Chapter 61: The Widow He is such a “bad” person.

In the early morning, in order to look neat and tidy and to be more convenient, Song Baoyuan dressed simply and even tied her hair into a braid.

As soon as she opened the door, she saw a beautiful white-haired cat wandering in her yard.

She recognized it as the one her neighbor had caught from the tree yesterday.

Not knowing whether this little guy was aggressive, Song Baoyuan approached cautiously and tentatively reached out to tease him.

Fortunately, it was docile. Song Baoyuan picked it up when it was not paying attention, then ran to knock on the neighbor's door.

Xie Yuchao was half asleep and was crawling under the table to look for his cat slave. It took him a while to realize someone was knocking on the door.

He looked up and glanced at the servant who was washing clothes, sighed, rubbed his eyes and went to open the door himself.

The morning sunlight streamed in through the crack of the door as he opened it, dazzling him.

"Meow!"

Xie Yuchao was slightly stunned. The morning light cast a warm glow on the woman in front of him. She was smiling brightly and was extraordinarily beautiful.

His raccoon turned into a human form?

"Meow!"

Li Nu used Song Baoyuan's arm to jump out of her hand and crash into Xie Yuchao's chest.

"cough!"

Xie Yuchao was shattered from his fantasy by this sudden blow. He became completely awake and took a half step back, holding his chest.

Song Baoyuan's eyelids twitched, "Are you okay?"

"No!" Xie Yuchao turned sideways to maintain his composure, "It's okay."

Song Baoyuan explained: "It was just in my yard."

"No wonder it couldn't be found." Xie Yuchao was slightly embarrassed. "Maybe it's because it's in a new place and it's not used to it, so it keeps running around. Sorry to bother you."

"It's okay." Song Baoyuan nodded slightly, "I'll go first."

"good."

Xie Yuchao stood at the door and watched them go. He stroked the head of the raccoon in his arms and muttered, "It's really hard for a little girl to go out early and come back late."

“Who’s working hard?”

The servant who was washing clothes was fed up and filled with resentment. "Young Master, if you only brought me here with you, why didn't you buy such a big house? Now you have money to buy a house but no money to hire servants. I have to do everything!"

"Alright, alright." Xie Yuchao soothed him, "I'll give you a raise."

"Haha." The servant's face twisted with anger. "We bought the best brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone yesterday, and we're already broke!"

Xie Yuchao looked calm and said, "Just pawn it for two more jade pendants."

He walked back leisurely. "When the imperial examination comes next spring, I, your young master, will definitely pass the exam. And when I reach the highest position in the government, I'll kick that old man out and become the head of the family. Are you still worried that you won't have a good life?"

The servant hesitated to speak.

He had no doubt that he would pass the imperial examination and become a high-ranking official, but as for becoming the head of the family, it might be a bit difficult.

*

When Song Baoyuan rushed to the Ministry of Revenue, she happened to see Doctor Liu taking two officials to the village.

She hurried after him, blocking his way, and said urgently, "I came up with a plan yesterday. I'm not sure if it's feasible. I'd like to ask Doctor Liu to listen to it."

Perhaps because of the favor he had shown her yesterday, Doctor Liu treated her much better today. Although he didn't expect her to say anything, he still stopped.

"explain."

Song Baoyuan said calmly, "I talked to a few villagers yesterday. They're afraid of poverty, so they don't dare to change. They're afraid that their lives will get worse. Since we can't pay them more, but we will definitely need a lot of workers for the future projects, perhaps we can sign contracts with the villagers in advance, give them priority in hiring, and pay them. This is like giving them another layer of security, and maybe they will make some concessions."

Doctor Liu was stunned.

"Boss." Manager Qiao came around. "It sounds like it could work."

Doctor Liu had a blank expression on his face and cleared his throat. "Ahem, let's go over there first."

They still rode horses today, and Song Baoyuan, who couldn't keep up yesterday, will no longer fall behind.

This time they didn't dare tie their horses at the entrance of the village. They stayed far away and approached on foot.

According to Doctor Liu's opinion and what Song Baoyuan said, we can give it a try.

But Doctor Liu did not let her come forward, for fear that the talks would fail. It would be really embarrassing for her, a girl, to be chased and beaten.

