Chapter 161 Returning Home as a Bride

Liang Xiao did not ride a horse; instead, he shared a carriage with Xu Ruojin.

Though the Liang family carriage was not overly luxurious, its specifications and amenities were far superior to those of the Xu family. The spacious interior could easily seat six people. Lined with sheepskin rugs and warmed by a stove burning silver charcoal, it made Xu Ruojin want to curl up against the cushions and fall right asleep. However, worrying she might ruin her elaborate hair bun, she could only dream about it.

Liang Xiao half-reclined against a soft pillow, reading a book with intense concentration. Xu Ruojin leaned closer, only to discover that he was reading a medical text.

"Surprised?" Liang Xiao kept his eyes on the book, speaking to her casually. "They say a person with a long-term illness eventually becomes a good doctor. I thought I'd give it a try."

"Are the medicinal brews you take at night prescribed by yourself?" Xu Ruojin stared at him, her brows slightly furrowed.

Liang Xiao neither denied nor confirmed it. "Have you looked at those medicines?"

"I have. They don't look like cures; at best, they're for maintenance." Blunt and straightforward, Xu Ruojin voiced her assessment directly.

Liang Xiao suddenly fixed his gaze on her, giving Xu Ruojin a terrible start. "Why are you looking at me like that? Are you going to eat me?"

"Nothing," Liang Xiao's expression softened slightly. "You certainly know how to hide your talents. If you hadn't spoken up, I wouldn't have guessed you have such a thorough understanding of pharmacology. Just remember that saying too much can lead to trouble."

"I don't need you lecturing me here." Xu Ruojin rolled her eyes dramatically. "It wasn't my intention to find out what's wrong with you, so why did you let me take charge of your medicines and dietary formulas last night? When you married me, you knew I wasn't some fool who could be easily fooled. It's too late for regrets now."

"Do you regret it?" Liang Xiao watched as she pouted and turned her face away.

Xu Ruojin nodded. "I regret it."

"Let me make it up to you..." Liang Xiao reached out and pulled her into his arms, sending Xu Ruojin into an immediate, flustered panic!

"Don't move around like that! What are you doing? This is a carriage, no hanky-panky allowed, let me go right now—"

"What are you thinking?" Liang Xiao let her rest her head against his arm and resumed reading his book. "I didn't take you for such a lewd person."

Xu Ruojin's face flushed bright red, but looking at the slight smirk on the corner of his mouth, she could tell he was just teasing her!

*Bad guy!* Xu Ruojin cursed him bitterly in her heart. Unwilling to swallow her grievance just like that, she retorted angrily:

"Didn't you say last time that if I ever opened a wine shop, you'd help me out whenever I asked? I'm going to need medicinal herbs, I'm going to need wine, and I'm going to need people!"

"Granted." Liang Xiao gave her backside a sharp pat. "Stop moving for now, I'm reading."

"Hmph!"

Jounced, jostled, and coddled all the way, Xu Ruojin's hair bun was already completely disheveled by the time they arrived.

Upon reaching the Xu residence, Liang Xiao got out of the carriage first, and Xu Ruojin called Mother Huang inside to help her tidy up.

Catching sight of Fourth Young Madam's flushed face, Mother Huang's imagination immediately wandered. "The weather is still quite chilly, Your Ladyship, you must take good care of your health."

"Huh?"

Xu Ruojin didn't understand at first. But when she saw the knowing look on Mother Huang's face, she wished a hole would open up in the floor so she could crawl in. "You've got it all wrong, it's not like that..."

Mother Huang breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as it's not, as long as it's not. Especially in such freezing cold weather."

"Hurry and tidy up so we can get off; everyone's waiting outside. Let's not give them room for idle thoughts." Xu Ruojin quickly cut Mother Huang off. The two of them hastily finished straightening up before Chuncao lifted the carriage curtain and helped the Fourth Young Madam down.

Although she had only been away for three days, stepping back into the Xu family home made Xu Ruojin feel as though a profound change had taken place within her from the inside out.

Seeing the onlookers gathered outside the gates, Xu Ruojin turned and smiled faintly, nodding in acknowledgement. She glanced at Hongxing, who immediately retrieved a small basket filled with festive reward pouches.

