Inviting the Moon to the Farmhouse

After the meal, Xia Lanyue stopped Xia Yao, "Xia Yao, I need your help with something."

Xia Yao turned around. "What is it?"

"I want to buy some rice and corn from you. I plan to make rice cakes to sell in town. If I buy rice from you, I won't have to make the trip back and forth," Xia Lanyue said.

Xia Yao was taken aback. "Buy rice? Sell rice cakes? If A-Yue needs money, I can lend it to you."

"No, I want to earn my own money. Besides, I have to pay back the money I borrow, so it's better to be clear about the details," Xia Lanyue said.

Xia Yao remained silent for a moment before saying, "Whatever A-Yue says, then so be it."

Xia Lanyue nodded. Although Xia Yao had agreed, Xia Lanyue was not happy. "Oh, also, I would like to borrow your carrying pole and basket."

"it is good."

"Thank you very much," Xia Lanyue said happily.

"Ah Yue, you're too kind," Xia Yao replied.

The next morning, Xia Lanyue pushed open the door and came out. She was a little surprised that no one had called her that day.

Entering the kitchen, there were side dishes and porridge left on the table, seemingly reserved specifically for her.

At this moment, Dai You walked in and said, "Aunt Xia and Xia Yao went to find Village Chief Zhao. This dish and porridge are for you."

“They’re up really early,” Xia Lanyue said.

"Xia Yao walks slowly, and Aunt Xia is worried about A-Cheng, so she got up a little earlier."

"Why are you up so early too?" Xia Lanyue asked Dai You.

"I get up early every day, you just don't know it."

Xia Lanyue opened her mouth wide, then closed it again; she really hadn't noticed.

“Today is the sixteenth, there’s a market in town, let’s go take a look, and then buy some paper to wrap rice cakes, so we can go to town to sell rice cakes tomorrow,” Xia Lanyue said while eating.

"Aren't we going to the village chief's?" Dai You asked.

“I don’t want to go. I don’t think I’ll get any information even if I go. Besides, if Xia Yao goes, he’ll speak up for us.”

"Are you so sure he'll speak up for us?" Dai You asked.

"Hmm," Xia Lanyue nodded, somewhat curious about Dai You's words. "You seem to distrust him a lot. Why? Has he been causing you trouble lately? Or did you have a conflict back in the capital?"

“No, we haven’t seen it,” Dai You said.

Xia Lanyue frowned. "If that's the case, why did you...?"

"It's nothing, go ahead and eat," Dai You said.

"By the way, what did Xia Huifang mean when she said she was troubling us yesterday?"

Dai You shook his head. "I don't know."

"Oh, that might be because he had contact with Dai Jing... ah, my brother. What a pity, if only I remembered."

Dai You looked at Xia Lanyue without saying anything.

Xia Lanyue put down her bowl and said to Dai You, "I'm done eating, let's go."

Then Xia Lanyue and Dai You left the courtyard gate slightly ajar and walked towards the village entrance.

When passing by the Tian family's house, they happened to run into Wang Cui taking A Xiang out.

"Aunt Yue," Ah Xiang ran over and hugged Xia Lanyue.

Xia Lanyue bent down and pinched A Xiang's chubby cheeks. "A Xiang has gotten fatter again."

Wang Cui said with a smile, "He's been eating a lot lately. He ate three pieces of the rice cakes you gave him yesterday. No wonder he's getting fat."

After listening, Xia Lanyue smiled and asked A Xiang, "Is the rice cake delicious?"

"It's delicious," Wang Cui replied first. "We all ate it yesterday, it was delicious. I heard that A-Yue wants to sell rice cakes, is that true?"

Xia Lanyue nodded.

“It’s a good idea to make money, you’re smart. A-Yue is such a good girl, hardworking and not spoiled. If you hadn’t gone back to your blind date, I would have been willing to set you up with someone,” Wang Cui said with a smile.

Xia Lanyue smiled and then became mischievous again, "Aunt Wang wants to tell me which family's man she wants to meet. If he's a good match, I won't go to my aunt's house for a blind date."

"How is Xia Yao?" Wang Cui asked her excitedly. "He's good-looking, well-educated, and humble. I heard from your Uncle Tian that Hui Fang likes you a lot. If you agree, I'll talk to him and ask him to propose to you."

Xia Lanyue didn't respond. She had been curious about other outstanding men in the village, but it turned out to be him again.

“Aunt Wang, my sister is just joking,” Dai You said, turning to Xia Lanyue. “She’s just being silly again.”

Xia Lanyue stuck out her tongue.

“Are you worried about his family background? Don’t worry, his maternal grandfather was a former county magistrate, and his family has some savings. Xia Yao is going to the capital to take the imperial examination. If he passes, his future will be bright,” Wang Cui said excitedly.

“Let’s wait until he passes the exam before we consider marriage,” Dai You said.

"Then the matchmakers would have to line up all the way to the next county town."

“If he could have chosen my sister back then, I would definitely have agreed to them,” Dai You said.

"Tsk, this child, why is he so eloquent today?" Aunt Wang stopped talking.

Xia Lanyue found it more and more amusing, until Wang Cui stopped talking, then she took over, "Thank you for your concern, Aunt Wang."

"No need to thank me, I just hope you marry well," then Wang Cui took Xia Lanyue's hand, her expression changing, "I heard Acheng was arrested?"

“Yes,” Xia Lanyue said.

“I never thought Acheng was this kind of kid. He even wronged you that night. I misjudged him,” Wang Cui said indignantly. “I heard he had a conflict with the town’s guard, which is why he stole the grain. Acheng is so foolish. How could he steal? Now, not only will he have to pay for the grain, but he’ll also get a beating from the village head.”

"That's great," Xia Lanyue muttered softly.

"what?"

“I mean, we’re finally going to get to the bottom of this grain theft,” Xia Lanyue said.

“Yes, but her aunt is rich and can provide him with food,” Wang Cui said, then pulled A Xiang, who was clinging to Dai You, over and asked, “Where are you going?”

“Let’s go to town and go to the market,” Xia Lanyue said.

"I want to go too!" Ah Xiang perked up at the mention of the market, and Wang Cui could hardly contain him.

“Come with us,” Xia Lanyue asked Wang Cui. “Aunt Wang, can A Xiang come with us?”

"That would be great," Wang Cui said, seeing A Xiang's excited expression. She agreed and said to Xia Lanyue, "Then I'll trouble you."

So, Xia Lanyue and the other two headed towards the market.

At this moment, in Zhao Lizhang's house, Xia Huifang and Xia Yao stood in the middle of the room, looking at Zhao Lizhang sitting in the main seat.

Village Chief Zhao held a teacup in one hand and used the lid to remove any floating tea leaves with the other before taking a sip of tea.

"Village Chief Zhao, this tea is this year's new tea, please try it," Xia Yao said, placing the tea bag on the table.

Village Chief Zhao smiled and nodded, pointing to the chair next to him, "Please have a seat, both of you."

Xia Huifang glanced at the chair, then turned back anxiously and said, "Village Chief Zhao, Acheng is innocent."

Village Chief Zhao gestured for a stop, saying, "Everyone who comes here says the same thing," and then said to Li Chuan outside the door, "Bring Wei Liangxing and Xia Cheng here."