Inviting the Moon to the Farmhouse

On the way back from Zhao Lizhang, Xia Lanyue remained emotional.

"Don't get any more angry," Dai You advised her.

"Of course I'm angry! He's obviously bullying me; he just doesn't want to pay," Xia Lanyue said, feeling wronged.

“Once the money’s in your pocket, there’s no reason to throw it back. Let it go, consider it a loss to avoid further trouble,” Dai You said, turning his head to look at Xia Lanyue.

“But I’m not willing to accept this,” Xia Lanyue said.

“We’re here with no one and no money. We can’t fight against the officials. We should keep a low profile,” Dai You advised.

“We have someone here, Xia Yao. With his reputation, maybe we can get him to talk to the village chief?” Xia Lanyue seemed to have a glimmer of hope.

"Will he... agree?" Dai You asked, his tone tinged with doubt.

Xia Lanyue understood Dai You's meaning. Actually, she wasn't confident either, especially considering Xia Yao's lukewarm attitude these past few days, which made her feel insecure. "Let's give it a try. How will we know if we don't try?"

“If, and I mean if, he doesn’t agree, don’t be angry. Just let it go,” Dai You said, looking at Xia Lanyue.

Xia Lanyue continued walking forward without responding to his words.

Dai You stopped, grabbed her arm, and made her look at him. "Did you hear that?!"

Xia Lanyue deflated like a punctured balloon, her eyes downcast, her head bowed, and she remained silent.

Dai You's eyes showed both helplessness and tenderness. He let go of her hand and changed the subject, "You said we were going to Aunt's house, do you remember her address?"

"No," Xia Lanyue said emotionally.

“Then let’s ask around after we get to Baizhou, okay?” Dai You looked at Xia Lanyue with a smile.

Seeing his smiling face, Xia Lanyue turned her head to the side, no longer looking at him, and then quickly walked past him.

"Hey, slow down, wait for me," Dai You called out from behind.

Xia Lanyue ignored his words and hurried towards the Xia family home.

When they arrived home, A-Xiang was playing with Xia Yao in the yard. Seeing them return, A-Xiang ran over and hugged Xia Lanyue's leg, "Aunt Yue."

Xia Lanyue squatted down, pinched A Xiang's little face, and said, "A Xiang, what brings you here? Did you come to see Aunt Yue?"

Xia Lanyue glanced at Xia Yao out of the corner of her eye and saw him pick up a book from the table and start reading. His indifferent demeanor made Xia Lanyue unable to say what she had originally wanted to say.

"I miss Aunt Yue's rice cakes," A Xiang's words interrupted Xia Lanyue's thoughts.

"Okay, then wait a moment, Aunt Yue will start now," Xia Lanyue stood up and walked towards the kitchen.

Ah Xiang followed behind her, tugging at her sleeve, and asked, "Aunt Yue, why do you look unhappy?"

Xia Lanyue sighed. Even A Xiang could tell that she had something on her mind, but Xia Yao didn't even show any concern. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

Xia Lanyue looked at A Xiang, and suddenly an idea flashed through her mind.

She stole a glance at the others in the yard. Dai You was tidying up the haystacks, and Xia Yao was reading a book. No one was paying attention to her. She pulled A Xiang into the kitchen. "A Xiang, Aunt Yue has something to tell you. Village Chief Zhao has withheld Aunt Yue's banknotes and refuses to return them. Don't you think he's a bad person?"

Ah Xiang nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Feeling uneasy, Xia Lanyue repeated it to A Xiang twice more.

"Ah Xiang, what did you just hear?" Xia Lanyue asked.

“Chief Zhao withheld Aunt Yue’s silver notes and refused to return them. Don’t you think he’s a bad person?” A-Xiang said.

Xia Lanyue looked at A Xiang and smiled with satisfaction.

After Xia Lanyue finished making the rice cakes, she gave a plate to A Xiang first, and then asked Dai You to take him home.

Seeing that Xia Yao was still reading a book in the courtyard, Xia Lanyue decided to go and sound him out.

Xia Lanyue took a plate of rice cakes, walked over, placed the plate on the table, and sat on the stool next to her. She didn't say a word, just stared at Xia Yao.

