Chapter 77: The Thoughts of the Two Elderly Men

  Xue Lengyu glanced at Xiaotao and ate her meal in a somewhat depressed mood.

  She is now deeply regretful, feeling that she shouldn't have let Shu Li find someone to come over. Even if she thought Shu Li wouldn't stoop to such childish things, it didn't mean others wouldn't. Xiao An and Xiao Tao, as servants, might do something on purpose to curry favor with Shu Li, which wasn't impossible.

  Moreover, in the presence of Xing Feng, if Xiaotao had feelings for him, then mentioning other men in front of him would be a double-edged sword, making him retreat while also hinting at her own intentions.

  It's only natural for a girl in her early twenties to be moved by such a handsome man, even if they don't have a deeper connection. Even if she has seen many handsome men before, it's hard not to feel something when seeing him, let alone someone like Xiaotao.

  Xue Lengyu ate and smiled to herself, shaking her head. It had only been a few days since she arrived in this era, but her mind seemed to be racing more than it had in years past. No wonder people in this era matured early, constantly thinking about interpersonal relationships and the way of survival - how could they not?

  If it were in the past, she wouldn't have thought so deeply and far ahead with just these simple words.

  It was actually because of a different mindset that Xue Lengyu didn't want to argue with Xiao Tao about anything. After finishing dinner, she pushed away her bowl and saw that Zhan Fengsong had also finished eating, so she said: "Xiao Zhan, you should hurry back and rest now. You stayed up all night taking care of my father and then got busy early this morning. You must be very tired."

  Zhan Feng Song was indeed a bit tired, and after eating his fill, he felt a wave of drowsiness wash over him. He bid farewell, saying: "Then I'll be off, if there's anything that needs attention, just look for me."

  Xue Lengyu got up and saw Xue's mother off, but then she saw her mother had somehow entered the kitchen, picked up a bamboo basket, and was walking towards her.

  Xuan Feng said: "Aunt Xue, I'll go back first. You should rest well."

  "Alright, alright." Xue Dama smiled and said: "Leng Yu, see off Xiao Zhan."

  "Huh?" Xue Lengyu found it a bit strange, knowing that Xue Dama liked Zhan Fengsong very much and hoped they could spend more time together, but the girl sending the boy was reversed.

  Zhan Fengsong was also stunned for a moment, and then hastily said: "Aunt Xue, I can go back by myself."

  Xue Mu, however, insisted and handed the basket she was holding to Xue Leng Yu: "Leng Yu, I made some pastries. Take them with Xiao Zhan to visit your Uncle Zhan and Auntie Zhan, and thank them for us."

  Xue Lengyu had no choice but to accept the basket, his expression was a bit awkward. Although it should be said that this is also reasonable, but after all, it's a bit strange. Moreover, with such an unseemly reputation outside, Zhan Fengsong may not mind, but it doesn't mean his family won't mind. What if he were to be talked about again in the future? Wouldn't it be embarrassing for him to meet Zhan Fengsong afterwards?

  Zhan Fengsong also said, "Aunt Xue, really no need. My uncle and aunt know I'm helping out here, they think it's only right for neighbors to take care of each other."

  Xue's mother smiled and said, "That's exactly why I let Leng Yu go thank them. Your uncle and aunt are good people, otherwise they wouldn't have lent us a helping hand at this time. Now that our family has finally gotten through this difficult situation, it's only right that Leng Yu goes to thank them."

  It's actually right to thank her, but it shouldn't be Xue Lengyu who goes. However, after seeing Xue Lengyu return, Madam Xue found that she was greatly different from before. Her demeanor and interactions with others were all proper, neither arrogant nor impatient, warm and humble. So she thought of letting her visit the Zhang family, to let Old Man and Lady Zhang see the changes in their daughter, lest rumors spread too much and hinder her relationship with Zhang Fengsong in the future.

  She couldn't outdo Xue Mu, so Xue Lengyu had no choice but to accept the pastry and smiled at Zhan Feng, saying: "Well, in that case, little Zhan..."

  "What a small exhibition." Xue's mother said displeased: "Leng Yu, Xiao Zhan is at least a few years older than you, can you call him like that?"

  "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, you can call me whatever you want."

  It seems a bit strange, Xue Lengyu said: "What should we call it?"

  Feng Song? Isn't that too intimate? Zhang Feng Song? With both first and last names, it's a bit too distant. Zhang Gong Zi? The words sound strange when spoken. This three-character name is not as good as a two-character one to call out, doesn't seem like a nickname, but this name sounds smooth when called out.

  Xue's mother said: "Since Xiao Zhang is a few years older than you, it won't hurt to call him 'Zhang Big Brother'."

