Chapter 182: Recognize the Current Situation

"I don't want it!" Xu Lezhi yelled excitedly, pointing at everyone in the room with a ferocious and painful expression, "You are all afraid of her, Xu Zhenying, but I am not! If you have the guts, let her come and see if she dares to really kill me!"

"Are you crazy? Cover her mouth quickly and don't let her scream! What if other people hear it and tell Xu Zhenying?" Xu Deyuan's face was full of fear. He wished he could go up and cover Xu Lezhi's mouth immediately. At this moment, Xu Deyuan saw the somewhat crazy Xu Lezhi, and thought of Xu Zhenying's methods, and then he felt a little scared.

"Yin Xi is right. We can't let her act crazy like this anymore. Forget the chains. The neighbors will say something if they see her. Just lock her up and don't let her run out. Yes, we have to hurry up and get her married. She's almost fourteen now. Find someone to marry her off right away to avoid bringing disaster to our second branch family!"

Xu Yinxi's brows relaxed.

Very good, it’s also good that Xu Lezhi can be detained temporarily.

As expected, this person has to know how to bargain. If he wants Xu Lezhi to be locked up, he must first ask to tie her up with chains.

Xu Lezhi was stunned, tears of resentment streaming down her face. She never expected that the person who was most afraid of Xu Zhenying in this room was actually her own father!

"Daddy, why don't you stand up for your daughter? She really didn't do anything wrong this time. Why are you so scared that you lose your composure when Xu Zhenying doesn't say anything? Besides, every word I said was true. Why do you care about me?! I hate you, I hate all of you!"

"Xu Lezhi, a person without strength, no one will care what she says." Xu Yinxi's hands were cold, just like her eyes. She grabbed Xu Lezhi but said nothing else. "Stay home and I will make sure that mother finds you a good match, so that you can have no worries about food and clothing for the rest of your life."

"I won't!" Xu Lezhi saw that everyone in the room agreed, and his heart was filled with sorrow and pain. However, Xu Yinxi had already called for help, "Aunties, please help me get the lock and lock her up in the northwest courtyard. From now on, if anyone dares to let her out without my order, don't blame me for punishing her according to my family rules!"

Xu Yinxi's thundering actions made everyone speechless.

Several concubines forced the shouting Xu Lezhi to go to the side room, while Lian was sandwiched between her two daughters and could only shed tears silently.

Xu Yinxi was upset, but she also comforted Lian: "Mother, please believe me, I am doing this for her own good. You also know Sixth Sister's temper. If Le refuses to repent and keeps provoking Sixth Sister, not only you and I, but our entire family will be implicated. Mother, you are doing a great job in logistics, managing more than a dozen people. Our future is bright, and we must not let anyone drag us down. Now we are just detaining her for a few days to let her read and cultivate her temperament. This is the best way for her and for our second branch."

Lian knew this, but she was still heartbroken. She could only say in a low voice, "Yinxi, why is she so stubborn? We've talked her out of it, but she just won't listen. Why is it that she never seems to grow up?"

Xu Yinxi sighed.

Still can’t grow up?

Li Zhaodi and Li Yinzhang were the ones who had no chance to grow up.

Xu Lezhi is simply heartless and stupid!

"Don't be angry. She is your biological sister after all. You can punish her, but please don't ruin the harmony between sisters."

Xu Yinxi knew in her heart that with Xu Lezhi's vengeful nature, he must have hated her completely this time.

Whatever.

Although the two were blood relatives and should have supported each other, she would never forget the smile on Xu Lezhi's face when he came to persuade her to marry Huang Yazi.

Xu Lezhi thought she hid it very well, but she didn't know that she was a girl who couldn't hide even the slightest bit of her thoughts.

At that time, her pride and joy were almost written all over her face.

It was then that Xu Yinxi realized how her younger sister had always viewed her.

Xu Yinxi was disdainful in her heart, but she didn't show it on her face. She just gently comforted Lian, "Don't worry, mother. My sister is still young. Why would I argue with her? They say leniency can hurt, while strictness can show love. If I keep her under control a little, she'll have a better life in her husband's family when she gets married, right?"

Lian had no choice but to think that Xu Yinxi was right. It was nothing to just confine the child in the yard to cultivate his character.

She had no choice but to wipe away her tears and said, "At this point, this is the only way."

After the second branch of the Xu family dispersed for a while, Xu Minglu followed Aunt Chun back to her room in a bad mood.

