Chapter 41: An Unexpected Calamity

Chapter 41: An Unexpected Calamity

Lu Hanchuan only stayed at home for a short while before leaving.

Before he left, he said, "This place is nice, but you still need to be careful about safety. If you need anything, let me know. I’ve been staying at the county guesthouse recently."

Ye Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but ask, "You’re helping me so much—what’s in it for you?"

Lu Hanchuan didn’t answer directly, instead saying meaningfully, "Just focus on your college exams."

Ye Xiaoxiao was left speechless.

After Lu Hanchuan left, Ye Xiaoxiao discussed with Ye Changsheng.

"I’ll be spending the holiday learning at the pharmacy with my master, so I won’t be coming back home."

Ye Changsheng said, "There’s nothing for you to do at home. Just concentrate on your studies."

Ye Changyuan added, "It’s just as well you’re not coming back. Did you know? Zhang Erni said she’s going to get engaged to Li Deshu during this holiday, and they’re planning to hold a banquet in the village."

In the past, the village didn’t even hold big banquets for weddings, let alone engagements. Only the village chief’s family had the means to do so, making it a big deal in the village.

Originally, Ye Xiaoxiao wasn’t planning to go back because she thought Zhang Erni’s family might take some action during this holiday.

She hadn’t expected it to be an engagement.

No wonder Li Deshu was so desperate to pull off something today.

He must be desperate.

"Fourth Brother, Yuan Brother, keep your distance from Li Deshu when you go back."

Ye Changyuan said, "Don’t worry, even if he gets married, we won’t be there."

Ye Changsheng added, "Then we’ll head back to Grandpa’s first thing tomorrow."

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded.

...

After that, Ye Xiaoxiao returned to Grandpa Miao’s house and went to the pharmacy to study.

Ye Changsheng and Ye Changyuan went back to Baichuan Village.

Wang Meili was making a big deal about her daughter’s engagement in the village, solidifying the marriage between Zhang Erni and Li Deshu.

"Your family better show up and support us when the time comes," she said.

Wang Meili came to the Ye family a day early.

The Ye family was a prominent household in Baichuan Village, and many of the village’s affairs relied on their help, given their influence and resources.

Besides, she was doing this on purpose. Didn’t everyone say that Li Deshu had his eyes on Ye Xiaoxiao? She wanted the Ye family to know that they shouldn’t meddle with someone else’s son-in-law.

Miao Cuifang said, "The forest farm hasn’t opened for the season yet. I thought the engagement between your family and the Li family wouldn’t happen so soon."

Wang Meili replied, "It’s the perfect time to take care of this, while things are slow. Besides, this is just the engagement. Our Erni still wants to go to college, so she can’t get married too early."

Miao Cuifang thought to herself, keeping her thoughts to herself, but her smile hinted at her skepticism.

Given Zhang Erni's academic performance, getting into university is out of the question, and even getting into a vocational college would be tough.

But since they invited her, she couldn't turn them down with a sour face.

Naturally, she agreed with a smile to show up and support.

As it happened, Ye Changsheng had also come back, and she talked it over with the family about heading to Wang Meili's place for the feast the next day.

Ye Changsheng said, "I’m not going. I’ll stay home and read."

Miao Cuifang said, "You should get out more, don’t just hole up at home. The holiday’s meant for you to unwind."

Ye Changqing chimed in, "Yeah, you and Zhang Erni are classmates, after all."

Zhang Xue said, "I think our fourth son’s about ready to get married."

Ye Changqing shook his head, "Forget the fourth son—our second son doesn’t even have a wife yet."

Zhang Xue said, "Maybe the second son’s already got his eye on someone in the army."

Miao Cuifang said, "That’d be a relief—we wouldn’t have to fuss over him."

After hashing out the second son’s situation, they went back to trying to convince Ye Changsheng to go out.

Seeing how much they wanted him to go, Ye Changsheng finally gave in, "Fine, I’ll just take a quick look."

Miao Cuifang said, "That’s more like it. When you go back, take the summer clothes we made for Xiao Xiao. It’s getting hot—bring back the winter clothes to wash and air out."

