Thrown out of the house, the wet nurse enters the noble household and becomes a person of high statu

As dusk settled, candles were lit in the tents of Zhiyun Manor.

When Xue Bi pushed open the door, he saw Liu Wenying standing on a stool, tying a string of copper bells to the roof beam.

She stood on tiptoe, her plain skirt slightly lifted, revealing a slender ankle.

Hearing the noise, she turned around and smiled, "Mr. Xue is here."

"What are you doing?"

Xue Bi didn't look at the account books waiting to be organized on the table, but instead looked up at her movements.

Liu Wenying got off the stool and dusted off her hands.

"Last night, some refugees sneaked into the village to steal chickens. Although they didn't succeed, we still have to be careful. I installed bells in every room, with ropes strung up in an easy-to-reach place. If we hear any noise, we can ring them so that the others in the village can hear us and help us out."

She spoke calmly, but Xue Bi could sense the underlying worry in her voice.

"Is it that serious?"

Liu Wenying nodded, walked to the table, poured herself a cup of tea to soothe her throat and rest.

"It's not just thieves. With the war in the north intensifying and more and more people becoming refugees, the cloth shops in the city are also experiencing a downturn in business. The manager said that only 30% of the brocade delivered the other day has been sold, and the rest is stuck in the warehouse."

Xue Bi pondered for a moment and said, "When a country prospers, the people suffer; when a country falls, the people suffer. When war breaks out, it is always the ordinary people who suffer in the end."

Liu Wenying looked up at him.

In the flickering candlelight, Xue Bi's profile was handsome, with a lingering worry in his eyes.

She knew he came from a scholarly family, and although he had fallen on hard times, his ambition and wisdom had not diminished in the slightest.

Such a person should be in the imperial court or an academy, but now he is trapped in this rural accounting office, calculating the accounts of cloth and rice with her.

It's really fate that plays tricks on people.

"I just hope it ends soon."

Liu Wenying sighed softly and turned to tidy up the scattered bell strings on the table.

"Xue Bi, please sort out the accounts first. I just remembered there's soup simmering on the stove; I need to go check on the heat."

After saying that, she pushed open the door and went out, the hem of her skirt flashing at the threshold before disappearing from sight.

Xue Bi sat down at the table and opened the account book.

He picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and was about to put pen to paper when he heard footsteps outside the door.

It's not Liu Wenying.

His steps were heavy and steady, each step firm and solid, the kind of stride only someone who frequently walks mountain paths would have.

Xue Bi looked up and saw a person standing at the door.

He wore a dark brown short-sleeved shirt and was tall with broad shoulders and a wide back.

And those unforgettable heterochromatic eyes.

It's Lu Ye.

Xue Bi recognized him.

Tanxi Village is not big, and you've probably seen most of the people at both ends of the village.

Xue Bi taught children to read and helped villagers write letters, and was highly respected.

Because of his heterochromatic eyes, Lu Ye was always avoided by the villagers.

Everyone says his eyes are strangely shaped, and that he's destined to bring misfortune to his relatives.

Lu Ye and his grandmother lived in a thatched hut at the foot of the mountain outside the village, making a living by hunting.

The two of them never spoke to each other.

They were both somewhat surprised to meet in this tent at this moment.

Lu Ye was clearly not expecting Xue Bi to be inside, and stood frozen at the doorway.

"Isn't Liu Zhuangtou here? Granny Wang just said she's in the accounting room."

Xue Bi put down his pen, stood up, and bowed.

"She went out a while ago. Brother Lu, is there something you need her for?"

The way he called him "Brother Lu" was so natural that Lu Ye was taken aback.

When villagers saw him, they mostly called him "Feeding" or "Lu Manzi," or simply avoided his gaze.

This is the first time I've been addressed with such politeness.

"I've come to return something to Liuzhuangtou."

"Just give it to me, I can take care of it."

Lu Ye shook his head. "No, I have to return it to her myself."

