Chapter 8

Editor: DarkSapphire, Uncia

Yan Xixia was afraid that Xiao Lian would treat himself badly, so he promised that he would visit him at lunch today. When noon arrived, Yan Xixia asked Jiu Si to take the food out and arrange them on the table. Once Jiu Si was done, he was dismissed. Turning to Xiao Lian, Yan Xixia said: “Madam, please enjoy.” 

Xiao Lian passed the chopsticks to Yan Xixia first, then he picked up his own bowl and chopsticks: “You eat too.”

Yan Xixia remembered Xiao Lian mentioning that the embroidery workshop had accepted a large order. Thinking about how busy Xiao Lian had been recently, he asked, “How long until madam finishes the handkerchief order?”

Although the money that Xiao Lian earned could not be compared to the Yan Family, Yan Xixia did not force Xiao Lian to close his small embroidery workshop to focus on being the madam of the house. It was just difficult seeing how hard Xiao Lian worked. He couldn’t help but feel a little distressed.

Without embroidery, Xiao Lian felt less confident. He stuffed rice in his mouth and said with a mouth full of food: “It will be completed on the agreed date.” 

Although the order was fifty percent completed, there was still more than half a month before the Yu Family would pick up the handkerchiefs. He was not worried at all with the time he still had.

“Madam, please pay more attention to your health and don’t ignore any of your body’s signs.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t.”

The two of them ate and chatted about anything and everything. When it was time for Yan Xixia to leave, he hugged Xiao Lian: “You returned home late for the past three days. Please return home early today.”

Xiao Lian liked the feeling of someone waiting and looking forward to his return. He nodded in Yan Xixia’s arms: “I’ll come home earlier today.”

Yan Xixia lowered his head and kissed Xiao Lian’s earlobe: “I’ll go back first.”

Xiao Lian’s earlobes turned red: “See you soon.”

After Yan Xixia left, Xiao Lian pulled out the cloth for his husband and continued on with his gift. Xun Qiu, now sitting beside him, teased him, turning his cheek red. Then he heard Jin Qiao say: “Welcome, can I help this customer with anything?” 

Li Chengze held a folding fan in his hand, fanning himself slowly and elegantly: “I am just looking.”

Xiao Lian heard Li Chengze’s voice and intentionally did not greet him. Let Jin Qiao help the customer. Li Chengze pretended to look around at the display in the shop as he walked toward Xiao Lian. He watched Xiao Lian cutting the pattern and asked: “Little boss, this embroidery workshop also takes tailoring orders?”

Xiao Lian didn’t answer. Xun Qiu giggled and answered: “The little boss is making it for himself.”

Li Chengze reckoned it was for Yan Xixia and felt sourness in his heart: “I want to invite the little boss to the teahouse next door to discuss something. Is it possible for you to do me the honor?” 

We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.

Xiao Lian continued stitching: “We can discuss here.”

“Pa’r jybea Tjc Wlzlj, lo sbe gfjiis vbc’a wlcv, P mjc ajix tfgf.”

Mfjglcu atja Ol Jtfcuhf kbeiv rjs rbwfatlcu atja kbeiv vjwjuf Tjc Wlzlj’r gfqeajalbc, Wljb Oljc lcobgwfv tlr kbgxfgr atja tf klii ub cfza vbbg jr tf qea vbkc atf cffvif jcv atgfjv. Lf abiv Ol Jtfcuhf olgwis: “C dejgafg bo jc tbeg.”

Xiao Lian and Li Chengze sat by the window of the teahouse. Li Chengze ordered a pot of tea, took the teapot,poured a cup of tea for Xiao Lian, and pushed it in Xiao Lian’s direction: “Try it. The melon seed tea in this teahouse is exquisite. Because the leaves are tender and fresh, the tea color is clear and bright with a delicate scent. When you drink it, you will taste the sweet and mellow flavor.” 

Xiao Lian ignored Li Chengze, glancing at the tea, and said bluntly: “Stop chit-chatting and get to the point. You only have a quarter of an hour.”

Li Chengze slowly pushed the teacup and stared Xiao Lian in the eyes.Xiao Lian accepted the teacup and took a sip. Li Chengze started talking when he saw Xiao Lian frown: “The Yan Family was originally from Jingan City, but they moved to Huaihe City eight years ago after their wealth diminished, you know this right?”

This was not a secret in Huaihe City. Xiao Lian confirmed: “I do.”

“But do you know the relationship between the sixteen year old girl in the Yan Family and Yan Xixia?” 

“I do.”

Li Chengze smiled contemptuously: “Did Yan Xixia tell you that she is the housekeeper’s daughter?”

Xiao Lian didn’t like Li Chengze’s tone of speech, and frowned: “Yes.”

“He is lying to you. That woman is Yan Xixia’s childhood sweetheart. She was raised alongside him, and she was raised to be his future wife.” 

Xiao Lian didn’t believe a single word: “Nonsense.”

“The Yan Family used to be an official for the nobility. Which official family that you know of did not groom their heir’s partner this way? They are already living under the same roof. How could Yan Xixia keep a young beauty beside him untouched? I fear that the two of them will meet up behind your back. I won’t be surprised if they already did the deed.”

Xiao Lian was trembling slightly from Li Chengze’s words, not because he believed in Li Chengze’s words, but at Li Chengze’s wild accusations about Zimian. She was a girl who had not married out of the house yet: “You have no evidence to support your claim. Stop pouring out lies, especially when you dishonored an innocent girl for no reason.”

