"This place is cold and deserted. How can we let Rao'er stay here? Isn't the side room in your courtyard empty? That area is warmer." Madam Chen glared at Fang Yu: "I think you've truly lost your mind."
"Mother is the one who has lost her mind. Hezhi and I live together. If we make any noise during the night, I'm afraid it's not something an unmarried young lady like Cousin should hear."
"You! What kind of nonsense are you spouting?!"
Though Madam Chen was a woman of considerable experience, hearing such blunt words from her usually refined son deeply embarrassed her. It seemed that once a man tasted a meat, his character indeed underwent a change.
Yin Rao'er felt deeply humiliated today. Hearing these words, her eyes reddened, and she genuinely started crying: "Is Cousin still blaming me for the marriage proposals my family received? But that was Father's idea, it has nothing to do with me."
"Cousin has now married a beautiful fulang and has long forgotten your past promises. Now you dislike me, a rustic village girl, for being unsightly. I won't incur Cousin's dislike anymore. I'll return to the village now. In the future… in the future, Cousin, don't come looking for me again…"
After speaking, Yin Rao'er covered her eyes with her handkerchief and walked towards the door. However, after leaving the room, Fang Yu didn't call her back. Instead, he picked up his teacup again and blew on the tea foam. Furious and annoyed, she stamped her foot: "Cousin~"
"What? Has Cousin had a change of heart and decided not to leave?" Fang Yu lifted his eyelids and glanced at Yin Rao'er. "It's only natural for a young woman of marriageable age to be matched with a suitable family. When your wedding day is set, please send an invitation. I will ensure my fulang prepares a generous gift for you."
"Cousin, you! I never thought you could be so cruel!"
Fang Yu chuckled lightly. This was an unfortunate remnant from the past. Had Yin Rao'er been a virtuous and kind-hearted young woman, he would have treated her with nothing but respect. However, since she had chosen to come and make trouble, he saw no reason to offer her any courtesy.
Seeing the situation was truly awkward, Madam Chen acted as the peacemaker: "Alright, alright, both of you say less. Qian pozi, you take Rao'er down first to see today's room. Go and tidy up the side room at Changshou Hall."
When only the two of them remained in the room, Madam Chen finally spoke to Fang Yu: "What's wrong with you today? Why did you speak to Rao'er like that? You came back without a word and went to Qiao Hezhi's side first. Now you come here and don't mention a word about Qiao Hezhi's outrageous behavior, but instead turn around and blame me and Rao'er."
"I have no objection to you reclaiming those ten mu of land," Madam Chen stated. "I never approved of you letting the Yin family use it in the first place. But to announce it so bluntly... that shrew from the Yin family will certainly throw a fit. Don't come blaming me later when you find you cannot marry Rao'er."
Fang Yu said: "The Yin family's intention is to use those ten mu of land as the bride price before they will agree to give Yin Rao'er to us. In these times, land is an essential asset for livelihood, and this is ten mu of prime farmland. I don't think the Yin family's daughter is worth ten mu of land. Moreover, the Yin family is also considering multiple options. They are already privately looking for wealthy farming families for Yin Rao'er. Our family shouldn't join that commotion. Let's focus on living our own lives well."
Madam Chen looked at Fang Yu as if she had seen a ghost. His words didn't sound like he was angry, but rather as if he truly had no more affection for Yin Rao'er. She didn't feel happy about this; instead, she found the person before her somewhat frightening.
To say Fang Yu and Yin Rao'er had deep feelings wasn't entirely true.
The Yin family was considered a wealthy household in Fangju Village. Their only daughter, Yin Rao'er, was dearly loved by her family and had rather high ambitions. When their Fang Yu was studying, he hadn't been exposed to many girls. Because the Yin family lived closest to them and he could see her every day, and because Yin Rao'er was considered quite good-looking in the village, Fang Yu developed an interest.
Now that the family's situation had improved, and there were more temptations outside, it was reasonable for Fang Yu to look down on Yin Rao'er. But this change was just a bit too fast.
Madam Chen said directly: "I find you very strange lately, as if you've become a different person."
Upon hearing this, Fang Yu instead curled his lips into a smile, but the smile didn't reach his eyes as he looked at Madam Chen: "Your vision is sharp and your heart clear. You've finally noticed. I thought you, Mother, had never had any doubts."
"What do you mean?"
Fang Yu straightened his sleeves and spoke with deliberate nonchalance, "I had originally planned to keep this matter to myself. Since I now wear this face, I continue to address you respectfully as 'Mother.' If a mother is kind, her son will naturally be filial. However, you have chosen not to live peacefully and instead insist on creating disturbances. Therefore, I see no alternative but to speak plainly."
He glanced coldly at Madam Chen: "Your precious son drowned in the river long ago. The person you see now is merely a stranger occupying his body. But don't worry. If you live peacefully, I will naturally still provide for you properly. But if you again act crazily and insult Qiao Hezhi like today, I won't indulge you like your son did. Whoever doesn't want to live a good life…"
Fang Yu paused, the chill in his gaze deepening: "…then I won't let them have a good life either."
Madam Chen's heart seemed to skip a beat. For a moment, her mind reeled, overwhelmed by the shock of his words.
The humble and submissive person before her now seemed like a fearsome king of hell. She stared fixedly at Fang Yu, undoubtedly frightened. It took her a long while before she shook her head and said: "Impossible. This is simply impossible. You're talking nonsense."
"It's like you've drunk wine, spouting crazy talk. You clearly look exactly like my son. How could you be someone else?"
Fang Yu felt no urgency to convince Madam Chen. He stated calmly, "Whether you choose to believe me is your own affair. But my meaning should be perfectly clear to you now, Mother. You would be wise to mind your conduct accordingly."
With these words, Fang Yu rose to his feet. Paying no heed to Madam Chen's horrified expression, he strode out of Changshou Hall and left.
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