Finally, Xia Yao stopped pretending to be blind, put down his book, looked up at her, and asked, "Is there something you need?"

"Mm," Xia Lanyue nodded quickly.

"What is it?" Xia Yao asked, his face still cold.

Seeing his expression, Xia Lanyue felt a little hesitant, but thinking that the opportunity was rare, she mustered up her courage and asked, "Could you put in a good word for me with Village Chief Zhao?"

"Because of what?"

“We went to see the village chief today, and he implied that we were suspects and wouldn’t let us leave. The key thing is, he wouldn’t give me the silver notes. Even when I said I was your friend, it didn’t work,” Xia Lanyue leaned closer. “So, could you put in a good word for me? Maybe get him to return some of the silver notes, or whatever you can get back. I’ll give you half of it, how about that?”

Xia Yao subtly moved aside and said, "I'm afraid that won't work."

Xia Lanyue was somewhat unhappy when he rejected her. "Why?"

“How could I possibly interfere with the decision made by Village Chief Zhao?” Xia Yao said.

“But you have a high reputation, so he will always give you some face. Besides, you know who I am. I’m not a thief, so why waste your time?”

"This won't work either."

"This won't work, that won't work, so you just don't want to go? Are we still friends?" Xia Lanyue stood up angrily.

Xia Yao remained unmoved and said slowly, "I talked to him about this yesterday. What he said was reasonable and well-founded. I couldn't refute it and could only agree with it."

Hearing him say that, Xia Lanyue felt that she had misunderstood. She sat back down on the stool and asked in a calm tone, "Really? What did he say?"

"He only meant one thing: wait."

"It's waiting again," Xia Lanyue said, pouting.

"Is A-Yue unhappy with me? Or have I neglected you? Why are you in such a hurry to leave?" Xia Yao asked.

This surprised Xia Lanyue, and she quickly explained, "No, that's not what I meant. I just want money."

“If A-Yue needs money, she can tell me.”

"No, it's not that I'm that desperate, it's just... I'm not reconciled."

"Heh, since that's the case, just stay here and wait for the results," Xia Yao said. Just then, Dai You pushed the door open and came in. Xia Yao got up and went back into the house.

Dai You watched Xia Yao's retreating figure, then walked up to Xia Lanyue and asked, "What's wrong?"

“It’s alright, I told him to plead for us,” Xia Lanyue said.

“He disagrees,” Dai You said with certainty.

"No, he has already spoken to Village Chief Zhao, but Village Chief Zhao disagrees."

"Isn't this the same thing?" Dai You looked at Xia Yao's room with a questioning gaze.

“Of course it’s different,” Xia Lanyue stood up. “Let’s go,” she said, and walked toward the kitchen, carrying out two baskets of rice cakes.

"I thought you weren't going to sell rice cakes today."

“That won’t do. I received a deposit from an aunt yesterday. If I don’t go today, she’ll think I’m not trustworthy,” Xia Lanyue said to Dai You as she went back inside and brought out two more baskets. “Let’s go.”

Xia Lanyue's attitude changed so quickly that Dai You was a little confused. Along the way, he would look at her from time to time, observing the changes in her emotions.

"Why are you always peeking at me?" Xia Lanyue asked, looking straight ahead.

"Are you okay?"

"Who said I'm fine? I just had no choice," Xia Lanyue said, pouting.

“Money can be earned back, it’s not a big deal,” Dai You comforted her.

"Well, there's no better way right now. I just hope that my rice cakes can help me earn more money, so that I can feel at peace."

Dai You smiled and said, "You used to... never care about these things."

Xia Lanyue's heart tightened. Dai You rarely talked about her past. What was wrong with him? "Oh? What was I like before?"

“You used to enjoy things like calligraphy, gardening, and needlework, and you never cared about money.”

"Hehe, there's no other way, you'll starve if you don't have money," Xia Lanyue said.

Dai You seemed to understand something. "When we go to Baizhou, I'll find a job that pays well, and you won't have to do these things anymore. You can just do what you like."

Xia Lanyue was taken aback. Why did his words sound like he was planning for the future? Weren't they going to find their aunt? Although Xia Lanyue had questions in her mind, she didn't ask them aloud.