Chen Yuancheng sat quietly for a while before he came to his senses.
"This girl, she probably went to her grandmother and talked nonsense."
Suddenly, the scene of the first time I met Xiao Yunying a few days ago flashed through my mind. She was wearing a faded cotton dress and looked like she didn't come from a very well-off family. She was scolding her younger brother, calling him a little fatso.
She already knew that Yuan Xuan was the young master of the Chen family.
Even when I saw myself later, aside from a moment of amazement, I quickly regained my composure.
His eyes were clear, and he was neither humble nor arrogant.
He knew he was good-looking, and given his status as the eldest son of the Chen family, he had seen all sorts of people approaching him with different reasons and ulterior motives since childhood.
She was unique in that she didn't fawn over others with the same obsequiousness, nor did she display the affected shyness and coyness that most women do.
Her speech and behavior were neither as proper and rigid as that of a lady from a wealthy family, nor as vulgar and rude as that of an ordinary peasant girl from the countryside.
If I had to describe it in one word, it would be—free-spirited.
Her mindset and knowledge are also qualities that are not found in ordinary women.
She was very attentive and considerate. Perhaps she could tell that he wasn't feeling well, so instead of saying those comforting words he didn't want to hear, she used herself as an example to tell him not to overthink things, to follow the doctor's advice, to relax, to eat well, and that he would get better.
He didn't know why, but ever since their first meeting, the image of her smiling with her eyes crinkling as she accepted the silver note kept appearing in his mind.
So when the manager told me today that she would be bringing snow fungus, I couldn't help but follow her to the kitchen.
Chen Yuancheng shook his head. He figured he'd been staying home too long and was too lonely. It was rare to meet someone he clicked with, so he couldn't stop thinking about them.
“Miss Xiao is right. We can’t always lock ourselves in the mansion. Going out occasionally, even if we don’t make any friends we get along with, is good for clearing our minds.”
Chen Yuancheng made up his mind, went to the study to find a book to read, and took the opportunity to tutor his younger brother.
————? ??? ?
On the other side, Xiao Yunying, having left the Chen residence, walked quickly toward the city gate. Passing by a pastry shop, she bought two servings of milk cake and two servings of osmanthus cake.
Passing by a scholar's stall selling calligraphy and paintings, she thought for a moment and spent ten coins to have the scholar write her a divorce agreement.
He borrowed the scholar's brush and inkpad, signed his name and pressed his fingerprint decisively, blew on the ink to dry it, put the divorce papers in his pocket, and left under the scholar's strange gaze.
She was in a hurry to find Old Man Zhang at the city gate. Twice on the way, she felt someone was following her, but when she turned around, she found nothing.
Upon arriving at the city gate, Xiao Yunying saw that Old Zhang was still waiting. She jogged over and said, "I'm sorry, Old Zhang, something suddenly came up and I got so busy that I forgot the time."
"It's good that you're back. Get in the car, let's go."
Ling Qi, who had been peeking out from the alley, saw Xiao Yunying get onto the oxcart and said to the people behind him, "Alright, let's go back."
What should we do with these three people?
One was an ordinary petty thief, and the other two were servants of the Tang family; they had already been knocked unconscious.
"Take him to the authorities and say he's a thief who stole something."
Xiao Yunying, unaware that she was being secretly protected, was panting heavily on the oxcart.
The two young women sitting on the cart said, "We've already searched the market twice. If you don't come back soon, Old Zhang is going to report you to the authorities."
"I'm sorry, something came up and I forgot."
One of the women said, "I heard that things have been quite unsettled in Donglin City lately, and several young girls and children have gone missing. If you ever need anything in the future, it would be good to let Uncle Zhang know, so that people won't worry if they can't find you."
Although the two young women were anxious to get home, they didn't say anything unpleasant and were still concerned about her.
Feeling apologetic, Xiao Yunying turned around and pretended to take out ten apples from her basket, giving five to each of them: "It was my oversight that delayed you. I bought some apples at the market. Take them back and try them."
The large, red apples were truly delightful. The two young women, blushing slightly, said, "We're so sorry, these apples are so big, they must be expensive..."
Xiao Yunying said, "The person selling apples was in a hurry to go home, so he sold the rest to me cheaply. It didn't cost much. You can take them and eat them without worry."
He smiled bitterly to himself, thinking, "Well, I haven't learned any other skills since I came here, but I've gotten better and better at making up all sorts of lies."
"Then we'll accept it."
The two young women blushed as they accepted the apples. Xiao Yunying then turned around and took out five more, put them in her basket, covered them with a cloth, and prepared to give them to Old Man Zhang later.
The two young women accepted Xiao Yunying's apples and, seeing that she wasn't as unreasonable as the rumors in the village suggested, began to try talking to her.
Xiao Yunying would respond with a smile and occasionally ask a few questions about the customs of Donglin City.
This was the most harmonious oxcart ride Xiao Yunying had ever taken. When they arrived at the village entrance, two young women got off the cart, and she seemed a little reluctant to leave.
"Uncle Zhang, could you move the oxcart to my doorstep? I can't carry all this rice."
"Okay, sit down."
Old Zhang drove the oxcart to Xiao Yunying's house. She pushed open the gate and saw several children sitting in the yard waiting for her. Her lighthearted mood instantly turned heavy.
Sigh... What needs to be faced still needs to be faced.
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