Chapter 129 So That's How It Is

  "This is just my guess, and I couldn't think of any other reason why she would harm me!" Yao Cunhui smiled: "But everything has passed! Now saying these things doesn't make sense anymore! I have a clear conscience, it's her own fault! Brother-in-law, even if you don't believe what I say, that's okay. There's just one thing, I only hope brother-in-law won't blame sister because of this. She suffered too much in the past." Yao Cunhui lowered his head and added a sentence in his heart.

  Xie Fu Yun sighed and rubbed his temples, saying: "I didn't expect things to turn out like this!" Xie Fu Yun couldn't help but feel regretful and annoyed. No matter how he thought about it, the trouble was all caused by his own family, what did Er Mei have to do with it? If his mother hadn't said those words back then, if he hadn't hesitated and delayed in talking to his aunt, things wouldn't have ended up like this!

  After last night's disturbance by Wan'er, although the two families won't become sworn enemies, it's impossible for them to be as close as they were before!

  "Sorry, Second Sister!" Xie Fu's knot in his heart was finally untied, and he smiled wryly at Yao Cun Hui, feeling a bit embarrassed: "Actually, I shouldn't have doubted you! You're just like your sister, a person of integrity and purity, how could you do something like this?"

  Yao Cunhui shook his head, smiling candidly: "That's not necessarily true! It depends on who the opponent is. When dealing with some people, I will also be ruthless, but once I've done something, I won't deny it!"

  Xie Fu Yun was taken aback for a moment, and couldn't help but burst out laughing, saying with a laugh: "Second sister, you really are bold!"

  This smile thoroughly dispelled all doubts and shadows from his mind.

  Yao Cunhui also smiled and said sincerely, "I'll be leaving Jinling soon! I didn't expect to stay here for so long, nor did I expect your husband to treat you so well! I remember during the Lantern Festival this year, I even thought of your husband as a scoundrel!"

  Thinking back to that time, it suddenly feels distant, like it's separated by a layer of clouds. Xie Fu Yun also smiled and said: "At that time, I was indeed too impulsive!"

  "I've actually had a question in mind all along, I don't know if it's too abrupt to ask my brother-in-law?" Yao Cunhui suddenly smiled and said.

  "Since you've called me brother-in-law, there's no need to be so formal! Whatever it is, just say it!" Xie Fu Yun smiled and said.

  Yao Cunhui tilted her head and pondered, smiling: "Was it the night of the Lantern Festival that Brother-in-law started liking Sister? I'm really curious, why was Brother-in-law willing to do so much for Sister, what's the reason...?"

  "Are you asking why?" Xie Fu Yun smiled slightly. He loved her, spoiled her, and for her sake, he had a matchmaker arrange their marriage, refused to take concubines, and even when she was pregnant, he didn't touch other women, which seemed strange to others! Yao Cun Hui asked him this, although it was a bit impolite, but also reasonable.

  "Hmm!" Yao Cunhui nodded and gazed at Xie Fu Yun with wide eyes.

  "I said maybe you won't believe it, this thing, I've never told anyone before." Xie Fu Yun smiled self-deprecatingly, raised his head to look forward, his gaze fell on the door curtain, but his eyes were empty.

  "I also forgot when it started, I often have a dream, dreaming of a woman wearing a big red wedding dress, standing with her back to me, no matter what I couldn't see her face," Xie Fu Yun said, pausing for a moment. What he didn't say was that the figure was so lonely, so weak, and so helpless, standing in the vast sky and earth, her wedding dress was bright red, but there was no phoenix crown on her head, the wind blew up her big red skirt fluttering backwards, her long black hair flying disorderly with the wind. He truly felt her desolation and sadness, which made his heart ache secretly, and he couldn't help but feel pity for her.

  "That night, after meeting her on Yuanxiao Festival, when I had this dream again, I saw her turning around, and it was your sister's face! She is the one in my dreams, I only like her, and I only want to protect her. I think this is fate!" Xie Fu Yun smiled slightly, thinking of his gentle and loving wife, his heart couldn't help but soften, wanting to hold her tightly in his arms and cherish her dearly, never wanting to see that desolate and sorrowful figure in his dreams again.

  "Don't you believe it?" Xie Fu Yun lost his smile. In fact, he himself didn't quite believe it either.

  "No, I believe! I really believe!" Yao Cunhui's heart was a little sour and her tongue felt bitter. She believed, of course she did! The figure her brother-in-law saw in his dream might have been the silhouette of her sister from their past life? As he said, this was the fate between them, the missed connection from the previous life continuing into this one, but it wasn't just about her and Shen Ke.

  "Brother-in-law, since you love your sister so much, why do you still go on pleasure boats with those flirtatious women?" Not asking this question made Yao Cunhui feel like there was a thorn stuck in her heart.

  "This, where did this come from?" Xie Fu Yun was quite perplexed.

  "I happened to be passing by," said Yao Cunhui, and then described the situation at that time.

  Xie Fu Yun thought for a moment before remembering what she was talking about, and couldn't help but laugh: "Oh, you're referring to that time! A few friends got together, called in some singing girls to sing a little tune, that's all! I didn't do anything to wrong your sister!"

  "Those women are none of them decent! Even if Brother-in-law is innocent, he can't guarantee they won't have any ulterior motives!"

