Chapter 682: the Long-Haired Beauty in the Lounge

Millions of dollars are not a small amount.

Qin Ruan furrowed her brows tightly, knowing that this incident was of great significance.

She let go of the tie she was holding and smoothed out the wrinkles on it.

Finally, she sighed, "You can go, but wear something warm. It's cold outside today."

Hou Yunjiao's lips curled up, and a faint smile appeared on his face. "Sure, I'll listen to Madam."

Qin Ruan raised an eyebrow and gave him a glare.

However, when she met his refined and handsome appearance and saw the gentle and indulgent smile in his eyes, she couldn't bring herself to say anything harsh.

Qin Ruan let go of the dark-colored tie she had just smoothed out and reminded him, "Come back early."

"Okay," Hou Yunjiao replied and gently stroked Qin Ruan's soft hair before leaving.

Hou Qiang and the others were already waiting in the hall.

Seeing that Hou Yunjiao had calmed down his wife, they immediately approached.

Hou Yunjiao was surrounded by the group as they left.

Qin Ruan stood behind, taking a quick look before turning and heading upstairs.

She was still somewhat unhappy in her heart, worrying about Hou Yunjiao's health.

Upstairs, in the bedroom.

Qin Ruan returned to her room, found her phone on the bedside table, and opened it to check her contacts.

Sure enough, she saw the missed call from her big brother this morning.

The call lasted less than a minute.

Qin Ruan dialed back.

The phone rang for a long time without anyone picking up.

Just when Qin Ruan was about to give up, Qin Jingcen finally answered the phone.

"Ruan Ruan, are you awake?"

His voice was hoarse, mixed with unmistakable fatigue.

Qin Ruan looked at the time. It was already noon, and her big brother was still sleeping at this time?

She asked, "Big Brother, did you call me this morning?"

"Yeah, Hu Yiyuan told me he saw you yesterday. It's been a while since we last contacted each other, so I wanted to check how you've been recently," Qin Jingcen's voice became clearer.

"I've been doing well recently," Qin Ruan replied.

As soon as she finished speaking, she heard some rustling sounds on his end.

Qin Jingcen was currently in the office's rest area. He absentmindedly pushed aside the blanket and got up from the bed.

"Ah!"

His movement startled the person sleeping next to him.

Qin Jingcen turned to look, and it turned out he had pressed against the long hair of the person beside him.

The voice from that side was not quiet, and Qin Ruan also heard it, "Who is big brother with? I heard someone else's voice."

Qin Jingcen's gaze fell on the person lying beside him, revealing half of a delicate and beautiful profile.

When he heard Qin Ruan's inquiry, he retracted his gaze and said in a calm tone, "I'm with a friend."

He put on his shoes gently, and his voice became lower as he spoke.

Qin Jingcen walked to the other end of the bed and pulled up the unfastened blanket before leaving the lounge.

After closing the door, he walked into the office, and his voice was no longer deliberately lowered.

"Ruan Ruan, did you notice anything wrong with Hu Yiyuan when you two separated last night, something different from usual?"

Qin Ruan thought back to last night when she turned around in the car and saw Hu Yiyuan's figure overlapping with Hu Ying.

She couldn't tell who had a slimmer figure, and their long hair, illuminated by the streetlights in the night, made it difficult to discern.

With her eyelids slightly lowered, she reached out and occasionally touched the tablet that Third Young Master sometimes used for work on the bedside table.

"Nothing was wrong. When I separated from him, it seemed like there was a slight disagreement between him and Hu Ying, but I didn't notice anything else."

"That's good." Qin Jingcen seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

Then, he changed the subject and started talking about Qin Mei.

"Meimei has been quite obedient recently, but Snowball is mischievous at home. Every day, it insists on having Mei accompany it to school. If he doesn't, it will cause trouble in the house, and even the housekeepers are afraid of it."

Knowing that he didn't want to mention the matter of Qin Shi Group as her dowry, Qin Ruan didn't say much.

Qin Shi Group belonged to the Qin family, and she wouldn't accept it so easily.

Qin Ruan sat on the edge of the bed, thinking of her mischievous second brother and the haughty Snowball. She couldn't help but laugh.

"Snowball is quite smart. It's good that Second Brother accompanies it to school; it means they get along well."

"That's not good." Qin Jingcen complained, "Ruan Ruan, you haven't been home for quite a while. When are you coming back to stay for a few days? Father and Meimei don't mention it, but they miss you a lot."

Qin Ruan smiled, her voice affectionate as she asked, "What about you, Big Brother? Do you miss me?"

Her words carried a hint of coquettishness.

"Of course, I miss you." Qin Jingcen admitted straightforwardly, "You haven't been back to see the three of us single men for so long. It's typical of someone to have a man and forget about her family."

His teasing tone carried a tinge of complaint, and hearing it, Qin Ruan's lips twitched.

Her mature and steady big brother could say such things, which meant she hadn't been back home much lately.

Since she came to Xiangxi Manor with Third Young Master, she hadn't been back home.

Thinking of Hou Yunjiao's recent health condition and his leaving today, Qin Ruan spoke softly, "Give me some time. Third Young Master's health hasn't been good recently."

"He..." Qin Jingcen, as the eldest brother, was just about to complain about his brother-in-law when the door of the lounge was pushed open from the inside.

Shoe tips tapped the floor, and the chair under him swiveled as he turned around.

A person with a bare upper body, wearing only a pair of casual pants, walked out from inside.

The waistband of his pants was loose, revealing a cute belly button that moved with his breath.

