Allure of a Country Maiden
Chapter 993 - 991_1

Chapter 993: Chapter 991_1

Xiao’er returned home with Brother Ri, much to the delight of the entire family.

Brother Ri knelt to pay his respects to Shen Chengyao and Mrs. Liu once again.

This caused them both to rush forward to help him up: "Brother Ri, this is not necessary. Please get up and have a seat inside. You have been traveling for two months; you must be tired."

Brother Ri stood up, "Not really, we had plenty of rests along the way." Because they were traveling with a caravan, carrying valuables in a carriage, the journey was slow-paced with frequent stops for the horses to rest. It was much slower than his solo horse rides back home.

Once inside, Auntie and her family were there too. After greeting each other, everyone sat down in their respective spots to chat.

"I thought you wouldn’t make it back in time! After all, in a few months, you will be marrying Yun’er." Jingrui laughed.

Brother Ri looked at Yun’er upon hearing this. A blush instantly spread across her delicate face, causing her to burst out in irritation. "Brother, you’re clearly mocking me by bringing this up. Haven’t I told everyone that Brother Ri would be coming?"

Everybody had received the letter yesterday evening announcing Brother Ri’s arrival today. Jingrui teasing her now was nothing short of a jest at her expense.

"I knew Brother Ri would be back, but truthfully, before I knew he would be coming, I was under the impression that he wouldn’t make it back for my wedding. After all, a round trip usually takes him four months. Isn’t it that he just attended my wedding feast and now he’s rushing back to lead the wedding procession here?" Jingrui said quite innocently. He wasn’t Xiao’er, so how could he be playful teasing others.

Yun’er realized that he was right upon thinking about it and knew she had misunderstood him, which made her face blush even more.

"I intend to stay here until the wedding day. I have already arranged for the wedding procession. When the team is close, I’ll leave the city and join them," Brother Ri planned to accompany his parents with Yun’er before the wedding. He wasn’t sure if he would be able to see them within the next year.

"That works too, Yun’er must be over the moon about this!"

"Why is it only me who is happy? Aren’t you all happy as well?" Yun’er asked shyly upon hearing this.

"We’re happy, but Yun’er is the happiest!"

"I won’t speak with you anymore; I’m going to check whether the soup in the kitchen is ready!" She couldn’t bear staying here while being teased by Xiao’er.

Watching Yun’er run off, Xi’er murmured: "Every time, sister Yun’er always uses the same excuse. Can’t she think of another one?"

Everyone who heard her comment looked at her with amusement.

Brother Ri pulled his gaze away from Yun’er’s retreating figure and turned to Xi’er: "Xi’er, you mustn’t tease sister Yun’er. Otherwise, next time Brother Ri won’t bring you any gifts."

"This child has a sharp tongue at such a young age, I wonder whom she learned it from!" Mrs. Liu jokingly said.

Everyone turned to look at Xiao’er at her words, their gaze clearly indicating that Xi’er learned from Xiao’er.

Xiao’er: "..."

This was what they meant by getting shot while lying down; she finally understood!

"Xi’er, you must be careful in your words and actions in the future. Otherwise, everyone will think that you picked up your bad habits from Sister Xiao’er, and I won’t be willing to bear this responsibility in the future!"

"But it’s too late; I’ve already learned everything I needed to! Sister, you’ll have to bear this blame for the rest of your life! I learned it all from you. You were teasing Sister Yun’er so happily just now that you deserve to bear the blame!"

"You little rascal, do you believe that I won’t help you find those poisons you want in the future?"

Upon hearing this, Xi’er immediately surrendered. "Father, mother, brothers, and sisters, everybody please listen up. Everything I say and do is self-taught and has nothing to do with Sister Xiao’er. I hereby declare this. Please don’t blame Sister Xiao’er anymore!"

Everyone who heard this couldn’t stop laughing; it was clearly a case of ’there’s no 300 taels of silver buried here’.

Yun’er brought out a fruit plate from the kitchen.

Mrs. Liu then asked, "Is the food ready? I’ll go and check!"

"Mother, there’s no need. It’s almost ready. We can serve the food once Zhiwen and Zhiwu are here."

"The two brothers should have been here by now, why haven’t they arrived?" Mrs. Tan wondered upon hearing this.

The family had left together this morning, with Zhiwen and Zhiwu going to the bookstore to pick up some things.

They had already paid a deposit for these items. All they had to do was to collect them, but why was it taking them so long? Mrs. Tan was worried that something had held them back.

Noticing Mrs. Tan’s concern, Xiao’er offered, "Auntie, if you’re worried, why don’t I send someone to look for them?"

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Tan shook her head, "Let’s wait a bit more. There shouldn’t be any problem."

On the streets

After Mrs. Fang and Fang Wanping walked away, Fang Wanping was still full of resentment: "Mother, that woman insulted me, and you didn’t help me retort!"

Mrs. Fang looked at her daughter as though she was a hopeless case: "Are you a fool? Do you know where we are? This is the Imperial Capital! What is most common here? You could potentially bump into a noble family just strolling around the streets! And you were street quarreling with some shrew! Imagine if a noble happening to pass by saw you! What would that do to your reputation! How will you ever get a good marriage proposal!"

Only after hearing this did Fang Wanping feel scared! If someone who knew her saw what happened just now and spread the word, she would be ruined!

Even her new father wouldn’t adore her anymore, because his disgraced daughter, who couldn’t marry well, would be nothing but a burden if she continued to live at home!

Then, Ruan Yanhong would become even more obnoxious to her!

And she wouldn’t be able to show her face in front of Princess Rui!

"Let’s go, it’s almost lunchtime, we should hurry home." Mrs. Fang was frustrated. A meal at the restaurant costs a few taels, now that she is just a concubine with no household authority, she lived off a few dozens taels per month, even dining out at restaurants was a luxury. Thinking about it made her feel extremely bitter!

No, she must figure out a way to secure the housekeeping authority!

The Ruan’s aren’t like the minor government officials of the Fangs’, the Ruan family were well-known in the region. And now, as her husband has taken up a position at the Capital, their family wealth would only increase!

Thinking about this invigorated her! She must secure the housekeeping authority!

"Back to those bland soups and stews again, my tastebuds have become so dull!" Fang Wanping complained, but still obediently followed Mrs. Fang. Right now, the monthly silver she and Mrs. Fang had at their disposal was limited. If they continued with their reckless spending, her dowry would be so measly that she wouldn’t be able to lift her head.

"It can’t be helped. Your mother just wishes for you to marry into a good family as soon as possible, so you can get away from this place of suffering."

"Mother, do you think you could take control of the housekeeping? The way we’re living now is unbearable!"

As the two of them walked towards the Ruan Mansion, they happened to see Liu Zhiwen and Liu Zhiwu coming out of a bookstore.

As Brother Ri was returning today, both brothers each bought a named ink slab and a rare book as a welcome gift for him.

Fang Wanping and Mrs. Fang’s eyes lit up when they saw the two brothers.

Fang Wanping immediately pretended to faint, collapsing towards the ground.

"Wanping!" Mrs. Fang cried out in surprise, swiftly catching her daughter’s falling body.