Zhao Xiaohua was delighted, this was an unexpected joy for her.
She had previously intended to damage Su Xiaoqi's reputation through Zhao Guanggun.
But he was too useless.
Not only did his attempts fail twice, but he also suffered losses repeatedly.
Not only did he end up half-paralyzed, but he also dragged Zhao Hai'e down with him.
This time, she didn't believe that even the county magistrate, such a high official, couldn't do anything to her.
"Sister Xiaohua…" Zhao Hai'e was sitting beside her, having been glaring hatefully at Zhao Guanggun.
The two had spent a long time killing each other with their eyes.
They hadn't paid attention to anything else.
Only now did they dully realize what was happening, their faces clearing of the gloom of many days, lighting up instantly.
She gently hugged Zhao Xiaohua's arm, wanting to say something, but Zhao Xiaohua shushed her.
Now, all they had to do was quietly watch the show.
Zhao Hai'e was a little indignant and wanted to vent, when she heard Huang Liangsheng speak.
He was quite direct, beckoning Su Xiaoqi to come forward and accompany him in drinking.
Su Xiaoqi pointed at herself, seemingly surprised that Huang Liangsheng would say such a thing in public.
Wasn't he the county magistrate, an official of sorts? Did he have no shame?
Since he didn't care, she didn't need to give him any.
She opened her mouth to refuse, but Shen Yun spoke first, "This student's wife does not drink."
"She is your wife? I thought she was unmarried and was considering bringing her to the county yamen."
This statement was highly damaging and even more insulting.
Huang Liangsheng intended to provoke Shen Yun deliberately and then pressure him.
But Shen Yun seemed unfazed and calmly stated the facts:
"This student and his wife were married by the decree of their parents and the arrangement of a matchmaker. We have already had the wedding ceremony. I fear she does not have this fortune."
Huang Liangsheng choked. He looked at the handsome and distinguished Shen Yun before him.
He had seen this scholar before.
As the top scorer in the county, he had a high chance of becoming the leading scholar in the provincial examination.
Even if he didn't become the leading scholar, passing the imperial examination was a certainty.
This was because the top scorer in the county could directly qualify for the imperial examination.
His participation was merely to compete for a better ranking.
However, what was a mere successful candidate in the imperial examination compared to his Huang family?
His interest in Shen Yun's wife was a form of favor.
Thinking this, Huang Liangsheng looked at Su Xiaoqi again.
But she was firmly blocked by her scholar husband, and he could only see a corner of her skirt.
Yet, the more this was the case, the more he desired her.
He had even mentally claimed her as his woman, imagining all sorts of scenarios with various props in bed.
This novelty, this feeling…
Huang Liangsheng indulged himself for a moment, then beckoned Shen Yun over and directly began to discuss Su Xiaoqi's fate with him.
"Scholarly Official Shen, I fancy your wife and intend to take her as a concubine. Write a letter of divorce and agree to it."
He said this as casually as if discussing how delicious the meal was today.
There was no restraint of etiquette, nor any reverence for ethics and morals.
Others couldn't hear, but those near the main table heard clearly.
The old scholar Zhao Ci was the first to object, throwing down his chopsticks with a "snap."
Huang Liangsheng glared at him, disbelieving that the old scholar who had spent his life taking imperial examinations without much success would dare to say anything.
Zhao Ci had plenty to say.
He intended to reason with the county magistrate about ethics, morals, and the crime of forcibly abducting women.
"Grandfather, please eat." Shen Yun gently persuaded him, patting his sleeve and indicating that he would handle it.
With a gentle smile, he took Su Xiaoqi's hand and approached Huang Liangsheng, signaling Zhao Baoren to move aside.
Then, he lowered his voice, "Even if this student agrees, her parents may not."
Upon hearing Shen Yun's words, Huang Liangsheng felt there was a chance.
His fat cheeks jiggled as he confidently said, "I am the parent official of this region. As long as they live in this city, I dare them to disagree."
For so many years, who hadn't eagerly offered him their daughters and maids?
Few who caught his eye ever escaped.
This one would be no exception.
"Is that so? What about the Su family?" Su Xiaoqi also understood Shen Yun's intention.
If it could be resolved peacefully, it was best not to fall out.
After all, he was an official, and they were commoners.
"The Su family? Which Su family? No, who is Su Baiwan to you?" Huang Liangsheng revealed all his thoughts in a few words.
If it were an ordinary Su family, it wouldn't matter.
But as far as he knew, there was only one Su family in Mianzhou City, the Su Baiwan, known as "Half the City Su."
"What a coincidence, he is my father." Su Xiaoqi said with a steady expression.
Huang Liangsheng's relaxed brows furrowed, and he looked at Su Xiaoqi as if in disbelief.
With her appearance and demeanor, he himself wouldn't believe she was just an ordinary village girl.
But if she were the daughter of that profiteer Su Baiwan, he wouldn't believe it either.
How could someone so driven by profit marry his daughter to this rustic place?
"If Magistrate Huang doesn't believe me, why not visit my home and ask my father personally?
Also, Village Head Zhao can bear witness." Su Xiaoqi pointed to the crowd.
Everyone knew about the marriage between the Su family and Shen Yun.
In the village, they all implicitly accepted her as the eldest daughter of the Su family.
Therefore, her actions of providing grain seeds, purchasing buckwheat, building houses for the Shen family, and contracting fish ponds were not at all surprising.
She was the eldest daughter of Mianzhou City's wealthiest family; what was a little money to her?
Huang Liangsheng subconsciously looked at Zhao Baoren.
He noticed that someone had whispered Su Xiaoqi's identity into Zhao Baoren's ear.
Huang Liangsheng frowned. If it were the Su family, he might have to reconsider.
If the Su family were just Su Baiwan, he was merely a merchant, and with his Huang family's influence, he paid no mind to him.
However, Su Baiqian, the eldest son of the Su family, held a position in the imperial court and was a successful figure in the capital.
Huang Liangsheng felt incredibly frustrated.
Something that was almost in his grasp had suddenly slipped away.
He began to feel anxious.
Zhao Xiaohua, who was watching the spectacle, saw things developing in a direction she disliked.
She couldn't stand it anymore and called Zhao Hai'e over, whispering a few words to her.
Zhao Hai'e's eyes lit up, and she immediately stood up.
She went to her elder sister, Zhao Haihua, and whispered something to her.
Zhao Haihua's face instantly bloomed into a smile.
She hurried over and said in front of Su Xiaoqi, "I heard you're not Su family's daughter, but someone they found to fill the spot."
With these words, not only Huang Liangsheng but even her father, Zhao Baoren, were stunned.
Zhao Haihua then pretended not to control her volume and loudly exclaimed:
"The Su family never looked favorably upon the impoverished Shen family, who lost their father early.
They were unwilling to marry their precious eldest daughter, Miss Su.
However, unwilling to bear the stigma of breaking their promise, they found someone from who knows where to impersonate the eldest Miss Su.
Hmph, you're just a fake, pretending to be impressive here!" Zhao Haihua, desperate to escape the torment from Huang Liangsheng, was doing her best to undermine Su Xiaoqi.
Today, she intended for Huang Liangsheng to take Su Xiaoqi and for her to bear his fate!