"So you know how to come back?" Ying Xuhui said with a displeased frown.
If this tone were used in other families, it would indeed be a father's opening remark to his unfilial son.
Ying Yan raised an eyebrow, put his arm around Ke Meiyu's shoulder, and turned to leave. "Wife, we're not welcome here. Let's see which family will take us in..."
"Stop right there! Who's the father here, you or me? You're not happy about me saying something to you?" Ying Xuhui's face turned ashen with anger, but he had to swallow his pride and continue, "Was it me who sent you to the countryside in the first place? Although I haven't had any activities these past few years, I let you return to your hometown ahead of schedule."
"That's because the situation here is unclear, so we called you back early to avoid getting caught up in it. Life in the countryside is tough, but there aren't so many backstabbing and troublesome things."
"Don't worry, you can stay at home this time. I'll take care of the rest. You don't need to go back."
"But there's just one thing: you need to tone down your temper. Without your grandfather, your father is just a minor bureau chief with little influence in Kyoto. If something happens to you, I might not even know, and you'll be convicted. Do you understand?"
He gave a long and earnest lecture.
Ying Yan turned to the side, leaning half his weight on Ke Meiyu, and said calmly, "Then I have a few requests. First, don't let any Tom, Dick, or Harry get in front of my wife and me and make us feel uncomfortable. Second, my wife and I have big appetites. I don't want to prepare enough food for seven or eight strong men, but I want enough for five or six men so that we can eat until we're half full."
"As for the third one, I'll think of it later."
"You," Ying Xuhui's eyes widened, "what do you mean? Is she your wife?"
"Of course, you're such a bad father. I'm twenty-three years old now. Shouldn't I be living a life of comfort with my wife and kids? You're the type to have a bunch of wives and mistresses, but I can't find someone in the countryside who cares for me?"
Ke Meiyu was completely obscured by Ying Yan's tall figure.
Ying Xuhui didn't even catch a glimpse of the hem of the garment, and could only grit his teeth and say with exasperation, "Do you think this is still the time when your grandfather was alive? That everyone would fawn over you and dote on you? Wait a year or two after you've lived in Kyoto, and you'll regret getting married so early!"
"You're good-looking and a grandson of the Qin family. You could find a good partner in the capital. With your partner's family, you won't have to go back to being the center of attention, but you also won't be easily looked down upon or ostracized."
"With your arrogant personality, there's no one to back you up..."
Ying Yan's sneer interrupted his rambling: "I've experienced all kinds of hardships in the countryside, why would I be afraid of other people's words?"
"The person I've chosen is for life. You'd better not try anything funny with my wife, or you should know my temperament—I'd rather die than let anything happen to me!"
Ying Xuhui took a deep breath and kept telling himself that he must appease this little rascal first, and then get his hands on the things that the Qin family had returned.
With money to pave the way, what demons and monsters won't do their bidding?
He said helplessly, "Alright, alright, you're already making a scene as soon as you get home! Just settle in, the Ying family isn't going to go without a pair of chopsticks, is it?"
"You don't need to rush to work these next few days. Go out and hang out with your old friends. And this is..."
“Xiao Ke,” Ke Meiyu said crisply.
"Yes, Xiao Ke is unfamiliar with the area, so she should stay home and help her mother-in-law with some housework to get acquainted with the surrounding markets and shops. Later, her mother-in-law can find her some work, and she can keep the money she earns for herself."
Ying Yan held out her hand. "I always paid when we went out before. I don't have a single penny on me now. Could you give me some money?"
Ying Xuhui clutched his chest, telling himself that you can't catch a wolf without risking your cub. He could only pull out a handful of bills from his pocket, but before he could count them, Ying Yan stretched out his long arm and snatched them all away.
"Hey, this is our family's food allowance for a month..."
"Hey old man, stop giving me that nonsense. You can afford to let me come back to eat at Yellow Crane Tower, but you can't afford to go out to eat, see a movie, rollerblade, or go to Lao Mo? You're the Qin family's son-in-law, so don't tell me you're just living on a fixed salary. I could tell you seven or eight tenths of your savings with my eyes closed."
Ying Xuhui subconsciously looked at Liu Xiaoshan, whose forehead was covered in sweat, and who was looking up at the sky and the ground as if he couldn't hear anything.
"Whatever you want, but remember to come home for dinner and to sleep every day! We are one of the few remaining relatives you have in this world, so don't act like enemies."
After saying that, he walked over to the sofa with his hands behind his back, picked up the newspaper and started reading.
Liu Xiaoshan quickly said something and slipped away.
Ying Yan put his arm around Ke Meiyu's shoulder and went back to the room first.
The house does face the sun and has a small balcony. Even though it was ventilated just now, the smell of chives, garlic, and scallions still lingers inside...
Ke Meiyu glanced at Ying Yan, waved her hand, and recited the Cleansing Incantation, making the whole room much cleaner.
I changed into my own sheets and blankets and piled up things that didn't belong to me across the hall.
She chuckled and snapped her fingers again, instantly cooling the room and filling it with a faint, moist floral scent that made everyone feel comfortable and touched.
Ying Yan put his arm around her waist and laughed, "Look at this girl, so capable! But," he said seriously, his expression turning stern, "you, Yun Bao'er, and Hei Bao'er, are not allowed to be exposed to anyone other than me, understand?"
Ke Meiyu nodded repeatedly: "I'm not stupid, I know who I can entrust with this. Of course, the fewer people who know such a secret, the better."
"Although these spells are convenient, it's best to use them as little as possible. After all, there will definitely be residue in the air after using them, which could be a big problem if you run into someone with similar skills!" Ying Yan reminded her, afraid that she might not be careful.
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