The silver she finally managed to get back was not only lost, but she also had to pay an additional fifteen taels.
Aunt Meng was so angry that her liver hurt.
He swung his neck and said arrogantly, "I have no money, only this worthless life! If you force me to pay you, you might as well give her my life."
Seeing her nonchalant attitude, Meng Qingluan silently moved a few steps to the side.
"Insolence!" The magistrate slammed his hand on the caseboard, startling Aunt Meng so much that she shrank back.
"Don't think I can't do anything to you! If you don't pay up, I'll give you fifty lashes. I want to see if your mouth is tougher or your skin is tougher."
Aunt Meng was so frightened by the magistrate's words that she knelt on the ground and howled that she knew she was wrong.
The advisor had already begun drafting IOUs when Meng Qingluan was settling the losses.
Aunt Meng had barely called out "I agree" when she misspokenly, and the IOU was already in Meng Qingluan's hands the next morning.
Aunt Meng bit her lower lip and stared at Meng Qingluan with resentment.
Meng Qingluan smiled dismissively, stuffed the IOU into her bosom amidst her resentful gaze, and bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Magistrate."
"Um."
The county magistrate nodded slightly, and fearing that Aunt Meng might not acknowledge the debt, he specially prepared an extra copy of the IOU.
Aunt Meng not only had to compensate Meng Qingluan, but was also imprisoned for five days for inciting a disturbance.
After Meng Qingluan finished dealing with her business, it was already dark when she came out again.
Meng Qingluan was torn between resting in town for the night or sneaking back in the dark when she froze on the spot as soon as she stepped out the door.
Shen Yan had been standing at the entrance of the yamen for an unknown amount of time. As soon as she stepped outside, she saw his figure standing there.
Shen Yan's face was indifferent, and his elegant figure stood out against the night sky, his black hair already covered with a thin layer of white snow.
Meng Qingluan then realized that it had already snowed.
Meng Qingluan didn't dare to delay, so she quickly stepped forward and pulled him aside to avoid the fine snowflakes.
"Didn't I tell you to go back? How long have you been standing there?"
When Meng Qingluan touched his hand, it was ice-cold.
Shen Yan shook his head and explained.
"I only waited a little while, you don't need to worry."
After finishing speaking, Shen Yan added, "I parked the car on the side of the road. All the vendors park there, so it won't get stolen."
Meng Qingluan nodded.
She wasn't worried about anyone stealing the car, since all the valuables inside were smashed to pieces.
No one would bother stealing a beat-up car that's so old it's practically unusable.
It was already dark, and the snow was showing signs of getting heavier.
Meng Qingluan held Shen Yan's hand tightly, wrapping it around her own.
"I'll stay in town tonight and go back tomorrow morning."
"..."
Shen Yan could no longer hear anything; his gaze was fixed on the two people's tightly clasped hands.
Shen Yan frowned slightly, his eyes somewhat unfocused. He wanted to remind Meng Qingluan, but he knew she meant well.
Chen Yan hurriedly looked away, regretting her actions for the first time.
Even though she had anticipated this outcome when she decided to feign pitifulness to gain Meng Qingluan's sympathy, this feeling of being out of control...
It's really hard to feel.
Meng Qingluan randomly chose an inn, and as soon as she entered, waiters surrounded her and asked her questions.
"Greetings, esteemed guests. Would you like a meal or a room at the inn?"
"Checking in at a hotel."
The waiter led Meng Qingluan to the front desk to register. After Meng Qingluan paid, the waiter led the two upstairs to a room in the far corner.
The two went inside, and Meng Qingluan turned around and gave instructions.
"Could you please boil a pot of water for me, and also prepare two dishes and bring them up?"
"Okay."
The waiter deftly noted down the dishes Meng Qingluan wanted to order, calculated the bill, and ran off.
Meng Qingluan was alright, but Chen Yan's clothes were mostly soaked from standing outside for so long.
Wearing wet clothes, Chen Yan's body trembled slightly.
Meng Qingluan glanced at him worriedly. They hadn't brought any dry clothes, so he could only wear wet clothes after taking a shower.
Meng Qingluan stepped forward and said earnestly.
"Take off your clothes."
"...?"
Chen Yan suddenly raised his head, his eyelashes fluttered, and his eyes widened.
Her hands, which had been hanging at her sides, immediately rose and instinctively gripped the collar of her clothes in front of her chest.
"..."
Seeing his expression, Meng Qingluan knew that he must have misunderstood again.
