When Hao Cheng came back, almost everyone in the village knew that Jiang Meng really existed.
As she walked along, every villager she met smiled at her, exchanged a few words and then asked, "Hao Cheng, I heard that your cousin came to see you. Is that true?"
Hao Cheng frowned: "Auntie Wang, who told you this?"
"Who else could you have heard that from? I went to your house and saw it." The other person winked at Hao Cheng with an expression that said, "You know what I mean."
This small village is not very big, so once a piece of gossip is spread, it will spread like wildfire, and the whole village will know about it in a moment.
Hao Cheng felt regretful in her heart. She should have gotten up early in the morning to chase Meng Zhen away and have him leave Xinghua Village early.
It was impossible to hide it, Hao Cheng nodded: "Yes, there is such a cousin, but he will leave in a few days and will not stay for many days."
"Why do you want to let him go? I see that your cousin is good-looking and about your age. He looks like a decent person. Or do you despise him because he is too old?"
Aunt Wang had a mischievous look on her face. She had originally kept her distance from Hao Cheng, but since this scholar's wife had gained more popularity after losing her parents, and she looked likable, she dared to joke with him like that.
"That's not true. Aunt Wang, please stop joking with me." Being too friendly also has its disadvantages, Hao Cheng said helplessly.
"We are all women, we all understand. Why are you hiding this kind of thing? You are not young anymore, of course you have to consider this kind of thing."
"That's enough!" Hao Cheng's voice became deeper. "It's been less than half a year since my parents passed away. Aunt Wang, please don't bring up this topic in front of me. Daqi has to observe mourning for one year after his parents pass away. Some scholars also observe mourning for three years according to the ancient rules.
Not to mention that she had no intention of getting married for the time being, she had used the scholar's body, so she had to fulfill her filial duty. Even if she found someone she liked during this period, she couldn't propose marriage, otherwise she would be scolded by others.
When she frowned, she was still very intimidating. Only when she was really angry did the other party stop smiling. She really couldn't take a joke, Aunt Wang looked unhappy.
"I have something else to do at home, so I have to go back first." Hao Cheng didn't want to continue talking to the other party, so he changed the subject, gave the other party a way out, and left in a hurry.
Not everyone is as confused as Aunt Wang. Most people still remember that she has not yet completed her mourning period, so they just exchange a few pleasantries and say hello, and do not make jokes about Hao Cheng casually.
When she returned, Jiang Mengzhen had already washed the clothes. He followed Hao Cheng's example and hung all the clothes on the clothesline on the crooked tree in the yard. He also went to Dong's house and learned from Dong's husband how to make a fire and do some simple chores.
Xinghua Village is a remote place, and there is no branch. When he went to look for Hao Cheng yesterday, he bought more than ten pigeons and released them. He thought someone would come to look for him within half a month. Before those people came, he rested and recovered as Meng Zhen.
After all, he didn't even have anyone to rely on. He was like a dragon swimming in shallow water and being bullied by shrimps. He only had a weak scholar who had nothing to rely on. Before someone he could trust contacted him, Jiang Mengzhen would never dare to act rashly.
At this time of year, the weather is mostly clear and crisp. Hao Cheng was worried about his family, but he didn't want to waste money on expensive food in town. When he came back, the sun was shining and the weather was just right.
She was tall and the wall of the yard was quite low. As Hao Cheng walked there, he could see from afar the washed clothes floating above his yard.
The clothes were hung on the thick clothesline from large to small at the same distance. From time to time, a cool breeze blew over from the plains, blowing the thin sheets and clothes into bulging sails, adding a warm and homey feeling to the small courtyard.
If it weren't for the mysterious origins of the man who called himself Meng Zhen, this feeling of having someone waiting for her at home would actually be quite good.
Hao Cheng's heart moved slightly, and she walked a few steps faster. She opened the gate and saw Jiang Mengzhen lying in the sun.
The young man was wearing her cheap father's old clothes. The thin material was obviously not warm enough. The man was lying on the bench, curled up like a lazy cat, lazy and luxurious.
Because of washing clothes, Jiang Mengzhen rolled up the long and bulky sleeves, revealing half of his slender wrist. He had a physique that was not easily scarred, and the scratches from falling from the mountain had scabs, and the scars were very shallow, unlike her, whose small wounds took ten days or half a month to heal, but the marks were still very obvious.
The man's clothes were washed pale and had several patches on them, but they still made him look noble. The pale material on him didn't look like it was washed too often or worn too old, but rather like it was deliberately made old.
She didn't know what the other family did, but she knew that only an extraordinary wealthy family could have such a generous demeanor.
Jiang Meng was really alert. He was squinting his eyes in the sun, looking like he was sleeping soundly, but when Hao Cheng tiptoed into the yard, he was immediately awakened.
When Jiang Mengzhen first woke up, his eyes were very sharp. Hao Cheng even felt a little chilled by that look, but it was only a moment later that the other person's eyes softened again, like a pool of spring water, gentle and affectionate, without the slightest coquettishness, and would not arouse any reveries.
He rubbed his sleepy eyes and said, "My benefactor is back. I was a little sleepy just now, so I fell asleep in the yard."
This action is very childish, and it is really hard to imagine that he is a 28-year-old man. However, in Hao Cheng's opinion, Meng Zhen looks very young and seems to be about the same age as her. This action does not seem artificial or pretentious at all, but only makes people feel very cute.
When this idea came to her mind, Hao Cheng's body trembled. Perhaps influenced by her scholarly nature, she actually felt that there was nothing wrong with using the word "cute" to describe men.
Jiang Mengzhen drank all the porridge that Hao Cheng left behind. There was nothing to eat directly in the house. He had been exercising all morning and was already hungry. In order to avoid making his stomach rumble, he took the initiative to ask, "What dishes are we going to cook today?"
