The news in the field was more explosive than the last.
It wasn't much, really, just something that had been exploited by certain individuals. When revealed in front of everyone in the village, it made things particularly awkward.
However, the person concerned, Su Xiaoqi, remained unfazed, as if they weren't talking about her at all.
She was an observer, her mind exceptionally clear.
Of course, she had moments of recklessness.
But Shen Yun held her hand tightly. When her palms became sweaty with nervousness, he would gently scratch her palm, even writing words on her hand to offer suggestions.
Sensing the characters he wrote, Su Xiaoqi suddenly had an idea.
She composed herself, smiled at everyone, and with a light, clever sentence, diverted everyone's attention:
"Aunt Zhao, have we, the Su family, or I, offended you in some way to make you go to such lengths to fabricate stories?"
"What do you mean? I have a good relationship with the eldest young lady of the Su family, so what are you talking about offending?"
Zhao Haihua, not understanding, rolled her eyes, showing her disdain for Su Xiaoqi.
In fact, she did know the eldest young lady of the Su family.
Initially, she had assumed that if Su Xiaoqi were from the Su family, she would likely be some unfavored concubine's daughter, not someone to be feared.
Su Xiaoqi smiled, "Really? I also thought we had a good relationship.
Now, hearing you say that, I wonder if my husband and I saw something we shouldn't have on the hillside of Xishan Lake a few days ago, which made you resent me."
"What? Yes, it was you, it was you two that day..." Zhao Haihua's face instantly lost all color.
She had heard about it from Huang Yuanxiang these past two days.
He had asked someone to investigate the man who had appeared near Xishan Lake that day, but for so many days, there had been no progress, no clues.
As a result, her embroidered pouch was still in that person's hands.
If that person exposed this matter to Huang Liangsheng, he would surely torture her to death.
Just like those concubines locked in the backyard, driven mad.
Every time she thought of it, she felt a chill of fear, her back drenched in cold sweat.
Just like now, she was flustered and her mind was almost turning into mush.
"Aunt Zhao, why are you so anxious? I haven't said anything.
But judging by this, you must be angry with me because of that matter. Alas...
I should have apologized to you sooner. Now that I'm saying it, Aunt Zhao, can you forgive me?"
Su Xiaoqi appeared innocent and gentle, her expression as sincere as it could be.
Zhao Haihua's reason finally returned. Yes, yes, she had only made a remark, and hadn't revealed anything.
She quickly said, "No, no, it's not that. I... it was just a small misunderstanding. I didn't take it to heart at all.
That... you don't need to apologize, I forgive you."
Zhao Haihua's attitude explained everything.
At this point, where could she spare any time to bother Su Xiaoqi?
It was good enough if she could save herself.
Through Zhao Haihua's words, everyone once again confirmed Su Xiaoqi's origins; she came from the Su family.
The reason she spoke like that was because the two of them had had an unpleasant exchange, and she was seeking revenge.
Huang Liangsheng listened from the side. The more he heard, the more he felt something was amiss.
But he couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.
In any case, he now knew that this elegant and sharp-tongued woman before him was not someone he could have.
He had to be careful with a daughter of the Su family.
Forcefully taking her was out of the question, but subtly employing some small tricks might work.
Huang Liangsheng, having grown up in a prominent family, wasn't foolish, he was just too obese, with a belly full of fat.
He quickly made his calculations, smiled at everyone, and pretended that nothing had happened, inviting them to continue the banquet and enjoy themselves without feeling constrained by his presence.
At this moment, everyone still looked frightened, but their hearts were already cursing him profusely.
Eat, eat, what the heck are we eating?
Because of that petty thing related to his lower body, they had been fussing for so long. The braised fish was cold, and the stewed pig trotters were also cold...
Although they cursed in their hearts, none of them dared to utter a word.
This was the county magistrate, someone who could take their lives with a flick of his finger.
They could only lower their heads and eat heartily.
So much good food, better than what they ate during New Year at home. So what if it was cold? It was a hot day anyway, and it wouldn't spoil their stomachs.
Halfway through the banquet, someone suddenly shouted again.
"The Su family's congratulatory gift for the Shen family's housewarming has arrived."
Huh?
The voice was quite loud, causing everyone to look up towards the entrance.