“You have no right to defend her. You say that I have no proof, yet what evidence do you have to prove what I said was false?” 

“I believe in him.”

“That’s just your subjective judgment. All you can see is what he wants you to see. You can’t be deceived by him. Sometimes, you have to learn information from others.”

“If I want to learn from others, I will go to his friends, not someone like you who is biased towards him.”

“Are you saying that I am prejudiced against him? His friend is going to protect him, won’t their evaluation of him also be a kind of bias?” 

Xiao Lian was not as bright and didn’t know how to answer, so he could only choke out one sentence: “It doesn’t matter, I believe in him.”

“I’m really worried about you.” Li Chengze reached out, wanting to hold Xiao Lian’s hand, but Xiao Lian quickly avoided him. Li Chengze asked: “Why do you want to marry him? Originally, your father obviously had the intention for me to marry you, but when I proposed marriage, he suddenly said that you were already engaged. Did they force you?”

“No, I was willing.”

“You can tell me the truth. If they forced you, I will save you from this difficulty.” 

Xiao Lian was not good with words. He could not find the correct way to get through Li Chengze’s thick skull, so he repeated: “I was willing. If there is nothing else, I will return first.”

Li Chengze hurriedly said: “You must believe my words! He is blind and he might want to marry others in the future. There is no way the Yan Family would not demand an heir. When you do divorce him, you will always have me. I won’t give you up.” His last sentence was said with tenderness.

Xiao Lian almost laughed at Li Chengze’s bitterness: “I dislike you.”

Li Chengze didn’t expect Xiao Lian to say such a thing. He laughed soundlessly: “You…” 

Xiao Lian repeated: “You said he might want to marry someone else in the future, are you saying you won’t?”

Li Chengze promised: “As long as I am married to you, I will definitely not marry others.”

“You just fancy my appearance. You would have completely forgotten about me if I was average-looking. You may as well gossip with your close female friends or male friends, I don’t care. Stop your fake affection in front of me.” He had also heard a little about Li Chengze’s reputation, but he refused to comment. He got up and added before he left “It’s better not to spread this unproven rumor.”

Li Chengze looked in anger at Xiao Lian’s back, but he really couldn’t beat Yan Xixia in anything. It was a pity that the beauty didn’t believe in him at all. He hesitated a bit as if he could still gain some advantage. 

Xiao Lian felt that this was truly a waste of his time as he rushed back to continue on his project.

Yan Xixia made tea in the small wooden house. Wen Yihong and Xu Shan were playing chess beside him. Wen Yihong laid down a piece and said to Yan Xixia: “Can you believe these newlyweds? Where is Madam Yan?”

Yan Xixia poured tea for the two of them. Even without his sight, the tea did not overflow: “He has been busy at the embroidery workshop these few days.”

Wen Yihong smiled: “Why does he still have that little shop? Is your Yan Family so poor that you can’t afford anything for the madam?” 

Yan Xixia’s heart softened when he thought of Xiao Lian: “He enjoys it.”

Xu Shan asked: “You let him continue because he likes it?”

Yan Xixia smiled brightly: “Of course.”

Xu Shan thought of Xiao Lian’s appearance followed by the scenes he saw today and said unpleasantly: “But you shouldn’t let him have too much freedom.” 

Hearing Xu Shan’s words, Yan Xixia asked: “What does Brother Xu mean?”

Wen Yihong and Xu Shan looked at each other, and Wen Yihong explained: “Today, Brother Xu and I took a carriage to your house. Do you know what we encountered on the way?”

Yan Xixia asked: “What did the two of you encounter?”

Wen Yihong described what he saw: “Were you aware that Madam Yan and Li Chengze were drinking tea in the teahouse today?” 

Yan Xixia picked up the teacup and smelled the fragrance of the tea: “No I wasn’t, but I am now.”

Xu Shan said from the other side: “And you said he was busy at the embroidery workshop all day?”

Yan Xixia slipped his tea: “That’s right.”

Xu Shan was angry with his friend: “The day you got married, you witnessed Li Chengze’s true face. Later, he told everyone in the school that the Xiao Family planned for him to marry Madam Yan. Today, the two met privately at the teahouse. Why aren’t you connecting the dots? They could be having a secret affair!” 

Yan Xixia was a little displeased with the language Xu Shan used: “Brother Xu, you should be more careful with your words. ‘Met privately’? ‘Secret affair’? Is it that every couple who visits the teahouse is having a private meeting? Xian Lian has his reason for meeting Li Chengze.”

Xu Shan questioned: “You trust him that much?”

“Of course.” Yan Xixia chuckled. “He is my wife, so I naturally believe him. If Brother Xu is biased because of my wife’s appearance, I should let you know now that the image you crafted in your head is nothing like him if you really know him.”

Yan Xixia was right on the mark as Xu Shan speechlessly touched his nose. Wen Yihong smiled: “Brother Yan has never misjudged a person. Since Brother Yan believes in him, we should as well. Brother Yan, you know how Brother Xu is. Please don’t take it to heart if he offended you.” 

Yan Xixia said, smiling: “We have been classmates for many years. I know his temperament. He is also afraid of me being deceived. Why would I be mad at him for his concern?”

Xu Shan scratched his head and drank from his teacup: “Brother Yan’s tea is still as good as before.”

As soon as Xu Shan complimented the tea, all three of them laughed as the red maple outside the shed drifted to the ground.