“I also brought you some forest soil. You should change it out from time to time—that way the ginseng seedling will grow well. Don’t put it in direct sunlight. Keep it in a shaded area, and the soil should stay moist…”

Lu Qingqing carefully explained the key points, while Li Moran listened intently.

In the distance, two people were approaching quickly—a tall, impatient man dragging along an elderly doctor.

“Old Pang, you’ve got to keep your eyes sharp this time. I want to know exactly how that woman treated my young master with acupuncture. I’ve got a feeling this father-daughter pair is hiding something.”

“Don’t worry, Young Master Fu,” said Old Pang. “I’ll be sure to watch everything closely.”

As they neared, Fu Leng accidentally bumped into Li Moran.

“Ah! My ginseng baby!”

The tiny ginseng sprout, soil and all, fell to the ground.

Li Moran quickly crouched down in panic.

Her maid had already started yelling at Fu Leng: “What kind of way is that to walk? Do you have any idea how valuable that was?!”

“Qingqing-meimei, come check quickly! Did the root get damaged?” Li Moran didn’t dare touch it.

“This is all my fault—you gave me something so precious, and I couldn’t even hold it properly. Please don’t let the root be hurt…”

Fu Leng turned his head—and saw Lu Qingqing.

“You?! What are you doing here, ugly woman? Ginseng baby? It’s just a stupid weed!”

Lu Qingqing: What terrible luck today. Walked right into a pile of dung.

She crouched down and carefully replanted the ginseng sprout.

“Sister Moran, go home and get it planted quickly.”

“Alright!”

“Hold it right there!” Fu Leng stepped in to block them, glaring coldly at Lu Qingqing. “Don’t let her fool you. That woman’s nothing but trouble.”

“Who are you calling trouble? You bump into people and then start yelling insults? You’re the one who’s no good!”

Lu Yun and Xixi had gotten off the cart and now stood protectively by Lu Qingqing’s side.

Li Moran recognized Fu Leng—he was the county magistrate’s attendant, frequently seen inviting Doctor Pang to the magistrate’s residence.

She immediately signaled Lu Yun with her eyes, then explained carefully: “Young Master Fu, you’ve misunderstood. She didn’t deceive me.”

Doctor Pang also glanced at the sprout and said, “This really is a young ginseng shoot.”

“You people don’t know anything. Out of my way!” Fu Leng remained convinced that Lu Qingqing was conning them.

“Ugly and stupid woman, now you’re causing trouble in town? You really think my blade is just for show?!”

Lu Qingqing held back her anger and said calmly, “Didn’t your young master tell you yesterday that the misunderstanding between us was resolved?”

“Yesterday?” Fu Leng frowned, then suddenly his eyes turned vicious.

“So that’s why my young master’s condition got worse again—he ran into you, you jinx!”

“I don’t think any pregnant woman will be around to protect you this time!”

Without another word, Fu Leng seized Lu Qingqing.

“To jail with you!”

Lu Qingqing: “…”

Lu Yun and Xixi lunged forward, but Fu Leng kicked them both away easily.

“You dare lay hands on an officer? You all want a turn in jail?”

Lu Qingqing could no longer suppress her fury. Her voice turned cold.

“Second Brother, Xixi, stay calm! Don’t interfere. Certain people will come begging to release me soon enough.”

Xiao Xixi suddenly remembered something and couldn’t hold back any longer.

“My aunt saved the magistrate’s son! You can’t repay kindness with cruelty—let her go! Let her go!”

Fu Leng dismissed their words as nonsense and threw Lu Qingqing straight into jail.

..

Meanwhile, back in Liuyun Village, there was joyous news.

Ning Xiuwen had passed the county-level imperial exam and become a Xiucai!

This was the first Xiucai the village had ever produced, and the village head was thrilled.

They even lit firecrackers for half an hour to celebrate.

A crowd gathered to offer congratulations.

The scandal from a few days ago seemed to vanish in the smoke of the firecrackers.

There were only about twenty Xiucai in the whole county. For one to come from their village—it was no small matter!

No one had expected Ning Xiuwen to really pass!

Madam Liu lifted her chin high with pride, soaking in the villagers’ admiring stares.

She looked like she’d already become a noble lady, no longer someone who would associate with common peasants.

And indeed, from that moment, her family had crossed into a new class—no longer ordinary folk.

They wouldn’t even need to kneel when meeting officials.

“Top of the exam list, wedding bells to follow… Now that you’ve passed, it’s time to marry Ding Xiang, right?” the village head reminded him.

After all, the recent scandal had been terrible. A quick marriage would help bury the incident—good for Ning Xiuwen’s reputation and future.

“Yes, Uncle Lǐzhèng,” Ning Xiuwen answered respectfully. “Once Uncle Ding and Ding Xiang return, we’ll arrange the wedding.”

He was riding high on his success, like a turtle finally emerging from its shell. Even his voice was full of confidence.

“Village head!”

Cui Shitou came running from a distance.

Someone from the village had been thrown into jail, and only the village head had the authority to inquire at the county yamen.

“Lu Qingqing again?! When will that girl finally settle down?”

The village head’s cheerful expression vanished immediately.

Causing trouble again!

“Village head, maybe it wasn’t Lu Qingqing’s fault,” someone suggested. “The officer looked real unreasonable. Maybe it’s just a misunderstanding?”

“What misunderstanding? Who would arrest someone for no reason?!”

People really were different.

Ding Xiang had been escorted by an official carriage to see a doctor—a guest of honor at the magistrate’s home.

Ning Xiuwen had become a Xiucai, with boundless prospects.

And Lu Qingqing? Now she was a prisoner in the county jail.

“Village head, need any help?” Ning Xiuwen approached.

Becoming a Xiucai came with many benefits: tax exemption, a student stipend, the right to open a private school or serve as a legal advisor.

Even in the county yamen, the magistrate would treat a Xiucai with courtesy.

Of course, the village head welcomed his help.

“Perfect timing. Xiuwen, come with me to the yamen. Let’s see what’s going on. If it’s really a misunderstanding, I’d appreciate it if you could say a few words on her behalf.”

“No problem, Uncle.”

Ning Xiuwen smiled gently—but his eyes were filled with scorn and malice.

Of course he would help. He would “help” Lu Qingqing very thoroughly.