As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Wenying turned back. When she saw Lu Ye, she was first taken aback, then her eyebrows curved into a smile.

"Brother Lu? What brings you here?"

His smile was genuine, without the slightest hint of forcedness.

Xue Bi saw this and his fingers tightened slightly as he held the account book.

But Liu Wenying treated Lu Ye very well, and he also tried his best to calm his expression.

Liu Wenying didn't dislike Lu Ye; on the contrary, she was very grateful.

If he hadn't saved her last time, she would have been seriously injured or killed if the broken tree trunk had fallen.

"I've come to return your handkerchief."

After Lu Ye finished speaking, he took out a cloth bag from his pocket.

Unfolding layer by layer, the innermost part was a plain white silk handkerchief, folded neatly and squarely, washed clean, without a trace of blood.

Liu Wenying accepted it shyly, saying, "It's kind of you to keep it."

Lu Ye said very seriously, "I promised to pay it back."

Having personally delivered the items to Liu Wenying, Lu Ye had no reason to linger any longer.

He turned to leave, when a burst of laughter came from outside the door.

Liu Wenying's expression changed drastically, and she tried to hide, but Jin Koumei was too fast, and it was too late to hide.

"Master Liu, I've finally found you! I've made several trips to the village, but you were always too busy. Today, I waited until dark just to see you!"

Liu Wenying forced a smile, "Why did you come at this hour? You could have just sent someone to deliver a message."

Jin Koumai smiled broadly, his eyes practically disappearing from his grin.

"Hey, I'd been looking for you several times before and hadn't found you. I figured by evening, the head of the village would be back in his room resting, right? Look, I caught him!"

"So what exactly do you want from me?"

"What could possibly be wrong with me?"

Jin Koumai slapped her thigh, causing her red and green dress to sway.

"Of course, it's a good thing to play matchmaker! Did you see the exchange invitation we sent last time? What did you think of it?"

Change the post?

Liu Wenying was taken aback, then remembered that she had indeed sent out two invitations.

But she never saw the exchange of invitations.

That day, Pei Zeyu came to the manor and took away the exchange invitation, telling her not to worry about it.

Where did she see any exchange notices?

"I..." Liu Wenying opened her mouth, the words swirling on her tongue, but she swallowed them back.

They couldn't very well say that it was intercepted by the second master of the Duke's mansion; that would be even more unclear.

Jin Koumie suddenly noticed the two people in the room, exclaimed "Oh dear!" and realized what was going on.

"So that's why! You two knew each other all along! That's great, saves me the trouble of explaining!"

All three of them were taken aback.

Lu Ye frowned, his black and gold heterochromatic eyes filled with confusion.

Xue Bi put down the account book in her hand, her gentle eyes looking at Jin Koumei, waiting for her to continue.

Jin Koumei, however, had already swayed over to Lu Ye, looked him up and down, then turned to Xue Bi, and finally smiled at Liu Wenying:

"Master Liu, didn't you say last time that you wanted to find a man who was an orphan, of good character, handsome, and who wouldn't mind marrying into your family? I was just worrying about that, and look what happened!"

She pointed at Lu Ye, then at Xue Bi, "There are two right here!"

Liu Wenying's mind went blank for a moment.

She remembered.

Several months ago, when the matchmaker from Jinkou first came to propose marriage, she was annoyed by his persistent requests and casually made a few excuses.

One should be without parents to avoid trouble with mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.

One should have good character and good looks; one shouldn't compromise oneself.

He also needs to be willing to marry into the family and prioritize her and Luo Luo's interests in everything.

It was just a casual remark, but she remembered it and actually found a few suitable candidates.

Their business skills are truly outstanding...

"Lu the Hunter, he only has a grandmother who lives in a thatched hut at the foot of the mountain. She's tall and very caring!"

"And needless to say, Master Xue is both learned and handsome; everyone in the village praises him."

"Liu Zhuangtou, which one do you like?"

…………