"Lu Yanping is awake," someone shouted. Immediately afterwards, the sack covering Lu Yanping's head was removed, and his face was swollen like a pig's head.
Looking at the bruised and swollen pig's head, Gu Nanjiao wanted to laugh a little; she hadn't expected the blow to be so heavy-handed.
Lu Yanping had just woken up and was still a little dazed. His mother had asked him to go to his aunt's house to steal pig offal, but before he could find it, he was beaten unconscious.
"Yanping, you're here to help your aunt's family, right?" Li kept giving her son meaningful glances, hoping he would understand. Looking at her son, who had just woken up, his face swollen like a pig's head, she felt a pang of heartache.
Lu Yanping wasn't stupid; seeing his mother's expression, he immediately understood: "Yes, my aunt said she was very busy and asked me to help braise the pig offal."
Upon hearing this, Lu's mother frowned. This family doesn't even know how to prepare a script when they lie.
The butcher who sells pig offal yesterday had something to do at home, so she didn't buy any. She had also been working hard for the past few days and wanted to rest for a day, so she didn't go to other stores to buy any, and she didn't have any pig offal at home at all.
“I didn’t buy any pig offal. How could I ask you for help?” Mother Lu glanced at the disheveled mother and son with disdain.
"Elders and neighbors, it's obvious to everyone that this mother and son have trespassed and committed theft in the middle of the night," Lu Yanzhao said, bowing to the crowd. "But they refuse to admit it. How about we report this to the authorities? I hope you will all be witnesses."
"Report to the authorities? What evidence do you have?" Li shouted, stepping forward to tear at Lu Yanzhao.
“Your Excellency is discerning and thorough. If you have done anything wrong, an investigation will naturally reveal the truth,” Gu Nanjiao said, glancing at the composed Lu Yanzhao.
"Yes, yes, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of cases handled by the officials. And cases like the Li family's—they'll be subjected to severe torture..."
"Yes, I heard that if you don't confess, they will beat you until you do."
Hearing that he would be reported to the authorities, and with all the talk of torture, Lu Yanping trembled with fear and scrambled to Lu Yanzhao's side, pleading, "Brother, I was wrong! My mother sent me to steal pig offal. I didn't steal anything! Please forgive me! I'll never do it again! Please don't report me to the authorities!"
Looking at her spineless son, Li felt a sharp pain in her heart and was chilled by his cowardice.
He just betrayed himself like that.
Li closed her eyes and did not refute. The current situation was unfavorable for her and her son, so it was better to admit defeat and apologize.
Li was a flexible and adaptable person. Knowing that Lu's mother was soft-hearted, she crawled on her knees to Lu's mother and said, "Sister-in-law, I was blinded by greed. Please forgive me this time. I will never dare to do it again."
Mother Lu sneered. When has Li ever been like this? She admits her mistakes quickly, but never changes her ways.
Looking around at the neighbors, Lu Lao Er hadn't shown up despite the commotion today, which showed he was a coward. Li Shi and her son had been caught red-handed. Lu Yanping was so frightened that he blurted out Li Shi's name. Both father and son were cowardly and weak, and couldn't be helped. Li Shi was the worst off.
After today, the reputation of the Li mother and son will probably be ruined in the village. Thinking of this, Lu's mother sighed. After all, they are family, and she didn't want to be too ruthless. She looked helplessly at Lu Yanzhao.
"Yanzhao, what do you think about this...?"
Lu Yanzhao sneered and glanced at Lu Yanping kneeling on the ground: "It's fine if you don't report it to the authorities. Since you're my cousin, I'll write a confession. You can sign and put your fingerprint on it. If you provoke me again, this confession will appear in the judge's court."
"No, you can't sign it!" Li shouted sternly.
"Think it over carefully, my time is limited." Lu Yanzhao didn't even glance at Li Shi, and continued to ask Lu Yanping.
Lu Yanping thought for a moment and said, "I'll sign!"
Lu Yanzhao returned to his room, picked up a pen and paper, and wrote down in detail the incident of Lu Yanping and his mother breaking into his house and stealing the night before.