She was young and naturally didn't understand, but she felt that her elder sister had suddenly become colder and more heartless than before. Especially during the meeting tonight, the depressing and gloomy atmosphere made her feel very uncomfortable.

The power from Xu Yinxi seems to be more chilling than that from Xu Deyuan.

How come everyone has changed?

Daddy's temper has become even weirder than before, and the eldest sister has become unkind. As for Xu Lezhi... She has actually always looked down on Xu Lezhi, but now he was locked up in the room just because he said something wrong. She felt that the people in the second house were too ruthless.

Things seemed to be going in a direction she didn't understand.

Somehow, Xu Minglu felt a little sad. "Auntie, how come everyone has changed? My eldest sister wasn't like this before, and my father wasn't like this either—"

Aunt Chun sighed, "My dear girl, don't you understand which way the wind is blowing? Today is different from the past. Now Xu Qingying has the final say in the Xu family. I told you to study hard, learn more from your fifth sister Xu Anping, and spend less time with Xu Lezhi. You see, this is what happens if you offend your sixth sister."

Xu Minglu was somewhat reluctant, but she didn't insist. "Auntie, I know. You've told me countless times to get closer to Sixth Sister. But she's so busy every day that I don't even have the chance to get close to her! Humph, Fifth Sister usually looks so honest, but I didn't expect her to be so quick to curry favor with Sixth Sister in such a short time. Now she and Fang Ningmo are in charge of the education department, and she earns a monthly salary of five taels of silver!"

Xu Minglu remembered that she was the daughter of the second wife after all. Now Xu Anping was in charge of education, and he actually wanted to be her teacher?

How could Xu Minglu accept this?

"You, you only see her enjoying herself in public, but not the suffering she endures behind the scenes. Don't you think about how dedicated Xu Anping was when she was learning to read from your sixth sister? No matter if it rained, snowed, or was slashed by knives, as long as your sixth sister didn't stop, she would follow her all night long! Do you have such perseverance?"

Xu Minglu pouted.

"You, just watch. In our second house, apart from Xu Yinxi who caught your sixth sister's eye, everyone else is dispensable. If you don't let her see your value, you can just wait to get married like Xu Lezhi!"

"Auntie, I don't want to get married! How can I live as comfortably as I do now if I get married?"

"Since you don't want to get married, you have to show your ability to please others. Just like how we used to please your father, you have to please your sixth sister now. As long as your sixth sister is happy, and you are given something to do, and you can save some money for your dowry, isn't that better than asking your family for money? Besides, you know what the second wife's situation is like now. How much can they come up with? Instead of relying on the second wife, it's better to rely on ourselves——"

Xu Minglu sighed. Xu Zhenying was already far beyond her reach. If she might have felt unwilling to accept him before, the gap between them was so huge now that she didn't even have the thought of catching up.

But Xu Anping and Xu Yinxi are ready-made examples, as well as Qian Zhenniang. They all do better than her. Why is she not as good as others?

Take Feng'er for example, she was born into slavery!

Isn't he still surrounded by people now, and seems to be even more prosperous than his father was in the city of Bianjing?

Yes, Lan County has such good policies now, what’s the point of just waiting for your family to have a bright future?

Concubine Chun didn't forget to give her a warning: "Don't associate with Xu Lezhi anymore. I'm telling you, she's the most useless person in the family. She has no skills, is extremely jealous, and is stupid... If you don't associate with her, be careful not to become as stupid as her!"

Xu Minglu said impatiently, "Alright, alright, Auntie, I get it. I won't be associating with her anymore. She took two literacy classes to learn pinyin and still couldn't do it. She's worse than that girl whose father works as a coolie at the docks. It's so shameful! I, Xu Minglu, don't have such a stupid sister!"

Aunt Chun knew that Xu Minglu had listened to her, and her heart finally settled down.

————————————————————

And Shouzhou is thousands of miles away.

Feng'er, now Xu Feng, kicked open the door in front of her with great momentum, and then finally found Han Ruqing who was living a life of drunkenness and dreams.

She took two quick steps, "dong dong dong", and lifted Han Ruqing up from the chair, then poured a bowl of cold tea on his face.

"Mr. Han, are you sober now?" The woman chuckled, but with an aggressive tone, "Do you want me to pour a few more glasses on you?"

Han Ruqing whimpered and woke up from his sleep. He raised his hand to wipe the water stains on his face. When he saw the person coming, he smiled like a puppy, "Oh, is it our shopkeeper Feng'er?"

Xu Feng loosened his grip, and Han Ruqing fell heavily into the chair.

