Chapter 31 "I only mentioned Lin Yu, how did you know..."

The night was still dark and the outside was bitterly cold. Meng Yuanxiao was still sleepy. After getting into the carriage, he sat in Cui Xintang's arms, wrapped his arms around his neck, and rested his head on his shoulder to continue dozing off.

The cricket that Mao gave us was placed on a small table inside the carriage, chirping happily.

Cui Xintang glanced at the crickets in the bamboo cage, then looked down at the person in his arms, and whispered to Qingzhu to take the cricket cage out.

“No,” Meng Yuanxiao, who had been dozing off, refused to listen. “They’ll freeze to death if we take them outside.”

She had always envied others who had crickets to play with since she was little, but her older brother said that girls shouldn't play with these things, so this was her first cricket!

After saying that, she shifted her body in Cui Xintang's arms, found a more comfortable position, and then fell asleep.

Cui Xintang found it amusing and let her be. He then closed his eyes and began to ponder the things he had investigated in Huai Shu Village over the past few days.

Amidst the crowing of roosters, the cartwheels creaked and groaned on the village road, disappearing from the village in just a quarter of an hour. After traveling another mile, they slowly came to a stop.

Cui Xintang shook the person in his arms, "Yuanyuan?"

Meng Yuanxiao snapped out of her daze. She was stunned for a moment, then quickly sat up straight from Cui Xintang's embrace and slid to sit down on the soft stool next to her.

As I lifted the carriage curtain, I saw two figures, one tall and one short, standing in the morning mist.

Meng Yuanxiao subconsciously looked at Cui Xintang, who didn't say anything, but just raised her eyebrows and smiled at her.

Meng Yuanxiao pursed her lips and looked at Ye Shi and Niu Niu outside the carriage.

They must have been waiting for quite a while; Niu Niu's little face was red from the cold.

Madam Ye didn't stand on ceremony. She carried Niu Niu directly to the carriage, stuffed the bundle into her arms, and then smiled at Meng Yuanxiao, saying, "I'll trouble you, Madam Cui, with Niu Niu."

After saying that, he left without looking back.

Meng Yuanxiao was stunned for a moment. When the carriage drove away, she lifted the curtain, but could only see Ye Shi's gradually blurring figure in the thin morning mist.

Niu Niu was thin and small, sitting close to Meng Yuanxiao. Perhaps afraid of Cui Xintang, Niu Niu lowered her head, clutching her clothes without saying a word, looking very pitiful.

When it turned out that Niu Niu was really going to be taken away, Meng Yuanxiao couldn't help but feel nervous.

Both the adult and the child were tense. Cui Xintang glanced at them and asked gently, "Are you still sleepy?"

Meng Yuanxiao shook his head. Cui Xintang didn't say anything more, stopped the carriage, and sat down in front of it with Qingzhu.

Niu Niu was indeed as sensible as Madam Ye had said. I don't know what Madam Ye said to her, but Niu Niu was very quiet. Only after Cui Xintang left the carriage did she raise her head, smile at Meng Yuanxiao with red eyes, and tug at her sleeve in a flattering manner, "Mother said that Niu Niu should listen to her sister from now on."

They arrived in Yunping County in the afternoon, and the carriage first went to the post station.

The county officials knew they were returning today, and Registrar Xu was already waiting at the inn.

In the backyard of the post station, Cui Xintang got off the carriage. Xu, the registrar, stepped forward, cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Lord Cui. Lord Huang is busy with official business and cannot leave, so he ordered me to come and be at your service."

Cui Xintang nodded. As the two were talking, they turned their heads and saw Meng Yuanxiao and Niu Niu getting off the carriage. Xu Zhubu paused for a moment.

But only for a moment, and he quickly resumed his conversation with Cui Xintang, his expression unchanged.

"When I first learned that the court was going to send someone down to investigate, Lin Yu came to me and said that he knew a high-ranking official from the capital. I thought he was just bragging and didn't take it seriously. I didn't expect that he actually knew Lord Cui."

Cui Xintang glanced at him, then looked towards the carriage. Seeing that Meng Yuanxiao hadn't noticed, his expression softened slightly, and he looked coldly at Qingzhu.

Qingzhu understood and walked to Meng Yuanxiao's side, saying, "Young Madam, what do you think we should do with all this luggage?"

Meng Yuanxiao was excitedly talking to Hongshao when he heard this. Without even looking at him, he casually said, "You move your things to the room first."

After saying that, he pulled Hongshao aside and continued to ask her questions.

Cui Xintang then turned his gaze to Xu, the registrar.

Registrar Xu smiled and said, "Lin Yu is a capable man. He has done a good job with the tasks I assigned him. Knowing that you, Lord Cui, were coming back today, I originally wanted to keep him at the county office for a few more days, but he refused. He left early yesterday, probably because he was afraid that you would blame him."

"Lin Yu has been by my side for quite some time, and we have developed a certain relationship. In the future, if it is something like sending him to study at the county school, Lord Cui, please feel free to ask me to do it. I will not refuse if it is within my power."

