Chapter 067 Invitation

Han Xiaoshuang looked at Yuan Ming, her eyes full of gratitude, but she did not kneel this time.

"The missionaries in Hanan Village have all been arrested, and my nightmare is over." Han Xiaoshuang smiled, her face very relaxed.

Yuan Ming did not show too much emotion, just smiled slightly and said, "Congratulations."

Ji Qingyue breathed a sigh of relief, leaned back in the chair, and said, "That's great, cults like theirs should be abolished. If they are real goddesses, they should be merciful to all living beings, how could they hurt those innocent and weak women."

"My husband is right." Yuan Ming, who had not reacted just now, seemed to come alive suddenly, and echoed Ji Qingyue's words in a more exaggerated tone.

Ji Qingyue smiled back. Although the two of them didn't say anything, the air was filled with a different atmosphere, making the third person in the room, Han Xiaoshuang, very uncomfortable.

Han Xiaoshuang cleared her throat, not forgetting the more important purpose of coming here today.

"The girls in the village were not chosen by the goddess at all, but were taken to a remote cave in the forest by those beasts, and were raised like livestock, suffering torture and humiliation day after day. When we found them, most of them had died, and the few who were alive were crazy and unconscious."

She said this with great difficulty, almost word by word.

Yuan Ming and Ji Qingyue both knew the reason—her sister was among them, and if they hadn’t destroyed the thieves’ den in time, she would have suffered the same pain.

Han Xiaoshuang took a deep breath and said to them, “After the villagers discussed it, We have decided to hold a large funeral in three days for all the dead. Master Yuan is a great benefactor of our village, and we all hope you can come and attend."

Yuan Ming did not say yes or no immediately, but asked doubtfully: "I didn't play a big role in the whole thing. It's all your own credit. Logically, other people in Hanan Village shouldn't know about me. What did you say to them?"

Han Xiaoshuang shook her head: "I didn't say anything. The town governor went to the village in person that day, and it was he who mentioned Master Yuan."

She said that the mention was actually very implicit. After finding out that the missionaries in Hanan Village were indeed a cult and had been using the villagers for their own personal gain, the town governor brought a group of yamen runners to Huanglong, surrounded their residence, and arrested them in front of the whole village.

After the town guard caught the man, he told the villagers the whole story, especially mentioning the role played by Yuan Ming.

"I am busy with government affairs and live in the town for a long time. I have not done enough to understand the people's sentiments. I feel ashamed of the court's cultivation and the people's trust. Hanan Village has been in dire straits for several years, but I know nothing and do nothing. If it weren't for Yuan Ming, I would still be in the dark." He lowered his head, and after a moment, he said in a very serious tone: "Therefore, I have decided to set up a village office, one in each village, jointly recommended by the whole village, to report abnormal situations in the village to me on a regular basis, so that I can understand the needs of the villagers!"

This generous speech excited the whole village, and they knelt down and shouted that the adults were wise.

After Han Xiaoshuang finished speaking, she looked at Yuan Ming and said, "The village chief invited you to participate in the ceremony because he actually wanted you to help us elect a person in charge."

Yuan Ming was puzzled: "Why let me choose? According to the mayor, the representative of Hanan Village should be jointly elected by all villagers, so that it can serve the people. I am not even from Hanan Village. I was elected just because the mayor mentioned me? That is really ridiculous."

"That's not the case." Han Xiaoshuang said, "This is the conclusion reached after discussion between the village chief and several clan members, and it has been recognized by everyone."

Seeing Yuan Ming's frown deepen, Han Xiaoshuang explained, "This incident is a major blow to us. The elders thought they were doing it for the good of everyone, but ended up hurting so many people and making Hanan Village a laughing stock in the entire Shifang Town."

At this point, Han Xiaoshuang smiled bitterly, "We don't trust ourselves anymore."

Yuan Ming understood that the experience of Hanan Village was due to the missionaries' great deception on the one hand, and on the other hand, it was due to their own people's ignorance and inability to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil. This was a huge blow to them.

After a moment's silence, Yuan Ming replied, "Okay, I'll go."

