274 Think before you Speak

Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao went to the back courtyard. There, the four little ones were tiptoeing on the stone stairs and peering around. When they saw their parents, they ran to them and grabbed their hands.

“Daddy, mommy, are you okay?”

“Nothing bad happened. We took care of the conflict. Don’t worry.”

Given that Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao appeared fine, the four little ones stopped worrying. Aunt Qiu smiled and said, “The four little ones were so worried since they couldn’t see what you were doing. These four little boys act like little adults.”

The four little ones were shy from aunt Qiu’s comment and croaked, “Granny!”

Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao laughed. The family then went to the dining room to eat.

After breakfast, Xie Yunjin and Lin Dong went to teach.

Lu Jiao took the four little ones to observe the artisans crafting slides. The four little ones kept on asking Lu Jiao how it worked and Lu Jiao patiently explained. The four little ones were so excited and wished for the slide to be ready soon.

As they chatted, there were loud fighting noises coming from the neighboring Zhao family.

Though the Zhao family was right next to the Xie family and their land wasn’t too big, sound normally wouldn’t travel far enough to be heard over here. Today, however, Zhao Hehua’s already shrill voice was shouting, allowing everyone to hear.

“That Lu Daniu is merely a butcher! He doesn’t even know how to read! The way he talks is unpolished and idiotic. All he knows is killing pigs and selling meat. I’m not going to marry him! I want to marry someone who’s studied.”

…

“So what he has his own shop? I don’t fancy him! He’s going to be a butcher his whole life. I want to marry someone who went to school. I want to be the wife of an official.

Lu Jiao’s face went dark. This lady Hehua sure had a big heart. She wanted to be the wife of an official? She really thinks those wives had an easy life?

Lu Jiao didn’t care about her though and she was sure the Zhao family would deal with that.

For lunch, Xie Yunjin came back home. Lu Jiao told him what happened and Xie Yunjin was speechless. Someone like Zhao Hehua wanted to be the wife of an official? Those officials would likely divorce her if she was their wife. To be the wife of an official was no easy task. Those who are not careful could easily cause trouble for their husbands.

Xie Yunjin secretly glanced at Lu Jiao. The wife he had would be the perfect wife for an official.

Once he becomes an official, the first thing he’d do was to request an imperial mandate and grant her the honorary wife title.

Xie Yunjin grinned as he thought about it. Lu Jiao didn’t know what he was thinking and glanced at him strangely. Why was that man cackling?

The family continued to eat. Then, uncle Wen came to report, “Han Shan is here, asking for a visit.”

Xie Yunjin was not happy to hear about Hu Shan’s arrival. He didn’t want to see him but because Hu Shan was so influential, he couldn’t refuse.

“I’ll greet him. You keep eating.”

“Okay.”

Lu Jiao didn’t want to see this master Hu Shan therefore she didn’t bother. The four little ones and her continued to yet.

Sadly, right after they finished lunch, Lu Gui walked over, “Sister, Hu Shan is here to give you an invitation. He says he wants to give it to you personally.”

“Why would he invite me to anything?”

“He said his wife had requested that he personally hand it to you. The day after tomorrow is his son’s one-month-old celebration. His wife had asked him to invite you.”

Lu Jiao thought about it and stood up. Since he had good intentions, she had no reason to refuse him.

“Okay.”

Lu Jiao asked Lu Gui to keep an eye on the four little ones. She took Feng Zhi and went to the front courtyard to see Hu Shan.

In the front courtyard, Xie Yunjin coldly stared at Hu Shan. He already disliked Hu Shan before and a couple of days ago, Liang Ziwen let it slip that Hu Shan thought of Lu Jiao as good-looking. This displeased Xie Yunjin even more.

Hu Shan’s head hurt as he looked back at Xie Yunjin, “I am just asking you. Why are you so angry?”

Just now, Hu Shan straight up asked Xie Yunjin if he was behind Liang Ziwen’s injuries. Xie Yunjin’s face dropped and he asked Hu Shan to leave.

Hu Shan wanted to leave out of anger but he actually had a reason for coming here today.

His son was going to celebrate his one-month birthday the day after tomorrow. His wife had asked him to personally invite Lu Jiao to show their family’s sincerity.

Inside the living room, Xie Yunjin’s face was not friendly, “Can you think before you speak next time? You have already caused us trouble by bringing Liang Ziwen here before. And today, you make such accusations. If what you asked gets spread around, more trouble will find my family. Have you thought about that?”

Hu Shan felt somewhat guilty. He didn’t dare to talk too loudly and merely mumbled, “I just asked you a simple question. You can just deny it.”

Xie Yunjin angrily rebutted, “I’m not your mother or father. It’s not my responsibility to teach you etiquette. You should think before you do anything.”

Hu Shan couldn’t help but argue, “You’re not my father but you scold me the same way he does.”

Lu Jiao walked in then. When she heard Hu Shan, she was speechless. This master Hu truly was indescribable.

When Xie Yunjin saw Lu Jiao, his gaze softened, “Did you eat well?”

Lu Jiao nodded and went to sit by Xie Yunjin, “Master Hu, you have an invitation for me?”

Hu Shan just wanted to finish what he came here for and nodded, “Yes, my wife had asked me to personally invite you to my son’s celebration. That’s why I asked to see you.”

He then handed over the invitation. Lu Jiao gestured for Feng Zhi to accept it.

“Okay, I will be there.”

Hu Shan’s unsettled heart rested. He got up to leave but remembered to act polite, “Yunjin, you should come with Lady Lu.”

Xie Yunjin said bluntly, “Naturally. My wife is not familiar with this district and who knows what kind of people you have invited. I don’t feel good letting her go alone.”

Xie Yunjin didn’t lie. Though county magistrate Hu was only the seventh rank, he remained an official. Other than his subordinates from the county, all the merchants around will also be attending. The guest list for the celebration was not going to be short and Xie Yunjin planned on going.

Hu Shan silently mumbled to complain about the fact that Xie Yunjin had never shown such thoughtfulness towards his wife before.

Inside the living room, Lu Jiao was about to get back when she noticed the solemn look on Xie Yunjin’s face. She asked, “You appear unhappy. What happened?”

Xie Yunjin didn’t want to hide anything and told her what happened.

“Hu Shan asked me something before you came.”

Lu Jiao didn’t speak so Xie Yunjin continued, “He dared to ask me if I was involved in Liang Ziwen’s injuries. If his suspicion gets around, much trouble will knock on our door. The Liang family is full of people with rabies.”

Lu Jiao’s face dropped as well. She played with her hands, “We should keep our distance from this Hu Shan. It seems like he doesn’t think before he speaks.”