Cui Xintang knew the purpose of his words. He glanced at Meng Yuanxiao and said in a low voice, "Registrar Xu is indeed young and promising."

Registrar Xu paused for a moment, but his expression remained unchanged as he said, "Lord Cui is joking. I do not have that ability, but my father has some connections with the supervisor of the county school. It is not difficult for Lin Yu to study at the county school for a few more years."

Registrar Xu was sensible and only dared to probe a few times before quickly getting to official business.

After the two finished speaking, the postmaster who was waiting nearby quickly stepped forward and respectfully said that the room had been prepared and invited Lord Cui to move in and rest.

Cui Xintang walked ahead, listening to the reports from the two officials of the Ministry of Revenue. Registrar Xu deliberately lagged a few steps behind, waiting for Meng Yuanxiao to bring Niu Niu over. He then asked with a smile, "Madam Cui, have you been comfortable with your food and lodgings in Huai Shu Village these past few days?"

Brother Tang was right in front of him, yet he didn't seem to care, which surprised Meng Yuanxiao.

That day at the county office, he was very reserved and didn't dare to look at her. But today he no longer pretended. Meng Yuanxiao felt disgusted, but she still had to patiently deal with him.

She replied politely, "It's alright."

She didn't even glance at him, and her tone was indifferent. Xu, the registrar, stiffened for a moment, then smiled and said, "That's good. If there's anything inappropriate, it's my fault."

"You jest, Registrar Xu. My husband went to Huai Shu Village on official business. How can you blame him?"

Her tone was already somewhat impatient, but Xu, the registrar, was thick-skinned and still stayed by her side.

His gaze fell on Niu Niu intentionally or unintentionally, and he said, "Madam Cui is staying at the post station. If there is anything that is not well received, please feel free to ask. Lord Cui will be staying in Yunping County for a few more days. If Madam Cui is bored, I can send a maid from my household to show you around the county town."

Just as Meng Yuanxiao was about to speak, Cui Xintang's voice suddenly came from the front. "Didn't you say you were tired? Why don't you go upstairs and rest?"

He had stopped walking at some point and was standing there looking back at her, a half-smile on his face.

There was clearly nothing wrong, but Meng Yuanxiao still couldn't help feeling embarrassed. She blinked and touched her nose guiltily, "Oh."

The next day, Meng Yuanxiao refused the people sent by the Xu family and went out with Hongshao and Niuniu to stroll around the county town.

Yunping County is only this big; as you walk, you eventually arrive at the county school.

An old man was selling flatbread in front of the county school. The flatbread, baked until crispy and shiny, was taken out of the oven and neatly stacked together.

The food at the inn was simple. Meng Yuanxiao had only eaten a little for breakfast. It was already noon, and she was feeling a bit hungry. The aroma of the flatbread immediately whetted her appetite.

Just as he was about to send Hongshao to buy some flatbread, the county school let out for lunch, and suddenly more than ten students poured out of the school and surrounded the flatbread stall.

Meng Yuanxiao immediately recognized the tall, thin, and fair-skinned man among them as Lin's younger brother.

She was somewhat surprised. Getting into the county school was not easy; one had to pass the county's examination to be admitted. But that day, Lin had clearly said that her younger brother was not cut out for studying.

Indeed, why would a proper student go to the county government office and mingle with a bunch of yamen runners?

Her gaze was undisguised, and the boy quickly noticed her and looked at her.

Upon seeing her, Lin Yu stopped buying sesame cakes and came over with a smile, "Mrs. Cui, you've gone back to the county town?"

"Hmm," Meng Yuanxiao said, glancing curiously into the county government office. "Is young Master Lin studying at the county school?"

Lin Yu smiled and replied, "I dare not accept the title of Young Master Lin. You may just call me Lin Yu."

Meng Yuanxiao asked curiously, "Since you were studying at the county school, why were you working as a clerk in the county government office that day?"

Lin Yu touched his nose. "Well, it was a moment of foolishness on my part. I skipped school at the county school and spent a few days hanging around the county government office. I almost got expelled from the county school. Luckily, my brother-in-law had some connections and asked someone to intercede with the school officials at the county government office, which allowed me to return to the county school."

"Your brother-in-law?" Meng Yuanxiao asked in surprise. "Sun Dalang?"

Lin Yu smiled brightly, and instead of answering, asked, "Mrs. Cui is joking. Otherwise, which brother-in-law could it be?"

Sun Dalang actually has this ability? Meng Yuanxiao was even more surprised. That day, Madam Lin kept saying "studying is not as good as farming," but unexpectedly, Sun Dalang had such an understanding.

She immediately nodded in agreement, saying, "Studying is good. You're still young, so you should read more."

She was clearly a little younger than Lin Yu, yet she spoke to him in a serious and mature manner, leaving Lin Yu speechless and his expression quite interesting.

