Xie Jiang squatted by the field, leisurely and content, chatting familiarly with the old farmer. "Do you think I look alright?"
The old farmer chuckled, "Lord Xu and Young Master Xie are blessed with good fortune, you'll surely be fine!"
Xie Jiang gazed at the vibrant greenery. "These sweet potato seedlings are growing well, a testament to your diligent care."
The old farmer beamed with pride. "These are treasures, how could I not tend to them with care."
He then glanced at Xu Hengyi and the other two. "Young Master Xie, are you showing your friends the sweet potato seedlings?"
Xie Jiang nodded. "Yes, just taking a look."
Seeing Xu Hengyi and the others covering their noses, the old farmer didn't linger. He greeted Xie Jiang and walked away with his dung water.
Xia Zeshi curiously squatted down to examine them. These were sweet potato seedlings. He'd heard sweet potatoes grew underground. They didn't seem particularly special.
"Young Master Xie, when can these sweet potatoes be harvested?"
Xie Jiang stood up, looking at the vast expanse of green. "It looks like about four months."
Xia Zeshi was very curious. "I must come and see when they're ready."
Ruan Ziji wandered through the field with little interest. He accidentally snapped two sweet potato seedlings.
Xie Jiang's face turned cold. He dragged him aside and pinned him to the ground, beating him soundly. Ruan Ziji couldn't get up for a long time.
~
Xie Jiang did not join them for dinner.
When Yueyue served the food, she said, "Young Master said for the three of you to eat first and not wait."
Xia Zeshi asked curiously, "Where is Young Master Xie? Isn't he eating dinner?"
Yueyue replied, "Young Master is going to the county office to have dinner with Lord Xu."
The meat Ruan Ziji had just put in his mouth lost its flavor. Young Master Xie was just leaving them like this and going to the county office to have dinner with Xu Hengyan alone!
Could their relationship be that pure?!
Would he be staying the night at Xu Hengyan's place again tonight?!
Xu Hengyi looked up from the table full of food. "Eating with my second brother? Why not just call my second brother over to eat with us?"
Why go to his second brother's place to set up another table?
Xia Zeshi seemed to understand something and quietly lowered his head to eat, remaining silent.
Just then, Xie Jiang walked by the courtyard with a food box.
"You promised to take me when you went to see my second brother! How could you go without saying a word?" Xu Hengyi ran out to stop her before he had even swallowed his food.
Ruan Ziji had been beaten quite badly in the afternoon. He could only watch enviously as Xu Hengyi ran out, a stomach full of grievances but daring not to utter a sound.
When did that promise happen? Did he make it to himself?
Xie Jiang tilted her chin towards the dining hall. "Isn't there enough food for you there?"
"There's enough food, but you... you're just leaving like this? Abandoning us?"
How could the host leave the guests at home and go out themselves?
"What kind of guests are you? Didn't I provide you with food? Do you need to be spoon-fed?"
"No, no, no..."
Hearing this, Xu Hengyi shivered. He had felt the pain when Ruan Ziji was fed a meal of fists and kicks in the afternoon, just by watching.
Who would dare ask Xie Jiang to spoon-feed them and still be able to digest it?
"Then I'll go to the county office with you." He still had a mission to complete.
"Why do you think I didn't call my second brother over, but instead brought food separately to find him at the county office?"
"Why?"
"Your second brother finds you all too noisy and doesn't want to eat with you."
"...My second brother is annoyed by those two, right?" Xu Hengyi lowered his voice and glanced towards the dining hall. "So, it's fine for just the two of us to go, no need to call them."
"Are you sure?" Your second brother is only annoyed by those two?
"Why would my second brother be annoyed with me? I don't constantly flock to my second brother's side." Xu Hengyi said with some lack of confidence, but still insisted on going to the county office with Xie Jiang.
Seeing Xie Jiang and Xu Hengyi leave, Ruan Ziji became restless. He got up and paced by the dining hall entrance for a moment, then silently returned to his seat.
Xia Zeshi ate his meal unhurriedly, occasionally glancing at the bruises on Ruan Ziji's face.
After being beaten, Ruan Ziji became much more obedient and could endure not forcing himself in front of Young Master Xie.
Young Master Xie's simple, brutal style of fighting at the slightest disagreement was truly enviable.
Was it too late for him to be rebellious now?
Ruan Ziji comforted himself while eating. What was the point of him going with his current appearance? To be a foil to Xu Hengyan, the red flower?
Young Master Xie had only beaten him; he didn't truly hate him. If he truly hated him, Young Master Xie wouldn't have taken action himself.
When eating, Ruan Ziji opened his mouth a little too wide, pulling at his wounds and causing him to gasp in pain.
It hurt a bit, but it was a mark personally inflicted by Young Master Xie!
~
Xu Hengyi hadn't seen his second brother for several days. Upon seeing him, he noticed his second brother was acting normally, and his slightly pale complexion had become more ruddy.
He cornered Guang Bai and questioned him for a long time, only then learning that his second brother's injuries had greatly improved, and even if he was busy, it wouldn't cause any major issues.
"Doctor Lou's medical skills are too amazing!"
Xu Hengyi was overjoyed. Now he could finally relax and eat and drink with peace of mind for the next while.
Guang Bai stepped forward to take the food box and began setting the dishes on the table.
As soon as Xu Hengyan sat down, Xie Jiang began to complain.
"I only brought food for two people. Xu Hengyi was eating well at my place, but he insisted on coming along to 'illuminate' us."
Xu Hengyan looked up at Xu Hengyi.
Xu Hengyi felt as if he were being disliked. "I haven't seen second brother for several days! I just wanted to come and see how second brother's injuries were. Grandmother and Aunt are worried about second brother's health, I had to see it with my own eyes to be at ease, right?"
Xu Hengyi belatedly realized, his innocent big eyes staring at Xie Jiang. It wasn't his second brother who found them noisy; it was Xie Jiang herself who didn't want to eat with them!
Xu Hengyan said, "My injuries have almost fully healed, there are no more hindrances. Since you've seen me, you should go back and eat."
He had seen Xu Hengyi's recent appetite and eating habits. These four dishes and one soup were not enough for Xu Hengyi alone.
Xu Hengyi: "..."
Xie Jiang: "If you don't go back soon, all your favorite dishes will be eaten by them."
Xu Hengyi looked at the two people sitting opposite each other, feeling like there was no longer any space for him between them.
He couldn't squeeze in even if he tried!
Xu Hengyi's inner grief was unending. He decided he should go back and eat first!
He would eat three extra large bowls!
Xu Hengyi ran off.
Xu Hengyan scooped half a bowl of soup and handed it to Xie Jiang. "Have those three been following you these past few days?"
"Yes."
Xie Jiang directly held the small bowl and took a sip.
Xu Hengyan pondered for a moment. "Do you know who Ruan Ziji is?"
"Earlier at Chunse Manyuan, I saw him hugging a young boy." It's just a preference, what's the big deal.
Xu Hengyan knew she didn't take it seriously and had to remind her, "Then you should know that he has developed improper intentions towards you."
Xie Jiang said, "So what?"
Xu Hengyan said, "You should interact with him less."
Xie Jiang looked at him with a smile. "Are you afraid I'll be led astray by him?"
Xu Hengyan wasn't afraid of her being led astray.
Xu Hengyan was afraid she would be dragged into the gutter.