Chapter 549: Third Young Master Hopes for a Girl in Qin Ruan's Belly

Hou Junxin narrowed his eyes and glanced at his younger brother's unpleasant expression caused by his anger.

In a deep voice, he said, "I'm going to the cabinet now. Leave the matter with the Su family to me. You go home and rest, don't worry about these things anymore."

He was genuinely afraid of his younger brother having another episode. It wasn't worth it for the Hou family.

The oppressive feeling around Hou Yunjiao subsided somewhat.

He understood his elder brother's concern and spoke in a gentle tone, "I'm fine, Big Brother. Go and attend to your tasks."

"I'll watch you leave."

Hou Junxin was so close to Hou Yunjiao that he could smell the faint scent of blood on him.

The Nangong family had touched the person who was precious to his younger brother, so how could he easily let them go?

Once he left, the Nangong father and son upstairs would be in danger.

His younger brother was truly angry this time.

After so many years without a trace of worldly emotions, his younger brother had finally regained some human sentiment.

The catalyst for this change was outside the door, sitting in the car—Qin Ruan.

It was a good thing.

However, excessive anger could harm the body.

Hou Junxin worried that Hou Yunjiao would harm his health further due to the Nangong family's matter.

At this moment, it was best to keep him away from the people of the Nangong family.

In the face of his elder brother's concern and disapproval, Hou Yunjiao reluctantly left the Nangong residence.

Before leaving, he gave Hou Chuan a few instructions.

They mainly pertained to arrangements for the Nangong family members within the mansion.

At the entrance.

Lin Hao stood in front of the car and quickly opened the back seat when he saw Third Young Master coming out.

Hou Yunjiao concealed his sharpness and restored his usual gentle and refined demeanor.

He looked at Hou Junxin standing beside him and said, "Big Brother, I'll go first. Contact me if anything comes up."

Hou Junxin nodded. "Go ahead, go back and rest well."

"I understand."

Hou Yunjiao walked down the steps and got into the car.

He naturally held Qin Ruan's small hand, as if it could soothe the inexplicable restlessness in his heart.

Qin Ruan held Hou Yunjiao's hand in return.

She raised her eyes and looked at the man in front of her, whose complexion appeared exhausted and tired.

Suddenly, Qin Ruan frowned. "Third Young Master, are you alright?"

Hou Yunjiao leaned back in the seat, a smile on his face as he shook his head. "I'm fine."

Apart from the anger he couldn't suppress in his heart, everything else was fine.

He almost failed at the Nangong family's place.

If the commotion outside had started a minute later, Nangong Chang's life would have been forfeited at his hands.

Qin Ruan leaned forward, resting her whole body in Hou Yunjiao's embrace.

She reached out and touched the slight furrow in his brows. "Third Young Master, don't frown."

She didn't like seeing him frown.

Qin Ruan could sense that Third Young Master's mood wasn't great, but she didn't know the reason behind it.

Qin Ruan's fingertips were cool, and Hou Yunjiao felt the touch of her fingertips, easing some of the inexplicable restlessness in his heart.

He suddenly spoke up, "Ruan Ruan."

"Yes?" Qin Ruan lowered her gaze, gazing at the exquisitely fair and handsome face of the man in front of her.

He was truly good-looking, and she couldn't get tired of looking at him no matter how much she looked.

Hou Yunjiao opened his mouth, wanting to ask Qin Ruan if she would stay in the Hou family and raise their child when he was no longer there in ten years.

But considering her age, Third Young Master shook his head and smiled wryly.

He extended his arms and embraced Qin Ruan. "It's nothing, I just called you."

There were some things that couldn't be discussed yet.

If Qin Ruan matured a few more years, perhaps there would be an opportunity.

Qin Ruan nestled in Hou Yunjiao's embrace, listening to his strong heartbeat, feeling her own heartbeat quicken for some reason.

She knew Third Young Master, and his simple call to her was definitely not that simple.

She had a faint premonition that what Third Young Master was about to say might be like breaking through a layer of paper between the two of them.

Hou Yunjiao stroked Qin Ruan's hair and his gentle voice sounded in her ear.

"School starts in a couple of days. Is your body convenient for that now?"

