Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 771 Mrs. Du Released from Prison Asking for Help (4)_1

Chapter 771: Chapter 771 Mrs. Du Released from Prison Asking for Help (4)_1

When Mo Yan had gone out to greet the guests earlier, she noticed that Liu Tinglan’s complexion was not good, marked by a gloom between her brows, a blend of melancholy and annoyance. Now, it seemed even more pronounced, her mind often wandering, almost extinguishing the fire in the stove.

Mo Yan was well aware that her usually sunny and cheerful friend had become this way due to her marriage arrangement with the Du Family, or more precisely, because of Young Master Liu.

During a visit to the Liu Family to deliver festival gifts, she had met Young Master Du, who was there for the same purpose. Her first impression was that he was of average intelligence and looks, his slightly lifted brows and the smugness that slipped through unwittingly all indicated a certain condescending attitude common among scholars; beyond that, she couldn’t discern much else.

After learning that his fiancée had a countryside-born friend like her, he several times advised Sister Lan against associating with her to avoid adopting the coarseness of peasants; later, upon learning of her County Lord title, he avidly urged Sister Lan to cultivate relations with her more diligently. From these changing attitudes, it was evident that Young Master Du was not as lofty as he appeared on the surface, and could even be described as mercenary.

While Mo Yan initially felt indifferent towards Young Master Du, this matter greatly worsened her impression of him—naturally, not in a positive sense!

At the same time, she felt indignant for Sister Lan; that Du fellow was simply unworthy of her. Sometimes, she really wanted to encourage her to break off the engagement.

Compared to Shen Ji, who had passed the Scholar examinations on his first attempt and was both gentle and polite, that unsuccessful and arrogant Young Master Du was left far behind. He was truly not a match for her Sister Lan. Sometimes she really wanted to urge her to break off the engagement and then try to convince the Liu Family Couple to abandon their plans for a marriage alliance, seeking a more reliable son-in-law. However, with the Liu-Du marriage already settled, how easy could it be to call it off?

Not wanting to see her friend downcast, Mo Yan spoke up, "Sister Lan, you haven’t visited in quite a few days. Mao Tuan has missed you. Shall I let it in to keep you company?"

In reality, just last month, when Mo Qingze was imprisoned, Liu Tinglan had stayed to accompany her until the public trial day. Mrs. Liu fell ill and Mo Yan convinced her to return home, so the two women hadn’t seen each other for merely half a month.

A warmth spread through Liu Tinglan’s heart, and a genuine smile appeared on her face, "Yes, I’ve missed it too. Not having visited for so long, I wonder if it still remembers me..."

No sooner had she finished speaking than a yellow shadow darted into the kitchen—it could only be Mao Tuan, who had been playing in the courtyard.

Mao Tuan, hearing its name mentioned by its owner, had thought she had prepared some delicious food for it, so it had rushed in eagerly. Seeing that its owner merely wanted it to keep her friend company, Mao Tuan’s enthusiasm waned, yet it still obediently tried to charm Liu Tinglan, making her happy.

Mao Tuan was indeed a warm-hearted creature; when it started to act cute, it was no less amusing than Little Flower’s foolish antics. Except for the fact that it didn’t let people whom Mo Yan found unexpected touch it, it was otherwise quite agreeable, especially when Liu Tinglan played with it using a bamboo ball, which made it even more excited.

"Wow, that move just now was so elegant, Mao Tuan is really great!" Liu Tinglan lavishly praised Mao Tuan, her smile much more sincere.

Praising Mao Tuan and having cheered others up, it sprang and snatched at the ball with even greater determination, its movements becoming progressively more agile without ever appearing vicious, much like the demeanor of Big Cat.

Seeing her friend finally smiling, Mo Yan’s face also lit up with a grin, and she rewarded Mao Tuan with a piece of freshly braised pork.

The meal preparation was half done when Xiao Ruiyuan and Chu Heng arrived at a leisurely pace. They were not deliberately late, but Chu Heng was still convalescing, and with the chill in the air, he had to thoroughly prepare before venturing out.

This time, Xiao Ruiyuan brought a cart full of birthday gifts, from precious antiques and paintings to all the necessities of life, both big and small, truly covering all bases. These things wouldn’t attract any notice compared to the Crown Prince of a Country personally visiting to extend birthday wishes.

Aware that his presence might cause discomfort, Chu Heng, feigning fatigue, was taken by Mo Qingze to the room he had rested in during his previous visit.

As soon as Mo Qingze had left, Xiao Ruiyuan’s tense body relaxed. Perhaps because of the extremely important matter he was to undertake today, the tension in his mind had been high from the moment he entered the Mo Family home. In the presence of his future father-in-law, he was so nervous that he didn’t know what to do, afraid that a wrong word or a misstep in his demeanor would leave a poor impression.

This demeanour, in Chu Heng’s eyes, was almost painful to witness; he hardly wanted to admit that this man was his cousin, for it truly was embarrassing.

Unaware of Chu Heng’s thoughts and having fully calmed down, Xiao Ruiyuan returned to his usual self, but the question he asked severely damaged his composed image, "Cousin, can we discuss that matter another day?"

Chu Heng was utterly defeated by his cousin, and without a second thought, he threw a pillow from the bed at him, roaring, "You can request a ’another day’ yourself!"

Xiao Ruiyuan silently caught the pillow coming his way, and under Chu Heng’s disdainful gaze, he silently walked back to put it in its place while silently marking a big, red ’X’ on himself in his mind.

In the kitchen, Mo Yan finished the last dish. She wiped the perspiration from her forehead, then mixed the soaked pearly white glutinous rice with the semi-transparent regular rice and placed it in the wooden steamer.

Glutinous rice alone can be cloying, but if it is mixed with regular rice in a certain proportion, the result is fragrant and sticky, quite delightful to the pallet.

In the dining hall, tables and chairs were already set up, one for the men and one for the women and children. The prepared dishes were brought out in an unending stream, filling up the two large round tables.

The delicious and appealing dishes made everyone eager to eat. Once Chu Heng emerged and was invited by Mo Qingze to sit down, everyone took their seats to taste the rare delicacies.

After cleaning her oily hands in the rice water and removing her apron, Mo Yan joined the women’s table, only to hear the tinkling of the wind chimes under the eaves.

With honored guests in the house, Lixiu’s nephew and Tang Xin couldn’t join the table, so they were taking their meal in the kitchen. Mo Yan did not interrupt; she excused herself from the ladies and went to answer the door.

However, upon seeing the person standing outside the courtyard gate, her face changed dramatically and, with a bang, she slammed the door shut!