Volume 1 Chapter 27: Uncle Wen's Suggestion

  With a mix of grievance and resentment, Lu Yun gritted her teeth and exclaimed, "Fortunately, this time Ping Shi's fourth house's uncle also went with us. Do you know what Uncle Shi said at the time? He said that man surnamed Zeng, 'He is naturally cold-blooded and has multiple intentions, such a man is not worthy of being someone's husband!'"

  It is most convincing when a third party speaks out such an evaluation. For a moment, even Yang Shu was convinced that she had misjudged the person.

  The sister and brother sat for about an hour, talking until they were almost done. Lu Xuan then covered her face with her sleeve, her eyes brimming with tears as she bid farewell to everyone, returning to her new home amidst the sympathetic sighs of the neighbors.

  As soon as they entered their own home, the brother and sister who had just fought a tough battle both let out a sigh of relief, weakly collapsing onto the couch, Lu Yun closed her dry mouth with her eyes shut.

  After a while, he looked up at Lu Yue who was busy preparing dinner and asked in a low voice: "Sister, why did you want me to say those words? You didn't let Uncle Shi speak for us instead, so why did you come up with this plan?"

  Lu Xuan lit the fire while saying, "This is called taking the initiative. Uncle Wen usually doesn't talk much, so we should be prepared for both possibilities." The burning stove flame reflected on her fair and elegant face, slender and beautiful figure, in Lu Yun's eyes, it was warm enough to make the whole room feel a few degrees warmer.

  Lu Yu was busy while whispering to her brother, "A Yun, the sage said that three people can make a tiger. This is to illustrate the boundless power of rumors and slander. I don't want to be framed by Zeng's mother and son, nor do I want to be known as arrogant and reckless, unaware of hierarchy. Some things must be done ahead of time. If we spread this tonight, those neighbors will pass it on to each other, making the story bigger and more widespread. By then, even if Zeng's mother and son speak ill of me again, no one will listen." She paused before continuing, "As for Uncle Wen, people who know him understand his straightforward nature. If someone asks about it later, as long as he speaks up for me, those who hear it will believe most of what remains." Her actions, whether beating someone or tearing up the marriage contract, were too extreme. If she let others spread rumors and add to them, her reputation wouldn't be good. In this situation, how could she not take action first?

  "Sister, don't you hate Zeng Changzhi very much?"

  In the midst of the flames, Lu Ying turned her head back, she thought for a moment, nodded and said: "Yes, I do hate him." She pursed her lips and muttered: "I used to trust him so much, now I hate him just as much. He thinks that since my parents are not around, he can play with me at will, but this time, I'll make sure he knows what it means to be speechless!"

  After parting with Lu's sister and brother, Wen Uncle hastily returned to Ping's residence.

  She had been waiting for Uncle Wen's return, and seeing him back made her so nervous that her palms were sweating. But before she could run over to ask him questions, Uncle Wen walked into her parents' room without stopping.

  He must have reported this matter to his parents.

  Ping Yin's heart was racing fast, she blushed and hesitated for a moment before changing into another set of clothes, tiptoeing towards the side room where her parents were.

  As she arrived at the door, a murmur of voices came from inside. Hearing Uncle Wen's familiar voice, Ping Yin glanced around at the maids who had been watching her and signaled them to retreat. She then quietly made her way to the door and pressed her ear against it to listen in.

  In the room, Uncle Wen's calm and heavy voice came clearly, "At that time, the young man surnamed Zeng directly replied that he had not thought of marrying Ah Yin as his wife..." As soon as these words entered her ears, Ping Yin's face turned pale, and at this time, the voice in the room was still coming clearly, "It wasn't until Lu Yue asked repeatedly that Mrs. Zeng explicitly stated that they had planned to marry both, with Lu as a concubine."

  As soon as this was said, it was clear that the other two adults in the house were shocked.

  In a low voice, Ping Yin heard Shu Shu say seriously: "Fourth brother, in my observation, the Zeng family is not a good match. Mrs. Zeng is rough and unreasonable, taking advantage of others by nature, and Zeng Changzhi is also a two-faced person. Moreover, this mother and son are naturally cold-blooded, stingy and ungrateful, absolutely not trustworthy people. If Ah Yin chooses such a husband, it may be fine when things go smoothly, but once something happens, I'm afraid she will regret it for the rest of her life..."

  He had only gotten this far when they suddenly heard a loud crash, and Ping Yin rushed in, her tears flying everywhere as her face turned white with fear and pain. Crying, Ping Yin desperately shook her head, "No, no, it's not like that! Shu Shu, you must have misunderstood, you must have!"

  She seemed to remember something, and shouted in a shrill voice: "Uncle Wen, you must have fallen into Lu Yue's vicious plot. Don't believe her, she's not a good person. She resents me for snatching Zeng Lang from her, she has ill intentions!"

  Ping Yin's parents did not expect their daughter to rush in, and she had clearly heard Ping Shu's words, but still stubbornly insisted on seeing him. At this moment, Ping's father's face sank, and he shouted: "Come on, drag the girl out!"

  "Yes." The two maids then seized Ping Yin. Ping's father ordered, "Lock her up and keep a close eye on her. Don't let her meet with outsiders."

  As soon as the order was given, Ping Yin was so frightened that her legs went soft. She struggled and shouted to her parents: "Mother, Father, it's not like this, it's not like this. Zeng Lang is a good person, it's not like this..." As she was dragged further away, her crying became more mournful.

  Listening to her daughter's crying, Ping Mu couldn't help but shed tears. She wiped her face with her sleeve and said in a low voice: "It's all my fault. In the past, Ah Yin mentioned that man surnamed Zeng to me, but I didn't take it seriously. Later, when I heard his father became a school officer, I tacitly allowed them to be together."

  Ping's father grumbled on one side: "It's you, this kind of woman with long hair and short vision, who is causing trouble! That Zeng family even thinks about throwing away their wife of ten years, such a heartless person, and you still encourage your daughter to associate with him? Fortunately, Ah-stable also went this time, otherwise, Ah-yin's future would be ruined by your hands!"

  Wen Shu nodded in agreement, "Yes, just by the fact that this Zeng guy wants to abandon his fiancée of ten years and marry someone else, it's clear they're not a good match." He said this much, then noticed Ping Mu's embarrassed expression, and couldn't help but shut up. He made an excuse and hastily retreated.

  Not mentioning Pingfu, Lu's sister and brother were reunited in the study after a full meal, starting to write again.

  As he wrote, Lu Yun slammed his pen onto the desk and said in a loud and clear voice: "Sister, even if I couldn't become a xiucai, I will definitely pass the imperial examination! I won't let anyone look down on you again! I want to make the Zeng family regret treating you that way, I want them to kneel before you one day and beg for your forgiveness!" Under the candlelight, the young man's face turned bright red, his black eyes shining with determination.

  Lu Xuan turned her head, and with a hint of a smile on her lips, she said softly: "Well, I'm waiting for Ah Yun to make a name for himself." Her voice was gentle and warm, conveying an inexplicable trust. Lu Yun's heart warmed up, his anger dissipating at the same time, and he felt a weight on his shoulders, as if an invisible responsibility was urging him to grow up.