Chapter 282 Finding Clues

"Oh, are you going out with your classmates tonight?" Song Qiaoying asked in return.

"I..." Li Yusha hadn't expected that when her mother asked her about her plans for tonight and she mentioned going out with classmates, her mother wouldn't take her to the charity event...

Would her mother only take Ou Yan to attend events in the future?

"Class gatherings are trivial matters, but events like charity banquets are significant. Miss Ou Yan is probably attending such an event for the first time, right? It's better to have Miss Yusha accompany her. Having someone to talk to will boost her confidence," kindly suggested Zhang Mama.

Song Qiaoying took a few sips of the tea brought by the servant and said indifferently, "Having me accompany Yan Yan is enough. Besides, there's nothing Yan Yan hasn't seen in terms of social scenes! She's seen more than Shasha in terms of experience!"

This statement left Zhang Mama and Li Yusha speechless.

Smiling, Song Qiaoying glanced at Ou Yan and said, "Go rest upstairs. We can eat soon, and sister Lan will call you."

"Okay."

After going upstairs, Ou Yan received a phone call.

[Big sister, when I investigated the fire at the Sanjiang Health Center eighteen years ago on September 10th, I found something suspicious.]

"What's suspicious?" Ou Yan walked to the balcony, her expression indifferent.

[Previously, didn't I find out that Yun Xiang, the cleaner who took Bai Muyao in to raise, heard an explosion while dealing with stagnant water that night? At first, the explosion was deafening, so she didn't dare to approach. Later, when she was rescuing people, she noticed several unmarked black cars leaving in the opposite direction.]

[When the explosion happened, several cleaners rescued many people from the health center. It was raining heavily at the time. After rescuing people, while resting on the side, one of the cleaners suddenly saw a returning black car. In that era and place, very few people had cars. The car was similar to the ones that left, with four zeros at the beginning of the license plate.]

"Audi?"

In that era, very few people could afford an Audi, especially in a place like Sanjiang.

[I showed her photos of cars from that era, and she confirmed that the car she saw was indeed an Audi. However, their cars had no license plates, making them difficult to trace.]

"That night, three people got out of the returning black car. They looked fierce and kept searching among the rescued people. Eventually, they left when they couldn't find who they were looking for..."

[I compared the car model and the Audis that entered and exited Sanjiang back then. My eyes almost went blind before I found a clue!]

Ou Yan seemed accustomed to his suspenseful storytelling and replied calmly, "Go on."

[One of the Audi car owners died on September 12th eighteen years ago! It was said to be a drunk driving accident! If it weren't for the incident that night, he had bought a ticket to leave the country on the morning of September 13th.]

"What was his job?"

[Initially unemployed, he later drove passengers, like a taxi driver.]

"Driving an Audi for passengers?" Ou Yan raised an eyebrow.

Who would believe that?

[The money for buying the car was won at a gambling table. After winning it, he picked up passengers for a few days, then died suddenly in a car accident.]

So, he found it suspicious.

"Any other discoveries?"

[Other Audi drivers also suddenly acquired an Audi and, shortly after, met with misfortune. Some received the car at a gambling table, while others got it elsewhere, but they all died shortly after acquiring it!]

Is there such a coincidental thing in the world?

Unable to hold back, the person on the phone said, [Big sister, if someone planned this explosion and got rid of all the drivers involved that night, and after so many years, no one has been caught, then the power behind it is definitely more than what Zhang Mama can achieve.]

"Yeah, I know."

Previously, Ou Yan suspected that all this was Zhang Mama's doing. Was it possible that Zhang Mama wanted her daughter to live a good life, so she tampered with the hospital records, changed her identity, and let Li Yusha live as a rich girl for so many years...

But after investigating, she found out that things weren't so simple.

"I asked you to check Zhang Mama and Li Yusha's blood relationship. Have you found anything?"

[Big sister, the hair you gave me last time was fake! I mean, one of the two types of hair you gave me last time was a wig!]

"Wig?" Ou Yan raised an eyebrow. Li Yusha couldn't possibly be bald, so was it Zhang Mama wearing a wig?

Thinking like this, she couldn't help but want to laugh.

[By the way, those Audi drivers were all alone, without family or friends. However, I found that one of the drivers, after suddenly becoming rich one night, sought out several women a few times, the same woman each time.]

[That woman said she was impressed by that driver because he was generous. She was curious and asked where a driver got so much money from. He said someone gave him money to do something big, just needing to pick up a few people and take them to a place, then safely bring them back...]

[Big sister, do you think there's a possibility that, suppose there's a mastermind behind this, they wanted to harm someone at the health center and brought in a group of drivers specifically to transport their subordinates to and from the Sanjiang Health Center? The reason for specifically finding a group of drivers without family or friends was to make it easier to dispose of them later...]

If it was their own people who acted directly, then after all these years of investigation, it was highly likely that they would be traced back to him!

Ou Yan nodded, "That possibility can't be ruled out."

[But at that time, the Sanjiang Health Center was such a shabby place, inhabited by small fry. Was there anyone worth going through such trouble to gain money and take lives? If we're talking about big shots, shouldn't there be no one stronger than your parents?]

Hearing this, Ou Yan's eyes suddenly brightened, "What were my parents doing back then?"

[Are you talking about when you were born eighteen years ago? Let me check later... But big sister, why are you asking this?]

"After you've checked, let me know as soon as possible." Ou Yan suddenly thought of a possibility but wasn't sure.

"As far as I know, your parents were passing through that small place when your mother's water broke suddenly. If someone wanted to harm them... It wouldn't be possible to predict that your mother's water would break that night..."

"People who are dumb should talk less, or they'll expose their IQ." Ou Yan's voice was lazy. "Hang up."

"Eh, big sister?"

What does this mean, hanging up just like that?

Is big sister calling him dumb? But he clearly checked so much information. If anyone's dumb, it's that stupid Erbai!

At least he's smarter than Erbai! 

Next Chapter▶▶

Chapter 281 Fear of Exposing Identity

"Is this your fiancé?" Yan Bingsong's gaze fell on Si Yechen.

Si Yechen stood beside, tall and graceful, with a noble temperament. He looked at Yan Bingsong and greeted him, "Mr. Yan, it's an honor to meet you."

Yan Bingsong shook his hand and assessed him, "Not bad, not bad."

The young man was handsome and refined, with a great demeanor. Despite his young age, he was already the richest man in the world.

Yan Bingsong had heard of him a long time ago, but today was their first meeting.

"The person my precious granddaughter has chosen is indeed extraordinary."

"Mr. Yan, you overpraise me."

Seizing the opportunity while shaking hands, Yan Bingsong drew the two closer and whispered, "Those two despicable scoundrels from the Bai family have been cruel to Yan Yan since she was young. She received very little love and care from them."

Si Yechen listened attentively, nodding.

"Yan Yan has only had Yue'e and us old folks to accompany her since she was young. She may not understand how to interact with peers of the opposite sex. Although she appears cold, she's warm-hearted inside. I'm not exaggerating; she is really a good girl!"

"I understand. To be able to be with Yan Yan is my greatest blessing." Si Yechen held the old man's hand firmly, promising earnestly, "I will cherish her, spend more time with her, give her a sense of security and happiness. I will keep my word."

"Good lad." Yan Bingsong patted his shoulder. With a sense of relief, he turned to the others, "Then I'll take my leave now. Yan Yan, Grandpa will come to see you again another day."

Ou Yan smiled, "You're getting old, it's better not to fly around too much. When you have time, I'll come to visit you."

"Since I'm getting old, you should be prepared to take over my responsibilities soon and let me enjoy my retirement."

"...Here we go again!"

Ou Yan had long been tired of hearing this, but everyone around couldn't believe what Mr. Yan was implying. It seemed like he wanted to hand over the Ai Yue Group to Ou Yan?

Seeing the expression on the little girl's face, Yan Bingsong couldn't help but laugh, "Since this is the dowry I'm giving you, you can receive it early or late! Considering your young age, I reluctantly agree to help you for a couple more years, hahaha..."

Li Yuanfu was also surprised. He hurried forward, "Mr. Yan, how can my daughter have the honor of gaining your favor?"

The total value of the Ai Yue Group had long exceeded tens of billions!

