Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 784

The gate to the Miao family's courtyard was tightly closed. Although it wasn't locked, it meant that no one was home.

This isn't the courtyard of a wealthy family; locking it won't help. They can just climb over the fence. It's more for keeping honest people out than for scoundrels.

A middle-aged woman dressed in flamboyant attire was craning her neck to peer inside. Her face was covered in thick makeup, and the fragrance was somewhat pungent when you got close. Moreover, her makeup was so heavy that it was almost frightening if you saw her at night.

God knows how she could stand it in this sweltering heat; she kept fanning herself with a round fan, but she couldn't stop the sweat from pouring down her forehead.

Hearing footsteps behind her, she subconsciously turned around and saw Xiao Miao's figure. Immediately, she stopped feeling hot and put on an exaggerated smile, her face beaming like a chrysanthemum. She wiggled her large, round bottom and giggled as she stepped forward, saying, "Xiao Miao, you're finally back! I've been waiting for you for ages!"

As she spoke, she seemed to remember something, a hint of fear flashed in her eyes, and she looked behind Xiao Miao. When she found that she was alone, she relaxed a little.

It's good that that idiot isn't around. Those dead fish eyes are terrifying. If you piss him off, he'll really hit you. He's incredibly strong, and there's no reasoning with him.

The woman didn't pay any attention to Chen Xuan and the others, since they were quite a distance apart. Their clothing was not in the same league as Xiao Miao's, so she didn't even consider the possibility that they knew each other. She simply assumed that they were young masters and ladies from wealthy families passing by on an outing.

Walking briskly to the door, Xiao Miao looked indignant and didn't give the other person a friendly look at all. With her hands on her hips, she pointed at the other person and scolded her in a rather shrewish manner: "Aunt Ma, do you have nothing better to do all day? I've told you so many times that I'm not interested in coming to my house. Are you deaf? Why don't you do something else with that time? Why do you have to target me?"

The middle-aged woman, Aunt Ma, completely ignored Xiao Miao's sarcastic remarks. Her expression remained unchanged; she probably had developed a thick skin from too much experience. She stepped forward with a smile and said, "Xiao Miao, don't say that. I'm only doing this for your own good..."

Everyone has a temper, and Aunt Ma is no exception. As she spoke, she gritted her teeth inwardly, thinking to herself that if the person who asked her to be a matchmaker hadn't offered so much, she could have put up with this.

Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Miao interrupted her coldly, "I don't want to hear your nonsense. You're not welcome in my home. Go away and don't come back again. This is the last time I'm warning you. If you dare to come again, I'll have Fu Gui break your legs. Don't think I'm bluffing. Fu Gui isn't very bright. He'd deserve to be beaten to death, and the authorities wouldn't care!"

Chen Xuan and the others were still not far away. Xiao Miao didn't have time to waste words with her. In the past, she was so annoyed that she would avoid them. Today, she was even blocked at the door when Chen Xuan and the others arrived. Xiao Miao was so angry that she wanted to beat this bitch to death.

However, Aunt Ma remained unmoved by Xiao Miao's threatening warning, smiling brightly as she said, "Xiao Miao, I understand why you looked down on that family last time; in fact, I didn't like them either. But this time is different..."

As she spoke, she stepped forward to take Xiao Miao's hand, as if she intended to have a detailed discussion.

Taking a step back to avoid the attack, Xiao Miao glanced around, pulled a thick bamboo stick from the fence of her yard, pointed it at the other person's nose, and angrily said, "You won't listen to reason! I'm asking you, are you going to get out of here or not? If you don't get out, believe me, I'll smash your face to pieces with this stick!"

Xiao Miao was truly angry and decisively broke off all pretense of civility. Normally, given her gentle nature, even if she disliked someone, she wouldn't resort to harsh words or physical violence, since she still had to live here. But this time was different. She was extremely anxious after being caught by Chen Xuan and the others, wondering what Brother Chen would think.

When Xiao Miao pointed a stick at her, Aunt Ma was startled, especially by those eyes that seemed to want to devour her. She subconsciously took two steps back, thinking to herself that this little girl was usually gentle and easy to talk to, and would hold back her anger even when she was angry. Why was she so angry today?

Looking around again, I was relieved that the big idiot wasn't there, otherwise I would have really gotten beaten up. As for those people over there who looked like they were from important backgrounds, they were probably just there to watch the show. That's fine, at least someone is watching, and Xiao Miao is more timid and easier to talk to.

Hmph, as long as I'm shameless, little brat, let's see how I handle you. If I didn't have this shamelessness, how could I possibly earn a living?

