Geng Zhishan had a shrewd look in his eyes which was hidden in a crafty manner. He deliberately fell to the ground and got wet in the rain. Exposed to the drizzle, he looked pitiable. "Darling, why did you push me?"
Xie Mengxuan frowned and stared at him with a puzzled look in her eyes. Was it a mere coincidence that Geng Zhishan just threw the fish directly into the tank?
She turned her head and cleared her throat. "Well, get up! Go and boil the water to take a warm bath."
"Okay." Geng Zhishan stood up and went to the kitchen. When he closed the door, the simple look on his face disappeared. He could do nothing but shake his head. This girl was such an acute observer that she noticed even when he tried his best to conceal his flaw. However, it was also delightful for him to discover her disappointment when she had spotted his flaw but failed to find the truth.
With a smile, Geng Zhishan fetched the water and boiled a large pot. After cleaning himself, he went close to the kitchen window and knocked. Soon, a stone wrapped in a piece of paper was thrown into the house. Geng Zhishan opened the note and read it carefully with his eyebrows slightly furrowed. Who was that man? Why did he appear in the sight of Xie Mengxuan? And, why did the back of that man look like his?
These questions lingered in his mind, but without seeing that man in person, Geng Zhishan failed to reach a conclusion. He had no choice but to give an order to remain alert to the people around and shelter her from danger. As soon as the rain stopped, he would cut off her road to Imperial Capital so as to retain her here.
When it became sunny, someone else began to plan something that was beyond his expectations before he could put his thought into practice.
It turned out that the heavy rain which had lasted five days didn"t make all the guys less enthusiastic about money. From time to time, some people went to Cui family to ask about the price of the jewelry. Aunt Cui told them that the jewelry was worth one hundred taels, and each family had a share of the money. Nevertheless, there were two families who got the smallest share somehow. Others received four taels while the two brothers got three taels. They were the ones most unwilling to suffer a loss in the village. It was natural for them to lose their temper and go to Cui family to ask for a reason.
It was unknown how Aunt Cui persuaded them. When they came out, despite the anger on their faces, they didn"t take it out on the Cui family.
Having heard this, Xie Mengxuan thought that Aunt Cui was indeed smart.
With a smirk on his face, Geng Zhishan gave no response, but he was aware that Aunt Cui was some with such not good intentions. Compared to the others who knew nothing, he understood that her unconditional support for her younger brother accounted for a part of the village chief"s deficit.
They paid no attention to this matter. However, three days later, on an evening when the moon was bright and the stars scarce, two strong men sneaked into their yard.
As soon as they came in, Geng Zhishan had noticed them. With his eyes closed, he was lying with his back towards them and listened to their sounds in silence. He wanted to find out what they were going to do.
In light sleep, Xie Mengxuan was disturbed by the sound these two made when they opened the door, but she was not scared. She was also lying silently and waiting for their next action.
After entering the room and approaching the bedside, they looked at the one in the bed and the other on the ground and then whispered to each other.
"Big brother, what valuable things does this young girl still have with her?"
"It seems that only her appearance is of some value. Have we been cheated?"
"No. Have you seen the ring she is wearing? The silver bracelet on her wrist also looks good. Although it isn"t that valuable, we might as well be allowed to become kind of comfortably off."
"Okay. Big brother, are you going to take it?"
"Why me?"
"Each of us takes one piece of jewelry?"
Finally, these two made a deal and stepped forward, in turn, and took away the jewelry from Xie Mengxuan, whose movements were by no means light or cautious enough. They then grinned with a satisfied look on their faces and got ready to leave.
At this time, in the darkness, Xie Mengxuan said with a lazy voice as if she had just woken up. "Are you two going to leave without even telling me your names after s.n.a.t.c.hing my jewelry?"
In the dark room, Xie Mengxuan didn"t change her posture. With a gentle, and soft smile, her voice sounded pleasing to ears.
But such a pretty voice made the two men stop in their tracks with stiff bodies. Looking at each other, their expressions changed.
"How come she"s awake!?"
"Stop dawdling! Just run!"
After exchanging a look, these two men darted away at the same time.
Xie Mengxuan sat up and looked at the doorway as her eyes slightly darkened. After a while, she looked at Geng Zhishan on the ground. With such a big noise, how could he still be in a deep sleep!
She squinted her eyes while Geng Zhishan blinked in the darkness and pretended to be just woken up. He stretched out his arms and said, "Darling, what"s wrong? Why are you still awake so late in the night?"
"Have you heard anything?"
"No."
Geng Zhishan wore an innocent look while Xie Mengxuan frowned. She had been curious about how this silly man could live a happy life here. It turned out that it was his silliness that saved his life.
Xie Mengxuan curled her lips and had no faith in what he said. As this man behaved in a disguised manner, his bright and clear eyes failed to tell a lie.
She didn"t shift her eyes until Geng Zhishan couldn"t help touching his nose out of awkwardness. She said with a smile, "Guard the door. I don"t want another one to come in and steal my things."
With his eyelids low, he hesitated for a while and said, "Darling, what should we do since your jewelry…was stolen?"
Xie Mengxuan sneered. Did he give up pretending to know nothing? "That"s okay. I"ll get back those things sooner or later. Who are those people? Do you know them?"
"Yes. They are brothers called Zhao Long and Zhao Hu. They used to be soldiers, —rebellious soldiers. The villagers are all unwilling to provoke them." Geng Zhishan told her honestly.
Xie Mengxuan nodded, stopped asking questions, and lay down. It was impossible for her to stay calm after her jewelry was stolen since the silver bracelet was important to her.
But she had to take a rest for the night and consider other things the next day.
Although she intended to take a good day off, on the early morning of the second day, most villagers stood outside the bamboo house. Geng Zhishan frowned with an unpleasant look in his eyes, but he stood silently.
Sitting in a chair, Xie Mengxuan watched the grim facade of these people and wore a faint smile. They were quite kind to treat her in such a way after receiving her money.
"Why have you gathered here this early in the morning?" Asked Xie Mengxuan with a smile.
Geng Zhishan stood behind her and deliberately showed some anger.
Aunt Cui was still standing at the forefront with others behind her as the background. Everyone wore an aggressive look with their hands on the hip.