  Xue Lengyu's face suddenly turned sour, and he got goosebumps all over his body. This title sounds like a miniature of the evil old society.

  Zhan Feng saw Xue Leng Yu's embarrassed expression, seemingly unwilling to speak out, and hastily said: "Auntie Xue, don't be embarrassed for Leng Yu, whatever we call him, it's all the same."

  Xue Mu insisted, but Xue Leng Yu burst out laughing: "Alright, let's just call him Zhang Da Ge then. This title is pretty good too."

  Go with the local customs, Xue Lengyu didn't have much objection to how he was addressed, it's just that no one had ever called him that before, so it felt a bit awkward.

  "Alright, then go quickly." Xue's mother saw Xue Lengyu agree and also smiled: "When you see people, you have to be polite, do you know that?"

  Xue Lengyu nodded: "Got it, Mother. You go rest inside. If there's anything, just call for Xiao An or Xiao Tao to do it. I'll be back soon."

  "It's okay, it's okay, just play more and you'll be fine." Xue Mu smiled and pushed Xue Lengyu out: "Don't worry about family matters, I've got them under control."

  Xue Lengyu walked out reluctantly, amused in her heart. Was it because Madam Xue was afraid that she would not be able to marry again, so whenever she saw a suitable man, she wanted to quickly package and send her off?

  It's just as well that Xue Mu's eyesight isn't very bad. So in her heart, although she didn't think it through for so long, she also wasn't willing to completely reject Xue Mu's words.

  He took a few steps forward and stretched out his hand to Xue Lengyu.

  "What's wrong?" Xue Lengyu didn't understand.

  Zhan Feng smiled and took over the basket from Xue Lengyu's hands.

  Xue Lengyu smiled and said: "It's not heavy. I can carry it myself."

  "There's no reason for a girl to carry things." Zhan Fengsong was gentle, but some of his words were not open to discussion.

  Xue Lengyu didn't insist, Ren Zhanfeng picked up the basket and they chatted on and off as they walked towards the Ren's house.

  Zhan's family and Xue's family lived in the village, one in front of the other, only a few hundred meters apart. Although they walked slowly, they still arrived in just a moment.

  Similarly surrounded by a wooden fence is the old and dilapidated courtyard of the Xuan family, whose living conditions are no better than those of the Xue family.

  Pushing open the door, Feng Ge said: "The house is old and worn out, don't mind it."

  Xue Lengyu smiled and shook his head, with such a situation at home, what else could he care about.

  As soon as he entered the gate, he saw that the small door inside the house was not closed tightly and there were people's shadows inside. Hearing the sound, they came out. Zhang Fengsong said loudly: "I'm back."

  An old man slightly older than Xue's father walked out of the gate, possibly having stayed indoors for a long time. The outside sunlight was somewhat dazzling, and he squinted his eyes: "You're back."

  Zhan Feng smiled and went forward, supporting the old man to sit in front of the stone table in the courtyard: "Uncle, look who I've brought to see you."

  Xue Lengyu knew it must be Uncle Zhang and hurriedly said: "Uncle Zhang, hello."

  Xuan Zhan heard the voice, slightly stunned for a moment, then carefully looked at Xue Leng Yu and smiled: "Isn't this the little girl from the Xue family? How did she grow up so big in the blink of an eye?"

  Xue Lengyu grew up in this village, but his temperament has always been unsociable. As a child, he stayed at home and didn't interact with people or show his face. After getting to know Murong Haoran, he simply left with Xue's parents and followed him. So even though they lived in the same village, Zhan Dan and others rarely saw Xue Lengyu.

  "It's me." Xue Lengyu smiled and said, "These days, we've been really grateful for Zhang Dage helping out at our place. My mother made some pastries, and I brought them over for Uncle and Auntie to try. Where's Auntie?"

  Zhan Da said: "Your aunt's body has been poor for a long time, and she felt tired after eating, so she fell asleep. By the way, have you eaten lunch?"

  "I've eaten." Zhan Fengsong said: "Sister Xue insisted on keeping me for lunch, and wouldn't let me leave if I didn't eat."

  Zhan Dan smiled and said: "Come on, Leng Yu, why is your mother being so polite? Our two families have a special relationship, we should help each other out whenever possible, that's only right."

  Xue Lengyu didn't know what was different about the relationship between their two families, but followed Xuan's words and said: "Uncle Xuan, you mustn't say that. No matter what, Brother Xuan helped me so much, I still need to thank him. Besides, I've been back home for a few days now, coming to see Uncle and Aunt is also something I should do."

  "Ha ha, okay, you take a look at Uncle, Uncle is also happy in his heart."