Qin Ruan thought for a moment and said, "It's still fine. As long as I wear loose clothes, no one will notice."

Hou Yunjiao pinched her earlobe and chuckled lightly.

"I'm worried that your body might not be able to handle it, not about others finding out about your pregnancy."

"I can still attend classes for another month or two."

Qin Ruan didn't think it would hinder her normal studies.

Knowing that this girl was stubborn, Hou Yunjiao didn't persuade her. "

With his peach blossom eyes filled with tenderness, Hou Yunjiao looked at Qin Ruan and gently opened his lips, saying, "Am I not good enough?"

Huo Yunjiao's voice was lazy and enchanting, pleasing to the ear.

"Of course you're good," Qin Ruan replied without hesitation.

If this man wasn't good, she wouldn't have wholeheartedly sought refuge with him.

Hou Yunjiao was easily appeased.

Qin Ruan's immediate and unwavering response quickly lifted his mood.

He proceeded to tell Qin Ruan about Hou Zhi's identity and the things she had experienced recently.

Qin Ruan blinked her eyes, feeling a sense of disillusionment.

"Hou Zhi is from the Witch Clan?"

Hou Yunjiao nodded, "Yes, her process of entering the Hou family was quite complicated. Besides her own abilities, she owes her survival until now to the protection of the Hou family's secret guards."

Qin Ruan asked, "Who protects her?"

Huo Yunjiao thought for a moment, "Hou Qiang, Hou Chuan, and our second brother, as well as the old master himself."

"But why does Hou Zhi always have injuries?"

"The secret guards of the Hou family face life-threatening situations. They don't have self-preservation methods, so it's possible they may perish at any given moment. Hou Zhi has outstanding abilities, but compared to Hou Qiang and Hou Chuan, she still falls short, so they are stricter with her."

Qin Ruan looked contemplative, "If you knew Hou Zhi is from the Witch Clan, why did you let her stay?"

"When Hou Zhi managed to survive back then, it was because she voluntarily confessed to her own identity to our grandfather. He also had a soft spot for this girl. The Hou family has never had any female members for so many years, which also led to the high level of favoritism Hou Zhi receives from the secret guards and even our grandfather's attention during her childhood."

Hou Yunjiao's gaze slid down, his eyes slightly lowered as he focused on Qin Ruan's belly.

He gently smiled with a peculiar gleam in his mild eyes, "Ruan Ruan, do you think our child might be a girl?"

"Huh?" The topic changed too abruptly, and Qin Ruan was momentarily caught off guard.

She lowered her gaze, looking at her slightly bulging belly.

In her previous life, the child who died in prison was a boy.

At that time, she only had one child growing inside her.

She wasn't sure if the other child existed or not.

In this life, what she could confirm was that the child who didn't get a chance to be born in the previous life had returned.

As for the gender of the other child in this life, she really couldn't say for sure. 

Chapter 548: Find it and destroy it!

Hou Yunjiao's clean leather shoe lifted slightly, pressing against Nangong Chang's chin, forcefully lifting his face.

His eyes were filled with anger and humiliation as he scrutinized Nangong Chang from top to bottom.

Third Young Master seemed to sigh, "Nangong Chang, there was no need for us to go this far, but it's your own fault for choosing this path of self-destruction."

Calm and icy words elegantly flowed from his lips.

The sound of Nangong Chang's nervous heartbeat was distinctly audible in the eerie silence.

He opened his mouth to speak, but Hou Yunjiao exerted force under his foot.

Once again, Nangong Chang's body recoiled, his head hitting the wall behind him.

A muffled impact reverberated through the room once again.

Due to the forceful action, some of Third Young Master's well-groomed hair fell out of place.

A few strands obscured his cold gaze at the bottom of his eyes.

Outside the door.

Hou Chuan and Lin Hao stood on either side of the door.

Qin Ruan had her back to the two men, her arms crossed, a faint expression of impatience on her face.

It had been five minutes since Third Young Master had been inside the room without coming out.

Another minute passed, and Qin Ruan couldn't wait any longer.

She turned around, her calm and beautiful eyes fixed on the door in front of her.

"Lin Hao, open the door."

Upon hearing her words, Lin Hao reached out to push the door.

It wouldn't budge.