So Mr. Fang went on stage trembling with fear. As a result, the village chief took the lead and said that he needed to think about it.

This was already a good start. Song Baoyuan and his group left the village and rested temporarily by a nearby stream.

It was noon in a blink of an eye. Song Baoyuan sat with her back against a tree stump, hugging her knees, and secretly touched her shriveled belly.

I went out so hastily without bringing any water or food.

Doctor Liu, who was standing next to him, had just taken out a pancake from his pocket when he heard a loud commotion.

They all looked back and saw a large number of people rushing towards them.

"People from the Dali Temple?" Doctor Liu narrowed his eyes and judged their identities from their clothes.

He nudged Fang, the manager beside him, with his elbow, indicating that he should go and ask what was going on.

Manager Fang immediately stood up and returned quickly, looking confused.

"They said they were searching around here for body parts."

Manager Qiao was so frightened that he stood up quickly and looked around in horror.

Song Baoyuan couldn't sit still either, and suddenly felt that nothing was clean anywhere.

At this point, the people from the Dali Temple also stopped to rest, gathering in groups of three or four by the stream.

Song Baoyuan had a strong premonition.

As expected.

Less than half a minute after she came up with the idea, she saw Jiang Keyu walking out from the group of people in the Dali Temple and walking towards her.

"Young Master Jiang." Doctor Liu recognized him and hurriedly bowed and greeted him.

On both sides of him, Master Fang and Master Qiao also followed.

Song Baoyuan hesitated for a moment and then bowed.

Jiang Keyu: “?”

Here we go again.

"Doctor Liu, nice to meet you." Jiang Keyu nodded slightly.

"Excuse me, Mr. Jiang, has anything dangerous happened nearby?" Doctor Liu asked seriously.

Jiang Keyu answered as she approached Song Baoyuan, "The incident didn't happen here. The murderer simply cut the victim's body into more than a dozen pieces and dumped them nearby. Don't be afraid."

Song Baoyuan: "..."

That’s it?

Is this human language?

"Boss!" Tang Yuan came over with a food box wrapped in cloth in his hand, "It's time to eat..."

He was stunned when he saw Song Baoyuan, and then suddenly realized, "I was wondering why you prepared such an exquisite lunch, it turns out my sister-in-law is here!"

Jiang Keyu frowned and glanced at him sideways, as if blaming him for being too talkative.

Song Baoyuan tilted her head. Seeing that Jiang Keyu had no intention of explaining, she moved closer to Tang Yuan and whispered, "Don't call me that. We divorced a long time ago."

"ah?"

Tang Yuan's pupils trembled.

He was stunned for a long time, as if he had heard explosive news that he had been unable to accept for a long time.

Jiang Keyu's already depressed mood became even more gloomy.

She is quite generous and tells everyone everything, even if it's not necessarily something glorious.

"Is that so?" Tang Yuan suddenly felt the food box in his hand was hot. "Then what is this..."

"Give it to me." Jiang Keyu took it and put it into Song Baoyuan's hand.

Song Baoyuan was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously pushed it back, "I don't want it."

"Have you had lunch?"

"No."

"Then why not?" Jiang Keyu showed a hint of dissatisfaction and even grievance.

Thinking of her alienation last night and today, he became more and more anxious.

He opened the lunch box.

Song Baoyuan was confused and said, "I um."

As soon as she opened her mouth, the person in front of her stuffed a small piece of cake into her mouth, blocking her voice from refusing.

Song Baoyuan: “?”

baffling.

Is this what a gentleman does?

Jiang Keyu realized belatedly what he was doing and was stunned for a long time after doing the bad thing.

Song Baoyuan turned her back, feeling extremely depressed.

"I, you..." Jiang Keyu walked around in front of her, feeling a little at a loss.

Song Baoyuan turned around in place, avoiding his sight and touch.

"Are you angry?" Jiang Keyu was worried. "Are you really angry?"

Song Baoyuan was slightly stunned.

Memories came flooding back.

"Are you angry?" Her brother held the pearl flower she had dropped above his head, a height she couldn't reach by standing on tiptoe.

When she turned her back because of blushing, he teased with a smile in his voice close to her ear, "Are you really angry?"

