The rest were Ye Qing and Lin Wan left at home. Ye Qing had taken the medicine given by Mei Langchi and was sleeping nonstop. Lin Wan stayed with the two elderly at home, feeling awkward.
Godmother suggested that she accompany her to her family home. Junzi would take her there later, and she just followed Godfather out.
Lin Wan felt embarrassed, since she wasnât familiar with godmotherâs family and didnât want to trouble them.
So, Han Yi and Chen Haichang took Lin Wan and her daughter back to the courtyard.
When Ye Qing saw Lin Wan leaving, she also wanted to go back to her small courtyard. She felt it was even more boring to stay, especially since this year, Xie Lingzhi and Mei Langchi hadnât planned to take her back to his Grandmaâs house.
Old Mei didnât stop them and just asked Xie Lingzhi to sort out some gifts that were given the previous day and gave a few boxes for them to take back.
After Chen Haichang returned Lin Wan, he reunited with Mei Shuqing. At home, only Lin Wan and Little Star were left. After lighting the fire, Lin Wan nestled at home to knead dough, preparing to steam buns for tomorrow.
With three or four days ahead, Lin Wan planned to steam all the buns for the coming days at once. Otherwise, if they ran out of food midway, theyâd have to steam more.
It was the New Year now, and there wasnât much food sold outside. However, they brought back two boxes of snacks, a box of wheat milk essence, and a box of canned meat from the old Mei Family residence in the morning.
....
After Mei Langchiâs dad drove away, Ye Qing came out of the courtyard, carrying two boxes of things. On the roadside, she hailed a tricycle and headed straight to the small courtyard.
Upon arriving at the doorstep, as soon as Ye Qing opened it, a shadow entirely covered in black pushed her inside.
"What are you doing?" Ye Qing was startled, her previously dazed expression suddenly became much clearer.
Turning her head, she found it was Qu Liushou.
"Donât you know what Iâm doing? Ye Qing, youâve pushed me into a pit, and yet youâre clean. Thinking back, the blame I took for you isnât something a thousand bucks can settle." Though Qu Liushou had been released, he always sensed someone following him, watching his every move these days. He wasnât naĂŻve and naturally knew who was behind it.
Being watched like this didnât scare him, as he didnât have any evidence, but constant surveillance completely disrupted his life. He felt he was being treated unfairly.
Looking at Qu Liushou, Ye Qing frowned coldly and asked confusedly, "So, are you saying that the thousand bucks I gave you isnât something I imagined?"
"Are you crazy? Imagining what? Let me tell you, Ye Qing, my current situation is all because of your instigation. Iâm jobless now and constantly watched, how am I supposed to secure my future? What do you think I should do now?" Qu Liushou didnât understand what nonsense Ye Qing was spouting. He was on a tight schedule, and if he stayed out of sight too long, theyâd get suspicious. He had to make it quick.
"How about this, donât make it more difficult. Give me five thousand bucks at once, consider this matter settled. From now on, no matter what people say, I wonât expose you. Weâll consider ourselves strangers at future meetings, okay?"
"Five thousand bucks? Are you robbing me? Iâm not a money tree. Five thousand could buy two houses, why should I give it to you when I donât even know you."
Ye Qingâs words left Qu Liushou stunned. His squinting eyes stared at her as if he was looking at a fool, with a face full of disbelief.
"Ye Qing, itâs just the two of us here. What are you pretending for? If you refuse to admit it and want to distance yourself, do you believe that Iâll go to the Mei Family right now and make them think weâre in cahoots? At that time, it wonât be something you can dismiss by claiming it was found on the road. Ye Qing, I can make sure you canât stay at the Mei Family, donât underestimate me, Qu Liushou never takes the fall irrationally."
Ye Qing wasnât doubting Qu Liushouâs words; she was puzzled. Her mind was a mess, and she couldnât sort out what was imagined or what was real.
She couldnât discern if sheâd been tricked by Mei Langchi or deceived by Qu Liushou.
For a moment, she didnât know who to trust.
"Qu Liushou, wait a second, Iâm a bit confused right now. Youâre saying this really is related to me?"
Qu Liushou widened his eyes, approaching Ye Qing furiously, "Ye Qing, are you out of your mind? Itâs only been a few days, donât tell me youâve forgotten everything. Iâm telling you, you are not weaseling out of this five thousand bucks. Iâm naming a low price. You have to give it to me today. I, Qu Liushou, always keep my promises, as long as you pay up, I wonât leak our business."
"Qu Liushou, didnât I draw a map of the Mei Family for you? Do you still have it?"
"Why would I keep it? If I had, you wouldnât be standing there so calmly. I destroyed it that night." Qu Liushou couldnât figure out what Ye Qing was after, acting all jittery.
"Didnât you tell them I was the one who drew the map?"
"Hmph, I did tell them, didnât I? But they didnât believe me. Who knows how you charmed them, the Mei Family didnât buy a word I said." Qu Liushou still admired Ye Qingâs skill till now. He thought Ye Qing managed to fool the Mei Family.
He didnât know it was Mei Langchiâs doing.
"Hereâs the deal, sketch it again for me roughly. If it matches, Iâll cover the five thousand bucks." Ye Qing urgently needed to confirm something.
Qu Liushou found it bothersome, thinking Ye Qing was being a bit of a fuss. But listening to the promise of five thousand bucks, he impatiently agreed. It was just drawing a map; he remembered the few lines Ye Qing drew for her previously.
When Ye Qing led Qu Liushou into the house and saw the map he drew that matched the one in her mind, Ye Qing understood.
Sheâd been duped. In recent days, sheâd been swindled by Mei Langchiâs tender indulgence, almost getting entirely misled.
If the matter was like Mei Langchi said, an illusion during her episodes, then Qu Liushou shouldnât have known about it. He wouldnât have drawn it exactly as she imagined.