He turned the doorknob and realized that the door had been locked from the inside.

Lin Hao turned around, seeking approval from Qin Ruan with his gaze.

Qin Ruan also noticed that the door had been locked from the inside, and her concern for Third Young Master deepened.

She commanded, "Break down the door!"

Lin Hao took two steps back, preparing to ram the door.

Hou Chuan stood to the side with a calm expression, making no move to stop him.

Suddenly, a cracking sound rang out.

The bedroom door was opened from the inside.

Third Young Master emerged, dressed neatly, walking out with elegant steps.

His gentle gaze fixed on Qin Ruan, who looked worried, and his lips slowly curved up. "I've kept you waiting. Let's go."

Hou Yunjiao walked up to Qin Ruan, encircling her waist, and they proceeded downstairs.

Qin Ruan tilted her head, wanting to catch a glimpse of the scene inside the bedroom.

Hou Yunjiao raised his hand and covered her eyes. "There's nothing worth seeing. Let's go home."

Qin Ruan's nose twitched, catching a faint scent of hand sanitizer emanating from the man's hand.

He had just washed his hands, and besides the light fragrance of hand sanitizer, there was also a hint of a faint bloody smell.

Qin Ruan understood in her heart and obediently nodded.

The two of them left hand in hand.

Hou Chuan and Lin Hao stood at the door, looking inside with different expressions.

A strong, pungent smell of blood wafted towards them.

They could clearly see inside the room, Nangong Chang huddled in the corner, barely recognizable, trembling with blood all over his body.

Lin Hao swallowed and asked Hou Chuan with a hoarse voice, "Did Third Young Master do this?"

Wasn't Third Young Master supposed to be physically weak, living a simple life for many years, a gentle and refined gentleman?

The gruesome scene inside the room didn't seem like something the elegant and refined Third Young Master Hou would do.

Hou Chuan, upon seeing the scene inside the room, also had a moment of surprise.

However, he quickly regained his composure and calmly said, "Third Young Master hasn't been involved in physical violence for many years. It seems he's really furious this time."

Lin Hao gazed at the scene inside the room, silent for a while.

He still couldn't connect it with the noble and graceful image of Third Young Master Hou, where elegance and dignity coexisted.

He knew that Third Young Master was not as gentle and refined as he appeared, but he didn't expect him to be so brutal.

Hou Chuan waved to the Hou family's hidden guards several meters away.

As they approached, he calmly instructed, "Check if there's any sign of life left and call a doctor if there is."

"Yes," the secret guard replied and turned to leave.

Hou Chuan grabbed Lin Hao, who was still in a daze, and hurriedly followed in the direction where their master and mistress had left.

Downstairs.

Under the careful support of Hou Yunjiao, Qin Ruan's feet touched the wooden floor of the first floor.

Qin Ruan looked up and caught sight of the sweat on the man's forehead.

She didn't say anything, but took out a clean handkerchief from her bag and reached up to wipe the sweat off Hou Yunjiao's forehead.

It was a struggle for Qin Ruan to reach that high, and Hou Yunjiao held her hand that was wiping his sweat with one hand while protecting her waist with the other.

He spoke gently, "I can do it myself."

The height difference between the two was too significant, and Qin Ruan's body was heavy, so such an act of wiping sweat was dangerous for her.

Hou Junxin walked into the room and saw the two of them clinging to each other.

He walked straight over without glancing sideways.

"Third Brother, the Cabinet is convening an emergency meeting. I need to go there. Shall I leave Hou Chuan here?" Huo Junxin asked.

Hou Yunjiao wiped the sweat off his forehead and replied calmly, "Big Brother, you should go ahead."

The two brothers understood in their hearts what the emergency meeting of the Cabinet was about.

The Lu family's succession had to be done in a proper and legitimate manner.

As someone who was once in power and the most trusted person by Hou Junxin's side, as well as the highest-ranking member of the Hou family in the Cabinet, only he could control unforeseen circumstances within the Cabinet.

Huo Chuan and Lin Hao came downstairs.

Hou Yunjiao released Qin Ruan and said to Lin Hao, "Escort Madam to the car."

"What about you?" Qin Ruan looked up and asked him.

