" Xue Eleven jumped at the voice, turned around anxiously, stumbling over his words, "Master Uncle, Im not doing anything; Im going to research herbs with the senior brothers." "Bring the herbs over and let me have a look." Xue Eleven had no choice but to show the herbs to Master Uncle, who looked at them briefly, pondering something. After a moment, he spoke, "Go ahead, study well." "Yes, Master Uncle." Xue Eleven was ted that Master Uncle let him pass and ran off with the herbs. Seeing Xue Eleven had gone far, Master Uncle gave a look to the nearest apprentice, "Fifteen, go see what hes up to. Dont make a fuss, report back to me." "Yes, Master Uncle." Xue Fifteen followed Master Uncles words and went out. At this point, Xue Eleven didnt know he was being tracked. As he reached the gate, he was questioned by Junior Brother, "Brother Eleven, are you heading out?" "Yes, Master told me to go up the mountain to gather herbs." Xue Eleven nodded and casually gave a reason to avoid suspicion. He was eager to find that family, as dys with snake venom were increasingly difficult. Yang Ming had driven the carriage to a spot near Medicine King Valley where it couldnt be seen. He was worried, unsure if the young brother could find his way here. He ced all his hope on that young brother,menting his own inadequacy against those people. On the carriage, Yang Ming kept busyfeeding his wife water, feeding his son milk, changing his sons diaper. Enduring pain from the blows and the snake venoms affliction, he had only one thought: he couldnt copse. A momentter, he heard sounds outside and quickly looked out, seeing the young brother really had arrived. He was filled with joy, "Young brother, youre here!" Chapter 814 - 817: Xue Shiyi Takes Action

Chapter 814: Chapter 817: Xue Shiyi Takes Action

Xue Eleven nodded, then got into the carriage, and seeing Xiaoxiao in a state of unconsciousness, his brows furrowed tightly, he asked, "Where was she bitten by the snake?" "Just a bit above the back of the ankle." Yang Ming said, pulling Xiaoxiaos foot aside to show Xue Eleven, "Right here." Xue Eleven examined the wound, the venomous snakes fang marks were clearly visible, surrounding areas were somewhat swollen, but the toxin hadnt spread severely. He was quite surprised and asked, "Did you treat it?" "Yes, after she was bitten, I sucked the blood out. Heard it from others, not sure if it really helps." Yang Ming replied. Xue Eleven nodded, "Yes, you did the right thing, its one way of dealing with it." "Hows my wife doing? Is there still hope?" Yang Ming asked anxiously. "Dont worry yet, I will check her pulse first to see her condition." Xue Eleven replied. Hearing that Xue Eleven was going to check his wifes pulse, Yang Ming quickly passed his wifes wrist over, and Xue Eleven ced his hand on Xiaoxiaos pulse. The pulse was distinctly palpable and not weak, Xue Eleven withdrew his hand and said, "Brother, you dont need to worry anymore. The poison hasnt gone deep, thanks to your timely treatment. A few doses of herbal decoction will make her well." "Really?" Hearing this, Yang Ming was extremely excited. Xue Eleven handed the herbs to Yang Ming, "Yes, she is indeed fine. This type of venomous snake ismon here, and the medicine is prepared, so rest assured." Before arriving, Xue Eleven specifically looked at the venomous snake killed by Yang Ming at the Medicine King Valley entrance, and it was exactly as he thought, one of themon venomous snakes in their area. "Little brother, thank you so much." Yang Ming epted the herbs, extremely agitated. He quickly jumped out of the car, eager to brew the medicine for his wife. But as soon as he jumped out of the car, his body wavered for a moment, almost losing his bnce. Xue Eleven on the carriage saw this and hurriedly shouted, "Brother." Xue Eleven already had a suspicion in his mind that it was because he sucked out the blood, now coupled with exertion, he reached out to check Yang Mings pulse, and it was just as he thought, he had also absorbed a small amount of toxin. He took the herbs from Yang Mings hands, thinking, forget it, might as well see it through to the end, and said, "Brother, go rest in the car, Ill handle it." Yang Ming was unwilling, feeling he had already troubled the young brother enough, he refused, "No, thank you, Ill do it myself. You came to help privately, if found out, youll surely be punished. You should quickly return." Xue Eleven didnt let go, but said with a smile, "Since itse to this, punishment is unavoidable. You all should just get better quickly." Hearing Xue Eleven say this, Yang Ming reluctantly got back into the carriage. At this moment, he indeed felt somewhat unwell. The young brothers favor, he could only repay in the future. It seemed the people from Medicine King Valley were only bound by rules, not inherently bad. Xue Eleven took out their small pot, set a fire, and helped brew the medicine, thinking that he would probably receive punishment upon return, but he didnt regret it. This family had it really tough, he had never seen such persistent people; typically, they would go to Beijing to find other doctors. Finally, the medicine was ready, each held a bowl, and Xue Eleven handed a bowl of medicine to Yang Ming, saying, "The medicines ready, both of you drink it quickly." Yang Ming received the medicine, his heart filled with gratitude, "Little brother, thank you." Chapter 815 - 818: Can You Take a Look at My Son?

Chapter 815: Chapter 818: Can You Take a Look at My Son?

"Youre wee, please hurry and drink the medicine," Xue Shiyi advised. Yang Ming nodded, drank his bowl of medicine in one gulp, and then began to feed his wife, as per his usual practice. Xue Shiyi, standing aside, saw Yang Mings method of feeding medicine and felt quite embarrassed. He turned his head and noticed the basket ced to the side. The child in the basket looked very small, about a month old, almost as if aware of his parents suffering at the moment, not crying or fussing, just ying with his eyes open in the basket. The child seemed to notice himself being watched and gave Xue Shiyi a smile. This smile further stirred Xue Shiyispassion. Such a good family, all so young; how did they encounter so many hardships? His hand subconsciously reached out, wanting to tease the child, but the childs small hand unexpectedly grabbed one of his fingers, and even quite forcefully, while making cooing sounds as if trying tomunicate. Xue Shiyi responded with cooing sounds as well, and the two engaged in a conversation in their own way. After Yang Ming finished feeding Xiaoxiao the medicine, he noticed Xue Shiyis interaction with the child, feeling very grateful, as he had no time to take care of the child. "Young brother, thank you for helping me look after the child." "No problem, this child is quite adorable, I just couldnt resist teasing him," Xue Shiyi replied with a smile. "Young brother, when will my wife wake up?" Yang Ming asked worriedly. Its been some time since the bite, yet shes still not awake; he was very concerned. Xue Shiyi held Liufus little hand, still teasing the child with facial expressions, and without turning to Yang Ming, replied directly, "You dont have to worry, she drank the medicine. The toxins will decrease and she should wake up soon." Hearing these words, Yang Ming visibly breathed a sigh of relief, then realized he should ask, "Young brother, thank you so much for today. I dont know how to repay you. If you need any help in the future, you can go to Xuntian Escort Agency and mention my name. Im Yang Ming. By the way, whats your name, young brother?" Yang Ming revealed his family name, knowing this favor couldnt be repaid soon, so he could only give his name for a future opportunity to repay. "My name is Xue Shiyi; everyone calls me Eleven. I am the eleventh disciple of Medicine King Valley," Xue Shiyi revealed his name upon hearing Yang Mings introduction. Upon hearing Xue Shiyis words, Yang Ming was quite surprised. He thought he was just the gatekeeper of Medicine King Valley, not realizing he was a disciple, which could mean he can check if his son was poisoned. Yang Ming was a bit excited, feeling that heaven wont cut off their path, "Young brother, I have a presumptuous request." "Go ahead," "Can you help me check my son?" Upon hearing this, Xue Shiyi remembered that their purpose here was to have the child looked at, but after teasing him for a while, he didnt notice anything unusual, so he asked, "Whats wrong with the child? Why are you so determined to have the Medicine King Valley look at him?" Yang Ming had no choice but to tell Xue Shiyi the truth, "Young brother, to be honest, theres a doctor where we live who said my son was poisoned. And this poison is rare, only Xue Divine Doctor at Medicine King Valley can cure it, they couldnt, so we rushed here." Chapter 816 - 819: I’ll Go Find Master

Chapter 816: Chapter 819: Ill Go Find Master

"What kind of poison is it?" Xue Eleven asked in surprise. He thought the child was just ill, but he didnt expect it to be poisoning. "The doctor didnt say, only mentioned that the child has less than two months to live." Yang Ming didnt tell the truth. Before confirming whether the child was poisoned, he couldnt say it recklessly. "Less than two months?" Yang Ming nodded and continued, "Yes, we dont believe what the doctor said. How could such a young child be poisoned? But were also afraid that if its true, it would dy the childs life. Thats why we came to the Medicine King Valley, hoping the Divine Doctors here can confirm whether the child is poisoned. There are many Divine Doctors in the Wang Valley; even if the child is poisoned, there should be a way to help detoxify, so we cant leave." After hearing Yang Mings exnation, Xue Eleven finally understood why they were so persistent. He looked at the child, who didnt look like he was poisoned. Such a lovely child, if he really only had two months to live, just thinking about it was heart-wrenching. So he said, "Big brother, my medical skills are not high, but let me try." "Thank you." Hearing Xue Eleven agree, Yang Mings heart leaped with joy. No matter what, at least they found someone who could help confirm, and there might be hope for the child. Xue Eleven looked at the child and checked the childs body. From the outside, there didnt seem to be any problems. Finally, he took the childs weak pulse. After feeling the pulse, his brow furrowed, and his expression became grave. Yang Ming became very nervous, thinking, could it really be poisoning, and is it difficult to treat? A momentter, Xue Eleven withdrew his hand and said, "Big brother, Im really sorry. My medical skills arent high enough to determine if the child is poisoned." Xue Eleven sighed. He felt really humbled, realizing that external doctors could see the childs poisoning, but he couldnt. It seemed he was still too inexperienced. Hearing this, Yang Mings heart sank to the bottom. The hope that had just ignited was so quickly extinguished. Now what should they do? Seeing Yang Mings dejected expression, Xue Eleven felt a bit empathetic, "Big brother, dont worry. Im just a junior apprentice in the Medicine King Valley. Maybe my masters can see if the child is poisoned. My master likes to challenge rare diseases. Ill tell him about the situation. Maybe I can persuade him to help." "Really? Weve been here for days, and they still havent let us in." Although Xue Eleven said this, Yang Ming asked with great concern. "Yes, the other masters are quite strict, which is why they havent let you in. Ill secretly go find my master." "Young brother, I dont know how to thank you. Anyway, thank you." At this moment, Yang Mings heart was once again filled with hope. "Its nothing. Ill go back now, and you wait for my news." "Okay." Watching Xue Eleven get off the carriage and walk into the Medicine King Valley, Yang Ming was full of gratitude. Now all their hope rested on this young brother. If he could really convince the masters inside, perhaps they would be saved. Yang Ming looked at his wife and child on the carriage. To follow him like this truly was hard on them. Perhaps if his wife had followed someone like Chu Lian, the ending would be different. He looked at his wife with eyes full of heartache, and suddenly he saw his wifes eyshes seem to tremble. He hurriedly shouted, "Wife, are you awake?" Chapter 817 - 820: Waiting for News

Chapter 817: Chapter 820: Waiting for News

Xiaoxiao slowly opened her eyes and saw Yang Mings anxious expression. She almost couldnt believe she could still see Yang Mings face. Excitedly, she asked, "Honey, am I not dead?" "..." Such words left Yang Ming speechless, but managed to amuse him. He said dotingly, "Yes, youre not dead." "Thats great, Im not dead." Xiaoxiao got up and hugged Yang Ming, shouting excitedly that she wasnt dead. Yang Ming hugged his wife back, saying to himself, "Yes, its great, youre not dead." They only hugged for a moment before Xiaoxiao quickly left Yang Mings embrace and began to ask, "Hows the son? Did he drink milk? Did he poop? Did he pee? Did he cry?" "Ive been taking care of him. Are you still not at ease?" Xiaoxiao nced at Yang Ming and continued, "Hand him over to me quickly so I can hold him." Yang Ming had no choice but to take Liufu out of the basket and hand him to Xiaoxiao. Xiaoxiao took him and, after confirming that he was indeed okay, felt relieved. Only after feeling relieved did Xiaoxiao worryingly ask, "Honey, are you alright? You also sucked that poisoned blood just now." "..." Yang Ming thought to himself, his wife just remembered him now? It seemed he had truly been overshadowed by their son, "Im fine, I drank the medicine." "Where did the medicinee from?" Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled. "It was the young man at the door who treated you. Hes actually a disciple from Medicine King Valley. That young man did a great favor for us, risking punishment to help us..." Yang Ming rambled on, telling Xiaoxiao about Xue Shiyis help, without mentioning the part where he was beaten. After hearing this, Xiaoxiao felt grateful to Xue Shiyi, but was also worried about Little Liufus poison. Even the disciples of Medicine King Valley couldnt figure it out, it seemed they would have to find that Divine Doctor Xue? But time seemed to be running out. The only hope now stilly within Medicine King Valley; perhaps Xue Shiyi could persuade his masters to help. With concern, Xiaoxiao asked, "Honey, what if Medicine King Valley still refuses to see our son?" Yang Ming thought for a moment and then said, "Then we cant just stay stuck at Medicine King Valley, we have to hurry out to find Divine Doctor Xue." "What if we cant find Divine Doctor Xue?" "Then its just fate for this child. Weve done our best." Hearing Yang Mings words, Xiaoxiao felt very down. Was it true that she was fated not to be with this child? Yang Ming noticed his wifes distress and quickly advised, "Honey, dont be so pessimistic. Maybe the child isnt poisoned at all, lets not scare ourselves." "Yes." Xiaoxiao agreed with him, but inside she knew well that the child was more likely poisoned, given the circumstances of their meeting and the mobilization of officers, the child was definitely not ordinary. "Dont think the worst. Maybe that young man will bring good news soon. Think about it, he was able to help, which means Medicine King Valley isnt entirely unkind. We have hope." "Yes, Im not pessimistic. We cant give up easily." Xiaoxiao said these words to motivate the two of them. She then looked at Liufu in her arms, "Son, you mustnt give up easily either, okay?" Little Liufu had already begun cooing. Although Xiaoxiao knew he was just making sounds and couldnt understand her words, she was still happy to see Little Liufus response. Afterwards, the family of three sat in the carriage, chatting while waiting for news from Xue Shiyi. Chapter 818 - 821: Expelled from the Sect