Lu Yanping glanced at the paper in front of him, hesitated for a moment, but Lu Yanzhao's fierce gaze swept over him, making Lu Yanping tremble with fear. He was so frightened that he pressed his fingerprint and signed the document.
Lu Yanzhao waved the paper in his hand and said, "For the sake of family, I will keep this confession. I hope my second aunt and cousin will behave themselves and not do any more petty theft. Otherwise, don't blame me for disregarding family ties."
Lu Yanping flinched slightly: "No, I will never do it again."
Seeing this scene, Li lowered her head, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes.
After dealing with the Li mother and son, the sky was already beginning to brighten.
Gu Nanjiao was exhausted and fell asleep almost immediately upon hitting the pillow. Lu Yanzhao looked down at the woman snoring soundly and frowned. She was actually snoring; she must be extremely tired today.
He reached out his long, slender fingers and pinched Gu Nanjiao's nose, stopping her snoring.
Gu Nanjiao frowned and groaned twice, but didn't wake up.
Lu Yanzhao quickly released his grip and stopped squeezing. He just stared at Gu Nanjiao.
Gu Nanjiao's face was slightly flushed, her long eyelashes resembled butterfly wings, and her pink lips were slightly upturned, as if she were having a sweet dream.
He extended his fingertip and gently caressed Gu Nanjiao's lips, which were soft and tender.
Gu Nanjiao did not react and remained fast asleep.
Lu Yanzhao felt his mouth go dry. Finally, he couldn't control himself, lowered his head, and gently kissed her. The soft touch made him feel hot and bothered.
She still showed no reaction.
He swallowed hard, stuck out his tongue, and gently licked it again; it tasted sweet and delicious. He had never known that a woman's lips could be so delectable, making one want to devour them whole.
This can't go on, otherwise...
Lu Yanzhao calmed his agitated emotions, slowly lifted the blanket, and went out.
When Gu Nanjiao woke up, it was already noon. She stretched and felt incredibly comfortable.
Lu's mother had already prepared lunch, but Lu Yanzhao was not present when it was time to eat.
Gu Nanjiao asked curiously, "Where is Lu Yanzhao?"
"He went into the mountains, and Li Si asked him to help him hunt."
Upon hearing this, Gu Nanjiao looked up at the sky outside. The sun was shining brightly, and the snow was melting everywhere. At this time, she wouldn't have to worry about stepping into mud and getting her shoes stuck.
Gu Nanjiao truly admired Lu Yanzhao. He was incredibly energetic. He got up so early yesterday and spent the whole day helping her deal with the Li family's affairs. He hadn't slept yet and had gone up the mountain to smooth things over. He was truly an iron man.
In the afternoon, Gu Nanjiao went to Jiaoniang Pavilion.
Lu Siniang was extremely busy. When she saw Gu Nanjiao, she complained, "Why didn't you come sooner? I've been working myself to the bone."
Hearing this, Gu Nanjiao was a little embarrassed: "I accidentally overslept, so I came over right away."
"Alright, alright, come here quickly." Lu Siniang pointed to the ready-made clothes next to her and said, "A few days ago, Granny Deng sent over the wedding dress pattern that her young lady had chosen. I was just worried about it. Granny Deng was urging me to come over. With the end of the year approaching, where am I supposed to find an embroiderer who can do the job well?"
"I used to do business with ordinary people, and the clothing designs were the simplest, and I never did any embroidery." Lu Siniang said with a mournful expression. The other clothes designed by Gu Nanjiao were relatively simple in style, and she could find a few tailors to work overtime to complete them. However, this wedding dress was complicated in style and incorporated embroidery, which was a bit difficult for Lu Siniang.
Gu Nanjiao was also stumped. After thinking for a while, she said, "Write a few job postings and put them up at the entrance and in places with high foot traffic. Offer generous compensation and see if you can find skilled embroiderers."
"Alright, let's do it this way for now!"
Since returning from Lü Siniang's place, Gu Nanjiao has been absent-minded. She blames herself for not thinking things through properly. Now that she's here, she's starting to panic. She doesn't know if Lü Siniang can find a skilled embroiderer.
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