Selecting a Male Companion in the Village

"Lingdang, don't laugh so terrifyingly, it makes me feel uneasy," Li Yanhao took two steps back.

Lingdang stepped forward two steps, grinning as she grabbed Li Yanhao's collar and looked up at him, saying, "Young Master, aren't you a 'duanxiu'?"

"Pah pah pah! Who's a 'duanxiu'? I'm straight, completely straight!" Li Yanhao's ears flushed; he didn't know why he was so eager to deny it when Lingdang called him that.

Lingdang waved her hand and said, "Young Master, whether you're straight or not doesn't matter. What matters is the whole village thinks you're a 'duanxiu'."

"That’s only because you all deliberately mislead them!" Li Yanhao got angry just thinking about it. Damn Xiao Zetian, damn Xiao Yun, ruining his straight reputation and turning him into the village's confirmed 'duanxiu'!

"Exactly! Tomorrow, have your men spread the word around the village that you want to pick a male favorite. Then hint and suggest that you've taken a liking to Zhang Zhaocai, giving the Zhang family some silver as a token, so they raise Zhang Zhaocai until he's eighteen and then send him to you! Zhang Zhaocai's father and stepmother are greedy and money-minded. Once they know you fancy Zhang Zhaocai, they definitely won’t mistreat him!" Lingdang clapped her hands, laughing.

"No way, no way!" Li Yanhao shivered and jumped on the spot, pointing at Lingdang’s nose. "You bad thing, I don’t want my reputation!"

"Tsk, didn’t you say you wanted to save someone? Are you going to watch Zhang Zhaocai get abused by his parents and die?" Lingdang crossed her arms and pouted pitifully at the poor Zhang Zhaocai on the ground.

Li Yanhao looked at the unlucky boy and felt a pang of compassion.

Lingdang struck while the iron was hot, "Come on, just spread a little rumor. In this small village, it won’t go far. Besides, the villagers already think you’re a 'duanxiu'. When there are too many lice, it doesn’t itch anymore. What are you afraid of?"

"Well... that actually sounds reasonable." Li Yanhao scratched his head, inexplicably feeling Lingdang’s idea wasn’t bad.

"Then it’s settled!" Lingdang patted Li Yanhao’s shoulder. "Tomorrow, have your men start spreading the news. As long as the news that you fancy Zhang Zhaocai reaches Zhang Zhuzi’s ears, this kid’s life will be saved. Young Master, you’ll be a lifesaver and earn immense merit!"

"Pah, you’re tricking me again!" Li Yanhao huffed twice but didn’t argue, tacitly agreeing to Lingdang’s plan.

"It’s settled then. Let’s go home. Tomorrow, whatever you want to eat, just say it. I’ll cook for you myself," Lingdang said as she lightly jumped onto the rooftop.

Li Yanhao immediately followed, whispering in Lingdang’s ear, "It’s agreed then, whatever dishes I order, you have to make them. No cutting corners, no slacking off, no complaining about how much I order, no saying I’m annoying..."

In the following days, Su Li was busy compiling textbooks, preparing to join Wutong Academy. She barely left the house each day, completely unaware that undercurrents were already stirring outside.

Early in the morning, Zhang Zhuzi and Qin Sanniang got up. Qin Sanniang went to the firewood shed and kicked Zhang Zhaocai awake, then gave him a harsh scolding.

Zhang Zhaocai cried as he dragged his broken leg and barely managed to make breakfast.

After breakfast, Zhang Zhuzi and Qin Sanniang planned to visit Director Zhang in Qingmiao City to gather more information and see if the village chief’s matter had been resolved.

The two went to the village entrance to take a carriage and happened to see Zhang Mu also on the carriage, preparing to go to Qingmiao City.

Qin Sanniang immediately approached Zhang Mu with a sarcastic tone: "Oh, I was wondering why there were magpies chirping at the gate early this morning. Turns out it’s because we met a nobleman—our village chief Zhang Mu!"

Zhang Mu saw Qin Sanniang’s sarcastic attitude and silently ignored her, not bothering to respond.

Qin Sanniang got even more excited, covering her mouth and laughing: "Oh dear, I forgot, Zhang Mu is a fake village chief, self-appointed! Oh Zhang Mu, why don’t you crown yourself a prince or general? Oh my, what a disgrace, embarrassing yourself all the way to your grandmother’s house, a laugh for the ages!"