"Together?" Qiu Yan found Gu Qian's words extremely awkward.
“Yes, together!” Gu Qian nodded with a smile. “Miss Qiu Yan, although there are many prey in the depths of this mountain forest, you may encounter wild boars if you are not careful. You three siblings are weak, so please do not go into this deep mountain forest again in the future.”
Wild boar? Qiu Yan's eyes flickered slightly.
A wild boar must be worth a lot of money.
It's just that her small, thin body can't carry it.
Although they disagreed, Qiu Yan still said to Gu Qian, "Thank you for reminding me, I understand."
Gu Qian led Gu Xiaoran ahead, walking at a moderate pace. Before they knew it, Gu Qian had hunted a pheasant and a rabbit.
Qiu Yan followed behind, occasionally spotting one or two medicinal herbs.
Qiu Ling'er chased after birds for a while and was busy catching insects for a while, but she didn't go far and kept an eye on her sister's figure at all times.
Qiu Xu didn't rest on his way home either. When he got home, he already had a large bundle of firewood on his back.
As soon as Qiu Yan arrived at the gate of the courtyard, she noticed a man standing in her yard.
The man was none other than Zhao Zheng, the original owner's former lover.
Seeing Qiu Yan return, Zhao Zheng strode forward, his eyes filled with affection, "Xiao Yan, I've been waiting for you for so long, I'm so glad to finally see you."
Qiu Yan took a serious look at the man in front of her.
She was fairly pretty, but not Qiu Yan's type.
She felt that God was very good at playing tricks on people.
In her previous life, she was in her twenties and had never been in a relationship. Unexpectedly, in this life, she was given a childhood sweetheart.
Qiu Yan is willing to take over the original owner's two younger siblings, but she will absolutely not take over the man she once admired.
With his prey wrapped around his waist and the fast-sleeping Gu Xiaoran in his arms, Gu Qian did not approach to disturb her.
He was somewhat surprised and couldn't help but glance at Zhao Zheng a few more times.
He subconsciously compared himself to the man in front of him, and it seemed that Qiu Yan's taste wasn't very good either.
Seeing that Qiu Yan remained silent, Zhao Zheng continued, "Xiao Yan, back then, Grandma asked for too much in betrothal gifts, and I couldn't afford it. Now she has changed her mind and only wants five taels of silver. We can choose a date to get married."
Qiu Yan's head was spinning; she was both amused and annoyed. This old woman was practically courting death!
Qiu Xu approached Qiu Yan with a stern face.
Qiu Ling'er's little face was full of confusion. Her sister was usually overjoyed to see Brother Zhao Zheng, so why was her expression different today?
Zhao Zheng thought that Qiu Yan was in a bad mood because she refused to be sold and was kicked out of the Qiu family. As her man, he naturally had to comfort her.
"Xiaoyan, don't be afraid, I'm here..." he said as he stepped forward to put his arm around Qiu Yan's waist.
However, as soon as he made a move, Qiu Yan pushed him away, causing him to stumble a few steps.
A hint of hurt flashed across his face. "Xiao Yan, what's wrong?" Qiu Yan would never have acted like this towards him before.
Qiu Yan parted her lips slightly, "If I marry you, how will my younger siblings survive?"
Gu Qian smiled wryly. So, it turned out that the falling flowers were willing, but the flowing water was indifferent.
Zhao Zheng looked troubled. "Qiu Xu is a male member of the Qiu family. The Qiu family won't just watch him starve to death."
Even if he agreed to help Qiu Yan support her younger siblings, his mother would definitely not agree.
In their rural homes, more people mean more mouths to feed, and no family has any surplus food.
He was the only son in his family, and his parents devoted all their attention to him. He was always very filial and would never disobey his parents.
Upon hearing this, Qiu Ling'er turned pale with fright, and tears streamed down her face.
She had only enjoyed two good days; if she were to return to Old Qiu's house, she would surely suffer endless torment again.
Qiu Xu put down the firewood and looked at Zhao Zheng with displeasure. "We have no relation to the Yang family anymore. Why should she accept your betrothal gifts!" He admitted that he was somewhat selfish and did not want to see his sister become someone else's wife.
Although Zhao Zheng wasn't bad to the two siblings, Qiu Xu just didn't like him.
Zhao Zheng's face darkened instantly. "This... she hasn't even had time to accept the betrothal gifts yet. Xiao Yan, no matter what, you are already my wife in name only. This dilapidated courtyard is uninhabitable. I'll take you away right now. As for your sister-in-law, the Qiu family is their home. If they really come to my house with you, they might face gossip."
Was Zhao Zheng wrong? From his perspective, of course he was right. And from an outsider's point of view, their perspective is also correct.
Qiu Yan frowned. "No, Zhao Zheng, from this moment on, it's over between us!" Not to mention that Qiu Yan had to support her younger siblings, even if she were all alone, she would not agree.
Zhao Zheng became anxious, "Just because of your two younger siblings, you're going to give up this marriage?"
"Firstly, I will never abandon my sister-in-law. Secondly, I no longer love you." Qiu Yan was always decisive, and if she didn't make things clear now, there would be no shortage of trouble later.
"I disagree!" Zhao Zheng practically shouted these words.
He glared angrily at the man who was more than a head taller than him not far away, "Is it because of him?!"
Just now, his eyes were only on Qiu Yan. The joy of seeing Qiu Yan for the first time made him instinctively filter out all the irrelevant people around him.
Qiu Yan twitched her lips. How did this bring up Gu Qian again? "No!"
Hearing this misunderstanding, Gu Qian stepped forward and stood beside Qiu Yan. "Yan Yan, what are we having for dinner tonight? How about wild rabbit?"
The warm tone of her voice gave Qiu Yan goosebumps.
"Gu Qian, what are you doing, meddling in this mess!"
Zhao Zheng's eyes instantly reddened; he truly loved Qiu Yan.
"No, impossible, Xiaoyan. It's only been a few days. I don't believe you would fall in love with someone else so quickly."
Qiu Yan glanced at Gu Qian, then at Zhao Zheng. She rubbed her throbbing temples and said to Zhao Zheng, "You can go now."
There was no point in Zhao Zheng saying anything more. He left the courtyard dejectedly, and the surrounding environment became much quieter.
Qiu Ling'er seemed reborn, a faint smile spreading across her face. Qiu Xu said nothing, took some firewood to the stove, and started a fire to boil water.
Holding the fast-sleeping Gu Xiaoran, Gu Qian, having nowhere else to go, shamelessly said:
"Qiu Yan, since I just helped you, could you please let my son and me stay for a simple meal?"
"You're helping me? Are you sure you're not going to ruin my reputation?" Qiu Yan couldn't help but suspect that the man's motives were impure.
Gu Qian's face stiffened, and he looked slightly uncomfortable. "No... I don't think so. If it weren't for me, your lover probably wouldn't have left so easily." He hoped that he hadn't meant well but ended up doing something wrong.
Qiu Yan glanced at Gu Qian and said, "Don't talk nonsense, what lover!"
Qiu Ling'er felt sorry for Xiao Ran and started to speak up for him, "Sister, Xiao Ran said he has no home, so let's have them stay for a meal."
Qiu Yan stopped talking, picked up the child and placed him in the east room, then swiftly picked up a wild rabbit, stunned it, and began to bleed it from the neck.
"I'll do it!" Gu Qian took the rabbit from Qiu Yan's hands, cut off its front hooves, and after a flurry of activity, he cut off its tail with a single stroke. Like taking off a sock, he pulled the entire rabbit skin off along the head.
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