Mu Jingheng chuckled awkwardly and said, "I'm different from you. When I went to the countryside, Xin'er picked me up in a tractor. I took a liking to her at first sight. After I found out she was Uncle Xu's daughter when I got to the village, I found a way to stay at their house. Xin'er is aloof and hard to pursue, so I adopted a strategy of winning her over one by one. Once I got in, I used a strategy of relentless pursuit. Isn't there a saying that a good woman is afraid of a persistent suitor?"

Qin Yao gave Mu Jingheng a thumbs up and exclaimed in admiration, "Brilliant, truly brilliant!"

Qin Yao thought that if she had Mu Jingheng's brains back then, she probably would already have a child with Mu Jinghuai.

Before they knew it, Mu Jingheng had escorted the two of them all the way to the Qin family's gate.

Mu Jingheng: "Brother, remember what I said, and keep it up!"

Mu Jinghuai smiled, nodded, and said earnestly, "I've remembered, don't worry!"

Mu Jingheng turned to go home, and when he passed by the Wu family's courtyard, he met the second daughter-in-law of the Wu family.

Out of politeness, Mu Jingheng greeted her.

Wu's second son's wife immediately came out and asked with a smile, "When did you get back? Did Xiao Xu go back to school?"

Mu Jingheng: "I've been back for several days now. My wife has graduated."

Wu's second son's wife exclaimed in surprise, "Graduated? Didn't she just start university in the second half of last year?"

Mu Jingheng: "Yes! She completed all the courses through self-study and passed all the exams."

Wu's second son's wife: "Xiao Xu Ke is really amazing! Is she going back to work in Qingyuan County?"

Mu Jingheng: "She was kept on to teach."

Wu's second son's wife asked incredulously, "He stayed on to teach at the university?"

Mu Jingheng nodded.

Wu's second son's wife exclaimed, "Second son Mu, you've really struck gold! You mustn't bully Xiao Xu in the future."

Mu Jingheng: "Look at what Auntie is saying. I'm too busy taking care of my precious daughter, how could I possibly bully her?"

Wu's second daughter-in-law: "My aunt really likes Xiao Xu. She's also my sister's goddaughter, so in that sense I'm her aunt. We'll be living in the same compound from now on, and I'll keep an eye on you."

Mu Jingheng sighed and said with a smile, "Auntie, don't worry. There are so many people backing her up now, I don't have the guts to do that."

Wu's second son's wife: "Good to know. By the way, I just saw you coming from that direction. Where did you go?"

Mu Jingheng: "Sister Yao is back. My brother went back to the Qin family with her."

Wu's second son's wife: "Your brother and the Qin family's daughter?"

Mu Jingheng smiled and nodded.

Actually, Wu's second daughter-in-law wasn't very familiar with the Qin sisters. She used to be in poor health and never went out, but recently her health has improved, and she's been moving around more and starting to interact with people in the compound.

She had only met Qin Ye among the Qin sisters; she didn't know who Qin Yao was at all.

However, she had heard people mention Qin's daughter going to the countryside these past few days.

She was also puzzled. With so few younger members in the Qin family, how could they bear to send a girl to the countryside to suffer like this?

She even considered that the Qin family might have done it on purpose, just like Mu Lao Er did, but upon closer examination, that seemed impossible.

Now that she knows that the Qin family's daughter is with Mu Jinghuai, she remembers the gossip she's been hearing in the compound these past few days.

The Yu family sent their own daughter to the countryside and watched her get married there, but instead raised a stepdaughter by their side and doted on her.

Many people in the compound scoffed at the Yu family's situation, which truly proved the saying that having a stepmother made a father a stepfather.

The stepmother of the Yu family is somewhat similar to the former Shen Yuqin. She is arrogant and pretentious in front of others, but she can immediately become gentle, considerate, and understanding in front of her husband.

After Mu Jinghuai returned, rumors spread throughout the compound that Yu's stepdaughter was going to marry him, and that it was Old Master Mu who had made the decision and that the wedding date had already been set.

Wu's second son's wife asked curiously, "Didn't I hear that your brother is getting married to Yu's stepdaughter?"

Mu Jingheng frowned and asked, "Auntie, who told you that? When did my brother get involved with that woman?"

Wu's second daughter-in-law: "Everyone in the compound is saying that it was your grandfather who made the decision."

Mu Jingheng: "Who spread this rumor? My brother has always had a good relationship with Sister Yao. From childhood to adulthood, he has only ever had Sister Yao in his heart. Nowadays, we value freedom of marriage. Besides, my grandfather is not the kind of autocratic person. He will only like the people we like."

Wu's second son's wife: "What kind of people are these! Last time everyone asked that stepdaughter, she shyly admitted it, making everyone in the compound think it was true. I guess the Qin family has heard these comments too. Your brother is going to be interrogated by the Qin family today."

Mu Jingheng smiled and said, "Grandpa and Grandma Qin and Uncle and Aunt Qin are all reasonable people. My brother can explain it to them clearly. The truth cannot be hidden, and the falsehood cannot be made true. My grandfather's rumors are not so easy to spread."

Before they could exchange more than a few words, Wu's second son, who was adopted by the family, came over after seeing them chatting. He glared at Mu Jingheng unfriendly and then said to Wu's second son's wife, "Mom, you've just recovered and can't stay outside all the time. It wouldn't be good if you got infected by some bacteria."

Wu's second son's wife patted her adopted son's hand with a smile and said to Mu Jingheng with a smile, "This child is just too worried about me. He's straightforward, so don't mind him."

Mu Jingheng smiled and said, "It's alright, Auntie, I'm leaving now."

Wu's second son's wife: "Okay, bring your wife over to visit sometime."

Mu Jingheng: "Okay, Auntie."

Wu's second son's wife and Yang turned around and went into the yard.

As Mu Jingheng watched their retreating figures, he suddenly had a feeling that this adopted son wasn't actually worried about Wu's second daughter-in-law, but rather seemed to be monitoring her.

Seeing Mu Jingheng return, Xu Xinning asked, "Why did you take so long?"

Mu Jingheng: "I had too many things to tell my brother, and before I knew it, I had taken them home. On the way back, I ran into Aunt Wu and we talked for a while."

Xu Xinning joked, "Isn't her adopted son here?"

Mu Jingheng: "Don't you also think her adopted son is a bit strange?"

Xu Xinning: "It's quite strange. He seems to really dislike his aunt talking to us."

Mu Jingheng: "I thought I was the only one who felt this way. He gave me the feeling that he was spying on Aunt Wu."

Xu Xinning: "That shouldn't be the case, right? Why would he be spying on her? He might be nervous, after all, he's just an adopted son, and he's afraid of losing that identity. If he really loses that identity, he can only go back to his hometown."

Someone who's experienced a good life in the city certainly wouldn't want that kind of life in the countryside.

Mu Jingheng seemed thoughtful, then said, "Perhaps?"

Grandpa Mu returned with Mu Zhenting, bringing back two burdens—Grandpa Jiang and Jiang Juecheng.