Upon hearing this, Ah Cai paused in his heavy breathing and secretly glanced at his master.

Young master, have you not yet discussed the matter of the stall with your wife?

Upon receiving a look from Ah Cai, Qin Yucheng's lips twitched instantly. He had been repeatedly distracted by Lin Qing's matter and had almost forgotten about those scoundrels at Zuixianju. He couldn't help but force a smile and explain to Li Hongyan:

"Mother, Miss Su and Brother Su were delayed on their journey today because Zuixianju had their eye on the Mala Tang stall. Song Jiaren hired local thugs and yamen runners to cause trouble at the stall."

The son had Ah Cai beat the constable Gao a few times and then throw him to his father, along with Song Jiaren and his servant.

"Zui Xian Ju has been running rampant for some time, and many people have suffered as a result. Now that we have this solid evidence, Father is probably still busy in the yamen."

Hearing these seemingly casual words, Ah Cai couldn't help but secretly grumble to himself, "He didn't just give me a few blows."

Thirty real whacks.

Gao, the constable, was barely clinging to life before being taken to the county government office.

He opened his mouth and added, "After the young master finished teaching the constable Gao a lesson, the people who had been cheated by Zuixianju and the constable Gao all went to the yamen together and filed a stack of lawsuits against them. The master said that he would not be back for lunch today and told the madam not to wait for him."

"Understood." Li Hongyan nodded slightly.

Qin Yucheng had brought back Su's spicy hot pot several times. Even though she had eaten countless exquisite delicacies, she had to admit that although the spicy hot pot skewers were simple, the taste was irresistible. After eating it once, she would start thinking about the next time.

Zuixianju has always been arrogant, so it's not surprising that they've set their sights on Sujia Malatang.

Thinking of this, Li Hongyan took Su Hua's hand and smiled gently, "Hua'er, if you have any trouble in business in the future, feel free to come to me or Yu Cheng."

Although the Li and Qin families were not related to the imperial family, they wielded considerable influence in the Great Yu Kingdom, whether in Qingshui County or elsewhere.

At least it can protect you a little.

He knew his own son's temperament well. The fact that Yu Cheng could beat Song Jiaren in public showed that the trouble at Zuixianju was no ordinary matter.

Whether it's the flavorful snails he brought back before or the spicy hot pot he's serving now, it all proves that the Su family is very knowledgeable about food.

Su Hua is even more intelligent. Although she comes from a peasant family, her knowledge and conversation are in no way inferior to those of young ladies from noble families in the capital. She will certainly not be confined to a small county like Qingshui in the future.

If you want to go far, you need someone to protect you.

Wei Jianjia, who had been vomiting for a long time, finally recovered and her beautiful eyes widened when she heard Li Hongyan's words.

If anyone else had said this, she would have scoffed at it, but now it was her aunt who was saying it.

The Li family has only two daughters, one legitimate and one illegitimate. Li Hongyan, the legitimate daughter, is second only to her maternal grandfather, the head of the Li family.

Li Hongyan's promise was equivalent to the promise of the entire Li family.

Is she trying to use the Li family behind her to support Su Hua?

What merits does Su Hua possess to deserve such a grand promise from Li Hongyan?!

Wei Jianjia looked at Su Hua, her clenched palms scratched by her fingernails, but she felt no pain at all. She only felt that her whole body, from head to toe, was filled with hatred.

Even the usually quiet Su Dahu couldn't help but be surprised. Was this what Hua'er meant by "clinging to a powerful figure" when she joked about it?

But isn't this golden thigh a bit too... big?

Moreover, she even offered to be carried.

The servants in the courtyard all gasped in shock.

Everyone stared in shock at the lake-green figure in the center.

Su Hua knew the weight of Li Hongyan's words, and immediately grasped her palm, nodding solemnly, "Hua'er thanks Madam and Young Master Qin. Even today, if it weren't for Young Master Qin's timely arrival, I'm afraid my siblings and I would have suffered in prison."

"Hey, why are you still calling me Madam and Young Master?" Li Hongyan looked at Su Hua's straightforward personality and felt more and more pleased with her. "I'm a few years younger than your mother. If you don't mind, you can call me Aunt Qin."

As for this brat, you can just call him Yu Cheng.

“Yes, Aunt Qin.” Su Hua readily agreed, then smiled at Qin Yucheng, “Yucheng.”

The latter looked up and met the girl's smiling eyes. He felt that the two words "Yu Cheng" that came out of her red lips were particularly tender and affectionate.

It made his ears and neck feel burning hot all at once.

Her lips trembled for a long time before she finally spoke, "Then, shall I call you Hua'er from now on, just like my older brothers and the others?"

Seeing the boy's face turn as red as a shrimp, Su Hua smiled and agreed, "Of course."

I couldn't help but find it a little funny.

He should be a few months younger than her, and young masters from noble families should have maids serving them since childhood. Someone from a family like Qin Yucheng should have many maids around him. Yet, he blushes with embarrassment just from being called by a little girl's name.

"Hua'er!" Qin Yucheng murmured softly, the curve of his lips almost as sharp as a bow and arrow.

Upon hearing those two words, and recalling how he always referred to her as his cousin, Wei Jianjia's palms were already bleeding profusely. She looked at Qin Yucheng with eyes full of unbearable grievance.

He should know why she came here.

But now, he cares so much about a village girl, yet he ignores her completely, which is really hurtful.

Like Wei Jianjia, Su Dahu, standing beside her, also had a dark expression. He took two steps forward without making a sound and blocked Qin Yucheng's way.

Although Hua'er was intelligent, he was still young and had not experienced many things, so he couldn't understand them. But he was an experienced person, and he was very familiar with such eyes. Back then, when he looked at Dongmei, when the second brother looked at his sister-in-law, and even when the third brother looked at Liang Siyu, they were almost all like this.

His little cabbage hasn't grown up yet; he can't let it be eaten by a pig.

Even these piglets that haven't grown up yet.

It's even more important to start prevention from a young age.