Chapter 31 You Mustn't Hit Your Wife

Er Ya's cries shattered the village's tranquility. Hearing this, the villagers rushed towards the Lu family's house.

Seeing the thick smoke, everyone prepared to go home to get tools to put out the fire. Just then, Liu Xiao'e's sharp and sarcastic voice rang out.

"Tsk, look at this pampered young lady from the city, she's just a pretty face with no substance. She can even set the kitchen on fire while cooking! And she still dares to look down on my Zhaodi!"

She looked at the Lu family's kitchen with a gloating expression, thinking that it would be good if the fire burned Xia Qianqian to death.

Hearing her mother say this, Huang Zhaodi also retorted indignantly, "That's right, that's right, she can't even do this little chore. Brother Lu should give her a good beating so she won't act all high and mighty all the time."

Seeing the mother and daughter making sarcastic remarks at this critical moment, the villagers couldn't help but retort, "You two don't even know when to stop talking! The house is on fire. If you're not thinking about helping to put out the fire, then get out of the way!"

"How dare you talk about Aunt Xia like that!" Er Ya blurted out in anger, uttering the very words her grandmother had repeatedly warned her against saying. "You're a wicked woman who wants to steal Daddy!"

Huang Zhaodi was easily embarrassed, and Er Ya's words made her face turn red and white in turns, and she eventually burst into tears.

Seeing her daughter being wronged, Liu Xiao'e raised her hand to hit Er Ya. At this moment, Daya, who had been waiting for her younger sister to return for a long time, came to find her out of concern. When she saw Liu Xiao'e's raised hand, Daya raised her hand to stop her: "Grandma Liu, if you don't help put out the fire quickly, it will burn down your house in no time!"

Her words made Liu Xiao'e forget about taking action. Muttering curses, she pulled Huang Zhaodi and ran home to get a bucket of water to put out the fire.

At this moment, Lu Zheng also heard the news. He took off running towards home. When he got to the door, he saw the kitchen with black smoke billowing out. He kicked the kitchen door open and rushed in without hesitation.

Daya and Erya never expected their father to rush in so recklessly. Terrified, their faces turned deathly pale, and they pleaded with the villagers, "Please, please save my father and Aunt Xia! We can't live without our father!"

"Quick! Help put out the fire!" the villagers shouted as they ran towards the kitchen, carrying buckets of water. With a "splash," a bucket of water was thrown out, landing squarely on Lu Zheng.

Seeing this, Lu Zheng turned around and used his back to protect Xia Qianqian in his arms.

Seeing that the two were both safe and sound, Daya quietly raised her little hand, patted her chest, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Er Ya rushed over to Xia Qianqian, and after confirming that she was alright, she huffed arrogantly, "That was so embarrassing! Next time I'll cook, and I definitely won't make such a mess of the kitchen!"

Looking at Er Ya's red, swollen eyes and her icy little hands, Xia Qianqian immediately understood that the little girl was worried about her.

She gently reached out and ruffled Er Ya's hair, making it all messy, and said with a smile, "It's Aunt Xia's fault for making you worry."

"I'm not worried at all!" Er Ya said stubbornly, pretending to be nonchalant as she turned her head away, but the corners of her mouth were already turned up.

Xia Qianqian bowed to the villagers with a hint of self-reproach: "I'm so sorry, I frightened you all. It's all my fault for not knowing how to use the earthen stove. I didn't control the fire properly when I lit it, and the oil in the pot caught fire all at once..."

Lu Zheng put Xia Qianqian down, his eyes filled with worry and reproach, and his tone became a few degrees harsher: "Why are you cooking like this? Do you know that if the kitchen really catches fire and the fire spreads and causes a major fire, that would be no small matter?"

Huang Zhaodi was overjoyed to see Lu Zheng get angry. She stood on tiptoe, craned her neck, and peered at Lu Zheng and Xia Qianqian, muttering under her breath, "Hmph, Xia Qianqian is going to get a beating now. She's always been so smug!"

The villagers also thought he was going to lay a hand on Xia Qianqian. Lu Zheng was tall and strong; he could easily pin Xia Qianqian to the ground with a single finger. So, everyone quickly advised, "Lu Zheng, your wife was indeed wrong this time, but we men can't lay a hand on our wives!"

Upon hearing Lu Zheng's words, Er Ya completely forgot about being arrogant. She hugged Lu Zheng's leg tightly and pleaded, "Daddy, you can't hit Aunt Xia! If Aunt Xia leaves, we'll never have such a good mom again!"

"What did you call me?" Xia Qianqian's eyes flashed with disbelief and surprise as she looked at Er Ya excitedly.

Er Ya felt a little embarrassed by her gaze, and lowered her eyes awkwardly, muttering softly, "Don't overthink it, I... I'm afraid you'll get beaten up."

After saying that, Er Ya put her hands together and looked at Lu Zheng pitifully: "Daddy, please, please?"

Lu Zheng was both amused and exasperated by Er Ya's series of actions. He scratched his head, looked at everyone around him, and said helplessly, "Who said I was going to hit my wife? How could I do such a thing!"

"Then why were you so fierce just now?" Xia Qianqian pouted and glared at him.

Lu Zheng reached out and grabbed Xia Qianqian's hand, explaining, "Qianqian, I saw the kitchen was on fire and I was worried about you, that's why I raised my voice. I really wasn't trying to be mean to you."

"Really?" Xia Qianqian parted her red lips slightly and uttered these two words, her voice so soft and sweet that it seemed to drip water.

Afraid she wouldn't believe him, Lu Zheng quickly assured her, "Of course it's true, how could I dare lie to you!"

Seeing his flustered state in front of her, Xia Qianqian suddenly had the idea to tease him.

She gave a charming smile and beckoned to Lu Zheng with her slender, white fingers: "If you really weren't mean to me, then... give me a kiss."

At this moment, Xia Qianqian was so beautiful that no one could take their eyes off her. Looking at her, Lu Zheng felt as if he was being pricked by thousands of thorns, and he didn't know where to put his hands and feet.

He stared at Xia Qianqian, his mind a jumble: How could this woman be so alluring? Could she be like those characters in the ghost stories, draining people's life force at night? But even if that were the case, he would be willing.

Lu Zheng was lost in thought when he looked up and found that everyone in the village was staring at him. Da Ya even covered Er Ya's eyes with her little hands.

In an instant, he felt a surge of heat rush to the top of his head, and said in a slightly hoarse voice, "I'll go clean up the kitchen!"

After saying that, he darted into the kitchen.

Seeing that there was no more excitement to watch, the villagers clicked their tongues and prepared to leave. Xia Qianqian quickly took out the honey-glazed pastries she had bought earlier and distributed them to everyone.

In this village, honey-glazed pastries are a rare delicacy. The villagers were initially a little embarrassed, but they couldn't resist the temptation and accepted them one by one.

After experiencing Xia Qianqian's benefits, no one said anything to her anymore. They even told her to learn slowly and that they could come and teach her if she didn't know how.

At this moment, someone glanced at Huang Zhaodi and said sarcastically, "Oh, the young couple is all lovey-dovey. Some people are probably just getting their hopes up for nothing."

These words drew snickers from those around her. Huang Zhaodi was both ashamed and angry, wishing she could disappear into the ground.