For men, this was not a major issue.

Qin Jingcen's gaze didn't travel any further, and he held back the words about to come out of his mouth.

He said to Qin Ruan, "Ruan Ruan, I have something to do. Let's talk later."

Qin Ruan obediently replied, "Okay."

Before hanging up the call, Qin Jingcen reminded her with concern, "Don't just take care of Third Young Master. Even if he's not feeling well, he's still a man. You're pregnant with twins now, and you're the one who needs special care."

Qin Ruan laughed softly, "I know. Usually, it

's Third Young Master who accommodates me."

Her words were indeed true, but Qin Jingcen didn't believe it.

"You take care of him," Qin Jingcen grumbled and then hung up the phone.

 Chapter 681: Hou Yunjiao Gets Jealous and Threatens to Destroy the Peach Blossoms

Qin Ruan met Lan An's gaze with a probing and vigilant look, and the latter's proud eyes flickered slightly.

Lan An lowered his head slowly, concealing the deep and restless emotions in his eyes.

The most feared thing is when the air suddenly becomes quiet.

It was a silent confrontation, and Lan An took the first step back.

Ling Feng suddenly stood up and walked to Lan An's side, whispering, "I want to go back to the mountain."

Lan An raised his head, the icy expression on his face melting like snow.

He raised his eyebrows slightly, his expression showing a hint of tenderness, "If we find the jujube tree, can we return to Qishan?"

Ling Feng had only entered the human world a few hundred years ago and had hardly ever set foot in the human realm since then.

He followed Lan An out of Qishan this time because Lan An was afraid she would be lonely in the mountains, so he insisted on bringing her along.

"Okay," Ling Feng agreed.

She still stood beside Lan An, silent.

Qin Ruan sat across from them, observing them intently, and suddenly asked, "Are you two together?"

"No," Ling Feng replied nonchalantly.

Lan An pursed his lips and also shook his head.

The two of them had a strong understanding of each other, yet there was no hint of romantic ambiguity.

Lan An held Ling Feng's hand and stood up, saying to Qin Ruan, "We should leave now. If there's any news, we'll come to you."

Qin Ruan joked, "When you come to find me, please don't make a grand entrance. My husband lives here, and he's not in good health. Don't disturb him."

Lan An's warm eyes instantly turned as deep as an abyss.

His voice became slightly hoarse, "Is he treating you well?"

The question came out of the blue, and Qin Ruan tilted her head, "Hmm?"

She didn't understand what Lan An meant.

Lan An asked again, "Are you satisfied with your current life? Are you at peace?"

A life without pain and heavy burdens, are you happy with it?

"Of course, I like my current life." Qin Ruan narrowed her eyes and smiled, "Lan An, your attitude is quite strange. You seem very interested in me."

Lan An tugged at the corner of his lips, trying to show a smile, but it seemed forced.

His expression didn't look natural, and he avoided Qin Ruan's inquisitive gaze as he said softly, "You give me a sense of familiarity."

"Is that so?" Qin Ruan shrugged, "Yesterday, someone else told me something similar."

She recalled the words Hu Yixun said about meeting old acquaintances lately.

"Miss Qin, goodbye."

Lan An didn't pursue the matter any further, seemingly changing the topic, and turned to leave with Ling Feng.

When the three of them left the reception room, they happened to meet Hou Yunjiao, who had come to find Qin Ruan.

He was dressed in a suit, exuding elegance and grace.

Hou Yunjiao's lips carried a faint smile, his features clear and refined, his face like a flawless work of art, cultured and elegant.

Yet, his eyes were cold and distant, exuding an aura of inviolable composure and serenity.

When he ran into Lan An and Ling Feng, Hou Yunjiao's eyes flickered, bypassing them to look at Qin Ruan behind.

Qin Ruan blinked and asked, "Are you going out?"

Hou Yunjiao usually never dressed in formal attire at home, so his current outfit clearly indicated he was going out.

"Yes," Hou Yunjiao replied, his tranquil gaze fixed on Qin Ruan as he confirmed.

Sensing a hostile gaze, he looked at Lan An.

The delicate and enchanting appearance of Lan An, with a hint of coldness, made it hard for him to ignore the man's displeasure.

The strange glint in Lan An's emerald eyes caught his attention.

With his refined and charming appearance, Hou Yunjiao's smile seemed warm and inviting, but a dangerous aura lurked beneath.

"These two are?" Hou Yunjiao inquired politely, maintaining his composure.

"They're friends. They have some business to attend to, and they're about to leave," Qin Ruan said, taking a step forward and holding Hou Yunjiao's arm.

Suppressing the dissatisfaction and slight anger within her heart, she couldn't help but think that he was really treating himself like an iron man, going out despite his frail health.

Lan An stood there for a moment, then asked Qin Ruan, "Is he your lover?"

This question... was quite straightforward.

Qin Ruan nodded, "Yes."

No hesitation or reluctance.

Hou Yunjiao was her partner in this life and the previous one.

"Lover" is a term used by a wife to address her husband, but a husband can also use it to address his wife.

Furthermore, "lover" can represent a good and virtuous person.

As a couple, Hou Yunjiao was her lover.

Beyond the husband and wife identity, his kindness in her previous life was that of a benevolent person.

Lan An, satisfied with Qin Ruan's response, approached Hou Yunjiao and said, "Hello."

His voice was cold, and the enmity in his eyes remained.

When Lan An stared at Hou Yunjiao, it was like a deity looking down upon an ant.