Four young servants in gray cotton clothes carried a large chest.
Behind them followed a young man and a young woman.
Su Xiaoqi glanced sideways, her eyes narrowing slightly.
It was Su Jia Mo and Su Yurou.
What were they doing here?
She had no connection with them whatsoever.
Could they have come to provoke trouble, like Zhao Haihua and Huang Liangsheng?
Su Xiaoqi impatiently stood up, only to see Su Jia Mo walking over with a smile.
He directed his servants to open the chest in front of her.
Inside were various food items, fabrics, and ornaments. They weren't particularly valuable, but for a stingy miser, they were already quite rare.
Su Xiaoqi raised an eyebrow, even more confused.
"Good sister, even though you are married, you are still a daughter of our Su family. Such a grand occasion as the housewarming and topping-out ceremony of our family, how could we, as your maternal family, not come to congratulate?"
Su Jia Mo's words perfectly sealed the crack that Zhao Haihua had torn open regarding the mystery of Su Xiaoqi's background.
"Thank you, second brother." Su Xiaoqi's expression was a little stiff.
She couldn't understand what Su Jia Mo was playing at.
"Aren't you going to invite us to sit?" Su Jia Mo smiled warmly.
Such a smile on his usually dissolute face was truly unexpected.
Su Xiaoqi hesitated.
Shen Yun had already arranged seats for the siblings and provided an extra set of chopsticks and bowls.
This was a joyous occasion for a banquet. Since they had come with gifts to congratulate, there was no need to air their grievances in public.
After seating them, the banquet could finally begin properly.
After eating, due to the presence of such inexplicable guests from the Shen family, the villagers had no desire to linger.
Once the people at their own tables finished eating, they greeted Shen Yun, carried their own tables, chairs, bowls, and chopsticks, and left.
Finally, only Zhao Baoren's family, along with Zhao Xiaohua and Huang Liangsheng, remained.
And also the Zhao family's old household, including the married-out Zhao Xiaomei and Zhao Simmei.
And later, the Su siblings.
By now, the sun was gradually setting, approaching the late afternoon.
Everyone sat at the only table in the courtyard.
Everything in front of them had been tidied up. No one spoke, silently looking at each other.
It seemed as if everyone had many matters on their minds.
On the contrary, Su Xiaoqi was the most composed. She called over Shen Xiaomei, Zhao Xiaozhu, and Zhao Ye, who had returned to help, and invited them to pour everyone a cup of tea with rough porcelain teacups.
A moment later, Shen Yun spoke, "Thank you all for coming today. This house is not yet completed, and we still need to put on the tiles later.
I fear it might cause accidental injury to everyone, so I will not keep you any longer."
He bowed to everyone individually and sent away Zhao Ci's family.
Zhao Baoren thought for a moment and then also slipped away.
On one side was his daughter's husband, and on the other were the Shen family, who had brought many benefits to the village.
From his heart, of course, he had to support his own family.
But his unreliable son-in-law was trying to snatch another man's wife. What kind of situation was this?
He thought that his methods of pilfering rice and flour from households here and there, extorting copper coins, and forcibly collecting grain taxes were already bad enough.
He never expected that old fellow, the county magistrate, to be even more...
He gave his beautiful daughter to that old man, and after only five years, he was tired of her and was thinking of taking in new wives for fresh novelty.
If a new woman entered the mansion, where would his daughter have any place?
No matter from which perspective, Zhao Baoren did not want the old fellow to succeed.
He didn't want to be cannon fodder, so he left early.
As for Huang Liangsheng, he had already confirmed Su Xiaoqi's identity when he saw Su Jia Mo and Su Yurou arrive.
Even if she wasn't the eldest legitimate daughter of the Su family, she was likely closely related to them.
But this trip of his could not be in vain.
Under Zhao Haihua's guidance, he shifted his gaze to behind Su Xiaoqi.
That young maiden who had been busy and only now had time to stand up.
Her skin was delicate, her features refined, like a modest lady from a good family, and she looked very pleasing.
He rubbed his hands together, instantly smitten.
He seized the opportunity to ask Shen Yun for the girl, making several irrelevant promises that Shen Yun could not fulfill.
Shen Yun maintained a smile on his face.
But Su Xiaoqi, who knew him well, knew that his smile was as fake as it could be.