Chapter 316: Waves Rising Everywhere

Chapter 316: Waves Rising Everywhere

Over the years, Daxisipo still had a head full of white hair, looking as spirited and vigorous as ever.

Daxisipo didn't like having outsiders visit, so Xingxing didn't bring a maid. She carried a bundle of things she bought for Daxisipo and huffed and puffed her way up two mountains.

Before reaching Daxisipo's remote courtyard, Xingxing saw Daxisipo watering the herbs she had planted in the yard.

"Grandma Daxisipo, I've come to see you!"

Daxisipo glanced over expressionlessly, a slight smile playing at the corner of her mouth.

"You're back?"

Daxisipo's voice was calm.

"Yes," Xingxing said, pushing open the courtyard gate with ease, carrying the bundle into the yard. "Grandma Daxisipo, I bought some things for you from the city. See if you can use them."

Daxisipo hummed, her face showing little emotion, but she still followed Xingxing into the house.

Xingxing placed the bundle on the table, and Daxisipo came over to look through it.

They were all things she usually liked, showing that Xingxing had kept her preferences in mind.

Xingxing could tell Daxisipo was probably quite pleased.

She pursed her lips, stepped forward to take Daxisipo's arm, and affectionately called out, "Grandma Daxisipo."

Daxisipo's mouth curved slightly again, but she still kept a stern face. "Being coquettish again, have you caused any trouble?"

Xingxing tugged at Daxisipo's arm. "Grandma Daxisipo, our family is moving to the city. I know you only like living in the mountains, so I bought a mountain near the city for you, planted with herbs. Would you come to the city with me?"

"Grandma Daxisipo, I've always said I would take care of you in your old age. Just come with me, please."

Xingxing's voice was sweet and pleading, especially when she was being coquettish. Her sweet voice carried a mix of hope, pleading, and anticipation, which few could resist.

Daxisipo couldn't resist. "Alright, alright, stop tugging at me. You little coquette, I'll go with you."

Daxisipo tried to keep a stern face.

Xingxing couldn't contain her excitement. She smiled with her eyes curved, her delicate face full of genuine joy, and Daxisipo couldn't help but curve her eyes as well.

Such a little one, sincere and earnest, softly saying she would take care of her in her old age—who could resist?

...

Gui Ge'er rode his horse all day until evening, finally catching up with Bai Ge'er and Liu Ge'er at a post station along the official road.

The two were taken aback to see Gui Ge'er. "Fourth Brother? What brings you here?"

Gui Ge'er wiped his sweat and immediately shared the information he had. "...I have some friends in the city who heard some rumors. It's said that Tan Jingqian, the son of the prefect, held a poetry meeting a couple of days ago. At the meeting, he hinted that he had been drugged, and his words pointed directly at Third Brother."

Bai Ge'er and Liu Ge'er exchanged knowing glances and nodded. "That's something Tan Jingqian would do."

But Gui Ge'er wasn't finished. He took a breath and added, "There's one more thing... On the day you left the city, a scholar died."

Bai Ge'er and Liu Ge'er turned to look at Gui Ge'er.

Gui Ge'er slowly said, "That scholar was named Wu Yong."

...

Xingxing had no objections. Ah Wu went back and told Grandfather Liu about the Yujia family's plan to relocate. She spoke as if it were the most obvious thing: "Grandfather, what size house do you prefer? I think a three-section house should be enough for our family. Before Bai Ge'er and Liu Ge'er left, I told them to find a property near the Yujia family."

Grandfather Liu bristled and glared: "I haven't agreed yet!"

Ah Wu set Xu Ge'er in front of Grandfather Liu. The little toddler, adorable and clingy, called out "Great-grandfather" and snuggled into Grandfather Liu's arms.

Grandfather Liu's face lit up with joy, and he forgot everything else. Even when Xu Ge'er tugged at his beard, he only feigned resistance with a smile, not minding at all.

Ah Wu pouted and chuckled from the sidelines: "With you like this, do you really think you can refuse to move with us?"

Grandfather Liu ignored Ah Wu and continued playing with Xu Ge'er.

...

Before the Yujia family could relocate, another incident happened.

A new group arrived at the back mountain, also from the Lin Yang Marquis's estate, but they seemed completely different from the previous steward and the captain of the guards.

The newcomers were haughty and ridiculed the previous steward, telling him to take his people and return to the estate.

The previous steward was furious but powerless. Before leaving, he went to the village head of Nantuo Village and said gloomily: "...I know you don't care much for us either. But before I leave, since we've gotten along fairly well these past few days, I'll give you a heads-up... Those people are the second master's trusted aides. They're not as accommodating as we are."

The village head, a mountain native, couldn't fathom the brutality of noble family infighting.

Though he listened to the steward, he didn't take it too seriously.

What could the Lin Yang Marquis's estate do, even if they were troublesome? They were building tombs on the back mountain, while the villagers of Nantuo Village lived at the mountain's base. The two had no connection.

However, the village head underestimated the situation.

The new group from the Lin Yang Marquis's estate blocked the mountain road the very next day, forbidding the villagers of Nantuo Village from passing through, claiming it would interfere with their tomb-building process.

This infuriated the villagers of Nantuo Village!

How could they do this?!

The village head tried to reason with them, arguing that the villagers were merely passing through and couldn't interfere with their tomb-building.

—Instead, they beat him and threw him out.

This completely enraged the villagers of Nantuo Village!

Nearly the entire village turned out, armed with shovels and hoes, and marched angrily to confront the new group from the Lin Yang Marquis's estate.

They demanded an explanation!

The newcomers from the Lin Yang Marquis's estate were clearly not as approachable as the previous group. Not only did they refuse to give an explanation, but they also mocked the villagers of Nantuo Village for being backward—they were a noble family, and if these peasants dared to attack them, they would all end up in jail!

If it weren't for the county magistrate getting wind of the situation in advance and sending Constable Xie with a dozen constables to control the scene, a large-scale brawl would have broken out!

The villagers of Nantuo Village had to give some face to the county magistrate.

The new steward from the Lin Yang Marquis's estate was also named Bai, called Bai Rong.

Bai Rong was extremely arrogant, claiming that they had the deeds to the two mountains, meaning the mountains were the private property of the Marquis's estate, and it was perfectly reasonable to forbid the villagers from passing through.

Constable Xie was in a difficult position: "...Legally speaking, that's indeed the case."

The villagers of Nantuo Village were in an uproar.

Zhou Wuniang, who had some grievances with the Yujia family over her son's schooling, muttered loudly: "...I heard that the deeds to these two mountains were originally in the hands of that girl Yu Xingxing, and she sold them to the Lin Yang Marquis's estate."

Wei Pozi immediately lashed out: "What are you implying, you heartless shrew! Your family agreed to move the graves so quickly, and if Xingxing hadn't exchanged the deeds with them, would you have gotten the money for moving the graves?! Now you're blaming Xingxing for this?!"