Early in the morning, Huo Yan went to the village chief’s house to get back the money for the burial plot. News that he wasn’t dead quickly spread throughout Xishui Village.
Yang Cuifen, who had been utterly devastated, was washing clothes by the river when she heard people talking about how the heavens had blessed them and Huo family’s eldest son had returned safely.
Her face filled with shock.
“Did you just say Huo Yan isn’t dead? He’s back?”
One of the older women rolled her eyes.
“What? You’re not happy about it?”
A younger woman added, “We all saw him this morning. He went to the village chief’s house to handle some business. Lots of people know about it. Didn’t he stop by your house to let you know he was safe?”
“Heh. When people thought Huo family’s eldest son was dead, her husband couldn’t wait to seize his house. He even tried to sell those three children to slave traders. Why would Huo family’s eldest son go to their house to tell them he’s safe? If anyone was hoping he’d die sooner, they were definitely among them.”
Yang Cuifen pursed her lips but didn’t argue. Carrying her laundry, she hurried home.
Since Huo Yan had returned, wouldn’t the fake occupying his house soon be kicked out?
Whether they gained anything or not didn’t matter. As long as Luo Mingchen suffered, she would be happy.
Once Luo Mingchen was driven out, Huo Yan would eventually leave for work again. Then the three little brats would be at their mercy.
After returning home, Yang Cuifen excitedly told Lin Tianlei the news.
“Then what are you waiting for?”
Lin Tianlei had just stood up when he suddenly remembered something.
“Huo Yan personally asked the matchmaker to arrange the marriage. How could he not recognize Wang Chen?”
Yang Cuifen scoffed.
“He was gone for a whole month and only met Wang Chen once or twice. Even Wang Chen’s parents couldn’t immediately confirm whether that fellow was their son. That proves they look very similar. What if he really gets fooled? Huo Yan hates being deceived more than anything. Once we expose that brat’s identity right in front of him, he’ll be lucky if he only gets thrown out. How could Huo Yan possibly keep him around?”
Hearing that, Lin Tianlei felt it made sense.
After all, they had only met once or twice through the matchmaker. How clearly could Huo Yan remember him?
So the couple specifically went to find Huo Yan.
After breakfast, Huo Yan heard Luo Mingchen mention taking the three children to the academy in town. They had already discussed it the day before.
Huo Yan had no objections.
“Alright. Let’s go together.”
After hitching up the ox cart, Huo Yan drove the ox out. Luo Mingchen placed a basket of fruits and vegetables onto the cart and held Huo Xinyue while waiting for Huo Yuhui to lock the door.
Once the gate was secured, they all climbed onto the cart.
Compared to Luo Mingchen, Huo Yan was obviously much more skilled at handling an ox cart.
Since someone else was driving, Luo Mingchen only had to sit back and relax.
When he saw the annoying couple walking toward them, he could more or less guess what they were planning.
“They’ve come to complain.”
Huo Yan glanced at him and continued driving forward.
“Hey! Huo Yan! Where are you all headed?”
Yang Cuifen quickly stepped in front of the ox cart.
Huo Yan simply replied, “We have business to attend to.”
Yang Cuifen tried to grab his arm, but Huo Yan casually avoided her.
Unbothered, she said directly, “You’ve just come back, so you probably haven’t heard. The one beside you isn’t Wang Chen from Wang Family Village at all. Who knows which backwater hole he crawled out of? Maybe he’s even a runaway criminal slave—”
Before she could finish, Huo Yan coldly interrupted her.
“Cousin-in-law, mind your words. Though Mingchen is not a son of the Wang family, he has entered my household. Do not say such things again. If Cousin-in-law insists on spreading rumors, then I shall also visit the county academy and tell them how Cousin and his family tried to sell my three children. I wonder whether Qingfeng will still be able to participate in next year’s imperial examinations after that.”
Yang Cuifen was so shocked she could hardly believe what she was hearing.
“What kind of bewitching potion did he feed you?”
Lin Tianlei was equally incredulous.
“And you dare keep someone with such an unknown background?”
Huo Yan replied calmly, “As for his background, it is enough that I know it. There is no need to explain it to anyone else.”
“You’ve got lard clogging your brain!”
“If there is nothing else, we’ll be on our way.”
With that, Huo Yan flicked the vine whip and guided the ox cart forward. Lin Tianlei and Yang Cuifen could only move aside.
Since he didn’t have to say a word himself, Luo Mingchen felt much more relaxed.
He looked at the back of Huo Yan’s head and only spoke after they had left Xishui Village.
“Aren’t you afraid I really am the criminal slave they claim I am?”
In this era, harboring a criminal slave was a serious crime. At best, one would be conscripted into military service. At worst, it meant execution.
“There are no tattoo markings on your face or body. The only scar is on your lower back, and it appears to have been caused by a blade. Criminal slave tattoos are not placed there in our dynasty, so you are not a criminal slave.”
Hearing that, Luo Mingchen’s mouth twitched.
“You observed pretty carefully.”
Realizing what he had just implied, Huo Yan pursed his lips awkwardly.
“The moonlight was rather bright.”
Huo Yuhui blinked.
When he saw Huo Xiang about to say something, he immediately pressed him down and stopped him.
Meanwhile, Huo Xinyue shifted around in Luo Mingchen’s arms, curiously admiring the scenery along the road.
Feeling that the topic was becoming awkward, Luo Mingchen changed the subject.
“If the children enroll in school this far away, won’t someone need to escort them every day?”
“They will. By next spring, they can go to school on their own.”
Hearing that, Luo Mingchen assumed Huo Yan meant Huo Yuhui would be old enough by then. Twelve years old next year certainly wasn’t young, so he didn’t argue.
What he didn’t know was that Huo Yan intended to teach both boys martial arts.
The last time they went to the county seat, they had merely passed through Peach Blossom Town without exploring it.
Unlike Yuelan County, which charged an entrance fee, Peach Blossom Town required no payment to enter. Although it only had three streets, it contained all the shops needed for daily life.
Baiye Academy was located in a relatively quiet corner of town.
Before they even got close, they could hear the clear sound of students reading aloud.
The moment he heard it, Huo Yuhui became excited. His heart began pounding rapidly.
After they knocked, the academy’s gatekeeper opened the door and looked them over.
“Can I help you?”
Carrying the basket of fruits and vegetables, Huo Yan replied, “We would like our two children to study here. Could I trouble you to introduce us to the academy’s teacher?”
“How old are these two children?”
“The older one is eleven. The younger one is eight.”
The gatekeeper nodded.
“Very well. I’ll take you inside. However, the eight-year-old must be able to take care of himself. Also, if he’s too disruptive, the teacher won’t accept him.”
Smiling, Luo Mingchen took out a large red apple and handed it over.
“Thank you, big brother. We grew this ourselves. I hope you won’t mind accepting it.”
The fruit looked delicious and gave off a faint fragrance.
After accepting the apple, the gatekeeper kindly reminded them,
“The teacher doesn’t like children who cling too much to their parents, nor does he like accepting gifts. Fruits and vegetables like these are fine, but if you’ve hidden silver or anything similar inside, you’d better take it out now. Otherwise, you’ll leave a bad impression.”
Luo Mingchen, who had indeed tucked a red envelope among the gifts, smiled awkwardly and thanked him again.
As they followed the man inside, he quietly retrieved the red envelope.
How strange.
Back in his old world, he often saw parents giving gifts to teachers. Customers who frequented the hotel would always say things like, “One can never go wrong with a gift.”
It seemed some things were better left unlearned…