Chen Xiaobei’s words immediately elevated Cui Hongyu to a very high position, giving her a blissful dizziness. Her husband had saved her face in front of her sisters.
Shen Ziyan’s expression towards Chen Xiaobei also changed slightly. She had heard about Cui Hongyu’s situation and was surprised by his high emotional intelligence.
Huang Ying, of course, didn’t think that deeply. As she was about to ask something else, Shen Ziyan stopped her. “Alright, Sister, let’s eat quickly. We still have chess to play when we get back.”
Huang Ying turned to look at her. “Sigh, playing chess with you is so boring. I always lose.”
Her words made everyone laugh again, and the atmosphere reached its peak.
While they were eating, Hu Lao Qi was also drinking and eating with two others in the four mu field.
“Brothers, have you heard? Two young ladies have come to Hetou Village. They’re truly beautiful.”
A thin man beside him chuckled, “Brother Qi, you wouldn’t possibly…”
Hu Lao Qi grinned. “I’ve been stuck in this desolate wilderness every day, not even seeing a woman’s shadow. I’m practically dying of pent-up desire.”
“Brother Qi, this doesn’t seem right. I heard those two ladies are teachers Chen Xiaobei hired.”
Hu Lao Qi raised his wine bowl and gulped down two large mouthfuls. He glanced sideways at him. “Listen, Liu Mazi, if you’re scared, stay here. I’ll go with Brother Cao Bei.”
The man named Cao Bei also looked at Liu Mazi mockingly. “You think too much. If we give them a few more taels of silver, maybe these young ladies will beg us to come back in the future.”
Hearing his words, Hu Lao Qi also smiled. “That makes sense. Then let’s bring more silver.”
The three of them finalized their plan, found an excuse, and headed from the four mu field towards Hetou Village.
Meanwhile, in Chen Xiaobei’s courtyard, dinner had concluded.
Everyone tidied up the bowls and chopsticks together. Huang Ying was about to sit on the stone bench, clearly wanting to chat for a while longer.
However, Shen Ziyan took her arm and smiled at Cui Hongyu. “Sister, we’ll be going back now.”
Without further ado, she pulled Huang Ying away.
It wasn’t until they were quite far away that Huang Ying shook off her hand. “Sigh, why are you in such a hurry to leave? I still wanted to ask Chen Xiaobei some more questions.”
Shen Ziyan put her hands on her hips and looked at Huang Ying helplessly. “What else is there to ask? You know Hongyu’s situation. Let’s not reopen her old wounds.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s go, let’s go.”
When building the school, Chen Xiaobei had added a few extra rooms.
Therefore, Shen Ziyan and Huang Ying each had their own room, enjoying their own company.
Shen Ziyan pulled Huang Ying into her room and instructed Xiao Hua to quickly set up the chess board.
Huang Ying was very reluctant. “Oh, I really don’t want to play.”
Shen Ziyan sighed. “Come on, I’ll let you win this game.”
With her promise, Huang Ying’s face lit up with a smile. “You said so yourself! No backing out.”
The two of them set up the chess board, laughing and chatting. After only a few steps, they heard a thud outside, followed by two more.
Shen Ziyan frowned slightly. Huang Ying, beside her, suddenly stood up and, with a swift movement, extinguished the candlelight. “Someone’s entering.”
Huang Ying remembered very clearly that after entering, she had latched the courtyard gate from the inside. The noise was clearly from heavy objects landing, so it was highly likely someone had climbed over the wall.
Huang Ying turned and went to the door, quietly opening it a crack to peer outside. In the distance, three figures were stealthily approaching.
It was Hu Lao Qi, Liu Mazi, and Cao Bei.
Seeing them land, the lights in the room immediately went out. Hu Lao Qi chuckled.
“Well, well, these two young ladies are quite vigilant.”
However, he overlooked one crucial point: anyone who reacted like this was definitely an expert.
Huang Ying, inside the room, had a thought. She reached for a flying dagger at her waist.
Then, she suddenly threw open the door and, with a flick of her wrist, hurled it at Hu Lao Qi, who was in the front.
The next moment, Huang Ying sprang out. Shen Ziyan and the two maids followed right behind her.
Fortunately, Hu Lao Qi was prepared. He dodged the flying dagger by leaning to the side.
Seeing Huang Ying and the others approach, Hu Lao Qi and his companions were unhurried. Instead, they started to laugh.
Perhaps Hu Lao Qi and his men believed Shen Ziyan and Huang Ying were just showy performers, and they could be dealt with quickly.
But the reality was somewhat beyond their expectations.
Huang Ying and Shen Ziyan’s moves were fierce, targeting vital points. Even the seemingly delicate maids, Xiao Hua and Du Juan, fought with remarkable skill.
After a few exchanges, Hu Lao Qi and his group could only defend and had no chance to counterattack.
Seeing that the situation was not good, Hu Lao Qi quickly shouted, “The situation is dire! Let’s run!”
In the moment of his distraction, Huang Ying kicked him to the ground.
Soon, Liu Mazi and Cao Bei were also knocked to the ground, lying there and groaning.
Huang Ying clapped her hands and said to her maid Du Juan, “Bring the oil lamp. Let me see what these scoundrels are.”
The oil lamp was brought over. They looked at the faces of Hu Lao Qi and the other two one by one but didn’t recognize them.
“Sister Ziyan, what should we do?”
Shen Ziyan frowned. “Tie them up and take them to Chen Xiaobei to handle.”
As soon as they heard they would be handed over to Chen Xiaobei, the three men panicked and immediately started begging for mercy.
Hu Lao Qi repeatedly clasped his hands in supplication. “Second Lady, you are magnanimous. Let this matter go. We are willing to compensate you with money.”
As he said this, he reached into his chest and produced a silver ingot, offering it forward.
“Ptooey.” Huang Ying spat viciously.
“Get up and come with me to see Chen Xiaobei. If you dare to play any tricks, I’ll break your legs.”
Hu Lao Qi looked helpless, but he had no other options. He couldn’t defeat them in a fight, so he could only be at their mercy.
As the group left the school, they were discovered by the village guards. Soon, Chen Da Yong rushed over with his men.
Upon seeing Hu Lao Qi, Chen Da Yong was stunned. He recognized this man; he was one of Yang Zhi’s subordinates.
After hearing Huang Ying recount the events, Chen Da Yong realized the seriousness of the situation and quickly sent someone to call for Chen Xiaobei.
Chen Xiaobei was just about to embrace Cui Hongyu for the night when he heard dog barks.
Then, a village guard knocked on his door, reporting a major incident.
Chen Xiaobei quickly put on his clothes and rushed with the messenger to the big locust tree.
Arriving at the big locust tree, he saw the three men, Hu Lao Qi, Liu Mazi, and Cao Bei, squatting there with dejected expressions.
He then saw Shen Ziyan and Huang Ying standing beside them.
Chen Xiaobei had a premonition of something ominous.
As expected, Huang Ying pointed at the three men and sternly declared, “Three wicked bandits climbed into the courtyard with ill intentions and were captured by us.”
Chen Xiaobei looked at Hu Lao Qi. “Hu Lao Qi, what exactly happened here?”
Hu Lao Qi wore a bitter expression and said helplessly.
“Alas, I’m truly sorry. I drank too much, I drank too much.”
“Do you think you can get away with a simple ‘I drank too much’?” Huang Ying pressed on.
At this moment, Chen Xiaobei wished he could kill Hu Lao Qi and the others on the spot.