Farm Tough Girl
Chapter 654 - 654 655 Decisive_1

Chapter 654: Chapter 655 Decisive_1 Chapter 654: Chapter 655 Decisive_1 Feng Rui thought he had his plans well calculated, but little did he know that he had contracted the same ailment as the Jin Family, being self-conceited and sneaking into the Jin residence to see Jin Qingqing in delight.

Today was the day they were hosting Zhao Jiangshui, and his parents were definitely going to discuss the match with Zhao Jiangshui. Jin Qingqing felt overjoyed just thinking about it and had gotten up early to dress up. Wearing her prettiest dress and her best-looking hairpins, she walked out of her room, all decked out and ready to go to the banquet hall her parents had arranged.

Just as she reached the entrance of the courtyard, she was abruptly pulled into an embrace by a strong force.

“Qingqing, I’ve missed you so much. Did you know I was coming and dressed up especially for me? I truly like it. You look even prettier than usual today,” Feng Rui said tenderly.

Jin Qingqing nearly sprang out of his arms and slapped him with her hand raised: “Where did this rogue come from? How dare you lay your hands on me! Guards…”

Feng Rui hurriedly said, “Qingqing, it’s me, it’s me.”

After recovering her senses, Jin Qingqing still looked unpleased: “This is my boudoir. How did you just come in like this?”

Feng Rui was taken aback, “My dear sister, are you teasing me again? Haven’t I come here many times before?” He then tried to embrace Jin Qingqing again.

Jin Qingqing glared at him fiercely: “Don’t talk to me about the past. Right now, you are not welcome in my house at all. Leave at once if there’s nothing important, lest you ruin my reputation for no good reason!”

Feng Rui became infuriated at once: “What do you mean by that, Jin Qingqing?”

“What do I mean? What concern is it of yours? After doing such shameless deeds, you’ve become the laughingstock of the entire Capital. Do you also want to drag me down with you?” Jin Qingqing retorted coldly.

“You!” Feng Rui wanted to say more but saw that the guards had already rushed in and quickly escorted him out.

Jin Qingqing cursed irritably: “That’s bad luck, how could such a person even get in?”

When Jin Deqiu saw what happened, he quickly came over and said, “Sister, why did you send him away? He just wanted to come see you.”

Jin Qingqing glared at him: “Did you bring him in?”

Jin Deqiu faltered: “I, I, I thought you wanted to see him.”

Jin Qingqing poked his forehead hard: “Do you even have a brain? Feng Rui is nothing but a dog that’s fallen into water nowadays. Who in the Capital would want to deal with him? Yet you bring him to me? If you dare do this again, I will tell Father and have you punished.”

Jin Deqiu nodded again and again: “Okay, I was wrong, is that not enough? I will definitely listen to you from now on.”

Feng Rui, dragged out by the servants, was holding back a stomach full of anger when he ran straight into Zhao Jiangshui, who was just coming in.

“What are you doing here?” Feng Rui now hated Zhao Jiangshui to the core, feeling furious just at the sight of him.

Zhao Jiangshui glanced at him indifferently without intending to pay him any attention and went straight inside. Feng Rui had already suffered enough humiliation today, and he didn’t expect, at this moment, to be snubbed by this pauper as well. He was about to explode with anger.

But then, Jin Qingqing, bursting with happiness, rushed out to greet Zhao Jiangshui: “Jiangshui, you’ve arrived? I’ve been waiting for so long.”

Completely ignoring Feng Rui, Jiangshui made him so angry that he felt like he was about to explode. It turned out this wretch had even seduced his Qingqing. No wonder she was so cold to him today; it was all because of him!

Feng Rui was driven out by the servants, and, out of hatred, he kicked the stone lion at the gate. He had come out today hoping to ease his mind, but from morning till night, he had been subjected to nothing but blows. His fair-weather friends, upon seeing his condition, had not the slightest intention to help him. Instead, they ridiculed and mocked him. To make matters worse, the one he had always admired, Jin Qingqing, had also distanced herself from him—and infuriatingly, it was all because Zhao Jiangshui had seduced Jin Qingqing!

Feng Rui’s mind felt like it had exploded, and he shook with intense hatred.

Zhao Jiangshui stepped back a few steps and maintained a distance from Jin Qingqing, then he bowed his hands and said, “It was your father who invited me to discuss matters. I did not come to see Miss Jin, so I would ask that Miss Jin comport herself with dignity.”

For some reason, Tianniu had often behaved improperly towards him, yet he had never felt repulsed—on the contrary, he often felt a sense of joy. However, now, seeing Jin Qingqing acting like this, he felt only disgust.

Jin Qingqing huffed in annoyance and could only sheepishly move away.

“Mr. Jin has specifically sent someone to invite me; may I know what it is about?” Zhao Jiangshui asked.

Mr. Jin replied with a beaming smile, “It’s just a small gathering to have a few drinks. Is the Number One Scholar really not going to give me this bit of face?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Jin Qingqing entered with a tray of tea, giving Zhao Jiangshui a shy and smiling glance of reproach.

Zhao Jiangshui suddenly seemed to understand the Jin Family’s intentions. These days in the Capital, he had no shortage of families hinting at their desire to marry off a daughter to him. Now with Miss Jin’s blatant approach, it was difficult for him not to understand.

He had no choice but to resort to his usual excuses, “Mr. Jin’s kind offer is hard to decline, and naturally, I cannot refuse. However, I fear that my time in the Capital will not be long. In a few days, I must return to my hometown, and the round trip will take nearly half a year. When that time comes, I will be sure to visit with my wife in tow.”

Jin Qingqing’s face turned pale, and Mr. Jin also felt a moment of embarrassment. He hadn’t said anything yet, but he had been preempted.

“This marriage is…”

“Oh, this is an engagement decided upon long ago. When I return to my hometown, I shall wed.” In reality, there was no such engagement; this was merely an excuse to deflect the proposal.

Now, Mr. Jin spoke earnestly, “Mr. Zhao is a sensible man. We needn’t talk in circles. Today, I have invited Mr. Zhao because I genuinely wish to establish a marriage alliance with him.”

Zhao Jiangshui furrowed his brow. Since everything had already been made clear, what more was there to say?

“Mr. Zhao might not be aware, but the Jin Family has considerable influence in the imperial court. With the support of the Jin Family, your future prospects are bound to be extraordinary. Do you truly wish to marry a country girl with no benefit to yourself?” Mr. Jin spoke frankly.

Zhao Jiangshui replied calmly, “It’s just that my father is very strict in his discipline, and the engagement he has set can no longer be changed. Therefore, I must ask for Mr. Jin’s understanding. I cannot accept Mr. Jin’s gracious offer.”

“But…”

“If Mr. Jin is insisting on this matter, I have nothing more to say. I only fear that it would humiliate your daughter if this persists, making her feel disgraced,” Zhao Jiangshui said respectfully.

Jin Qingqing was furious, pointing at his nose, she scolded, “Are you saying that I don’t matter to you at all? How am I inferior to a village woman? It’s just a marriage contract; what’s so unbreakable about it!”

Zhao Jiangshui fell silent, but his attitude was clearly determined.

Mr. Jin snorted lightly and found it inappropriate to say more. The banquet thus ended anticlimactically.