Xu Lanyin planned to go to Min's house to deliver balsam after lunch.

Just as I finished, I heard a knock on the gate and a thick female voice, "Does Sister Xu live here?"

The voice seemed familiar. Xu Lanyin was stunned for a moment before she remembered that it was Zhang Manniang.

She really came to visit my home!

Thinking that her father might hate Zhao Wu, he had no choice but to deal with her.

Xu Lanyin opened the door and said with a smile, "Sister Zhang is such a rare guest." Then she asked, "Are you alone?"

The carriage that Zhang Manniang hired in the county town has already been sent away.

Zhang Manniang said generously, "Why bring so many people? With my appearance, no one would dare to rob me."

Xu Lanyin smiled and invited her into the yard. Xu Lanting also came out and said with a smile, "Sister Zhang, why didn't Brother Tiedan come?"

Zhang Manniang smiled and said, "He went to school." She then stuffed a package into Xu Lanyin's hand and said, "Two rulers, for you."

After Xu Lanyin thanked her and introduced Qin to her, she asked her to sit under the eaves, poured her tea, and brought her two plates of snacks.

It is spring now, with birds singing and flowers blooming. It is much more comfortable to sit in the yard than to sit in the house.

After a few words, Zhang Manniang saw the utensils and finished ointments and asked for a box of a richer rouge. Seeing that no one was around, she quietly asked, "Sister Xu, have you asked Brother Zhao about the thing I asked you to do last time?"

Xu Lan smiled awkwardly and whispered, "I asked for you. Zhao Wu said that he and his cousin were very close when they were young, and their marriage was arranged by his late mother. He wants to continue looking, which will only disappoint Miss Zhang's kindness. He also said that Miss Zhang is generous and righteous, with a pure heart, and will definitely find a good match."

Zhang Manniang's eyes were red, and she bit her lip for a long time without saying a word. Xu Lanyin stayed with her quietly, not knowing what to say to comfort her.

After a long moment, Zhang Manniang sighed deeply and smiled bitterly, "I know this can't be forced, and I won't blame Brother Zhao. But," she leaned forward and whispered, "I want Brother Zhao to pay attention to my father. My father is very dissatisfied with him right now, and he asked my eldest and second brothers to find an opportunity to secretly deal with him."

Xu Lanyin looked at Xu Manniang in surprise. This girl was simple, straightforward and very upright.

She said, "Thank you Miss Zhang for your reminder. I will pass it on to Zhao Wu. Please also ask Miss Zhang to say a few good words for Zhao Wu in front of your father. He really can't disobey his mother's orders."

Xu Manniang nodded and said, "Of course I have to speak up for Brother Zhao. My father has scolded me several times for this..."

Xu Lanyin invited her to have lunch. Xu Manniang had no intention of leaving, so Xu Lanyin took her to the foot of the mountain for a walk and made a flower basket and a flower hat for her.

Although Xu Manniang is a stout girl, she has a childlike nature and enjoys playing.

At 3 p.m., she was leaving, and Xu Lanyin gave her two duck dolls, which made her smile. Worried about her walking back alone, Xu Lanyin went to Fifth Grandfather's house and hired a donkey cart for twenty cents, asking Fifth Grandfather to take her home.

When Zhao Wu came back in the evening and heard what Xu Manniang said, he was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

The next morning, Xu Lanyin took Xu Lanting with a few boxes of ointment to the village entrance and took a donkey cart to the county town.

They went directly to the Xu family shop, and at the end of the Si hour, Xu Lanyin went to the backyard of the county government office to ask to see Min Nan. The little girl had an hour of class in the morning, and it was already over by then.

The servant said that Miss Min was in the lady's yard at that time, so he took Xu Lanyin directly to the lady's yard.

Mrs. Min smiled and said, "You haven't come to our house to play for a long time. Nan'er has mentioned it many times."

Min Nan smiled and said, "Yes, yes. Sister Xu, isn't the scenery there beautiful too? The other day, my mother and I went to Daxiang Temple to burn incense and enjoy an outing. The cherry blossoms there were in bloom, so beautiful."

Xu Lanyin smiled and said, "There are the most azaleas on the hill behind our village. They are a sea of ​​blazing red and absolutely beautiful. Even the breeze in my yard is sweet right now." She then took out three boxes of ointment and said with a smile, "This is the ointment I made using mountain flowers and spring water. I think it's just as good as the ones sold in shops."

Madam Min took it, opened it, smelled it, and rubbed a little on the back of her hand. She smiled and said, "It's really good. Miss Xu is capable."

Xu Lanyin chuckled twice, but she couldn't bring herself to say that Qin had taught her. Qin was a widow now, and it wouldn't be good to let the news get out about her fiddling with these things.

After a while of conversation, Madam Min kindly reminded them, "The tenant you have has a bad reputation. Send him away when his term expires. Don't let someone like that lead your two younger brothers astray."

What she didn't want to say was, "Don't ruin your reputation again."

Xu Lanyin thought to herself, if someone was really plotting against Zhao Wu in front of Lord Min, the most likely person was Captain Zhang. What Captain Zhang didn't know was that his relationship with Madam Min was not as simple as it seemed. What he said was passed on here.

Xu Lan pretended to be confused and asked, "Did Zhao Wu do anything bad?"

Madam Min said, "I heard that he has a bad temper, loves to stir up trouble, is stingy and greedy, and likes to gossip. Tsk tsk, what a pity to have such a good-looking face."

This is quite unpleasant to say.

Min Nan interrupted, "I heard from some young ladies that Officer Zhao was particularly handsome, so I secretly went to take a look. He was truly handsome, and his demeanor and grace were comparable to those of the nobles in the capital. It turns out his character is so despicable..."

Before she could finish her words, Madam Min frowned and stopped her, saying, "How can a young lady like you say such things? You actually dared to sneak off to see the yamen runners. No matter how good-looking those men are, they are still rough men and are not presentable. If you dare to do this again, I will tell your father and have you severely punished."

Min Nan was scolded so much that she started crying and kept twisting her handkerchief.

Xu Lanyin was particularly displeased with Madam Min's comments about Zhao Wu, but she didn't dare show it. As if to defend Min Nan, she said, "It's no wonder Miss Min feels that way. Zhao Wu has a modest family background in his hometown. His grandfather passed the imperial examination, and he's also been educated for eight or nine years. His temperament is indeed different from those yamen runners."

Min Nan felt better after hearing this.

Xu Lanyin continued, "Zhao Wu is always very polite in my house, especially filial to my mother..." Seeing Madam Min's face darken, she smiled again, "I still want to ask Madam Min for advice."

Before, she wanted to calmly tell Captain Zhang about forcing Zhao Wudang to be her son-in-law, but when Madam Min put the words right in her mouth, she just said it directly.

"What idea?" asked Mrs. Min.

Xu Lanyin smiled bitterly and said, "Zhao Wuba has offended Captain Zhang badly..."

He then told Captain Zhang that he wanted to marry his daughter to Zhao Wu, but Zhao Wu played dumb, saying he was already engaged to his cousin and had been looking for someone else. Captain Zhang refused, asking Captain He to mediate. Zhao Wu had no choice but to refuse, which made Captain Zhang resent him. Now Zhao Wu is often bullied in the police station...