Could it be that he was... avoiding suspicion?
After all, today he had been splashed with unwarranted slander by that scoundrel Qin Shao. It was reasonable for him to see her as a troublemaker and keep his distance.
Li Ying felt as if there was a teapot in her heart. The water inside had boiled, and the steam made her feel restless. But unfortunately, the spout of the teapot was blocked, and she was extremely frustrated.
After much thought, she quietly pulled the wife of Master Li, the bamboo craftsman.
"Sister-in-law Li, is Master Li free recently? I want to buy some tables, chairs and benches."
Mrs. Li thought she was going to furnish the old house of Granny Sun. She laughed heartily and said, "What's the difficulty? Come home with me later and pick some. Whatever you fancy, just take it away!"
Of course, Li Ying still had to pay. After careful selection, she settled on several boxes, two small bamboo tables, four bamboo stools, and finally, a bamboo boat awning.
"Sister-in-law, can this boat awning keep out the rain?"
Hearing her question, Mrs. Li proudly puffed out her chest.
"Sister, I'm not boasting. All the fishing boats in the village have their awnings made by our family. As long as there's no hurricane at sea, it'll be absolutely stable!"
Hearing her so confident, Li Ying felt relieved.
Mrs. Li asked curiously, "Sister, are you planning to buy a boat and go out to sea? Fishing is different from beachcombing. If you really want to go, wait until the old fishermen in the village come back and follow their boats."
Li Ying had no intention of taking risks rashly, so she nodded in agreement.
After tidying up Granny Sun's room, she tied the last set of tables, chairs, boxes and the bamboo awning to the flatbed cart. Then she drove the mule and headed straight for the dock.
This time, it didn't take much effort for her to find Lu Xunguang.
Seeing her coming, he naturally invited her onto the boat.
Li Ying still had lingering fears about that shabby boat. She smiled calmly on the surface, but her feet just couldn't move.
"Brother Lu... I'm really sorry for involving you in this mess today. I've been in your debt for your care these days. I've prepared some small gifts. Please accept them..."
She took all the things off the mule cart in one go. Before she could finish speaking, she was stunned.
The man was standing on the deck, looking at her openly. Although the boat was still a bit shabby, the brand - new keels were silently telling her that the boat had been repaired.
"I made stewed noodles to thank everyone today. You didn't come... Could it be that you were repairing the boat?"
Li Ying tentatively asked. Lu Xunguang had already taken the boxes from her hand and said in a deep voice, "I saw that you seemed afraid of water last time. Since I had nothing to do, I just repaired it."
She didn't expect this man to be so meticulous. She was slightly touched. While carefully stepping onto the deck, avoiding a pile of sacks in the cabin, she helped him install the boat awning.
"Coincidentally, we think alike. Brother Lu, this is just a small token of my appreciation. I hope it can be helpful for your boat repair."
She had to get up early to go to the town tomorrow to instruct the apprentices of Deji Hall to boil Penfu Glue, and there was also the seafood stir - fry business at noon. After the quarrel with the Qin family today, Li Ying was really tired. After putting down the things, she got up to say goodbye.
Lu Xunguang sent her to the dock. After she walked a few steps and her figure was about to be submerged in the thick twilight, he lowered his voice and said, "Miss Li, congratulations."
Li Ying didn't hear clearly. She quickly turned around and gave him a charming smile. "Brother Lu, thank you."
Early the next morning, she arrived as scheduled. The backyard of Deji Hall was bustling with noise. Du Zhong and several apprentices were obviously waiting for her for a long time.
She didn't delay either. She carefully started from how to select suitable donkey hides. After talking until her mouth was dry, she finally selected five hides that were barely suitable. Then the apprentices busily started to scrape the donkey hair according to what she had said.
This job sounded simple, but it was really tiring to do!
Even though these apprentices were all young and strong guys, after scraping for less than half an hour, they all had a bitter look on their faces.
"What's going on? Are all the people in your pharmacy dead? Why don't you come out and attend to us quickly? Bring me a bottle of good bone - setting wine!"
Shopkeeper Du slapped his forehead. All the hands were busy with the donkey hides, and there was no one at the counter! He quickly accompanied the smiling face and went out to attend to the customer.
"We were negligent. Please forgive us, sir!"
Li Ying was very familiar with the owner of this voice. Who else could it be but the two brothers of the Qin family?
She was too lazy to entangle with the Qin family. She simply pretended to be deaf and dumb and turned to instruct another apprentice to scrape the donkey hair.
It was Qin Shao who casually grabbed an apprentice and chatted casually.
"What are you busy with? The smell in this pharmacy is too strong!"
The apprentice had always been dismissive of Li Ying. But unfortunately, the shopkeeper and all the apprentices regarded her words as the truth. He snorted and rolled his eyes.
"Sir, you don't know. Our shopkeeper was misled by slander and was possessed by a demon. He insisted on making Penfu Glue. Well, that woman over there is leading the apprentices to scrape the donkey hides!"
The two brothers of the Qin family looked in the direction he pointed and involuntarily gritted their teeth.
It was her again!
Wasn't that graceful and charming back the very Li Ying who had ruined the reputation of the entire Qin family?
"This woman has caused so much trouble to our family, but she's living a prosperous and popular life. This is really outrageous! Brother, wait. I'll go and settle the score with her now!"
Qin Shao was furious. He threw down the bone - setting wine and rushed up angrily, trying to grab Li Ying.
Li Ying had been on guard for a long time. How could she let him succeed? She nimbly dodged, and her body was like a slippery fish, deftly hiding to one side.
"Oh, isn't this Young Master Qin? Your Qin family has always avoided medical treatment and thought that pharmacies and medical clinics were inauspicious places. Why did you come here on your own initiative today?"
While Li Ying was sneering, she turned her head and was stunned.
The two brothers of the Qin family had always been very proud of themselves and always dressed up as elegant and handsome young masters.
But now, both of them had bruised noses and swollen faces. Their faces were as swollen as pig heads. Where was there any trace of their suave appearance?
She couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Two young masters of the Qin family, did you walk on a dark road too often and fall into a ditch?"
Qin Shao roared, "You venomous woman with a heart of a snake and a scorpion! It was clearly you who sent someone to attack us, but now you're here making sarcastic remarks!"
Li Ying was stunned. Only then did she suddenly remember that no wonder Lu Xunguang had been late yesterday and had a furtive look on his face. He had also kicked the sack in the cabin aside without a trace.
Although she had been acquitted in the lawsuit, the county magistrate had not made things difficult for the Qin family after all.
He had actually gone to vent his anger for her!
The two brothers of the Qin family probably never dreamed that after they left the court, while they were still cursing and slandering her, they happened to run into Lu Xunguang who was still angry.
Although he was not as burly as the porters, it was still more than enough for him to deal with the Qin brothers who were not used to physical labor. He neatly put a sack on them and with a few punches and kicks, he beat them crying for their parents.
After that, he left with a flick of his sleeve, clean and neat. Even if the Qin family wanted to report to the official, they couldn't find any trace. They had to swallow the bitter pill in silence.
Although Li Ying never advocated using violence to counter violence, imagining the scene of the Qin brothers being beaten secretly, she still couldn't help feeling secretly happy.
However, she originally thought that Lu Xunguang was an honest and dull - witted man. Now it seemed that he was quite ruthless when he took action. He was actually quite scheming.
Who on earth was he? Li Ying's curiosity grew even stronger.