Li Youran was startled by the sudden reprimand and choked on her steamed bun, unable to swallow or spit it out, her face turning red.
"You Ran, drink some water."
Liu Zhiyuan hurriedly patted Li Youran's back a few times, but seeing that it had no effect, he hurriedly went to pour a glass of water.
After drinking a glass of water, Li Youran felt as if she had come back to life.
"What's it to you? Did I eat your steamed buns?" Li Youran frowned as she looked at the culprit.
Li Youran had always liked Zhao Lanshan; she was dignified, composed, and generous. However, this didn't mean that the two of them, mistress and servant, could do whatever they wanted.
Li Youran's principle is "I won't offend others unless they offend me." She was eating her own meal on her own turf, so why should she be scolded by others and almost choked?
"The road is so wide, it must be your house!" Li Youran said irritably.
Liu Zhiyuan, standing to the side, also looked distressed. He had just been enjoying a meal when he was scolded by a servant, and to make matters worse, Li Youran choked.
"The Zhao family is a prominent and wealthy family. How could they raise such an unreasonable and frightening child? Miss Zhao probably needs to put more effort into disciplining her. Otherwise, she will only embarrass herself if she is taken out."
Liu Zhiyuan spoke coldly, and didn't even look directly at Zhao Lanshan.
“Young Master Liu is quite right.” After saying that, Zhao Lanshan gently scolded, “Don’t be so rude in the future.”
“Miss Li, I apologize on her behalf.” Zhao Lanshan bowed and said, “What she said was true, but it frightened you and caused you to choke.”
Li Youran was about to say it was okay, but Zhao Lanshan's "You're right" stopped her in her tracks.
"Miss Zhao is too kind. It is true what they say, 'Like master, like servant.'"
Zhao Lanshan hadn't expected Li Youran to be so eloquent, and upon hearing these words, she couldn't help but frown slightly.
It seems Li Youran is not so easy to deal with. She found a rogue to cause trouble at the steamed bun shop, but unexpectedly, Li Youran managed to resolve the matter. It seems we can't underestimate her in the future.
"I wonder if Young Master Liu has some time now? I'd like to speak with you," Zhao Lanshan said to Liu Zhiyuan, abandoning her usual gentle and weak demeanor and adopting a more poised and confident manner.
"Girls and girls should not sit together at the age of seven. If Miss Zhao has anything to say, please speak freely here."
Liu Zhiyuan no longer treated Zhao Lanshan with the same reason as usual, but spoke in a cold tone.
"The matter of the engagement has already been clarified between the Zhao and Liu families. If Miss Zhao wants to discuss this matter further, there is no need to."
Hearing Liu Zhiyuan's words, Li Youran was surprised. Could it be that the two of them broke off their engagement because of a misunderstanding last time?
Li Youran looked guilty and glanced at Zhao Lanshan and Liu Zhiyuan. She thought to herself, "No wonder the servants of Lanshan treated me so rudely earlier, and Zhao Lanshan's words to me were so sarcastic."
But this matter was already explained clearly at the time. Could there be something else involved?
Forget it, with her brain, she can't possibly understand what's going on.
"I'm sure your parents haven't told you yet, but our two families have decided not to cancel the marriage, and you and I will get engaged before the new year."
Zhao Lanshan ignored Liu Zhiyuan's coldness towards her, believing it was all because of Li Youran.
It was all because of Li Youran, that vixen, who bewitched Liu Zhiyuan's heart. That's why Liu Zhiyuan changed his attitude from before, suddenly becoming so cold and resistant to her, and even wanting to cancel the engagement with her.
But can an engagement really be canceled so easily?
Old Master Liu and Old Master Zhao both work under the Prefect. They are mutually dependent and mutually supportive. The only way to maintain this balance is for their families to marry.
Currently, Liu Zhiyuan is the only unmarried man in the Liu family, and she is the only unmarried woman in the Xian family. Their engagement is not so easily canceled.
“Miss Zhao, a forced marriage will not be happy. I, Liu, am not a good match for you.”
Although Liu Zhiyuan was unaware of what had happened, he knew he would never marry Zhao Lanshan.
In the past, he might have bowed his head and forced himself to marry a woman he didn't love, but now he has a woman he admires.
"Young Master Liu, how could you abandon our young lady for such a lowly merchant's daughter?"
"Stop talking nonsense!" Zhao Lanshan scolded her maid before she could finish speaking.
Li Youran finally understood. Regardless of whether Liu Zhiyuan broke off the engagement because of her, from Zhao Lanshan's perspective, she was the third party who interfered and ruined Zhao Lanshan's good marriage.
"How can I be considered lowly when I earn my living through my own abilities?" Li Youran said angrily, holding a feather duster. "On the contrary, you two, mistress and servant, talk about being refined ladies, yet you come to someone else's shop to cause trouble and say all sorts of uncultured things!"
Ultimately, it was the servants who had been rude first. Zhao Lanshan, feeling embarrassed by Li Youran's words, hastily took her leave.
"Miss, why are you letting this wretched woman go so easily?"
"It's just a matter of getting a good talking to someone." Zhao Lanshan disdained arguing with Li Youran, because she would shut Li Youran up forever.
Li Haoran hired several students to work as part-time cleaners, and also found several students to copy the rare books that Li Youran had found.
When Li Youran bought these books, she didn't look at them carefully. She only looked for those that were handwritten and looked tattered.
Li Youran copied these rare books not for profit, but simply because he didn't want this knowledge to be lost.
"The author's insights are unique; this is truly a rare gem of a book," Li Youran said, carefully flipping through the pages, unable to contain her admiration.
Thinking of how Tian Lang remained calm and composed in court, helping her solve her problem, Li Youran felt that such a rare and excellent book should be paired with a rare and talented person.
Copying a book could earn you about five hundred copper coins to one tael of silver, which was a good job for the students. Each of them took two or three rare books back to copy.
There were many people helping out at the bookstore, so Li Youran greeted her older brother and then took the rare copy she had left behind to the wonton shop.
“Madam Li, your daughter is a fine young lady, and I don’t want to speak ill of her, but you haven’t handled this matter fairly. Ah Lang is just a child; how could you let him spout nonsense in court? What if this ruins his bright future?”
Li Youran had just gotten off the carriage and hadn't even entered the wonton shop when she heard Aunt Tian's voice.
"Grandma, you've misunderstood. That's not how it is."
"Aunt Li, I'm so sorry, my grandma was just worried and confused. Please don't take what she said to heart."
While explaining to Aunt Tian, Tian Alang apologized to Li Niangzi.
"Silly child, they're just using you!"
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