Chapter 818: Chapter 821: Expelled from the Sect

In a rush to return and ask his master for help, Xue Eleven arrived at the gate of Medicine King Valley, only to hear his junior brother anxiously say, "Eleven Senior Brother, youre finally back. The masters are asking for you in the front hall." Upon hearing this, Xue Elevens eyes widened in shock, a bad feeling surged in his heart. His hand clenched slightlyhad his outside medical treatment been discovered so quickly? Indeed, it couldnt be concealed. "Understood, Ill go there now." Xue Eleven walked inside, his mind racing with how to respond, and momentster, he finally reached the front hall. As his foot stepped over the threshold of the front hall, he heard the furious roar of the Great Master, "Xue Eleven, you dare toe back." Startled, Xue Eleven stumbled, tripped over the threshold, and fell t on the ground. Xue Elevens fall was akin to a dog eating dirt. He hurriedly got up, only to hear another angry shout from the Great Master, "You dare to get up." The Great Masters fiery temper was well-known, and Xue Eleven was so frightened that he knelt on the ground again, head down, not daring to look at the masters in the room. The Great Master, still full of rage, pped the table and stood up, "Xue Eleven, where did you get the audacity, huh? To break the rules of this Medicine King Valley, I dont think you want to stay here any longer." Kneeling there, Xue Eleven kept his head down, not daring to speak; it seemed the masters had indeed found out about him secretly treating that family of three. "I see you dont respect this Medicine King Valley, nor us old ones. If thats the case, you should leave the mountain, leave this Medicine King Valley." Hearing such cold words, Xue Elevens eyes widened, and he suddenly looked up. He hadnt expected the punishment to be so severe, to the point of being expelled from the sect. He hurriedly kowtowed and pleaded, "Masters, Eleven was wrong, Eleven wont dare again, please dont expel Eleven from Medicine King Valley." But Xue Elevens pleas did not earn the Great Masters sympathy; he continued angrily, "A disobedient disciple like you, Medicine King Valley might as well do without." This time, the Great Master was angrier than ever, and Xue Eleven, scared, knelt and crawled to the front of the Great Master, clutching his robe and pleading, "Great Master, Eleven was truly wrong, please dont expel me, I beg you, Great Master." No matter how Xue Eleven pleaded, the Great Master was unmoved. Xue Eleven crawled on his knees to his own master, tearfully saying, "Master, please plead with the Great Master for me, Eleven really doesnt want to leave Medicine King Valley." Xue Elevens master, the fifth and softest-hearted among the five masters in Medicine King Valley, shook his head and sighed, "Elder Brother, Eleven made a mistake this time, but its not enough to expel him from the sect. Could you punish him with something else, let him meditate facing the wall?" The other masters also began to plead. "Yes, Eleven is usually very obedient; spare him this time, let him meditate facing the wall." "Yes, let him meditate facing the wall. If he does it again, expelling him wont be toote." "..." "..." But no matter how Xue Eleven pleaded or how the masters helped plead, the Great Master remained unmoved, determined to expel Xue Eleven from Medicine King Valley. Seeing the Great Masters unwavering attitude, Xue Eleven realized his decision would not change. He stood up, his face ashen, his eyes sharp, his thin lips parted slightly, "Great Master, I have done no wrong." Chapter 819 - 822: Xue Shiyi’s Words

Chapter 819: Chapter 822: Xue Shiyis Words

As soon as these words were spoken, the few masters in the room were immediately taken aback. They were already pleading on his behalf; if he continued speaking like this, wouldnt he definitely be expelled from the school? Doctors master, seeing this, angrily rebuked him in an attempt to stop Doctor from speaking further, "Doctor!" At this moment, Doctors senior uncle, upon hearing Doctors words, immediately widened his eyes, his eyebrows stood on end, veins bulged on his face, and he shouted angrily, "Old five, let him speak." Although Doctors master closed his mouth, he still shook his head and red, signaling Doctor not to speak. Seeing his masters worried expression, Doctor felt deeply grateful for his masters care over the years. However, he thought, since things hade to this point, why couldnt he express his thoughts before leaving? What was wrong with curing and saving people? The faulty in the rigid rules of Medicine King Valley. Previously, when he wasnt guarding the gate, he didnt feel much about it. But these days, he had seen so many disappointed expressions leaving, simply because Medicine King Valley couldnt help; his inner thoughts began to change as a result. His gaze was determined, he pressed his lips together and spoke. "Honored masters, I dont think I did anything wrong." "These days I have been guarding the gate and have seen many patients turned away. I have been thinking, why do we, the people of Medicine King Valley, learn medicine?" "Isnt it to treat patients? But our people from Medicine King Valley dont treat the sick, isnt that very strange?" "I dont know who set this rule in Medicine King Valley, but it is unreasonable." Follow current nov?ls on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? Upon hearing Doctor question the rules set by the ancestors of Medicine King Valley, the faces of the five masters in the room turned dark. The doctors master further reminded his disciple not to speak anymore; this was practically provoking the ancestors of Medicine King Valley, "Doctor, stop talking." Doctors senior uncles hands on his thighs trembled slightly. He growled lowly, "Let him speak. I didnt think he had so much bottled up inside him." Although the faces of the masters turned even darker, Doctor saw this but still chose to speak. "Its often said that the people of Medicine King Valley have great medical skills, but I doubt it. There are very few patients we can see here in Medicine King Valley. Without patients, how can our medical skills improve?" "Perhaps we are not even as skilled as the doctors in the pharmacies outside? They see patients with various conditions daily, but we cannot." "Take that family of three outside, for example. They just want us to confirm whether the child was poisoned. Its unfortunate that my medical skills were insufficient, and I couldnt determine it." "But the doctors outside clearly stated that the child was poisoned and would not live beyond two months. Though they could not detoxify, they could still identify the problem." Upon hearing Doctors words, the masters began to ponder. Among many disciples, Doctors skills were not the best but above average, yet he couldnt diagnose the illness. Could it be, as he said, that the medical skills of the people from Medicine King Valley are inferior, and not as good as the doctors outside? "Honored masters, I have said all I need to. Now I will leave Medicine King Valley. Thank you, masters, for taking care of me over the years." With that, Doctor kowtowed a few times on the ground. He wanted to say these words before leaving, hoping it would help the family of three outside. Maybe the masters would consider offering help because of what he said. Chapter 820 - 823: The Bet

Chapter 820: Chapter 823: The Bet

However, letting him leave the Medicine King Valley still broke his heart. He didnt want to go, yet he had no choice but to leave. He struggled to get up, feeling as if his legs were as heavy as a thousand pounds, but he still walked towards the door step by step. Before he could reach the entrance of the front hall, a voice called from behind, "Go and reflect upon your mistakes." Hearing this, Xue Shiyis heart jolted with excitement. He turned around quickly and said eagerly, "Master Elder Brother." Indeed, it was his Master Elder Brother who spoke the words. Did this mean he didnt have to leave the Medicine King Valley after all? Xue Shiyis master, seeing that the Master Elder Brother had finally relented, winked at Xue Shiyi and said, "Hurry along now." "Yes, this disciple will go to reflect immediately. Thank you, Master Elder Brother. Thank you, masters." Knowing he didnt have to leave the Medicine King Valley, Xue Shiyi ran off happily. He went to reflect, but he originally wanted to ask his master to help that family of three. Now, he couldnt even protect himself. If he spoke now, it would probably lead to a dead end. He could only hope that the things he said earlier were useful to the masters. Original content can be found at find(?)ovel Whether the masters would help or not depended on the fate of that family of three. But if he couldnt get out, would the family of three be anxiously waiting? After Xue Shiyi left, only five of the venerable elders of the Medicine King Valley remained in the hall. The five of them didnt speak, contemting Xue Shiyis words just now. Momentster, Xue Shiyis Master Elder Brother finally spoke first, "Old Five, Shiyi is your disciple. You know best how his medical skills fare." "Shiyis medical skills are not inferior among the many disciples, and he is actually among the best," Xue Shiyis master replied. He was also surprised that Xue Shiyi couldnt diagnose the childs illness. Xue Shiyis Master Elder Brother frowned. Could it be that the medical skills of their Medicine King Valley really couldntpare to the outside world? Over the years, they had only treated patients with letters of introduction, so the variety of illnesses they saw wasnt broad. Could this really be hindering the development of the disciples? In fact, he already knew that continuing like this was untenable. But the rules left by the forefathers could not be broken, cing him in a dilemma. Just then, Xue Shiyis Third Elder Brother spoke sourly, "Old Five, I think your disciples medical skills arecking." "Indeed. If its just poisoning, how could he not see it? Its not someplex ailment; the symptoms of poisoning are quite apparent," Xue Shiyis Second Elder Brother also doubted. "I say, Old Five, you better teach your disciples well. Even a doctor from outside could diagnose it, but your disciple couldnt. Isnt this damaging the reputation of our Medicine King Valley?" Xue Shiyis Third Elder Brother chimed in again. Xue Shiyis master was infuriated by these words, his veins bulging as he raged, "Shiyis medical skills are far superior to those of your disciples! If you doubt, let your disciples go see the child and see if they can diagnose the poisoning." "Old Five, if our disciples can diagnose the poisoning, you must admit your medical skills are inferior to ours." "If your disciples can diagnose it, then Ill admit my skills are inferior to yours," Xue Shiyis master agreed. This was a gamble that had to be taken. "Its a deal." The group had already wagered, and surprisingly, Xue Shiyis usually stern Master Elder Brother didnt stop them, as he also wanted to see if their Medicine King Valleys disciples skills were indeed inferior to those of the outside world. Chapter 821 - 824: Discussion

Chapter 821: Chapter 824: Discussion

Although the authoritative doctor tacitly agreed, the traditionally obstinate fourth doctor opposed, saying, "Brother, we cant let them be so reckless. Our Medicine King Valley treats patients based on trust, this rule has remained unchanged since ancient times, and cannot be broken." At this moment, the third doctor spoke up, "Even though Xue Elevens medical skills are not up to par, I feel his words make sense. If our Medicine King Valley continues not treating people, Im afraid our medical skills will regress." "Howe Elevens medical skills are not up to par?" This statement displeased Xue Elevens master. "If hes capable, why couldnt he tell whether the child was poisoned or not?" Follow current nov?ls on Find1Novel "There are countless types of poisons, theyre not so easily identified." "Old Five, youre just arguing. If its about identifying which poison it is, thats understandable, but not even being able to determine if poisoning urred, thats unreasonable. Doesnt that prove his medical skills arecking?" "..." "..." As they argued here, the obstinate fourth doctor still insisted on opposing, "Stop quarrelling, anyway I believe we shouldnt break the rules set by our ancestors. There are quite a few patients whoe with letters, and thats enough for everyone to treat. Why must we break the rules set by the ancestors?" The words of Xue Elevens fourth doctor made them stop arguing, yet instead turned the attack on him. Third doctor: "Old Four, youre like a frog at the bottom of a well. There are countless diseases, and patientsing with letters are still few, it doesnt allow everyone to understand more disease types." Second doctor: "Old Four, are you afraid that your disciples cant tell if the child is poisoned? Afraid of losing to us?" Fourth doctor: "My disciples medical skills are top-notch, better than Xue Eleven." Elevens master: "Thats quite arrogant of you. Your disciples arent better than Eleven, why dont you let them try? They may not be able to tell." Fourth doctor: "I wontpete with you. My disciples wont vite the rules of Medicine King Valley. Brother, speak to them." The authoritative doctor continued to maintain silence, leaving others guessing his thoughts. Then, the third doctor spoke again, "Since weve talked so much, Brother, lets discuss this matter today. If our Medicine King Valley continues like this, it wont work. I feel Xue Elevens words today make perfect sense. The purpose of learning medicine is to treat people, isnt it? Yet our Medicine King Valley turns away patients, regardless of their fate, is this what a doctor should do?" "If we continue like this, well really be frogs at the bottom of a well, our medical skills wont match the outside doctors. Its better to take this opportunity to change this rule." "How can this be? How can the rules set by the ancestors be changed just like that?" The obstinate fourth doctor still held an opposing attitude. At this moment, the third doctor shouted, "Have you all forgotten why Old Six wandered outside and was unwilling to return to the Valley, why he never practiced medicine again?" Once these words were spoken, the room instantly turned quiet, everyones expression turned grim because they all thought of the wandering Old Six. After a moment, the obstinate fourth doctor spoke, "Brother, say something, what should be done about this matter?" The ever-silent doctor finally spoke, "We will discuss this matterter, but first, lets treat that child." "Brother?" For this decision, Xue Elevens fourth doctor was clearly dissatisfied. Chapter 822 - 825: Learning Eleven Was Punished

