Xia Hua nodded, "I'm sure. If you're really worried, just blow him up with a bomb. There are so many bombs, you can blow them up too."
"Alright, let's keep him here for a few days then."
The two rode back to the village, just in time for the village's meal. During the meal, Village Chief Lin asked them where they had been, since they seemed to be in such a hurry and something must have happened.
An Shuyi simply replied that she had something to say and didn't say anything more.
The next day was Wenfan's wedding day, and everyone started getting busy that night because there would be many people coming the next day. In the past twenty days, many people had come to the village to buy things, and knowing that Wenfan was getting married, they also expressed their intention to come and give gifts.
Wen Fan personally invited the other officials in Jinnan City, the headmaster of the academy, and the teachers, and they all said they would come. After all, this was the prefect's daughter's wedding, and they did not expect that in just over twenty days, Lin Wen Fan would have established a relationship with the prefect, even though there had been no news of it before.
If they had known that Lin Wenfan, a fifth-rank official in the Ministry of Revenue, could marry the daughter of a prefect, they might have also come to propose marriage, and perhaps Prefect Xiao would have agreed. But now it's too late to say anything.
After cleaning all the meat, everyone went to rest. The next day at the hour of Yin, everyone got up and started cooking various dishes. Red cloth was already hung in Wen Fan's house, and fruits and snacks were all laid out. When the time came, Wen Fan's wedding procession set off for Jinnan City.
The long procession was quite impressive, with music playing all the way. Wen Fan rode in front on horseback, followed by the matchmaker, and then the sedan chair carried by eight porters. Since Taoyuan Village did not have maids, the unmarried girls from the village followed behind.
After arriving at the prefect's residence and going through a series of events, they finally received the bride. After that, they paid their respects to the prefect and his wife, and then returned to the village.
The procession was even more lively when they left than when they arrived, and the procession was even longer than before. Wen Yu, who was waiting at the village entrance, ran back to the village when he saw the wedding procession returning. Everyone then laid out a red carpet along the road from the canteen to Wen Fan's house.
After stepping over the fire basin, bowing to the ancestors, and escorting the bride to the bridal chamber, the wedding is considered complete. Next comes the banquet for the guests. The food has already been prepared in the canteen, and everyone is just waiting to go and eat after the ceremony.
This time, with Prefect Xiao absent, An Shuyi no longer needed to entertain anyone; she only needed to watch the spectacle. However, upon seeing Cheng Yumo and Xiao Yubai appear, her good mood vanished.
"Auntie, Dean Cheng, would it be alright if Young Master Xiao ate in your courtyard?" Village Chief Lin asked.
The other officials, greeted by Wen Liu and others, had already gone to the canteen for lunch, along with their wives. Only Dean Cheng and Young Master Xiao, who said they were going to talk to their wives, did not go to the canteen.
Xia Hua nodded, "Arrange it in the hall, go and prepare!" Looking at Shu Shu's unwell expression, she said, "Please, both of you."
The group went to their residence and sat in the hall. Su and the others had already come in to set out the bowls and chopsticks. The group remained silent and sat there, the room filled with a dangerous atmosphere.
Seeing Madam An's increasingly cold expression, Xiao Yubai was filled with fear. It wasn't that he was afraid Madam An would kill him, but rather that he was afraid she would get angry. Indeed, an angry woman is the most terrifying, and that was absolutely true.
He was glad he came to explain today. If he had come a few days later, Madam An might have killed him the moment they met. After what happened yesterday, he was certain that his subordinates were not useless.
He had previously sent people to follow Madam An, but they often lost track of her. Every time, he complained that his subordinates were useless. But now it seems that it wasn't that his subordinates were useless, but that Madam An was capable.
He still had a pain in his chest. If he had reacted quickly and dodged that fatal arrow, it would have pierced his heart, and he wouldn't be sitting here now.
After all the dishes were served, Xia Hua told someone to leave and close the courtyard gate, instructing them not to come in without permission.
After watching the others leave, Xiao Yubai cautiously said, "I've come to apologize. What happened yesterday was my fault. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."
Cheng Yumo sat to one side, surprised that yesterday's events were still being discussed. Looking at Madam An's indifferent expression, she knew this matter must be significant. But why wouldn't she say what it was? It was truly intriguing.
Seeing that Hua Hua didn't speak but instead picked up her chopsticks to eat, An Shuyi knew that Hua Hua wouldn't get involved in this matter, so she had no choice but to ask, "Why did you follow us yesterday? And what is your identity?"
If this person were just an ordinary citizen, she would have swallowed all the food on the table. If she hadn't been a highly skilled martial artist, she would have had no chance of surviving the arrow she shot.
Even a sturdy tree can be pierced by a bullet, let alone a person, so he must be skilled in martial arts, and not weak at it, yet she hadn't discovered it for so long.
Xiao Yubai hesitated for a moment before saying, "I like Madam An and wanted to learn more about you, but I didn't expect to be discovered and then shot by an arrow. Madam An is really amazing. If I didn't know some martial arts, I would have died at your hands."
After hearing what he said, An Shuyi looked at him like he was crazy. "Are you out of your mind? I'm forty-eight years old this year, and I have nine grandchildren. You like me? Are you out of your mind? You should go see a doctor."
If she were ten or more years younger, she would definitely think that someone who fawned over her liked her. But now she is forty-eight years old, which is not very old, but she is almost fifty.
They only suspect others of having ulterior motives, never considering that they like them.
“Madam An, that’s not how it works. Why is it that no one likes a woman who is forty-eight? I would like Madam Xia even if she were fifty or sixty,” Cheng Yumo suddenly said.
A moment of silence followed. After a few minutes, Xia Hua finally put down her chopsticks, never expecting to be caught in the crossfire. "Dean Cheng, it's not good to interfere in other people's business."
What a spineless person! He likes someone, but he needs to find a way to confess before he dares to say it.
Seeing Madam Xia's disgusted expression, Cheng Yumo said nothing more, simply picking up his chopsticks to eat, becoming a quiet and handsome man.
Xiao Yubai glared at him, then turned his head and said, "Madam An, what Cheng Yumo said is exactly what I said. I have liked you since the first time we met."
"In these ten years, I have never given up my love for you. No matter how many sons or grandsons you have, or whether you are fifty or sixty years old, I will still love you."
An Shuyi glanced at him and asked, "I remember you said you weren't married yet. What, do you have some kind of illness? It's my honor that you like me, but I don't like being followed."
"Also, although I'm forty-eight now, I look younger than you. If you were ten or more years younger, I might like you more."
I never expected her to be so charming. She's already 48 and people still like her. It seems that as long as a woman takes good care of herself, she won't have to worry about not being liked. But she has sons and grandsons in this world, so she can't keep a few male lovers if she wants to.
Otherwise, Xiao Yubai is not bad. It's a pity that when she returns to the modern world, she will have to support a few gigolos.
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