Chapter 84: Filial Duty

Jing Xi nodded. “Alright, but if that person keeps bothering you, we can’t just endure it forever. If it gets too much, you can ask the teacher for leave and say you need to go home to study. At least at home, it’s quiet and no one will disturb you.”

Liu Yan smiled. “Got it! Don’t worry about me!”

After packing up the lunchbox and reminding Liu Yan and Liu Chun about a couple more things, Jing Xi headed home.

On her way to the bus station, she once again saw that imported sedan with the 888 license plate.

From a distance, she noticed a man and a woman sitting in the backseat. The woman was wearing a white blouse, and her hair was neatly tied up at the back.

When the woman turned slightly, her side profile flashed past Jing Xi’s eyes—it looked incredibly familiar.

She had a nagging feeling that she had seen her somewhere before.

—

By the time she arrived back in the village, it was already quite late. Jing Xi quickly told Zhang Rui and Liu Jianchang that Liu Yan and Liu Chun were doing well before heading back to her room to rest.

The next morning, just as she got out of bed, she heard a commotion outside. When she opened the door, she saw a crowd gathered at the entrance, all watching something unfold.

She wasn’t one to miss out on excitement, so she joined them.

Right there in the middle of the road was the 888 sedan, seemingly broken down. A woman, exuding an air of wealth and elegance, stood to the side, clearly losing her temper. A man was beside her, trying his best to console her.

Meanwhile, two bodyguards were quietly working on fixing the car, not daring to utter a word.

The villagers standing around whispered among themselves.

The woman’s movements and expressions were filled with impatience.

But as Jing Xi listened to her voice, she couldn’t shake the feeling that it sounded oddly familiar.

Taking a closer look—and considering her distinct Shanxi accent—could it be that this was the same young lady from the Long family she had encountered before?

Just as she was thinking about it, the woman turned around.

She was dressed in a pale yellow qipao with a light blue shawl draped over her shoulders.

Her face was full of arrogance and frustration.

This was a completely different level of elegance.

As soon as she turned, Zhang Rui nudged Jing Xi. “Xiao Jing, this girl looks a bit like you. Maybe you two are relatives!”

Jing Xi pouted and quickly shrank back to avoid being seen by Xu Jin. “Auntie, stop joking. How could I possibly compare to her? You can tell at a glance that she comes from a rich and noble family. Me? I’m just a countryside bumpkin.”

“Hah! You never know!” Zhang Rui chuckled.

Jing Xi forced a laugh. “Auntie, I’m heading back to wash up and eat breakfast.”

Zhang Rui wasn’t too concerned. “Go on, go on. I’ve saved some for you.”

Jing Xi hurried back to the courtyard, grabbed a bowl of porridge, and went straight to her room.

Thinking about how she had offended Xu Jin last time, it was best if Xu Jin never found out that she lived in this village.

If Xu Jin was the vengeful type, she’d definitely make Jing Xi suffer!

Better to stay out of trouble—there was already enough going on.

If she could avoid a problem, she would.

While Jing Xi was busy hiding, Xu Jin had nowhere to hide.

She was already feeling miserable with so many villagers staring at her. They were all rural folk, gawking at her as if they had never seen a woman before.

“Quan Zhiwen, how much longer until the car is fixed?!” she snapped.

Quan Zhiwen glanced up. “Don’t worry, dear, it’ll be done soon. If you’re tired of waiting, we can start walking to the Xia family’s house instead?”

Xu Jin looked down at her shoes with a scowl. “Do you see what shoes I’m wearing? How am I supposed to walk? The road is full of rocks—what if I twist my ankle?”

Quan Zhiwen glanced at the car and said gently, “I brought a pair of flat shoes for you. How about you change into them first?”

Xu Jin was reluctant, but standing there while being stared at was even worse. “Fine, I’ll change in the car.”

After switching her shoes, she and Quan Zhiwen, accompanied by one of the bodyguards, started walking toward the Xia family’s house.

Xu Jin complained every few steps, but Quan Zhiwen didn’t seem the least bit annoyed. Instead, he patiently reassured her the entire way.

Only when they reached the Xia residence did Xu Jin finally adjust her expression.

