They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 190 Ning An Falls into the Water
Liang Mingxuan exchanged a speechless glance with his sister-in-law.

Xu Zhichun asked, "Do your parents know about this?"

Qin Ning'an nodded: "I know, Sister Xu, please accept it without worry."

Xu Zhichun was relieved and smiled, saying okay.

The gray-black puppy is just so adorable!

Mo Tianyao and Mo Tianrui indeed came with Qin Ning'an. The two brothers looked around and sized each other up as soon as they got off the carriage, their faces full of disdain.

Everyone was looking at the puppy, so they came over too.

Mo Tianrui burst out laughing when he heard Xu Zhichun ask that question: "It's just a dog. What doesn't my uncle have at home? Just take it if you want. What's there to ask?"

Granny Ji paused slightly and frowned slightly.

Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "You guys play here for a while, I'll go wash some fruit and get you some melon seeds and peanuts."

She doesn't get involved in children's affairs.

Seeing this, Granny Ji smiled and said, "I'll help Madam Xu out."

After they left, the Mo brothers, Mo Tianyao and Mo Tianrui, became even more unscrupulous.

Mo Tianyao scoffed, "Ning An, is this the home of your classmate that you've been longing to visit? What's so fun about this place? You've already delivered the dog, why don't we go back?"

Mo Tianrui: "That's right, home is so comfortable, we have everything we want. Cousin Ning'an, let's go. My mother specifically asked the kitchen to prepare a whole roasted lamb for us to eat when we get back."

Liang Mingxuan: "Gentlemen, Ning An is a guest I invited. Isn't it a bit too much for you to steal my guest in front of me, the host?"

Mo Tianrui disliked Liang Mingxuan the most. It was because of this person that his cousin Ning An's relationship with the two brothers became estranged. He was young, and his likes and dislikes were written all over his face. He glared at Liang Mingxuan and said, "I don't care about you. What does it have to do with you if I talk to my cousin?"

Qin Ning'an: "Tianrui, you have no manners at all. Quickly apologize."

"What? You want me to apologize?"

"Yes, Mingxuan is my friend. How could you treat him like this? If you don't apologize, I won't talk to you anymore."

Qin Ning'an kept a straight face and looked serious, but inside he was overjoyed: So this is what it feels like to scold and lecture people? No wonder Tianyao and his aunt always scolded him for being "immature" and "rude," forcing him to apologize.

Mo Tianrui was furious. There was no way he was going to apologize. He stomped his foot and looked at his brother with a wronged expression: "Brother!"

Mo Tianyao was also very unhappy. "Ning An, how could you help outsiders bully your own brother?"

Qin Ning'an pouted: "My parents only have one son, that's your brother, not my brother, he's my cousin."

"Anyway, they're closer than strangers."

Lu Xiaoyue sneered, "How boring. We made plans to go to Mingxuan's house to play. What business is it of yours? You all came along on your own. We didn't mind that you came uninvited, but you're complaining. What are you doing here? You should just leave."

Qin Ning'an immediately said, "Yes, yes, you guys go by car, I'll go back and take Lu Xiao's car."

Liang Mingxuan: "We are a poor family in the countryside and we are afraid we can't afford to entertain you two. Please, please."

Mo Tianrui was so angry he wanted to hit someone. "Pah! What's so great about him!"

Lu Xiaoyue smiled and said, "Of course it's amazing! Mingxuan got third place in the children's examination. Isn't that incredible? Oh, by the way, judging from your family's circumstances and your age, you should be old enough to go to school, right? Why don't you go to the county school? Is it because you don't like it?"

Mo Tianyao and Mo Tianrui looked frustrated and embarrassed.

Liang Mingxuan suppressed a laugh.

Qin Ning'an spoke the truth directly: "How could they not like it? My father donated a library worth fifty or sixty thousand taels of silver before I was allowed in. My uncle wouldn't be willing to spend so much money on them."

"Qin Ning'an!"

Mo Tianyao was enraged and embarrassed.

Lu Xiaoyue laughed loudly, "So that's how it is!"