"Hey!" Yan Bingsong laughed heartily, "In this world, I only favor this child. You don't know, I begged her to be my granddaughter for a whole two years!"

Everyone was even more astonished...

Yan Bingsong leaned close to Li Yuanfu's ear and mischievously whispered, "Mainly because I couldn't stand her anymore, and she had no choice but to agree to me, hahaha..."

Seeing him whispering to Si Yechen and then to her father, Ou Yan didn't need to guess what he had said.

"Alright, it's settled then. Yan Yan, when you come next time, bring this kid along to see me!" Yan Bingsong pointed to Si Yechen.

Before Ou Yan could respond, Si Yechen replied first, "No problem, we'll visit you together another day."

Even after Yan Bingsong left, Li Yihan was still in shock. How many identities did his treasure sister Ou Yan actually have?

Rumors had it that Yan Bingsong's temperament was like a raging fire, but to everyone, especially Yan Yan, he was clearly a spirited and fun-loving old man!

On the other side...

At home, Gao Yang received a phone call, "What did you say? Mental hospital? I'll be right there..."

And not long after he left, Gao's mother suddenly received news, "The Bai family has acquired the land outside the city for 120 billion? Weren't they almost bankrupt? Where did they get the money?"

After the call, she told her husband, feeling anxious, "Do you think the Bai family was testing us before? Pretending to be poor and asking for help? But we revealed our true colors all at once, rejecting them outright..."

Gao Yang's father nodded, "That's a possibility."

"This 120 billion in cash, they just give it away... It's several times our assets!"

Now they had acquired the land outside the city, which was said to be invaluable. Once in their hands, they could earn several times the money!

"If the Bai family becomes prosperous, and that little brat from the Bai family abandons Yang Yang, what should we do?" Gao Yang's mother suddenly felt a little panicked.

"Don't worry, let's wait for Yang Yang to come back and ask about the situation. If they really acquired the land outside the city, then in a few days, at the engagement banquet, we, as parents, have to show up, give face to the Bai family, and solidify this marriage!"

"But..." Gao Yang's mother completely looked down on Bai Zhenhai's daughter, Bai Muyao. In terms of appearance, temperament, and education, she couldn't hold a candle to Ou Yan!

"Ou Yan, don't think about it anymore. She is a perfect score imperial scholar, a piano master. She won't look at your son. Let's go, change your clothes first, and get ready to attend tonight's charity gala."

"It's said that Bai Zhenhai suddenly gave away 120 billion today, and someone invited him to attend tonight's charity gala together. In any case, tonight, we must establish a good relationship with them..."

Gao's mother suddenly felt that her previous self had been too impulsive and too harsh on the Bai family. She hoped to make up for it tonight.

At the Lakeside Villa...

Li Yusha received several phone calls, her face becoming increasingly ugly.

Zhang Mama couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong, Miss Yusha? Is something the matter?"

"My classmate's dad attended a land auction today and openly admitted in front of everyone that QY's founder is his daughter. He even stood up for that girl and humiliated the Bai family..."

Li Yusha was a little anxious, "Now my classmates are asking me what's going on, asking if Ou Yan is my parents' adopted daughter? They also said that I haven't invited them to our house for a long time and want to come over in a few days! What should I do? What about Ou Yan's identity? I can't let my classmates know that I'm the fake rich girl!"

"Don't worry, Miss Yusha..."

Before Zhang Mama could finish her sentence, the door was opened, and Li Yuanfu, Song Qiaoying, Li Yihan, and Ou Yan entered together. The family of four talked and laughed. That scene deeply pierced Li Yusha's heart!

"Mom, Dad, you're back? Big Brother, you're back in the country? Sister, how did you end up walking together with them? Did you meet on the way?"

"We attended the land auction with Yan Yan today..." Song Qiaoying said, smiling at Ou Yan, "You should go upstairs and rest first. We'll eat something later and then go to the charity gala."

The food at the charity gala wasn't for eating but for display. Song Qiaoying was afraid that Ou Yan would feel embarrassed and didn't dare to eat too much. So she asked the chefs at home to prepare some food.

"Oh right, I've asked sister Lan to put your gown in your room."

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 82: Crazy Captain Sun

"More than fifty thousand contribution points!"

Chen Xue couldn't help but grin. If she had known there were so many ways to collect contribution points, she would have told her father earlier.

But it wasn't too late now.

With so many contribution points, Chen Xue didn't hesitate to exchange them for a piece of soft armor for her family. This way, at least if someone were to strike them, they wouldn't die immediately.

In addition, she exchanged three sleeve arrows, one for her father, one for her mother, and one for herself.

The three of them took turns practicing in the space and shared their experiences.

Furthermore, they asked Chen Yi to inquire and observe, to see which people were worth associating with and which ones should be avoided.

...

While Chen Xue's family was preparing, Captain Sun was also preparing.

"What did you say?"

"The county magistrate is unwilling to send reinforcements?"

Upon hearing his subordinate's words, Captain Sun's face immediately turned ugly. He had specifically sent someone to find the county magistrate and ask him to send some bailiffs to help manage the exiled team with him. After all, several bailiffs had died during the riot. Without a few more people, they wouldn't be able to suppress another riot if it were to happen.

Not to mention suppressing a riot, if they encountered bandits on the road, their small group of people wouldn't be enough.

Unfortunately, it seemed that the county magistrate was hesitant to send people, probably because he didn't want to be implicated in case of another riot. He had cooperated in suppressing the riot this time, and once Captain Sun and his men left, even if another riot occurred, it wouldn't be under his jurisdiction.

"Damn it!"

Captain Sun cursed under his breath, then gathered his trusted subordinates and others. "This riot, the court probably won't let us off easily..."

"This..."

"What should we do?"

With these words, everyone panicked. They didn't want to die; they still had their whole lives ahead of them!

"What else can we do?" Captain Sun said helplessly. "If the court wants us dead, can we resist?"

"Why should we!" bailiff Qian, one of the bailiffs, said with some dissatisfaction. "Even if we haven't done anything meritorious, we've still toiled. Why should they kill us?"

Others chimed in, "Exactly! The court shouldn't only blame us; they should have sent more people. We can't handle so many prisoners with just us."

Seeing the reactions of his men, Captain Sun felt somewhat satisfied, but he was also helpless. "Then what do you plan to do?"

"This..."

Everyone fell silent. While they talked a good game, when it came down to action...

"Captain, will the court really want to kill us? Shouldn't they just demote us or fine us..."

Captain Sun sneered, "Hmph! Although the riot has been suppressed, the instigators are still at large. If we don't capture them, do you think the court will let us off easily?"

Everyone fell silent. Just the charge of dereliction of duty was enough to warrant a beheading.

But they were still unwilling.

"If the court really doesn't spare us, we'll fight back!"

"Fight back?" Captain Sun snorted. "Didn't you see the scene when those soldiers suppressed the riot? What do you have to fight with!"

Everyone was speechless, and thinking about that scene made them shiver.

"Then Captain, what should we do?" Qian, the bailiff, became anxious. "We can't just sit here waiting to die!"

Seeing this, Captain Sun finally revealed his true intentions. "I think we should wait and see, send someone to inquire about how the court will deal with us."

"If we can get the news in advance, we can prepare in advance!"

"Right!"

Everyone's eyes lit up. If the court didn't intend to kill them, then they wouldn't have to worry. If the court did intend to kill them, they could escape with advance notice.

"So, we need to unite and help each other in the future. Otherwise, none of us will survive!"

This was Captain Sun's true purpose, to use the relationships behind these people. Although many of them were his subordinates, they also had others behind them.

Just like Zhao Guang, who had Guo Qiang behind him.

Captain Sun couldn't guarantee that the people behind him wouldn't leak the news, as he was just a small pawn who could be discarded at any time.

So, at this time, he could only invest in multiple channels. What if the people behind the others got the news first?

After sending them away, Captain Sun approached Zhao Guang. "Can you contact the people behind you?"

Zhao Guang looked puzzled, seemingly not understanding what he meant.

"Don't you worry?" Seeing Zhao Guang's expression, Captain Sun was speechless.

"It seems that you should be the one worrying!" Zhao Guang shrugged. He wasn't stupid; the one primarily responsible was Captain Sun.

