Chapter 95: Rumor Has It You’re Henpecked
“It was still fine when I came early this morning to pull weeds.” Liu Cheng snorted coldly, “Now the field is full of sheep hoof prints. If not you, then who?”
Lu Chengjing looked toward the vegetable patch. It was indeed as Liu Cheng said; the field was covered in sheep hoof prints, and many vegetable leaves bore traces of being nibbled.
His gaze scanned the crowd once, landing on someone shrinking back timidly.
This person was none other than Gao Qi.
If it had nothing to do with him, why would he show such a guilty expression?
Lu Chengjing’s thoughts turned, and he quickly had a plan.
“Big Brother Liu, the soil in the vegetable patch is damp. If this ewe really trampled your family’s vegetable patch, all four hooves should be stained with mud from the field.” Lu Chengjing gestured for everyone to look at the ewe’s clean four hooves. “Now there’s no mud on the sheep hooves, and the hooves are smaller than the ones that trampled the vegetable patch.”
A Le was quick-witted too. Risking being kicked by the ewe, he grabbed a sheep hoof and showed it to everyone.
The crowd nodded. “Indeed, no mud.”
Qiao Yu’an pointed at the hoof print beside the vegetable patch with his folding fan. “A Le, have the sheep step into the field, right next to that hoof print, so everyone can compare.”
A Le did so immediately, tugging the rope to lead the sheep, letting two of its hooves step into the field and leave two sheep hoof prints.
Although it was some distance from the hoof print Qiao Yu’an had pointed to, anyone with eyes could see that the original hoof print was clearly a size larger.
Liu Cheng wasn’t one to quibble unreasonably. Seeing this, he knew he had wronged them and muttered, “If not you, then who let their sheep trample my family’s field?”
Lu Chengjing reminded him, “There are not only sheep hoof prints in the field, but also human footprints. Few families in our village keep sheep. Just check if there’s black mud on their sheep hooves and compare the footprint sizes, and we’ll know who it is.”
No sooner had he spoken than Lu Chengjing caught Gao Qi turning to walk out of the crowd from the corner of his eye.
Li Xiaoshan had sharp eyes and shouted, “Gao Qi, why are you running?”
Gao Qi’s body stiffened. He turned around and scolded, “You little brat, who gave you the right to call my name?”
“Nyah nyah nyah~” Li Xiaoshan made a face at him. Before Gao Qi could rush over to teach him a lesson, he lifted his chin. “I remember your family keeps sheep. You want to leave before the excitement is over—rushing back to wipe the sheep’s feet?”
Suspicious gazes immediately fell on Gao Qi. Liu Cheng pushed through the crowd and ran toward the Gao Family.
Gao Qi had no time to deal with Li Xiaoshan and chased after him at once.
Some onlookers followed to watch the excitement.
Li Xiaoshan said excitedly, “Brother-in-law, let’s go watch too!”
Lu Chengjing had little interest in the matter. “Go if you want. I have guests, so I won’t join the fun.”
Li Xiaoshan looked troubled. “If I go, who will push the wheelchair?”
“I’ll do it.” Qiao Yu’an waved Li Xiaoshan off. “Go watch the excitement.”
Li Xiaoshan looked to Lu Chengjing. Seeing him nod, he released the wheelchair, pulled his little friends along to watch, and by the way, dragged Liang Liang along too.
Liang Liang: ???
The forgotten Yuan Yuan: !!!
Not taking her again!
The little one huffed, arms crossed in a sulk.
Lu Chengjing reached out to pat her little head. She was just such a tiny child, yet she already knew to join the excitement.
“Chengjing, where does your family live?” Qiao Yu’an pushed the wheelchair in another direction.
Lu Chengjing said, “Go straight along this road first.”
“Young Master, wait for me!” A Le had a large bundle slung over his shoulder and hurried to lead the sheep along.
Lu Chengjing turned to Qiao Yu’an. “Proving your innocence was so simple—how could you not think of it? Why did it nearly come to blows?”
Qiao Yu’an pursed his lips. “Even if I’m willing to explain, they have to be willing to listen.”
Lu Chengjing understood at once.
The village’s vegetable patch had been ruined, and Qiao Yu’an happened to have a sheep nearby. As strangers, master and servant were naturally suspected before the villagers.
Qiao Yu’an’s account proved this. A Le had a hot temper and, being wrongly suspected of theft, naturally argued heatedly. Gao Qi took the chance to stir things up from the side, making A Le’s reaction seem like guilty anger, increasing their suspicion.
With preconceived notions, whatever the two said sounded like quibbling to the villagers.
Qiao Yu’an said, “If you hadn’t come, I’d have had to give out gifts.”
“Yeah, if you hadn’t come, Young Master would have fought that guy and might not have gotten out of bed after being beaten.” A Le said with lingering fear. “With my Young Master’s slender build, he couldn’t take a few fists.”
“Shut up.” Qiao Yu’an glared at him. Was there anyone who built others up and demoralized themselves like this? He had properly learned some martial arts, okay?
A Le simply clapped a hand over his mouth, then continued chattering. “Young Master Lu, why do they listen to you so much? You said let them go, and they really did.”
“It’s not about listening; it’s about reasoning.” Lu Chengjing corrected him.
A Le muttered, “They only reason with you.”
Before Young Master Lu arrived, those people had wanted to dig a pit and bury them in the field.
“You talk too much.” Qiao Yu’an glared at A Le again. This time, A Le didn’t dare chatter and obediently shut his mouth.
Yuan Yuan tilted her little head curiously at the ewe, reaching out her small hand to touch it. A Le tugged the rope tight, not letting the ewe bring its head close.
“This ewe has a bad temper. It bit my sleeve on the road—be careful not to get bitten.”
Hearing this, Lu Chengjing pulled Yuan Yuan’s small hand back and coaxed, “Be good. Wait until it’s tamed before touching.”
Though he knew the little animal couldn’t hurt Yuan Yuan, in front of others, he still had to put on the proper show.
No excitement to watch, and not even allowed to touch the sheep. Yuan Yuan pouted unhappily.
Seeing this, Qiao Yu’an smiled and handed her the folding fan. “Yuan Yuan, play with this. It doesn’t bite.”
Back when they were still at the Lu Residence, Qiao Yu’an often brought small gifts to see Yuan Yuan, so she was very familiar with him.
Seeing Yuan Yuan take the folding fan, Lu Chengjing said, “Be careful, or Yuan Yuan might tear it up again.”
Qiao Yu’an didn’t mind. “If she tears it, you can just draw me another…”
Realizing his slip, he annoyedly patted his mouth.
This loose tongue—how could he forget his friend’s hand tendons were severed? Wasn’t that deliberately rubbing salt in the wound?
“Heh heh, I mean, a folding fan is just worth a few coins. I’ll buy another.” Qiao Yu’an awkwardly changed his words, forcing a light tone.
Lu Chengjing lowered his gaze to his still-immobile right hand, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
Qiao Yu’an thought he’d stirred up sad memories and felt bad, quickly changing the subject. “The intersection is just ahead. Which way now?”
Lu Chengjing composed himself and said evenly, “Straight after turning right.”
Both Qiao Yu’an and A Le thought he was holding back his sadness. Master and servant exchanged a glance: that mouth of yours!
The atmosphere grew awkward for a moment. Qiao Yu’an’s mind raced, and he changed the topic.
“Do you know that Yan Xu’an is spreading rumors at the county school that you’re henpecked? He says you married a shrew who beats people for no reason, and you don’t even dare say a harsh word in front of your wife—she has you under her thumb.”