"Stir-fried pork liver and lean meat soup, and some stir-fried vegetarian dishes." Considering that Jiang Mengzhen was still injured, she chose some blood-replenishing and healing foods.
Hao Cheng started to wash the vegetables, and Jiang Mengzhen also squeezed into the small kitchen: "I learned how to light a fire from Dong's husband today. I have also washed the rice for cooking and the vegetables."
Sure enough, the wooden basin in the kitchen was filled with green vegetables, still covered with water droplets. Although there were a lot of them, they were indeed washed very cleanly. Moreover, all the green vegetables were placed with their roots facing downwards and their leaves facing upwards, in order of size, one by one, very neatly.
Mr. Dong is a careless person and cooks casually. These green vegetables that can be regarded as works of art can only be made by the person in front of him who is suspected to have obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Hao Cheng believed him and didn't say anything. When cooking, she ordered the delicate young master to help her light the fire and pull the bellows.
Usually she is the only one busy. This stove is not as good as the modern gas stove, and the fire control is not good enough. Jiang Mengzhen helps to light the fire. Although today's dishes are simple, they are more delicious than usual.
After dinner, Hao Cheng went to wash the dishes. Jiang Mengzhen, who had eaten a lot without realizing it, was digesting the food in the house with his bloated stomach. The water was washing the dishes. Hao Cheng lowered his head and said, "I just told someone that you will leave in a few days. If you want to stay in this house, you can. For one hundred taels of silver, I will sell you this yard and the furniture inside. It was originally sold for eighty taels, and twenty taels are for your medicine and food for the next few days."
This price was a rip-off for poor people, but it was absolutely nothing for a young man from a wealthy family. What's more, Hao Cheng saved Jiang Mengzhen and worked so hard, but he didn't ask him for money.
Jiang Mengzhen counted out four gold leaves: "It's for the medicine and the food money for the next two days. I don't want this house in the countryside, and you won't be staying here for long."
He had no identification documents, so he couldn't transfer the ownership of a house. Many things were inconvenient for him, so naturally he had to follow the scholar.
Although the house was shabby, Hao Cheng managed things well and cooked delicious meals. He couldn't bear to live alone in such a shabby house.
Hao Cheng shook off the water on the bowl and chopsticks, looking a little surprised: "Who said I won't stay here for a long time?"
"Don't you want to settle down in this town? You pay half of the rent and I'll pay the rest. I'll stay until my family comes looking for me, which won't be long. When I leave, the house will belong to you."
"Don't call me benefactor, just call me Hao Cheng." It was okay to hear it once or twice, but she felt uncomfortable when this man kept calling her benefactor.
Jiang Mengzhen actually didn't like calling others benefactors. The little white rabbit "Meng Zhen" would be grateful, but he wouldn't be too grateful to Hao Cheng. He immediately changed his words and said, "Hao Cheng, I won't delay you for too long. I have experience in buying a house. I can help you if you need anything."
He paused, and said sincerely, "If we move to town, we can call each other brother and sister. I beg you to take me in temporarily for a while. I will never cause you any other trouble."
Hao Cheng is soft-hearted and does not tolerate hardship. Although Jiang Mengzhen has the habits of a rich young master, he does not have the airs of a rich young master. It is still very comfortable to get along with him. Moreover, it is always difficult for a single man to be outside. Hao Cheng feels a bit of sympathy for him.
But sympathy aside, whether or not to keep him was still a big question: "You can stay here for a few days, and don't say anything to the villagers. Let me think about whether to take him in or not."
Jiang Mengzhen nodded in agreement. He did not force Hao Cheng to make a decision, nor did he hastily accuse Hao Cheng of being cold-blooded. He just tried to influence Hao Cheng's thoughts through details, making her feel how cruel it was to throw away a little white rabbit like her.
The scholar was a soft-hearted and polite man. He conquered step by step and was not worried that he would not be able to stay in the end.
With someone to help with housework and no fields to take care of, Hao Cheng went to town more frequently. After looking for several houses and weighing them several times, she finally decided on a house in the north of the city.
After the deal was done, she was ready to buy it. The next day, she brought the banknotes over. Something went wrong with the brokerage firm. The seller had clearly agreed to the deal, but suddenly changed his mind and said that the house had already been sold at a high price. If she wanted to buy it, she had to pay an extra two hundred taels of silver.
Two hundred taels, as if her money was blown by the wind. Hao Cheng was angry, and naturally the deal could not be done. The broker persuaded her and introduced two more to her, but all failed. According to the broker's rules, if they introduced three people, if the deal was agreed, but it ended up failing, Hao Cheng would not be able to get back the deposit she paid to them.
It's okay once or twice, but if Hao Cheng still doesn't notice the problem after a few more visits, she would be a fool. Seeing how much trouble Hao Cheng had to go through to buy a house she liked, a house seller was kind enough to advise her privately: "You've offended someone. If you want to settle down here, you can't offend the real estate agent."
Hao Cheng thought for a long time. She did nothing in this town. The dental shop relied on commissions to make a living. There was no need to punish her for no reason. After thinking about it, the only person she could offend here was the miser uncle of the scholar.
She didn't bother with him in the spirit of keeping things quiet and not getting into more trouble, but he came to provoke her. He really thought she was a softie that could be easily manipulated!
Unfortunately, she couldn't get any evidence, and what Kou did wasn't a big deal that would anger God or people. It was just to cause trouble for her and let those sellers ruin her reputation, just to disgust her.
He was not very familiar with the law, and although he was angry, he could not do anything about the Kou family and the dental clinic for the time being. He could only feel aggrieved and angry.
Because he was sulking, Hao Cheng barely ate that day, but Jiang Meng couldn't help asking, "What's going on? Did you run into any trouble buying a house?"