Chapter 822: Chapter 825: Learning Eleven Was Punished

For Old Four being so inflexible, Xue Elevens master uncle was also helpless. He frowned and spoke, "Old Four, Im not saying we should break the rules from now on. Lets discuss this matterter." "But by agreeing, youve already broken our Medicine King Valleys rules." Xue Elevens master uncles gaze was cold, "If we dont treat the illness, that family of three probably wont leave. If someone dies at our Medicine King Valleys gate and word gets out, it wont be good for our reputation. Old Four, is that what you want?" "I..." "Alright, lets leave it at this for now. As for who among you will treat that child, decide among yourselves." The stern master uncle said this and then left the room. The rigid Fourth Uncle knew he couldnt keep up with the three of them, so he stormed out furiously. ???? ????s? ???????s ?? F?nd-Novel In the front hall, only the three masters who were to gamble their medical skills remained. They discussed and decided to have their disciples examine the child the next day, as it was alreadyte. Concerning what was happening inside Medicine King Valley, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming werepletely unaware. They were currently waiting not far from the entrance of Medicine King Valley. Seeing that it was gettingte, and Xue Eleven was hesitant toe over, their hearts grew more anxious. Xiaoxiao asked urgently, "Honey, what should we do? Why isnt heing yet?" At this moment, Yang Mings mind was racing. He was very worried about what might happen to the young brother if he was discovered to have helped them upon returning. "Dont worry, lets wait a bit longer." But they waited for a long time, darkness had already fallen, and still, no one came. Yang Ming decided to go to the gate and check the situation. "Honey, if we leave, wouldnt it alert them and disrupt the young brothers n?" Xiaoxiao asked worriedly. "Its dark now, Ill try to stay hidden and see if I can pick up any information. If I dont hear anything, Ill quietlye back." "Okay." "Close the car door tightly and wait for me to return, understand?" "Okay." With that, Yang Ming went to the entrance of Medicine King Valley under the cover of darkness. He hid, trying to listen for any movements, but there was only one person guarding the gate, and it was silent. Just as he was about to leave, he saw someoneing; a shift change. Just as Yang Ming felt he couldnt gather any information, he heard the exchange between the two changing shifts. "Brother Eleven has made another mistake." "What? What mistake did he make this time?" "He secretly helped outsiders treat an illness." "What? This is a major vition of the sects rules. He might face severe punishment this time, right?" "Yes, he almost got expelled from the sect. He is now contemting behind closed doors, probably facing punishment for some time." "Expelled from the sect?" "Alright, enough talk. Get inside quickly." After exchanging these words, the two changed shifts, and one of them went inside. Hearing this, Yang Ming felt a heavy self-reproach. Because of them, that young brother almost got expelled from the sect and was now locked up in reflection, which meant he couldnt convince his master. His tightly clenched fist reflected his unwillingness. What should he do now? Theres no time left. Should he storm into Medicine King Valley again? During the day, there are many people, and he would be outnumbered. But now its nighttime; maybe he canunch a night raid. Secretly going in, perhaps he can seize one respected doctor to treat his son. After much contemtion, his eyes gained a rity and determination. He resolved to storm Medicine King Valley tonight. Chapter 823 - 826: Night Raid on Medicine King Valley

Chapter 823: Chapter 826: Night Raid on Medicine King Valley

Thinking about breaking into the valley, Yang Ming took action and quickly moved to the door. The guard at the door heard a noise, "Who is it?" Taking advantage of the guards unpreparedness, Yang Ming covered his mouth from behind and chopped at the mans neck with one hand, causing the man to faint and fall to the ground. Yang Ming had no other choice, so he had to let this little brother suffer a bit. He took off the Medicine King Valley clothes worn by the little brother and swapped them with his own. Yang Ming felt it was better to use his wits rather than force. Wearing the Medicine King Valleys clothes might allow him to remain unnoticed and find his target easily. After changing clothes, he entered the Medicine King Valley, which was quiterge inside. He was looking for an aged doctor because after Xue Shiyis diagnosis, he thought the young doctors might not be able to handle it, and he needed to find the elders in Medicine King Valley. Because he wore the Medicine King Valley clothes, he indeed moved freely inside without being noticed as out of ce. Official source is find?novel Yang Mings courage also increased. He searched many ces but could not find any respectable elderly doctors. But unexpectedly, he found Xue Shiyi. Because there was a guard at the door, Yang Ming was not very sure. But when someone came to deliver food and said, "The master asked me to deliver food to Brother Shiyi," He was sure then, so he cleverly approached the door and said, "The master sent me to ask some questions to Brother Shiyi." The guard looked at Yang Ming and then said, "Which sect are you from? Why do you look unfamiliar?" "..." Hearing this, Yang Mings gaze froze. He indeed should not havee. He remembered Xue Shiyi mentioning a master, so there must be some senior uncle or something. So he took a gamble and said, "The senior uncle sent me over to ask Brother Shiyi some questions." These words worked, and the door opened, "Go in quickly." Inside, Xue Shiyi, who was reflecting behind closed doors, heard the door open and reflexively turned around. Seeing Yang Ming, his eyes widened, "You..." Yang Ming quickly made a shushing gesture with his fingers. Seeing the door close, he then moved forward and whispered, "Little brother, I owe you today. You almost got chased out of Medicine King Valley because of me." "Haha, its okay, I wasnt chased out, right? I just couldnt help you out. Before I could ask my master for help, I was discovered by the senior uncle," Xue Shiyi said awkwardly. "Thank you anyway." "Why did you barge in again?" Xue Shiyi asked worriedly, "What about your clothes?" "Theres been no news, so I got worried and came to the entrance to probe around. Just then, I learned about your punishment, and I knew it must have failed, so I decided toe in. I have to catch someone to treat my son, no matter what it takes. Dont worry, the guard at the door is only knocked out; I swapped clothes with him. Hes fine." "..." "Little brother, Ive searched many ces and havent seen any respectable old doctors. Can you guide me to their location? Rest assured, I only want them to treat my son and wont actually harm them." Since Xue Shiyi was reflecting behind closed doors, he didnt know the situation outside. He was conflicted about whether to tell Yang Ming. Thinking about that child, he still spoke, "The masters live in the inner courtyard, go out from here and turn right..." Chapter 824 - 827: Hostage

Chapter 824: Chapter 827: Hostage

"Young brother, I, Yang Ming, will remember todays favor. Farewell." Yang Ming got the location of Xue Shiyis masters and walked out. As he left, he told the guards at the door, "I am going to report to the elder master." Yang Ming walked away confidently. With the information provided by Xue Shiyi, he sessfully found the ce where the masters were staying. By chance, there was an elderly man in the courtyard at that moment. Yang Ming thought that this must be one of Xue Shiyis masters. Since Yang Ming was wearing clothes from Medicine King Valley and it was already dark, the elderly man didnt notice anything unusual. He spoke, "No need to look for time, theres no need for you here. You can leave first." After saying that, the elderly man turned and walked towards his room. Yang Ming felt the opportunity hade. He quickly stepped forward and grabbed the elderly man, saying, "Sir, I apologize for this offense." The elderly man, suddenly stunned, asked, "Who are you?" "Sir, I am Yang Ming, here to seek medical help. My sons illness cant wait, and out of desperation, I had to resort to this. I sneaked into Medicine King Valley at night. Rest assured, I wont harm you, I only ask you to help my son." As Yang Ming spoke, he escorted the elderly man outside, but just then the elder shouted, "Help, someone has intruded into the valley!" Yang Ming hurriedly tried to cover the elders mouth, but it was toote. Several of the masters inside heard themotion and came out, seeing the fourth elder being held hostage. Realizing he couldnt escape, Yang Ming knew his only way out was to hold onto the elder. He said, "Esteemed elders, my actions today are out of desperation. My sons illness truly cannot wait. Once he treats my son, I will leave myself to your mercy." Yang Ming spoke while continuing to hold the elder, making his way outside. At this moment, the disciples outside also heard the disturbance and rushed over, surrounding Yang Ming upon seeing their master being held hostage. Yang Mings heart sank. Would he fail again? He knew he could only intimidate them; he would never harm the elder. Being held, the elder thought Yang Ming would do something to him, so he fearfully said, "Donte any closer." Yang Ming thought, perhaps he should take a gamble, so he grasped the elders neck and said fiercely, "Get out of the way, let us leave, or I will not show mercy." Yang Ming didnt use much strength, but the elders voice was still weak, "You mustnte any closer." The disciples, unsure what to do, turned to look at the elder master, who waved his hand, and they all made way for Yang Ming. Thus, Yang Ming left Medicine King Valley with Xue Shiyis fourth master. After they left, Xue Shiyis third master spoke, "Alright, alright, everyone break it up." The source of th?s content is Find[?]ovel A disciple worriedly asked, "Third master, is it really okay that the master was taken hostage?" "Its fine, its fine, all of you head back." Seeing their masters response, everyone reluctantly returned. Only a few elderly stayed in the courtyard. Xue Shiyis third master spoke, "Hehe, old fourth opposed saving that child. Now that hes been taken hostage, lets see if he saves him or not." "Old fourth cherishes his life so much; I bet hell save the child." Chapter 825 - 828: Tie Him Up

Chapter 825: Chapter 828: Tie Him Up

Xiaoxiao felt very anxious waiting in the car because Yang Ming had been gone for quite a while. The sky had turned dark, and being alone with the child in the wilderness genuinely frightened her, especially after being bitten by a snake. She constantly feared such creatures might appear at her feet again. Finally, she heard footsteps outside and shouted towards the door, "Honey, is that you?" "Its me, open the door." Upon hearing Yang Mings voice, Xiaoxiao was overjoyed and hurriedly opened the door. By the moonlight, Xiaoxiao saw Yang Ming, and also the old man who apanied him. This update is avable on f?ndnovel She hadnt anticipated that Yang Ming had coerced the old man toe; she thought this was the master the young man had pleaded to, to help them. She quickly said, "Sir, thank you so much for being willing toe and treat my son." "Hmph," Xue Elevens Fourth Uncle snorted and turned his head, clearly disying his reluctance. Seeing the old mans reaction, Xiaoxiao was puzzled, "Honey, whats happening here?" So Yang Ming exined the situation, "That young brother was punished because of treating our illness and was nearly expelled from his school. Hes reflecting on his actions now, so I broke into Wang Valley and brought a doctor to treat our son." Shocked, Xiaoxiao realized Yang Ming had actually broken into Medicine King Valley and sessfully brought a doctor with him. She nervously asked, "Honey, are you okay? Did anyone hit you?" "Im fine. Didnt you notice Im wearing clothes from Medicine King Valley?" "..." Huh? Only then did Xiaoxiao notice the clothes on Yang Ming due to the dim moonlight, making it hard to see clearly. So he sneaked in? "Honey, you are really clever." "..." The elderly man who was coerced felt speechless, as the young couple seemed to be so loving that they almost forgot about him. "Ahem!" Only then did Xiaoxiao closely examine the elderly man Yang Ming brought. He appeared to be in his forties or fifties, probably an experienced doctor. "Sir, Im sorry. Though my husband acted somewhat rashly, we really have no other options. Our childs illness cannot be dyed." "Hmph!" Xue Elevens Fourth Uncle snorted again. He was a rigid person, firmly believing the rules of Medicine King Valley should not be broken. "Even if you tie me up, its no use. Dont expect me to treat your child." Hearing this, Xiaoxiaos brow furrowed, "Sir, are your medical skillscking? Or why wouldnt you dare to treat my son?" "Hmph, my medical skills are indeed excellent, but the rules of Medicine King Valley cannot be broken." Rules, rules, talking about the rules day in and day out, hearing this made Xiaoxiao furious right then and there. "What kind of crap doctor are you, turning a blind eye to suffering? Shame on you as a doctor. Honey, tie him up to the trees roots. Maybe if were lucky, somerge mountain animal will pay him a visit." "Okay." Yang Ming agreed and retrieved a rope from the car. Why was there a rope, you ask? Its an essential item when going out, and they also needed it to tie up a goat, so there would naturally be some. "You cannot tie me up, you cannot tie me up." Regardless of how he yelled, Yang Ming still tied him up firmly. "Dont you know how to respect elders?" After tying him up, Yang Ming spoke, "Sir, for my sons sake, we can only be disrespectful. When you agree to save my son, Ill release you." "Hmph, treating me like this, dont hope for me to save your son." "Then stay here for the night." After saying that, Yang Ming returned to the car with Xiaoxiao, leaving Xue Elevens Fourth Uncle there alone. Chapter 826 - 829: The Feeling of Watching Someone Die Without Helping

Chapter 826: Chapter 829: The Feeling of Watching Someone Die Without Helping

The Fourth Uncle, who was tied up, was extremely angry at this moment. He thought, being one of the top four in Medicine King Valley, it was a great humiliation to be tied to a tree by a young kid. The night was already very quiet, and being at the foot of the mountain made any noise particrly frightening. The longer he stayed, the more afraid he became, but his pride wouldnt allow him to give in. He thought, he was only taken in such circumstances because it was special, but soon his disciples would surely catch up and rescue him. However, he waited an entire night, and no one came to his rescue. He was so angry he almost spat out elder blood. He drifted off to sleep and thankfully wasnt attacked by any wild beasts. In the morning, hunger woke him up, and he could smell the aroma of rice porridge. He looked up to see the young couple already cooking porridge. His stomach growled, but his pride kept him from speaking. Although Xiaoxiao had Yang Ming tie him to the tree, it was purely because of the stubborn old man. She knew there were norge wild beasts here, which is why she did so. By daylight, Xiaoxiao finally clearly saw the elders features. She didnt intend to bully the old man, but the thought of him being so stubborn and not helping her son get treatment made her furious. It was clearly a small favor for him. She was really on the verge of tears, but her kind heart softened, "Honey, let hime over for a meal." Find the newest release on F?ndNovel Yang Ming knew his wife didnt really want to act tough, given her kind heart. He walked over and freed the old man, "Elder,e over for a meal." The Fourth Uncle stretched his muscles, still looking very angry, but he followed along. Seeing the eldere over, Xiaoxiao handed him a bowl of porridge, "Eat." "Humph, dont think Ill treat your son just because of this." "Fine, dont eat then." As Xiaoxiao was about to retract her hand, the old man took the bowl of porridge from her. "..." Yang Ming felt speechless. Why couldnt they just have a decent meal without saying such things, risking making his wife cry again? After that, the three ate their meal in silence. When they finished, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming tended to Little Liufu, feeding milk, changing diapers, and handling a series of tasks while the Fourth Uncle watched the interactions among the young family. Once Little Liufu was settled, Xiaoxiao took him outside to bask in the sun, still chatting with him, "Son, did you see that old grandpa? Wave at him; hes here to treat you." Saying this, Xiaoxiao took Little Liufus hand and waved at the old man, "After he treats you, youll get better. Once youre well, we, as a family, can go home. You wont have to suffer here with your parents." Hearing this, the Fourth Uncle actually looked at the child. The child met his gaze and smiled at him. His mind suddenly recalled Xu Shiyis words, questioning if he was wrong to adhere so rigidly to the rules for so many years while facing the plight of leaving someone in need unassisted. Seeing the elders expression soften, Yang Ming spoke, "Elder, it was indeed my fault for binding you. Im truly sorry, but we really had no choice. The doctors in our ce said the child was poisoned, and only Medicine King Valley could save him, which is why we came. We didnt expect there to be such rules in Medicine King Valley. But to save the childs life, we are prepared to die here in Medicine King Valley. Please, help us." Chapter 827 - 830: You Should Leave

