Everyone has their own selfishness and selfish desires.
How could people in Xinghua Village look so simple, they're almost surreal?
Shouldn't interaction between people be to please for their own interests, and circumvent for their own benefits?
Looking at these people in front of him and listening to the endless laughter in the courtyard, the naive innocence in Feng Mohan's eyes gradually faded away and was replaced by a worldly sophistication that he rarely revealed in front of people.
By the time the moon was at the zenith, the crowd in the courtyard finally dispersed, and everything quieted down again.
Liu Yusheng patted Feng Mohan's head. "It's very late. Go to rest early. You must be tired sitting for so long, right?"
"I'm not tired." Feng Mohan grinned from ear to ear, his eyes glowing full of intent, "Aunt Liu, are all the people of Xinghua Village like them? Like a family."
"Yes, most of them are like this. You will understand if you stay here for a while," Liu Yusheng laughed, "You'll definitely like them too, like Xinghua Village."
Same as her. She loved it here.
"Those people asked about Uncle just now. Why didn't you tell them that Uncle is Axiu, only that he's here to seek medical treatment?"
Weren't they a family? Why was there still the need to conceal?
"Although the people of Xinghua Village are simple, some people with hidden motives can't help prying. Concealing you and your uncle's identities is good for you, and for them." If word got out that Axiu, who was gone from home for years, had returned, and he was none other than the regent of the dynasty, their political enemies would seize this soft spot.
If the entire Xinghua Village supported the Liu family, they would all be in danger.
Feng Mohan fell silent, and the glow in his eyes clearly doused.
He couldn't point a finger to how he was feeling, but that surreal sensation in his heart finally fell to the ground.
See, he knew there wouldn't really be such simple people in this world.
Didn't they also conceal everything to the villagers? Didn't this show that there was no real trust between people at all?
He tried hard to pick out the problems and tried hard to convince himself.
No matter where you were, there would always be struggles between people. He wasn't simple-minded. He wasn't wrong.
In another courtyard, the detained Liu Dalin kept trying to swindle his wife. "Xiulan, you can sleep with our daughter tonight."
"What for?"
"It's safer," Liu Da stammered.
Chen Xiulan gave him a sideway glance. She brushed him off, turned around, and went to the kitchen to bring out the rice heated in the pot. It was enough to isolate Yan Hong for so long, but they couldn't let her really let her go to bed hungry.
As for her man, wasn't he just guarding against Axiu? He spoke of him as if he were a wastrel, and would also find opportunities anywhere and anytime to take advantage of Nannan.
Nannan was already a grown-up. She knew what to do and what not to do.
He was worrying about nothing.
Seeing his wife ignoring him, Liu Dalin felt like his heart and lungs were scratched and went after her. "Why don't you believe it! That guy must have bad intentions for our daughter! You didn't see the way he looked at our daughter. He was glowing green!"
"You're the one with terrible eyesight. When our daughter goes out, how many young men don't have glowing green eyes when they see her? There are hundreds of households with daughters, and our daughter has a sense of propriety. Don't be such a nuisance!" Wasn't it normal for Axiu to like their daughter? Who in the village and town of the same age didn't like Nannan? Otherwise, there wouldn't be matchmakers stepping over the threshold.
Chen Xiulan was very sure of herself.
She believed in her daughter. She has always been steadfast and prudent since she was a child, and was more reliable than her father.
Liu Dalin stood with his arms akimbo in the yard for a while. If his wife wouldn't go, he would go by himself!
If he couldn't guard Nannan, couldn't he keep an eye on Axiu?
Liu Erlin and Du Juan had already entered their room and were about to rest. When they heard the conversation outside, Liu Erlin smirked, "Big Brother is really looking for trouble. If he keeps watching like this, how can Nannan get married in the future?
Du Juan rolled her eyes at him. "You have no daughter. If you have a daughter, you will know how Big Brother feels. Nannan has always been our family's baby. When she gets married, she'll become someone else's family. It will be difficult to see her. When she goes to her husband's house, she'll face a group of unfamiliar family members. I'd worry whether she'll be bullied there, whether she'll be wronged, or have a miserable life. She won't be as unrestrained as she's at home. If her husband is a big-hearted person, he might return with a concubine or something…"
Liu Erlin's face drastically changed. "He dare, I'll break his legs!"
Du Juan stifled a smile. "You and Big Brother are birds of a feather, yet you still have the nerve to make fun of him?"
"Wife, go to the third courtyard to see if Nannan is asleep. If not, just rest there. I'll go to the second courtyard!" The man said and rushed out the door.
"…"
In the main room, Grandpa Liu and Grandma Liu looked at each other, put out the lights together, and lay down.
Let them toss about.
"Old man, you say Axiu is now a high official. Why is he still so unfettered?"
"The higher you stand, the more people want to pull you down. It's like a piece of the most delicious cake. If you eat it, others will have no share. People's hearts are elusive. Everyone wants the best and the most."
"I wonder how he has been living outside these years. That kid is honest, but he also refuses to say more."
"He's in perfect condition now. We, ordinary people, don't understand court affairs, so let's just guard our acre of land in Xinghua Village. When that boy gets tired and weary and wants to come back, he can come back anytime. There's always a place for him in the family." Grandpa Liu closed his eyes and patted his wife's hand. "Go to sleep."
"…Tell me, Axiu really doesn't have those thoughts towards Nannan, right?"
"Is there any way you can extinguish people's thoughts? Let's just take care of Nannan. She's only sixteen years old and not in a hurry to find an in-law."
She was most worried about Nannan, rather than Axiu.
Everyone in the family said that Axiu grew up clinging to Nannan, but what she saw was that Nannan grew up treating Axiu the most special.
Take Xiao Jinzi for example. How many years have they known each other, but Nannan always addressed him as Young Boss. She drew the boundary clearly.
Among their group of playmates when they were young, she only let Axiu hug her. Even her brothers received no treatment like that!
Sigh, so sad.
Back to her own small courtyard, she just stepped into the room, when a strong force pulled her over, and the door swung shut with a bang.
Liu Yusheng didn't even have time to be surprised. A warm embrace encircled her, and someone pressed against the door panel. Liu Yusheng relaxed the moment she smelled the familiar scent.
"Feng Qingbai."
"Hmm."
She reached out and hugged him back.
The door shut out the moonlight, so the room was dark. The man did not say much.
She snuggled into his arms, his strong heartbeat banging in her ears. The fresh and light fragrance of his body drifted to the tip of her nose.
"You broke into a woman's room in the middle of the night." She whispered her accusation with a faint teasing tone.
"I missed you." His voice pressed against her ear, low, making the heart tremble. "Shengsheng, you didn't look at me all night."
Was this the reckoning after the fall?
"If I keep looking at you, there is no way you can stay in the second courtyard peacefully now." Thinking of her father's wolf-like eyes, Liu Yusheng snickered.
Feng Qingbai closed his eyes helplessly.
After coming back, Uncle Liu categorized him in that way without him doing anything yet. "Then I can only break into your boudoir at night."
"Don't stay too long. Dad may not be at ease and run to keep an eye on you."