CHAPTER 77: CHAPTER 76: GAINING MORE TRUST IN YU XIAOLIAN

Jiang Lin was about to leave but then stopped in his tracks and turned back, saying, "The other day Yu Zishu came to my house asking about you. He said your grandmother regrets it now and wants you back. Do you think he knows you’re in Yangcheng?"

Back then, it was Jiang Lin who drove the ox cart to send Yu Changhe and his family of three away. Now, whenever the Yu Family spots Jiang Lin, they ask him about Yu Changhe and his family’s whereabouts.

Speaking of the Yu Family, Yu Xiaolian was also puzzled. Logically, Yu Zishu should have passed the exam to become a Scholar this year and got accepted into Qingquan Academy, so why wasn’t his name on the list?

Last time Yu Zishu suggested that Yu Xiaolian follow him to the town, she felt something was amiss with him.

Back then, Yu Xiaolian couldn’t figure out what Yu Zishu was planning. Following her principle that good things rarely came to her, it was best to stay away from him.

"Did Yu Zishu not participate in this year’s autumn exams?"

Jiang Lin thought for a moment and said, "I think he fell sick and didn’t attend.

However, around the time of the autumn exams, your third uncle married that girl from the Qi Family, and they live in your old house."

"The Yu Family doesn’t have money now, so why did the girl from the Qi Family agree to marry over?"

According to Mrs. Sun, that person from the Qi Family only cares about money and not people. Without a proper dowry, the girl from the Qi Family wouldn’t have agreed to marry.

Jiang Lin blushed and said quietly, "I heard... your third uncle got the girl pregnant, so she had no choice but to marry."

So that’s how it was.

It really sounds like something the Yu Family would do.

Yu Xiaolian asked again, "Hasn’t anyone suspected anything about the death of Luo Da and Luo Er?"

Jiang Lin smiled smugly, "The corpses are just a few leg bones. Even if they reach the hands of the county government’s Forensic Doctor, they won’t be able to tell much.

But... I heard Yu Zishu went to the Upper River Bay Sun Family looking for you. Maybe you should send a message to the Sun Family to put them at ease."

Yu Xiaolian thought for a bit and shook her head, "No need for now. In a while, I’ll take my mother to the Sun Family.

Regarding my business, don’t mention a word to anyone. Just say you don’t know if anyone asks."

Jiang Lin nodded in agreement.

After Jiang Lin left, Yu Xiaolian couldn’t shake off a feeling of unease.

She took out her diary from a while ago and started flipping through it.

Indeed, having Jiang Lin and them leave River Bay Village was the right decision. Thinking back to when Aunt Ge mentioned Jun Mobai getting injured by an assassin, surely Crown Prince Jun Tingye’s people were involved.

Yu Zishu must have found something out and is eager to locate their family.

Yu Xiaolian couldn’t genuinely believe that Yu Zishu would have any real affection for her, a sister he picked up.

Perhaps her disdain for the Yu Family made her prejudiced against him.

But Yu Xiaolian trusted her instincts; she sensed that Yu Zishu was a hypocrite.

She wasn’t some naive girl who would be moved by a bit of small kindness.

That ragged red silk flower, she didn’t even regard it, much less feel moved by it.

...

The news that Su Jingchen had topped the exam spread across Lower River Bend Village like the wind.

The Village Chief of Lower River Bend Village, the old Clan Leader of the Su Family, and some distant relatives of the Su Family all wanted to come and share in the Su Family’s good fortune.

Father Su was overjoyed and planned to host a feast for the local community.

Although Mrs. Yao felt incredibly bitter inside, she still put on a show, arranging the banquet while heavily pregnant and smilingly entertaining the guests.

Amidst the lively celebration in the courtyard, with the alcohol flowing, Su Jingchen stayed alone in his room, as if he hadn’t just topped the exam.

Su Jingchen, lost in thought, gently rotated the red elixir in his hand.

Indeed, it was the pill given to him by Yu Xiaolian, which he hadn’t taken.

How could he easily consume a pill given by a complete stranger upon first meeting?

However, after testing Yu Xiaolian, he felt both surprised and, to some extent, developed a bit more trust in the simple Yu Xiaolian.

Recalling each time his asthma acted up, his breathing would become labored, his chest felt tight, and severe episodes brought a terrifying sense of suffocation.

Su Jingchen hesitated only briefly before finally swallowing the red pill.

Su Jingyue burst into the room with an angry face, "Brother, come with me quickly. Mrs. Yao is out there telling everyone how she reminds you to study and takes care of your health day and night. You should go out and tell them she’s lying."

As he spoke, Su Jingyue reached for Su Jingchen’s hand and attempted to drag him outside.

"Let her say whatever she wants." Su Jingchen patted his brother’s head, "If you speak up now, Father will be angry."

Su Jingyue pouted angrily, "She always pretends to be good in front of Father. I really hate her."

The hateful thing about Mrs. Yao was how she never made her thoughts publicly known but hid her desires and intentions deeply, revealing her true hypocritical nature.

"In a few days, I’ll be heading to Qingquan Academy, so stay out of her way at home to avoid Father’s punishment."

Hearing that Su Jingchen was leaving, Su Jingyue immediately became downcast, "Brother, if you leave, what will I do if Mrs. Yao bullies me?"

Su Jingchen chuckled, "Don’t worry. When Father is home, she’ll have to pretend to be a good wife and mother, so she won’t bully you.

And stop provoking her for no reason, understood?

I’ll be back for the winter holidays around the tenth of December. Be good until then."

Su Jingyue pouted, "Can’t you take me with you to Yangcheng, Brother? I don’t want to be separated from you."

Su Jingchen fell silent for a while, considering that leaving mischievous Su Jingyue at home might anger Mrs. Yao to the point where she might secretly harm Su Jingyue. He’d regret it forever if something happened.

After thinking carefully, Su Jingchen said, "Let me discuss it with Father."

If he wanted to take Su Jingyue to Yangcheng, he couldn’t stay in the academy dormitory. He’d need to rent a house in Yangcheng and bring along someone to take care of Su Jingyue. This needed discussing with the family.

...

Qingquan Academy

When Zheng Yuanfeng saw Yu Xiaolian at Qingquan Academy, his eyes almost popped out of his head.

After hearing from the Shopkeeper Hai, he thought Yu Xiaolian had given up on selling goods at the Women’s Virtue Academy and didn’t expect her to go find another way instead.

Who is that boy next to her, and how is he even better looking than himself? Folding his fan, Zheng Yuanfeng walked briskly toward them.

"Lian’er..." Zheng Yuanfeng purposely softened his tone as he called.

Yu Xiaolian frowned, wondering if this guy had lost his mind.

Usually, he called her by her full name, so why was he suddenly using the endearing "Lian’er"?

"I have things to do right now; I’ll talk to you later."

Yu Xiaolian said, then turned to Su Jingchen, "Regarding renting the second courtyard of my house, I need to discuss it with my mother first."

Su Jingchen had finally decided to bring Su Jingyue along. Though he initially planned to rent a small courtyard, after Su Jingyue learned Yu Xiaolian was also in Yangcheng, he insisted on living closer to Yu Xiaolian.

Su Jingchen had no choice but to eye the empty rooms in the second courtyard of Yu Xiaolian’s house.