"My lady," came the coachman's somewhat helpless voice from outside the carriage, "I didn't take his fare. He rushed over to block the cart himself and then got into the ox cart. If I hadn't held back the oxen, this young gentleman would have been trampled by my old Yellow Ox!"
Upon hearing this, Nian Jiaojiao intended to explain the situation to the man who had boarded, suggesting he get a cart for the next day. However, the man grabbed her hands and pleaded, "My lady, please, take me with you!"
It was then that Nian Jiaojiao got a clear look at the man's face. She was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, "Bai Qingqing!"
Hearing his name called out, Bai Qingqing looked closely at Nian Jiaojiao's face and still seemed somewhat confused. He hesitated, "Madam, are you...?"
Nian Jiaojiao touched her gaunt face.
Had she changed that much?
She pointed to her face, "Take a closer look, you really don't recognize me?"
Bai Qingqing looked for a while, finding her somewhat familiar, but he truly couldn't recall where he had seen her before.
Suddenly, he sensed movement nearby and realized there was another person in the carriage.
"Yuchuan?!"
As he turned his head and saw the man sitting upright, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
His first thought was: Is this Yuchuan's adulterous woman?
But he quickly dismissed it. Because of Nian Dabao, he had some understanding of Yuchuan. This man was exceptionally rigid and wouldn't do such a thing.
Therefore, Bai Qingqing concluded: This must be Yuchuan's sister or cousin.
With that thought, Bai Qingqing's eyes lit up. Wasn't Yuchuan's maternal family the Xu family?
Then this must be...
Bai Qingqing repeatedly stole glances at Nian Jiaojiao, growing more satisfied with each look.
Truly worthy of being a young lady from the Xu mansion, she possessed an extraordinary bearing.
Nian Jiaojiao had no idea how much Bai Qingqing had conjured in such a short time.
Nian Jiaojiao frowned at Bai Qingqing, wanting to make him get off the cart:
"I've already booked this carriage, please get down."
Upon hearing this, Bai Qingqing immediately put on a pitiable expression, his eyes reddening slightly. He said, "My lady, I beg you, have mercy and take me! If you are willing to save me, Qingqing will pledge himself to you in gratitude!"
Nian Jiaojiao was startled by the effeminate voice.
Had Bai Qingqing been possessed by a ghost?
The straightforward Nian replied emotionlessly, "That's entirely unnecessary. If you try to threaten me like this, how could I possibly let you stay in the carriage?"
Bai Qingqing couldn't believe that anyone in the world could be so devoid of romance!
Two tears slowly rolled down his eyes, a mix of grievance and melancholy in his gaze.
"It is only natural that Madam looks down upon Qingqing's humble self. But saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. Madam, please save Qingqing!"
Nian Jiaojiao naturally knew why Bai Qingqing called it "saving a life."
She hadn't been blind to the commotion earlier.
Marrying Fang Fang would indeed be a matter of life and death!
So Bai Qingqing calling it "saving a life" was understandable.
The carriage was quite spacious, and Nian Jiaojiao didn't want to make things difficult. She pointed to the seat next to Yuchuan and said,
"You can stay, but you, sit over there!"
Bai Qingqing's heart leaped with joy upon hearing this.
Although she seemed uninterested in him now, women were all the same!
He believed: Even an iron heart would melt under gentle persuasion!
Thinking this, he didn't mind Nian Jiaojiao's attitude and obediently moved over.
At this moment, the coachman's voice came from outside:
"My esteemed passengers, what is the final decision?"
Nian Jiaojiao replied calmly,
"Drive."
...
The ox cart began to move, and soon it left Qinghe Village, slowly making its way along a somewhat desolate country road.
Bai Qingqing's good behavior lasted only a short while before he began, subtly and then more openly, to inquire about Nian Jiaojiao's preferences from Yuchuan.
Since Bai Qingqing had already called out Yuchuan's name earlier, both Nian Jiaojiao and Yuchuan assumed that he had recognized "Nian Dabao."
Throughout the journey, Bai Qingqing chattered incessantly, and the more they listened, the more they felt something was amiss.
"Brother Yuchuan, are you going home? I truly envy you, being able to live in a big house in the city during the new year."
"Brother Yuchuan, thank you so much for saving me this time. Although this lady is kind and unwilling to accept my thanks, I feel uneasy..."
Nian Jiaojiao continued to rest with her eyes closed, while Yuchuan grew somewhat puzzled.
Why did he still call his wife "this lady?"
Despite his thoughts, Yuchuan remained silent.
Bai Qingqing gritted his teeth inwardly.
This Yuchuan, he wasn't competing with him for his wife, they were just siblings. Was there any need to be so secretive?
Although displeased, Bai Qingqing still smiled obsequiously,
"I know we had a misunderstanding before, which made you prejudiced against me, but it's alright. I believe time will reveal people's hearts."
As he spoke, the "green tea" Bai Qingqing glanced at Nian Jiaojiao and then put on a distressed expression:
"Brother Yuchuan, your wife tried to curry favor with me before, but it was truly her unilateral action. I never intended to compete with you for her, and I clearly rejected her..."
Hearing Bai Qingqing slandering her, the "party in question" finally opened her eyes.
Seeing that Nian Jiaojiao had finally reacted, Bai Qingqing spoke with even more vigor:
"Even though I refused her many times, she still acted that way towards me. However, I think it was all my fault, for not making myself clear..."
Nian Jiaojiao sneered inwardly. This person was only getting more carried away, wasn't he?
Knowing that the other party still hadn't recognized her, Nian Jiaojiao didn't expose herself, merely finding Bai Qingqing, who was putting on a solo act, like a clown.
Nian Jiaojiao relaxed her body and leaned back, interlacing her fingers and staring directly at him. This made Bai Qingqing's heart race and his face flush. Just as he was about to speak:
"You..."
Nian Jiaojiao's voice also rang out simultaneously:
"Can you be quiet?"
Bai Qingqing's words came to an abrupt halt, his mouth still open. He immediately became somewhat embarrassed and tried to cover up:
"Did I say too much...?"
"Yes!"
Nian Jiaojiao nodded in affirmation and continued,
"Since you know you are occupying someone else's carriage, why don't you restrain yourself? You clearly knew I was resting with my eyes closed, yet you ignored it and kept making noise. Such presumptuous behavior, where is your upbringing?"
Bai Qingqing had never suffered such humiliation in front of women. He could no longer hold back and immediately said,
"Fine, since you dislike me so much, then I'll leave."
Nian Jiaojiao raised her eyebrows slightly, making no move to stop him.
Bai Qingqing could no longer bear to stay. He shouted at the coachman outside,
"Stop! Stop! I want to get off!"
The ox cart gradually stopped, and the coachman lifted the curtain, saying helplessly,
"What's wrong with you all now? We're only halfway there, and it's still a long way to Shanshui Town!"
Although she was outside, she could still faintly hear the argument inside.
"My lady, no matter what the matter is, why bother arguing with such a young gentleman."
Hearing someone speak up for him, Bai Qingqing's long-suppressed emotions finally erupted. He leaned over the edge of the carriage and burst into tears,
"Wuwuwuwu—"
Yuchuan also said,
"Wife, let it go. It's still a long way to Shanshui Town, and if he encounters anything alone on such a remote road, you..."
Before Yuchuan could finish speaking, Bai Qingqing, who had been in deep sorrow, suddenly stopped crying and looked at Nian Jiaojiao, shouting,
"What did you call her? Wife?!!!"