Hou Yunjiao's brows lifted slightly. The feeling of being underestimated was somewhat inexplicable, but he found it intriguing.

With exquisite features and a handsome face, he smiled like a spring breeze, exceptionally good-looking.

Unfortunately, the smile on his face didn't reach his eyes; his gaze remained deep and dangerous.

"Hello."

Hou Yunjiao's lips curved with restrained arrogance, his voice casually indifferent.

Lan An's gaze shot sharp as arrows at Hou Yunjiao, and his lips pursed in displeasure.

Hou Yunjiao's expression turned cold, and he said in a deep voice, "Miss Qin is my benefactor."

Hou Yunjiao eyes flashed with a chilling light, but his lips curved into an alluring smile, exuding a calm and leisurely aura.

He held Qin Ruan's shoulder, their intimacy proclaiming their relationship.

Third Master smiled disdainfully at Lan Ang, "She's my wife, the mother of my child."

His voice was melodious and pleasant, like the tinkling of a brook.

He remained poised and elegant, exuding an air of composure.

Lan An keenly sensed the dignified and naturally noble aura emanating from Hou Yunjiao, combined with a hint of devilish charm and laziness.

Despite the smile on his face, the coldness in his eyes made people shiver.

Lan An lowered his gaze and looked at the tightly held hands of Qin Ruan and Hou Yunjiao.

She didn't resist the intimacy with the man, and her dependence was evident in her eyes.

Lan An pursed his lips, and his anger subsided.

He looked at the two and sincerely blessed them, "I wish you a harmonious union and eternal togetherness."

This sincerity was irresistible.

"Thank you, we will be."

As soon as Hou Yunjiao uttered those words, he felt a bit uneasy.

Eternal togetherness?

That seemed a bit challenging.

Lan An seemed to struggle to breathe. After bidding farewell to Qin Ruan again, he took Ling Feng and left.

Qin Ruan stood at the door, watching Lan An and Ling Feng's departing figures, her gaze lingering.

The subtle emotions in her heart left a deep impression of Lan An.

His benevolence towards her and his familiar demeanor were reminiscent of a forgotten acquaintance.

Searching her memory once more, she still couldn't find any image related to Lan An.

Her final conclusion remained unchanged: she really didn't know him.

"Now that they're gone, stop staring."

Hou Yunjiao extended his hand, covering Qin Ruan's eyes.

He pulled her inside the house, and the door closed behind them.

The hand in front of Qin Ruan's eyes remained.

She blinked her eyes, her long lashes brushing against his palm, like a kitten's paw scratching his heart.

He pushed Qin Ruan against the embossed wall, leaning closer to her ear, his voice laced with jealousy, "Ruan Ruan, where did you find such a big peach blossom?"

He was referring to Lan An.

Qin Ruan's lips curved, a mix of laughter and exasperation, "No, Lan An has feelings for someone, the girl beside him."

She blinked her eyes, and her fluttering lashes brushed against his palm like tiny brushes.

"Is that so?" Hou Yunjiao's voice was indifferent.

He hadn't noticed what that woman looked like at all.

Lan An's hostility was too obvious, and his somewhat effeminate appearance would hardly escape Hou Yunjiao's attention, given his attitude towards Qin Ruan.

Hou Yunjiao blew a gentle breath into Qin Ruan's ear, his lips grazing her earlobe.

He whispered, "But the way he looks at you makes me very unhappy."

His voice was both lazy and sexy, even if feigning annoyance.

Qin Ruan's body went weak, leaning against the wall, her hands encircling Third Master's neck from behind.

She pleaded, "Third Young Master, don't tease me like this."

She could clearly see through his intention. There was no way Hou Yunjiao couldn't see Lan An's feelings for her.

Hou Yunjiao removed the hand that covered Qin Ruan's eyes.

His eyelids lifted slightly, his peach blossom eyes brimming with tenderness and indulgence.

Such tenderness was intoxicating, making one lose oneself and surrendering without resistance.

Qin Ruan lowered her head slowly, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks.

Huo Yunjiao gazed at her blushing face, his lips parting slightly, "I'll spare you this time, but if another peach blossom comes around, I'll personally take care of it."

Qin Ruan pouted, lightly humming, "It's all hypothetical!"

"What?" Third Master deliberately lowered his voice, even feigning anger, still dripping with a seductive quality.

In an instant, Qin Ruan felt a sense of defeat, "Nothing!"

She had to back down.

This person's long and slender leg was pressed against her knees.

Any slight movement on his part would cause her discomfort.

This was clearly a threat.

A naked threat!

Qin Ruan exhaled heavily, her baby-faced cheeks puffed up.

This somewhat resentful yet silent appearance brought forth a pleased chuckle from Hou Yunjiao.

He pinched his recently tasted earlobe and curved his thin lips with a dignified arc. "I'll be out for a while. Wait for me obediently at home."

After speaking, he leaned down slowly and planted a kiss between Qin Shengzi's eyebrows.

"Oh."

Qin Ruan responded and suddenly looked up.

"No way!"

She disregarded Hou Yunjiao's veiled threat and the previous reversal, leaning forward.

Brushing away the hidden touch, she grabbed Hou Yunjiao's tie and pulled him close.

"Third Young Master, what kind of tactics and schemes are you playing with me?" Qin Ruan's expression was half-smiling, her annoyance clear in her eyes. "You're not leaving this place today!"

Hou Yunjiao knew she had figured it out and sighed softly in his heart, though his face didn't show it.

