Severed ties and living in a dilapidated house? No worries, the poor thing has a space.

Inside the tent, Xiao Jingqi sat in the seat of honor. After serving tea, Madam Li stepped aside, looking quite awkward.

This was the scene Fang Yu saw when she came in. Fang Xin was alright, probably because it wasn't the first time she had seen it, so she tried to act naturally.

Fang Xin brought the water to Xiao Jingqi, then turned to Li Shi and Fang Xin and said, "Mother, Xin'er, why don't you go and prepare first? Lord Xiao is here as a guest today, so it's a good opportunity to try some bear meat."

Madam Li nodded repeatedly: "Alright, then Yu'er, you keep Lord Xiao company while we prepare."

Xiao Jingqi raised his hand to stop her. He could sense that his presence made Li Shi somewhat uncomfortable, and she planned to leave as soon as possible.

Fang Xin wrung out a handkerchief and handed it to him: "Lord Xiao, wipe your sweat. Since you're here, don't be shy. Have a meal before you leave. We should thank you for what happened earlier, Lord Xiao."

She was smiling when she said that, a smile that was clearly malicious, but Xiao Jingqi found it very comfortable.

Mo Jiu walked over and stood beside her, asking softly, "Master, are you alright?"

That's a huge black bear. He originally wanted him to come, but who knew his master would come in person.

Fang Yu rested his chin on his palm and deliberately raised an eyebrow: "How about I play a couple of rounds with Lord Xiao?"

She got up and walked behind the simple screen she had made herself, then came out carrying a brand new chessboard.

Mo Jiu recalled the last time she took advantage of her master's blindness to not only take back a move but also steal a move, and her master, knowing full well, still enjoyed it.

The two began placing their pieces as before, but the game was only halfway through when Fang Yu pouted, her tone seemingly pleading: "Lord Xiao, I accidentally made a mistake. Can I pick it up and start over?"

"..." Mo Jiu knew it would be like this.

"Mmm." Xiao Jingqi responded softly, perhaps only he himself was unaware of the special doting he felt for Fang Yu.

She played three rounds in a row, and Xiao Jingqi kept letting her win, but she still lost.

She was clearly cheating the whole time, but she looked like she was suffering from a deep-seated resentment because she couldn't win.

She scratched her head, looking annoyed, and turned to shout into the air, "Fuju."

The curtain at the entrance fluttered slightly, and Fu Ju's figure appeared inside. His eyes were only on Fang Yu, completely ignoring the other two people: "Miss Fang."

Fang Yu asked him, "How good are you at chess?"

"It's okay."

Fang Yu stood up and made way for him: "Then you can play a few games of chess with Lord Xiao, and I'll go help my mother and Xin'er cook."

Fu Ju remained expressionless, obeying Fang Yu's every word, and looked more like a guard than Mo Jiu.

Fang Yu left just like that, and Xiao Jingqi's slightly reluctant gaze followed her back as she disappeared through the door.

After the change of players, Xiao Jingqi refused to back down, even forcing Fu Ju into a situation where he had no way to make a move.

His sharp gaze locked onto Fu Ju's cold face, and he said in a probing tone, "Young Master Fu Ju's temperament is far from that of an ordinary person. How could you be willing to stay by her side as a slave?"

Fu Ju paused in the hand holding the chess piece, his indifferent gaze meeting Xiao Jingqi's for a few moments before he spoke: "Lord Xiao, rest assured, I only have gratitude for saving Miss Fang's life, nothing more."

"Huh?" Mo Jiu was puzzled. Why should the master be told to rest assured?

After hearing Fu Ju's words, Xiao Jingqi's next move was clearly a deliberate retreat.

With Fang Xin's help, Fang Yu had already cut a piece of meat off the black bear.

Fang Yu said, "Xin'er, you process the meat first, and I'll go find someone in the village to buy some fresh vegetables so we can make something fresh to eat."

She delivered the freshly brewed tea to the workers working nearby before leaving.

Those who had gathered at the entrance to watch the commotion earlier, along with some daring and fearless individuals, were now peeking from a distance.

Fang Yu walked out carrying her shopping basket. One of the women approached her with a smiling face, as if it were a chrysanthemum. She looked at Fang Yu and asked with a beaming smile:

"Sister Yu, what does your official position do? We've never seen such a high-ranking official before."

The woman blocked Fang Yu's path, as if she wouldn't let her leave until she spoke.

Fang Yu glanced back at the entrance to her own tent and asked the woman, "Do you really want to know?"

The woman looked at the other people a few steps away from her and nodded repeatedly: "Yes, Sister Yu, you seem to know that official very well."

Fang Yu gave a barely perceptible snort: "If you're so curious and want to know so much, why don't you go to my house and ask yourself? Lord Xiao is staying for dinner today."

"Go ask him yourself..." The woman shrank back, and her gaze toward Fang Yu became more disdainful.

But Fang Yu didn't give her a chance to waste words and strode away.

She said she was going to buy groceries, but actually she just found a secluded spot and took out a variety of vegetables from the space she had grown.

Just as she was about to turn back, another person appeared at the corner, much to Fang Yu's annoyance.

Lin Wu stood in front of her, his brows furrowed tightly, as if questioning her: "Sister Yu, you and that man, are you really...?"

The news that a high-ranking official had arrived in the village had already spread in just a short while.

From their descriptions, Lin Wu learned that Xiao Jingqi was not only not a gigolo, but actually an official.

Fang Yu said impatiently, "So what if it is, and so what if it isn't? But it seems like none of it concerns you."

Lin Wu advised her seriously, "Sister Yu, he is an official, and we are just ordinary people. He is not suitable for you."

"He's not right for me. Who is right for me? You?" Fang Yu retorted with a cold laugh.

Lin Wu made a heartfelt promise, clearly still a little embarrassed: "If you're willing, Sister Yu, I'll go to your house to propose marriage right away, and all the money I earn from hunting will be entrusted to you for safekeeping..."

Fang Yu slightly raised her eyes: "Considering we're from the same village, do I really need to tell you that forced relationships won't be happy? At the very least..."

She paused, her gaze gradually darkening: "At the very least, you can't force me to be like this. Considering we're from the same village, I won't hold your persistent pestering against me."

"But he's an official, he won't marry you. Even if he did, you could only be a concubine!"

Lin Wu deliberately emphasized the word "concubine," because although they were all from the countryside, how many women would be willing to become concubines?

Whether he marries me or not, whether I become his concubine or not, is none of your concern. Just know this: I will never marry you.

Fang Yu hadn't even finished speaking when she had already taken a few steps away.

Lin Wu picked up his hand and then put it down, clenching his fist. Although he was very angry, there was one thing he was certain of: Fang Yu would never marry him.