Transmigration: The Little Chef Calls The Shots
Chapter 1172: Once he sees money, he becomes even greedier

Chapter 1172: Once he sees money, he becomes even greedier

However, as she left, she still mustered the courage to turn back and emphatically state to Yan Ruchun, "My Brother Rong is not stupid, definitely not stupid!"

Yan Ruchun curled her lip and muttered to herself, "He fancies you, this fatso, isn’t he a fool? A fatty and a fool, indeed a match made in heaven!"

Though her tone was one of disdain and impatience, Lin Yuan could tell that she meant well, and among everyone present, Yan Ruchun was always sarcastic and mocking, except when it came to Xu Muqing, her disdain was always mixed with a smile in her eyes.

Lin Yuan suddenly felt that this Yan Ruchun wasn’t as cold and thorny as she appeared.

"Miss Yan, thank you." Lin Yuan smiled as she extended an olive branch to Yan Ruchun.

Yan Ruchun, however, rolled her eyes and sat back down in her chair, coldly saying, "Thank me for what? For liking Xia Zheng, for stealing your beloved?"

Before Lin Yuan could respond, Yan Ruchun changed her position, ungracefully crossed her legs in a manner that was explicitly prohibited by Sister Chang as uncouth. Even Lin Yuan was taken aback.

Having adjusted to a more comfortable position, Yan Ruchun raised her eyebrows at Lin Yuan and chuckled, "Hey! Didn’t you say you were thanking me? How about you give me your beloved as a thank-you gift, how about that?"

Lin Yuan, startled, grimaced and shook her head firmly.

Yan Ruchun, listlessly curling her lip, sneered and sat back in her chair, closing her eyes and remaining motionless.

Lin Yuan shook her head, amused, and gave her a glance.

But when she turned her head back, she discovered that Xiao Linshuang and Lin Wei were no longer in their seats. After asking Xiao He, she learned that Xiao Linshuang had gone to the latrine due to drinking too much tea, and Lin Wei, worried, had followed her.

Thinking there would certainly be maids accompanying them, Lin Yuan did not worry much and continued drinking her tea on her own.

However, her cup of tea was nearly finished, and yet her sisters had not returned. This was definitely not normal!

Sensing something was amiss, Lin Yuan quickly stood up with Xiao He and went out to look for them.

They stopped a young girl who was serving tea to find out where the latrines were, and the two of them headed in that direction. They had not walked far when they saw Lin Wei and Xiao Linshuang being surrounded by three elegantly dressed young ladies by a large fish tank.

Lin Yuan’s mind raced, and she inwardly scoffed—the perennially unoriginal schemes of backyard skirmishes, always the stale ploy of slander and theft.

Lin Yuan and Xiao He quietly stood aside, listening in, and soon gathered the gist of the incident.

The person who lost an item was surnamed Han, and her father seemed to be an official at the Ministry of Revenue. Accompanying Miss Han were two others, Guo Mei and an acquaintance, Cheng Yuexiu.

In fact, when they saw Cheng Yuexiu, Lin Wei and Xiao Linshuang understood that they were being deliberately troubled today.

Miss Han said she had lost a ruby hairpin, claiming that it was embedded with an extremely delicate phoenix, which held a tiny Luminous Pearl in its mouth, and was extremely precious.

As for where the hairpin was lost, Miss Han was very certain that it was on the way to the restroom, and coincidentally, the only people who went to the restroom at that time were Lin Wei and Xiao Linshuang. Thus, without any evidence, the three of them repeatedly accused them of picking up the item and not returning it, which was no different from stealing.

Such an obvious frame-up really lacked any skill.

Lin Yuan curled her lips and walked over to the group.

Cheng Yuexiu and her group, with their backs to this side, did not see Lin Yuan and Xiao He approaching. At this moment, she was standing with her arms crossed, disdainfully berating the two Linshuangs, "I advise you not to keep denying it; just hand over Miss Han’s hairpin quickly. Others might not know, but I am aware that for a few taels of silver, you would persist stubbornly. Having seen such an exquisite hairpin, how could you not be tempted by the money?"

Guo Mei, also siding unusually with Cheng Yuexiu today, nodded in agreement, "Exactly! I’ve seen Miss Han’s hairpin myself, a golden phoenix holding a Luminous Pearl, with rubies embellishing its eyes and feathers! Such a beautiful and valuable hairpin, how could it possibly belong to country girls like you, who have just entered the Capital City?"

Cheng Yuexiu added, "Knowing that you haven’t seen such costly things, Miss Han would certainly not blame you. Well, since we’ve met before, let me, Cheng Yuexiu, play the mediator and plead for you to Miss Han. As long as you hand over the item, this matter will be as if it never occurred, how about that? You can bring it out now, right?"

Miss Han also nodded, looking somewhat anxiously at the two, indicating that as long as the hairpin was found, she definitely would not make it difficult for them.

However, Xiao Linshuang and Lin Wei looked at each other, having shaken their heads countless times already, "Miss Han, we have already told you many times, we haven’t seen your hairpin, nor have we picked it up, so how can we return it to you!"

The hairpin-losing Miss Han was somewhat shaken. She whispered, "Could it really not be you who took it? Then where could it be?"

Upon hearing this, Cheng Yuexiu’s eyes shifted quickly and she hastily fanned the flames in her ear, "Miss Han, don’t listen to their nonsense. Just now, the only ones who went to the restroom were these two. If it wasn’t them who picked it up, who else could it be?"

Guo Mei also said, "They are just lying!"

Treated as thieves by these two, Lin Wei coldly huffed and looked up at Cheng Yuexiu, "Miss Cheng, how are you so sure that it was us who picked it up? Could it be that you saw it?"

Cheng Yuexiu sneered, "Although I didn’t see it, someone saw you go to the restroom. If it wasn’t you, then who else could it be? Among today’s banquet guests, only a few of you are outsiders. Others wouldn’t be tempted by money!"

Tempted by money?

Heh.

Lin Yuan chuckled, suddenly speaking from behind the three, "Tempted by money? Miss Cheng’s evaluation is quite apt, just too bad, you’ve got the wrong person. If you used it to describe me, I would gladly accept it."

Taken aback by the sudden voice, Cheng Yuexiu and her group were somewhat surprised, especially Cheng Yuexiu, who felt anger boiling up inside her upon seeing Lin Yuan. Originally planning to get close to the Third Prince’s sister on behalf of Su Qiuyu, who could have expected this person of high status to be her own adversary? Truly unlucky!

Unable to get close to the one she intended, Cheng Yuexiu reacted quickly, immediately clinging to Su Qiuyu who was like a big tree for support. Just then, having received her hint, she came with Guo Mei to help her reclaim her ground.

Miss Han knew Lin Yuan’s identity. If it weren’t for her own lost item, she would not have stopped Xiao Linshuang and Lin Wei from leaving. Upon seeing Lin Yuan’s arrival, her face showed obvious hesitation, as she did not want to offend someone who might become a daughter-in-law of the General Mansion over a mere hairpin.