Chapter 315
314, Picking Faults (4 more updates)
Xie Rong took a bite of the dish, then looked at Xie Zhinuan with a bitter expression.
Tears were nearly brimming in his eyes.
“…” Xie Zhinuan couldn’t help but laugh and gave him a little push.
She knew that this kind of banquet, especially in the countryside, couldn’t taste too good.
Xie Rong, with a bite of food in his mouth, didn’t know whether to swallow or spit, and looked rather pitiful but eventually swallowed it all down.
He refused to eat any more.
Instead, he just held Xie Yi and played with him.
“Isn’t he eating anymore?”
Xie Zhinuan glanced at Xie Rong, “He’s full!”
Xie Rong quickly nodded in agreement.
He thought the meal was truly awful.
Compared to what Xie Zhinuan cooked, it was far too inferior; he couldn’t stomach it.
Xie Zhinuan didn’t force him.
Despite her distaste for Xie Rong, she still treated him with a measure of leniency.
After lunch, when Dong Sheng arrived to escort the bride, and only after Xiaoyuan was sent off, did Xie Zhinuan bid Xiaoyuan’s parents farewell and returned to Xiaohe Village.
Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ƝօνǤ0.сο
Once back in Xiaohe Village, Xie Zhinuan cooked a bowl of green vegetable and shredded pork noodles for Xie Rong and then went to check how much Jiji Grass had been harvested. Xie Rong, with Xie Yi in tow, picked oranges and pomelos in the backyard, not missing any, big or small. He even peeled oranges for Xie Yi to eat while Uncle Shitou assisted them.Uncle Shitou rarely spoke, but Xie Rong was quite talkative, not caring whether Xie Yi could understand or respond to him.
It was as if he wanted to say all the things he hadn’t said over the years.
Baskets of oranges and pomelos were filled, and there was no need to worry about transporting them to the city; Xie Zhinuan had already instructed the steward to prepare a mule cart to transport everything to the city the next day.
There was already a decent pile of Jiji Grass, and Xie Zhinuan thought it should be enough for the coming year.
They could harvest another batch now; others would plant it too, ensuring a continuous supply for next year.
Meanwhile, at the Yuan Family,
Since Yuan Cheng started taking a concubine, his household had been in chaos, especially after Azhu became pregnant. Yuan Cheng’s first wife nearly fainted from rage. Now that Yuan Wang had passed the imperial examinations as a licentiate, even though he ranked at the bottom, at least he was a licentiate. If he didn’t aspire to continue his studies, he could get a job at the Governor’s Office as an assistant magistrate. An assistant magistrate was a minor eighth-rank official, but if the Lord County Magistrate performed exceptionally, there was a chance of being promoted to county magistrate, although the chances were slim.
In Xiaohe Village, Yuan Wang had been the only one to become a licentiate, and that was quite an achievement.
Yuan Cheng, along with his family, returned to pay respects to their ancestors and to inform their forefathers that the Yuan Family had finally produced someone of merit.
The whole family came for the occasion, even Azhu.
Contrary to the first wife’s air of superiority, Azhu, the concubine, was entirely different. She bustled about, pouring tea, serving water, preparing medicine for Old Master Yuan, massaging Old Madam Ni’s back, keeping the two elders happy and smiling.
Especially considering she was pregnant, Old Madam Ni’s attitude towards Azhu had changed.
Yuan Cheng’s first wife watched with barely restrained fury but was powerless. If she berated Azhu, Old Madam Ni would defend her, and she didn’t dare to raise her hand against her.
She could only stew in her frustration.
Upon learning Xie Zhinuan had returned, Yuan Cheng’s first wife was stunned for a long while.
Then she hurried to find Xie Zhinuan.
She always felt that Xie Zhinuan was to blame for her misfortunes, that if it weren’t for Xie Zhinuan, she wouldn’t be in her current predicament.
When she rushed over, Xie Zhinuan was carrying Xie Yi to the stream to play. Xie Rong threw stones into the stream, splashing water, which made Xie Yi giggle with delight.
Xie Zhinuan let him play in the water with his little hands, touching nature.
“Xie Zhinuan!” Yuan Cheng’s wife called out sharply.
Her voice was piercing, making one’s scalp tingle.
At the sound, Xie Zhinuan turned around and saw it was Yuan Cheng’s first wife, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, as she stood up holding Xie Yi.
Xie Rong also watched Yuan Cheng’s wife warily.
This woman didn’t seem very likable.
A face suffused with dark energy, eyes full of spite, she resembled a common fishwife.
“Zhinuan, she doesn’t look like good news, but don’t be scared. I’ll protect you!” Xie Rong whispered.
Chapter 316