“Zhiwen, do you think that old man will reject you again today?”

Quan Zhiwen shook his head. “I don’t know. He has a strange temperament. Even if he refuses, there’s nothing I can do about it. I can only try my best.”

Xu Jin didn’t quite understand. “If it really doesn’t work, why don’t we just find someone else? Why does it have to be this old man?”

Quan Zhiwen replied, “The old master at home specifically named him. I don’t have a choice. Let’s try again. If it really doesn’t work, we’ll just have to head back.”

Even though Xu Jin was unwilling, she had no choice but to listen.

If the old master of the Quan family had spoken, they had to obey.

Quan Zhiwen was already not very favored at home because of Xu Jin. If he could get this matter done successfully, the old master would surely look at him differently.

Xu Jin thought about Quan Zhiwen’s older brother, who was paralyzed in bed. If it weren’t for Quan Zhiwen stepping forward back then, she would have ended up marrying Quan Zhixiang instead.

There was no way she was going to marry a cripple!

Even if Quan Zhiwen wasn’t favored right now, at least he was healthy! And health was the foundation of everything.

Besides, he treated her well and didn’t even mind what she did outside.

Fine, she would wait. She might as well do it for Quan Zhiwen’s sake—to help him solidify his position.

After knocking on the door, they waited for a long time before Xia Lidong’s wife finally came to open it.

Seeing them, she looked a bit helpless. “I already explained clearly yesterday. Our old master has said that he won’t be doing any fortune-telling this month. Please go back.”

Quan Zhiwen remained persistent but polite. “Sister-in-law Xia, please help us ask the old master. I just need to say a few words to him. Once I’ve spoken, I’ll leave immediately!”

Although Xu Zhi felt troubled, she remained firm. “Just go back. Once my old man has made up his mind, no one can change it. Since you know how famous he is, you must also know that he has a lot of peculiarities. This is his decision, and he has his reasons. No one can talk him out of it.”

Being rejected once again irritated Xu Jin. “You didn’t even go inside to ask. How do you know he won’t change his mind? Besides, isn’t fortune-telling all about money and reputation? Just name your price. If it’s about money, our family certainly won’t be short on the cost of a reading!”

All that talk about reputation and eccentricity—Xu Jin believed it all boiled down to one thing: they hadn’t offered enough money.

The moment she finished speaking, Quan Zhiwen instinctively clenched his hand tightly. His voice was calm but firm. “Jin, speak properly!”

Then he turned back to Xu Zhi. “Sister-in-law Xia, I apologize. My wife is just straightforward, but she means no harm. However, she does have a point—no matter how much the old master charges for the reading, as long as our family can afford it, there won’t be an issue! I came here thick-skinned because an elder in our family has been longing for this reading. He’s old now, and this is his only wish. As a junior, I just want to fulfill his request and show my respect. Please, can you ask the old master again?”

Xu Zhi looked at the two of them—one playing the bad cop, the other the good cop.

All that talk about filial piety and family elders? Xu Zhi didn’t care, and neither did the old man.

Most of the people who came here for fortune-telling had either done something bad and were afraid of bad luck or were planning to do something bad and were worried it wouldn’t succeed.

The old man had seen all kinds of people over the years, and so had Xu Zhi and her husband, Xia Lidong.

There was no way they would be fooled by a few sweet words.

Xu Zhi was starting to feel annoyed. “Just wait here. I’ll go in and try to persuade him.”

Quan Zhiwen thought his words had moved Xu Zhi and immediately thanked her.

Xu Jin scoffed, thinking Xu Zhi had only agreed because she heard they were willing to pay whatever price was necessary.

Xu Zhi ignored Xu Jin but took a long, hard look at her face before turning around and locking the door behind her.

Inside, the old man was eating the last steamed bun that Jing Xi had brought over yesterday. He had stuffed it with a fried egg Xu Zhi had made for him.

Xu Zhi went into the kitchen, poured the old man a bowl of warm water to help him eat without choking, and then walked into the storage room, picked up a hoe, and slipped out the back door, heading straight to the fields.

Meanwhile, Quan Zhiwen and Xu Jin were still foolishly waiting at the front door.