Captain Sun's face was very ugly. Zhao Guang was right; these bailiffs might not be punished, but he, as the captain, would definitely be removed.

If he was just demoted, it would be fine, but he was afraid that the court would kill him and leave him to take all the blame.

So, he hurriedly persuaded bailiff Qian and the others. They hadn't reacted before, so he was anxious.

"Under the circumstances, do you really think you can escape punishment?" Captain Sun snorted.

"What do you want to do?" Zhao Guang's eyes flickered. It had been a long time since he had contacted Guo Qiang, and he didn't dare to do it.

After all, once he contacted him, Guo Qiang would ask him if he had dealt with the Chen family. But the key was, he didn't dare to act against the Chen family.

"Not your concern?" Seeing Zhao Guang's expression, Captain Sun was somewhat speechless.

"Okay, I'll tell the people behind me, but whether they agree or not, I can't guarantee."

After hesitating for a few seconds, Zhao Guang nodded. He knew that if they didn't agree, they might not see the sun tomorrow.

"Soon!" Captain Sun patted his shoulder. "Our lives are tied together!"

Zhao Guang's face darkened. He understood what Captain Sun meant. If the people behind him didn't agree, Captain Sun would still drag him down.

Damn it!

He was somewhat angry, not only because of Captain Sun's threat, but also because if the Chen family died, who would he go to for the antidote?

No, he must find an opportunity to contact the Chen family again for the antidote.

When he got the antidote, he would leave some for the doctors in the city to analyze. He didn't believe that in such a big world, there wasn't a doctor who couldn't figure it out.

Thinking of this, he decided to find a chance to send a message to Guo Qiang. Although Guo Qiang had sent someone to urge him not long ago, the person had said that Guo Qiang had other means to deal with the Chen family, but he hadn't seen them yet.

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 1034: Ah Yu, She's Targeting You

Shu Yu was surprised. "What happened? What's wrong?"

Ding Yuehua got off the carriage but seemed hesitant to face her. "Ah Yu, I'm sorry. I couldn't fulfill the promise I made to you."

"The promise? What promise?"

Ding Yuehua slowly turned her head and looked at her own carriage.

Following her gaze, Shu Yu suddenly realized, "You mean the horses?"

Ding Yuehua nodded slightly. "I'm sorry. The two white horses that I promised you were noticed by someone else. I... I tried my best to..."

Seeing her exhausted look and the direction she came from, as if she had just returned from outside the city, Shu Yu patted her shoulder and said, "It's okay, it's not a big deal. If it's not possible, then let's look for something else. I can see that you've just returned. Have you eaten? Come, let's go eat something and chat."

It was almost noon, and the Tai Bai Restaurant on Ning Shui Street happened to be on their left.

Shu Yu took Ding Yuehua directly into the restaurant, followed a waiter to the second floor private room, and closed the door after ordering a few dishes.

Ding Yuehua took a few sips of water and rubbed her face. She felt a bit more energetic and then said, "I did just return from Donggu County. The day after tomorrow is your birthday, and I was originally planning to give you those two horses as a coming-of-age gift."

She sighed slightly and continued, "I didn't expect those horses to be taken by someone else."

"Taken by whom?"

"Miss Zhang."

Miss Zhang? No wonder. She had a higher status than a county magistrate. In the entire Dong'an Prefecture, there were probably not many people who wouldn't give her face.

In the meantime, a waiter came in with several dishes.

Ding Yuehua paused and continued after the waiter left, "I had made an agreement with the Wu family. The batch of horses arrived in Donggu County yesterday. I rushed over, but my sister-in-law's brother said that Miss Zhang somehow got wind of it and told the Wu family to keep those two horses for her. Although the Wu family has some influence in Donggu County, they wouldn't dare to openly offend Miss Zhang."

"Of course, those two horses were meant for me. Considering the relationship between our families, the Wu family would definitely side with us. So my brother-in-law told Miss Zhang that those two horses were sick and weak on the way, and probably wouldn't survive for much longer. They didn't dare to sell them to anyone."

Shu Yu's hand paused as she was picking up a dish. "So those two horses can't be sold to Miss Zhang, and they can't be sold to me either."

Two high-quality horses that couldn't be sold would also be a loss for the Wu family.

Ding Yuehua nodded. "My brother-in-law had no choice. He naturally wanted to sell them to us. Not to mention anything else, he intended to buy all the grass on your 80 mu of land. We have a good relationship, but... but..."

She put down her chopsticks and hesitated, "But, Ah Yu, it seems that Miss Zhang is targeting you."

If the horses were sold to her, not only would the Wu family be in trouble, but Miss Zhang would likely use it as an excuse to deal with Shu Yu.

Shu Yu was stunned. "Targeting me? But I don't remember knowing any county princess, let alone having any interaction with this Miss Zhang."

There was indeed a Miss Zhang in Dong'an Prefecture. When the Shu family hadn't fallen, the eldest daughter of the Shu family had some contact with her. But as far as Shu Yu knew, their interactions weren't many, and it seemed that the two families didn't belong to the same social circle.

As the third daughter of the almost invisible Shu family, she rarely went out and had hardly ever seen her.

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 280: Sent to the Mental Hospital

"Mr. Yan, I didn't expect you to attend today's auction..." Xu Aiqin saw him, her nose inexplicably sour, and suddenly wanted to vent all the grievances they had suffered just now. They had truly been humiliated!

The last time they met seemed to be three or four years ago?

But that didn't affect the friendship between the Bai family and the Yan family!

If it weren't for Mr. Yan often being abroad, she would almost have forgotten that the Bai family had such a powerful backing!

With this in mind, her voice became even more aggrieved, "You saw what happened just now, we..."

"You've gone too far."

The sudden accusation from Yan Bingsong made the faces of Bai Zhenhai's family change color. What did he mean?

Wasn't Mr. Yan here to speak up for them?

It seemed like he was here to cause trouble for them!

"My precious granddaughter doesn't want to argue with you, that's her magnanimity!"

Bai Zhenhai was stunned for a moment, and then realized that the precious granddaughter he was referring to was Ou Yan...

"Mr. Yan, you, you've been abroad for years, you may not know, Ou Yan is not a member of our Bai family, she has already acknowledged her ancestry, you don't have to treat her as a granddaughter..."

It turned out that Mr. Yan thought Ou Yan was a descendant of the Bai family, Li Yue'e's granddaughter, so he wanted to help.

Thank goodness he wasn't...

Speaking of which, Mr. Yan was unmarried, and still had no children. If Bai Muyao could become his granddaughter, then his enormous wealth would all belong to Muyao alone...

"She may not be a blood granddaughter, but she's just like one!" Yan Bingsong's voice was like a bell, striking everyone's hearts, "I, Yan Bing Song, am always open to negotiation, but my precious granddaughter is my bottom line, no one can touch her! But you've gone too far today!"

Bai Zhenhai's family was stunned, unable to believe what they were hearing.

"As far as I know, over the years, my granddaughter has not received the care and attention she deserves from you. On the contrary, you have all obtained your current status and position thanks to my granddaughter!"

Yan Bingsong's clothes were impeccably neat, and even his voice was powerful, exuding the aura and dignity of a great person.

"Now that you dare to bully my granddaughter in front of me, take them to the mental hospital for evaluation to see if they have any neurological problems."

As soon as he finished speaking, several people immediately stepped forward, grabbing them and dragging them out.

"Mr. Yan, you have no right to do this..." Xu Aiqin was terrified, struggling, "Let go of me, what are you doing, let go of me!"

"Mr. Yan, have you ever thought about the friendship between you and my mother..." Bai Zhenhai couldn't break free, so he could only loudly question.

Yan Bingsong's eyes were sharp and angry, "If it weren't for the friendship between me and Yue, none of you would ever leave the mental hospital in your lifetime."

Bai Zhenhai's family all changed their expressions, unable to believe it.

Bai Muyao cried with tears in her eyes, "Grandpa Yan, I'm still my grandma's real granddaughter. Can't you see the good in people? I'm still young, please spare me..."

Neurotic, she didn't want to go to a mental hospital for evaluation!

Even if there was to be an evaluation, it should be done at a regular hospital!

Using the excuse of sending them to a mental hospital, wasn't it just because they had bullied Ou Yan and wanted to take advantage of the situation to deal with them?