Chapter 827: Chapter 830: You Should Leave

At this moment, Xiaoxiao also came over holding the child. She bit her lip and sincerely said, "Old man, please help this child. Whether sessful or not, we will certainly repay your great kindness. I beg you." Yang Ming and Xiaoxiaos earnest plea did not gain the agreement of Xue Shiyis fourth elder master. The stern elder frowned, his face tense, lips pursed, and after a moment, he said, "Go back and get a letter of introduction, and Ill take a look at your child." Hearing this, Yang Ming, usually good-tempered, couldnt hold back any longer. He couldnt understand why the Medicine King Valley was so indifferent. The person was right here, why was it so difficult to get his son examined? He stepped forward, grabbed the old mans cor, took out the dagger he always carried, his eyes red and red at the old man, harshly saying, "Examine my son immediately, or else the knife will show no mercy." "You better not do anything rash." The stern elder eximed in fear at the sight of the gleaming knife. "Watch if I dare to be rash." The harshness on Yang Mings face was unmistakable, he was truly at his wits end. Seeing the gleaming knife getting closer, the stern elder shut his eyes tight in fear, mumbling, "No." However, a momentter, the expected knife did note, but the grip on his cor was released. He opened his eyes and saw the young man in front of him, restraining his own unwillingness, saying, "Go." He was stunned, very surprised that he was being let go, not treating that childs illness? Yang Ming was indeed very unwilling, but he couldnt bring himself to harm anyone. He hated himself for being so useless. He turned to look at his wife, his eyes narrow, thin lips trembling, "Wife, Im too useless." Xiaoxiao shook her head. If he had really used the knife, he wouldnt be her Yang Ming. She bit her lip and said, "Honey, lets go. Lets leave here and find Divine Doctor Xue." "Alright." Yang Ming nodded in agreement and began to pack up the pots and pans outside the car. The stern elder frowned slightly upon hearing they were going to find the sixth brother, blurting out worriedly, "No one knows where he is, and even if found, its useless. He doesnt treat people, even with a letter of introduction." Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao ignored him; of course, they knew what he said. That was why they decided to stay in Medicine King Valley, but now that there was no hope here, they could only try to find that Divine Doctor Xue. As for the oue, it was all fate for this child. After packing everything, Xiaoxiao got on the carriage with the child, and Yang Ming drove the carriage away. Original content can be found at find{n}ovel The stern elder couldnt believe this was the result. Watching the carriage gradually fade into the distance, he could only turn around and head back towards Medicine King Valley. But along the way, his mind was filled with the image of that family of three, their interactions, the words they spoke to each other, and their expressions. Unconsciously, he reached the entrance of Medicine King Valley quickly. The little disciple guarding the door saw that his master had returned and quickly said, "Master, youre back?" Hearing this, he almost spat out his old blood in anger, furiously saying, "I was held hostage, why didnt you rescue me?" "Master, it wasnt that we didnt want to rescue you, but the other masters said you were fine, there was no need for rescue." "..." Chapter 828 - 831: Heated Discussion

Chapter 828: Chapter 831: Heated Discussion

Hearing these words, Doctor Xues Fourth Uncle was truly infuriated, his face clearly showing anger, and he angrily stormed into the Medicine King Valley. His steps were quick, and soon he arrived at the location of those old men. Without waiting to enter the room, he shouted, "What exactly do you mean, you lot?" The several individuals inside were calmly sipping tea. Hearing Old Fourths voice, everyones facial expressions turned bizarre. Until Doctor Xues Fourth Uncle entered the room, Third Uncle spoke first, "Old Fourths back!" "What do you mean, watching me being held hostage and not sending anyone to rescue me? Are you all wishing for my death?" The rigid Fourth Uncle asked angrily. "Old Fourth, youre speaking too severely. How could we wish you dead? Havent you returned safe and sound?" Second Uncle replied. "Hmph, I think youre wishing for my death." The rigid Fourth Uncle retorted angrily, sitting down in a chair with a thud. With a smirk, Third Uncle said, "Old Fourth, since youve returned safely, does that mean you treated that child?" "Didnt treat." Fourth Uncle replied in a very unpleasant tone. This statement shocked everyone inside the room. The always self-preserving Old Fourth didnt treat the child, yet how did he return? Could he have escaped himself? Surely they didnt release him voluntarily, "Old Fourth, since you didnt treat them, how did you manage to return?" "I insisted on not giving treatment, so they had no choice but to decide to find Old Sixth instead." This statement once again surprised everyone inside the room. The fact that theyd be willing to release him indicated they werent bad people, just helplessly resorting to hostage-taking for the childs sake. "Old Fourth, oh Old Fourth, what should we say about you?" "I already reminded them that finding Old Sixth wouldnt help. I told them to hurry and get the introduction letter." "..." Old Fourths words left everyone in the room speechless. The rigid Old Fourth truly lived up to his reputation, for better or worse. At this moment, Doctor Xues Third Uncle mmed the table and stood up, "No, we cant let them leave. Ourpetition among the disciples hasnt started yet, who is more capable?" Doctor Xues master also stood up, "Go bring them back, thepetition must take ce, otherwise, Elevens medical skills will constantly be questioned." Seeing the reaction of these old men, the rigid Fourth Uncle spoke, "What are we looking for? Their carriage has already gone far." "Old Fourth, its all your fault, otherwise, we couldve had thepetition already." "Exactly, they must be found and brought back." "Already gone, isnt that better? Our Medicine King Valley doesnt need to break the tradition." "..." "..." The old men once againunched into a heated debate about whether to find them or not, while the always authoritative First Uncle remained silent. Regarding Doctor Xues medical skills, he was well aware of them. About whether the child was poisoned, what kind of poison it was and why Eleven failed to diagnose it, yet an outside doctor didhe found it intriguing. Doctor Xues words, he contemted long into the night. Their Medicine King Valley should indeed treat more patients to improve their medical skills; they couldnt continue as they were. Th?s chapter is updated by findnovel As he was contemting, he heard his junior brothers asking, "Elder Brother, do you think we should find them and bring them back?" Chapter 829 - 832: The Decision

Chapter 829: Chapter 832: The Decision

Upon hearing the question, the Master Brother of Xue Shiyi finally took action. He stood up and announced his decision, "Bring that family of three back and treat that child." "What?" The rigid Fourth Master Brother was quite puzzled by this decision. Master Brother had always adhered to the rules of Medicine King Valley, so why this time? The solemn Master Brother continued, "Regarding Shiyis words, everyone must have considered them yesterday. Indeed, the disciples of Medicine King Valley need to improve their skills. Without training, our medical skills might not even surpass those of the Barefoot Doctors outside." "How could that be? The medical skills of Medicine King Valley are amongst the best in the kingdom, how could they notpare to the Barefoot Doctors?" The rigid Fourth Master Brother said, not convinced. He had always believed so. "Fourth, since you believe the medical skills of Medicine King Valley are superior, let your disciples participate in thispetition as well. Lets see if your disciples can diagnose whether the child is poisoned or not," Xue Shiyis Third Master Brother suggested. "I am well aware of the skills of the disciples, theres no need for apetition." Seeing the furrowed brows and stern look of the Fourth Master Brother, Xue Shiyis Master Brother continued, "This time, we will make an exception and allow that family of three to enter Medicine King Valley. Let the disciples diagnose the child. If they all, like Shiyi, fail to identify the childs condition, then it would mean that Medicine King Valley has a false reputation." He paused and continued, "If that happens, then the longstanding rules of Medicine King Valley will need to change." Upon hearing this, the rigid Fourth Master Brother immediately asked, "So youre saying that if a disciple can diagnose that childs condition, the rules of Medicine King Valley will remain unchanged?" "..." Xue Shiyis Master Brother frowned. This Fourth Master Brother was as stubborn as ever. If this were not said, he would have continued opposing treating that family of three. However, he was intrigued by the childs poison, so he replied, "You could say so." "Then my disciples will also diagnose the child." As expected, with these words, the rigid Fourth Master Brother relented a bit. He still believed the rules should not be broken and was confident that his disciples skills were notcking. "Then its settled. I will immediately send someone to find that family of three," Xue Shiyis Third Master Brother said as he went out to call them in. At this time, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming had not gone far. After driving the carriage for a while, they stopped. Since they did not know how long the journey would take, they decided to head up the mountain first, to the river they had been to before, to prepare the family of three before setting off again. After preparing, they carried the child down the mountain. Xiaoxiao said, "My dear, we acted impulsively again." "Hm?" "We just let that old man go so quickly; we should have asked about the general whereabouts of Divine Doctor Xue. Just blindly searching like this might be very challenging." "..." "Where should we go now?" "The people from Medicine King Valley might not know where Divine Doctor Xue is either. Well have to inquire along the way." "Hm." As they were talking, unconsciously they had already descended the mountain. From afar, they saw someone waiting by the carriage, wearing the attire of Medicine King Valley; he was likely a disciple of Medicine King Valley. Original content can be found at F?ndNovel They had a guess in their hearts and hurried over. The disciple of Medicine King Valley saw them return and said, "You two, the masters have decided to treat the child and have sent me to invite you to enter the valley." Chapter 830 - 833: Entering Medicine King Valley

Chapter 830: Chapter 833: Entering Medicine King Valley

Hearing this, Xiaoxiaos eyes widened. She simply couldnt believe it; she was in despair just a moment ago, and now hope had arrived. She excitedly stepped forward, grabbing the arm of the disciple from Medicine King Valley, "Really? My son can finally be treated?" "Yes, you should hurry ande back with me." Hearing the definite answer, Xiaoxiao turned to look at Yang Ming, her excitement and joy evident. She teared up and said, "Husband, our son is saved." "Yes, hes saved." Yang Ming was also very excited at this moment. Heaven really doesnt disappoint those who persevere; the heavens had finally opened their eyes, "Wife, lets hurry to Medicine King Valley, lets not waste time." "Yes, right, lets hurry to Medicine King Valley." Xiaoxiao quickly got into the carriage with the child. The carriage moved swiftly, and soon they arrived at the gates of Medicine King Valley, which were wide open. Thus, after lingering outside Medicine King Valley for five long days, they finally got their wish to enter the valley. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming carried the child and followed the disciple from Medicine King Valley into the hall. Sitting inside the hall were the five highly respected masters of Medicine King Valley. As soon as Xiaoxiao entered, she saw one of them, the old man Yang Ming had detained. She thought, it must have been after they let him go that he realized his conscience and convinced the people in Medicine King Valley to decide to treat their child. Her heart was filled with gratitude towards the old man, so she stepped forward and said very politely, "Old man, thank you so much for being willing to help my son." The fourth master, who was thanked, felt very awkward and could only cough twice in response, "Cough cough." Then Xiaoxiao thanked the other four elders in the room, "Thank you, thank you." At this moment, the disciple who brought them here began to introduce Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao, "These are the masters of Medicine King Valley, this is the first master, this is the second master..." After the introduction, Yang Ming bowed with sped hands and said, "Masters, I apologize for the disturbance and taking hostages yesterday, thank you, masters, for willing to save my son and forgiving our offenses. I, your junior Yang Ming, thank the masters here." After saying this, Yang Ming bowed deeply, and Xiaoxiao followed, sincerely thanking everyone. Looking at this family of three, they seemed honest and sincere. If they hadnt been turned away at the gates in the past few days, they probably wouldnt have resorted to such actions. Master Xue Shiyis first master first said, "No need to thank us, lets hurry and see to the childs treatment." "Thank you, master." They initially thought these masters would treat the child, but Yang Ming and Xiaoxiaoter found out that it wasnt the case, as they saw other younger peoplee in, presumably disciples of Medicine King Valley. Seeing Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao so puzzled, Master Xue Shiyis first master spoke again, "Those who enter Medicine King Valley are also treated by the disciples." With this exnation, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming understood. Indeed, such arge Medicine King Valley couldnt have the masters treating everyone. But they were unsure if the disciples could ascertain whether the child was poisoned, as Xue Shiyi had not detected it. Coincidentally, the first person to treat the child was actually Xue Shi, who had had a conflict with them outside the gates. Seeing Xue Shi, Xiaoxiao frowned, wondering if this person was reliable. Seeing Xiaoxiaos expression, Xue Shi spoke, "Rest assured, I still possess the necessary medical ethics." Content originallyes from findnovel Chapter 831 - 834: Diagnosis

