The two people at the door were Li Erya and her sister, who were peering into the courtyard with unfriendly expressions.
Li Erya gripped the courtyard gate and muttered, "Big sister, their family only has the crippled Lan Chuo right now. It's a good time to break off the engagement." She didn't want to run into Lan Yan, who had too much of a temper.
The other, Li Da Ya, raised her eyebrows proudly and said, "At least I work for a prominent family in town. How could I marry a crippled man?"
"This Lan Chuo is truly tactless, not to break off the engagement proactively, forcing me to make this trip." She looked at the courtyard with disdain and wiped the hand that had touched the gate with a handkerchief.
"What are you talking about!" Lan Yan stepped forward, grabbed the hair of the two in front of her, and said angrily, "How dare you speak about my elder brother like that!"
Her elder brother had sacrificed a lot for this family and had also helped the Li family a lot due to their engagement. Now, they were being criticized like this. She angrily butted their foreheads together, then let go.
"Ouch!" The Li sisters clutched their foreheads, turning to see Lan Yan's doing and immediately grew angry. "Lan Yan, have you gone mad, daring to treat us sisters like this."
Lan Yan chuckled, "I'll hit you too." She rolled up her sleeves and put her hands on her hips.
"You, you shrew," Li Erya said this while glancing at Jun Yelan behind Lan Yan, wanting him to know of Lan Yan's wickedness.
However, Jun Yelan understood Lan Yan better than she did. He stood behind Lan Yan at this moment, his eyes cold.
Lan Yan smiled, "Thank you for the compliment. But this shrew hasn't shown her true abilities yet. Do you want to try!" She looked as if she was about to hit them, successfully scaring the two sisters into retreating.
"And you came to break off the engagement. Coincidentally, we don't care for it either. Just don't regret it in the future."
Li Da Ya felt Lan Yan was bragging and sneered, "With you like this, I definitely won't." She rolled her eyes dismissively, wishing to break off the engagement immediately.
"Fine," Lan Yan curled her lips. When their family's fortunes improved, the Li family wouldn't be able to regret it even if they wanted to. Her elder brother was such a good person; he deserved someone better to match him.
She walked towards the courtyard, intending to call her elder brother. Lan Chuo had already walked out of his room.
Lan Chuo looked at Li Da Ya at the door, a flicker of unwillingness and disappointment in his eyes, followed by determination. "Sister, I heard everything. I agree to break off the engagement."
Since they looked down on him so much, why should there be any further entanglement!
Li Da Ya instantly lifted her head, looking down at Lan Chuo with a sense of superiority, believing a cripple was not worthy of her. "That's more like it."
Lan Yan's eyes chilled. This Li Da Ya was truly detestable. She supported Lan Chuo and said, "This engagement should be broken off by us, and everything my elder brother has given to the Li family over the years must be returned."
Her elder brother was skilled at hunting, and he had gifted many prey to them over the years, which was why the Li family never lacked meat.
"On what grounds!" Li Da Ya didn't want to pay money; those things had already gone into her stomach.
The smile on Lan Yan's lips deepened, "You're the one eager to break off the engagement, not us." She looked as if she was about to help Lan Chuo inside, and Li Da Ya's shouts came from behind.
"Fine," Li Da Ya bit her lip and said resentfully.
Lan Yan stopped, her eyes full of cunning, and looked at Lan Chuo, "Big brother, write the letter of disengagement." Their mother was the daughter of a scholar, and the family had writing materials, though they hadn't been used for a long time.
Lan Chuo nodded and was helped to sit at the table to write the letter of disengagement.
Lan Yan was responsible for handing it to Li Da Ya and said coldly, "Don't appear before my elder brother again." After speaking, she saw Jun Yelan staring at the paper in his hand, or rather, at the words on it.
"I would never come to this dump," Li Da Ya said, holding the letter of disengagement, and hurried away. Staying here any longer, she worried she would catch bad luck!
Seeing Li Erya still staring at Jun Yelan, Lan Yan raised her fist and urged Li Erya to follow. She closed the courtyard gate and looked at the still-seated Lan Chuo, comforting him, "Big brother, you will meet someone truly suited for you in the future."
She truly felt for her elder brother.
Lan Chuo forced a smile and patted Lan Yan's hand, "Sister, big brother is fine. As long as our family can be well, that's enough."
"Yes, big brother." Seeing Lan Chuo still unhappy, Lan Yan took out the buns from her embrace, "Big brother, these are the things we bought today. You eat one first."
She took the items from Jun Yelan's hands and placed them on the table. "This is rice and flour, and fresh meat. Oh, and I also bought several bolts of cloth for you to make clothes."
Lan Chuo was stunned. He hadn't expected Lan Yan and the other to buy so many things, and the gloom in his heart instantly dissipated. "Sister, big brother won't give up. When big brother is better, I'll go hunting in the mountains."
As an elder brother, how could he let his sister take care of him!
Lan Yan became cheerful. Her elder brother had finally found peace. She then took the rice and flour to the kitchen, preparing to make a delicious meal.
Jun Yelan watched Lan Yan's retreating figure, his eyes slightly沉 (chén - sinking/deepening). She had changed so much. He took the things on the table to his room, then went to the kitchen to start a fire.
Lan Yan was still a bit surprised. After a moment's thought, she realized Jun Yelan usually did this. She glanced at Jun Yelan's expression; it seemed much better than this afternoon, but still cold.
She decided to ask him later and focused on stir-frying the dishes.
After stir-frying, the family gathered around the table and slowly began to eat.
Lan Yan served Lan Chuo and, seeing Jun Yelan's bowl was empty, put a piece of meat in it for him. Then she quickly turned her head, afraid Jun Yelan would return the favor, which would be too awkward in front of their elder brother.
Jun Yelan stared at the meat slices on the rice, stunned for a moment, then picked them up and put them into his mouth, feeling a strange taste in his heart.
Lan Chuo, sitting opposite them, showed a satisfied expression. His sister and brother-in-law's relationship was getting better and better. After dinner, he immediately returned to his room, not wanting to disturb the lovers.
Lan Yan stayed to wash the dishes, but Jun Yelan got there first. She then helped by pouring water beside him. She sat on the steps, looking at Jun Yelan's slender profile, and spoke first, "Jun Yelan, why were you angry with me today?"
She disliked hiding things, which could lead to misunderstandings between them. It was better to speak it out.
Jun Yelan's hand paused while washing dishes. He looked at Lan Yan, her eyes clear. "The aunt you met at the door two days ago was from an agent. Why did you change your mind?"
So it was about this matter, and Jun Yelan had discovered it. Lan Yan felt bitter. This was all done by the original owner, and she could only try her best to make amends. "At that time, my mind was all muddled. I thought that if I sent you away, the family's life would improve."
"But now I realize that in this family, you are the indispensable one."
Jun Yelan was taken aback. He stared even more intently into Lan Yan's eyes, but he couldn't detect any trace of a lie. He had seen many people in brothels; those women and men cloaked themselves in lies, but this person was different!