Was she stupid!

"It's precisely because you're still young that you need to be taught! Your grandmother is in poor health, and I can't let people like you disturb her and upset her." Yan Bingsong waved his hand, and Bai Zhenhai's family was immediately dragged away...

The whole scene was full of sighs.

Yan Bingsong looked at the onlookers, each word ringing like a bell, "Although I often stay abroad, there is nothing that can escape my eyes in the country."

His gaze swept across the crowd, "Yan Yan is the only precious granddaughter I have recognized in my life. Whoever dares to offend her, offends me! "

The implication was that before bullying her, think about the consequences!

Unless your group never needs the support of the Ai Yue Group in this lifetime, you don't plan to expand overseas, and you're not afraid of certain potential forces in the country, then go ahead and try to bully someone...

"Mr. Yan is joking. Ou Yan belongs to the Li family, and she is also Mr. Si's fiancée. Now she is your recognized precious granddaughter. Who would dare to bully her?" One of the noble ladies smiled and tried to defuse the situation.

But the members of the Li family hadn't recovered yet. How could Ou Yan know such a big figure as Yan Bingsong, and how could she be so highly regarded by him?

Li Yihan stepped forward and respectfully reached out to shake hands with him, "Mr. Yan, I don't know if you remember me?"

Years ago, they had met at an international entrepreneur conference, where Li Yihan, as a representative of the Huaxia people, and Yan Bingsong had mutually yielded their seats to each other.

Li Yihan considered himself younger and thought he should give the seat to the elder.

But Yan Bingsong believed that in terms of achievements, Li Yihan at his age had already surpassed him, so both sides insisted on yielding.

Although it was just a small matter, Li Yihan's politeness and demeanor had deeply impressed Yan Bingsong.

"I didn't expect to meet again under these circumstances." Yan Bingsong responded with a smile as he shook his hand.

Seeing that they knew each other, the people who had been watching the excitement dispersed one after another, feeling embarrassed to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Song Qiaoying couldn't help but ask, "Yan Yan, what's going on? Do you know Mr. Yan from before?"

Just now, Bai Zhenhai mentioned that Mr. Yan seemed to be an old friend of Li Yue'e. Could it be because of this connection?

"Yes, Grandpa Yan guided me onto the path of entrepreneurship and taught me many experiences and methods."

Li Yihan bowed respectfully again and shook his hand, "So Mr. Yan, you are the mentor of my sister's entrepreneurship. Without your contribution, how could she achieve what she has today? Please accept my gratitude."

Yan Bingsong chuckled and patted his shoulder, "Mr. Li, you're too modest. My contribution to Yan Yan's success is less than 1%, the rest is her own efforts and talents."

"Mr. Yan is too modest. Without your 1%, how could she achieve such success today? You are the beacon on her entrepreneurial path. Please allow me to invite you to a nearby restaurant to express my gratitude."

Li Yihan wanted to invite Yan Bingsong to dine and express his gratitude, but Yan Bingsong smiled and said, "I came today to support Yan Yan. I still have some matters to attend to."

He came to support his precious granddaughter, and there were still some things he needed to handle.

"It's mainly because the little girl is busy, it's really hard to see her..." 

Li Yihan could hear the indulgence and affection in Yan Bing Song's words towards Ou Yan...

▶▶After breaking off the engagement, Mr. Si chased his wife to the crematorium!

  Chapter 262: The First Heartbeat - Zhen'er’s Request (Part 6)

Xiao Ruiyuan maintained a stoic expression as he looked at Mo Yan, saying nothing. Zhen'er, meanwhile, shook his head frantically at his sister, his face hiding a trace of excitement.

What's going on? Mo Yan wondered, knowing she wouldn't get an answer and deciding not to press further.

After Mo Yan finished feeding the cows and horses and walked away with the bucket, the two dark heads once again huddled together...

That day, Xiao Ruiyuan stayed at the Mo family residence for a long time. It wasn't until nightfall, after having dinner with them, that he reluctantly left, looking back frequently as he rode away.

...

Perhaps due to the relief from some of her worries, Mo Yan had a rare dreamless night and slept exceptionally well. The next morning, she woke up feeling much better than the previous day.

Mo Yan thought it was just a coincidence, but the following nights were the same. She continued to sleep soundly, and her complexion improved significantly. This made her more convinced that the nightmares were indeed warnings.

Seeing Mo Yan recover so quickly, her family breathed a sigh of relief. Xin'er and Zhen'er began urging her to visit their father together.

Previously, Mo Yan's poor condition had worried Mo Qingze, so she had sent Li Zhong with the two younger siblings to visit. Now that she was feeling better, she needed to go see him herself, and she planned to bring the homemade fruit wine. With the weather getting colder, a cup of the wine before bed would warm the body and improve sleep.

The vegetables in the backyard garden were ready to harvest, with only seasonal greens like cabbage, radishes, and garlic sprouts available. Mo Yan picked some and put them in her space to feed the chickens, then replaced them with the vegetables she had grown in her space.

When she went to the market, she also took out two already slaughtered chickens from her space. She bought some fresh tofu, pork, pork ribs, and pork offal.

With the current cool temperatures, these meats could be cured and hung in a ventilated area for a few days. The pork offal, made into braised dishes, could last even longer. Adding a bit of garlic or chili when cooking would make it taste even better.

By noon, when Mo Qingze and Han Zhiyun returned, lunch was already prepared.

"We're in for a treat today! I wonder what delicious dishes we have this time," Han Zhiyun said, more excited than Mo Qingze, as he smelled the aromas wafting through the house.

Ever since he first tasted Mo Yan's cooking, he couldn't get it out of his mind. He had grown to despise the food at the academy's canteen and wished he could arrange for Mo Yan to move closer and cook for him every day.

Knowing that this big eater would be visiting, Mo Yan had prepared two extra dishes. When the food was served, she also brought out a small jar of fruit wine and placed it on the table.

Seeing this, Han Zhiyun quickly said, "Yan girl, we have classes in the afternoon. We shouldn't be drinking."

"Don't worry, Uncle Han. This wine won't make you drunk. One cup won’t hurt. Just try it, and you'll see."

Intrigued by her assurance, Han Zhiyun didn’t argue further, curious about this non-intoxicating wine.

When Mo Yan removed the clay seal and poured the light yellow pear wine into their cups, the rich pear fragrance mingled with a faint hint of alcohol filled the air. Unable to resist, Han Zhiyun took the first sip.

Savoring it slowly, his eyes lit up, and he laughed heartily. "Excellent wine! It's fragrant and sweet, smooth and mellow, neither too warm nor too harsh. Just perfect."

He then drank a full cup of pear wine in one gulp, smacking his lips in enjoyment.

Seeing this, Mo Qingze also picked up his cup and took a sip, finding it equally delightful.

Hearing their praises, Mo Yan smiled. She had worried they might find the pear wine too mild and unmanly, but to her surprise, they both loved it.

Learning that Mo Yan had made the wine herself from pears, the two men found it hard to believe.

(End of Chapter)

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 81 Crazy Wool Gathering

After some persuasion, Chen Yuan explained to Xu Tian that he wasn't changing his career, but rather trying to make some money.

In reality, since he had been exiled, there was no chance of him returning to officialdom. Unless the Emperor was willing to admit fault or if there was a change in Emperors, there was no possibility of him returning to his former position.

His current situation made it impossible for him to continue serving as an official. Moreover, he no longer had any desire to hold such a position. His greatest wish now was to protect his wife and daughter and ensure their happiness.

"If Master Chen needs money, just come to me! I have plenty!" Xu Tian patted his purse. Being unmarried and not indulging in luxuries, he had saved up a considerable sum of money.

"It's alright, you can leave now!" Chen Yuan waved his hand, indicating that he didn't want to talk further.

Upon hearing this, Xu Tian didn't press the matter further and left. However, before departing, he whispered, "Master Chen, if you really want to do business, it might be better to wait for a while..."

Watching Xu Tian walk away, Chen Yuan squinted his eyes. It seemed that Xu Tian wasn't foolish after all!

He also understood the current situation of Captain Sun, which was akin to a beast on the verge of madness. Until the court announced Captain Sun's fate, he might behave normally. However, if the court decided to remove him from his position and imprison him, Captain Sun wouldn't sit idly by.