Chapter 831: Chapter 834: Diagnosis

Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao felt relieved, realizing that she had indeed been overthinking. Medicine King Valley is renowned, and it wouldnt neglect the childs medical care due to the unpleasantness at the entrance, especially with these masters present. Before diagnosing, Xue Shi first asked, "Does the child have any symptoms?" "The child shows no symptoms and everything seems normal. Its just that a doctor in our area determined that the child was poisoned, iming the child wouldnt live past two months. Thats why we rushed to Medicine King Valley to confirm if the child is poisoned," Xiaoxiao replied honestly. After hearing this, Xue Shi continued, "Then put the child down." Following Xue Shis instructions, Xiaoxiao ced the child on one of the round tables in the hall. As soon as the child was down, Xue Shi proceeded to remove the childs clothing, causing Xiaoxiaos eyes to widen and quickly stop him, "What are you doing?" "If its poisoning, sometimes it can be seen on the body," Xue Shi exined. However, Xiaoxiao frowned deeply, worrying that the six toes might be discovered. She looked at Yang Ming with difficulty, contemting whether to let them see it. Yang Ming understood his wifes concern but recognized that under the current circumstances, they had no choice but to allow the inspection. He believed with Medicine King Valleys rules, they should keep it secret, so he nodded in agreement, "Please go ahead." With approval, Xue Shi carefully examined the childs entire body, along with four other disciples, who were under the five masters, topare medical skills. Due to the thorough examination of the body, the issue of the six toes waspletely exposed, yet the five did not show any surprise on their faces. This was Medicine King Valleys rule; when treating patients, any findings must remain confidential, not to be disclosed. Momentster, all of them shook their heads at their masters, indicating there were no abnormalities. No symptoms, no external anomalies, so they had to check the childs pulse. Xue Shi ced his hand on the tiny pulse, feeling it clearly, but... Soon after, the five took turns checking Little Liufus pulse. After examining, each one furrowed their brows, showing grave expressions, and shook their heads to their masters, "Master, disciple has failed to honor our school, cannot detect anything." Upon seeing this situation, the stern Fourth Uncle was the first to speak, "Is it not poisoning?" "Master, whether poisoned or not, I cannot say, but the childs pulse is indeed unusual, not like an ordinary persons pulse." Hearing this, the Fourth Uncle panicked, sending out skilled disciples unable to see anything. He hurriedly shouted, "Let others take a look." Discover more novels at Find_Novel(. The situation also rmed the other four masters within the room; an abnormal pulse suggested the child most likely had a problem. Yet, the disciples couldnt identify where, which was strange, especially the outside doctor urately stating the child was poisoned. Could it be that Medicine King Valleys medical expertise was truly thiscking? Swiftly, different disciples were brought in to diagnose Little Liufu, but the results were equally disappointing. One disciple after another checked Little Liufu, yet there was no result. Xiaoxiao was on the verge of tears, had the people of Medicine King Valley truly been unable to discern anything? A momentter, Xue Shis master spoke, "Could you both take the child to rest first and allow us Medicine King Valley to discuss the illness?" Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao exchanged a look, realizing there was no other option, they could only agree, "Alright, thank you, masters." Chapter 832 - 835: Hundred Days to Death

Chapter 832: Chapter 835: Hundred Days to Death

After Xiaoxiao left, the atmosphere in the room could be described as overcast, with the entire Medicine King Valley unable to diagnose the illness, a situation unprecedented. The rigid fourth master could not ept this oue at all, furrowing his brow and shouting, "Whats the matter with you all? Cant you even tell if its poison?" "..." The disciples could only listen to their masters scolding, not daring to speak up, acknowledging their own inadequate medical skills, unable to refute. "What have you been learning all this time? Huh? Youvepletely embarrassed Medicine King Valley." Hearing such reprimands, the third master, Xue Shiyi, couldnt stand it anymore and spoke up, "Old Fourth, why are you taking out your anger on the disciples?" Fourth master: "They cant even tell if its poison or not, shouldnt they be med?" Third master: "Alright, stop criticizing them. If you ask me, you might not be able to tell either." Fourth master: "Me? Unable to tell?" Third master: "You might indeed be unable to detect it!" Listening to the noise in the hall, the always dignified first master spoke, "Alright, stop arguing, lets first hear what the disciples have to say." Upon hearing this, the room finally quieted down, and as they listened to the disciples discuss the unusual pulse of the child, everyones brows furrowed deeper. Soon after, the first master spoke, "You all may leave now." Latest content published on f?ndnovel The disciples followed the first masters instructions and left the room, leaving only the five masters inside with very solemn expressions. Finally, someone spoke up, "Doesnt this resemble Old Sixs Hundred Days to Demise!" Upon hearing this, the expressions on everyones faces worsened. If it truly was Hundred Days to Demise, even the five old masters couldnt cure it, only Old Six could. As the name suggests, a child wouldnt survive more than a hundred days after birth; no wonder the couple was so insistent on Medicine King Valley. But why would Hundred Days to Demise be used on such an ordinary woman? That couple didnt seem to be people of prominence. No wonder the disciples couldnt detect this poison. Normally, it presents no abnormalities, just an unusual pulse. The child would experience a deepa leading to death during thest ten days post-birth, making it unnoticeable as poisoning. Yet, someone outside was able to detect what Medicine King Valley disciples couldnt. "Old Fourth, since youve dealt with that couple before, you might as well go and confirm if the child has been poisoned with Old Sixs Hundred Days to Demise." "I..." The rigid fourth master intended to refuse but suddenly recalled interactions with the family. He remembered the childs smile. He hoped that the child wasnt a victim of Hundred Days to Demise. If it were, and Old Six couldnt be found, it would certainly be a dead end. Since thats the case, he would go and confirm it. Moreover, this incident deeply made him realize that Medicine King Valleys crafted poison couldnt be detected by its own disciples but was identified by outsiders. They indeed could not remain as frogs at the bottom of a well any longer. He could not rebuff actions breaking Medicine King Valleys traditions. Thus, he spoke, "Alright then, Ill go." Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao were arranged in a guest room at Medicine King Valley; today, despite many trying to diagnose the child, everyone ended up unsessful, leaving the couple downcast, anxiously waiting for news. Finally, there was a knock on the door, "Knock, knock." Xiaoxiao hurriedly went to open the door and saw the old man who had been held by Yang Ming. She urgently asked, "Old man, is there a result?" Chapter 833 - 836: The Child Is Indeed Poisoned

Chapter 833: Chapter 836: The Child Is Indeed Poisoned

Xue Shiyis fourth master uncle frowned, with a stern face, entered the room, walked to the bed, and upon seeing the child said, "Let me check the childs pulse." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao was overwhelmed with excitement. Just now she had been discussing with Yang Ming in the room; so many disciples couldnt determine whether the child was poisoned, only those five masters were left. They desperately hoped the masters would check the childs pulse. Unexpectedly, before they had even asked, the master decided to help check the pulse. Xiaoxiao quickly expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, elder." Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming then watched as the elder took Little Liufus pulse, observing the elders expression turning graver. Xiaoxiao and Yang Mings hearts were hanging in suspense. When the elder finally withdrew his hand, ending the pulse check, they asked in unison, revealing their tension, "How is our son?" Although Xue Shiyis fourth master uncle was reluctant, he still told the truth, "The child is indeed poisoned." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were not overly shocked. Given the childs assassination attempt and the mobilization of the soldiers, it was almost certain that the poisoning was real. They were more concerned with whether the poison could be cured, so Yang Ming asked nervously, "Elder, is there a cure?" Xue Shiyis fourth master uncle shook his head and said, "This poison is called Hundred Days to Heaven. It spreads by poisoning the mother, affecting the child in her womb. The child will die within one hundred days after birth. It starts with no symptoms, so people cannot tell, but in thest ten days, the child will be deeply unconscious until death." Although they had heard about what kind of poison this was before, today the details became clearer, learning the name of the poison and its symptoms. "Elder, even you cant cure this poison?" Faced with this result, Xiaoxiao was somewhat in despair. She couldnt ept this fact; after staying in Medicine King Valley for so many days, was this the result, returning empty-handed? "We indeed cant cure this poison. The only one who can is my sixth apprentice brother." "Is it the famous Divine Doctor Xue?" Xiaoxiao asked in return. "Precisely." It seems after all this, they still have to seek out Divine Doctor Xue. The only thing confirmed from their journey to Medicine King Valley was that the child was indeed poisoned. Though they thought that Divine Doctor Xue might be hard to find, and maybe someone in Medicine King Valley could cure the poison, it turns out thats not possible. Xiaoxiao quickly began packing, speaking as she did, "Husband, we cant stay in Medicine King Valley any longer; quickly pack up, lets go find Divine Doctor Xue." "Alright." Yang Ming agreed, feeling they shouldnt dy any longer, and so the two began packing in front of the fourth master uncle. But just as Xiaoxiao was about to pick up the child, her body swayed slightly, caught by Yang Mings eye. He quickly went to support her, asking worriedly, "Wife, are you alright?" "Im fine, lets hurry and leave." Xiaoxiao forced herself to say. Seeing the state of this family of three, the fourth master uncle feltpassion, and he said, "It seems she hasnt fully recovered from the snake poison. If you really must leave, why not recuperate for one more night and leave tomorrow?" "No, we dont have time. Lets leave now." Xiaoxiao said, feeling that not a moment should be wasted. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find?novel Seeing his wife in this condition, Yang Ming felt a deep pang of heartache, "Wife, lets leave tomorrow, okay? If you copse on the way, how can we find Divine Doctor Xue?" Yang Mings words made Xiaoxiao realize she indeed couldnt afford to copse on the road, and so she nodded in agreement. Chapter 834 - 837: Leaving Medicine King Valley

Chapter 834: Chapter 837: Leaving Medicine King Valley

Yang Ming was worried that his wifes poison could not be removed, so he turned to look at the old man, "Elder, can you take a look at the snake venom on my wife? How many days will it take to heal, and what should I pay attention to?" "Extend your hand, let me check your pulse." Xiaoxiao extended her hand, and the old man quickly checked her pulse, then spoke, "The snake venom was treated in a timely manner, its nothing serious. You can depart tomorrow, and drinking herbal decoction for two days on the road should be sufficient. In a moment, Ill have someone prepare some herbal medicine for your wound, it will heal faster." Hearing this, both Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were very pleased, as it wouldnt dy their journey. They could depart the next day, "Thank you, Elder." Having been thanked by the couple many times, Xue Shiyis fourth senior uncle felt a bit awkward. He was the one who had prevented them from entering the valley. If not for his strong opposition, perhaps they would have entered the valley earlier, and maybe would not have been bitten by a venomous snake, "No need for thanks, Ill head out first, and have a disciple bring the medicine over shortly." Xue Shiyis fourth senior uncle was just about to leave when Xiaoxiaos voice interrupted him, "Ah, Elder, please wait." "..." What is it now? Xiaoxiao stepped forward and asked, "Elder, Id like to inquire about Divine Doctor Xue." "..." "Ive heard that Divine Doctor Xue travels unpredictably. Trying to find him aimlessly is like looking for a needle in a haystack, likely difficult to locate. I want to ask, does Medicine King Valley know his whereabouts, or have a sense of which direction or region he might head towards?" "We indeed dont have his whereabouts, but I can confirm that he wont head towards Beijing, theres a greater possibility he will go south." ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? F?nd-Novel Hearing this, Xiaoxiao brightened up and promptly thanked him, "Thank you, Elder." Xue Shiyis fourth senior uncle wanted to mention how Old Liu doesnt use his medical skills, but after pondering, he decided to remain silent, not wanting to discourage them, and then he left. Momentster, the medicine was also delivered, Xiaoxiao applied and took the medicine, and felt much better physically. The next day, the two decided to leave Medicine King Valley and head south. Before departing, they couldnt neglect formalities and bid farewell to the five masters of Medicine King Valley. The couple, with their child, left Medicine King Valley, and as the carriage was about to set off at the entrance, they heard a shout, "Big brother, wait." Yang Ming looked towards the voice; it was Xue Shiyi. Yang Ming hurriedly jumped off the carriage, "Young brother." Xue Shiyi ran up, and spoke, "Big brother, I came to see you off." "Young brother, thank you, without you, my wife and I dont know what would have happened," Yang Ming sincerely thanked him again. "Big brother, I also want to thank you. Because of your situation,st night the masters decided that Medicine King Valley will no longer turn away patients seeking medical help, and we disciples are now allowed to go down the mountain to practice our medical skills." Hearing this, Yang Ming genuinely felt happy for him and for people seeking medical help in the future, "This is a good thing." "Yes, big brother, take this." Xue Shiyi said as he handed over a package. "What is this?" "These are some herbs, they might be useful on your journey." Yang Ming epted the package of herbs, sincerely saying, "Thank you." "Then, big brother, Ill be heading back. Hopefully, well meet again in the future." Xue Shiyi said and ran back into Medicine King Valley. Watching Xue Shiyi walk away, Yang Ming got onto the carriage, drove away, and left Medicine King Valley. Chapter 835 - 838: Anding Village

Chapter 835: Chapter 838: Anding Vige

Although they were dyed for a few days in Medicine King Valley, it wasnt entirely fruitless. At least they learned that the child was indeed poisoned and knew the symptoms of the poison. So, when the final moment approaches, they wont bepletely unprepared. Although they didnt know why they were so certain that Divine Doctor Xue wouldnt go to Beijing, it was undoubtedly good news for Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming, avoiding a lot of trouble by not going to Beijing. They followed the advice of Xue Elevens fourth elder and deviated from Beijing, heading south. Since they had to bring the child and inquire about the whereabouts of Divine Doctor Xue, they traveled intermittently, passing through several viges to ask around, but their efforts were in vain. They didnt know much about Divine Doctor Xue. By now, they had been out for over half a month, and the childs time was running out. With the help of Medicine King Valley, Xiaoxiaos toxins and Yang Mings injuries were almost healed. That day, Xiaoxiao suggested, "Darling, when we reach the next vige, lets stay overnight." "Hmm?" "Lets find a household, the three of us should have a good wash, then make some dry food to take on the road. We cant keep cooking meals like this; its too time-consuming. Nor can we always travel at night. You need to rest. You havent had a good sleep in several days." After half a month of turmoil, both Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming were visibly exhausted. Their dietcked nutrition. If this continues, they would copse before finding Divine Doctor Xue. This text is hosted at Yang Ming also felt his wifes suggestion was good. His wife had suffered a lot along the way and needed rest, so he agreed, "Yes, then at the next vige, well stay overnight." The carriage continued on its way. Shortly afterward, Yang Ming called out, "Honey, theres a vige up ahead. Well reach it soon." Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao leaned out the window and sure enough, saw some houses in the distance. It must be a vige. They could finally stop and rest for a while. "Great, darling, lets hurry over there." "Giddy up!" Hearing his wifes happy voice, Yang Mingshed the horse whip. He also wished his wife could get off the carriage and have a proper rest. Soon the carriage arrived at the vige entrance, where arge stone stood, engraved with the three characters Anding Vige. Xiaoxiao thought that this vige must be very stable. Yang Ming drove the carriage into the vige. Due to it being a carriage, with a carriage box, and trailing a littlemb, their arrival immediately attracted the vigers attention. They whispered among themselves, starting to make guesses about the people in the carriage. Yang Ming stopped the carriage, jumped down, and said to the vigers, "Dear folks, we are travelers from afar, passing through here, and wish to lodge for one night..." Yang Ming hadnt finished speaking, having just gotten to the words lodge for one night, when the vigers halted their discussions instantly. In perfect unison, they turned their heads and left, running faster than rabbits, treating Yang Ming and hispanions like a gue, thoroughly avoiding them. Yang Ming never expected such a situation. He reached out his hand and called out, "Folks, we just want to stay one night. Well leave tomorrow. Please dont run away." However, no one listened to Yang Mings words. Everyone hurried home and without exception, tightly shut their doors. Yang Ming turned back disappointedly and saw his wife standing at the carriage door,forting her aloud, "Honey, dont worry. Ill go knock on each door." Chapter 836 - 839: Refused Stayover

