Inviting the Moon to the Farmhouse

Chapter 137 Spending the Night at an Inn

Xia Huifang pulled Xia Yao into her house, and immediately closed the door as soon as they entered.

"What's the story behind the girl I was talking about?" Xia Huifang asked nervously.

"No, you misheard," Xia Yao said with a smile.

"Still lying to me? I heard it clearly, the person you had a relationship with wasn't A-Yue? A-Yue even knows about your affair?" Xia Huifang became even more anxious.

"Why are you eavesdropping on people's conversations?" Xia Yao lowered his head, looking reproachful.

Xia Huifang punched Xia Yao in the chest. "Ouch! What did you do? Who is that woman? Tell me!"

Xia Yao rubbed his chest, gasping for breath, "Mom, you were too strong."

Seeing that Xia Yao still wouldn't say anything, she burst into tears, "All these years, I've worried myself sick over your marriage, asking around for girls of marriageable age. And you, you have a girl but you don't say anything. The village chief Zhao just arranged a marriage for you, and you said you had a girl you liked, and you even let A-Yue find out. Are you trying to drive me to my death?!"

Xia Huifang seemed to faint; her body gave way, and she collapsed to the ground.

Xia Yao quickly pulled her up and supported her, saying, "Mother, don't worry, it's alright."

“What do you mean it’s okay? From what A-Yue said, she doesn’t want to marry you anymore,” Xia Huifang said, crying.

Xia Yao helped Xia Huifang sit down in a chair, then picked up a teacup, poured water into it, and handed it to her, saying, "Have some water."

After Xia Huifang calmed down, she asked anxiously, "What about A-Yue? Village Chief Zhao has arranged your marriage. If you don't get married, won't he accuse you of adultery? You'll lose all face."

Xia Yao fell silent, thinking for a long time, "Do I really have to marry her?"

"We absolutely must," Xia Huifang said resolutely. "Everyone knows there's no turning back."

Xia Yao took a deep breath and said, "I understand." He then stood up and started to walk out, but before he could step out the door, he heard Xia Huifang's voice behind him.

"Wait, have you broken up with that woman yet?" Xia Huifang asked anxiously.

Xia Yao turned his head away without answering, opened the door and went out.

Xia Huifang, sitting on the chair, seemed to understand his meaning, frowned, and sighed.

Early in the morning, Xia Lanyue, worried about Dai You, went to visit Zhao Lizhang's house.

As soon as Xia Lanyue entered the house, she saw that the food left over from yesterday was still there, untouched.

The weather in June was hot and humid, and the food was already starting to smell rancid.

Dai You remained lying motionless in the corner.

Xia Lanyue walked over and gently called out to Dai You, but Dai You did not respond.

Xia Lanyue knew that Dai You's temper wouldn't easily subside once it flared up, and all she wanted to do now was explain things to him. But he ignored her, which put Xia Lanyue in a very difficult position.

Xia Lanyue placed the newly brought food on the ground and then put away yesterday's food.

Just then, the village security guard from yesterday came in, looked at Dai You, and said to her, "He didn't eat anything yesterday, and he's still like this today."

"Brother, could you let me in to say a few words to him?" Xia Lanyue pleaded.

“That won’t do, Village Chief Zhao isn’t here,” the village security guard said.

"Why is he never here?" Xia Lanyue didn't believe it.

“He… Miss, please don’t make things difficult for me. You know your brother was locked up here because he hit Village Chief Zhao, right? Who would dare let you in? It took four of us to catch him that day. If I open the door and he escapes, how am I supposed to explain myself?”

The village guard turned to leave, but Xia Lanyue quickly grabbed him and stuffed a hundred coins into his hand. "Please, have mercy on him. Look at him, how can he possibly run away?!"

The village guard did not accept Xia Lanyue's money. "Girl, I know you're in a difficult situation, but it's no use coming to me. Why don't you ask your husband's family for help? Xia Yao is very close to Village Chief Zhao. If he's willing to speak up, this guy can get out."

