Chapter 55: He Jiaojiao, Who Doesn’t Want to Get Married

“Who upset her?”

Several people quickly stepped out of the house.

“What’s going on?” Xiaojiu asked her.

“That scumbag! I’m so mad. My cousin is actually going to marry that Li Qiang tomorrow. She promised me she would cancel the engagement, but surely Auntie and Uncle don’t agree to break it off. My cousin has no choice. Village Chief, what should we do? I don’t want my cousin to marry Li Qiang, but they’re getting married tomorrow.”

Shen Zhiyuan’s tears fell drop by drop.

She had always been close to her cousin since childhood. Hearing this news, she felt both angry and sad.

“What happened? What happened?” Zhao Hu, A Dou, and a few others who came early to grab breakfast hurried over to ask when they saw the commotion in the courtyard.

The little chubby kid simply explained what had just happened.

“Will many people attend the wedding at the Li Mansion?” Xiaojiu asked Shen Zhiyuan.

Shen Zhiyuan nodded: “The Li family’s main branch in the capital is a minor noble family, so many people will come because of these connections.”

She glanced at the little chubby kid and continued, “Your aunt and uncle will also be there.”

The chubby kid’s aunt was married to the youngest son of the Capital Ministry of Justice official. No wonder the Li family invited Madam Wang’s family and even specially sent an invitation to Wang’s already married youngest daughter.

It was probably an opportunity to get to know the Sun family as well.

Xiaojiu and A Dou exchanged a glance and immediately had an idea.

Xiaojiu said, “I have a way to make your cousin not marry him, but first we have to ask your cousin what she wants.”

Xiaojiu felt it necessary to clarify because what if her cousin insisted on jumping into the fire pit? So this matter had to be asked from the person involved first.

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhiyuan strangely stopped feeling sad—she just felt that since the Village Chief said it, the matter would definitely be solved.

Although the Village Chief was young, she was inexplicably trustworthy.

Shen Zhiyuan quickly said goodbye to everyone and rushed to her cousin’s house. She had to ask clearly. Since the Village Chief was willing to help, her cousin better not drag her feet.

After Shen Zhiyuan left, the little chubby kid sneakily asked the Village Chief, “Village Chief, are we going to snatch the wedding tomorrow?”

“What are you thinking! That’s not a good plan,” A Dou rolled his eyes at him.

That guy’s brain was as simple as Zhao Hu’s.

“What is it then?” The little chubby kid wasn’t offended by the eye roll—he had inherited his dad’s dumbness, and even the teacher said he was slow.

“Wait for news from Shen Zhiyuan, then make a plan.”

Xiaojiu said this, scooped up Cuihua, and went out for a walk.

A group of kids hurriedly followed behind.

They strolled all the way to the schoolhouse.

Inside were children’s clear reading voices and the teacher’s lecturing voice.

“Huh! Isn’t Teacher Xu not back yet? Who’s teaching?” They peeked inside curiously.

A young man they didn’t recognize.

Wang Zhengyi waved at them.

The few who originally planned to roam around were forced to attend classes all morning at the school.

Cuihua tried several times to sneak out but was firmly held back by Xiaojiu. A good brother sticks together in hardship.

After some brainwashing from Xiaojiu, Cuihua cluelessly squinted and sat in the classroom. Though it didn’t understand why a chicken needed education, it believed its master wouldn’t lie.

After the teacher finished the lesson, Wang Zhengyi brought the young man who just taught before the Village Chief and introduced him:

“This person was recommended by Teacher Xu. Teacher Xu sent a letter saying something urgent came up at home that delayed him, and to avoid disrupting the children’s studies, he recommended someone to teach.”

The young man cupped his hands and bowed to Xiaojiu: “I am Pei Xia, from the capital. My family has fallen on hard times. Fortunately, I was recommended by my respected teacher to come here and teach.”

Then he glanced at the little girl who was not even as tall as his thigh and continued, “Village Chief, please rest assured. I will devote all I know and live up to my teacher’s trust.”

Xiaojiu really wanted to stroke an imaginary beard like the clan elders and say something elegant like: “It is truly a great blessing for our village to have Mr. Pei here…”

But since Xiaojiu had no beard on her face, she could only use the plainest words to sincerely welcome the new teacher.

Xiaojiu solemnly patted Pei Xia’s hand and said, “Do well, I’m counting on you.”

After saying this, she grabbed Cuihua and dashed away, afraid the new teacher might catch her and force her to attend classes in the afternoon.

Once far away, Xiaojiu patted her chest.

That was close!

Almost had to go back to school again.

But she forgot there was still a system in her head.

System: ‘Host, as a qualified village chief, you must be knowledgeable and well-read…’

After rambling a long list, the system started playing videos of various famous teachers in Xiaojiu’s mind.

From historical classics to Confucian texts, astronomy and geography, economics and trade…

System: ‘Since the host doesn’t want to go to school, presumably disliking the atmosphere there, this system has personally found various famous teacher videos for you. From now on, we’ll do online classes. No need to go to school. You can learn anytime, anywhere.’

The system was very excited, thinking it had found a perfect solution.

Hearing this awful news, Xiaojiu really wanted to find a tofu block and die on it.

Was it still possible for her to return to school now?

“Village Chief, what’s wrong?” Zhao Hu saw the village chief who had been fine just moments ago, now looking like someone who had lost money—full of grief and anger.

“You don’t understand. With great power comes great responsibility. How lonely it is to be invincible.”

Xiaojiu walked home, hands behind her back, crying silently inside.

Just as she arrived at the courtyard, everyone saw the anxious Shen Zhiyuan.

“Back so soon?” A Dou asked.

Shen Zhiyuan, seeing the village chief return, immediately grabbed Xiaojiu’s hand and said, “My cousin said she’s willing to cooperate with your plan. She doesn’t want to marry Li Qiang, but my uncle doesn’t agree to break off the engagement. She can’t escape; my uncle has people watching her. Village Chief, what do you think we should do?”

Shen Zhiyuan was almost desperate.

The wedding was tomorrow. She wasn’t sure if rescuing her cousin tonight would be in time.

Hearing that Shen Zhiyuan’s cousin was willing to cooperate, Xiaojiu immediately began explaining her plan.

“First we do this, then that…”

“Can you two bring me into the Li Mansion tomorrow?” Xiaojiu asked.

“Of course, just say you’re my friends,” Shen Zhiyuan said, clearly confident it was no problem.

“But who will pretend to be the bride?” Shen Zhiyuan asked.

All eyes turned sharply to Jingxin.

Jingxin jumped three feet high.

“Absolutely not! No way! I don’t agree. Not a chance! I’m a real man; there’s no way I’ll dress as a bride. Don’t even think about it!”

Saying that, he even flexed his nonexistent biceps with great momentum.

Xiaojiu pulled out her ultimate weapon.

Moral coercion!

“Saving a life is worth more than building seven pagodas—what great merit this is! Can you bear to see your cousin enter the fire pit so young? You only need to sacrifice a little to save someone’s lifelong happiness. Isn’t that a noble deed…?”

“Yeah! You’re a good person, so kind. You will definitely help, right?” Shen Zhiyuan looked at him with hopeful eyes.