Chapter 836: Chapter 839: Refused Stayover

This situation was something Xiaoxiao did not anticipate. They hade across several viges on their way, and most of the vigers were weing. Such a situation was a first for them. Seeing his wife worried, Yang Ming continued tofort her, "We will definitely find a family willing to take us in. Ill go and ask around. You wait here for me." "Okay." Xiaoxiao nodded. They could only try asking. If it didnt work out, they could leave for the next vige. However, since they were passing through this vige, they needed to inquire about the Divine Doctor Xue. They couldnt just leave because the doors were closed; they werent on a leisure trip, and gathering information was their main goal. So Xiaoxiao instructed, "Honey, remember to ask about the Divine Doctor Xue." "Yes, I know." Yang Ming agreed, then tied the horse to a big tree in the vige to prevent the carriage from moving suddenly and startling his wife and children inside. After everything was set, he said, "Im going now." Yang Ming then walked towards the vige, first heading to the nearest house and knocking on the door, "Knock, knock." While knocking, he also called out inside, "Is anyone in the yard?" "Anyone?" "..." "..." He knocked for a while, but no one came to open the door. They might have heard him mention staying over, and deliberately chose not to open the door. Yang Ming helplessly moved on to the next house. But the treatment was the same. He went to several houses in a row, and it was the same situation everywhere. No one was willing to open the door for him. Yet, Yang Ming did not give up. Even if they couldnt stay here, he still needed to find someone to ask about the Divine Doctor Xue. He couldnt return empty-handed. So he continued to walk towards another house, knocking on the door, "Is anyone in the yard?" After a while of knocking, finally, the door of this house opened, and a voice came from inside, "Coming,ing, who is it?" Hearing the voice, Yang Ming was overjoyed and said, "Brother, Iming from another ce. Passing through here, I wanted to see if I could stay at your home for a night. Is that possible?" The middle-aged man frowned upon hearing this and, waving his hand, was about to close the door, "No, no, you should leave." Having finally managed to get someone to talk to him, Yang Ming was unwilling to give up, so he reached out to block the door from closing and said, "Brother, please help us. We just need to stay one night and wont cause you any trouble. Well leave tomorrow." "No, no." The middle-aged man continued to wave him away, pushing Yang Ming out. Seeing this, Yang Ming had no choice but to say, "Brother, please dont close the door yet. Let me at least ask you something." "What is it?" "Have you heard of the Divine Doctor Xue? To be honest, our family is here to find Divine Doctor Xue. Weve been inquiring all the way here, hoping to find some clues about his whereabouts." "Never heard of him, now go." The man impatiently said, pushing Yang Ming out and mming the door shut with a bang. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find{n}ovel Yang Ming shook his head in frustration and went on to knock on other doors. Yet, after knocking on several more houses, the result was the same. Not a single household was willing to take them in, even when he offered to pay with Silver, nor could he find any information about the Divine Doctor Xues whereabouts. Yang Ming was extremely disappointed, unsure of what was wrong with the people in this vige. If it continued like this, they would have no choice but to leave for the next vige. Just as Yang Ming decided to head back, after taking only a few steps, a tender childs voice called out from behind, "Uncle, if we let you stay, will you really pay with Silver?" Chapter 837 - 840: Stay at My House

Chapter 837: Chapter 840: Stay at My House

Hearing the voice, Yang Mings eyes lit up, and he immediately turned around to see a boy about seven or eight years old. Fresh chapters posted on findnovel While he was dazed, the little boy asked again, "Uncle, if I let you stay at our home, will you pay silver?" "Yes, I will definitely pay silver." Hearing Yang Mings affirmative answer, the boys face lit up with joy, "Then uncle, you can stay at my house." "Then where is your home, so uncle can drive the carriage over." "Uncle, Ill take you there." Xiaoxiao waited for quite a long time without seeing Yang Ming return, and realized that finding amodation might not work out. She thought if things didnt work out, they could just move on to the next vige for amodation. Feeling anxious from waiting, she got off the carriage with the baby and paced back and forth along the roadside, thinking that if she ran into vigers, she might as well inquire. But the situation was the same as Yang Mings; as soon as she mentioned amodation, no one paid her any mind. Later, when she stopped mentioning amodation and only inquired about the whereabouts of the Divine Doctor Xue, she still couldnt find anything. Just when she was feeling disappointed, she saw Yang Ming returning hand in hand with a small child. She didnt know who the child Yang Ming was holding was, but her heart was filled with joy, as Yang Ming must have found someone willing to provide amodation. Xiaoxiao waved to Yang Ming and asked, "Honey, did you find a ce to stay?" Yang Ming nodded, "Yes, I found it." He then looked at the little child next to him and said, "Were staying at his house." The child looked at Xiaoxiao and said, "Auntie, Ill take you to my house." Just as Xiaoxiao thought, they were going to stay at this childs home. Xiaoxiao asked, "Little friend, thank you for willing to take us in. Whats your name?" "Auntie, everyone calls me Little Shitou," the child replied. After exchanging a few words, Yang Ming urged, "Dear, get on the carriage quickly, lets go." "Okay." Then Xiaoxiao got on the carriage holding Little Liufu. Yang Ming and Little Shitou sat in the front to drive the carriage since Little Shitou needed to give directions. Xiaoxiao, seated inside, heard Little Liufu say from the front, "Uncle, is this the carriage you mentioned? Its so beautiful, its my first time seeing one." "Little Shitou, have you never seen a carriage before?" Yang Ming asked. "No, in our vige, there are no carriages. This is the first time a carriage hase into the vige." "..." Hearing these words, Yang Ming felt a twinge of sadness in his heart, as Little Shitou probably never ventured out, so hed never seen a carriage. Regarding this vige, he had just roughly looked around; every household had mud houses, much like those in the Yang Family Vige, but it was far more remote than the Yang Family Vige. It could be said to be aplete backwater. The Yang Family Vige, at least, was close to the county, making earning silver somewhat easier. The vigers here probably lived even more poorly than those in the Yang Family Vige. As Yang Ming was thinking this, he heard Little Shitous voice, "Uncle, when we arrive at my houseter, could you not mention to my mom about me epting your silver?" "Hmm?" "If my mom finds out, shell definitely scold me, Im begging you." Little Shitou pleaded. "Okay, we wont say anything," Yang Ming agreed. Anyone who could provide them a ce to stay wasnt easy toe by, and from the looks of this child, he probably had some unspeakable reasons. "Thank you, uncle." A momentter, Little Shitou shouted, "Uncle, the house up ahead is mine." Chapter 838 - 841: Moving into Little Shitou’s Home

Chapter 838: Chapter 841: Moving into Little Shitous Home

Soon enough, Yang Ming stopped the carriage at the door of the house Little Shitou pointed to, and a few of them got off the carriage. Xiaoxiao, holding the child, looked at the yard they were about to move into. It could be described as dpidated, even more so than Yang Mings house, as if a push would make it copse. Such a house surely leaks in the summer and is cold in the winter; this is probably the worst house in the vige. Little Shitou felt very embarrassed to charge for such a house, but he had no choice. He pushed open the rickety gate and said, "Uncle, Auntie, this is my house, pleasee in." Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming followed Little Shitou into the courtyard. It was very quiet inside, as if no one lived there, and there were none of the usual animals like chickens, ducks, pigs, or dogs. The ce looked very old, but it was tidily maintained, suggesting the owner valued cleanliness. They followed Little Shitou into a room. The room was small and had only a kang, with nothing else in it, indicating how poor this family really was. Once inside, Little Shitou said, "Uncle, Auntie, sorry, the house isnt great, youll have to manage with it." "This is already very good, thank you, Little Shitou," Yang Ming expressed his gratitude, speaking the truth. Along the way, the three of them had been sleeping in the open wilderness, so this was much better. Finally, they had a ce to stay and could properly settle in. Yang Ming quickly moved all the items from the carriage into the room, with Little Shitou sensibly helping out. Original content can be found at find?novel Once everything was moved in, Little Shitou awkwardly spoke, "Uncle, Auntie, could you give me the lodging payment now?" Upon hearing this, Xiaoxiao thought the child might be in some trouble, and just as she was about to inquire, there was a sound of something breaking from the yard. Little Shitou didnt care about the money anymore and immediately ran outside, shouting anxiously, "Mother." In this situation, Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao, holding the child, quickly followed. They had just been wondering why Little Shitou was the only one in the yard, and it turned out the homes owner had been inside all along. They hadnt greeted the adults, which indeed was quite rude. "Mother, are you awake?" Little Shitou asked excitedly, seeing his mother awake. She had been unconscious for a whole day. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming entered to see a woman lying on the kang, struggling to prop herself up. Little Shitou helped to ce a pillow against the wall, allowing the woman to sit up partially. The woman appeared to be around thirty, looking rather frail, possibly suffering from some illness. Looking at the broken bowl on the floor, it seemed she had identally knocked it off the kang. This woman must be Little Shitous mother. However, since she was awake, why werent her eyes open? She was sitting there with her eyes closed. "Mother, do you want some water? Shitou will get it," Little Shitou said as he ran out, returning quickly with adle of water. He ced thedle into the womans hands, guiding them to hold it securely, then she slowly brought it to her lips. Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming understood it all the womans eyes couldnt see. Chapter 839 - 842: Offering Shelter

Chapter 839: Chapter 842: Offering Shelter

After a few sips of water, Little Shitous mother handed back the dipper and asked in a weak voice, "Little Shitou, is there someone else in the room?" For someone who couldnt see, her ears were exceptionally sharp. Although Little Liufu was quietly held in her arms and they hadnt spoken, the footsteps were still audible. Thinking that it would be better to exin more clearly since she couldnt see, Xiaoxiao spoke up, "Sister-inw, we are a family of three: my husband, our one-month-old son, and me. Wee from another ce and are just passing through. We would like to stay for the night. We are grateful to your son, Little Shitou, for kindly taking us in." Little Shitous mother, instead of reacting like some other vigers who were averse to their stay, said embarrassedly, "I see, our home is too simple, as long as you dont mind, feel free to stay." "We dont mind, not at all. Its great to have a ce to stay. Weve been staying out in the wilderness before, thank you, sister-inw," Xiaoxiao quickly replied, noticing that this sister-inw seemed like a kind-hearted person. It was just a pity that she couldnt see. Little Shitous mother continued in a weak voice, "Im really sorry, I cant entertain you in my current state. If you need anything, just tell Little Shitou." "Oh, no need, sister-inw, we can manage on our own." Xiaoxiao thought it would be better not to disturb this sister-inw who was ill, so she said, "Then, sister-inw, well head out first. You should rest well." Newest update provided by Find_Novel(. "Okay, Little Shitou, go help them," Little Shitous mother instructed. "Got it, mom." With the homeowners permission, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming quickly got to work. They made use of Little Shitous kitchen. Yang Ming fetched quite a bit of water and began boiling it, bathing the child and doingundry. The whole family felt refreshed. After that, Xiaoxiao was busily working in the kitchen, preparing the dry food they had brought along for the journey. Given the weather, the dry food wouldst at most three days. Three days was better than having to stop constantly to cook. There were vegetables in Little Shitous garden. With Little Shitous permission, Xiaoxiao picked some veggies. Besides preparing dry food, she also cooked dinner. The kitchen was filled with the aroma of food, and considering Little Shitous mothers illness, Xiaoxiao thoughtfully made some rice porridge for her. The aroma of the meal made Little Shitous mouth water, yet he restrained himself and continued helping out by either washing vegetables or tending the fire. Finally, the dishes were ready and the rice porridge was also done. Xiaoxiao specifically served them to Little Shitou and his mother, "Little Shitou, take these dishes and eat with your mom." Little Shitou stood there, though tempted, he didnt move. His mother had told him not to eat things given by others. Seeing Little Shitous hesitance, Xiaoxiao exined, "We also used your vegetables, think of it as a fair exchange." "A fair exchange?" "Yes, trading one thing for another. See, we provided the rice, and you provided the vegetables." "..." Little Shitou nced over; he thought that the rice was much more valuable than their vegetables. "Hurry and take them to your mom, she needs good food to recover," Xiaoxiao reasoned, thinking that the mention of his mother might persuade the hesitant child. Sure enough, after hearing that, Little Shitou went to get the food, but he didnt leave immediately. Instead, he asked, "Auntie, can I have the amodation Silver now?" Chapter 840 - 843: You’ll Get Better After Eating Rice Porridge