His voice remained gentle, "Ruan Ruan, there's an issue at the company that I need to address."

"That's not acceptable either!"

Qin Ruan's grip was strong, holding onto Hou Yunjiao's tie tightly.

A hint of fatigue appeared in Hou Yunjiao's eyes and expression. He softened his tone and coaxed Qin Shengzi, "Darling, the company is facing some trouble this time. I must go out for a while. Be good, I'll be back soon."

His eyes couldn't hide the trace of weariness, and Qin Ruan felt a pang of sympathy.

She loosened her grip on the tie slightly and complained emotionally, "How important is it that you need to go in person? Can't you delegate it to Brother Rong?"

Hou Yunjiao's long leg withdrew discreetly from between Qin Ruan's knees.

To prevent her from being uncomfortable, he embraced Qin Ruan and walked towards the living room.

At this moment, Qin Ruan finally reacted.

Even though Hou Yunjiao's leg was gone, the sensation from before lingered, leaving an awkward feeling.

Hou Yunjiao gently placed her on the sofa, her legs tightly together, trying to conceal the unnaturalness.

Hou Yunjiao leaned in closer, meeting her gaze seriously. "Ruan Ruan, this incident is very important. The Hou family's research facility in Fulu Country was destroyed, resulting in the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars and a significant research achievement."

 Chapter 316: Inspecting the Shop

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 Chapter 315: Making Shoes

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 Chapter 819: She Is the Village Lord's Sister

Shu Yu chatted with the Xu family for a while before preparing to leave.

She had spent quite a long time at the manor, and Grandma was still waiting for her in the backyard. Moreover, her parents in the county didn't know the good news yet.

Shu Yu said to Wang Changdong, "I need to go to the county to tell my parents this good news. I'll trouble you with the registration matters tonight. I'll come back tomorrow to hand over with Xu Dali."

Wang Changdong was in a good mood and quickly replied, "Yes, yes, your parents don't know about this good news yet. You should hurry back and make them happy. The estate's duties can wait. It won't be too late for you to come when you're free."

Shu Yu then said to him, "I'll bring my grandmother back home. I'll temporarily leave the things given by the Emperor at the estate and bring them to the county together with the mule cart."

The official from the Ministry of Justice had brought not only the imperial edict but also the two hundred taels of gold, as well as jewelry and medicinal herbs.

Although the items didn't seem like much, they couldn't be easily carried away by just Shu Yu and Grandma alone.

Besides, she didn't plan to leave them here in Zhengdao Village, so she might as well bring everything to the county.

Wang Changdong nodded. "Alright, I'll keep an eye on the things for you."

In fact, no one would dare to steal the items given by the Emperor.

Shu Yu went to the backyard to find Grandma, who was chatting with Aunt Fang about her plans after leaving.

They had quite a few belongings at home, even though they had only been here for half a year. There were many household items to take care of.

They would take away what they could and give the rest to people they were on good terms with.

Fang Xiyue had a good relationship with Ah Yu, so Grandma asked her what she lacked and told her to come and take it tomorrow.

At this critical moment, Aunt Fang didn't bother to be polite anymore. She had just agreed on a time with Grandma when Shu Yu arrived.

"Grandma, let's go to the county."

Grandma bid farewell to Aunt Fang, and the two of them headed straight home, feeling relaxed.

There weren't many people gathered outside the estate anymore. After all, it had been quite some time, and everyone wanted to go home for dinner. There was also plenty of work to be done at home.

Shu Yu still had a basket of clothes in her hand as they deliberately took a secluded path with few people.

However, when they arrived at the doorstep, Grandma noticed that the lock on the courtyard gate was missing.

She became nervous all of a sudden. "I locked the courtyard before I left. Could it be that I'm getting old and forgot?"

Grandma turned her head to look at Shu Yu. "Could someone have broken into our house?"

Shu Yu found it amusing. "Impossible. At this critical moment, who dares to steal from our house?"

As if she had thought of something, her eyes lit up. "Could it be... that my parents have arrived?"

Grandma was startled, and they hurriedly pushed open the courtyard gate.

Sure enough, as soon as they entered, they saw the house bustling with activity. San Ya and Da Hu came running towards them. "Grandmother, Second Sister."

"Second Sister, Second Sister, they said you're the village lord now. How amazing!"

San Ya hugged Shu Yu's thigh, her eyes shining.

Zhao Xi explained to her what being a village lord meant, although she didn't fully understand it yet. But as long as she knew that even the magistrate had to be respectful, it was enough.

Shu Yu put the clothes basket on the ground and lifted San Ya up. "Yes, from now on, you're the village lord's sister."

San Ya was stunned. The village lord's sister? Her eyes brightened even more, and her body trembled with excitement. "Then, then I'm amazing too, right?"

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  Chapter 81: Punishment (Part 1)

Yan Junyu's words made Mo Yan unable to remain calm anymore. She thought she had been very careful, but how could the secret of the Spirit Spring water be discovered so soon?

Initially, she was worried that if the vegetables grew too fast, it would arouse suspicion, so she dared not put too much Spirit Spring water in the irrigation ditch. Even if ordinary people ate vegetables watered with Spirit Spring water, they would only find the vegetables tasty. Even if they consumed them for a long time and expelled impurities from their bodies, the effects wouldn't be very noticeable, and it was almost impossible to be discovered.

However, she was too confident after all. No matter where the problem arose, if the person in front of her hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, it would have been impossible for him to understand the effects of the Spirit Spring water so thoroughly.

