Chapter 90 Qingbai is disliked
The two of them rushed back to the city just before the city gates closed, and it was already dark when they entered their home.
Xiao Nanchen turned over and dismounted, then raised his hand and lifted Shen Ning off the horse.
Shen Ning was lightly placed on the ground, and couldn't help laughing: "You are so strong."
"You are too light."
Xiao Nanchen thought of the waist he had once embraced, which was flexible yet still pitifully slender...
The restlessness that was blown away by the cold wind while galloping through the wilderness came back again.
"I'm leaving now."
Both the sea and the Tianxin Sect have been restless these days. A war is imminent, and he cannot leave the army for too long.
Xiao Nanchen stared at the person in front of him, his voice low and hoarse: "I've left some people around you. If anyone provokes you, do whatever you want without any scruples... I'll be back to spend the Mid-Autumn Festival with you in a few days."
Shen Ning always felt that her face was a little hot.
The incident in Hai City might have had a big impact on her, and she felt strangely confused in her heart... She actually felt that the way Xiao Nanchen looked at her at this moment was very strange.
Was he looking at her lips?
She must be crazy, she actually felt that Xiao Nanchen looked like he was going to bend down and kiss her at the next moment... How could she see anything in the dark? It was just her own wandering mind that was causing her to have wild imaginations.
What's more, my king is a well-known moral role model with iron bones. If he knew what she was thinking about, she would probably be finished.
Shen Ning woke up immediately with a start and nodded quickly: "Okay, okay, be careful in the army and protect yourself. When you come back for Mid-Autumn Festival, sister-in-law will prepare delicious food for you."
The word "sister-in-law" instantly suppressed the fire that had risen to Xiao Nanchen's throat.
He barely calmed down the urge to grab the person and eat him, and hummed softly, "Okay..."
…………
A few days later, Madam Xu’s birthday arrived, and Shen Ning also received an invitation.
The Xu family had already paid for the order placed with Hua Yingxue, asking her to pack the items beautifully and deliver them to the old lady's birthday party. The old lady would then give them as rewards to her relatives, friends and younger generations on the spot.
This makes sense, but Shen Ning knows that things won't be that simple.
That day, the old lady wanted to set a trap for her but she didn't jump into it, and she turned against her on the spot. How could she possibly honor her and invite her to the birthday party?
After all, even if the birthday party of the great Madam Xu was not a big one, the ones who could attend were either close relatives of the Xu family or prominent people, so it would not be her turn.
She just wouldn't believe that he had no other thoughts.
If Chen Ning was really a country woman who had never seen the world, she would definitely be flattered to receive an invitation after being treated coldly by Old Madam Xu.
But now she is only full of vigilance and... eager to try.
She won't hide this time!
Then Shen Ning found out that Shen Qingbai had also received the invitation.
Xu Shuo, the eldest son of the Xu family, was studying in the same county school as Shen Qingbai. Shen Qingbai said that Xu Shuo seemed to be a good person and got along well with Shen Qingbai, so he invited Shen Qingbai to his grandmother's birthday party.
Of course it was hard to refuse such a thing, so Shen Qingbai agreed.
So two days later, Shen Ning prepared a gift and took Qiyue and Shen Qingbai to the Xu family for a banquet.
Although Madam Xu's birthday party was not grand, there were still many guests, all of whom were well-dressed and obviously came from prominent families. Even the county magistrate Cao Manlou came in person with his wife to celebrate the birthday.
After Shen Ning arrived, she was taken to the female guests by the maid, while Shen Qingbai was taken elsewhere by Xu Shuo who was waiting for him.
Xu Shuo actually had other intentions in inviting Shen Qingbai: he had previously mentioned Shen Qingbai to his sister Xu Ying, saying that there was a classmate who had a good personality and was handsome, talented, mature and steady in mind, and would definitely have great fortune in the future.
But Xu Ying got anxious when she heard this and said: How can a poor guy from the countryside be worthy of me?
Xu Shuo felt somewhat helpless, but he actually knew very well that all the glory and status of their Xu family now depended on their close relationship with Lord Xu in the capital.
Their family itself has no one to rely on now, and even the daily expenses of this huge house are all from their savings. If it weren't for others taking the Xu family in the capital into consideration, their meager assets might not be able to sustain themselves.