Meng Qingluan touched the tip of her nose somewhat awkwardly and explained.
“Your clothes are thin and wet. You’ll catch a cold if you wear them for too long. Take off your clothes and get into bed. I’ll go and find a way to buy you some clean clothes.”
Chen Yan felt a little relieved, shook his head, and his teeth chattered.
"No need, the clothes will dry in a little while."
Shen Yan didn't really think it was a big deal.
After all, when he was at the Nanfeng Pavilion, any young master in the brothel who was angry with the madam or a customer would take it out on him.
He once knelt in the yard all night in the midst of heavy snow, and was only carried back into the house after he fainted the next day.
He thought he would freeze to death, but he survived after burning for three days and three nights.
According to them.
His worthless life is truly hard to kill.
Meng Qingluan raised her eyebrows and threatened him fiercely.
"Are you going to take it off or not? If you don't, I'll take it off for you. Don't forget that I used to be the number one female hooligan in the whole village."
"...I'll do it myself."
Shen Yan reluctantly agreed, then stared intently at her.
Meng Qingluan was puzzled by his gaze.
Why are you looking at her?
Go ahead and take your clothes off.
Chen Yan sighed, "Turn around first."
"Oh!" Meng Qingluan suddenly realized and hurriedly turned around and stood behind the screen.
"Stand firm and cover your eyes," Meng Qingluan shouted.
"Okay! I've covered my eyes, you'd better change your clothes quickly!"
"..."
Shen Yan's hand trembled halfway through taking off his pants, and he almost let go because Meng Qingluan's shout startled him.
The waiter quickly brought the water, and Meng Qingluan asked him to place it behind the screen.
Meng Qingluan gave a few instructions to Shen Yan, who was lying on the bed, before going out to find a way to buy clothes.
There are clothing stores in town, but they're closed because of winter and the snow today.
Buying fabric to make clothes is impractical.
She not only doesn't know how to make clothes, she absolutely does, even if it means working through the night without eating, drinking, or sleeping.
I'm afraid all I can do is make a pair of boxer shorts for Shen Yan.
Meng Qingluan shook her head, dismissing the idea.
After much deliberation, Meng Qingluan focused her attention on the waiter.
The ground floor was empty, and the waiter was sitting in a chair, eating sunflower seeds and taking a break.
Meng Qingluan walked to his side and patted him on the shoulder.
"I didn't slack off, shopkeeper!"
The waiter was so startled that he jumped up and sat up. He turned around and saw that it was Meng Qingluan, and then he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Sir, is there anything I can help you with?"
Meng Qingluan looked around and, seeing no one, waved to the waiter, signaling him to bend down.
Upon seeing this, the waiter nervously covered his collar.
"..."
Meng Qingluan was speechless, her mind blank with exasperation.
Why do we all think of her that way?
The waiter whispered, "Sir, I sell my art, not my body."
Meng Qingluan pulled him over and asked him if he had any clean old clothes.
The waiter was completely bewildered.
"Sir, what do you need my old clothes for?"
After Meng Qingluan explained it to him, he nodded in sudden understanding and kindly told Meng Qingluan where he could buy it.
“I don’t have any old clothes. Nanfeng Pavilion sells them. Go to the back door of Nanfeng Pavilion, there are servants there who sell the old clothes that the young masters in the pavilion no longer wear.”
"If you don't mind, you can buy it there. They sell ready-made clothes, and they haven't worn them many times."
Meng Qingluan nodded, finding it feasible.
After all, buying clothes today is just for emergencies; Chen Yan can just wear them once and then throw them away.
Meng Qingluan thanked him and ran straight to Nanfeng Pavilion.
The waiter watched Meng Qingluan's retreating figure, cracked open a melon seed, and sighed.
"What a good woman, she's so good to her husband!"
"..."
Following the directions given by the waiter, Meng Qingluan quickly bypassed Nanfeng Pavilion and arrived at the back door.
Sure enough, there was a small door here, and several people dressed as servants were standing at the door looking around.
As Meng Qingluan stepped forward, someone approached her with clothes in hand.
"Here are some clothes, do you want them? One hundred coins a piece, made of fine cotton and wool, they'll keep you warm in winter."
Meng Qingluan glanced at it, but in the darkness, she couldn't see clearly and could only make out a general outline.
It's not particularly bright; it's quite simple.
Without much thought, Meng Qingluan took out a hundred coins and handed them to him readily. The other party smiled and casually tossed the clothes to Meng Qingluan.
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