Hou Yunjiao's eyes softened, and he spoke gently, "I'll have a few words with Big Brother, and I'll be there shortly."

The implication was that Qin Ruan shouldn't hear the conversation between them.

Qin Ruan nodded and left the Nangong family's hall with Lin Hao.

After watching them leave, Hou Yunjiao's handsome and gentle face instantly turned serious. The tenderness in his eyes faded, replaced by a domineering aura that emanated without anger.

He cast a cold glance at Hou Chuan, his sharp gaze like an arrow, and his thin lips pursed disapprovingly.

Hou Chuan felt a pang of panic, sensing that something was off with his master.

Not sure if it was his imagination, but it seemed like he saw a faint red light flicker in his master's eyes.

He spoke softly, "Third Young Master?"

A strange light flickered in Hou Yunjiao's eyes, deep like an ancient abyss.

His voice turned icy, carrying a bloodthirsty danger, "Nangong Chang has built a splendid cage. Find it and destroy it!"

Huo Junxin also noticed that something was off with his younger brother's emotions. He frowned and asked, "What cage?"

Hou Yunjiao's eyes slightly lowered, his pale lips curving with a sinister smile.

His lips moved, "This is the fuse for the downfall of the Nangong family."

If it weren't for Nangong Chang's covetousness towards Qin Ruan, the Nangong family wouldn't have ended up like this.

Hou Junxin looked puzzled, observing his younger brother's face, which rarely showed anger. It seemed like he understood something.

He walked up and placed his hand on Hou Yunjiao's shoulder, speaking with deep concern, "You're not in good health. Don't get angry so easily. Go back, leave this to Hou Chuan and the others. I guarantee that the situation will stabilize within three days."

Hou Yunjiao raised his gaze, his voice chilling and full of hostility, "Big Brother, I want everything settled within twenty-four hours. The Nangong family is doomed this time, and no one will be able to save them!"

Detecting hidden implications in his words, Hou Junxin furrowed his brow, "What do you mean?"

Huo Yunjiao replied, "Su Family, Su Jingshu."

Indeed, it seemed like the Nangong family had formed an alliance with the Su and Xiao families.

But in reality, there was only one family, the Su family, genuinely supporting the Nangong family.

The relationship between Su Jingshu and Nangong Chang had become clear to perceptive individuals within the Four Great Families and the Six aristocratic families during this period of time.

With her concern for Nangong Chang, she would never give up on supporting the Nangong family or, more accurately, rescuing Nangong Chang. 

 Chapter 84: Self-Conscious Slap

"Don't bother with her."

Bai Lu didn't even lift her head, continuing to leisurely cut wild grass and feed the crucian carp swimming in the river.

"Is Bai Lu at home?"

Chen Chunli knocked on the door for a while, but there was no response.

Suspecting that Bai Lu wasn't at home, but remembering that she hadn't seen Bai Lu when she went to buy fruits just now, passing by the vegetable market.

Suddenly understood, Bai Lu was deliberately avoiding her, pretending not to see her, making her wait in vain.

Chen Chunli instantly became furious, putting the fruit basket aside and banging the door with both hands.

The heavy wooden door shook, making a sound like thunder, attracting the attention of neighbors.

Curious heads popped out, chatting eagerly, discussing various things.

"With such force, will it break the door?" Xiao Wei from the backyard expressed some concern.

"If it breaks, she should compensate." Bai Lu, after feeding the fish, went to the vegetable garden to pick vegetables without any worries.

Xiao Wei agreed with this reasonable compensation method.

Without saying a word, they continued cutting the grass, throwing it into the river to feed the fish, completely oblivious to the commotion outside.

After picking the vegetable hearts, Bai Lu put them in the basket, hung it on the fence, and then used a long wooden spoon to water the vegetables.

The broccoli had already formed buds; a bit more and it would be ready to eat, stir-frying it with carrot slices would be the most delicious.

The white radishes were getting fatter; she planned to pick some, slice them thinly, add some vinegar, and a bit of small chili, marinate them for a few hours—a spicy and appetizing dish.

While watering the vegetables, Bai Lu calmly planned the menu, completely unaffected by the thunderous noise outside.

Xiao Wei was also very calm; after finishing cutting the grass, he went to see the old hen and brought the two cabbage leaves that Bai Lu had given to him over. The old hen was nesting eggs and needed to eat well.

