The Fortunate Lady and Her Mountain Man

Chapter 206: Chapter 206: Not Innocent

The moment Ji Huan stepped out of Yide Hall, she couldn’t help but smile.

’The most effective way to hook someone obsessed with medicine is with new drugs, new equipment, or new techniques. In short, any method that piques his thirst for knowledge is far more effective than begging or taunting.’

’Now, it was just a matter of seeing how long Xin Ziqi could resist.’

"Dabao, where should we go next?" Ji Huan, in a great mood, asked for Dabao’s opinion.

Dabao looked up and pointed.

Ji Huan tweaked his nose. "Alright! We’ll go buy your favorite chestnut pastries. We need to buy extra. We still haven’t gone to thank all the people who helped look for you."

The pastry shop wasn’t far. It was just at the end of the street, around a corner.

With just a few steps to go, the siblings stopped in their tracks, stunned by the bustling crowd at the shop’s entrance.

After asking around, they learned that the owner’s wife had given birth to a big, healthy baby boy the previous night. The owner was so happy that he put everything in the store on sale today!

There’s no reasoning with women when it comes to a huge sale, and the scene before them proved that this was a timeless truth.

However, that wasn’t entirely accurate. As it turned out, the ferocity of men at a clearance sale was also not to be underestimated.

Look, a few large men in the crowd tried to use their height and strength to squeeze to the front, but they accidentally provoked the wrath of the masses and were surrounded and berated by a group of matrons.

Neither side was willing to show weakness. They stood with hands on their hips, cursing at each other with spittle flying. Tempers flared, and it looked like a fight was about to break out.

Ji Huan pulled Dabao to stand far away, watching and clicking her tongue.

Next to her were two young married women who were also afraid of being caught in the crossfire.

At first, the two pointed and commented on the scene. But when it dragged on, they lost interest and started chatting about something else.

"Hey, did you hear? The village chief’s family is having another celebration."

"The village chief’s family? The eldest son or the second one?"

"Pfft! The second son is only eleven, what kind of celebration would he have? It’s their eldest!"

"My heavens! Which girl from our village is it? Her parents must be heartless, to just give their daughter away to him like that..."

"It’s not one of our village girls this time. With the way his eldest son is, who in our village doesn’t know? Who would dare marry their daughter to him! I heard..." The woman lowered her voice. "She’s from Dafeng Village."

"Whoa! They’re taking advantage of an outsider’s ignorance, tricking her! How wicked! Aren’t they afraid the truth will come out...?"

"What’s there to be afraid of? They’re willing to spend the money! I heard the bride price alone is thirty taels, and that’s not even counting the seven taels for the matchmaker’s fee... Speaking of which, can you guess who the matchmaker is?"

"I can’t guess..."

"Mrs. Wang!"

"That shameless woman? She’d stoop to earning that kind of dirty money?!"

"Tell me about it..."

The two went back and forth, chattering away enthusiastically.

But the more Ji Huan listened, the more she felt something wasn’t right.

The moment she heard the words "Dafeng Village," her growing suspicion solidified into certainty, and her good mood vanished without a trace.

"Are you talking about Cao Family Village? Village Chief Cao’s family?"

The two women’s conversation had already shifted to the patterns on their skirts, and they were a little displeased at being interrupted.

The round-faced woman who had spoken first rolled her eyes. "None of your business."

The other, a long-faced woman, was more wary. "Why are you asking? What do you want?"

Ji Huan smiled. "Please don’t be offended, ladies. My little brother here loves listening to stories, and you stopped right at the exciting part. Now he’s throwing a fit."

The stone-faced Dabao: "..."

The two women looked at Dabao, who looked thoroughly displeased, and actually believed her. They rolled their eyes anyway.

"So your brother’s unhappy. What’s that got to do with us?"

"Exactly. You think talking isn’t tiring? My throat’s all dry. I’m not wasting my breath..."

"I wouldn’t ask you to talk for free." Ji Huan pointed to the pastry shop. "I’ll pay for both of your pastries today. Consider it a thank-you gift. How about it?"

"Is that so?" The long-faced woman was skeptical.

But the round-faced woman was already nodding eagerly in agreement.

"Yes, yes! What do you want to hear? Let me tell you, my mother-in-law is good friends with the village chief’s wife, so there’s nothing about that family I don’t know! Do you want to hear about the eldest son, or... never mind, there’s nothing to say about the youngest. Let’s talk about the eldest! This eldest son is a real piece of work. He beat his own wife to death, and what’s more..."

Throughout the entire story, Ji Huan struggled to keep her expression from changing.

By the time the round-faced woman finished, Ji Huan’s face had gone rigid. As promised, she paid for the two women’s pastries, hoisted Dabao onto her back, and hurried to the stall.

But she came up empty. The Hu Family had already packed up their stall and gone home.

Not daring to waste a moment, she went to the edge of town to wait for an ox-cart. Upon returning to Dafeng Village, she went straight to the Hu Family’s home.

In the Hu Family courtyard, Hu Liang was washing some things.

Seeing her enter, he said in surprise, "You weren’t home? My mom and Dacheng just went to bring you something. I guess they missed you. But it’s perfect timing, I have something to tell you."

He stood up and wiped his hands on his apron, a smile on his face.

"It just so happened that a few women from Cao Family Village came to our stall to eat today. I made sure Yunyun wasn’t around and asked them a few questions. Every single one of them praised the village chief’s son. So I’m thinking it must be..."

Gasping for breath, Ji Huan held up a hand. "Perfect. I have something to tell you, too."

A short while later, Hu Liang tore open the courtyard gate, rushed out of the Hu Family home, and bolted toward the village entrance.

He gritted his teeth, fists clenched, his face a thunderous mask of rage.

Ji Huan couldn’t stop him, nor did she want to.

’If this is true, then the Cao Family’s actions were utterly unforgivable!’

’And Cao Yunyun, as their accomplice, was far from innocent.’

’If Hu Liang actually compromised for his fiancée’s sake, that would be the most disheartening thing of all.’

「Cao Family Village.」

Cao Yunyun had barely been home long enough to catch her breath when Hu Liang called her outside.

He didn’t say a word, just turned and headed silently for the small hill west of the village.

Thinking he wanted to share a secret with her, Cao Yunyun’s heart fluttered with sweetness as she trotted to keep up.

When they reached a secluded, shady spot on the hill where no one was around, Hu Liang stopped and turned, his gaze fixed on Cao Yunyun.

Cao Yunyun thought his gaze was a bit odd, but she was more overcome with shyness than anything.

"Liangzi, why are you... looking at me like that?"

Hu Liang’s mouth moved, but not a single word came out. His inner struggle was already written all over his face.

Completely oblivious, Cao Yunyun shifted shyly. She suddenly remembered what Mrs. Wang had told her.

Although she and Hu Liang saw each other every day, they were either busy with their business or traveling on the road. They’d never had a moment to talk quietly like this.

’Wasn’t this the perfect opportunity Mrs. Wang had mentioned?’

"Liangzi, we’re about to... I have something I want to tell you."

"...Go on." Hu Liang’s voice was robotic, each word squeezed out.

"It’s just... after we get married and build our new house... wouldn’t it be better if we moved out to live on our own?"

Cao Yunyun stole a quick glance at Hu Liang, then shyly lowered her head, waiting for him to agree to her request as he always did.

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