Chapter 144: Being Targeted

“I’ll go with you,” Xiao Huai’an gently reassured her, patting her back to calm her nerves.

This was Ye Xin Ran’s second time appearing in court.

Magistrate Qiao sat in the judge’s seat, his usual composed demeanor nowhere to be seen.

When he saw Ye Xin Ran, his expression grew even more complicated.

After several rounds of questioning, it was clear that Ye Xin Ran had no involvement in the case, and the magistrate ordered the court session to be dismissed.

Before she left, Magistrate Qiao gave her a warning: “Be careful.”

“Understood,” Ye Xin Ran replied.

With Ye Da Cheng’s where abouts unknown and Zou Shi and her daughter dead under mysterious circumstances, Magistrate Qiao had spent two sleepless nights.

But soon, even more disturbing news reached him: the coroner’s examination revealed that Ye Xin Yao had been pregnant.

Ye Xin Yao had broken off her engagement with Qiao Zi Yu not long ago and had not remarried. How could she be pregnant?

Qiao Zheng Shan immediately suspected his own son.

If that wretched son of his was responsible, Qiao Zheng Shan felt he might just crack open his son’s skull to see what was going on inside.

“Keep the fact that Ye Xin Yao was pregnant a secret for now. We can’t risk alerting the culprit,” Qiao Zheng Shan instructed.

He then ordered the steward to fetch Qiao Zi Yu so he could question him at home.

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Meanwhile, Ye Xin Ran and Xiao Huai’an returned home.

On the way, Ye Xin Ran felt as though a pair of eyes was constantly watching her.

The sensation unsettled her deeply.

After arriving home, she glanced outside several times, but seeing no one following, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, chalking it up to her imagination.

“The foundation of the house isn’t even finished yet, and now this happens. How are we supposed to get anything done?” Ye Xin Ran sighed in frustration. “Everyone keeps telling me to be careful, but how can I be when I don’t even know who the enemy is? Should I stop building the house? Should the children stop studying?”

“Don’t worry,” Xiao Huai’an comforted her.

“The fact that the murderer chose to act on Xiu Jin Mountain means they’re very afraid of being discovered. Right now, they’re probably hiding in some dark corner.”

“Do you think they might attack at night?” Ye Xin Ran couldn’t shake off the feeling of being watched.

“I felt like I was being followed at the county office. It made my skin crawl.”

“I’m here,” Xiao Huai’an said with unwavering determination. “I won’t let anyone harm even a hair on your head.”

“And there are traps in the yard. If anyone tries to come in, it won’t be that easy.”

“Alright!”

Seeing Xiao Huai’an’s attitude, Ye Xin Ran finally felt reassured.

With Xiao Huai’an around, she indeed felt much more secure.

Xiao Huai’an added, “Later, I’ll move the bed from that room. Tonight, the four of us will sleep in the same room.”

Ye Xin Ran immediately agreed with a nod.

She didn’t dare sleep in a room alone with the children, nor could she let the two kids sleep by themselves. Moving them into one room together was the best solution for now.

With everything arranged, life returned to its usual pace.

During the day, the villagers continued to help at Xiao’s house. After the foundation was dug, the brick layers started setting up lines and building walls. The blue bricks Ye Xin Ran had bought were uniform in shape, and the house was coming up quickly. In just three days, the structure was already taking shape.

At night, Ye Xin Ran and Xiao Huai’an, along with the two children, slept in one room.

Ye Xin Ran had originally planned to sleep with Chang An, but now that Chang An was more sensible, he refused to sleep with his aunt. He insisted on sleeping with his older brother instead.

“Brother said that if I keep sleeping with Aunt, she won’t be able to have a little sister. I won’t monopolize Aunt, so will she be able to give me a little sister tomorrow?”

Ye Xin Ran was speechless.

“Who told you that? Chang Ping, was it you?”

Ye Xin Ran looked toward Chang Ping, who was standing nearby.

The honest Chang Ping immediately shook his head, “No, no, it wasn’t me. It was Big Brother who told us.”

“Good for you, Chang Sheng! Instead of studying well at the academy, you’re teaching your younger brother these nonsense things. Just wait until you come back, I’ll deal with you!”

Ye Xin Ran blushed.

Meanwhile, Chang Sheng, who was at the academy, suddenly sneezed.

He rubbed his nose, wondering if he had dressed too lightly, not knowing that his two younger brothers had already sold him out.

The next few days passed peacefully.

At first, the villagers were a little nervous, occasionally whispering among themselves, worried that something might happen at Xiao’s house.

But soon, they realized there was nothing to be afraid of, and gradually stopped bringing it up.

It might have just been an accident. The Ye family had encountered mountain bandits on their way out, and bandits kill without reason!

Life continued as usual. Besides threshing the grain, everyone helped at Xiao’s house to earn some wages.

The only change was with Zhang Da Shi’s family.

At the start of the construction, Old Lady Zhang had been refused by Ye Xin Ran, who wouldn’t let her earn money by helping out. Zhang Old Lady was furious for a long time, occasionally coming out to shout insults.

But in recent days, Old Lady Zhang seemed to have calmed down, and she appeared in better spirits.

She, who was always so stingy, even went into the city and bought two pig knuckles to bring home.

“Did Zhang Da Ge come back and give you some money?”

A villager saw her and teasingly asked.

Old Lady Zhang sneered.

“That good for nothing can’t earn much money. If we rely on him, the two of us will starve to death!”

Someone couldn’t stand hearing that and replied, “Aren’t these past years all about Zhang Da Ge going out to make money for you two to spend? I think your son, Da Shi, should be a bit more sensible now!”

“Our Da Shi is much more capable than his father!”

Old Lady Zhang defended her son. “Our Da Shi is the one who makes big money, unlike his father and some others,”

As she spoke, she glanced at a few women who were watching and added, “Some people can only see small money, and in this lifetime, all they’ll ever earn is small money!”

With that, she held her head high, walking off proudly.

Er Dan’s mother spat on the ground. “Tch! A petty person gets a little success!”

“With that son of hers, who never leaves the house, where could he possibly go to make money? Big money, in her dreams!” someone echoed.

But Da Zhu’s mother said, “Didn’t you all notice? I saw Old Lady Zhang wearing a jade bracelet.”

“I saw it too. That bracelet looks like it’s in good condition!”

“Could it really be Da Shi who bought it for her?”

“Bah! You’re talking nonsense! It’s probably that Old Lady Zhang has found herself a lover, and the lover bought it for her.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. With her ugly old face, who could possibly be interested in her?”

After a round of discussion, everyone chuckled and dispersed.

When Old Lady Zhang returned home, she quickly shut the yard gate.

Before the smile on her face had faded, she saw someone sitting in the living room. The person’s expression was cold, and their gaze sharp like a knife, as if they could kill with just a look.

Old Lady Zhang shuddered in fear.

Her smile disappeared immediately.

“Guest… guest, why are you out? Was it too cold in the cellar? If you’re uncomfortable there, you can stay in my room. I’ll squeeze in with Da Shi.”

The man asked, “Where did you go again?”

“I… I just went to pick up some rice stalks from the field,” Old Lady Zhang answered, feeling guilty.

“Is the money I gave you not enough to buy the rice in your field? You can’t stay put, can you? It seems I need to find a new place to live!”