Chapter 840: Chapter 843: Youll Get Better After Eating Rice Porridge

Xiaoxiao finally remembered the matter of Little Shitou asking for silver. She quickly took out one tael of silver from her pocket and handed it to Little Shitou, saying, "Take it." Seeing that it was one tael of silver, Little Shitou was too scared to ept it. "Auntie, just staying one night doesnt need that much." Xiaoxiao forcibly pushed the silver into Little Shitous hand and said, "We also pay one tael of silver for lodging outside." Xiaoxiao realized that this child is a filial one, asking for silver entirely for his blind mothers sake. Upon hearing this, Little Shitou clutched the silver in his hand and said tearfully, "Auntie, my mother is sick, we have no silver to see the doctor, so I..." Little Shitou paused and continued, "Auntie, dont worry. After my mother sees the doctor, Ill return all thats left to you." Seeing such a filial child, Xiaoxiaos heart softened. Such a young child living with a blind mother is not easy, and this vige looks so poor that seeing a doctor is a luxury. If one can help, they should. Besides, for Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming, one tael of silver is something they can afford now. "Yes, Auntie knows." "Thank you, Auntie, you are all great people." Get full chapters from find?novel Little Shitou wanted to kneel to Xiaoxiao but was stopped by her. "A mans knee is as valuable as gold, you shouldnt kneel to others easily, understand?" "Yes, thank you Auntie." Little Shitou said gratefully. Xiaoxiao patted Little Shitous head and said, "Then quickly bring the meal to your mother. You go eat first, after the meal, go find a doctor for your mother." "Okay." Little Shitou agreed, put the silver into his pocket, and took the meal into his mothers room. Upon entering the room, he saw his mother still lying there, seemingly in great distress. He was very worried, not knowing whether his mother was asleep, and he dared not make a sound. As soon as Little Shitou entered the room, his mother heard him. She moved her body and sat up with difficulty. "Mom, let me help you." Seeing his mother was not asleep, Little Shitou quickly went over to assist, helping his mother to lean on the bed. Once seated, Shitous mother asked, "Little Shitou, are they all settled?" "Mom, yes, theyre all settled down, dont worry." "Thats good." Shitous mother nodded. "Mom, you must be hungry, let me bring you a meal." Little Shitou said, handing the bowl of porridge to his mother. "Mom, smell it, doesnt it smell nice, this is rice porridge." Upon hearing this, Shitous mothers eyebrows furrowed, her expression turned unpleasant, and she suddenly said sternly, "Little Shitou, how did I teach you? How can you ept things from others?" Little Shitou felt a bit aggrieved and tearfully said, "Mom, dont be angry, Little Shitou was wrong, Little Shitou wont ept things from others ever again." "Return the rice porridge." Shitous mother continued sternly. Upon hearing this, Little Shitou burst out crying, "Mom, cant we not return it? You are sick, eating rice porridge will make you better." In Little Shitous eyes, rice porridge was a precious item they couldnt afford, thinking it could cure illness. Upon hearing this, Shitous mother felt very upset, tears falling from her eyes. Thinking about how her son and she couldnt even eat enough, she felt very sad. "Son, dont take it away, Mom will eat it." Chapter 841 - 844: Fever

Chapter 841: Chapter 844: Fever

Seeing his mother finally agreed to eat the rice porridge, Little Shitou stopped crying and immediately beamed with joy. He happily helped his mother with the vegetables, "Mom, try this dish, its made by that auntie. Eat a lot and youll get better." Shitous mother held back her tears, trying not to let her emotions affect her son. She nodded and said, "Mm, Little Shitou, you eat too." "Mom, you eat first, that auntie gave us plenty." Little Shitou was very obedient. He kept helping his mother with the vegetables, watching her finish the meal before he started eating. Precious rice porridge hed hardly had it before, and as for the white flour pancakes made by the auntie, hed had even less. He ate ravenously because it was simply too delicious. He quickly finished eating and cleaned up the dishes, "Mom, you rest first, Ill take these out." "Mm, Little Shitou, call that auntie over; I want to thank her in person," Shitous mother said. "Mm, Ill go right now." Little Shitou agreed and took the dishes outside. Upon reaching the kitchen and seeing the auntie still there, he said, "Auntie, my mom wants to see you." Fresh chapters posted on find(?)ovel Xiaoxiao was puzzled, not knowing why thedy was calling her, but she got up and went anyway. She politely knocked on the door, received permission, and entered the room, "Sister-inw, youre looking for me?" "Mm, youre here. Please sit down," Shitous mother said. Xiaoxiao walked over to sit by the bed and asked, "Sister-inw, is there something you need from me?" Shitous mothery there and weakly said, "I wanted to thank you for helping us make the meal." Turns out she wanted to thank her. Xiaoxiao hurriedly said, "Oh, Sister-inw, its nothing. If were talking thanks, I should be thanking you for taking me in." Shitous mother shook her head and said, "The child hadnt eaten rice porridge since he was two years old." "..." Hearing this, Xiaoxiao felt an ache in her heart. Its just ordinary rice porridge, yet she said thest time he had it was years ago. Life has surely been hard for them; seeing both mother and child so skinny makes one guess theyve suffered a lot. Xiaoxiao looked at Shitous mother lying against the bed, "Sister-inw, if I may ask, what illness do you have?" Asked this, Shitous mother said, "I dont really have an illness, just a fever. A few days and it will be gone; its nothing seriousjust tough on the child these days." "..." A fever? Is she talking about a high temperature? Xiaoxiao thought about it and reached out to feel Shitous mothers forehead, surprising her with the sudden action. With that touch, Xiaoxiao indeed found her forehead hot. Xiaoxiao also held Shitous mothers hand; she truly has a fever, and quite a high one. Could it be she usually endures fevers like this? No wonder her cheeks were flushed; earlier, she thought it was because of the nket, but it was due to the fever. If its just a fever, its manageable; theres fever medicine in the herbal package brought by Xue Shiyi. "Sister-inw, you should take medicine for the fever; enduring like this isnt good. Besides the fever, are there other symptoms?" Shitous mother knew medicine acts faster, but they had no money. They had to endure it, only she didnt expect it to be this severesevere enough to sleep through an entire day, "Nothing much, a fever is just a minor issue; enduring it will pass." Chapter 842 - 845: Can You Really Save My Mom?

Chapter 842: Chapter 845: Can You Really Save My Mom?

Xiaoxiao instantly understood Shitous mothers wordsshe was worried about spending silver. From what she could tell, it seemed to be just a fever, with no other symptoms. So Xiaoxiao said, "Big sister, we have herbs for treating fever with us. Wait here, Ill go brew some medicine for you." Upon hearing this, Shitous mother didnt know what to say. Her eyes filled with tears, "Sister." "Big sister, you dont have to worry about anything. Just focus on getting better. Little Shitou is waiting for you to take care of him," Xiaoxiaoforted her. "Thank you, sister." As expected, mentioning Little Shitou made Shitous mother agree, and Xiaoxiao thought, like mother, like sonthey both care deeply for each other. "No problem, big sister. You should rest first, and Ille backter," Xiaoxiao said as she exited and went off to find the herbs. As soon as Xiaoxiao stepped inside, Yang Ming said, "Wife, you watch the child. Im going out for a while." "Where are you going?" Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled. "Im helping Little Shitou go find a doctor for his mom," Yang Ming was a soft-hearted person. Little Shitou had seen that he had a carriage and pleaded with him. Unable to refuse, Yang Ming had to make a special trip in the middle of the night. There should be a doctor in town, and even though this ce is remote, he should return after a night of travel and not dy their departure tomorrow. Yang Ming was about to leave when Xiaoxiao held him back, "Dear, no need to go. I just checked; that big sister just has a fever. Didnt we bring herbs? Ill go brew some medicine for her now." "Just a fever?" Yang Ming asked. "Yes, just a fever. Shes burning up and needs to take medicine to cool down quickly," Xiaoxiao nodded. Xiaoxiao felt very grateful; Xue Shiyi really gave them a package of good things, essential herbs for traveling. There were herbs for headaches and fever, colds and coughs, and bruises and injuries. Each package had clearbeling for its treatment purpose. Little Shitou, upon hearing the conversation between Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao, became very excited, "Auntie, can you really save my mom?" "Your mom just has a fever. Once she drinks the medicine, shell get better. Dont worry," Xiaoxiao reassured him. Little Shitou was still a bit skeptical, "Really? Auntie." "Yes, really." Discover more novels at find~novel "Thank you, Auntie. Youre really a Divine Doctor." "..." If only she were a Divine Doctorshe was still searching for one. Xiaoxiao awkwardly smiled, realizing thats how children thinkanyone who can cure their mom is a great person. "Auntie is not a Divine Doctor. Auntie just happened to carry herbs that can cure your moms illness." "Being able to save my moms illness is being a Divine Doctor." "..." Xiaoxiao was at a loss for words, so she stopped discussing it, "Alright, Little Shitou, lets hurry to brew the medicine for your mom, and once she drinks it, shell be cured." "Yes, lets hurry," Little Shitou agreed happily. Later, Xiaoxiao took out the herbs for treating high fever, but was intercepted by Yang Ming, "Honey, let me brew the medicine. You stay here with our son and rest." "Let me go do it," Xiaoxiao wanted Yang Ming to rest, knowing he was also tired from the journey. But Yang Ming refused and said affectionately, "You should go lie down. When the medicine is ready, Ill call you, and you can take it to the big sister." Yang Ming finished speaking and went with Little Shitou to the kitchen, leaving Xiaoxiao watching the child with a face full of happy smiles. Chapter 843 - 845: There Really Is an Inside Story

Chapter 843: Chapter 845: There Really Is an Inside Story

Very quickly, Yang Ming finished brewing the herbal medicine to reduce fever. He instructed, "Little Shitou, the medicine is right here. Its hot, so dont take it yourself. Ill go get your aunt now, alright?" "Got it." Little Shitou nodded and stood in the kitchen, watching the bowl of medicine that could save his mother. He obediently didnt move because he was afraid his clumsiness would spill the medicine, leaving his mother without the remedy. Seeing Little Shitou agree, Yang Ming left the kitchen and returned to the house. As he entered, he asked, "Wife, is our son asleep?" Upon hearing Yang Mings voice, Xiaoxiao quickly gestured for silence, "Shh! Keep your voice down; our son just fell asleep." The child had just gone to sleep, and this was the most restless time. Even a little sound could wake him, but he would sleep more soundlyter. Yang Ming nced at their son and spoke softly, "The medicine is ready. You should take it to the sister-inw." "Alright, Ill head over now. You should get some rest early too," Xiaoxiao said, gesturing as she went out the door. Xiaoxiao quickly arrived at the kitchen and saw Little Shitou waiting there obediently. When he saw Xiaoxiao enter, he happily called out, "Auntie." Xiaoxiao gently patted Little Shitous head and said, "Lets go, lets take the medicine to your mother." As Xiaoxiao approached the bowl of medicine, Little Shitou quickly reminded her, "Auntie, be careful, its hot." Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, "Lets use a cloth as a pad, then it wont be hot." Little Shitou quickly found a cloth and handed it to Xiaoxiao, "Auntie, here you go." Xiaoxiao took it, picked up the medicine, and the two of them went into the room. Inside, Shitous mother, upon hearing the door open, knew it was Xiaoxiaoing. She asked, "Is that you, sister?" As she spoke, she sat up. Little Shitou quickly went to support his mother as Xiaoxiao walked to the bedside and said, "Sister-inw, its me. The medicine is ready, brought it for you. Please drink it quickly." With tears in her eyes, Shitous mother said, "Thank you, sister." ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? FindN()vel Xiaoxiao genuinely didnt think it was a big deal. It was merely a small favor, as they happened to carry the herbs. Otherwise, they wouldnt have been able to help much, as they couldnt afford to dy because of their child, and they werent the type to offer help unnecessarily. "Sister-inw, no need to thank me. If anyone should be thanking, its me thanking you and Little Shitou. If you hadnt taken us in, our family of three would have had to sleep in the wild again. In this vige, only you were willing to help us, while the others werent. You are the truly kind people." Shitous mother shook her head and said, "Sister, dont me the people in the vige; everyone has their difficulties." Xiaoxiao felt something was off about the vige. Her family of three wasnt some terrible threat, so why wouldnt they lend a hand? Clearly, there was more beneath the surface, and she was eager to know, so she asked, "Sister-inw, what are these difficulties? Could you tell me?" Shitous mother sighed, recalling the past, her eyes welling up with tears again. Xiaoxiao worried she was reluctant to speak, and quickly said, "Sister-inw, no need to force it. If its hard to exin, lets not talk about it. But first, drink the medicine." Shitous mother wiped her tears and said, "Sister, its not that I cant say, just that it brought back memories." "..." The past? She felt that this sister-inw seemed like someone with a story. "Five years ago, our family also took in an outsider." Chapter 844 - 846: Returning the Silver