Catching two handfuls, Hongxing tossed them toward the children.

The sounds of cheerful laughter and shouting filled the air, instantly enlivening the atmosphere at the entrance.

Xu Yaohui stood at the doorway with a broad smile. "It's good to be back, so good to be back. Hurry inside, it's cold out here."

"Yes, Father."

Supported by Chuncao, Xu Ruojin slowly stepped across the threshold of the Xu residence.

The forty crates of return gifts were carried through the front gates one after another, and the crowd of onlookers outside grew steadily larger.

Some were stunned by the sheer extravagance of the Liang family's display;

Others immediately realized that the rumors of Madam Liang looking down on Xu Ruojin were utterly baseless;

Some speculated whether the boxes might actually be empty inside;

While others remained completely silent, intently counting the exact number of crates...

The overlapping waves of discussion once again made the Xu family the focal point of Zhonglin County.

Yet inside the main reception hall of the estate, Xu Ruojin encountered an unexpected face: Xu Zilin.

Xu Zilin had only returned to the Xu family yesterday. In truth, he had been back for a while longer, but had kept himself out of sight.

Seeing Xu Ruojin married off in grand style and returning home in equal splendor, his heart was a chaotic mix of emotions, leaving him entirely at a loss for words.

Back then, he had been swindled by Zhang Zhongheng and had nearly dragged his younger sister down with him. Looking back now, he realized how utterly bastardly his actions had been.

Hearing from his family that when Li Qiuping gave birth to her son, it was his second sister who stood guard by her side and even supplemented the compensation money out of her own pocket, Xu Zilin felt he had no face left to meet her, yet he could no longer avoid stepping foot into the Xu home.

Now, laying eyes on Liang Xiao and then on Xu Ruojin, he could only stand there, flashing an awkward, sheepish smile without uttering a single word.

Xu Ruojin stepped forward to greet him, but did not sit down for a leisurely chat.

For it wasn't just Xu Zilin who had returned; there was also another outsider present in the room—Yan Hongwen.

Why hasn't he left yet?

Liang Xiao showed not the slightest bit of surprise at the appearance of Xu Zilin and Yan Hongwen. However, watching Xu Zimo grab hold of Xu Ruojin, weeping tears of snot and sorrow as he expressed how much he missed her, Liang Xiao looked exceptionally displeased!

"Second Sister, you'd only been gone for two days, but I missed you so much!"

Though Xu Zimo possessed a chubby frame, his eyes were red-rimmed. "I didn't realize it when you were around, but ever since you left that day, my heart has felt so empty..."

Grasping Xu Ruojin's hand tightly, Xu Zimo pleaded, "Can I come visit you at your place when I have free time?"

"Of course. Come whenever you like."

Feeling the back of her neck burn under Liang Xiao's intense glare, Xu Ruojin patted Xu Zimo's shoulder and handed him a handkerchief.

Yan Hongwen half-archily raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching. "Such a big man, still crying like a baby. Look at all that flab on you, tsk tsk..."

Xu Zimo didn't dare talk back, only pulling a rebellious face and looking away.

Sensing something amiss, Xu Zilin urged Xu Ruojin to go back and rest first. "We had your courtyard cleaned up early this morning, and it's being kept for you from now on. Go take a look and see if it's to your liking."

"Go ahead. I'll stay here and keep Young Master Yan company on your behalf." As Liang Xiao spoke, his gaze locked directly onto Yan Hongwen.

Xu Ruojin felt that these men were all behaving rather inexplicably, plus she indeed had things she needed to discuss with her father. "...Then I'll accompany Father for a cup of tea first."

"Good, good. Let us father and daughter have a proper chat."

Xu Yaohui immediately led the way toward the study. Xu Zimo wanted desperately to tag along behind his second sister, but was pinned down by a heavy hand from Liang Xiao. "Sit. We'll be drinking later!"

"Huh? Oh—right, right."

Xu Zimo shrank his neck. Seeing Liang Xiao's imposing, robust stature, he knew instantly that this brother-in-law was someone he could even less afford to provoke.

Xu Zilin remained in the main hall to keep Liang Xiao and Yan Hongwen company.

As for Yan Hongwen as a person, he found him rather peculiar as well...