Feng Er frowned and said, "I asked you to make friends with scholars, not to get drunk every night. Han Ruqing, do you remember why we are here? Have you finished writing the manuscript of "Peach Blossom Spring"? The city lord just wrote to us, saying that your novel is very well written and asked us to spread the word -"

"A letter from the City Lord?" Han Ruqing seemed to suddenly wake up, a smug look on his face, and he slung his legs over the table. "My book 'Peach Blossom Spring' is getting a good response from the scholars. How come it's also spread to Lan County?"

Feng'er put her hands on her hips. "The City Lord said your writing is quite good, but it could use a little more imagination. For example, the Xumi Kingdom you wrote about could be bolder and the world structure more complete. Although the carriage traveling a thousand miles a day is a bit exaggerated, once Lan County has cement roads in the future, a daily travel of a hundred miles will be achievable. Besides, the world of Peach Blossom Spring is a kind of universal harmony society, and the City Lord wants us to use this opportunity to promote Lan County. Why not directly mention Lan County in your novel?"

"You don't know that." Han Ruqing waved his hand. "The point is to whet the audience's appetite so the final decryption is interesting. Oh, wait, what is cement?"

"The City Lord said the research institute is currently working on a project," Feng'er said confidently. "It's said to be something that can change the world!"

"Change the world?" Han Ruqing laughed heartily, reeking of alcohol, his hair disheveled, and a certain arrogance. "Could it be she really create a world like in 'Peach Blossom Spring' where the yield per mu reaches a thousand kilograms, men and women are equal, everyone has clothes to wear, and everyone has access to education?"

Feng Er said seriously, "Of course."

Han Ruqing stared at Feng'er, then curled his lips, "I can see that you are her most loyal believer."

Feng'er was stunned. "Stop talking nonsense and get the latest manuscript out quickly. The previous chapter tells the story of the hero traveling to another world and being locked up as a lunatic. According to the city lord, the next chapter should create some conflict points. For example, there must be a plot where someone looks down on the hero, insults him, and makes sarcastic remarks about him. There must also be a twist at the end. This will make it easier for readers to feel involved. The city lord said this is called melodrama. The more melodrama, the more people will like it."

Han Ruqing shook his head, "I can't write such a contrived article!"

Feng Er curled her lips and sneered, "Don't forget, you signed a ten-year contract with me. If you can't finish this novel, I can ask you for double the compensation!"

Han Ruqing was filled with righteous indignation, "Swindlers, swindlers!"

"Stop talking nonsense! I'll force you to write this story today even if I have to force your head down. I'm telling you, Fang Xun's standardized breeding project is almost bearing fruit. So, you better subtly incorporate the six months of pig farming into the novel!"

Han Ruqing exclaimed, "Xu Zhenying is too despicable. First, she occupied Lan County by force, and now she wants to use my pen to encourage scholars to build momentum for her—"

Feng Er was so frightened that she broke out in a cold sweat. She immediately let go and asked, "What nonsense are you talking about? What are you trying to do?"

Han Ruqing smiled faintly, his eyes misty with tears. He seemed drunk, yet also sober. "Feng'er, do you really think I'm as stupid as that kid Xu Huiming? Xu Zhenying occupied Lan County, took in refugees, and reclaimed wasteland everywhere. You opened up trade routes, collected intelligence, and used money to pave the way. I'm using a copy of 'Peach Blossom Spring' to encourage scholars from all over the world to defect to Lan County. Feng'er, don't tell me you don't know what you're doing."

Feng'er was stunned. Looking at those clear eyes, goose bumps instantly covered her body.

At this moment, she finally understood the hesitant look the city lord had given Han Ruqing when he saw him off.

Han Ruqing is a very insightful person. He has a very clever mind and seems to be able to see through everyone, leaving them nowhere to escape!

This is probably why the city lord is so eager to get rid of this hot potato?

It was rare to see Feng'er at a loss. Han Ruqing couldn't help but feel proud. "Feng'er, you don't have to deny it. I knew from the first time I met Xu Zhenying that she was... born with a rebellious nature... and she is not one to be caged... I just didn't expect that she, a woman, a woman——"

Feng Er snorted coldly, "What's wrong with women?"

"Nothing. Just because she's a woman, I admire her even more. She did things I couldn't even think of—"

"what you up to?"

Han Ruqing remembered what Xu Zhenying had said at the time. He couldn't help but purse his lips and smile. Then he imitated the man and pointed mysteriously at the sky: "I want to... overturn the sky!"