  Zhan Feng stood on one side, watching his adoptive father and Xue Lengyu exchange pleasantries. He wasn't as worried as Xue Lengyu because he knew that after the Xue family's incident, it was his adoptive father who first suggested letting him go see if there was anything he could help with. He also asked clearly, the private relationship between the Zhan and Xue families had always been good, so even if his adoptive father didn't like Xue Lengyu, he wouldn't make things difficult for her.

  Now looking at Xuan's attitude towards Shu Angyu, he felt even more at ease.

  Han Xiangzi furrowed his brow: "Leng Yu, you said you're back?"

  Xue Lengyu married into the Murong family that year, it was a big fuss, now she says she's back, what does this mean.

  Although it was a bit hard to answer, Xue Lengyu said: "Yes. I'm back, and from now on, I'll be living at home."

  Zhan Feng Cong was afraid that if he continued to ask, Xue Leng Yu's face would be lost, so he hastily said: "Uncle, now that Leng Yu is back, you don't have to worry about Auntie Xue and the others anymore. Leng Yu has been taking good care of them at home."

  "Yes, yes." Zhan Dai hurriedly said: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you've returned."

  Those rumors, I've heard them before. But first, rumors are always unreliable, and secondly, because he's close to the Xue family, so many people have gone to see him, although I haven't seen Xue Lengyu much, but somehow I feel that this straightforward child wouldn't do such a thing. Now seeing Xue Lengyu in front of me, calm and composed, my heart is even less willing to think more about it.

  What kind of parents, what kind of children. Although I know that Xian Feng Song is just the person who saved Xian Dai back, but looking at his character, he is surprisingly similar to Xian Feng Song.

  Zhan Dan said: "Feng Song, although Leng Yu is back, after all, she's just a girl. Normally, you should go visit her more often and help her out a bit."

  "I know." Zhan Feng Song hastily said.

  She glanced at Xue Lengyu with a tilted head, but felt that this girl was more delicate and charming than when she had seen her in the past. Moreover, her attitude towards speaking was not as arrogant as it used to be. Looking again at the pastry on the table brought by Mrs. Xue, a light bulb flashed in her mind, and she suddenly understood what she meant. The corner of her mouth couldn't help but curve upwards.

  That was when everyone was still young, the Xue and Zhan families already had a very good relationship. The two families would often joke, but also half-seriously say that if they both had children in the future, boys would be brothers, girls would be sisters, and if there was one boy and one girl, they would let them get married and become relatives.

  Unfortunately, later on, for some unknown reason, whether it was heaven's mischief or something else. Xue Mu and his own wife remained childless, but later on, Xue Mu adopted a little girl and raised her with all his heart, while he himself had a solitary family.

  As I recall the past, I have a lot of feelings. Looking at this young couple in front of me, they are truly a match made in heaven, and my heart can't help but feel delighted.

  Xue Lengyu was married before, which is indeed unbearable for a woman. However, looking at Zhang Fengsong's attitude now, he doesn't seem to mind. His family naturally doesn't mind either. Although Zhang Fengsong is outstanding, he is too honest and his family conditions are not good. He was also rescued from the mountains, and his family background is unclear. Other families' daughters may not be willing to marry into their family either. Even if a girl likes him for his looks and doesn't care about the conditions, which parent would want their daughter to suffer?

  If Xue Lengyu could really change her temper and become so understanding and reasonable, and get along well with Zhan Fengsong, then even if she had been married before, what would it matter? Zhan Dang never believed that Xue's parents, being the kind of people they were, could have raised such a spoiled and rude daughter.

  "Ah, Feng Song, now that the season has arrived, the melons and fruits in our land are ripe. It's a rare opportunity for Leng Yu to come, take her to pick some fresh ones, send them back home, and let your parents-in-law, Uncle and Auntie Xue, have a taste of freshness too. They probably don't usually indulge in such things."

  Xue Lengyu suddenly realized that the Zhang family were fruit farmers. However, upon hearing about the fruits, her eyes still lit up. She didn't know what kind of fruits the Zhangs would have, but if they had something she could use, then she wouldn't need to look elsewhere. Not wanting to take advantage of them, even if the price was a bit higher, at least the goods were genuine and fresh.

  "No need to bother, Uncle Zhang. Brother Zhang is already very tired, let's rest first."

  Zhan Dan smiled and said: "How can it be troublesome, Feng Song? You're not tired, are you? Young man, you're so young, but you're already complaining about being tired from such a small thing?"

  Zhan Feng hurriedly said, "I won't bother you. Leng Yu, I'll take you to have a look. Even if you don't eat it, we can bring some back for your parents. This is also Second Uncle's kind intention."