"What are you talking about? It's so lively!" Dou Zhongli, Xu Tong, and Zhang Miao also arrived.

The three of them were one to three years older than Liang Mingxuan and the others, and they were also taller.

With the arrival of the three of them, the previous grudges were naturally forgotten.

Xu Zhichun and Granny Ji brought out washed peaches and tomatoes, set out some melon seeds, peanuts, dried apricots and dates, and poured tea using their newly bought tea set.

"We don't have anything fancy in the countryside. You are all Mingxuan's friends. Since you're here, please sit down, have some tea, and have something to eat."

"Thank you, Sister Xu!"

"Okay okay."

"Sister Xu's tomatoes are so sweet!"

"These fried peanuts are delicious too."

Dou Zhongli was determined to find fault, as if he would have won against Liang Mingxuan if he could find something to criticize.

Unfortunately, it seems that apart from being poor, Liang Mingxuan's family has nothing else to offer.

Mocking his family for being poor doesn't seem to give you any sense of superiority.

Even teenagers can't sit still, and Lu Xiaoyue and Qin Ning'an, who rarely get to visit a real rural village, were excited to wander around, so Liang Mingxuan accompanied them.

Xu Zhichun reminded him to be careful, then smiled and said, "Come back for lunch around noon. I'll prepare it at home."

Mo Tianyao and his brother, along with Dou Zhongli, were quite disdainful; they wouldn't eat out casually.

Liang Mingxuan agreed, and the group walked towards the edge of the village, attracting many onlookers who chattered amongst themselves. Without exception, they were all envious. The little prodigy's academic talent was truly remarkable! Look, look, he's associating with the sons of wealthy families in the city! There's a mule cart and two horse-drawn carriages parked outside their courtyard gate!

Xu Zhichun asked Uncle Qi Tian to take the coachman who had come with her home so that he could help take care of her. Granny Ji and Aunt Zhu'er helped Xu Zhichun prepare lunch.

Granny Ji was also a little surprised to see the abundance of ingredients, and quickly said with a smile, "Madam Xu is too kind, this must be such a trouble."

Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "This is the first time Mingxuan has brought a friend home. As his sister-in-law, I can't let him lose face. Besides, it's not like we can't afford it, so it's not a hassle. My aunt Zhu'er is a very good cook. Grandma, you can have a taste at noon."

Aunt Zhu smiled shyly.

As an older woman, Granny Ji naturally adored gentle and beautiful young women like Aunt Zhu'er, and she was very fond of her. She nodded with a smile and said, "Is that so? Then I must have a good taste!"

Aunt Pearl smiled gently and said, "You've seen a lot in life, so please don't laugh at me."

"Haha, how could that be?"

The three chatted and laughed, and quickly became acquainted.

However, Liang Mingxuan and his group almost encountered a major incident.

As they passed a quiet, secluded pond where everyone was watching the fish, Qin Ning'an suddenly lost her footing and fell in, causing a panic among the crowd.

Fortunately, Lu Xiaoyue's driver, Uncle Quan, dove in and quickly rescued Qin Ning'an.

Ever since Lu Xiaoyue's accident, she has always been accompanied by someone whenever she goes out.

She was very active, climbing mountains and traversing forests. Granny Ji couldn't keep up with her speed. Uncle Quan, on the other hand, was a hereditary servant of the Lu family. He was reliable and skilled in his work.

Liang Mingxuan and his group strolled along, having some fun. Uncle Quan followed them at a distance, almost imperceptibly. Upon hearing a cry of alarm that someone had fallen into the water, he rushed to their rescue.

Fortunately, he rescued him in time. Qin Ning'an was pulled ashore coughing and vomiting water, but he was still alright.

A false alarm.

Mo Tianrui suddenly shoved Liang Mingxuan, trying to push him into the pond. If Uncle Quan hadn't been quick enough to grab Liang Mingxuan's arm amidst his busy schedule, Liang Mingxuan would have actually been pushed in.

Lu Xiaoyue was furious: "What are you doing!"

(End of this chapter)