Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 878 - 876_1

Chapter 878: Chapter 876_1

"You’re married, so should I not call you auntie? Sister is a term for unmarried ladies." Shangguan Xuanyi couldn’t help but chuckle.

"So what if I’m married? It doesn’t change the fact that I’m still young! The term auntie makes me sound old!" Xiao’er couldn’t help complaining.

"The hairstyle you have is one of a married woman; all the children will call you auntie regardless. They don’t care about your age, just your hairstyle. You don’t have to be so upset about it." After all, it’s such an obvious difference anyone can tell!

"So it’s the hairstyle that’s making me look old! From now on, I’m not wearing my hair like a married woman!" How could she not mind! Nobody calls him uncle! Of course, it’s easy for him to say!

In her previous life, many women in their fifties were still pretending to be young. Now she’s actually young but was being called old. She can’t stand it!

"No way!" Shangguan Xuanyi vetoed the idea as soon as he heard it.

"Why not?"

"Because then people won’t know you’re my wife." He wouldn’t want other men to get inappropriate ideas seeing her dressed as a young maiden.

If he could, Shangguan Xuanyi would have a sign hanging on Xiao’er’s chest saying: Woman of Shangguan Xuanyi! Look but don’t touch!

"It doesn’t matter! No one else needs to know I’m your wife. As long as you know, that’s enough!" Xiao’er decided, she would no longer wear the hairstyle of a married woman.

"No way! There’ll be people with bad intentions if you do!"

"Don’t worry, dear. No one else is in my heart except you," Xiao’er reassured him.

Shangguan Xuanyi wanted to say something but then, Huzi walked out: "Auntie, you promised to give me candy!"

A six-year-old kid, his love for food is a natural talent. No sooner had he changed his clothes than he remembered the pretty candies, having even forgotten his fear of nearly drowning.

Xiao’er brought out the candies again: "Call me sister, and I’ll give you a candy."

"Sister!" Without a second thought, Huzi agreed with alacrity. It was unavoidable - he loved candies! And at home, they only had candies during the New Year’s celebrations – nowhere nearly as fancy as these.

Xiao’er handed him the candy: "Good boy, but don’t play near the river anymore, got it? It’s dangerous."

"I know." He was too scared to ever do that again. Huzi unwrapped a candy and put it in his mouth, grinning happily, "It’s so sweet and tasty, better than anything else. I’m going to save some for dad and mum and sister! They’ll surely love it."

Listening to this, Xiao’er couldn’t help but laughs, then she turned to Yang Mei, "Bring out the rest of the candies."

Such filial piety in a child is commendable.

"Yes, my lady." Yang Mei consciously avoided calling Xiao’er "Princess," considering Huzi was present, even though the child probably wouldn’t understand what it meant.

Having responded, Yang Mei then retreated back into the cabin.

It was at this time that Yang Liu brought out a bowl of ginger soup.

Xiao’er said, "Huzi, have your ginger soup first; otherwise, if you catch a cold, you won’t be able to have candies."

Yang Liu kneeled down to feed him.

"Brother Shangguan, have you had your ginger soup yet?" Xiao’er turned her head to look at Shangguan Xuanyi.

"I already did."

By then, Shen Jingrui had also changed into fresh clothes, which Xiao’er had made for Shangguan Xuanyi. They were brand new and had not been worn before. Jingrui’s physique was similar to Shangguan Xuanyi’s, so the clothes fitted Jingrui quite well.

Shangguan Xuanyi wore a grim face as he watched Shen Jingrui wearing his new clothes.

Probably sensing that Shangguan Xuanyi’s gaze was full of resentment, Jingrui purposefully said, "These clothes were made by Xiao’er, right? They’re so comfortable. Big Brother hasn’t enjoyed clothes made by Xiao’er in a long time, are there any more new clothes? If there are, can you please give me another set? It’d be great for changing."

"Yes." Xiao’er nodded. She had been staying on the boat all these days and had just finished making two sets of new clothes for Shangguan Xuanyi.

"No!" Shangguan Xuanyi refused immediately without hesitation!

Why should he share clothes that were made by his dear Xiao’er with painstaking effort, stitch by stitch!

Xiao’er shot a look at Shangguan Xuanyi: Must you be so childish!

"He’s already engaged; he can ask Miss Zhu to make clothes for him." Shangguan Xuanyi said discontentedly.

"We haven’t married yet, it’d be inappropriate to trouble her. Plus, the clothes made by Xiao’er are especially comfortable! I love wearing clothes made by Xiao’er the most."

"Well, she’s not making clothes for you even if you love wearing them!"

"I’ll make two new sets of clothes for Big Brother. Being a Magistrate here alone without anyone taking care of you, it would be better to prepare more clothes." Xiao’er considered the weather here to be different from the Imperial Capital, and the clothes Mrs. Liu prepared for Jingrui might not be suitable. She had some free time and thought she might as well make a couple sets of clothes for Jingrui.

"My sister is the best." Jingrui looked rather smug as he glanced at Shangguan Xuanyi.

Shangguan Xuanyi very much wanted to throw someone back into the river!

Xiao’er didn’t pay attention to a certain someone who had a particularly strong possessiveness, she and Jingrui started talking about everyday life. It had been nearly half a year since she returned to the Imperial Capital, she had no idea what had happened there.

Jingrui patiently told Xiao’er some local news and updates.

Among them, the news of Jiang Yuheng surviving spread throughout the Imperial City.

The boat, not being far from the pier, docked after a while.

The two stopped talking.

After the boat had anchored, Huzi’s mother had not yet arrived.

The group stayed on the boat awaiting her arrival, and finally, after about 30 minutes, Huzi’s mother arrived.

Huzi waved vigorously to his mother from the boat: "Mum! Mum! I’m here!"

Yang Mei carried Huzi off the boat, Xiao’er, Shangguan Xuanyi, and Jingrui also disembarked.

Once they were off the boat and Yang Mei put him down, Huzi ran towards his mum: "Mum!"

Huzi’s mother held her child tightly, tears streaming down her face: "Huzi, you scared me to death!"

She explained how she and Huzi were standing on the pier with everyone else watching the water level. And then, someone accidentally bumped into Huzi, who lost his balance and fell into the river. She tried reaching out to grab him but failed.

She wouldn’t want to live if Huzi didn’t make it.

Seeing his mother crying, Huzi brought out his candy, "Mum, don’t cry. I have candy for you. It’s so tasty."

Xiao’er couldn’t help but laugh upon seeing this. He was using the same tactics she used to comfort him on his mother. Such a smart child.

Huzi’s mother quickly wiped away her tears and, while holding on to Huzi, she bowed to Shangguan Xuanyi and Jingrui: "Kind sirs, thank you for saving Huzi, thank you! Huzi, bow to the kind sirs who saved your life."

Following his mother’s lead, Huzi bowed: "Thank you, kind sirs."

Jingrui helped up Huzi’s mother: "There’s no need to thank us; we did what anyone should do."

After all, he is the father-figure of this place now and he is happy to do anything he can to help the people here.