Take Me Away, My Love - Chapter 11 - Intrigue Abounds
Under the pressure from Jian Yiqing, Xiu’er finally confessed the truth.
With this revelation, people suddenly came to understand, and they looked down on her family entirely.
It turned out that it was all a joke made in a bid to climb into someone’s bed.
Facing such a conclusion, Juanzi and her husband had no choice but to scurry off with their sister.
“I’m sorry about today. It’s embarrassing that something like this happened in our village…” the patriarch said, feeling ashamed. After all, it was a mistake made by someone from his village.
“Let it go. It was unintentional.” Li Minchun and Jian Yiqing’s generous forgiveness made the patriarch feel very grateful. Honestly, if they insisted on pursuing the matter further, he wouldn’t be able to protect them.
After seeing off the patriarch, they saw Xiao Ru’s mom looking around the not-too-large room with a cautious expression. “What are you looking for?”
“I’m looking for that thing you mentioned earlier, the one that can record Auntie Hua and Xiu’er’s voices. I don’t see anything.”
So she was curious about that.
Li Minchun smiled, turned her hand, and a small black device appeared in her palm.
Pressing a button on it, the voice of “Auntie Hua…” could be heard clearly from the device.
“Wow, this little thing is incredible! So the sound comes from here,” Xiao Ru’s mom exclaimed in surprise, and even Xiao Ru’s dad craned his neck curiously to see.
Li Minchun chuckled and said, “If you like it, I’ll give it to you. It’s not of much use to me anyway.” As she spoke, she placed it in Xiao Ru’s hands.
“Oh no, we couldn’t possibly. Since you arrived, we’ve benefited a lot, and now you’re giving us this? We’re so embarrassed,” Xiao Ru’s mom said, politely refusing.
Although it was an interesting little gadget, they really didn’t need it and would rather return it.
Li Minchun laughed and said, “If you really feel bad, just make a few more outfits for my child. You know, I’m a bit clumsy when it comes to that.”
“Sure, we’d be happy to do that.”
The two women were enjoying their conversation, and the two men joined in their laughter.
However, Xiao Ru’s dad still seemed a bit uneasy. He pulled Jian Yiqing aside and whispered, “Did you really not do anything to betray Li Minchun?”
At first, Jian Yiqing wanted to get angry, but seeing the honest and sincere look on this simple farmer’s face, he nodded truthfully, “I swear, I really haven’t done anything to betray Li Minchun.”
Seeing Jian Yiqing so earnest, Xiao Ru’s dad could only nod in response, saying, “I believe you. But I must also tell you, Li Minchun is a good woman, and you must never let her down.”
Jian Yiqing nodded earnestly.
The conversation between men often resolves with just a few words. That’s the charm they possess.
Once everyone had left, Jian Yiqing went over to comfort Li Minchun, saying, “Wife, you were amazing today, did you know? I never expected you to be so formidable. You can take on top-tier CEOs and manage to handle these little shrews. I’m truly in awe of you.”
Although Jian Yiqing’s words were somewhat exaggerated, he was speaking the truth. Indeed, Li Minchun’s actions were appropriate today. If it had been someone else, they might have already ended up in a brawl with Juanzi. The thought of two women pulling each other’s hair and rolling on the ground was enough to make anyone’s head ache.
“If you understood my efforts, you wouldn’t provoke these people on purpose to aggravate me.”
As she spoke, Li Minchun pretended to be angry while caressing her belly.
Watching his son grow day by day, Jian Yiqing naturally felt very happy.
Initially, they were worried that Madam Li would find out before the child was born, but now it seemed they had turned misfortune into a blessing.
If it weren’t for this assassination attempt, they never would have found this paradise. Indeed, it seemed like divine intervention.
“Don’t worry, wife. Things like this will absolutely never happen again,” Jian Yiqing promised confidently.
“I just feel that they won’t let this go so easily. We’ve already disgraced them today, and who knows what might happen in the future. Maybe we should eliminate the problem at its root?” Li Minchun’s eyes gleamed with determination.
Jian Yiqing’s face broke into a mischievous smile. “Looks like we need to take the initiative. If they don’t do, that’s fine. But if they do, they can’t blame us.”