So the next day, Ye Changsheng dragged himself over to Zhang Erni’s place.

The courtyard was packed with seven or eight tables.

Li Deshu and Zhang Erni were both dressed to the nines.

It looked almost as fancy as a wedding.

Ye Changsheng found a quiet corner to sit in, figuring he’d slip out after a bit.

But Li Deshu came over with a glass of wine to make a toast.

Li Deshu grinned, "Changsheng, do me a solid."

Ye Changsheng wasn’t in the mood to do him any favors.

But Li Deshu stood there, not wanting to hold up the meal, so Ye Changsheng had no choice but to raise his glass.

After downing the glass, Li Deshu pulled Ye Changsheng aside.

"Changsheng, I’ve got something to say to you in private."

Ye Changsheng was seething inside but kept his cool, "What is it?"

"Let’s step inside to talk."

Li Deshu ushered him into the house.

Ye Changsheng didn’t feel like going in.

Li Deshu said firmly, "It’s about Ye Xiaoxiao. Don’t you want to know?"

Ye Changsheng looked up and, upon hearing it was about Ye Xiaoxiao, finally agreed to enter the house.

"Now you’re ready to talk, aren’t you?"

Li Deshu, holding a wine bottle he had grabbed from behind the door, smiled smugly, "Sorry, Brother Ye, I had no choice. To get Ye Xiaoxiao to write a letter of forgiveness, I had to go all out!"

Ye Changsheng frowned, confused by Li Deshu’s actions.

Li Deshu then swung the wine bottle at his own head.

At the same time, he grabbed Ye Changsheng to prevent him from leaving.

Ye Changsheng suspected that the man was crazy.

And seriously crazy at that.

Hearing the commotion inside, people from outside rushed in to see what was going on. Li Deshu immediately smashed the wine bottle.

Clutching his bleeding head, he yelled, "He hit me!"

"Who dares hit my son? Call the cops! Old Li, call the cops!"

Ye Changsheng was inexplicably taken to the Songlin Town police station.

The Li family wouldn’t budge.

If this dragged on, Ye Changsheng’s studies would suffer, and his academic record would be ruined.

Ye Changsheng dreamed of attending a military academy, and a blemish on his record would mean the end of his dream.

At first, Miao Cuifang and Ye Jianguo didn’t want to tell Ye Xiaoxiao about this, but with Ye Changsheng detained at the Songlin Town police station, they needed to ask Miao Fengshan to pull some strings for them.

Besides, with school starting soon and Ye Changsheng still not back, Ye Xiaoxiao would find out eventually.

So the family gathered in town to figure out a solution.

"The Li family has accused Fourth Brother of hitting Li Deshu!"

Ye Xiaoxiao stood up.

She instantly understood what Li Deshu was trying to pull.

Ye Changyuan: "Don’t get all worked up. I came to tell you secretly. Right now, my second uncle, second aunt, and eldest brother are all at Grandpa Miao’s house, but they won’t be able to keep it from you when you go back."

Ye Xiaoxiao took a deep breath, "Did Fourth Brother really hit someone?"

Ye Changyuan said excitedly, "Of course not! Brother Sheng’s so skinny, he couldn’t possibly take on that jerk Li Deshu.

Besides, Brother Sheng said he didn’t hit anyone—Li Deshu’s framing him.

I believe Brother Sheng."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "I also believe Fourth Brother didn’t hit anyone."

Ye Xiaoxiao considered agreeing to Li Deshu’s demands but couldn’t stomach the injustice.

Li Deshu was just trying to force her to come to him.

"Brother Yuan, do me a favor. Head to the county guesthouse and find someone for me."

Ye Changyuan thumped his chest and said, "Sure, who do you want me to find?"

Since he wasn't much help at home, running errands gave him something useful to do.

...

Miao Cuifang and Ye Jianguo were still trying to figure out a way to negotiate with the Li family.

The police department said that the Li family insisted on taking the legal route, so they couldn't release him.

Although the matter wasn't serious, it would definitely be recorded in his file.

Miao Fengshan had a student working at the police department, but even that connection didn't help in this situation.

However, the Li family was unusually adamant this time, and they weren't even open to discussion.