With a flicker of thought, Aunt Ma still wore a smile and said with a hint of grievance, "Xiao Miao, how could you do this? I'm really doing this for your own good. To be honest, this time it was Zhu Bancheng who asked me to act as matchmaker. His family is rolling in money; they supply half of the city's pork. It's no exaggeration to say they have mountains of gold and seas of silver. Moreover, they have a group of fierce-looking pig butchers under their command. As long as you marry into that family, you'll be a rich lady, enjoying endless blessings. No one will dare to bully you. With those pig butchers around, even the major gangs will have to give you some face. Isn't that better than you working yourself to the bone every day?"

She spoke at length, completely ignoring Xiao Miao's increasingly dark expression. She didn't care that she saw it, as she was willing to endure any hardship as long as she could facilitate the marriage. Zhu Bancheng had promised her a reward of two thousand taels of silver after the marriage was completed!

Aunt Ma couldn't understand this. She was just a little girl. Why did that fat pig have to make such a fuss? The thank-you gift was already two thousand taels, not to mention the betrothal gifts. With that money, how many young and beautiful girls couldn't he buy in a brothel?

Xiao Miao ignored her babbling at all, gritted her teeth, and swung the stick at the other woman, hitting her on the buttocks with a loud thud. The other woman immediately let out a pig-like scream, staggered back, and pointed at Xiao Miao incredulously, saying, "Xiao Miao, you're serious! You actually dared to hit me!"

She was genuinely shocked. How could such a gentle little seedling hit someone? And it hurt so much! She couldn't even dodge it. How strange!

"Get out of here, or I'll beat you to death!" Xiao Miao glared fiercely, raising her stick as if to strike.

Despite her delicate appearance, Xiao Miao is a carpenter with incredibly strong hands. She has also been practicing the martial arts Chen Xuan taught her. Although she hasn't achieved much, she is still far superior to ordinary people and has even developed internal strength. As a result, she hasn't developed exaggerated muscles or calluses after many years of carpentry work.

She didn't use much force with that stick just now, and it wasn't something Aunt Ma could have easily dodged. Otherwise, one blow could have broken Aunt Ma's bones or even killed her.

Even a gentle and kind girl like Xiao Miao resorted to violence; you can imagine how angry she must have been.

Aunt Ma was truly terrified. She was shameless and afraid of encountering someone even more unreasonable. Trembling with anger and pain, she pointed at Xiao Miao and said fiercely but weakly, "Xiao Miao, I have been thinking about your happiness with all my heart, and you treat me like this. You will regret it!"

She gave Xiao Miao a deep look, then covered her backside and slunk away, thinking to herself, "You little brat, just you wait, this isn't over yet."

Seeing her leave, Xiao Miao breathed a sigh of relief. Turning back to look at Chen Xuan and the others, she blushed and became flustered. Quietly dropping the stick in her hand, she said awkwardly, "Brother Chen, I'm sorry, you must have seen this."

She wished she could disappear into the ground. Not only had Brother Chen and the others caught her with a matchmaker, but they'd also witnessed her being so shrewish. What would they think of her? Just then, the little girl, who had been calmed down by Chen Xuan, rushed over, grabbed Xiao Miao's hand, and said in unison, "Sister Xiao Miao, what do you think? That kind of person deserves to be treated like that. Your continued tolerance will only make her more arrogant. That kind of attitude... I almost wanted to come over and teach her a lesson just now!"

"Thank you for your kindness, Roujia. She's just a bit annoying like a leech, no need to get angry," Xiao Miao said with a shy smile, comforting the little girl instead.

The little girl was still indignant, saying, "If you ask me, Sister Miao, you should have done this a long time ago. If you had hit her earlier, she wouldn't have come back. You're just too gentle, making people think you're easy to bully."

"No, it's not Roujia. Fugui is usually with me, and no one dares to bother her. I'm too lazy to pay attention to her either. This time, she took advantage of the situation," Xiaomiao quickly explained.

At this moment, Chen Xuan and the others arrived. Considering Xiao Miao's feelings, they casually looked around the courtyard and praised her, "It's only been a few months since I last visited, and Xiao Miao has managed the house even better than before. She's such a diligent girl."

Xiao Miao glanced at Chen Xuan cautiously, feeling inexplicably uneasy. She quickly pushed open the door and said, "No, it's nothing. I just tidy up in my spare time. Brother Chen, Sister Qian Ning, please come in."

Xiao Miao has now grown up, blossoming into a beautiful and graceful young woman. She is also very hardworking and has a great skill. In the local parlance, she is a rare find, so it is only natural that she is being coveted by others now that she has reached marriageable age.

This time, it just so happened that someone came to her door to propose marriage. If she hadn't met him, who knows how many people would have come to propose? You can tell by looking at the solid mud in front of her house. It's highly likely that he's not far from breaking down her doorstep.

