Chapter 173 Finding Fault

Unaware of the undercurrents at the dinner table, Lin Yuesha smiled sweetly at Xiao Chenggui and said, "Father, don't worry. I've always regarded my elder brother as half a father. How could he possibly bully me?"

Lin Yuesha thought to herself, "Father is the most fair. Mother always thinks I bullied Xiao Qi, and I can't explain it to her."

Half a father? Xiao Qi was stunned. He felt inexplicably resistant to the idea that an elder brother is like a father. Besides, this stepbrother wasn't really a stepbrother. He and the little girl had no relation whatsoever.

Unable to say it aloud, Xiao Qi could only keep it to himself.

On the tenth day of the first lunar month, early in the morning, Jiang Baozhu brought Xiao Xi to find Lin Yuesha. As expected, she found out that Lin Qian and the woman had not left and were staying at the Changxing Inn, which was not far from the town.

"The innkeeper said that the two of them planned to stay in the north to enjoy the lanterns, so they would stay until after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month before leaving."

Jiang Baozhu gave the inn's waiter some money and learned a lot of information, such as that the woman's maiden name was Qingdai, and that she and Lin Qian had been living in the same room for a long time and addressed each other as husband and wife.

"Living together without any betrothal or marriage proposal, Lin Qian still has the nerve to say that women care most about their reputation. It seems his sweetheart doesn't care at all!"

Even though it wasn't her own business, Jiang Baozhu was furious.

Lin Qian looked at Zhang Qing'er with a resolute expression, but when he turned to Qingdai, he showed her meticulous care.

The two of them had no inhibitions and stayed together intimately. The reason they wanted to stay until the fifteenth of the first lunar month was because Qingdai was a woman from the south and had never seen snow in the north, so she wanted to stay a few more days.

Without hesitation, Lin Qian moved out of the Zhang residence, even at the cost of breaking ties with the Zhang family.

"I don't believe it if you say that Qingdai didn't know Lin Qian was engaged."

Lin Yuesha pouted. Since she knew this, why didn't she leave quickly after getting the benefit? Why did she have to stay until the fifteenth of the first lunar month? Wasn't it just to show off to Zhang Qing'er and make her look like the victor?

"I think so too."

Jiang Baozhu inquired about the news, but before sending a message to Zhang Qing'er, she decided to take Lin Yuesha to see the scumbag first.

The two hit it off immediately and headed straight for Changxing Inn.

To support her plan, Jiang Baozhu spent a considerable amount of money to book all the empty rooms at Changxing Inn, one of which happened to be next to Lin Qian's.

Lin Yuesha, peering through the crack in the door, happened to see Lin Qian asking the waiter to order water.

"Does it really need a bath in broad daylight?"

Lin Yuesha pondered that perhaps Lin Qian had some kind of germophobia; after all, most doctors have some quirks.

He looks so refined and respectable, but you can't judge a book by its cover. You can't tell he's a scoundrel just by his appearance.

Jiang Baozhu blushed slightly. In wealthy families, the word "water" had another meaning, but she didn't want to say it.

A short while later, Lin Qian entered the room.

Lin Yuesha was discussing with Jiang Baozhu how to dress up as a ghost to scare people. The image of the ghost in her mind was based on the white shadow. A white blood-stained dress would look even scarier.

"Use chicken blood."

Cinnabar is expensive, so Lin Yuesha decided to cut off one of her own old hens to save costs.

Before the New Year, my mother, Chen, bought a few live chickens. Since we had too much meat at home, we kept two. Anyway, the two old hens didn't lay eggs, so we might as well let them fulfill their purpose as soon as possible.

Chicken blood is used to make ghost costumes, and chicken meat is stewed and eaten.

The three of them should act quickly, since it's uncertain when Lin Qian will leave, so it's best to do everything before the Lantern Festival.

"Brother Lin, you're so kind!"

From next door, the sounds of a bed creaking and a woman's seductive breathing could be heard.

Lin Yuesha initially thought there were rats in the inn, but upon closer listening, she was immediately speechless.

These two are pretty wild, starting in broad daylight, they really have no shame.

Jiang Baozhu blushed with embarrassment. She hadn't had much experience in her previous life, and being a young woman in this one, she found the two men's behavior utterly distasteful.

"Lust is a double-edged sword." If Qingdai were an honest person, she wouldn't have bewitched Lin Qian like this.

That young master from a wealthy family is so dissolute and depraved; he's nothing but a lecher in human skin!

"Sister Qingdai..."

Lin Qian stopped mid-sentence.

Lin Yuesha was furious. She had just witnessed the scene of catching someone in the act of adultery again. Unlike Xuan Yao and He Xing, these two had no sense of shame. If she didn't teach them a lesson, she would feel sorry for Zhang Qing'er.

"What should we do then? Lin Qian recognizes me."

Jiang Baozhu looked worried and touched her face with her hand.

Lin Qian visited Madam Xu's residence to examine her, and he did see her then. It hadn't been long, so there was no guarantee that she might still remember him.

"She doesn't know me, watch me!"

Lin Yuesha told Jiang Baozhu to hide behind the screen, then pushed open the door and went out, shouting, "Rat! Big rat!"

A scream attracted the waiter, and the shouting from next door immediately stopped.

Where are the rats?

The waiter specially brought a broom upstairs and asked Lin Yuesha.

"Buddy, I saw a huge gray rat run out of the house. It was munching on something and making a really loud noise!"

As Lin Yuesha spoke, she glanced at the opposite door. She had just seen someone standing at the door; it was either Lin Qian or Qingdai.

"Maybe the mouse went into the next room?"

Lin Yuesha knocked on the door and asked in a serious tone, "Is anyone inside?"

"Sir, please stop knocking. A couple lives next door, and..."

The waiter opened his mouth, thinking that the couple was calling for water, probably intending to do something, and that the rats disturbing their intimate moment would be disastrous.

The guy didn't think it was against the rules; there really aren't many couples who are so deeply in love.

"But what if a big rat gets into the room and jumps onto the bed at night?"

Lin Yuesha insisted on knocking on the door next door, her words righteous and clear.

Being interrupted in the middle of something exciting made Lin Qian extremely annoyed. He quickly put on his clothes and opened the door with a grim expression.

"Sir, I apologize for disturbing you."

The waiter bowed and apologized profusely, then looked hesitantly at Lin Yuesha, hoping this young lady could help explain.

"Excuse me, I live right next door to you. I just saw a big rat, it looked like it was gnawing on wood, making squeaking noises."

Lin Yuesha made a pointed remark, but she acted very seriously, not at all like she was joking.

A creaking sound? Lin Qian looked at Lin Yuesha with a grim expression. He wasn't sure if the brat was doing it on purpose.

"There are no mice in our room. Is it inappropriate for you to be shouting in the hallway for most of the day?"

Lin Qian was furious when he saw the person in front of him, his good time being interrupted.

If it weren't for the girl's youthful appearance, he would almost suspect that she was doing it on purpose!

"Why is it inappropriate? Does that mean I can't scream when I see a big rat? It's not like I wanted to!"

"Fine, you want to argue?" Lin Yuesha immediately chimed in, hands on her hips.

"You... a young lady making such a racket, like a shrew from the marketplace, it's an insult to civility!"

Lin Qian had never seen a woman like this before. He was perfectly fine in the room, but she scared him so much that he went limp. What if he developed any health problems afterward? Who would he complain to later?