If someone promised to spare his life in exchange for their own, Captain Sun would likely agree.

Therefore, Chen Yuan agreed with Xu Tian's suggestion to keep a low profile for the time being. Even if they wanted to start a business, it would be better to wait until the situation calmed down.

However, Chen Xue wasn't one to sit idly by. With her father's guidance, she found a way to earn contributions.

First, she had Xiao Die write down her recipes and then had the system recycle them. This yielded thousands of contributions, much to Chen Xue's delight.

Next, she asked Xiao Hua to write down some recipes she knew. Similarly, each recipe earned her hundreds of contributions.

After that, Chen Xue began gathering information from both the servants and her father, intending to extract every bit of knowledge from their minds.

Chen Yuan spent his nights farming and his days painting. His hands were sore from overwork. However, Chen Xue immediately exchanged some medicinal wine for him and handed him a brush, urging him to practice calligraphy.

Chen Yuan: ...

Despite the upheaval caused by the riot, the Chen family remained relatively unaffected and continued to stay together in their carriage.

However, the other prisoners were not as fortunate. The bailiffs seemed to take out their anger on them, lashing out whenever they felt displeased.

One old man was struck on the back by a bailiff, causing him to stumble and nearly fall.

"Old man, hurry up!"

"Do you have any humanity? He's already so old!" A nearby prisoner immediately rushed to help the old man, preventing him from falling, and then glared at the bailiff.

The bailiff lashed out again, and the man, unable to dodge, turned his back to absorb the blow.

"You're so compassionate, why don't you take a few more lashes for him!" The bailiff swung his whip at the man, clearly seeking revenge for the earlier attempt on his life by the prisoners.

In the blink of an eye, the man's back was covered in blood.

"Stop!"

Xu Tian happened to witness this scene as he left Chen Yuan's side and immediately intervened.

"Liao Er, what are you doing?"

"Xu Tian?" Liao Er turned to see Xu Tian and paid him no mind. "What's it to you? Don't meddle in others' business!"

Xu Tian approached, pointing at the bloody back of the man, and said angrily, "Are you insane? If you keep this up, you'll kill him!"

"Is that so?" Liao Er remained indifferent. "If he dies, so be it!"

"You!"

Liao Er sneered and reached out to poke at the bandage on Xu Tian's head, causing him to flinch in pain.

"Is your brain damaged? Don't you know who injured you? Do you know that I nearly died because of them?"

"If those soldiers hadn't arrived in time, do you think you'd still be seeing me now?"

"Now that they've fallen into my hands again, don't expect things to go smoothly for them!"

"You..."

Xu Tian opened his mouth, initially intending to refute, but he couldn't deny that he harbored some resentment. After all, he had been kind to the prisoners, even giving them more food than the other bailiffs, yet they had still tried to kill him.

However, even if he was angry, what was the point? The ringleaders had already been punished, and the others were simply misled.

He sighed and tactfully said, "If you keep beating them like this, what will happen if they die? You must know that many people have already died because of this riot. If the number of people sent over doesn't meet the quota, we'll all be in trouble."

Liao Er furrowed his brow at this unexpected point. Having just left the capital not long ago and with another half year to travel to the Southern Barbarian Region, they were bound to lose some prisoners along the way. This, coupled with the casualties from the riot, meant that if they didn't meet the quota, they would be held accountable...

"You're lucky!" Liao Er glared at the man before turning to the other prisoners and shouting, "What are you looking at? Keep moving, or I'll gouge out your eyeballs!"

"Thank you, sir!"

The man thanked Xu Tian before helping the old man and continuing on their way. Xu Tian sighed.

He suddenly felt that he should do something. While it was true that some of the prisoners deserved their exile, many were innocent, like Chen Yuan, and many were women and children.

However, he alone couldn't change this situation, and his power was limited.

When the bailiffs attacked Chen Yuan earlier, he couldn't stop them alone. It was only when Zhao Guang and his men arrived that the bailiffs backed off.

Suddenly, he thought of Chen Yuan's question earlier about whether he wanted to become the captain...

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 44: The Brilliant Lanterns, Brother Is Amazing

Although the child trafficking incident left some shadows on the two kids, their young minds quickly moved on. Kids forget things easily; they might be startled momentarily, but more often than not, they let things fade with time.

With Prince Qing handling the situation, others didn't need to worry.

The two children enjoyed four days in the town. Staying in an inn made cooking inconvenient, so they ate out every day. Whether it was at large restaurants or small eateries, they would follow their taste or ask locals for recommendations.

After four days, Suisui’s diet had gradually adjusted and was now quite normal.

At first, Suisui was too timid to use chopsticks and relied on Di Jiao to feed her. However, Physician Liu noticed this and took the time to explain to her why she should try using chopsticks.

To be honest, Suisui didn’t quite understand, and even if she did, she wasn’t ready to use chopsticks confidently.

Some habits shaped by early living conditions are hard to change quickly. Physician Liu wasn’t anxious; he knew children learn gradually.

The two kids were extremely happy over these four days, enjoying their food and play without worrying about anything else.

However, the system was troubled!

During the story time before bed, there were two days without storytelling. On the remaining two days...

One day featured a "spiritual little sister with a flower-shaking hand," and the other day was a "spiritual young man."

When these two showed up, the system felt darkness closing in.

The problem was, it wasn’t just the system that was in the dark. The "spiritual little sister" and "young man" were also in the dark!

They could dance, sing karaoke, and split bills, but telling stories?

Their cultural level meant they were incapable of doing so.

In the end, they could only stammer through the story templates provided by the system.

And the issue was...

Errors in the text were tolerable to the system, but they also made outrageous modifications!

For example, the Little Mermaid, in a fit of rage, slapped the prince back into the sea.

Or Snow White, in a fit of anger, dragged the seven dwarfs back into their little beds for a big sleep.

...

The system was like: ???

Sometimes, the system really wanted to call the authorities!

But Suisui listened with great interest.

She wondered: Does the Little Mermaid really have a tail?

Does Snow White really have snow-white skin and hair as bright as the sun?

What is a prince, and why does he need to swim?

...

The system silently hooked up an electronic respirator, afraid of passing out from frustration.

After four grueling days, they finally managed to get through.

With Prince Qing’s matters settled, they packed up to continue their journey.

The town was located at the border of Qingzhou and Wenzhou.

After traveling for a day, they arrived at a small town under Wenzhou’s jurisdiction.

By the time they arrived, it was already dusk.

They found a decent inn, confirmed their accommodation for the night, and then looked outside to see the bustling street, alive with people.

Suisui obediently held Feng Xuanrui’s hand, occasionally looking around with bright, curious eyes, full of wonder.

She had never seen such a...

What was the word again?

Suisui thought carefully about the word the beautiful sister had used last night.

After pondering for a while, her eyes lit up. She gently shook Feng Xuanrui’s hand and said loudly, “Brother, the lanterns are "dazzling and eye-catching!”

Feng Xuanrui was a bit confused at first.

He tried to understand and understand again.

Then he realized he couldn’t grasp it.

What does ‘dazzling’ mean?

Feng Xuanrui couldn’t figure it out and scratched his head awkwardly.

Physician Liu, standing by, understood after a moment and kindly corrected Suisui with a smile, “Suisui, it’s ‘brilliantly dazzling,’ not ‘dazzling.’ The pronunciation should be accurate.”

Hearing Physician Liu’s correction, Suisui was puzzled.

Not ‘dazzling’?

But the beautiful sister had said it so confidently and naturally as ‘dazzling.’

However, Physician Liu was a kind person, so he wouldn’t lie to her.

So, whom should she believe?

Seeing someone finally correct the mistake, the system was almost in tears of relief.

【Suisui, listen to Physician Liu. He is older and more educated. Trust him!】

Suisui was initially hesitant but, after hearing the system’s advice, nodded obediently, “Okay, Grandpa Liu, I’ll remember it’s ‘brilliantly dazzling.’”

The last two words were a bit difficult for Suisui, but she still pronounced them clearly.

At this point, Feng Xuanrui finally understood what his sister was trying to express.

He regretted not figuring it out sooner!