Eat more vegetable leaves, fill the stomach, keep the feathers warm, and hatch the chicks faster.

Calculating the time Bai Lu mentioned, in less than a week, the chicks would hatch.

Curious, Xiao Wei reached out and touched the old hen's head, wanting to feel if there were any chicks moving inside the nest.

"Bai Lu!"

"Someone is in danger!"

"Oh my god! She's pregnant!"

"Is anyone home? Is Bai Lu there? Someone fainted at your doorstep!"

An anxious voice shouting and knocking on the door came from outside.

Xiao Wei remembered this voice: "It's Zhang Sao."

Zhang Sao's family raised a lot of chickens on the mountains in the countryside, and they also had many in the backyard of the town. Every time she saw Xiao Wei passing by, she was very enthusiastic about sharing chicken-raising tips with him.

Just because last year, Xiao Wei asked her once how the old hens hatch chicks...

Bai Lu opened the door and saw Chen Chunli sitting on the ground with her eyes closed, supported by Zhang Sao.

Many neighbors were checking and asking if she should be taken to the hospital. Of course, they weren't asking about the unconscious Chen Chunli; they were asking each other.

When the door finally opened, everyone looked at Bai Lu at the same time.

Zhang Sao asked, "Bai Lu, she knocked on the door and suddenly fainted. Should we take her to the hospital to check? It's not good if something happens later."

Bai Lu glanced at the ground, where Chen Chunli's eyelids were twitching, and a cold smile appeared on her lips.

"Then let's take her to the hospital immediately. She's pregnant, and we can't afford any delays. If something happens..."

Going to the hospital would ruin her plan!

Chen Chunli immediately opened her eyes, "I'm fine."

Zhang Sao was shocked by her unexpectedly recovered complexion. "Are you really okay? I saw you pale just now, covering your stomach. Could it be that the baby in your stomach is uncomfortable? You should go to the hospital for a check-up."

The neighbors were also surprised by Chen Chunli's instant recovery, full of doubts and suspicions.

Chen Chunli gritted her teeth, hating these people for meddling but had to put on an act. She wiped the nonexistent sweat on her forehead, and her eyelids drooped heavily.

With a seemingly weak and powerless appearance, she said, "I... I'm fine, my stomach... it's also fine."

"Just now, maybe I knocked on the door for too long, got too tired, and everything went black before I knew it."

"Now I'm much better; my stomach doesn't feel uncomfortable anywhere. No need to go to the hospital. Running around is too troublesome. Just a bit thirsty, I'll be fine after drinking a glass of water..."

It meant she wanted to go into Bai Lu's house to drink water.

The neighbors understood; pregnant women were indeed prone to thirst and needed to drink more water. As for the sudden fainting and quick recovery, everyone knew what was going on but didn't say anything.

Now the most important thing was that the pregnant woman needed water.

Since the situation had reached this point, Bai Lu didn't need to worry about gossip at this time. She opened the door generously.

Zhang Sao and the neighbors "watched" Chen Chunli stand up, carrying the fruit basket into the house.

Then, after saying goodbye to Bai Lu, they scattered and went back to their own homes.

The door was wide open, and no one was watching anymore.

But occasionally, there were footsteps passing by the wall.

Xiao Wei, with a tense face, followed Bai Lu, keeping a distance from Chen Chunli.

When Chen Chunli entered the main house, she put the fruit basket on the Eight Immortals table and sat down.

After waiting for a long time without Bai Lu pouring her water, she reached out and took the biggest green jujube from the basket, eating it while inviting Bai Lu, "These are fresh fruits I bought on the street, sweet and crispy. Try one quickly."

"We have a sack of them at home."

Bai Lu pointed to the open sack in the corner, which not only had large green jujubes but also plums and oranges.

This was just the top layer; there were likely many more fresh fruits pressed underneath.

Chen Chunli's small "big fruit basket" indeed couldn't compare, and giving it to others was probably considered inconvenient.

However, she was shameless and said, "Do you really eat all these fruits you bought? Fruits go bad if stored for too long, and it's a waste of money if you can't finish them!"