Xia Lanyue was taken aback. She remembered Xia Yao telling her that he couldn't influence Village Chief Zhao's thoughts. Was Xia Yao telling the truth? Did he really have the ability to save Dai You? If she went to ask Xia Yao for help, would he make demands of her again?

Seeing that she didn't say anything, the village guard left.

Xia Lanyue looked at Dai You, walked to the fence, and squatted down. "Dai You, I really have something to tell you. Can you come over here?"

No matter how much Xia Lanyue tried to reason with him, Dai You wouldn't respond, leaving Xia Lanyue at a loss.

She didn't know what would happen to Dai You if things continued like this. Should she really beg Xia Yao? Xia Lanyue was constantly torn between these thoughts.

The next day, Xia Lanyue still came to visit Dai You early in the morning.

But in the afternoon, she went back to the Xia family in tears.

Xia Yao was teaching in the west room when he spotted Xia Lanyue wiping away tears. After settling his students, he walked to Xia Lanyue's door, knocked, and went inside.

"What's wrong?" Xia Yao asked.

"Waaah... Xia Yao, can you help me? Dai You is sick, and he looks really bad. I told Village Chief Zhao, but he insisted that Dai You was fine and was just faking it. I suggested asking Doctor Zhang to take a look, but he refused," Xia Lanyue said, pulling on Xia Yao's arm. "What should we do? He hasn't eaten for three days. He'll die if this continues."

Xia Yao glanced at the students inside the room, then at the sky, and said, "Wait for me a moment."

Xia Lanyue wiped away her tears and nodded, "Yes, I'll wait for you."

As darkness fell, in the courtyard of Chief Zhao's residence, Xia Lanyue said to Xia Yao, "Xia Yao, thank you."

Xia Yao nodded. "Is he alright?"

"Zhang Langzhong treated him; he just hadn't eaten for several days and was completely exhausted."

Xia Yao nodded, "That's good, now you can rest assured."

Xia Lanyue lowered her eyes. Could she really rest easy? Dai You still refused to eat.

Xia Yao looked at the cell, then at Xia Lanyue, "Don't worry, maybe he'll see the light tomorrow."

Xia Lanyue didn't speak. Would Dai You do it? She didn't know.

“Then let’s go,” Xia Yao said, leading Xia Lanyue out of the Zhao Li Chief’s residence. Instead of heading towards the river valley village, they headed towards the market.

Xia Lanyue stopped in her tracks. "You should walk this way to get home."

"It's getting late, let's stay at the inn," Xia Yao said, and continued walking.

Xia Lanyue paused for a moment, looked at the sky, and realized that she had never walked at night before, so she followed Xia Yao to Yunji Inn.

As soon as they entered, a waiter greeted them warmly, "Gentlemen, would you like to stay at the inn or have a meal?"

"Checking in," Xia Yao replied first.

"Alright, there are rooms upstairs. Let me show you both," the waiter said with a smile in his eyes as he looked at Xia Lanyue.

Whether it was just her imagination or not, Xia Lanyue felt that the waiter's eyes had changed, and he seemed to be chuckling. She couldn't help but roll her eyes.

"Gentlemen, how about this room? The window is large, with a view of the street, and the bed is spacious. The room next door is unoccupied," the waiter enthusiastically introduced.

Xia Lanyue suddenly understood what the waiter meant, and then her face unconsciously turned red. "You... what are you saying?"

"Hehe, let me introduce the room. Take a look, are you satisfied?" the waiter asked.

"Hmm, satisfied," Xia Yao nodded after looking around the room. "This room will do," Xia Yao said to the waiter before going inside.

Seeing that Xia Yao didn't seem to want another room, Xia Lanyue became visibly nervous.

The waiter tactfully left, leaving Xia Lanyue standing dumbfounded at the door.

Xia Yao said to Xia Lanyue, "Come in, what are you standing there for?"

Xia Lanyue stood at the door, about to refuse, when Xia Yao pulled her inside and then casually closed the door.

Xia Lanyue tensed up. "Um, I'll go ask for another room," she said, reaching for the door, but Xia Yao blocked her way. She stared at Xia Yao's eyes in terror, taking two steps back. "What do you want?"