Annoyed with himself, Feng Xuanrui, eager to show off, shook Suisui’s hand and said urgently, “Suisui, we should not only learn ‘brilliantly dazzling’ but also ‘radiant and magnificent’ and ‘resplendent and grand’...”

At this moment, Feng Xuanrui regretted not knowing more and not performing better.

His hurried tone and unclear pronunciation didn’t matter to Suisui’s admiration and praise: “Brother is amazing!”

“For knowing such complex things, Brother is truly impressive!”

“Brother is the best!”

“Brother is the most amazing, better than the second, fifth, and seventh brothers!”

...

Lost in the praise of ‘Brother’ and ‘amazing,’ Feng Xuanrui’s words became more fluent.

When he couldn’t think of anything else to say, Feng Xuanrui finally muttered, “They’re setting off Kongming lanterns!”

Feng Xuanrui felt he should be the best brother in his sister’s eyes.

So, he diligently explained what Kongming lanterns were to Suisui.

Suisui had never seen Kongming lanterns, as no one in her village used them.

Listening to Feng Xuanrui’s explanation, her eyes sparkled with admiration and respect.

In the past few days, Suisui had gained some weight and looked a bit better.

But on her small face, the most dazzling were still her lively, bright eyes.

Those eyes, even after experiencing hardship and turmoil, made one believe in the beauty of the world.

They were pure and sparkling.

They easily rekindled hope in life.

Prince Qing, walking beside them, protected the two children closely.

After the previous events, they were now in a formation to safeguard the children.

Prince Qing noticed Suisui’s sparkling eyes.

For a moment, he seemed to see his own daughter.

Prince Qing thought: If that child were still alive, she would likely smile as brilliantly as Suisui does now.

   (End of Chapter)

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 279: Backing Arrives

Bai Zhenhai, Xu Aiqin, and Bai Muyao all felt deeply humiliated!

Song Qiaoying actually said that hitting Bai Muyao was dirty and tiring work?

Just how dirty was Bai Mu Yao's face??

Seeing everyone from the Li family challenging them, only Li Yihan had yet to express his stance. Clinging to the last strand of hope, Bai Zhenhai tentatively called out, "Mr. Li..."

"You're still not taking action?" Li Yihan looked at him coldly, severing his last strand of hope, "Are you expecting others to do the dirty work for you?"

Everyone demanded that the Bai family educate their daughter properly.

In the end, Bai Zhenhai was left with no choice but to walk over, gritting his teeth, closing his eyes, and giving Bai Mu Yao a hard slap.

Having already received more than ten slaps from Ou Yan earlier, another one now left her unable to hear from one ear. The painful expression on her face didn't seem like an act.

But several noble ladies around still made sarcastic remarks.

"Hitting so lightly, one would think you're tickling your daughter..."

"You think you can turn the page with just one slap? I tell you, not a chance!"

"Insulting Mrs. Li is insulting all of us. If you can't do it, then let us!"

"If we don't smash this little trash's face today, your whole family of three won't be able to step out of this door!"

...

Bai Mu Yao looked at her parents being harassed by everyone, tears streaming down her face as she cried out, "Please don't pressure my parents anymore. It's my fault for speaking recklessly. I'll take responsibility for my actions. I'll take the next slap myself!"

She cried and slapped herself, her pitiful appearance seeming to have endured immense grievances.

But apart from her parents, no one fell for her act, especially those noble ladies, each making disgusted expressions.

"Yao Yao..." Bai Zhenhai couldn't bear to see her exerting so much force with each slap, feeling heartbroken.

"Enough, stop..." Xu Aiqin saw her slapping herself repeatedly, blood flowing from the corners of her mouth, and felt even more distressed, "Yao Yao, stop it! Mom's begging you... Look at how swollen your face is!"

Bai Muyao fiercely slapped herself over ten times, rendering herself unable to hear from both ears and blurring her vision further. Not knowing if she had slapped too hard, she suddenly collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness.

"Yao Yao, Yao Yao??" Xu Aiqin pushed through the crowd and rushed to support her, asking anxiously, "Are you okay?"

Seeing her daughter's swollen face, she couldn't hold back her tears.

"Mr. and Mrs. Li, my daughter has fainted. Can we put this matter behind us now?" Xu Aiqin hadn't finished her sentence.

Song Qiaoying began to count indifferently, "One."

"Her face is so swollen, and her mouth is bleeding. Mrs. Li, are you still unwilling to let it go? As an elder, why are you making it so difficult for a younger one? Aren't you afraid..." 

"Two." Song Qiao Ying continued to count disinterestedly. What was there to be afraid of? Why should she be afraid of a few insignificant ants?

"Mrs. Li..."

Just as Song Qiaoying was about to say three, she saw Bai Mu Yao suddenly open her eyes and pretended to be flustered, asking, "Mom, why am I here? What happened to me?"

"Yao Yao, are you awake? Are you okay?" Xu Aiqin wanted to touch her face but was afraid of hurting her, unable to help but ask with concern, "You fainted just now. Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere? Is your face in pain?"

"I'm not in the mood to watch your drama." Song Qiaoying interrupted directly, "I won't repeat myself a third time. I want your whole family to apologize to my daughter!"

It turned out that Bai Zhenhai and Xu Aiqin's casual apologies earlier weren't enough. Song Qiaoying wanted the whole family to bow and apologize to Ou Yan!

Several noble ladies also demanded their apology.

"No apology, and you won't be able to survive in Jing City from now on."

"Apologize!"

"Please apologize to Miss Ou Yan on behalf of your whole family!"

In the end, Bai Zhenhai, Xu Aiqin, and Bai Muyao could only endure the humiliation and come before Ou Yan, bowing ninety degrees.

"We're sorry."

They all apologized simultaneously, never having been so low and submissive in their lives.

"Yan Yan, it's Daddy... No, it's your former Daddy, who didn't educate your sister properly and made you unhappy. I'm sorry!"

"Yan Yan, please forgive Yao Yao. Seeing that we used to be a family, her former mom is begging you."

"Sorry, Sister... Ou, Ou Yan, please forgive me! I won't dare to speak recklessly again in the future."

...

The three of them remained bowed, not daring to lift their heads.

It was the first time in their lives that they had bowed and apologized to Ou Yan!

Si Yechen stroked Ou Yan's hair affectionately and said, "If you're still not satisfied, I can make them kneel down and apologize, or do you want to see them bankrupt?"

The faces of the Bai family trio turned pale, fearing that Si Yechen might actually make these threats a reality.

Because he had the capital to do so!

"No need." Ou Yan didn't want to see them anymore and said impatiently, "Just leave."

Bai Zhenhai snapped out of his daze, lifted his head, and looked at his daughter, whom they had once looked down upon and scorned, now becoming someone they couldn't afford to provoke. He felt a mixture of emotions.

He had thought that her original family was in a poor mountainous area, and he had wanted to distance himself from them...

But now...

"Thank you..." He couldn't believe that one day he would have to thank Ou Yan for sparing them and not humiliating them further...

He led Xu Aiqin and Bai Muyao, intending to leave dejectedly.

"Hold on."

A vigorous voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.

Everyone turned to look, only to see a spirited old man walking out.

He was dressed in expensive traditional Chinese clothing, with two blond, blue-eyed assistants following him step by step.

Bai Zhenhai immediately recognized him as the head of the renowned overseas venture capital group, the Ai Yue Group.

His group was even larger than the Ouyan Capital Group. He had initially made his fortune through small businesses and later focused on investments.

His gaze was sharp and ruthless. Once he set his sights on a project, he never missed. Over the decades of his career, he had invested in numerous industries, accumulating an extremely wealthy personal fortune.

Bai Zhenhai had had the privilege of meeting him a few times before and knew that he was an old friend of his mother, Li Yue'e. However, due to his frequent travels abroad, their encounters were few and far between.

Was he here today because of the land?

Just as Bai Zhenhai was thinking this, he realized that the old man had witnessed the scene just now. So, was he here to stand up for the Bai family out of consideration for his mother?

With this thought in mind, Bai Zhenhai felt like he finally had someone to rely on, so he hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Mr. Yan, long time no see."

▶▶After breaking off the engagement, Mr. Si chased his wife to the crematorium!

 Chapter 261: The First Heartbeat - Zhen'er’s Request (Part 5)

---

Looking at Little Black, Xiao Ruiyuan's eyebrow twitched. To him, this horse hardly counted as one, but it was just suitable for teaching a child.