He was such a "bad" person, but they had been polite and respectful to each other for too long, and she selectively forgot some things that were inconsistent with his temperament.

So there are traces of Chengcheng's misbehavior, how can he have the nerve to blame the child!

As if she had found the root of the problem, Song Baoyuan's mind suddenly became clear.

The way he is now, he has really gone back to the past and treats her as his sister.

But now, she will no longer run away with a red face.

Jiang Keyu didn't know what she was thinking. Seeing her frown, he felt uneasy, "I..."

“Bang!”

Song Baoyuan took action without warning, picked up a piece of cake from the food box, and put it into his mouth as he opened his mouth to speak.

But her aim was off and her force was a little too strong, so her slap and the pastry landed right on his face with a crisp sound.

Jiang Keyu was so shocked that she forgot to react.

Is this something he can see? Tang Yuan was shocked and ran away quickly.

Doctor Liu and his companions also turned sideways to peek.

Unlike what was imagined, Song Baoyuan hurriedly withdrew her "committing crime" hand and hid it behind her back, a little panicked.

After hesitating for a moment, he handed over the handkerchief with his other hand.

Jiang Keyu finally came to her senses, took the handkerchief and wiped her face.

He swallowed the cake that was in his mouth.

Both of them were embarrassed.

Forget it, Jiang Keyu thought.

It can be considered as feeding him.

Better than being a stranger.

*

Because Jiang Keyu was busy with a new case, Song Baoyuan went to the Dali Temple to take her daughter away, and then went to the school to pick up her son in the evening.

As the sun sets, she walks home holding her two children's hands.

"Mom wasn't here yesterday. Were you guys good?"

"Good boy!" Jiang Suisui spun around in circles. "I'm super good!"

Jiang Chengyou was concentrating on playing with the straw cricket in his hand. He didn't say anything until the beautiful cat slave appeared in front of him. His attention was completely attracted. "Mom! Look!"

On the threshold of the neighbor's house, a white-haired cat was draped in the rosy glow, looking noble and elegant.

"Wow!" Jiang Suisui wanted to get closer but didn't dare, so she pulled her mother's sleeve and said, "Mom, it looks so good, can I touch it?"

"sure."

It was not Song Baoyuan who agreed, but Xie Yuchao who happened to walk to the door.

He leaned against the door frame with his arms folded, and bent down to look at Jiang Suisui. "You are prettier than her."

"Hehe." Jiang Suisui smiled brightly.

Xie Yuchao looked up and asked casually, "Is this your brother or sister?"

"These are my son and daughter."

Xie Yuchao: “…”

At this moment, my brain stopped thinking.

"You already have a child this big?" His expression stiffened. "What about you, your husband?"

Song Baoyuan glanced at the child squatting next to the raccoon slave and unconsciously lowered her voice, "I don't have a husband anymore."

She was still a widow. Xie Yuchao was shocked again and again.

Did he just say something wrong?

"Then..." He looked at the child and the raccoon slave at a loss.

Song Baoyuan knew that associating with someone of her status would easily lead to gossip, let alone a noble scholar.

"I understand. I'll take them away right away."

"No." Xie Yuchao coughed lightly and bowed. "I admire my neighbor's wife for taking care of two children on her own and keeping her house in such good order. Since we are neighbors by fate, if there is anything I can help with, please feel free to ask for help."

Unexpectedly, Song Baoyuan was stunned for a moment before returning the greeting, "Thank you."

She turned around and said, "Okay, say goodbye to my brother, we are going home."

Jiang Chengyou and Jiang Suisui touched the raccoon's head, stood up and saluted, then went home happily.

"There's always trouble around a widow." The servant came to Xie Yuchao's side and said, "Master, maybe we've come to the wrong place."

"They're an orphan and a widow, and you're still joking?"

The servant was stunned. "Poor?"

He was amazed. "She has such a big house! So many people to serve her! Such lovely children! Such friendly neighbors! Is she pitiful?"

He choked up, "I still think I'm more pitiful."

Xie Yu rolled his eyes at him.

The servant spread his hands and said, "Whether she's pitiful or not is another matter. But a rich and beautiful widow sounds dangerous."

He suddenly became alert, "Master, you must not give in, Master! We can survive even if we are poor!"

Xie Yuchao: “…”