After hearing what Xu Lanyin said, Zhang Manniang was even happier. She smiled and said, "I also like Sister Xu's personality. I've also heard some rumors about you. I think Sister Xu is more free and easy. When her fiancé no longer wanted her, she broke off the engagement without any regrets. She should be open about what kind of person she wants to find. Whether it works out or not is one thing, but having tried hard, there's no regret. I'm the same kind of person. I think we can become close friends. I hate those girls who act coy. They clearly like someone very much, but they try to play it safe. It's so annoying."
Also used an idiom.
Zhang Tiedan was once again embarrassed for having such a sister. He covered his face with shame and walked forward. After walking a few steps, he looked back at Xu Lanting, turned around and pulled him forward.
Xu Lanyin was in a state of confusion, feeling like she was back in the modern world, freely discussing her boyfriend with her classmates. Unable to break free from Zhang Manniang's iron grip, she was dragged towards the Hong family. Xu Lanting had actually struck up a conversation with Zhang Tiedan, and the two of them chatted and laughed all the way hand in hand.
On the way, Zhang Manniang said that her mother was ill, so she asked her and her brother to come to the Hong family for the third day of her mother's birth. She added, "I know that Brother Zhao has a good relationship with General Hong, so he will definitely come to the banquet."
Zhang Tiedan turned around and said, "Dad will also be attending the banquet. You are not allowed to go to the front yard and talk to Zhao. You are embarrassing Dad and our family."
Zhang Manniang rolled her eyes and said, "Do you think I'm as stupid as you? Even if I wanted to meet Brother Zhao, I wouldn't do it in public."
Xu Lanyin felt that Zhang Manniang and Zhang Tiedan were two people with different personalities, completely different from their father Captain Zhang Zhang and their two brothers Zhang Gangdan and Zhang Tongdan.
According to Zhao Wu, Zhang Gangdan and Zhang Tongdan both work in the government office. Zhang Gangdan works as a clerk in the police station and is also the designated successor to Captain Zhang, while Zhang Tongdan is on standby duty.
When they arrived at the Hong family, Zhang Manniang met a young lady she knew, and Xu Lanyin was able to get rid of her and go to Hu's bedroom.
Mrs. Hu had a scarf wrapped around her head and looked very happy.
Xu Lanyin smiled and said, "Congratulations, Sister Hong, on having a son and a daughter."
Mrs. Hu smiled and said, "My grandfather named the child Hongwen, Wen Ge'er, hoping that he would be both civil and military."
Xu Lanyin looked at the child lying on the bed. The little guy looked more like Hong Zhen, a little darker, and was sleeping soundly with his eyes closed.
"So cute." Xu Lanyin smiled and pointed with her index finger. Although she knew how to hold a baby, she didn't dare to do so. In this life, she was still an unmarried girl.
After no one was in the room, Xu Lanyin told Mrs. Hu about meeting Zhang Manniang on the road.
Mrs. Hu laughed so hard her stomach hurt. She said, "Although Manniang and Tiedan also like to fight, they're not bad people by nature. They only fight those hooligans who like to stir up trouble. Especially Manniang, some of the rumors are exaggerated." She added, "My grandfather also told Captain Zhang about Zhao Wu's search for his cousin. Captain Zhang said that he knows that marriage and friendship require mutual consent..."
Xu Lanyin secretly hoped that Captain Zhang would truly let it go. However, she trusted Captain He's words more, as Captain He and his father had worked with the Zhang family for decades and should have a better understanding of Captain Zhang's character. Hong Zhen, on the other hand, had only been in Nanping County for two or three years and had only seen superficial aspects.
At noon, after the midwife gave little Hongwen a bath, everyone went to the hall to eat.
At the banquet, someone was talking about a murder that had occurred in a village. County Lieutenant Sun and Constable Zhang, who had a good relationship with the Hong family, were not there and had gone to the crime scene.
A murder case is a major one, and not only will the county lieutenant and relevant yamen runners go, but the county magistrate will also go in person.
Zhang Manniang sat next to Xu Lanyin. She whispered, "I just took a peek at the front yard, and it seems that Brother Zhao wasn't here either."
Zhao Wu also went there. The murder should have occurred in Sanshi Town and its jurisdiction, including Xiaozao Village.
After a while, someone else came in and said something more specific. Something happened to a family surnamed Wang in Xiaozao Village.
The face of Wang Jincai's mother, Xia, immediately appeared in Xu Lanyin's mind. Could it be that she was tortured to death by the old man Wang and his wife?
She couldn't eat. Although she and the original owner had only met Xia Shi a few times, her wailing made her feel uncomfortable. That woman's death might be a relief. With her death, those two evildoers would have broken the law and would definitely be punished by law.
After waiting for a long time for the banquet to end, Xu Lanyin said goodbye to Mrs. Hu, then took Xu Lanting out to call a donkey cart.
Zhang Manniang even ran over to say goodbye to her, "Sister Xu, I'll come to your house when I have nothing to do in the future."
Xu Lanyin said casually, "Okay, welcome."
Before the donkey cart reached the village entrance, groups of people from other villages were seen watching the excitement at the edge of the village.
Some people were discussing, "Oh my God, a daughter-in-law dared to kill her father-in-law. Isn't she afraid of being sentenced to death by slicing?"
Others said, "I heard that Old Man Wang was a beast who often molested his daughter-in-law. Perhaps the woman couldn't stand it anymore and killed him."
Xu Lanyin's heart sank again. Xia was a pitiful person. Xu Lanyin didn't want her to die, nor did she want her to kill Old Man Wang. In ancient times, if a younger generation killed their elders, they would be punished with death.
She got off the donkey cart and walked along, listening to people talking.
Once inside the village, the road was packed with people, mostly from the village, but also from other villages. From a distance, the Wang family compound looked tightly surrounded. Xu Lanyin thought about sending Xu Lanting home before going to watch the fun.
Qin opened the door, and Xu Lanting asked, "Mom, what's going on?"
Qin sighed, "I heard that Jincai Niang poisoned Old Man Wang and stabbed him several times to vent her anger. I'm not sure of the details. Not only did the county magistrate, county lieutenant, and yamen runners come, but a high-ranking official from the provincial capital also came along on an inspection tour. Alas, Jincai Niang walked into that house like a wolf's den. How pitiful."
Xu Lanyin said, "I heard on the road that Old Man Wang deserves to die, and the villagers are going to sign a joint letter to plead for Sister Wang."
Qin said, "I hope my plea will work." She then stopped Xu Lanyin who was about to go out to watch the fun and said, "Don't go. Stay home."
Ever since Zhao Wu found matchmaker Liu, Qin has been keeping a closer eye on Xu Lanyin.
Xu Lanyin had no choice but to stay in the yard and listen to the discussions of people outside.
At night, the county magistrate and his men left. Constable Zhao Wu and his companions escorted Xia back to the county government office, along with Old Man Wang's body and the crucial witness, Mrs. Wang. As they left, courageous villagers pleaded with the officials on Xia's behalf, recounting Old Man Wang's crimes and how Xia had been mistreated, begging the magistrate to show mercy and grant her a chance to live...
Xu Lanyin was so excited when she heard this in the yard that she wanted to rush out and plead for mercy.
Now Wang's house has become a haunted place, deserted, and anyone passing by has to take a long detour. The families closest to his house have also posted red paper strips on their doors to ward off evil spirits...
Xu Lan was so itchy that she ran to the main house to inquire about the news.
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