However, Little Black's performance surprised him. Not only was the horse gentle by nature, but after being taught, it quickly understood simple commands. If it weren't so small, he would have thought it was a retired warhorse.

"Who picked this horse?" Xiao Ruiyuan asked Zhen'er out of curiosity. The choice was impressive. Even though it was a bit scrawny, with proper care, it might grow into something remarkable.

"My elder sister picked it. It only cost eight taels of silver! The day we brought Little Black home, it had diarrhea. We all thought it wouldn’t make it, but my elder sister insisted it would get better, and it did. It even grew prettier. Big brother, don’t you think my sister has a great eye?"

Zhen'er proudly recounted the story, eyes shining with admiration for his elder sister.

"Yes, your sister indeed has a good eye," Xiao Ruiyuan listened intently, eager to learn more about the girl he liked. "What does your sister usually do at home?"

Zhen'er tilted his head, thinking, and then started counting on his fingers. "Sometimes she goes to the mountains with Xiao Hua, sometimes she goes to the orchard behind the house. She reads, makes clothes, takes care of the little furball, cuts grass to feed Little Black and Da Huang and Xiao Huang. Then she makes delicious pastries..."

Xiao Ruiyuan listened carefully, picturing the girl in various scenarios—playful, serious, gentle. He suddenly felt a strong desire to stay, even if it was just to watch her go about her daily activities.

Zhen'er rambled on, finally looking up at the distracted Xiao Ruiyuan and asking, "Big brother, don’t you think my sister is the best sister in the world?"

Xiao Ruiyuan snapped back to reality, his lips curving into a smile. "She is the best."

But Zhen'er scratched his head in frustration. "But last time we visited Dad, Uncle Han wanted to find a husband for big sister. I don’t want my sister to get married. What should I do?"

Xiao Ruiyuan's gaze turned icy, like a sharp arrow. "Which uncle?"

Zhen'er was frightened by his cold stare and stammered, "Uncle... Uncle Han."

Oh no, big sister, come quickly! Big brother is scary!

Uncle Han?

Xiao Ruiyuan sneered coldly, clenching his fists. He didn't care who this Uncle Han was. Anyone trying to take away the woman he liked would have to deal with him!

But she was growing older, and she might be betrothed before coming of age. Unfortunately, it wasn't the right time to express his feelings. Otherwise, he would find a way to secure their marriage.

The thought of his beloved possibly being promised to someone else without his knowledge made Xiao Ruiyuan feel a tightness in his chest, a growing frustration.

Even if she got engaged, he could snatch her away, but it would damage her reputation. He had to find a way to prevent this from happening.

Various strategies flashed through his mind, but none seemed suitable. Suppressing his anxiety, he looked down to see Zhen'er's suspicious expression. An idea formed, and he focused his gaze on Zhen'er.

Zhen'er, feeling uneasy under his intense stare, shivered involuntarily, sensing something bad was about to happen.

When Mo Yan came over with a bucket of diluted spiritual spring water to feed the horses and cows, she saw the pair, heads together, whispering. As soon as they noticed her, they separated nonchalantly.

"What are you two talking about?" Mo Yan asked casually.

---

(End of Chapter)

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 80 Master Chen, It's Not Possible!

In this world, especially in the Southern Barbarian Region, life is hard, people struggle to eat enough and stay warm, and there's a constant threat to life.

As long as they can provide enough food and warmth, there will be followers.

Moreover, even if the court doesn't allow their power to grow and become dominant, and sends troops to suppress them, Chen Xue still has a backup plan.

That is to establish a sect.

For people in a feudal world, this method is very effective. Many people here can't eat enough or stay warm, so they all hope for a spiritual refuge.

Even those wealthy merchants who are well-fed will seek spiritual solace.

If she really establishes a sect, she can definitely attract many people.

And this method of building power is safer and more secure than before.

As long as the doctrine is established and loyal believers are recruited, these believers will automatically spread the doctrine, allowing them to hide in the shadows.

Moreover, unless the court annihilates all the people in the world, it is impossible to eliminate the sect she establishes unless they eliminate the doctrine itself.

But doctrine, even if the written texts are burned, can still be passed down through word of mouth, making it extremely difficult to stop.

However, establishing a sect, while a good method, is a double-edged sword. If handled well, it can protect oneself, but if mishandled, it could backfire.

After all, some believers can become fanatical and uncontrollable.

Ahem!

In short, Chen Xue has already come up with several plans to establish power. What needs to be done now is to stockpile resources and earn more contribution points.

However, it's very difficult for them to collect more resources on their own.

"In fact, the fastest way is to establish a association"

Master Chen spoke up. If the association becomes powerful, they will have enough influence.

This coincides with Chen Xue's previous thoughts.

Similarly, establishing a association is also the fastest way to collect resources.

It can be said that this is killing two birds with one stone.

"However..."

Chen Xue sighed and looked around. "We are all in exile. It's probably difficult to establish a association..."

If Chen Yuan were still the Minister of Revenue, then to establish a association they would need to have power, connections, and money.

But now, they are struggling to survive. Establishing a association at this time would be a joke.

"That's right." Madam Chen nodded. "Even if we want to do some small business, Captain Sun won't just sit idly by."

The few fell silent. Captain Sun is definitely their biggest obstacle at the moment.

This time, he almost caused the Chen family to be executed by that general. Chen Yuan was still terrified, and he harbored a strong dislike towards Captain Sun, wishing he could eliminate him.

"This Captain Sun is indeed a troublemaker!"

Chen Yuan sighed. In the past, he wouldn't have thought like this, but several times, these yamen runners had wanted to deal with them.

He could handle himself being targeted, but he couldn't bear to see his wife and daughter being bullied. A straightforward person like him would even scare himself when he gets serious.

Of course, he was just thinking about it. It's impossible to really kill Captain Sun. Firstly, he couldn't bring himself to do it.

Secondly, even if he did kill Captain Sun, it might not change the situation. If the court sends another captain, and that person is even more ruthless, then what?

He can't just go around killing them all!

"This is troublesome!"

Chen Xue also frowned. "Unless we can find someone to replace him, or make Captain Sun lose power."

Replacing him with someone they trust as the captain, then they wouldn't have to worry about anything.

But this is simply impossible. After all, the bailiffs are appointed by the court, and even if Chen Yuan wasn't exiled, he wouldn't have the authority to appoint them, especially now.

As for making Captain Sun lose power, this could be planned.

"Perhaps we can support Xu Tian and wait for his power to grow, then he can resist Captain Sun..." Madam Chen suggested.

"Yeah!" Chen Xue clapped her hands. "That's a good idea..."

"Wait a minute?"

"Where's Xu Tian?"

Chen Xue suddenly remembered something and her face changed. "Could something have happened to him?"

In the past, whatever happened, Xu Tian would always come over first to check on her father's condition.

With such a major riot happening now, Xu Tian should have come over. Even if he didn't have time at that moment because he was suppressing the prisoners, he should have time now that the riot has been quelled!

So, all Chen Xue and the others could think of was that something might have happened to Xu Tian.

After all, other prisoners are very resentful towards the bailiffs, and even killed several bailiffs during the riot.

"Go and find out if Xu Tian is okay!" Chen Yuan immediately lifted the curtain and instructed Chen Yi.

"Master Chen..."

Before he finished speaking, they heard a familiar voice. Looking up, they saw Xu Tian limping over, with a bandage on his head, and traces of blood seeping through it.

"Master Chen, are you all alright?"

Xu Tian hobbled over, worriedly inquiring, ignoring everything else, he grabbed Chen Yuan's hand and inspected it.

Chen Yuan quickly pulled his hand back. "I'm fine, but you seem to be injured. Is it serious?"

Hearing Chen Yuan's concern, Xu Tian was deeply moved. "It's nothing, just a minor injury. If I hadn't passed out at that time, I would have come to find Master Chen earlier."

He said his luck was both bad and good.

When the riot broke out, he was knocked unconscious by a prisoner.

His good luck was that he fell in a slightly secluded place and wasn't trampled by the prisoners. Moreover, he was only knocked unconscious at that time, so he didn't suffer any other injuries.