To avoid any unnecessary trouble in the future, they needed to start planning their actions.
As expected, things went pretty much as Li Minchun and Jian Yiqing had imagined. Once home, Xiu’er faced a round of scolding and beating after the debacle was exposed.
Juanzi, seething with anger, slapped her hard across the face. “You fool! You can’t even get a man. I don’t know why we’ve been supporting you all these years.”
Her elder brother, Zhang Xiang, who used to speak up for her, was now silent. To be honest, he felt humiliated by the ridicule earlier and wished he could disappear into a hole.
This younger sister really made him lose face.
“Now things have turned out like this. How will she ever find someone to marry? Does she plan to freeload off me forever?” Juanzi was increasingly frustrated; if it weren’t illegal, she might have kicked the useless girl to death.
“If you really can’t stand me, I’ll just go and die now, to make sure I don’t trouble you anymore,” Xiu’er, being a strong-willed woman, declared angrily and ran out.
“What are you standing there for? Go after her!” Juanzi stomped her foot in frustration and yelled loudly.
Zhang Xiang, snapping out of his stupor, quickly chased after her.
Xiu’er was so distraught that she wanted to jump into the sea, but her brother managed to stop her just in time.
As they passed by Li Minchun’s home, they overheard a quarrel.
Listening closely, they realized it was Li Minchun and Jian Yiqing arguing. It was surprising, given how well they had masked their feelings during the day, looking as if they didn’t care at all, yet here they were, arguing at night.
They even saw Li Minchun angrily slam the door and head toward Xiao Ru’s house.
And Jian Yiqing didn’t even chase after her.
In the dim light, they could vaguely see his shadow inside the house, shouting, “Go ahead and leave, and don’t ever come back!”
“Great, this means my sister might have another chance!” Zhang Xiang thought to himself as he instructed his sister to stay put and keep an eye on things. He then quickly ran back home.
“Why are you back here alone? Where’s Xiu’er?” Juanzi asked urgently when she saw him return by himself.
“It’s fine. I’ve discovered a great opportunity…”
Zhang Xiang then shared his plan with Juanzi.
“Really? I don’t think Jian Yiqing and Li Minchun are easy to deal with,” Juanzi replied, more cautious than her husband. After all, they had been thoroughly outmaneuvered by Li Minchun and Jian Yiqing earlier.
They certainly didn’t want to experience another such embarrassing disaster.
“Don’t worry,” Zhang Xiang said as he tucked a packet of powdered substance into his pocket. After a brief moment of thought, he lit a lamp and went to find his sister again.
“How’s it going now?” he asked.
Xiu’er, unsure of his intentions but still honest, replied, “Li Minchun hasn’t come back yet. Jian Yiqing is inside, drinking alone.”
“It’s a perfect opportunity…”
With that, Zhang Xiang gave her a few more instructions and nudged his sister, “Go on.”
Following her brother’s guidance, Xiu’er felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety, as she had never done anything like this before.
“Don’t worry, everything you need is right here.” Zhang Xiang reassured her, gently patting the lamp. “For your happiness, seize the moment. But remember to be quick, or it’ll be trouble if Li Minchun comes back.”
Thinking of Li Minchun’s arrogant face, Xiu’er’s heart hardened, and she resolutely headed towards the room. Meanwhile, Zhang Xiang sprinted towards the patriarch’s house through the woods.
The night had already fallen.
Perhaps due to the day’s events, the residents of Zhenmu Island stayed up later than usual.
Tonight was bound to be a sleepless one.
As Xiu’er got closer to the house, she noticed that the lights, which had been on, were suddenly turned off. After a brief pause, a shy smile crept across her face. “This is actually better. Doing this sort of thing with the lights on feels a bit awkward.”
Using the lamp in her hand, she cautiously made her way into the room.
In the dim light, she could vaguely see a man lying on his back on the bed.
Feeling a bit nervous, Xiu’er set the lamp on the table and clumsily started to unbutton his shirt, one button at a time.
As she continued, the man’s breathing grew heavier and heavier. Finally, unable to restrain his desire any longer, he flipped over and pinned Xiu’er beneath him.
Instantly, the room was filled with a palpable sense of passion.