He rolled his eyes and said with a smile, "That's right! My brother-in-law said the same thing. He got so angry that day that he beat me up badly. My arm is still bruised. Do you want to see it?"

Having said that, he made a gesture as if to roll up his sleeves to show her.

Meng Yuanxiao was startled and quickly coughed twice, "Uh, um, I don't want to see it, I don't want to see it."

Lin Yu chuckled and lowered her sleeves again.

Meng Yuanxiao glanced at the county school a few more times and asked curiously, "The imperial court has issued an edict that women can also enroll in schools and study, and even take the imperial examinations to become officials. Does your county school have any female teachers or female students?"

"Oh, there's such an imperial decree?" Lin Yu said. "These kinds of things only happen in the capital. How could our small county have ever heard of them?"

"Are there any other girls' schools or schools that enroll female students in Yunping County?"

"No," Lin Yu shook her head.

Meng Yuanxiao immediately felt it was pointless.

She was too lazy to talk to Lin Yu anymore, and waved her hand, "Go on, study hard. Also, Sister-in-law Lin asked me to pass on a message to you, saying that you should go home when you have time, your father has something to say to you."

After saying that, she ignored him and noticed that the students in front of the flatbread stall had all dispersed. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately pulled Hongshao and Niuniu over to buy flatbread.

After buying the flatbreads, the three of them each held one and were biting into it when Niu Niu suddenly tugged at Meng Yuanxiao's sleeve.

"What's wrong?" Meng Yuanxiao stopped and asked her, looking down at her.

Niu Niu glanced at the spot where Lin Yu had just stood and whispered, "Niu Niu has met that brother before."

"Oh." Meng Yuanxiao was not surprised. Perhaps Niu Niu had seen Lin Yu when she went to Huai Shu Village to look for Lin Shi.

Niu Niu said, "That handsome uncle at the county government office, the other day Niu Niu saw this brother talking to that uncle."

Meng Yuanxiao was completely bewildered.

Niu Niu blinked her eyes and said, "This brother went to Huai Shu Village with that uncle, and they left together. That uncle asked this brother to pass on a message to my mother, but my mother scolded him and sent him away."

Meng Yuanxiao's expression changed. "Is the handsome uncle you mentioned from the county government office the same uncle we saw at the post station yesterday?"

"yes!"

When did this happen?

Niu Niu said, "It was this year, before my sister and Master Cui came to our village."

Meng Yuanxiao was taken aback for a moment, then said after a brief thought, "I understand, but Niu Niu, remember not to mention this to anyone else, okay?"

Niu Niu nodded obediently, "Niu Niu remembers."

Yunping County was naturally not as bustling as the capital, but Meng Yuanxiao was still in high spirits. He bought things for everyone in the Meng and Cui families, as well as Mingyue. He also bought some beautiful clothes and silk flowers to dress Niu Niu up beautifully.

In the afternoon, Cui Xintang returned to the inn early. When he entered the room, he saw Meng Yuanxiao and Niu Niu, one big and one small, sitting on the couch and arranging the things they had bought that day. Hong Shao stood beside them, helping to tidy up.

Hongshao was very perceptive; as soon as she saw him come in, she immediately took Niu Niu out.

"Brother Tang is back so early today." Meng Yuanxiao was in a good mood, and his tone was very cheerful.

Cui Xintang did not change his clothes, nor did he go to the bed. He simply leaned against the screen and watched her.

Niu Niu looked beautiful today, completely different from the disheveled little girl she was yesterday. Cui Xintang chuckled and said, "Yuan Yuan loves dressing up so much, we should have a daughter for you to play with someday."

His words came as a surprise, and Meng Yuanxiao blushed instantly. She hadn't had enough fun yet, so naturally she didn't want to have a baby.

So she blushed and whispered to him, "Brother Tang, I don't want to have a baby."

She was young, so Cui Xintang wasn't in a hurry; he had only teased her with his words. Since Meng Yuanxiao said that, he went along with her and said, "If you don't want to have children, then don't have them for now; we can talk about it later."

Meng Yuanxiao was finally satisfied. She smiled at him playfully with her eyes crinkling, then lowered her head to fiddle with the things in her hands.

She fiddled with her things and casually said, "I ran into Lin Yu in front of the county school today."

Upon hearing the name "Lin Yu," Cui Xintang's heart tightened, but her expression remained unchanged. "Hmm?"

"Lin Yu said that he skipped school at the county school, and it was only because his brother-in-law asked someone to intercede with the school officials that he wasn't expelled. I never imagined that Sun Dalang would have such abilities?" Meng Yuanxiao said.

"...That's what he said to you?" Cui Xintang's smile faded slightly.

“Yes,” Meng Yuanxiao looked at him strangely, then, as if remembering something, asked suspiciously, “I only said Lin Yu, how do you know who it is?”

"..." Cui Xintang looked at her amusedly, "I also know the names of Registrar Xu and Magistrate Huang, Yuanyuan, would you like to hear them?"

Meng Yuanxiao: "...Hmph."