187 Your Father is not a Man
Now that things were unfolding unfavorably for her, Widow Wang tried to think of ideas, including pretending to faint. Lu Jiao noticed how her eyeballs were starting to roll and quickly interfered, “Hurry up, it’s late and we all need to sleep. It looks like she’s not willing to sign the indenture. If that’s the case, then…”
Before Lu Jiao could finish, Widow Wang gritted her teeth, “I’m willing to sign the indenture.”
Until she signed the indenture today, there would be no rest. She decided to sign it first and later on, do her best to get it back from Xie Laogen.
Xie Yunjin gestured for the leaders to bring him a brush and paper. The Village Leader happened to have some lying around since his grandsons have been studying.
!!
Xie Yunjin wrote the indenture and asked Widow Wang to leave her thumbprint. The leaders then acted as witnesses and also left their thumbprints.
In the end, he took the signed indenture and announced, “I will ask someone to get it registered with the county government.”
Widow Wang gaped at him in shock. Xie Yunjin mockingly added, “Once registered, you’re the Xie family’s concubine. If you ever attempt to escape, we have the right to report it and send people after you.”
Widow Wang thought this indenture was something she could sign and then get rid of later. Who knew it had to be registered? The stress of it all made her vision go blank.
XIe Yunjin said to Xie Laogen, “Dad, you can take her home.”
Xie Laogen went to get Widow Wang. However, before he left, he looked at Xie Yunjin with the intention of getting the indenture.
However, Xie Yunjin acted like he didn’t see and put away the indenture. He scanned the room and said to everyone, “Okay everyone, go back and rest now. If you don’t sleep soon, it’ll be morning.”
He finally said to Lu Jiao, “Let’s get back too.”
Lu Jiao nodded and pushed Xie Yunjin outside. Behind them, the villagers slowly left as well. What happened tonight was very entertaining to most people. Most of the men were jealous of Xie Laogen. Somehow, he managed to gain a concubine. How lucky was he?
Though Lu Jiao was happy to witness the internal battle amongst the Xie family, she felt much disdain towards Xie Laogen.
“Your father isn’t a man. He had options yet he made Widow Wang sign the indenture.”
A real man would’ve left with Widow Wang.
Lu Jiao was interested and asked Xie Yunjin, “Did you already know that there was no way your father would leave the village? Is that why you gave them the option to? Doing so would make Widow Wang see what kind of person your father is and she’ll always look back at this.”
Xie Yunjin ridiculed, “My father spent his whole life in this village. The furthest he’s gone is the town of Qili. He’s never even been to the Qinghe District. How could he ever leave this place? Leaving here creates fear in him.”
Lu Jiao sighed, “Widow Wang deserved this. She’s never had good intentions. If she simply found someone suitable to marry, she would be living a pretty good life right now.”
Xie Yunjin was sarcastic, “She asked for this.”
Behind them, Aunt Guihua continued to follow them. Lu Jiao sensed it for a while now and finally stopped.
“Auntie, why are you following us instead of going home to sleep?”
Aunt Guihua rushed over and said to them, “Yunjin, Jiaojiao, it wasn’t my intention to reveal all this. I didn’t know the guy was your father and that was why I screamed. If I knew, I wouldn’t have done that.”
Lu Jiao and Xie Yunjin exchanged glances. Lu Jiao sighed, “Auntie, what happened happened. It was all because of my father-in-law’s choices, not yours. If he hadn’t gone to Widow Wang’s, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Aunt Guihua asked carefully, “You are not mad at me, are you?”
Lu Jiao shook her head, “Not at all. Aunty, go home and sleep.”
Aunt Guihua was finally relieved, “Thank god. I will go home and sleep then.”
She headed straight home as Xie Yunjin and Lu Jiao watched. They shook their heads. Even now, Aunt Guihua had no idea that they had used her to roll out their plan.
Xie Yunjin said, “Let’s go home and sleep as well. It’s still dark out.”
“Okay.”
When they arrived home, Xie Hu heard noises and came out to greet them.
“Xiebao and the four children are asleep. I’ll go home then.”
Lu Jiao and Xie Yunjin thanked Xie Hu and went into the living room.
They realized something.
Xie Xiaobao and the four little ones were all sleeping in the east bedroom. Where does that leave Xie Yunjin to sleep? What about Lu Jiao?
Lu Jiao didn’t care and said, “Can you sleep in the west bedroom?”
Xie Yunjin was a little uncomfortable but it was mixed with excitement. This meant they were going to share a bed? Honestly, at his age, he’s never slept with a woman before. That night with the original host was one that he blacked out on.
Xie Yunjin thought it over and responded softly, “Okay.”
They were going to have to sleep together sooner or later. It’ll just take him some time to adjust.
Lu Jiao pushed Xie Yunjin to the west bedroom, then carried and placed him onto the bed. She then got up to leave.
Behind her, Xie Yunjin scrooched in to make room on the bed. When he saw that Lu Jiao was about to leave, he asked, “Where are you going?”
Lu Jiao said, “There’s that old bed in the west wing room. I’m going to lie down for a bit. The Sun’s rising soon.”
Xie Yunjin’s expression dropped. There was a perfectly good bed here so why would she go sleep on the old broken one? How could that one be more comfortable than this one?
“There’s room to sleep here, why would you sleep on the broken bed?”
Xie Yunjin gaped at Xie Yunjin in awe and saw that he had already made room for her on the bed. It was obvious that he made room for her.
Lu Jiao was unspeakably shocked. This guy made room for her on the bed to sleep in? When did they get this close? It was not a good idea for two people who will soon separate to sleep together.
Lu Jiao declined, “It’s alright. I will use the old bed.”
She gave no chance for Xie Yunjin to speak and left.
Xie Yunjin was angry and watched her leave. What was wrong with her? Why would she give up this spot to sleep on a broken bed?
It didn’t take long for him to silently comfort himself. Perhaps Lu Jiao was shy. That’s okay. They’ll have time to adjust.
Lu Jiao didn’t think so much. She went into the room in the west wing, looked at the broken bed, then went into her space to sleep in her bamboo room. Though she couldn’t stay in her space too long, she could at least have a nice and peaceful nap.
In the morning, the space kicked Lu Jiao out and threw her onto the old bed. What could she do but to keep sleeping there?
Lu Jiao had her eyes closed but soon heard the noise of horses galloping. The sound went from far to close and it didn’t take long for it to land right before her home.