Regardless of gender, anyone outstanding will have no shortage of marriage proposals. Among ordinary people, Xiao Miao is already considered exceptionally outstanding. Moreover, given her status as an ordinary person, few would feel unworthy of her. If someone from the lower class could marry her, they would be blessed for life. Even if she had Fu Gui as a burden, they probably wouldn't care much. It's just having another idle person to support, or even free labor. Sometimes, he can even act as a bodyguard or thug. It doesn't matter. If used well, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

Chen Xuan had practically watched Xiao Miao grow up, and treated her like family, just like the little girl. As long as she wasn't bullied, Chen Xuan wouldn't interfere in her private life. Just like with Aunt Ma before, Xiao Miao could handle it herself, so he let nature take its course.

Chen Xuan wouldn't be so angry as to try to do something to Xiao Miao over such a normal, mundane matter. Xiao Miao has her own life and can't be by his side all the time. She also needs to grow and learn to deal with various situations.

The premise is that you shouldn't think that Xiao Miao is easy to bully. If you can't do it openly, then do it secretly. Chen Xuan is not just for show.

Before Xiao Miao graduated from Xiao Gao Academy and left Mo City, Chen Xuan had already made arrangements with all sorts of people, from the government to all walks of life in the city. Anyone with a bit of influence had their name on Xiao Miao's contact list. If anyone tried to bully or use underhanded tactics against her, they would die without even knowing how.

The siblings, Xiao Miao and her brother, were unaware that someone was secretly watching them every moment. For example, their neighbor to the left was actually someone sent by the Little Knife Society, one of the three major gangs in Mo City. Otherwise, how could the two of them, just kids, live a peaceful life in this place where ordinary people gather, and even have a better life? They would have been bullied by countless people for various reasons long ago.

The trivialities of normal life should be left to nature. If someone with ill intentions tries to do something underhanded to the Xiao Miao siblings, someone will secretly take care of it for them as soon as it starts. However, there is no need for them to know about such things. It is enough for them to live a peaceful and normal life.

Caring for and protecting the Miao siblings does not mean confining them to a 'Truman Show'.

The last time the siblings traveled all the way to Yang County was purely accidental; Chen Xuan hadn't expected it. It was also due to his lack of foresight. Otherwise, someone would have notified him in advance, and such accidents wouldn't have happened again.

As Chen Xuan entered Xiao Miao's courtyard, amidst their laughter and conversation, he glanced into the distance. He knew that Aunt Ma from Pig Half-City wouldn't be causing Xiao Miao any more trouble. Someone had already warned her and taught her a lesson. If she still hadn't given up and wanted to cause trouble, then she shouldn't be a human being.

This was a trivial matter, so Chen Xuan didn't need to do it himself. The astute members of the Little Knife Society had already secretly taken care of it.

Before he left, he personally went to Mo City to have friendly exchanges with all sorts of people from different walks of life. It seems he did a good job; he didn't disrupt Xiao Miao and the others' normal lives, nor did he let them get any real bullying...

"Brother Chen, please have a seat. I'll go make you some tea."

After entering the house, Xiao Miao temporarily suppressed her emotions and hurriedly moved stools to invite Chen Xuan and the others to sit down. She then rushed to the kitchen to start a fire and boil water. Everyone could see that she was very happy, as if she had been injected with boundless energy.

The little girl skipped and hopped after him, saying, "Sister Miao, let me help you!"

"Oh, Roujia, you're a guest, how can I let you do it? I can manage by myself, it'll be done quickly."

"It's alright, I do this all the time. We're not strangers, it's my first time at your place, I can't just sit around doing nothing..."

Looking around the clean, tidy, and cozy house, the little princess looked at Chen Xuan and whispered, "Xiao Miao is such a diligent, sensible, and hardworking girl. No wonder she has no shortage of suitors. Whoever marries her will be very lucky."

“That’s right. Xiao Miao has suffered a lot since she was a child. That’s why she’s working hard to live a good life. Don’t be fooled by her gentle and weak appearance. She is actually strong inside, like the grass by the roadside. She can’t be crushed by wind and rain. She may be inconspicuous, but she is incredibly resilient. No matter how hard or tiring it is, she will never give up hope for life.” Chen Xuan nodded in deep agreement.

The little princess secretly rolled her eyes at Chen Xuan, thinking to herself, "Husband, do you really not understand what I mean?" As someone with experience, her eyes were sharp, so she lowered her voice again and bluntly said, "Husband, have you noticed that Xiao Miao actually has different feelings for you? She probably realized it a long time ago, but she doesn't dare to express it, and she may never express it. I'm not wrong about that."

With a twitch at the corner of his mouth, Chen Xuan said speechlessly, his face full of black lines, "Wife, here you go again. All you ever think about are these trivial things."

"Alright, I won't say anything more. Husband, just pretend you don't understand. Xiao Miao is a good girl, so sensible it breaks my heart. No matter what, don't let her get hurt in the future. That would be too cruel for a girl. She met you when she was young, I don't know if it was lucky or unlucky..." (End of this chapter)