Fortunately, he only thought that the secret technique in her hands was similar to the medicinal potions used for planting flowers and didn't suspect anything about the spatial aspect. This somewhat reassured her.

But since it had already been discovered, it was difficult to guarantee that it wouldn't be discovered by a second, third, or even more people in the future. If this continued, would the secret of the space be exposed? She really couldn't guarantee it.

Even if people couldn't think of her possessing a space, they might suspect that she had unnatural abilities. If she were used by someone with malicious intent, she would definitely be viewed as a monster by the world. Unless from now on, she stopped using everything in the space...

Thinking of this, Mo Yan gradually calmed down. Facing Yan Junyu's calm expression, she stopped pretending and openly admitted, "That's right, I do have a secret technique. As long as you give me a promise, I can give you the potions I've brewed."

With a "snap," the jade bone fan closed, and Yan Junyu looked directly at her, the faint pressure in his starry eyes intimidating.

"What I want is the secret technique!"

Mo Yan wouldn't back down either. Her sharp gaze met his directly, with no room for negotiation in her tone. "I can only give you the potions. Even if I give you the secret technique, you won't be able to brew it. If you don't believe me, there's nothing I can do!"

In her previous life, when her family sent the Spirit Spring water to research institutions, a dozen or so researchers studied it for a long time, only to find that its components were similar to pure water. It was impossible to replicate it in reality.

Yan Junyu's fox-like eyes stared at Mo Yan fixedly, the smile on his face unchanged. Those who were familiar with him knew that this was his true angry expression.

Mo Yan looked at him calmly, with a rare seriousness and stubbornness on her face.

After a long stare, Yan Junyu compromised and uttered a word:

"Speak!"

Mo Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, resisting the urge to wipe her sweat, and said, "As long as within the jurisdiction of the capital, our family can do anything, but you must ensure the safety of our family."

Hearing this, Yan Junyu smiled ambiguously. "Little girl, you have quite the audacity! Do you think that just by giving a few potions, I will agree to your request?"

Mo Yan returned the smile, her eyes shining brighter than the stars in the dark night. "If it were just a vegetable-growing potion, you naturally wouldn't agree."

Yan Junyu's heart stirred, his eyes containing a hint of approval that even he didn't notice. "Good! As long as you don't conspire against or betray the country, I will ensure the safety of your family!"

As he spoke, he took out a jet-black ink jade from his body and handed it to Mo Yan. "This ink jade serves as proof. If your family encounters any difficulties in the future, take this ink jade to the Wu'an Mansion for help."

Then, he took off a dark green ring from his left pinky finger and said solemnly, "If it's an urgent matter, take this ring to the treasurer at the Huixian Residence. If the treasurer isn't there, go directly to the Baoyue Tower, and someone will help you then."

Mo Yan hadn't come to her senses from the familiar term "Wu'an Mansion" yet. She blankly accepted the dark green ring, feeling the residual warmth on it, which instantly brought her back to her senses. She couldn't help but widen her eyes and ask, "Are you from the Wu'an Mansion?"

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 Chapter 818: Wang Changdong's Opportunity Arrives

The county magistrate wasted no time in taking action once he made a decision. He handled the succession matters on the spot. The rest was left to Shu Yu, as the Prefect couldn't assist with the registration of the roster.

It was getting late, and after a few more words with Shu Yu, the county magistrate bid farewell and left.

Shu Yu and Wang Changdong accompanied him to the door. Suddenly, the county magistrate stopped, raised his gaze, and scrutinized Wang Changdong from head to toe. He nodded slightly and said, "Come to the Prefectural Office in a few days. I have something to discuss with you."

"Yes, Your Excellency," Wang Changdong hurriedly replied.

Once the county magistrate had left, Wang Changdong stood there with a puzzled expression. "Why does the county magistrate want to see me? Can't it be discussed now?"

Shu Yu turned her head and glanced at him, speaking softly, "When he wants to see you, it must be good news."

"Good news?" Wang Changdong was stunned.

Shu Yu chuckled, "Haven't you always wanted to transfer to the county town? Your opportunity has come."

After saying that, she turned around and returned to the manor.

Wang Changdong stood there, dumbfounded.

What did Miss Lu say? Did she say he could transfer to the county seat? He immediately jumped up with excitement. After regaining his composure, he hurriedly turned and ran back inside. "Miss Lu, uh, no, village chief Lu, did you really mean what you just said? I, I really..."

Shu Yu turned her head and blinked at him. "I just said there's an opportunity."

Wang Changdong suddenly stopped in his tracks. Yes, yes, the matter wasn't confirmed yet. He couldn't go around shouting about it, or he would embarrass himself if something went wrong along the way.

However, since Miss Lu dared to say it, it was almost a sure thing that he would be transferred to the county seat.

Just two more days of patience, and it would become a reality.

Wang Changdong smirked. He knew that he had the chance to reap the benefits by following Miss Lu. He didn't believe that he had obtained this opportunity without Miss Lu's involvement.

Wang Changdong caught up to Shu Yu with three or four strides and laughed, "By the way, I haven't had a chance to congratulate you yet. Not only were you acquitted, but you also became a village lord. It's really..."

He couldn't find the right words to describe it, so he simply gave a thumbs-up and said, "It's truly amazing."

Shu Yu couldn't help but smile. "I owe it to your care. You gave me enough time and energy. Without you, I couldn't have produced something like the heating packs, and I wouldn't be where I am today."

"You're being too modest."

The two of them entered the main hall, and the Xu family of three were still standing there.

