Inviting the Moon to the Farmhouse

Chapter 155 Testing

Dai You did not return until it was completely dark.

Xia Lanyue paced back and forth in the courtyard, feeling anxious, wondering if Dai You would never come back because of this.

Xia Yao sat to one side, watching Xia Lanyue walk back and forth.

"Ah Yue, do you have any requirements for the wedding?" Xia Yao asked.

"No," Xia Lanyue replied absentmindedly, "Oh no, I didn't say I wanted to marry you."

"What? You just said you wanted to marry me," Xia Yao's expression immediately changed.

“There was a reason I said that,” Xia Lanyue said.

Xia Yao thought for a moment, "What's the reason?"

“Stay,” Xia Lanyue said, “so that I can stay.”

Xia Yao walked up to Xia Lanyue and put his hands on her shoulders. "I don't want to hear any of this. You have to keep your word. You can't lie to me anymore."

Xia Lanyue pushed Xia Yao's hand away, "Xia Yao, I think..."

Xia Lanyue stopped abruptly halfway through her sentence and stared at Xia Yao with wide eyes.

Xia Yao, standing before her, had his arms around Xia Lanyue's waist, pulling her closer and bringing his face close to hers, as if he were about to kiss her.

However, they stopped before they could kiss.

Xia Lanyue's heart suddenly raced, and she looked at Xia Yao in front of her in a panic, "You...you said you wouldn't force me."

Xia Yao maintained this distance without moving, staring at her lips, and said, "Mmm."

Xia Lanyue turned her head to one side and pushed Xia Yao with both hands, "Don't do this."

Xia Yao let go of her hand. "A-Yue, A-Niu is getting married in a few days. They've known each other for even less time than we have."

Xia Lanyue understood what he meant and forced a smile. "Xia Yao, do you really like me?"

Xia Yao was taken aback, but answered without thinking, "Of course."

Xia Lanyue stared into his eyes without saying a word.

"You don't believe me?" Xia Yao asked.

"Mmm," Xia Lanyue replied softly.

This was an answer Xia Yao hadn't expected. After thinking hard, he said, "But I don't know how to prove my feelings. Why don't you marry me, and I'll slowly prove it to you."

Xia Lanyue smiled. "What would you think if I said I didn't want you to continue as the village head?"

Xia Yao frowned slightly. "I don't understand. What does my liking you have to do with my job as a village head?"

Xia Lanyue shook her head. "What if I simply don't want to?"

Xia Yao seemed somewhat troubled by Xia Lanyue's meaning. "A-Yue, having some status actually has many advantages. For example, regarding Dai You's matter, I can persuade Village Chief Zhao to release him. What do you think?"

Although Xia Yao did not answer Xia Lanyue's question, Xia Lanyue already knew Xia Yao's answer. He might like her, but how much, she couldn't say. Maybe it was really like what Abei said, that it was never as important as status. And did he marry her because he liked her? Or was it to save face?

Xia Yao seemed to sense Xia Lanyue's wavering. "Ayue, I truly love you."

"Get some rest, you have to work tomorrow," Xia Lanyue said, ignoring Xia Yao's words.

Xia Yao looked at Xia Lanyue and sighed, "Alright, you should get some rest too. Don't worry about Dai You, he's young and strong, he won't be in any danger."

"Yes, I'm going to sleep too," Xia Lanyue replied, then walked past Xia Yao and headed towards the house.

Xia Lanyue was in a complicated mood and couldn't sleep soundly.

Half-asleep, she seemed to hear someone knocking at the door, "Is anyone home?"

Xia Lanyue woke up with a start and sat up, listening carefully to the sounds outside.

The sounds coming from outside told Xia Lanyue that she wasn't dreaming.

She quickly got up and went to the door, where she saw a strange man carrying someone on his back, standing at the gate of the courtyard. The person behind him looked like Dai You!

Xia Lanyue stepped forward, and the man explained, "I'm a waiter at the tavern. This customer had drunk too much, so I brought him back."

"Thank you very much. I'll have to trouble you to bring the person in," Xia Lanyue said as she opened the courtyard gate.

The waiter carried Dai You on his back, following behind Xia Lanyue, to Dai You's room, and then put him on the bed.

“Just leave it here,” Xia Lanyue said.

"Alright, but this gentleman hasn't paid for his drinks yet," the waiter said, scratching his head.

"Ah, how much? I'll pay," Xia Lanyue said.

"One hundred and thirty coins," the waiter said.

Xia Lanyue had just rushed back to her room when she took out 150 coins from her purse, turned back, and handed them to the shop assistant, saying, "Here are 150 coins. Thank you for your hard work."

"You're too kind, young lady. I'll take it," the waiter said, taking the money and leaving happily.

Xia Lanyue looked at Dai You on the bed and shook her head helplessly. She knew Dai You was in a bad mood, but she couldn't comfort him and could only let him heal on his own.

She went over and helped him take off his shoes before leaving the house.

She glanced into Xia Yao's room and couldn't help but sigh; she was sleeping so soundly. Despite all the noise they made, she hadn't been woken up at all.

However, what she didn't know was that Xia Yao wasn't in the room.

The night by the pond was quiet, with only a gentle breeze blowing, causing the lotus leaves to sway softly and make a soft rustling sound.

Xia Yao stood by the pond waiting for people.

Soon, a figure appeared beside him.

Xia Yao turned around. "You've come."

“Yes,” Zhou Yuan walked to Xia Yao’s side. “Thank you for your timely help, Brother Xia. The brothers have been released.”

Xia Yao nodded. "No need to be so polite."

"But what about the brothers' things..." Zhou Yuan asked, observing Xia Yao's expression, "Can we still get them back?"

"Forget about the things. As long as the people are alright, that's all that matters. Besides, these things never really belonged to them anyway," Xia Yao said coldly.

Zhou Yuan smiled. "Brother Xia is right. But now that the brothers have been exposed, I wonder if Wei Liangxing will suspect you?"

"He already knows it was me, otherwise why would he spread the news about me and Dai Xiyue to deal with me?"

Zhou Yuan frowned. "You mean, Li Zhuang was sent by him?"

Xia Yao did not speak.

Zhou Yuan tacitly agreed, "Fortunately, Brother Xia is resourceful. It would be great if I could work by Brother Xia's side."

Xia Yao looked at Zhou Yuan and said, "I am just a clerk in the village, I have no real power."

"Brother Xia is too modest. Everyone knows your status with Village Chief Zhao," Zhou Yuan said with a fawning smile. "If you can think of us brothers when things go well in the future, that's enough."

Xia Yao nodded. "I remember you've reached the age where you should be performing corvée labor, haven't you?"

"Yes, I heard that this year the conscription of laborers is for repairing the post roads, is that true?" Zhou Yuan asked.

"You're quite well-informed," Xia Yao nodded.

"Hehe, is that all you've got?" Zhou Yuan chuckled.

"This job is really tough."

Zhou Yuan frowned deeply. "Yes, bad luck, we were just born into this situation."

“I have a way to exempt you from corvée labor,” Xia Yao said, looking at Zhou Yuan.

Zhou Yuan was stunned for a moment, then his eyes lit up and he said excitedly, "Then I'll thank you in advance, Brother Xia."

Xia Yao nodded.

Zhou Yuan clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Brother Xia is so righteous, treating me like a brother. If you need anything in the future, just let me know."

Xia Yao smiled and said, "I do have something I need your help with."

"Brother Xia, please speak."

……