Bai Lu took an orange, sat at the table, and leisurely peeled it. "These were all given by the villagers; they cost nothing. I haven't bought fruits with money for a long time."

Chen Chunli's fruit basket may be small, but it cost money, so in comparison, the bitterness of the green jujubes in her mouth was even more pronounced.

Even Xiao Wei went to the sack to grab several big fruits, sat at the table, and ate them one by one without paying.

Of course, they were free!

Chen Chunli's face looked very unpleasant, couldn't help but retort, "Country folks are all peasants. They don't know if the fruits they pick are washed or not, clean or not. The fruit trees they plant are all crooked and deformed, and the fruit flesh has bugs. Eating them can make you sick."

Xiao Wei and Bai Lu were completely unaffected, enjoying their food. After finishing one, they moved on to the next.

Bai Lu, speaking clearly and deliberately, said, "People plant fruit trees, and whatever fruit tree they plant, they get the corresponding fruit. There's no distinction between good and bad; there's no high or low."

Chen Chunli sneered, unable to argue with Bai Lu but thought of her purpose today, so she tried to suppress her temper.

With a friendly tone, she said, "Bai Lu, I see your family has a lot of chestnuts. Selling them will have many buyers, and we have many relatives in Qing Shui Town. Business will definitely be better than before. What do you think about cooperating again?"

Next Chapter ▶▶

 Chapter 83: The Sense of Security He Provided

"This territory is something I worked hard to snatch. If you want a piece, you'll have to beat me."

After a beating, the bruised and swollen little boy became obedient. Dragging his fragile body, he crouched in a corner where the cold wind couldn't reach, using tattered clothes as a makeshift blanket and dried straw as a mat, curling up into a small ball...

The next day, as the sun rose, the bed was empty, leaving only a warm steamed bun.

The little boy rushed over and devoured it.

Before long, "he" came again.

Not only did "he" clean up the broken house, fixing the windows with boards and replacing the old glass, but also used candles for light, crafted a broom from small bamboo sticks, and cleared the spider webs from the walls. The entire house was revitalized. The roof's broken tiles were all repaired, preventing leaks and shielding from small hail.

The wooden bed still belonged to him.

A worn-out straw mat now lay on the floor.

On the table, there was a broken bowl and a large steamed bun.

This time, there was no beating; they spent the night peacefully.

The next morning, the little boy woke up early, staring at the warm steamed bun on the table and the figure taller than himself about to leave.

"Will you come often in the future?"

He said, "Not sure."

"I'm Xiao Zhongbiao. Let's split this room in half from now on. Come whenever you want."

"Xiao Cheng."

He left after saying these two words.

Later, they became friends. "He" introduced him to another little boy, Luo Shiliu.

The three of them often acted together, using makeshift nets to fish by the river, digging for small loaches in the stream, climbing trees to reach bird nests, roasting large clams from the river, catching small crabs...

They fought together.

They were beaten together.

They picked up weapons together to defend their safety.

Later on, they gained two more friends, Wang Hao and Xiao Dazhuang. The five of them formed a group, and no one dared to bully them.

As they grew up, they entered a dark factory in the city, working day and night. When the boss withheld their wages, they beat him up and left with the money.

Later on.

He joined an organization.

It was filled with the darkest evils in the world, the most ruthless and bloody conflicts, with the highest rewards.

Through countless injuries from fists, steel pipes, knives, and guns, in numerous brawls where life and death were at stake, he earned a reputation as a tyrant, and the other four also joined the organization.

They embarked together on the bloody path of wielding blades.

Countless lessons in blood, countless nights of pain preventing sleep, and finally, they achieved the lives they desired.

Later, A Biao got married.

Choosing a better way of life for the future, he went solo despite everyone's advice.

When the white clothes were stained red with blood, every inch soaked, drops falling one by one... when the body, hacked and broken, was carried in front of them, they fell silent.

The next day, he, along with Luo Shiliu, Xiao Dazhuang, and Wang Hao, went to the enemy's lair and avenged A Biao.

Armed with weapons, they settled the score with a powerful figure in the southern city who had influence and guns—a notorious old scoundrel. They handed the debt to the big boss, reclaiming A Biao's dignity.

Every scene was tinted with blood.