Han Xiaoshuang let out a long sigh and thanked him repeatedly.

If she couldn't persuade them, the villagers would not give up, and the village chief might even come to see Yuan Ming in person. Han Xiaoshuang was worried that Yuan Ming would be dissatisfied with them.

Han Xiaoshuang didn't stay long and left soon.

Ji Qingyue was a little confused: "Husband, are you really going to choose representatives for them? You don't know them at all. What if you make the wrong choice and they blame you then?"

Yuan Ming raised his eyebrows. The young husband finally realized that people's hearts were sinister and learned to think for himself.

"Don't worry, I don't have the hobby of being a housekeeper for others. As for what I'm going to do, you'll know when the time comes." He kept it a secret.

Ji Qingyue puffed up her cheeks and didn't ask any more questions.

Han Xiaoshuang brought a lot of things with her when she came, and Yuan Ming had to accept them even though he refused.

The basket was full of gifts, some of which were edible and some useful. Most of them were bacon, bacon, duck, and various dried wild delicacies. It was obvious that they were collected from many families.

Cao was soft-hearted. Her eyes turned red when she heard about the experience of the woman from Hanan Village. She couldn't help but feel a sour nose when she saw these things. There are not so many bad people in this world. It's just that most of the time they are so ignorant that they don't even know that what they do is bad.

At the bottom of the basket was a big bulging bag. Ji Qingyue used a lot of strength, but it felt relatively light when she took it in her hand.

He pinched the soft bag and untied the belt while asking curiously, "What is this?"

Cao looked up and saw what was inside. She was immediately delighted.

"It's cotton!"

She pinched a ball out of the bag and stroked it with her fingertips. The cotton was thin and soft, and it was very dry after being exposed to the sun. It was obviously newly picked this year.

"Cotton?" Ji Qingyue also took out a ball and sniffed it at the tip of her nose: "So the cotton used to fill the jacket looks like this, this is the first time I've seen it!"

Cao smiled and said: "This is good stuff, such a big bag, enough to make two sets of jackets, the new cotton must be warm!"

Yuan Ming said: "In the past few years, the government has developed many economic crops according to the geological conditions of each village in Shifang Town. It seems that Hanan Village has cotton."

Cotton is suitable for growing in the sandy land in the north, requiring high temperature and dryness. Because it is far away, the price of cotton here has always been high. Some people make a cotton jacket and wear it for decades. Of course, this is all very good conditions. Most people will never wear a cotton coat in their lifetime.

Cao moved quickly and went back to the house to find cloth, and did not forget to call Ji Qingyue.

"Brother Yue, come with me and see what color of fabric you like. I'll make it for you first!"

Yuan Ming knew that she was reluctant to buy ready-made clothes, so he bought a few more pieces of cloth. At that time, she thought it was a waste of money, but she didn't expect that they would come in handy so soon.

Cao opened the coat cabinet and showed Ji Qingyue everything.

In fact, these cloths were picked by Ji Qingyue, but he didn't want to spoil the fun. He followed Cao's words and chose one with brighter colors.

After choosing the cloth, Cao found the needle and thread basket and went to the next door. She had to discuss such a big thing as making a cotton shirt with her good sister.

Ji Qingyue was pushed out, her face full of confusion.

Yuan Ming stood under the eaves and couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Ji Qingyue puffed up her cheeks and said with a boastful tone: "Why are you laughing, my husband? My mother just said that the first piece was made for me."

"Okay, okay, my Qingqing is sensible and cute. I am no longer the little cotton-padded jacket in my mother's heart."

Ji Qingyue laughed and threw herself into Yuan Ming's arms.

Cao came to the next door and happened to meet Li Qing'e who was going to go out to find her.

Seeing the needlework basket in each other's hands, they smiled at each other.

The two sat by the stove, holding coal lumps and tracing clothes on scraps of cloth.

"What do you think of Xiaoshuang?"

Cao said without even raising her head: "She is good-looking, brave and generous, but she is too strong-willed and opinionated. But that's not a bad thing. If she wants something, she should go and get it."

She paused and looked at Li Qing'e: "Does Yang Tao have any ideas?"