She got pregnant after the swap marriage, and the scumbag's family regretted it so much they cr

"Nonsense! This concerns the people of this area. Do you think this is child's play?" Gu Chengbing refused without hesitation. "If the Li family's grain shop goes too far, raises prices too much, or causes panic among the city's residents, I'll be closing in. How could I possibly wait for Li Rong to make a move on your wife!"

Gao Yan pursed his lips. Indeed, he hadn't thought things through.

"Brother, just do what you need to do. I spoke without thinking, please don't hold it against me!"

Gao Yan showed remorse and his attitude was good, so Gu Chengbing did not pursue the matter further.

I simply reminded him again, "It's one thing for you to talk nonsense in front of me, but you absolutely mustn't do it in front of Father!"

Gao Yan nodded hurriedly and assured him, "I'll save it!"

Meanwhile, in the main hall of the Gao family's residence.

The plaque was still carried to the altar in the main hall and placed there.

Zhou found it an eyesore, and apart from when her ninth aunt, Yan, came to visit, she made a brief appearance; afterwards, all the visitors were entertained by Lu Huan.

Lu Huan, having grown accustomed to such scenes in her previous life, only needed to provide good food and drink and cater to these people. She didn't need to say much; they would chat on their own.

The others were one thing, but Fang Xiaoyu, dressed in a bright red floral-patterned jacket, sat at the very back, glancing towards the west wing every now and then.

Lu Huan's eyes darkened. Could it be that even though they're engaged, Fang Xiaoyu still has feelings for Gao Yan?

"Ayan's wife, did you really donate a thousand taels of silver?"

At this moment, Fifth Aunt Ma Xiangcao interjected.

Although she had heard it from others several times, she hadn't heard Lu Huan admit it herself, and it felt like there was a thorn in her heart, making her feel uneasy all over.

Fang Xiaoyu also looked away, waiting for Lu Huan's reply.

Lu Huan glanced quickly at everyone present and smiled slightly, "How could it be false! The clan leader happened to be there the day the steward of the Prince's mansion came!"

The aunts and uncles present were in an uproar, chattering excitedly.

An untimely voice rang out, "Could there be any reward money for Brother Ayan in here?"

Ma Xiangcao looked in the direction of the voice and saw it was Fang Xiaoyu. She rolled her eyes.

She had previously visited the Fang family to inquire about the marriage arrangements for the two girls in her branch of the family.

As a result, I was met with a cold shoulder and couldn't get anything out of them.

From then on, she began to dislike Fang Xiaoyu. Whenever she had the chance, she would definitely say something sarcastic to Fang Xiaoyu.

"Even if it cost Ayan's money, it has nothing to do with you, Fang Xiaoyu!"

Fang Xiaoyu stroked her smooth cuff, turned her head, and glanced sideways at Lu Huan's feet.

"I'm just feeling sorry for Brother Ayan! Sister Lu is different from Brother Ayan. He has been a poor child since he was a child, and he finally got two hundred taels of reward money."

If it's just like that, and Sister Lu spends it all so easily, it would really hurt Brother Ayan's feelings!

Lu Huan sneered inwardly, but her expression remained unchanged, still smiling.

"First of all, according to the village's seniority system, you should call me sister-in-law. I don't have a sister named Fang in Gaojia Village."

Moreover, he had already spent all the reward money he had received.

Lu Huan brushed the white jade earrings by her ear and continued, "See them? These earrings were bought for me by my husband for two hundred taels of silver."

"Don't even mention my husband, everything the Gao family eats and uses is paid for with my money, including the tea you're holding and the snacks you've stuffed into your pocket!"

Fang Xiaoyu's smile stiffened slightly. "Sister-in-law Lu, why are you being so aggressive?"

Seventh Aunt Kong Shufen interjected, "You silly girl, you asked the question yourself, and Ayan's wife answered you carefully. Yet you say she's being aggressive! You want to be right about everything!"

Ma Xiangcao's attention, however, shifted to other words.

I'd heard long ago that ever since Lu Huan married into the family, Zhou Shi hadn't spent a single penny of her own money; everything she spent was paid for by Lu Huan.

Previously, it was all speculation or rumor, but this time Lu Huan himself has personally confirmed it!

Ma Xiangcao couldn't help but look around.

It's such a pity that my eighth sister-in-law isn't here; she missed out on a great show!

Lu Huan showed no intention of continuing to pay attention to Fang Xiaoyu, and soon started talking to the women next to her about spring plowing after the beginning of spring.

"Ayan's wife, do you think the people in our village will be able to receive the grain seeds issued by the government?"

Lu Huan couldn't possibly be sure about something like that.

But based on her experience, Lu Huan shook her head, "I'm afraid it's not possible."

"But Sister Jiang, don't worry. These past few days, the clan chief has been sending people into town every day to inquire about grain prices. As long as grain prices don't rise too drastically, the price of grain won't be too high!"

Hearing Lu Huan's next words, Ren Yuanjia's sorrow lessened somewhat, but his brows remained tightly furrowed.

"I thought that since my husband and I both received wages this year, we could rent a few more acres of land after spring. But looking at it this way... I'm afraid that's unlikely!"

Lu Huan touched her coarse cloth jacket and comforted her, "Don't be so pessimistic! Think about your winter clothes. Maybe some kind-hearted people will sell your seeds at the prices of previous years!"

"Really?" Ren Yuanjia grasped Lu Huan's hand in return, his eyes full of anticipation.

Lu Huan patted her hand and nodded.

I can't guarantee anything else, but the grain in this space is perfect for use as seed.

If the price of grain becomes too outrageous, we can simply sell a batch to the Prince of Yan through Lü Chenxin.

Fang Xiaoyu noticed that all the rural women in the house were focused on spring plowing, and no one envied her new jacket anymore.

Feeling awkward, she stamped her foot and turned to leave the Gao family.

As soon as I entered the bamboo forest, I heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats coming from the other side of the road.

Fang Xiaoyu instinctively retreated to the side of the road.

Soon, a person and a horse appeared at the end of the path.

The chestnut horse was panting heavily, exhaling a long stream of white steam, which made the man on the horse look like an immortal.

The man had a cold and aloof expression, giving off an air of unapproachability.

He was wearing a black cloak, with only one hand showing, holding the reins.

Fang Xiaoyu almost didn't recognize him.

Is this Gao Yan?!

Why does he look even more handsome than her future husband, who's a junior officer?

She was so captivated by what she saw that she stood there by the roadside, mesmerized.

Gao Yan saw a woman standing at the other end of the road from afar, assuming she was his aunt or uncle from the Gao family, and didn't pay her any attention.

But why is this person standing stupidly in the middle of the road, not even bothering to move aside!

He hugged the pastry in his arms tightly; it was a red bean mille-feuille he had specially bought from Su Luozhai.

It's fresh out of the pot and still hot.

He tugged on the reins, slowing the chestnut horse down.

Fang Xiaoyu thought that Gao Yan had slowed down because he wanted to exchange a few pleasantries with her.

Little did he expect that the man's words, along with the snowmelt by the roadside, would chill him to the bone.

"Excuse me, you're blocking my way!"