Chen Yuan glanced around, and Chen Yi and the others immediately understood, scattering to confirm that there were no eavesdroppers around.

Then, he stood on the carriage and looked at Xu Tian. "Xu Tian, do you want to be the captain?"

"Captain?"

"Master Chen, what are you talking about? What captain? I don't seem to be suitable to be a captain!"

Chen Yuan also understood. Xu Tian is too straightforward, and he doesn't have many tricks up his sleeve. Many times, you can tell what he's thinking just from his expression.

This is also why, despite having people like Yang Tian around him, he still hasn't entered the court.

In the court, even the daring censors are not single-minded. They also know how to be flexible and can read the Emperor's intentions.

Of course, except for a few truly upright censors, but these are rare. Moreover, it is only when they encounter a very wise Emperor that they can stay in the court and act as censors.

"Nothing!" It's just a test, Chen Yuan didn't say much. Instead, he changed the subject. "You said, do you think it's possible for us to do business?"

"Do business?"

Xu Tian was even more confused. Shouldn't Master Chen be determined to return to the court? Why does it seem like he's planning to change his career?

Master Chen was once the top scholar, the best talent of his time. Such a talented person being exiled is a loss to the court already. Now, he actually wants to change careers?

No, Master Chen can't change careers, and the court can't lose Master Chen. Xu Tian was suddenly anxious.

"No, Master Chen, this really won't work!"

Chen Yuan: ...

If it won't work, then it won't. Why are you so agitated, making it seem like I've done something to wrong you?

PS: Thank you for your support and votes. Thank you for your support.

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 43: Father Was Right, Sister Is the Best

When Prince Qing returned, it was already the following morning. He had clearly been busy all night.

Seeing him come back, Physician Liu hurriedly greeted him, "How did it go? Did you catch them all?"

Physician Liu didn’t care about the identities of the perpetrators; anyone who dared to harm their Sixth Master had to face the consequences!

Prince Qing’s efforts that night had paid off.

He nodded in response to Physician Liu’s question, "They’ve all been caught. The brothel they were associated with isn’t in the town but in the county, so we had to search around there."

Briefly summarizing the situation, Prince Qing frowned and asked, "Does Prince Qi’s household have any concubines with the surname Zhou?"

Prince Qing knew the names of Prince Qi’s wife and two secondary wives, but he hadn’t paid attention to the concubines.

Upon hearing this, Physician Liu seemed to understand something and also frowned, asking, "Is this brothel connected to the royal household?"

After thinking about the situation in the royal household, he nodded, "There is a concubine with the surname Zhou in the palace. She is the mother of Seventh Master."

The mother of Seventh Master?

Prince Qing was surprised and nodded, then furrowed his brows, lost in thought.

Before he could come to any conclusions, Feng Xuanrui, wearing an outer robe and barefoot, ran over, shouting with a hoarse voice, "What did Feng Qi’s silly mother do? Is she in cahoots with the bad people from yesterday?"

"I knew Feng Qi and his mother weren’t good. When we return to the capital, I’ll ask Father to kick them out!"

"Feng Qi always looks so shifty and bad!"

...

Feng Xuanrui had secretly followed Prince Qing out of the capital.

He had fought with Fifth Master Feng Xuanbo, breaking his head, and at the time, Seventh Master had been shouting.

In his panic, Feng Xuanrui had fled with his people!

The two children often fought and played around but didn’t hold a real grudge.

After shouting, Feng Xuanrui, still worried, asked, "Is it really related to the Seventh Master? Uncle Qing, you need to investigate carefully. I think, although Seventh Master is a bit silly, his relatives shouldn’t be that bad."

Feng Xuanrui had rushed over barefoot when he heard Prince Qing’s return.

Di Jiao followed closely behind, barely keeping up.

By the time they caught up, Di Jiao had put shoes on him, adjusted his clothes, and tried to persuade him to rest.

Feng Xuanrui was unwilling. He still couldn’t trust Feng Xuanbin’s relatives.

These bad people were unforgivable.

They nearly harmed him!

But if they were indeed related to Feng Xuanbin’s family, Feng Xuanrui felt he couldn’t be soft-hearted and let the bad people go.

However, considering brotherly affection, he might...

Hmm, just not tell them about it.

Seeing that he couldn’t be persuaded, Di Jiao used her trump card: "If Suisui wakes up and doesn’t see her brother, she’ll be upset."

Other arguments failed to sway the stubborn Feng Xuanrui.

But his sister could.

Upon hearing Di Jiao’s words, Feng Xuanrui forgot about Feng Xuanbin’s bad relatives and rushed back to the backyard.

When Feng Xuanrui returned, Suisui had just woken up.

Noticing her brother wasn’t beside her, Suisui’s little lips pouted in sadness.

Before she could cry, she saw Feng Xuanrui coming back.

Suisui’s face brightened with joy, and she opened her arms excitedly, calling out, "Brother!"

Feng Xuanrui, charmed by her call, smiled broadly and quickly went over to hug Suisui.

Then he helped Suisui get dressed, washed up, and applied medicine.

Since they woke up late, they only made it in time for lunch.

After eating, Feng Xuanrui, still not at ease, took Suisui’s hand and went to find Prince Qing.

But Prince Qing wasn’t there.

Suisui asked, puzzled, "Why is Brother looking for Uncle?"

Feng Xuanrui thought that since he would be taking his sister back to the residence in the future, it was important for her to get to know the people in the royal household.

So, despite his reluctance, he was willing to carefully introduce the people in the household to Suisui for her sake.

He took Suisui back, sat her down, and began, "Suisui, our household has many people. Some may be a bit silly, but they aren’t too bad and can still be useful."

"Besides me, there are several other brothers. You only need to know about them."

"Remember, I am the best. The eldest brother to the seventh brother, they’re just average."

...

While introducing the family, Feng Xuanrui didn’t forget to subtly downplay his other brothers.

Suisui didn’t fully understand but recalled that her cousins often quarreled and fought, which made her understand a bit more.

She nodded continuously, shaking her head at things she didn’t understand.

At such times, Feng Xuanrui’s smile became even brighter: "Those don’t matter. Just remember that I am the best."

Suisui obediently nodded, "Brother is the best, the very best!"

Those words were worth more than anything.

Feng Xuanrui was so delighted that he couldn’t stop smiling.

Prince Qing was out again in the afternoon and didn’t return by evening.

However, he had mentioned earlier that if he was too busy, he wouldn’t come back for the night.

With Physician Liu and Zhan Yuan staying at the inn, there was nothing to worry about.

Knowing Suisui couldn’t read, Feng Xuanrui took her to study in the afternoon.

Feng Xuanrui read while Suisui listened.

The simple "Three Character Classic" was read by Feng Xuanrui with rhythmic inflection and rich emotion, much like a storyteller in a teahouse.

Physician Liu found it hard to endure, but Suisui listened attentively.

She occasionally clapped her hands in admiration: "Brother is so amazing!"

"Wow, Brother knows all this!"

"Oh my, Brother is the best!"

...

The more Suisui praised, the stronger Feng Xuanrui’s desire to perform became!

Later, Feng Xuanrui even had Suisui recite along with him, "At the beginning of man, nature is good!"

Suisui obediently followed, her voice growing louder with confidence because of her brother, "Following Brother, at the beginning of man, nature is good!"

Feng Xuanrui, listening to her, couldn’t help but laugh, "Sister, you don’t need to recite the first part."

Suisui clapped happily, her eyes sparkling, "But I like reciting with Brother."

The child’s bright eyes shone more brightly than the starry night sky.

Feng Xuanrui watched, his eyes crinkling into a smile, and called out, "Brother also likes sister, likes her the most!"

After saying that, Feng Xuanrui turned to Suisui, "Sister, you also need to like Brother the most!"

Suisui nodded earnestly, "Yes, Suisui likes Brother the most, only Brother!"

Then, with her newly acquired skill of charming, Suisui added, "I like the eldest brother, the second brother, up to the seventh brother, but I like Brother the most!"

The "most" was perhaps the most flattering word.

Feng Xuanrui, hearing this, was almost dazed.

He thought: Father was right, sister is truly wonderful, really wonderful!

He loves his sister!

   Brother is the best, Brother is the most amazing!

   —Suisui’s Journal

Next Chapter▶▶