Last year, Yuexiang Pavilion's business was not very good. It relied entirely on a few farms to support its expenses, and its income was no longer enough to cover its expenses.
Xu Shuo knew that their house was now just a pretty facade, with the interior vulnerable. Yet, everyone in the family still thought they were high and mighty and could not recognize the reality at all.
He doesn't care about the second wife. The brothers in the first wife are all men. They have to fight for their own future no matter what, but Xu Ying is his biological sister.
But this younger sister was brought up in a pampered state. She looked down on those with lesser family backgrounds, and those with truly better family backgrounds looked down on her. She was truly neither high nor low.
Xu Shuo was very optimistic about Shen Qingbai, thinking that he had a promising future and noble character. If he were to marry Shen Qingbai now when he was still a humble person, he would definitely be grateful.
When Shen Qingbai becomes successful one day, his sister can enjoy the glory.
Moreover, compared to those low-class playboys from wealthy families, Xu Shuo felt that such talented and virtuous young people were a better choice.
For this reason, Xu Shuo deliberately avoided others and led Shen Qingbai to a secluded place.
In a short while, Xu Shuo sent someone to bring Xu Ying with him...
Xu Ying had been unhappy with her brother's suggestion that she marry a poor scholar. Now, when she heard her brother sent someone to call her over, she became even more impatient.
Especially when she found out that the Shen Qingbai her brother mentioned was the younger brother of that lowly village woman Shen Ning, she was filled with disgust.
That was why, when she walked in front of Xu Shuo and Shen Qingbai, Xu Ying sneered without waiting for her brothers to speak.
"He is Shen Qingbai? With such a poor appearance, he still dreams of climbing up the social ladder? Why doesn't he take a piss and look in the mirror to see if he is worthy enough?
"Brother, if you don't know what kind of family they are, I don't blame you. You can go and find out what a bad reputation his good sister has outside!"
Xu Shuo had never expected that his sister would suddenly speak ill of him. Seeing Shen Qingbai's face suddenly turn cold, he was furious and slapped her in the face: "How dare you!"
Xu Ying was stunned.
At this time, Shen Qingbai, who was usually taciturn and rarely argued with others, spoke.
His tone was icy cold, and his words were merciless: "My sister has a kind character and runs a business that is honest and upright. She has helped hundreds of thousands of refugees settle down and buy homes. Everyone who has dealt with her has praised her highly...
Even though she came from the countryside and wasn't born into a wealthy family like Miss Xu, who was lavishly clothed in finery, she had self-respect and self-love, never gossiping about others behind their backs, and certainly never spoke ill of others for no reason... My Shen family truly cannot accept what Miss Xu said. As for what Miss Xu meant by "climbing up," Shen Qingbai never did, and will never, climb up to your level in the future."
Hearing Shen Qingbai's cold tone and the rare anger he felt, Xu Shuo felt both embarrassed and furious. He pointed at Xu Ying and shouted, "I never ask about your affairs, but I had no idea you were spoiled like this. You're spouting such rude words. Do you still have the appearance of a lady from a noble family?"
Xu Ying was slapped, and then scolded by Shen Qingbai and her brother in turn. She was filled with resentment. She sneered, "If you really want to do good for me, you should find a noble and talented young man to marry me, instead of using me as a commodity to win over others. Just because I don't look like a lady from a noble family, do you look like a brother?"
After saying that, regardless of Xu Shuo's angry face turning blue, Xu Ying turned around and walked away.
After a while, Xu Shuo finally caught his breath. He turned around and bowed deeply to Shen Qingbai to apologize: "Qingbai, I am really... ashamed today."
Shen Qingbai was very smart and could guess everything. He hated Xu Ying for speaking ill of his sister, but he also knew Xu Shuo's character.
Reaching out to stop Xu Shuo, Shen Qingbai said gently, "Your sister is still young and doesn't speak without thinking. You and I don't have to take it to heart."
Xu Shuo was even more ashamed.
Xu Ying is one year older than Shen Qingbai...
"I will never mention what happened today again. It's my sister who is blind and doesn't have this blessing. Qingbai, please. I will punish myself with three cups of wine later as a token of my apology."
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