  "In business circles, making friends is inevitable. Second sister, isn't this allowed?" Xie Fu Yun said, and then asked somewhat nervously: "You didn't tell your sister, did you?"

  Yao Cun Hui Dao said: "If brother-in-law thinks it's feasible, why be afraid of sister knowing?"

  The Xie Mansion's luck was suddenly blocked.

  Yao Cunhui couldn't help but burst out laughing and said sternly, "I didn't tell my sister, I was afraid she would add to the trouble! From now on, let her brother-in-law handle it himself! Anyway, in the future, my husband will definitely not be allowed to do such a thing!"

  Xie Fu's mouth moved slightly, and he was petrified.

  The next morning, Yao Cunhui left Jinling for Huxiang, while Jiang and Xu Wanting had already left the Xie Mansion yesterday morning.

  It is said that after Xu Wanzhu came back to her senses, she regretted it and knelt in front of Mrs. Xie, crying until she became a tearful person. Whether she was willing or not, she and Shifu Yun's relationship as husband and wife were completely severed.

  Two months have passed, and the work on the other side of Lake Township has been going on in full swing. When Yao Cunhui arrived at the construction site, it was bustling with activity. The road builders, ditch diggers, foundation layers building the manor, and the carts and boats coming and going to transport materials, sand, stones, and tools were endless.

  Yi Guanshi and Fan Li siblings took Yao Cunhui on a tour, explaining in detail: The village is located in the northwest of the central area, with four main roads leading to it. Now the foundation of the village has been laid. Yi Guanshi was meticulous and had the land where the village would be built raised by nearly two meters using mud, bricks, and stones to prevent dampness. The four main roads have taken shape; three main ditches for drainage have also taken shape, and the smaller ditches will be decided according to the size of each piece of land. Yi Guanshi has ordered his men to draw up plans and mark out the boundaries, with work expected to start next month. Alongside the main ditch, they plan to plant willows or poplars in the spring, and have already ordered the saplings from a nursery.

  Yao Cunhui looked at the drainage situation again, pinched a handful of mud, and it was already quite effective. The gurgling water flowed out from each outlet and converged into the nearby river, which then flowed into the larger river. Yi Guanshi reported that some areas were not convenient for drainage, so he simply ordered people to dig fish ponds on the spot to collect water. The excavated mud could be used to pave roads and lay foundations, and these fish ponds would also serve as reservoirs for connecting canals in the future. In total, there were five such treatments, two of which had been completed, and three were being prepared. Yao Cunhui naturally agreed and praised Yi Guanshi with a smile.

  "How are the workers' living quarters? Can't they be treated unfairly in terms of food and drink? And although the weather is getting cooler these days, there must still be many mosquitoes in this place. Are the commonly used anti-inflammatory and detoxifying ointments always ready?" After reading it, Yao Cunhui began to ask questions.

  "Returning to Miss's words, we have been following her instructions all along. The workers' meals are well taken care of, with meat served every four days, and they have never fallen short! Their living quarters are in the suburbs of Huxiang City, not here! This place is still uninhabitable now."

  "Is there an arrangement for night watch at the construction site? Buy three or four dogs, and remember to patrol at night. With so many building materials and tools, losing them would be a loss of money!"

  Yi Guan Shi was taken aback, not expecting this young lady to even think of such a small matter. He pointed at Fan Lei and smiled: "Everything is ready, the materials and tools are all arranged by Brother Fan, it's all been taken care of."

  Fan Lei then simply said a few more words, Yao Cunhui smiled and nodded, and asked: "When can the land be tidied up? In any case, it will be planted next spring!"

  "Alright, let's get started. We can begin tidying up in the northwest and west sides of the village, where the land is higher and water drains first, by October."

  "So, the draft cattle should also be purchased by the buyer. We need to buy a large quantity, and it's not okay if we don't make arrangements early! If they are really not enough at that time, renting is also an option. The tools for plowing the land should also be prepared early!"

  "Yes, miss."

  "There are also seeds, we need a huge amount, and we must settle it early! When the time comes, I'm afraid we'll be caught off guard."

  "The young lady is right."

  "It's almost time for autumn harvest, I suppose those short-term workers will also be returning home soon? There are still many things to worry about with the labor shortage! By the way, how many tenant farmers have we taken in now?"

  "Miss, don't worry, our food and accommodation are good here, and the wages have never been delayed. With the reputation of the Xie family, we won't be short-handed. We've recruited over a hundred tenant farmers, all of whom have signed contracts and registered. I'll bring them for your review."

  At this time, it was easy to take care of things and bring the book. Yao Cunhui nodded after reading it and smiled: "This is good, you are used to using people's old experience, and choosing people is naturally the old way!"

  They asked some more detailed questions and then talked about the accounts. When they looked at the account book, Yao Cunhui was shocked by the large expenses, but now that they had to rush to meet the deadline, they couldn't care less about the cost! They pointed out a few important places, asked some questions, and secretly made a mental note to go to the market to investigate personally. If there were no major issues, they wouldn't say much more. Yi Guanshi was a capable person sent by Xie Fu Yun, Yao Cunhui believed he didn't have the nerve to deceive or cheat, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to pass Xie Fu Yun's scrutiny.