Chapter 844: Chapter 846: Returning the Silver

Xiaoxiao listened as Shitous mother continued to speak, "At the time, we just thought he was a traveler passing through and offered him shelter. But we didnt expect him to be a ruthless killer, who in one night left only Little Shitou and me in the family. My eyes were blinded at that time too." Original content can be found at F?ndNovel Xiaoxiao was so shocked by Shitous mothers words that she couldnt speak. No wonder the vigers had such an attitude; they must have been terrified by such an event. Shitous mother paused and continued, "Since then, the vigers have been particrly hostile towards outsiders, especially when ites to offering shelter. Theyre genuinely afraid." Despite such experiences, this sister-inw still agreed to shelter them. Xiaoxiao really didnt know what to say, perhaps only words offort, "Sister-inw, rest assured, our family of three is definitely not bad people." Shitous mother held back her tears, drawing a hint of a smile at her lips, "I know, though my eyes are blind, my ears are sharp, and my heart is clear. I can tell from the sound that youre not bad people." "Thank you for trusting us, sister-inw. Please drink this medicine, and have a good sleep. Maybe by tomorrow morning, your fever will be gone." Xiaoxiao handed the bowl of medicine to Shitous mother again. Shitous mother took the medicine bowl and drank it all in one go. Seeing this, Xiaoxiao said, "Sister-inw, rest well. I will head back now. If anythinges up, feel free to call us." "Alright, Little Shitou, see your aunt out." Shitous mother instructed. Xiaoxiao and Little Shitou went out the door, walking to the entrance of the room where their family of three had been given shelter. Xiaoxiao said, "Little Shitou, you should go back and sleep too." But Little Shitou didnt leave. Instead, he took out the silver coin from his pocket, "Auntie, Ill return this silver to you. My mothers illness can be cured now, and I dont need the silver anymore." Seeing Little Shitous demeanor, Xiaoxiao feltpassion. It wasnt easy for this child to survive, and being raised with such integrity, it truly is remarkable. Little Shitou knew about the incident as Shitous mother spoke about it while he was inside the house, meaning he knew everything. She wanted to push the silver back but knew he wouldnt ept it, so she reached out and took it. As Xiaoxiao epted the silver, Little Shitou visibly breathed a sigh of relief, a childs smile appearing on his face, "Auntie, Im going back now." After saying this, he ran off while Xiaoxiao returned to the house, feeling very low. Anyone who heard such a story couldnt feel happy. When Xiaoxiao returned, Yang Ming noticed the change in his wifes mood and asked worriedly, "Wife, whats going on? Is the sister-inws illness not improving?" Xiaoxiao shook her head and said somberly, "No." "Then what is it?" Seeing his wife like this, Yang Ming became more anxious. "Its..." Xiaoxiao started recounting the whole story to Yang Ming, "Husband, the sister-inws family is truly dismal. They showed kindness, yet led to such a disaster. A whole family reduced to just two people, and shes also blinded." Yang Ming felt deeply saddened upon hearing this. No wonder nobody in the vige responded to him no matter how he pleaded. That sister-inw didnt drive them away when strangers came to her home, proving she has a very soft heart. "Little Shitou also gave me the silver coin," Xiaoxiao continued. Yang Ming pulled his wifes hand over tofort her, "Wife, dont be sad. When we leave tomorrow, well quietly leave the silver in their house." Chapter 845 - 847: Before Departure

Chapter 845: Chapter 847: Before Departure

"Alright, well do as you say." Xiaoxiao felt Yang Mings idea was excellent. Directly giving Silver to them, the mother and child would definitely refuse it, so they could only secretly give a little aid. Nothing much, just to slightly support them, so they wouldnt be this miserable, unable to afford medicine when sick. No matter what, it was this mother and child who took in their family of three, and hearing about their tragic experiences, anyone would feel a sense ofpassion. "Lets get some sleep early; well be on the road tomorrow," Yang Ming advised. This content belongs to Fndovel "Alright." After they discussed, they went to bed early. After all, the journey was exhausting, and they had to take care of children, which was truly tiring. Apart from waking in the middle of the night to care for Little Liufu, the two slept very deeply, as if they fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow. The next day, when Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming woke up, Little Liufu was still asleep. They took advantage of this time to wash up, make breakfast, and prepare medicine for Shitous mother. After all, she was sick, and it couldnt be cured with just one dose. The two were busy in the kitchen when they heard Shitous mothers voice, "Sister." Xiaoxiao looked up and saw Little Shitou helping his mother standing at the door. She quickly stood up and asked, "Sister-inw, why are you out of bed? Are you feeling better?" Shitous mother looked in good spirits today and replied, "Yes, I feel better, like strength has returned to my body." Seeing Shitous mother recovering, Xiaoxiao was truly happy for her. Although they just met, they were still worried for the mother and child as they were leaving today. "Thats great, it means the medicine is effective. Sister-inw, the medicine is ready; you should drink a few more times to fully recover." Xiaoxiao handed over the herbal medicine that was cooling aside to Shitous mother. "Sister-inw, quickly drink it." Taking the medicine bowl, Shitous mother was deeply moved. Ever since that incident, the vigers deemed her and Little Shitou as bad luck and avoided them. It had been years since anyone showed such care. "Sister, thank you." "No need to thank, just drink it." While Shitous mother drank her medicine, Xiaoxiao prepared breakfast, "Sister-inw, lets have breakfast." "Alright." This time, the mother and child did not refuse and ate breakfast with Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming. After breakfast, Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming began to tidy up Little Liufu, nursing him, bathing him, and making him neat and clean. They then organized what they brought, putting dry food and other items onto the cart. Shitous mother also asked Little Shitou to pick many vegetables from the garden for their journey. Xiaoxiao did not refuse and epted them. Once everything was ready, Xiaoxiao held the child and went with Yang Ming to the gate, ready to set off on their journey. Little Shitou also helped his mother to the gate to see them off, "Uncle, Auntie, pleasee to our house again if you ever pass by." "Alright, Little Shitou, Uncle and Auntie are from Yang Family Vige in Shanshi County. If you get the chance to go there, you cane find us," Xiaoxiao invited. "Alright, if I get the chance, I will surelye to find you." After talking with Little Shitou, Xiaoxiao turned to Shitous mother, "Sister-inw, were leaving." Shitous mother nodded, "Alright, be careful on the road. Where are you headed?" Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "We dont really know where yet; we are on our way to find the Divine Doctor." Chapter 846 - 848: News of Divine Doctor Xue at Last

Chapter 846: Chapter 848: News of Divine Doctor Xue at Last

Upon hearing Xiaoxiao say she was going to find Divine Doctor Xue, Shitous mother quickly looked up and instinctively retorted, "Divine Doctor Xue?" "Sister-inw, do you know Divine Doctor Xue?" Xiaoxiao was surprised by Shitous mothers reaction, and at the same time, she felt a glimmer of hope. How could she have forgotten to ask this sister-inw about Divine Doctor Xue? She was truly confused by the actions of these vigers. Shitous mother nodded slightly and spoke calmly, "Well, Ive heard a bit about Divine Doctor Xue, but Im not sure if the information is urate. After all, this is a remote area, and whatever happens outside might have changed by the time it reaches us." Shitous mothers words excited Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming immensely. This was the first time they had heard anything about Divine Doctor Xue. They had traveled a long way and passed through several viges, yet no one knew anything about Divine Doctor Xue. If not for Medicine King Valley confirming his existence, Xiaoxiao would almost doubt that Divine Doctor Xue didnt exist at all. Although Shitous mother said the information might not be urate, to Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming, it was incredibly good news. Xiaoxiao was thrilled and quickly said, "Sister-inw, it doesnt matter if its not urate. We havent found even a trace of information throughout our search. Sister-inw, to be honest, my son is very ill, and only Divine Doctor Xue can cure him, which is why we havee this way." Xiaoxiaos words were urgent, and Shitous mother could tell there was no mother who wouldnt worry about her child, so she nodded in agreement, "Thats fine." "Thank you, sister-inw," Xiaoxiao said promptly in gratitude. "This is also what Ive heard, from eight or nine months ago. Divine Doctor Xue went up the mountain to gather herbs, identally fell down, and was rescued by a girl from Anyi Vige. The girl helped him down the mountain and was seen by her fiancs family, who said she was shameless and getting too familiar with another man, leading to the engagement being called off, which was not a good thing. No girl can ept that, including her, so she was despondent and wanted to hang herself, but Divine Doctor Xue stopped her. Divine Doctor Xue even promised to marry her. Im not sure if this is true, but you could go to Anyi Vige to inquire; maybe you can find out Divine Doctor Xues whereabouts." Upon hearing this news, Xiaoxiao was absolutely thrilled. She initially thought the sister-inw would only have a little information, but she hadnt expected such detailed words, even with a ce name. This way, they could go and ask, perhaps they could find Divine Doctor Xue. "Thank you, sister-inw. Sister-inw, how do we get to Anyi Vige, is it far from here?" "Anyi Vige is even more remote than here, surrounded by mountains. Head south, youll probably pass through about a dozen viges." Chapters first released on f?ndnovel Although it was unclear how Shitous mother heard such distant news, Xiaoxiao deeply believed in her words. As long as they went to Anyi Vige, there was hope. She excitedly looked at Yang Ming, "Husband, lets hurry to Anyi Vige." "Okay." Yang Ming was also excited about this news; heaven didnt disappoint those who kept their efforts, finally receiving information. "Sister-inw, well be leaving then." Xiaoxiao said goodbye to Shitous mother and Little Shitou, then climbed onto the carriage with her child. Yang Ming also jumped up to the drivers seat, intending to drive away, but suddenly noticed something was amiss. Arge crowd of people suddenly appeared on the road, heading toward them. Yang Ming hadnt had time to react when these people surrounded their carriageyer uponyer, "You are not allowed to leave." Chapter 847 - 850: Capture Them First

Chapter 847: Chapter 850: Capture Them First

Yang Mings brow furrowed as he saw the vigers, each holding sticks or something of the sort, looking ready for a fight, shouting harshly, "No one thinks of leaving, get off the carriage." "Yes, hurry off the carriage." "No one can escape." "..." "..." Although they didnt know what was going on, even a fool could see that these vigers wereing for their family of three. Yang Ming hurriedly jumped off the carriage, and Xiaoxiao also got off with the child in her arms. Seeing his wifee out, Yang Ming quickly shielded her behind him, his face cold as he asked, "Folks, what do you mean by this?" Xiaoxiao looked towards the crowd, each face filled with anger as if they wanted to eat their family of three alive. Xiaoxiao was very puzzled, just spending one night here, how could things be like this? They hadnt done anything wrong. "Vige Chief, arrest them, dont let them escape." "Right, arrest them all." This text is hosted at find?novel "Vige Chief, arrest them first, then report to the authorities." "..." "..." The vigers were all talking, leaving Xiaoxiao and Yang Mingpletely confused about what had happened, escting to the point of involvingw officials. They couldnt afford any dys; their sons time was running out. At this moment, there was a person standing at the front of the crowd, presumably the Vige Chief they were talking about. His face was very unpleasant, one might say he was filled with rage. He yelled at the vigers, "Arrest them first." Upon themand of the Vige Chief, several vigers approached Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming. Yang Ming quickly protected Xiaoxiao, taking a defensive stance. The vigers who came forward were unable to catch Yang Ming; they could see he was capable of fighting, so a few more vigers joined in, determined to capture them. Yang Ming didnt want to harm the vigers, but given the situation, he had no choice; he knocked the sticks out of their hands and had to fight back. Although the vigers were many, they didnt gain any advantage. Yang Ming knew he could only fend them off temporarily. Sooner orter, he would be overpowered and caught. He shouted, "Why on earth are you trying to catch us? If were going to die, let us at least die knowing why. Im not someone you can easily bully." However, these words did not convince the Vige Chief, and Yang Ming was forced to continue fighting, preventing the vigers from getting close to his wife. At this time, seeing that they didnt gain any advantage over Yang Ming and were hit back, the vigers turned their anger towards Shitous mother and son. One of the vigers gave Shitous mother a fierce shove. She was blind, and the sudden push directly knocked her to the ground. The viger shouted while pushing, "Its all your bad lucks doing. Why did you take them in? How many people do you intend to harm?" Little Shitou, seeing his mother being bullied, cried out, "My mother is not a jinx, dont push my mother." The viger angrily pushed Little Shitou too, shoving him onto his mother, and yelled, "Your mother is a jinx, and so are you." "My mother is not a jinx, and neither am I," Little Shitou cried, denying it. The viger, still relentless, said, "Vige Chief, we cant let these two jinxes stay in our vige anymore. Drive them away, otherwise, our whole vige will suffer." At this time, other vigers also chimed in agreement, "Yes, drive them away." Chapter 848 - 851: We Surrender

Chapter 848: Chapter 851: We Surrender

The scene was chaotic as Yang Ming was nearly overwhelmed while Little Shitou and his mother were being bullied on the other side. At this point, Xiaoxiao was infuriated. How did they run into such a group of barbarians? Cant they just talk things through? Readplete version only at FndNovel If this keeps going, there is no doubt they will be captured. Yang Ming isnt someone who can fight well, and if this goes on, he will get hurt. Fighting cant solve the problem. They canpromise for now and find a chance to escapeter. So she covered Little Liufus ears and shouted loudly to the crowd, "Stop fighting, we admit to being caught." Yang Ming, who was still engaged in the confrontation, heard his wifes voice and turned around abruptly, his eyes full of confusion, "Wife?" Xiaoxiao shook her head at Yang Ming, "Husband, stop fighting." Seeing this, Yang Ming had no choice but to stop. He knew that continuing like this was not a solution, so the family of three was captured. They were brought before the Vige Chief by the vigers. Yang Ming was full of resentment after being captured and asked angrily, "Vige Chief, now that weve been captured, shouldnt you tell us what happened? Why are we being arrested?" "Hmph, dont you know what youve done?" the Vige Chief replied with equal resentment. "We have nothing to hide. Please exin clearly, Vige Chief," Xiaoxiao said, following Yang Ming. Seeing the unconvinced look in Xiaoxiao and Yang Mings eyes, the Vige Chief became very angry and said furiously, "Fine, Ill let you know why." The Vige Chief then called over the vigers, "Show them." A number of vigers rolled up their sleeves, and Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming looked over, frowning. What was going on? The vigers arms were covered with dense, red bumps. "See? Its not just on the arms, its all over the body." "..." They saw it, but what did this have to do with them? Surely they werent being used of this, were they? That would be absurd. The Vige Chief continued, "After you came into the vige yesterday, the vigers started to develop these all over their bodies, itching terribly. It must be your doing." "It wasnt us. We did nothing," Yang Ming immediately denied. "These things appeared after you entered the vige. If not you, then who? Vige Chief, lock them up and report it to the government office," a viger suggested. "Yes, report it to the government office and hand them over." "..." "..." Seeing the vigers behaving madly and wanting to turn them over to the government, Little Shitou rushed over, spreading his arms and standing in front of Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming, "Dont arrest my uncle and auntie; they are good people." As Little Shitou spoke up, the vigers attention turned back to him and his mother. "Youre the jinx. Vige Chief, drive them and their family out of the vige. If they hadnt sheltered that family, none of this would have happened." "Yes, drive them out of the vige." "Dont let them return." "..." "..." Hearing these words, Xiaoxiao was infuriated by the ignorance of these people. The simultaneous symptoms in the vigers suggested an infectious disease. Instead of seeing a doctor promptly, what good was it to gather and capture them? Did they want everyone to be infected? The more she listened, the more annoyed she became, so she shouted loudly, "Be quiet, everyone listen to me." The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!