Li Erya's hair was messy, with bruises on her face and mud stains on her dress, making her look as if she had rolled in a mud puddle.
Coupled with her resentful expression, she appeared ferocious and ugly.
Lan Yan stared at the person before her for a long time, then pretended to be surprised and said, "Li Erya, what happened to you? Could it be that you've done so much bad, and now you're facing retribution."
"Then you should be careful in the future, or you might choke to death just drinking water."
Hearing these words, the anger in Li Erya's eyes intensified. She extended her dark, claw-like hands towards Lan Yan. But before she could get close, Lan Yan was pulled away by Jun Yelan.
Jun Yelan's eyes were deep, and he kept staring coldly at Li Erya.
Lan Yan looked at her wrist that was being held, and smiled faintly, "Jun Yelan, don't worry, she's in no state to hurt me."
Jun Yelan still shielded her, showing no intention of letting go. "This person is a lunatic."
"Haha." Lan Yan couldn't help but laugh, especially when she saw Li Erya's completely blackened face. This was what they called getting what she deserved. "Li Erya, with your current appearance, why don't you hurry back? Do you need our help?"
She rolled up her sleeves, looking ready for a fight.
Li Erya shrunk her neck and shouted, "It was all your terrible idea that made me unable to eat the pastries I made, and I lost a lot of money." That money was secretly taken from her parents, and after they found out, they beat her severely.
"What does that have to do with me? You were the one who wanted to sell them," Lan Yan said, hands on her hips, finding it hilarious. What kind of brain did this Li Erya have, thinking she should be responsible!
Li Erya just couldn't swallow her anger. Why was Lan Yan living better and better, while she herself was so pathetic? "If you hadn't told me those things, I wouldn't have had this idea."
This made Lan Yan laugh. "You came to me yourself, and you have the nerve to blame me? I think you think I'm too nice." Seeing that she couldn't reason with her, she picked up a broom from the corner and swept towards Li Erya's feet.
"There's too much dirt by the door, it needs a good sweeping."
Li Erya didn't have time to curse before pain shot up her feet. Lan Yan had used full force. "You!" She could only retreat awkwardly, bumping into Li Daya, who had just arrived. The two sisters fell heavily to the ground.
"Ouch." Li Daya slapped Li Erya hard, then got up from the ground. "What are you still doing here, disturbing the peace of the Lan family? Hurry back."
A hint of calculation appeared in her eyes, and a smile touched her lips as she looked at Lan Yan. "Lan Yan, our families are neighbors, and your brother and I were once betrothed. Why must it be like this?"
Her peripheral vision flickered towards the newly repaired house of the Lan family, and the clothes worn by Lan Yan and Jun Yelan. The Lan family was indeed doing well now.
Lan Yan, seeing Li Daya's expression, knew exactly what kind of devious plan she was hatching. "It's your family that has been bullying ours. Since the engagement is broken, our two families have no relationship whatsoever. Your sister coming to our house is far too frequent."
"What, are both sisters shameless!"
Li Daya's face was extremely unpleasant. She worked for a prominent family in town, and even her parents fawned over her. How could she tolerate a mere Lan Yan?
However, she thought of the pastries Lan Yan sold in town, how many people bought them, she must have made a lot of money. She swallowed her anger, waiting for the day she married Lan Chuo, then all of this would be hers.
Lan Yan had no time to concern herself with Li Daya's thoughts. She raised the broom in her hand again, sweeping both sisters away this time.
She propped the broom against the side of the yard and shouted, "No matter what you two want to do, don't even think about messing with our Lan family, or I'll throw you to the wolves in the back mountain."
Not only that, Jun Yelan also walked over, standing by Lan Yan's side, holding a wooden stick. Seeing Lan Yan like this, he had unconsciously drawn closer, not wanting anyone to hurt her.
Threatened by these two, the Li sisters fled, one faster than the other.
Lan Yan snorted coldly, "If you don't leave, I'll make sure you can't leave with any dignity." She put down the broom and said to Jun Yelan and Lin Yun, "Let's go inside."
She led the way into the courtyard, temporarily setting up a bed for Lin Yun. Of course, the carpentry work was still done by Jun Yelan; she only chose a spot for it.
At the same time, she felt the house was too small, and with the Li family's interference, it wasn't very comfortable living here. She wanted to move to town directly, which would be convenient for doing business and attending school.
Just then, Lan Chuo returned, carrying prey in both hands. He called out, "Sister, look at brother's harvest today." As he spoke, he saw Lin Yun standing beside them and was stunned.
Lan Yan smiled, "Brother, this is Lin Yun, a new shop assistant I hired."
"Young Master Lan, let me carry that for you." Lin Yun stepped forward, took the prey from Lan Chuo's hands, and walked towards the kitchen. Lan Yan had given her a place to stay, so she wanted to repay her kindness with all her might.
Lan Chuo looked at the slender back; his hands had been nothing but bones just now. His eyes held more emotion. "I'll help in the kitchen."
"Brother." Lan Yan was about to say something more, but Lan Chuo had already left. She smiled helplessly. Jun Yelan was still standing there, his gaze fixed on her. She couldn't help but say, "Jun Yelan, I have something to tell you."
She conveyed her idea of moving.
Jun Yelan nodded, thinking it would be safer this way, so Lan Yan wouldn't have to walk so much, nor would she have to walk at night. "I'll listen to you." He thought he needed to work harder and find a way to earn money; he shouldn't let Lan Yan bear all of this.
Lan Yan's lips curved upwards, and she leaned slightly closer to Jun Yelan, deliberately saying, "Then will you agree to whatever I say?"
Looking at the sly and bright eyes before him, Jun Yelan didn't keep his distance as usual but moved even closer. His hand was only a tiny distance from Lan Yan's, and his cheek was the same.
Lan Yan's heart began to pound, and her cheeks gradually flushed. Why wasn't Jun Yelan playing by the usual rules? She stepped back, and in a panic, called out, "I'm going to make dinner."
As she stood up, her right foot tripped over a nearby bench. She quickly righted herself, giving an even stronger impression of a hurried escape.
Jun Yelan helped steady the bench, and seeing Lan Yan run away, the corners of his lips turned up in an arc, and even his eyes were filled with a smile.
After dinner, the four of them went to their respective rooms to rest, falling asleep with their own thoughts.
The next morning, Lan Yan saw Jun Yelan and, recalling yesterday's events, dared not tease him casually anymore. She packed the prey into a basket, intending to take it to the restaurant later and create two more recipes.
The basket was carried on Jun Yelan's back. Seeing her dazed, he asked, "Aren't we leaving?"
Lan Yan came to her senses. It was Jun Yelan who was too quick, snatching everything from her hands at once. Her hands were empty, forming a stark contrast with those walking with her. She nodded, "Let's go."
Jun Yelan walked ahead, his lips curved upwards. Lan Yan was becoming increasingly interesting.