When they saw Shu Yu return, Xu Dali immediately knelt down with his wife and child.

Shu Yu was startled. "What are you doing? Get up quickly."

Xu Dali stood up, but still respectfully said, "Thank you, village chief, for giving me this opportunity and allowing me to switch to an easier job."

Shu Yu waved her hand. "It's your own merit. If you couldn't read, I wouldn't have been able to recommend you. Live a good life from now on, and it won't be in vain for me to have put in the effort."

"Yes, we will work hard."

Shu Yu looked at Xu Zhensheng, who had a hesitant expression, and raised her eyebrows. "What's the matter?"

"village chief, are you going back to your hometown? Will Da Hu also leave?"

Shu Yu thought about her relatively short acquaintance with Xu Zhensheng and Da Hu, but they had developed a rare camaraderie. It was normal to feel reluctant to part ways.

She nodded. "Yes, Da Hu will also leave. If you can't bear it, you can communicate with him in the future."

With Xu Dali having a new job, it would be no problem to occasionally correspond once their family's circumstances improved.

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  Chapter 80: Exposed

Inside the octagonal pavilion in the small garden, Mo Yan secretly observed the person sitting across from her. She couldn't help but laugh out loud if it weren't for the inappropriate situation, to release the frustration of being touched on the face.

This person looked extraordinary, quite unusual. Mo Yan was a bit nervous inside, but she didn't dare to show it too blatantly.

How could Yan Junyu, as he was, not notice the real culprit enjoying his misfortune? He held onto his jade bone fan, suppressing his anger. He kept telling himself it was his fault for reaching out first, not the fault of the little girl. He barely maintained his gentlemanly demeanor, refraining from retaliating.

But the resentment was hard to contain. He swiftly opened the fan, trying to cool down his burning anger.

Mo Yan's lips twitched involuntarily as she subconsciously adjusted her collar. There was no shelter in this pavilion, and the wind blowing in from outside was a bit chilly.

Seeing this, Yan Junyu paused, feeling that the fan was particularly annoying. With a "snap," he closed the jade bone fan and threw it on the stone table. He didn't want this irritable girl to think he was crazy!

In the entire small garden, there were only the two of them. At this moment, neither of them spoke. Besides the sound of the gentle breeze, there was complete silence.

Mo Yan saw that he wasn't speaking and didn't intend to prolong the awkwardness. She cleared her throat and took the initiative to ask, "May I ask for the gentleman's name? Did you ask Shopkeeper Xing to come here for something?"

Yan Junyu originally didn't want to respond. He wanted to suppress her arrogance, but tormenting a young girl wasn't something a gentleman should do.

Glancing at Mo Yan with a gloomy expression, he took out a piece of paper from his sleeve and threw it onto the stone table. "Take a look for yourself!"

Mo Yan didn't mind the stranger's attitude. She picked up the paper from the stone table without hesitation. After reading it, she was so angry that she wanted to rush to the Liu Yang Village immediately and beat Mo Yongshou to a pulp.

She finally understood what scheme Mo Yongshou was up to. Although she was furious inside, she maintained a calm demeanor on the surface. "What do you mean by this, sir?"

Surprised by her calmness, Yan Junyu said unexpectedly, "Aren't you angry?"

Mo Yan pretended to be puzzled. "This is a transaction between Mo Yongshou and you. It has nothing to do with me. Why should I be angry?"

Yan Junyu choked up a bit. He stared at Mo Yan's face with his long, fox-like eyes, seeing that her expression didn't seem fake. He smirked devilishly, "Whether you're truly naive or pretending to be, as long as I use this to pressure him to reveal the secret method, do you think you can escape?"

Mo Yan remained calm. "You won't!"

Her firm answer caught Yan Junyu off guard. "I'll let you see whether I can or not!"

His frustrated tone only made Mo Yan secretly relieved. However, she also knew it was unwise to provoke this somewhat immature man further.

"If you wanted to do that, you would have done it long ago, instead of letting Shopkeeper Xing run around for half a month. Moreover, you could have used this evidence to join forces with Mo Yongshou to pressure me. At that time, to ensure the safety of my family, I would have compromised. But you didn't do that. Instead, you informed me. This is enough to prove that you are an honorable man!"

Being praised as an honorable man made Yan Junyu feel a lot better. He gave Mo Yan a look of "you know better," picked up the jade bone fan, and began to play with it.

Mo Yan kept her head down, not letting him see the twitching corner of her mouth. She had thought this person would be difficult to deal with, but now...

Well, there's a type of subordinate for every type of master. Shopkeeper Xing and that Xiao Zhu both seemed a bit eccentric, so it was normal for their master to be a bit eccentric too.

Yan Junyu didn't know he had been categorized as an "eccentric" by Mo Yan. Feeling quite pleased with himself, he asked, "So, are you willing to reveal the secret method now?"

Mo Yan decisively shook her head. "There is no such secret method, as you should be aware."

Yan Junyu's eyes narrowed, but the smile on his face became even more intense. Pointing at the flowers blooming in the flowerbed, he suddenly asked with a mismatched tone:

"Do you know why these flowers, which normally bloom in autumn, can bloom in the cold winter?"

Looking at the flowers swaying gracefully in the cold wind, Mo Yan hesitated and shook her head.

Yan Junyu didn't look at her. With a flick of his finger, he opened the jade bone fan, and it flew out rapidly. Before Mo Yan could react, the fan, carrying a cut-off chrysanthemum, "whooshed" back into Yan Junyu's hand.

