Not long after we finished eating, Fan Baowen arrived.

Xia Xiumei walked shyly to Fan Baowen's side and called out sweetly, "Brother Baowen."

Fan Baowen wouldn't easily give anyone cause for gossip, especially now in broad daylight with other people around.

He took two steps back and greeted her with an extremely polite but distant tone, "Miss Xia."

Then he walked over to Xia Chunmei and asked, "Little Chunmei, how have you been lately?"

Hearing Fan Baowen call Xia Chunmei "Sister Chunmei" so affectionately, Xia Xiumei was furious.

"Yes, it's fine."

Xia Chunmei sized up Fan Baowen. The original story said he was very good-looking, but Xia Chunmei didn't think he was anything special. At most, he was just a little fairer-skinned than the average village man.

He's not even close to the man in the cave.

Thinking of the man in the cave, Xia Chunmei blushed.

"Chunmei, Chunmei." Xia Mingshi ran over with a happy expression, interrupting Xia Chunmei's thoughts.

Xia Chunmei looked up at the sound and saw Wang Fuchun behind her.

Wang Fuchun is Wang Dagui's eldest son. Upon seeing him, Xia Chunmei already guessed his purpose.

"Uncle Wang." Fan Baowen bowed respectfully to Wang Fuchun.

"Oh, Young Master Fan is here too." Wang Fuchun greeted him casually.

"Yes, I've come to deliver some food to Chunmei," Fan Baowen said.

Upon hearing this, the neighbors immediately praised, "The Fan family is truly kind. Knowing that Chunmei is having a hard time, they specially sent her grain. There must be about ten pounds in that bag."

"When looking for a husband for my daughter, I want a family like the Fan family—they're kind and generous!"

"Of course, Chunmei, you're so lucky."

The neighbors all expressed their envy.

Fan Baowen smiled, displaying a polite and humble demeanor.

Xia Chunmei smiled but didn't say anything.

Because she knew that Fan Baowen couldn't possibly be so kind. She was afraid that he had found out about her ambiguous relationship with Xia Xiumei that day, and that he was doing this to prove himself and to build a good image for himself.

Trading ten or so pounds of grain for a good reputation is such a good deal!

"So it turns out the one engaged to Young Master Fan is Miss Xia. What a coincidence!" Wang Fuchun said. "Miss Xia, are you free now? May you go?"

"Yes, yes, Uncle Wang. Do you have enough fish? Today my sisters and I caught three black carp, each weighing over three pounds, and four grass carp, each weighing around three to five pounds. Would you like some?"

"You sisters are such good at fishing! Let's take you with us."

"Thank you, Uncle Wang, for taking care of my sister and me. I'd like to give you two carp as a gift; please don't mind," Xia Chunmei said with a smile. "Grandma Ming, could you ask Uncle Huohua to help me take the fish over?"

"You don't need to tell me that, I'll call him right now."

"Oh, right, call Sister Ping and have her come with me," Xia Chunmei added.

Xia Chunmei was willing to bring Xia Ping along, which Xia Mingshi couldn't have asked for more.

She hurried home and told Xia Huohua to quickly pull the cart to deliver Xia Chunmei's fish to the Wang family. She also told Xia Ping to be smart and behave herself when she got to someone else's house.

Xia Ping was very happy to learn that Xia Chunmei was willing to take her along, and repeatedly assured her.

"Sister Chunmei, what are you doing at the Wang family's house?" Fan Baowen asked.

“Young Master Fan, thank you for the food. I can actually support myself, but since it is your kind gesture, I will accept it.”

Fan Baowen handed the bag to Xia Chunmei and asked again, "Chunmei, what are you going to the Wang family for?"

Xia Chunmei ignored him, carried the grain back and called Xia Qiumei, along with her secret weapon for making longevity peach buns, and then went to the Wang family.

Fan Baowen: ...

Fan Baowen was furious!

I asked her the same question twice, and she didn't answer! Is she just ill-mannered, or is she deliberately trying to embarrass me?

She only had eyes for that bag of grain; what a vulgar and shallow woman!

Break off the engagement! It absolutely must be broken off! How could a woman like that be worthy of me?

Seeing that Fan Baowen was very angry, Xia Xiumei continued to add fuel to the fire: "Sister Chunmei is really too ignorant. My mother said that this is called being ill-mannered."

"Brother Baowen, you're a scholar, and the people you know are all respectable. If Chunmei acts like this when guests come to our house, won't you be embarrassed?"

Seeing Fan Baowen's increasingly grim expression, Xia Xiumei felt secretly smug.

What Xia Xiumei said was exactly what Fan Baowen was worried about.

He's destined to be an official, so his wife should at least be a well-educated and virtuous lady from a respectable family. Xia Chunmei is simply not good enough for him.

He definitely wants to break off the engagement, but he can't do it without a reason, and he can't let it tarnish his reputation...

Fan Baowen calmed himself down and said, "Sister Chunmei has some shortcomings, but I will teach her slowly after we get married. I think she will listen."

These words deeply stung Xia Xiumei.

Xia Xiumei's expression changed drastically. A marriage? She wouldn't let them have the chance to get married!

Seeing Xia Xiumei's face contorted into a grotesque expression, Fan Baowen secretly rejoiced, praying that Xia Xiumei would make her move soon.

He couldn't wait to call off the engagement.