Chapter 18: The masts and oars were reduced to ashes in the midst of laughter and conversation
My goodness, if you don’t know, you would think she was drinking some miracle medicine that can cure all diseases.
After Xie Yan finished chopping wood, he did not stay for long.
Before leaving, Yunniang stuffed a small bamboo basket full of freshly baked cakes, which were loose, soft and fragrant. She did not give Xie Yan a chance to refuse and directly slung the bag over his arm.
“Take it back and let the children taste it.”
Yunniang spared no effort to show her kindness, and Xie Yan's children were able to gradually accept Chao Chao and reduce their resistance to him.
Xie Yan may seem a little cold and rough, but he is actually very insightful and sharp.
"Aunt Lu, I will make it clear to the children in advance."
The smile on Yunniang's face became more genuine and loving.
Xie Yan's figure, carrying a small basket, gradually walked away.
…
The bright winter sun is warm and lovely.
The wind and snow stopped, and the sun shone warmly for several days, soft and bright.
As the Lu and Xie families visited each other more frequently, the news that Lu's newly-born daughter would continue her marriage with Xie Yan spread throughout Changxi Village like wildfire.
The villagers of Changxi Village were skeptical, and with a mentality of curiosity, blessing, or watching a good show, they went in groups of three or four to find out what was going on.
The Lu family was not shy or afraid of what others might say. They responded frankly that the wedding date would go on as usual and that the wedding banquet would be held.
Feng Jinyu, who had dressed up carefully and followed the neighbor, had a glittering look of pride in her eyes. She half-closed her eyes and spat with disdain, "Any cat or dog can rely on Brother Xie Yan."
"She is a young lady from the capital, and she is so eager to get married. I'm afraid she must have done something shameless and dirty outside, so she is in a hurry to find a scapegoat."
Feng Jinyu felt that she had every reason to be proud, because she had been predicted by a fortune teller in the area to be extremely rich and powerful, and to have a successful husband.
The Lu family's bustling yard suddenly fell silent.
Many people's eyes flickered and they communicated silently.
In their opinion, although Feng Jinyu's words were unpleasant to hear, they seemed very reasonable when they thought about it.
Yunniang was so angry that her eyes turned red, and she wanted to rush over and tear Feng Jinyu's mouth to pieces.
It is very easy to destroy a woman. The spreading rumors are like a sharp sword that is invisible but can kill people instantly.
After a brief silence, everyone started talking at once again, and it was very noisy.
Lu Mingchao, who was detained in the room by Yunniang to teach Lu Xiaoxin how to read, frowned slightly.
The words spoken by this young woman were much more malicious than those spoken by Aunt Feng that day.
Lu Chunsheng and his son Lu Lei went out to look for wood and find a carpenter to make boxes for her dowry, leaving the old, weak and sick at home.
We can't rely on Lu Yao, a mere scholar, to argue with that young woman who is full of malicious intent.
It’s not that I’m worried about not being able to win the argument, but that I’m worried about losing face.
"Xiao Xin, keep writing. I'll go out and take a look." Lu Mingchao rubbed Lu Xin's soft and thick hair and instructed softly.
Lu Xin stubbornly grabbed Lu Mingchao's sleeve and said, "Sister, I will protect you."
Lu Mingchao laughed and said, "Don't worry, sister is not made of dough. In the midst of talking and laughing, masts and oars were reduced to ashes and smoke."
"good."
Lu Xin pouted and retracted his hand. In his eyes, as clear as the frosty sky under the autumn moon, were the purest worry and confusion.
Why is it that even though the new sister is so kind and gentle, those people still come to the door and curse like they did when Sister Sanshui was around?
Lu Xin's limited brain capacity made it difficult for him to figure out such a profound question.
Lu Mingchao pushed the door open and walked out with an indifferent expression, and shook her head at Lu Yao who had stood under the eaves before her.
"Can I say something?"
Lu Mingchao ignored the curious looks from those around him and spoke in a clear voice.
"Oh my goodness, this girl is so pretty." Someone exclaimed subconsciously.
She has black hair, fair skin, bright eyes and white teeth, and the petals of a plum blossom between her eyebrows are bright red. Standing in the shabby yard, she is like the only white jasmine blooming in the weeds, blooming alone, eye-catching and making all the other scenery pale in comparison.
It is clearly a blessing for Xie Yan to marry such a beautiful girl.
"Jin Yu, are you sure that the daughter of the Lu family is pestering Xie Yan?" The carefree man asked directly.
Feng Jinyu's hand that was stroking the silver hairpin paused, the pride on her face shattered, and she felt inexplicably weak, as if she had brought humiliation upon herself.
Gritting her teeth, she said unmercifully, angrily, and screamed, "That's why I'm even more disgusting."
Others can be so beautiful, why can't she be?
Feng Jinyu was angry and jealous!
If she had Lu Mingchao's looks, she would have been warming the bed of the county magistrate, wearing gold and silver and eating the best food. Why would she work so hard to please a hunter?
The more I think about it, the angrier I get, and the angrier I get, the more I want to cry.
Lu Mingchao narrowed his eyes slightly, not angry but smiling, a faint smile slowly spread across his lips, his eyes were open and cold, looking straight at Feng Jinyu, "Are you a girl from the Feng family?"
"The Aunt Feng who was so ashamed and angry that she almost hanged herself outside your house on the day I returned home is a member of your family?"
"The Feng family's tradition is really to not allow anyone to survive."
Lu Mingchao sighed and continued, "I often hear a saying in Shangjing City: the people who wrongly accuse you know how innocent you are better than you do."
"Ms. Feng, you know this so well, do you do this often? How many people have you wronged in this way?"
Lu Mingchao walked slowly into the courtyard with a burning gaze and stood opposite Feng Jinyu.
The straight back looks like the upright and sturdy pine tree.
Feng Jinyu's heart was pounding with fear, and he took two steps back unconsciously. "What are you talking about?"
"I am speaking objectively. Can you prove your innocence?"
Lu Mingchao sneered, "I am just discussing the matter at hand."
"Why don't you set an example and prove that you have never done that and have never wronged anyone?"
Feng Jinyu was speechless. "How can I prove this? If I didn't do it, then I didn't do it. A person with a clear conscience has nothing to fear."
"Really?" Lu Mingchao said as if he had suddenly realized something. "Miss Feng is really lenient with herself and strict with others."
"But from my perspective, your shadow is slanted." Lu Mingchao seemed to be too embarrassed to show his teeth. He gently rubbed the bridge of his nose with his fingers to hide the smile that could not be suppressed on his lips.
Feng Jinyu had been completely led by the nose, and seeing that he could not win the confrontation, he began to swear without thinking.
Lu Mingchao let out a light click of the tongue and moved a little further away from Feng Jinyu to avoid having his face spitted on.
It's dirty!
Then, he took out a handful of roasted melon seeds from the pocket of his cloak and distributed some to each of the women in the courtyard, who watched Feng Jinyu's ventriloquism with great interest.
The countryside is dull and it is rare to find people willing to dress up and entertain their families.
"Brother, would you like some?"
Lu Yao declined the offer, as it would damage his image as a scholar in white.
Lu Mingchao smiled and grabbed a handful of unshelled pine nuts and stuffed them into Lu Yao's hands without saying a word, raising his eyebrows at the same time.
Look, the image is saved.
Feng Jinyu: ...
I happen to have some pulses.