Mo Yan was stunned to see this. A fan could be used in such a way?

At this moment, her gaze towards Yan Junyu completely changed. Looking at the neatly cut chrysanthemum, she subconsciously touched her neck. She couldn't help but feel grateful that this man she slapped twice in anger that didn't use the fan to cut her throat.

"Hmph, you dare to hit me and still act brave. You should be thankful that I never hit women!"

Seeing Mo Yan's stunned expression, Yan Junyu mocked her again. Only now did he feel like he had regained a bit of face.

Mo Yan's lips twitched again, and she decided to stay silent.

Punching the cotton, Yan Junyu's slightly improved mood turned sour again. He threw the chrysanthemum to Mo Yan with a fierce expression and explained angrily:

"These flowers can resist the cold winter because they have been irrigated with a certain liquid since the first day the seeds were planted. This liquid not only makes the flowers less susceptible to pests and diseases, but also makes them resistant to the cold. Otherwise, where do you think those noble ladies in the capital get the hundreds of flowers for their winter flower-viewing parties?"

Liquid?

Mo Yan was shocked to hear about such a miraculous liquid in this world. In her previous life, it was difficult to make flowers bloom out of season.

Could it be that because of this liquid, this man was so sure that she possessed some secret method similar to this liquid?

The following words from Yan Junyu made Mo Yan tremble with fear, and she couldn't find any excuses to evade.

"Your vegetables grow better than the seasonal ones, which is already suspicious. Not to mention, their taste is far superior, and after consuming them for a period of time, they can even cleanse the impurities from one's body. If you don't admit it, do you think I won't be able to prove it?"

Seeing Mo Yan's unshakable composure finally falter, Yan Junyu smiled smugly as he played with the jade bone fan, his fox-like eyes gleaming even more dangerously.

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 Chapter 817: Xu Dali Secured the Position

The Shu family was not far from the Xu family today, and they naturally heard what Wang Changdong had said. Anger and bitterness welled up in their hearts, and they couldn't muster the energy to work.

"Lu Shuyu always thinks about others and never considers us. We have lived with her for so many years, yet she shows us no regard."

The one speaking was the Second Madam, but she dared only mutter a few words.

Shu Feng glanced at her and sneered inwardly. Regard? When she was imprisoned by her grandmother in the sinking pond, everyone just watched without showing any regard. Where was the regard back then?

Anyway, Shu Yu's affairs were no longer their concern. They had all been exiled to this place, and it was important for everyone to focus on taking care of themselves and making a living.

The Shu family felt resentful, but there was nothing they could do. They could only ignore the curious gazes coming from all directions and bury their heads in their work.

Meanwhile, Wang Changdong had already led the Xu family back and explained what had happened at the estate along the way.

The Xu family of three were in shock. Did they hear correctly? Several important figures had come from the capital, and they came to deliver a decree to Miss Lu, appointing her as a village lord and allowing her to return to her original hometown?

Therefore, with one less person responsible for registration at the estate, Miss Lu had recommended him to the county magistrate?

The Xu family exchanged glances, and of course, they were happy for Shu Yu to be able to leave this place.

After the initial joy, they became excited about being able to switch to an easier and more comfortable job.

Xu Dali thought of more possibilities than Shu Yu did. If he could really work at the estate, at the very least, his family could save on his portion of food. Although he didn't receive any wages due to his prisoner status, the daily rations he received were better than what others got.

Moreover, he would have a lot of free time to do his own things. He could seize this opportunity to earn some money and improve their lives. His wife and son wouldn't need to work so hard.

So when Wang Changdong finished speaking and said, "You must write neatly later and not embarrass Lu Shuyu," Xu Dali took a deep breath and nodded busily. "Don't worry, I will write well."

He had confidence in his handwriting, but it had been a long time since he had touched a brush, so he still felt a bit nervous.

Throughout the journey, Xu Dali had been quietly exercising his fingers.

When they arrived at the estate, they could still hear the conversation between the county magistrate and Shu Yu. Seeing them return, Shu Yu stopped and said to the county magistrate, "This is Xu Dali, and beside him are his wife and child."

The county magistrate observed them, and after Xu Dali paid his respects, the county magistrate said, "Village Chief Lu highly recommended you, stating that you are literate, reasonable, and of good character. You are more than capable of being responsible for registration at the estate. Although I trust Village Chief Lu, I still want to see your handwriting. There is ink, paper, and inkstone over there. Give it a try."

"Yes." Xu Dali respectfully agreed and glanced gratefully at Shu Yu. Then, he took a deep breath and walked to the desk.

He didn't need a chair to sit on. After grasping the brush and familiarizing himself for a moment, he began to write a poem.

The county magistrate glanced at it and nodded slightly. "Not bad."

He was quite satisfied with Xu Dali. Although he had lost a hand, according to what miss Lu had said, he worked hard in the wasteland and received a good portion of food.

Since he was capable and the loss of one hand didn't matter, the county magistrate had no objections.

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  Chapter 79: First Encounter with Arrogance

Early the next morning, Mo Yan arrived at the Eastern Market as usual, only to find that Lin Meng and the others, who usually arrived earlier than her, hadn't shown up yet. She stood in front of the stall waiting for nearly two quarters of an hour before she saw several familiar ox carts slowly approaching with people and vegetables.

She looked carefully but only saw Lin Meng, Xiong Shi, and Zhou Shi sitting on the carts. Mo Yongshou and Mo Yonglu were nowhere to be seen.

