Xu Lanyin sneered and said, "Gu Wangchen, you're really good at pretending. It's just that you've been tired of dealing with a small farm family for the past four years, and you think a silly girl like me is too stupid, so you've revealed some of your thoughts. And your mother is not like you. She wears her thoughts on her face and often speaks her mind. So, during these days when you were away, I thought about it over and over again, and finally figured you out."
Gu Wangchen sneered and shook his head, then asked, "Have you figured me out?"
Xu Lanyin smiled brightly and said, "Were you disappointed when you got home? I didn't ruin my reputation as you wished, nor did I steal pears from Xu Lizheng's pear orchard as you wished, giving your family an excuse to break off the engagement. Nor did I catch you in adultery in Sujiazhuang as you wished, and then be provoked by you to the point of banging my head against the wall or jumping into the river..."
Xu Lanyin revealed Gu Wangchen's vicious thoughts and plans, which made him turn pale with anger. The "boom boom boom" sound of her heart drummed so hard that her eardrums hurt. She quickly dismissed the thought so that her ears could be at peace.
Gu Wangchen said with a sullen face, "Xu Lanyin, don't go too far. If you dare to talk nonsense again, don't blame me for being rude."
Xu Lanyin sneered, "What? Are you angry because your mask was ripped off? Who are you trying to scare? What's the harm in being rude? If a fight really breaks out, I do the hard labor every day, which is much better than a white-faced scholar like you who lives off you. I'm here for no other reason than to cancel the engagement. You have to pay back all the money you've spent on my family over the years."
Gu Wangchen's face turned from white to red, and then from red to white. After a moment's contemplation, he forced a smile and said softly, "Sister Yin, please stop being so irritable. Look over there, someone is watching us." Then he said kindly, "Those things you mentioned never happened. They were all your own imagination. You must have been so happy and nervous these days that you're hallucinating. Tomorrow I'll go with you to town to see a doctor and get some tranquilizers. Oh, and we'll treat your illness together."
Xu Lanyin no longer had the patience to continue and said, "Gu Wangchen, stop pretending. I've seen through your mind and know you won't marry me. I've even given you the best excuse. The Xu Lanyin now is not the same Xu Lanyin as before. If you dare not leave a way out for me and my family, I'm not afraid to fight you to the death. Do you think you can ruin my reputation by keeping me hanging? I'm telling you, forget it! For so many years, my heart and eyes have been filled with you. I've figured you out. Just stick your butt out and I'll know if you're shitting or farting. I won't give you what you want."
Gu Wangchen was furious and shouted, "How shameless! How shameless! How can a girl say such vulgar and shameless words? How did you become like this!"
He looked extremely distressed.
Xu Lanyin snorted coldly, "My words may be harsh, but they're grounded. Unlike you, who puts on a face that's cleaner than anyone else, but actually does shameless things, your mind is dirtier than the shit in the toilet." Then he said impatiently, "Don't waste your time. If you want to trick me into doing something bad, don't blame me for being rude. I will tell everyone in Nanping County about how you lived off me, how your mother instigated me to sell my land and steal pears, and how you tried every possible way to trick me into doing bad things, even using Miss Su to ruin my reputation. If unfortunately I'm killed, there's still my family. If my family is in trouble, there are still my relatives and clansmen. I have already made a perfect plan."
Gu Wangchen was reluctant to break off the engagement, fearing criticism that he had abandoned his ex-fiancée after passing the imperial examination. Seeing Xu Lanyin's change, he became even more frightened. If this girl went out and started talking nonsense, it would cause endless trouble.
He said stubbornly, "You have the mouth, so I can't say anything you want. I, Gu, am an upright man, and have never done anything that goes against my conscience. I'm not afraid of what you say. But if you dare to spread rumors about me taking the imperial examination, my clan will report you to the county government, and you'll be punished."
Xu Lanyin sneered, "Compared to the destruction of a family, a beating of the stick is nothing. Besides, I have a very close relationship with the county magistrate's daughter. The material of this dress was given by Madam Min, this flower was given by Miss Min, and this handkerchief was given by Grandma Min. It's hard to say whether the county magistrate believes you or me. Even if the county magistrate and his wife both believe you don't believe me," she smiled sinisterly again, "but women like to spread rumors. When Madam Min and Miss Min return to the capital, they will definitely tell the family of the Minister of Justice, Lord Min. And then it will spread all over the capital. Even if you pass the imperial examination and become the top scholar, your reputation will be worrying. If it gets to the ears of Miss Su's elders, anyone who dares to covet their daughter with a scandal, let alone becoming the son-in-law of the Su family, may be tortured to a state worse than death by them."
Gu Wangchen's expression darkened, the forced warmth in his eyes gone. He gritted his teeth and said, "So, it seems I have no way out. Regardless of whether I cancel the engagement or not, as long as you go out and talk nonsense, you can ruin my reputation, and then I will have to catch you in my hands."
Xu Lanyin said, "If you agree to break off the engagement, I won't say those words. After all, I also want to live a good life and won't cause trouble. If you dare to catch me in your hands, I will turn into a burning charcoal and burn me and you to death. Do you want to break up peacefully or do you want to suffer losses? Weigh it carefully. Humph, I am a country girl, I can't be any lower. I am not afraid to die with Wenquxing. And you are a scholar, and there are still Jinshi, high officials, beautiful wives and concubines, and endless glory waiting for you..."
"Alright!" Gu Wangchen squeezed out two words from between his teeth. After taking a breath, he continued, "As you wish, we'll break off the engagement. However, you must swear before your father's spirit in heaven to keep your mouth shut, and keep your family's mouths shut too, and not say anything against me."
Xu Lanyin looked at Gu Wangchen's cold face and said, "Okay, I swear, my family and I will not say anything bad about you, Mr. Gu."
Gu Wangchen was so angry that he didn't notice that Xu Lanyin had changed the subject. Not speaking ill of Gu Juren does not mean not speaking ill of Gu Jinshi, unless he only holds the title of Juren for his entire life.
He said bitterly, "Tomorrow, ask your grandfather to come to my house with the marriage certificate and the gift to cancel the engagement."
Xu Lanyin said, "No, I'll return it tonight. You also have to pay back the money our family has spent on you over the years. I've calculated it, and it's a total of 98 taels, 440 coins. After rounding off the decimals, you can pay back 98 strings of silver, or 98 taels. I heard that you made a fortune after passing the imperial examination, and the landlords and wealthy people gave you a lot of silver, which is more than enough to pay us back."
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