In the midst of deep sleep, Bai Lu's brows furrowed, cold sweat forming on her forehead. Her hands clenched into fists, as if struggling to escape from some unpleasant memory.

The smell of medicine covered her mouth and nose, making it difficult to breathe.

She couldn't even cry for help.

In the moment of despair, a broad and sturdy chest forcefully entered, breaking all restraints. It enveloped her in a safe zone, eliminating the medicine smell and the suffocating despair. Between breaths, there was a familiar and refreshing cold breath.

Bai Lu's tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

A hand with a faint callus lightly stroked her back, and the hands tightly clenched in fists were gently opened, with long fingers slowly interlocking with her delicate ones.

Ten fingers intertwined.

The rapid heartbeat of the person in his arms gradually stabilized, and Xiao Cheng's hand gently brushed the back before turning to adjust the blanket.

Pushing the blanket down, avoiding contact with her neck and above, preventing it from covering her face and nose, he placed his large hand back on her back.

Gently patting, they embraced each other and fell asleep together...

...

With the route provided by Chen Chunli, not to mention Wang Cuihua and Aunt Wu, who had already established sales channels in the town, even Yu Fugui, who had yet to open up a market, was doing well. His sales were even better than the combined earnings of Wang Cuihua and Aunt Wu.

Every time they distributed the money at Bai Lu's house, everyone was joyous, their faces brimming with the happiness of abundant wealth.

Wang Cuihua had no experience in business and initially struggled to compete with Aunt Wu and Yu Fugui. However, with the recommendations from old customers and the growing number of new customers, the reputation of the candied chestnuts quickly spread throughout Dashizhen.

Moreover, Wang Cuihua often secretly observed Aunt Wu's stall, learning how she sold chestnuts.

When she went to Dashizhen to sell, more people came to buy from her, and her earnings naturally increased.

Now, Wang Cuihua could receive at least a hundred yuan from Bai Lu every day.

Sometimes it reached one or two hundred yuan, making her ecstatic as she enjoyed a prosperous life of eating well and dressing beautifully. She bought many pretty dresses and strolled around the streets every day. Although she deliberately avoided Chen Chunli every time she saw her, her colorful and eye-catching outfits were hard to ignore.

Wang Cuihua, a widow with no relatives in town, who lacked any skills, was not accepted at the brick factory. She could only rely on selling candied chestnuts to make money.

Chen Chunli, angered and envious, transferred her frustration to Wang Hao, resulting in punches, kicks, and ear-pulling.

Scolding him was useless. Accusing him of being useless, unable to earn money when even a widow could make more, only fueled her anger.

Chen Chunli, pregnant with a child, couldn't do anything more to Wang Hao. She could only endure and bear it.

Her parents secretly wiped away tears in the house, regretting their weak bodies that prevented them from working and made them burdens to their child.

After scolding Wang Hao, Chen Chunli regretted speaking too much at Bai Lu's house. She wanted Wang Hao to mediate and ask Xiao Cheng for mercy, allowing her to sell Bai Lu's candied chestnuts.

Wang Hao had a sense of face and couldn't do it.

After last time's roundabout questioning about the candied chestnut recipe, which angered Xiao Cheng, he didn't dare to provoke him again. This time,

 he didn't even dare to ask for mercy.

After Chen Chunli caused a ruckus at Bai Lu's house, Wang Hao, who had been laying bricks for the past few days, didn't dare to speak to Xiao Cheng.

The last time he subtly inquired about the candied chestnut recipe, Xiao Cheng was unhappy. This time, he didn't dare to provoke him again.

After Chen Chunli caused a commotion at Bai Lu's house, Wang Hao could only buy a large basket of fruits and personally visit Bai Lu.

"Knock, knock, knock."

"Bai Lu."

Bai Lu was in the backyard, cutting grass with a sickle, and throwing it into the small river to feed the fish.

The string of crucian carp given by Xiao Dazhuang last time was ten in total. After eating five, the remaining five were released into the small river.

Today was the weekend, and Xiao Wei didn't have to go to school. After finishing his homework, he also helped cut grass in the backyard.

Hearing the knocking at the door, his small eyebrows furrowed tightly. "Chen Chunli is here."

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 Chapter 92 Be Good, Don't Pretend

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