Chapter 261 - 261 No Rush. Take it Slow
261 No Rush. Take it Slow
Shen Xiu may appear to be complimenting Xu Qingyin when in actuality, she was hinting her to take action. Xu Qingyin was tempted after she listened to Shen Xiu.
She was the wealthy daughter of the grand commander. Nobody in this city could be compared to her. If that young master did fancy her, he may just divorce his wife for her.
However, Xu Qingyin was a little worried. That man wasn’t just married – he also had children. If she married him, she would become a stepmother. She didn’t really want that.
For now, she didn’t comment on that.
Shen Xiu wasn’t in a rush. She was okay taking this slowly. Since Lu Jiao dared to steal Xie Yunjin away from Shen Xiu, Shen Xiu would find a woman to take Xie Yunjin away from Lu Jiao. Once she succeeds, she’ll watch how hard Lu Jiao cries.
“Lady Xu, it’s late. Let’s get back. Or else we won’t get the chance to give the commander the pastries you bought.”
This morning, Shen Xiu convinced Xu Qingyin to get out of her house early to buy pastries for her father. She told Xu Qingyin that his father would only continue to spoil her if she did so.
Xu Qingyin believed Shen Xiu and came out to buy the pastries. Then, Shen Xiu mentioned that they were close to where Zhao Hehua lived and asked whether or not Xu Qingyin wanted to visit Zhao Hehua and invite her to the banquet she was planning for tomorrow.
Xu Qingyin didn’t decline. After all, they were on the way. Everything that happened this morning was planned out by Shen Xiu and her only goal was for Xu Qingyin to run into Xie Yunjin.
Inside the horse carriage, Xu Qingyin and Zhao Hehua failed to recognize Shen Xiu’s dark plots. Zhao Hehua even chimed in to comfort Xu Qingyin, “Yeah, Qingyin, you can get any man you want. That master Xie has a wife and quadruplets.”
Xu Qingyin couldn’t help but look at Zhao Hehua, “Ah, so his last name is Xie. What’s his full name?”
Zhao Hehua glanced back in disbelief. That wasn’t the point of this conversation.
Since Xu Qingyin was staring, Zhao Hehua could only say, “His name is Xie Yunjin. He’s a student studying in the city. I heard from my parents that he placed first in his prefectural exam to become a scholar.
Now that more information had been revealed, Xu Qingyin’s heart fluttered. Her own father had talked about this Xie Yunjin. Back when Xie Yunjin placed first on his exam, the magistrate praised him profusely. At the time, the grand commander felt regretful and commented that if the scholar wasn’t married, he would’ve assigned him to marry his daughter.
She had no idea the person she saw this morning was that scholar. Her father had told her that this scholar will for sure pass the provincial exam, then the imperial one.
Those who pass the imperial examination will become government officials. Her own father, grand commander Xu, had to pay lots of money to get recommended for the job he had.
Grand commanders who got their jobs through recommendation could only go as far as the seventh rank.
Those who were able to acquire the job by doing well on exams could go as far as the second or the third rank. Someone as capable as Xie Yunjin will for sure get there.
That would make her the wife of a second or third ranked official. On top of that, that man was just so handsome.
The more Xu Qingyin thought about it, the more excited she got. Shen Xiu knew right away that Xue Qingyin was tempted.
Shen Xiu added, “I’ve heard from your father that scholar Xie will place first in the upcoming exam. He has a bright future.”
Her comment made both women want Xie Yunjin.
Shen Xiu secretly snickered. Ah, Lu Jiao, now two women had their eyes set on Xie Yunjin, will she have any more peaceful days?
Lu Jiao didn’t know about any of this. She was directing people around in her courtyard. She had asked the workers to replant the flowers they pulled up into pots. Then, she asked them to place the pots under the eaves of the verandah. This way, the entire courtyard would be filled with scents from the flowers.
Lu Jiao wasn’t worried that her plants and flowers would die. She had spiritual stream water after all.
The four little ones were busy running in and out of the courtyard to help. The entire Xie courtyard became busy and energetic.
At noon, Xie Yunjin didn’t come back for lunch and Lu Jiao didn’t care.
For dinner, he did return and his demeanor was normal – it was as if nothing out of the ordinary had ever happened.
Lu Jiao relaxed given that he acted normal and didn’t obsess over what happened.
Xie Yunjin peeked at Lu Jiao and silently decided to take it slow. He was confident that there was something he could do to move that woman.
Just like classmate Han said today, independent women were afraid of clingy men. He didn’t believe that there was no way Lu Jiao would ever become interested.
The bottom line was, he wasn’t okay with letting Lu Jiao go just like that.
Since he couldn’t let her go, then he was going to do everything in his power to make her fall for him. Once she falls for him, she won’t leave anymore.
That thought brightened Xi Yunjin’s mood and everything felt so clear. It was as if on his foggy journey, someone had given him a lamp that cleared his vision and showed him his way.
He shouldn’t have rushed it and triggered Lu Jiao’s annoyance.
At the dinner table, the family restored its usual harmoniousness.
The four little ones told their daddy everything their mommy did today. They talked over one another to tell the stories.
Xie Yunjin smiled out of happiness as he listened. How could they ever leave Lu Jiao? If Lu Jiao left, the four little ones would never be happy again. He would never be happy again. If she left, there would always be something missing in their lives. Therefore, he couldn’t let Lu Jiao go.
At the dinner table, Xie Yunjin picked up a piece of yam and placed it in Lu Jiao’s bowl, “You worked hard today. Eat more.”
Lu Jiao raised an eyebrow and almost gave the yam back to him.
But across from her were four little ones and one adult staring at him.
The four little ones were grinning. Lu Jiao had no choice but to eat the yam.
The boys smiled.
Lu Gui glanced at his sister, then at his brother-in-law. More and more he felt like his brother-in-law was spoiling his sister these days.
The feeling he once had returned – his brother-in-law didn’t feel that distant anymore.
Was he wrong again?
Lu Gui had his suspicions while the four little ones ate happily.
The look in Xie Yunjin’s eyes was normal. Lu Jiao had wondered for a second if he hadn’t given up and was doing things to make her stay. But since he went back to acting normal and didn’t make any more advances, she figured she was overthinking.
Lu Jiao calmed down and finished her meal. Afterward, Xie Yunjin helped Lu Jiao with bathing the children.
The two of them casually conversed. It was mostly Lu Jiao asking Xie Yunjin about his teaching job. Xie Yunjin said he wasn’t worried about the students. Silently, he admitted that he was more worried about how to deal with Liang Ziwen.
If he doesn’t do something soon, that person will act like a thorn that will stab them sooner or later.
Xie Yunjin’s eyes darkened a little as he continued telling Lu Jiao about his students, “They’re good students. I point out the key points to them and guide them.
Plus, I opened a bookstore with classmate Han before, remember? That store carries all sorts of books including guides for the exam and practice problems. I assigned them homework and pinpointed key problems that they must learn to solve.”
Lu Jiao gave Xie Yunjin a shocked glance. This man sure knew what he was doing. He was essentially hosting exam cram sessions like students went to in her previous world.