Abandoned Woman Busy Farming

Chapter 1149: Chapter 1151: Also Bewitched by Her?_1

Lin Xufei’s excuse for visiting the Bai Family was to see Bai Zepei, but in reality, he had gone to the Gu Family and met his future in-laws. After learning that his fiancée, Gu Xue’an, had gone to the Bai Family, he couldn’t wait to follow her there, and he was very grateful that he knew Bai Zepei and had some acquaintance with him.

Because of Lin Xufei’s visit, Lin Ping’er had someone send a message to the Academy to inform Bai Zepei. Bai Zepei told the servant that he happened to have no classes in the afternoon, and he would return home for lunch and have a drink or two with Lin Xufei.

However, when Bai Zepei returned, Tang Feng followed behind him. Bai Ruozhu’s eyes narrowed slightly upon seeing Tang Feng. Although they were from the same hometown, she couldn’t help feeling somewhat worried.

”Brother Lin, when did you arrive in the Capital? Why didn’t you send any messages beforehand?” Tang Feng approached and clapped Lin Xufei on the shoulder, and as they were both known as one of the ”Four Great Talents” of Jiangnan, they were already quite familiar with one another.

”I didn’t expect you to be here too, Tang Feng, now I don’t need to visit you tomorrow,” Lin Xufei laughed heartily, ”I just arrived this morning. This trip was decided on the spur of the moment, and I also wanted to surprise everyone.”

As he spoke, his eyes covertly swept towards Gu Xue’an’s direction. What surprise for ”everyone”? It was clearly meant to be a surprise for Gu Xue’an.

Gu Xue’an pretended not to understand and just stood quietly beside Bai Ruozhu, but her little face turned a shade of pink.

”All right, let’s not just stand here and chat. It is a pleasure to have friends from afar. Today, let’s all drink and be merry,” Bai Zepei led the way into the Main Hall to greet Lin Ping’er.

Lin Ping’er looked at the lively group of young people with a smile and said, ”It’s so lively with more people. You all should come by more often. Seeing you young folks so animated makes my heart happy too.”

”Mother, have father and eldest brother gone to the manor?” Bai Zepei asked.

”Yes, they still can’t let go of the fields,” Lin Ping’er said unabashedly with guests present, not afraid that others would laugh at the Bai Family for having farming roots, speaking her mind nonetheless.

Bai Zepei helped Lin Ping’er sit down, ”Since there are few of us today, let’s eat at one table.”

Lin Ping’er was naturally pleased with this arrangement and had the maid start setting the table. Soon, the savory dishes were served, and everyone enjoyed a lively meal together.

After the meal, Bai Zepei and the two others seemed to still have much to talk about, so they decided to go to Bai Zepei’s Yard. Bai Ruozhu also took Gu Xue’an to her own Yard to play.

Bai Ruozhu lulled Dengdeng to sleep for his nap. Gu Xue’an, finding Dengdeng particularly endearing, couldn’t help but keep touching his little chubby hands.

To not disturb Dengdeng, the two women moved to the living room to drink tea and enjoy some Dimsum.

”Ruozhu, what do you think those three men are chatting about? Literature and politics? Or next year’s Imperial Examination?” Gu Xue’an’s thoughts were clearly on Lin Xufei. She didn’t say much before her mind wandered to Lin Xufei.

Bai Ruozhu replied with a smile, ”Who knows? But they say men like to talk about women when they’re together—maybe that’s what they’re discussing right now.”

Gu Xue’an’s face flushed, ”How could that be? Your second brother isn’t even courting anyone yet, right? And Tang Feng, when we were in Jiangnan, I heard many young ladies pursued him but he barely gave them a glance. What kind of women do you think your brother and Tang Feng will end up with? These men are too outstanding; being their wives won’t be easy.”

Bai Ruozhu’s thoughts drifted. What kind of woman would her second brother look for? She didn’t know, but she soon thought of the brave and gallant Tu Ying. How was Tu Ying now? She didn’t dare to search openly; the fact that Tu Ying had disguised herself as a man to join the army must remain secret or it would bring great danger to her. Considering Tu Lie might not dare to search openly either, this would inevitably slow down the search.

She once had a dream where she saw Tu Ying fighting on the Battlefield, like a god of war, slaying one enemy after another. Tu Ying was drenched in blood, a cut on her face, but she didn’t care at all—her only desire was to defeat the enemies before her.

That night, Bai Ruozhu cried, and when she woke up, her tears had soaked the pillow towel. She knew that even though Tu Ying was somewhat tomboyish, she loved beauty to an extreme. Yet now she didn’t even care about the scars on her face—how colossal must her determination and drive be?

”Ruozhu, what’s wrong?” Miao An noticed Bai Ruozhu was distracted and asked with some concern.

Bai Ruozhu snapped out of her reverie with a smile. ”Isn’t it because I’m worried about my second brother? My mother’s hair might turn white from all the worrying.”

”Don’t worry too much. Once your second brother aces the exams next year, matchmakers will be queuing up at your door.”

...

In Bai Zepei’s yard, three men were slightly tipsy, indeed discussing women as Bai Ruozhu had casually mentioned.

”You youngster have only your fiancée in your heart. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have rushed to the Bai Family the moment you returned,” Tang Feng said, swaying as he playfully hit Lin Xufei without much force.

Lin Xufei feigned pain and cried out, ”That’s because you don’t have a fiancée yet. As a man, you have to be responsible. It’s only right to be good to Miao An.”

Tang Feng and Bai Zepei both burst out laughing.

”If Miss Gu heard that, she’d be drunk for years,” Bai Zepei said nonchalantly.

Suddenly, Tang Feng turned to look at Bai Zepei, his eyes exceptionally bright. ”You shouldn’t laugh at him. What about you? Are you also bewitched by her?”

Bai Zepei, a bit drunk but not completely inebriated, felt a tightening in his heart. Even though Tang Feng didn’t specify who ”she” was, Bai Zepei subconsciously thought of Bai Ruozhu.

He truly had no other thoughts; seeing his younger sister doing well made him feel increasingly at peace.

”What ’her’? It’s not my Miao An, right? Bai Zepei, let me warn you, friends’ wives are off-limits. Watch out, or I’ll fight you to the death!” Lin Xufei said as he drunkenly waved his fist.

Impatiently, Tang Feng pushed him away. ”I wasn’t talking about your Miss Gu. Set your mind at ease.”

”Then who is it?” Lin Xufei persisted in asking.

Tang Feng gave him a look but said no more, while Bai Zepei’s head was in a whirl. Tang Feng had just seemed to say ”also bewitched by her”—why the use of ”also”?

When Bai Ruozhu and Miao An grew impatient from waiting and went to see them, all three men were sprawled on the table, asleep from drunkenness. Bai Ruozhu, left with no choice, woke the three of them up and arranged for the servants to send them home. But Lin Xufei held on to Miao An’s hand and wouldn’t let go, saying, ”Miao An, you have to send me home. My father has come to the Capital too, and you need to meet him.”

Red-faced and annoyed, Miao An said, ”Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

With no other choice, Miao An had to send Lin Xufei home, while Bai Ruozhu arranged for others to send away Tang Feng. Just as Tang Feng was getting into the horse carriage, he suddenly turned to look at Bai Ruozhu, his eyes exceptionally clear, not resembling someone who was drunk at all.

Bai Ruozhu was startled, and before she could take a closer look, Tang Feng had already turned and let down the carriage curtain. She couldn’t help but sigh. What was really going on with Tang Feng—was he drunk or not? If he wasn’t drunk, why pretend to be? This man certainly had many mysteries.