After the group got off the carts and placed the dozen or so baskets of vegetables neatly, Mo Yan asked, "Why didn't they come?"

When Lin Meng and the others heard this, they looked at each other and finally Lin Meng spoke up, "When we came over in the morning, we didn't see them. We thought they overslept, so we waited for a while. But after nearly a quarter of an hour passed and they still hadn't arrived, I went to their house to find them. It's just... it's just that Mo Yongshou said they won't be coming here anymore!"

In reality, what Mo Yongshou said was much harsher, but Lin Meng didn't want to say it and affect everyone's mood.

Mo Yan frowned. If these two simply didn't want to work anymore, they wouldn't have refused yesterday's wages. Thinking about their abnormal behavior these past few days, she suddenly had a bad feeling.

Considering everything that had happened in the past few days, Mo Yan thought carefully but couldn't figure out why these two wouldn't take their wages and suddenly quit. In the past, she would have been glad for them to leave, but now things were obviously not right. She suspected that these two might have done something behind their backs.

Seeing more people gathering on the street, Mo Yan waved her hand impatiently, "Forget about them for now, let's focus on doing business!"

Lin Meng and the others nodded and didn't say more. They quickly picked up the scales and started serving customers.

With two fewer people, they suddenly became much busier. Plus, business was better than usual nearing the end of the year, so they increased the amount of vegetables they were selling, and the four of them found it difficult to keep up.

After all the vegetables were sold out, the four of them were exhausted, their backs and foreheads covered in sweat.

Seeing Lin Meng and the others busy packing up the bamboo baskets and other items, Mo Yan quickly told them to take a rest.

They leaned against the stone slab, catching their breath. With about ten days left until New Year's Eve, Mo Yan said to the three of them, "The four of us are too tired. Go back and see if anyone is willing to come and help. The South Market and West Market have been busy these days, so finding three or four people should be possible."

Lin Meng and the others quickly agreed. Everyone in the village knew that the Mo family was generous with wages, so there would surely be many people willing to help. However, they had to choose carefully to avoid people like Mo Yongshou, who offended customers every other day, leaving the young miss busy cleaning up after them.

After resting for a while, they started packing up their things. Just as they were about to leave, a low-profile carriage appeared in front of them. When the door opened, two people got out successively, Shopkeeper Xing and Xiao Zhu.

"Shopkeeper Xing, didn't we agree on something before? There's really no secret method like you said!" Mo Yan smiled and spoke, thinking the other party had come to discuss the secret method again.

Shopkeeper Xing shook his head and said seriously, "I'm here for another matter this time. Miss Mo, please come with me."

Mo Yan was puzzled and couldn't help asking, "What is it? Could you please explain first?"

Shopkeeper Xing knew he couldn't hide anything from her, otherwise, this girl wouldn't come with him. So he said, "This matter will involve the reputation and wealth of the entire Mo family."

Mo Yan felt a bit uneasy upon hearing this. It involved the entire Mo family, so she couldn't refuse Shopkeeper Xing's invitation. She asked Xiong Shi and Zhou Shi to go back first and then got into the carriage with Lin Meng, following Shopkeeper Xing.

The carriage first passed through several bustling streets, but gradually the surroundings became quiet. When the carriage finally stopped, there were no more sounds of people.

Getting off the carriage, Mo Yan saw an ancient courtyard in front of her. Seeing the unfamiliar surroundings, she felt nervous, but she quickly calmed down.

If Shopkeeper Xing really had ill intentions, he wouldn't need to go through such a big detour.

Lin Meng stood closely beside Mo Yan, watching Shopkeeper Xing vigilantly. If anything happened, he would immediately pull the young miss away to escape.

"Don't be nervous, I mean no harm!" Shopkeeper Xing, who had seen all kinds of people, could see through their thoughts. He admired Mo Yan's composure a bit more.

Mo Yan was fine, but Lin Meng felt a bit embarrassed and touched his nose awkwardly, but he still didn't move away from Mo Yan.

Shopkeeper Xing smiled and made a "please" gesture to Mo Yan, leading the way ahead.

After entering the courtyard, Mo Yan didn't pay attention to the surroundings. She only felt the extreme quietness around her. She hadn't seen anyone along the way.

After passing through several inner gates, Mo Yan's legs were sore. Just as she was secretly complaining about the size of the courtyard, Shopkeeper Xing finally stopped in a small garden.

The small garden was not big, planted with evergreen plants all year round. But what surprised Mo Yan was that there were several kinds of flowers blooming in the flower beds, including purple chrysanthemums, red begonias, and pink roses...

Seeing these flowers that usually only bloomed in autumn flourishing in the coldest season, Mo Yan had a sense of time going backwards.

"Surprised?" 

The low, magnetic voice, carrying a lazy breath, flowed like a gentle stream, playfully entering her eardrums.

Mo Yan nodded blankly at first, then suddenly turned around. Before she could see who it was, a warm object was pressed against her face, covering her eyes.

Yu Junyu stared blankly at his hand on her face, blinking his eyes. He just wanted to touch this little girl's hair to see if it was as black and smooth as it looked. But now it had turned into touching her face?

But this face was so smooth, even smoother than the flowers. He wondered if it would be as soft to touch as the flowers!

Thinking of this, Yu Junyu extended his left hand again, pinching Mo Yan's face like kneading dough, "Hmm, just as soft as the flowers!"

"Smack!"

Seeing the handprint on the left side of Yu Junyu's face, Mo Yan's anger flared even more. Another slap quickly followed, landing on his right cheek...

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