Chapter 716 - 715: Doesn’t This Feel Familiar?
Xia Sichen laughed heartily and said, "Old man, don’t you know this? Wenjin is smart, even if we don’t go, she can save herself."
Zhuo Pengju examined Xia Wenjin from head to toe and finally felt relieved, saying, "Wenjin, it’s Uncle Zhuo’s fault, Uncle Zhuo couldn’t protect you!"
Xia Wenjin gave a faint smile and said, "It’s because you’re thoughtful and the other wasn’t prepared, no matter how skilled you are, there’s nothing you could do. But now that I’ve returned safely, don’t dwell on it."
After the initial shock, Xia Wanqing’s expression turned serious. He looked at Xia Wenjin and solemnly asked, "Wenjin, do you know who did this?"
He had asked before, but at that time, there were many people around, and Wenjin was still putting on a fragile act. There was obviously more to it, so he didn’t pursue it further.
But now everyone here was family.
Xia Wenjin turned her head to look at Xia Wanqing, without speaking.
Zhuo Pengju and the other two exchanged glances. Did Wenjin actually know?
If it were her old self, she would have shouted it out long ago. Now, even when her brother asked, she didn’t say anything, she indeed had become much more composed.
But knowing who it was is enough!
They were staying here at big brother’s place, and couldn’t even protect one person. It was quite embarrassing. They’d need to restore their reputation themselves, find it where they lost it!
As long as they knew who, the three brothers were already ready to act!
Xia Wanqing looked at Xia Wenjin and asked, "You know, don’t you?"
Xia Wenjin nodded!
Zhuo Pengju saw that Xia Wenjin wasn’t saying anything and assumed it was because she was concerned about their presence. He quickly said, "Big Brother, since Wenjin is back safe and sound, you two should have a good chat. We’ll head back to our rooms first!"
Xia Wanqing hadn’t spoken yet when Xia Wenjin already said, "Uncle Zhuo, Uncle Li, Uncle Hu, the reason I haven’t said anything is not because you’re here, but because I know, even if I said it, my father wouldn’t believe me!"
Xia Wanqing said, "You haven’t even said it, how do you know I won’t believe it?"
Xia Sichen’s eyes flashed with a sharp look and he asked, "Is it as I guessed?"
Xia Wenjin nodded and said, "It is exactly as you guessed!"
Hu Zeqi said in confusion, "What sort of silent riddles are you two siblings playing? The more I listen, the more confused I get."
Xia Wanqing impatiently said, "Why beat around the bush? Whether I believe it or not, you have to say it, right?"
Xia Wenjin said, "Father, the day before yesterday, Uncle brought Huangfu Yuxuan to the house, very enthusiastic, willing to find them positions just like he did for Second Uncle and Third Uncle! He even wanted to invite Uncle Zhuo, Uncle Li, Uncle Hu to live on their side!"
Xia Wanqing thought Xia Wenjin was going to say who it was, but she mentioned something unrelated. However, even this unrelated matter puzzled him: "Old Four, do you also want to find work in the Capital City?"
Zhuo Pengju shook his head and said, "We’re not familiar with the situation here in the Capital City. We’ll completely defer to Big Brother’s decisions! If the village has needs, of course we’ll listen to Big Brother’s instructions!"
Xia Wanqing said, "We are people of the Jianghu, living on our code of the Jianghu, establishing relationships with others in the Jianghu. How could the village have such a need?"
Zhuo Pengju was stunned and said, "So, entering officialdom for Second and Third Brothers wasn’t upon Big Brother’s instruction? Nor was it the village’s need?"
"Of course not!" Xia Wanqing turned his head, "Go on! Your Fourth Uncle and the others are living well with me. Why should they move?"
Xia Wenjin said, "I think so too, but Huangfu Yuxuan said that Uncle Zhuo and the others are heroes. Since they’ve come to the Capital City, how could they squeeze into one residence with Father? He generously offered to buy each of them a house!"
Xia Wanqing was silent.
Xia Sichen suddenly giggled and said, "Does the situation seem familiar, old man?"
Xia Wanqing glared at him but didn’t scold him.
How could it not be familiar?
He had said the same to the Second and Third previously, and later he didn’t let the Second and Third owe such a big favor to Huangfu Yuxuan, so the Silver came from Haotian Village later.
Zhuo Pengju and the others said, "Even though the Third Brother interceded for us, we thought having just arrived in the Capital City, we shouldn’t accept such a valuable gift without earning it. It was too much to accept a house, so we declined."
Xia Wenjin said, "Last night, Second Uncle and Third Uncle invited Uncle Zhuo, Uncle Li, and Uncle Hu to drink. Second Aunt and Third Aunt came to our home, directly moving Uncle Zhuo and the others, saying they’d decided to move over there."
Zhuo Pengju and the others were shocked and hurriedly said, "That’s not true. The topic of moving never even came up! We just went for a drink!"
Xia Wenjin nodded and said, "I figured it was like that. If you were really moving, Uncle Zhuo, you would have at least mentioned it to me and been there when it happened. Not have Second Aunt and Third Aunt move everything all by themselves! So I stopped it. But if I had returned a moment later, it might have all been moved already?"
Xia Wanqing couldn’t help but frown. He had always treated his brothers in the village generously and they were all united with him, just hoping for Haotian Village to prosper. With everyone working together and discussing matters, the atmosphere in the village had always been excellent.
It was surprising that within such a short time of coming to the Capital City, some things seemed to have quietly changed.
Xia Sichen exaggeratedly praised, "Preparing to gift Uncle Zhuo, Uncle Li, Uncle Hu each a house? That’s really generous. This Young Master Huangfu not only got Second Uncle and Third Uncle positions, giving them an opportunity to rise to fame and bring honor to the family, he’s also heroic in spending, extremely generous to the chiefs of our Haotian Village. Truly admirable! It’s just a shame I only have one sister like Wenjin, who’s willful and stubborn, forcing the old man to break off the engagement. Old man, why not adopt another daughter to marry Huangfu Yuxuan?"
Xia Wanqing glared and said, "What nonsense are you spouting?"
Xia Sichen put on an innocent face and said, "Old man, I’m not spouting nonsense. There’s a saying, ’No one shows earnestness for no reason, unless they’re up to something or planning to steal!’ Even if Wenjin’s engagement with him hadn’t been cancelled, giving out a house just like that is really over the top. What’s more, the engagement is annulled, and he’s still giving each a house. Isn’t that just heroically spending his wealth, generously, and admirably?"
Zhuo Pengju and his companions exchanged a glance. They’d only been in the Capital City for a few days and weren’t familiar with the situation here.
If the engagement still existed, gifting the old man a house would be understandable, he’d be the father-in-law after all. But gifting a house to each village chief was clearly irregular.
Such lavish gifts, what could be the reason?
Sichen’s words had logic, ’No one shows earnestness for no reason, unless they’re up to something or planning to steal!’ Even if it isn’t as serious, it’s certainly not straightforward!
Thankfully, they hadn’t accepted Second and Third Brother’s kind invitations. Haotian Village is a united front, it’s through brothers working together that they’ve been able to establish their place in the Jianghu. Is it now on the verge of collapsing?
Upon hearing this, Zhuo Pengju caught on and tentatively said, "Wenjin, could it be that your abduction is linked to Young Master Xuan and your Second and Third Uncles?"