He hid his figure behind a clump of bamboo and saw not far away Xu Maozhi blocking Ran Ran, who was dressed as a maid in a cyan bodice.
Xu Maozhi, with his two dogs Shen Tu and Yu Lei, stood in front of Ran Ran. If it weren't for his kind - looking face and the smile on it, just looking at this situation, he would be an out - and - out playboy molesting a decent girl on the street.
Ran Ran was holding a broom, obviously cleaning.
"Miss Ran Ran," Xu Maozhi bowed and said, "Why can't you calm down and listen to me?"
"First, call me Miss Cao. My name is not for you to address me with. Second, I'm already calm. If I really lose my temper, I'll just sweep you aside with this broom." Ran Ran's voice was crisp and full of gunpowder.
"As long as you persuade your mother to agree to exhume the body for an autopsy, I'm sure I can find out the truth." Xu Maozhi was also a persistent man, convinced that there was more to Xiao Jinghan's death.
Ran Ran was really enraged by him. Her face flushed with anger, and she swung the big broom at him.
Xu Maozhi took two hasty steps backward, nearly falling, looking extremely embarrassed.
Ran Ran put her hands on her hips and scolded, "I used to think you were a good official. It turns out you're just a fame - seeker! My elder brother is already gone, and you still won't let him rest in peace after his death. Why don't you think your father's death was unjust and exhume his body for an autopsy?"
This man was really annoying, forcing her to say such mean things.
But these words were so harsh that they far exceeded her upbringing. So after saying them, she also felt a bit uncomfortable and didn't say anything more.
However, Xu Maozhi wasn't angry. He said, "Miss Ran Ran may not know that I grew up in an orphanage since I was a child. I have no father or mother."
"Uh..." Ran Ran felt very embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring up your sad past. I didn't know. Anyway, don't come here again in the future. My elder brother is already gone. Now we just want to help our sister - in - law raise Baozi well. Please let our family go. Isn't my mother suffering enough? Do you think you can have a clear conscience by constantly reminding her of the pain of losing her son?"
"I," Xu Maozhi said, "I really don't mean that. I just want to find out the truth. Miss Ran Ran, please listen to my explanation. I've investigated a lot..."
"Your Honor Xu," Ran Ran interrupted him, her attitude cold. "If I have to make it clear for you to give up, then I'll tell you right now. My elder brother's death was concluded by the emperor. What do you want us to do? I've never met my elder brother. Although I admired him very much, I wasn't close to him. The only people I've met are my sister - in - law and Baozi."
She paused for a moment and stared straight into Xu Maozhi's eyes. "I believe my sister - in - law. Even if the truth is really as you said, I'll just admit that I'm blind. Are you satisfied now, Your Honor Xu?"
"You," this statement clearly shocked Xu Maozhi's beliefs. "You're being foolish!"
"Your Honor Xu, you think I'm foolish, but I think you're pedantic. We should mind our own business. But if you insist on bringing up my elder brother's death and sowing discord between us and my sister - in - law, making my mother sad, I won't let you off!"
After saying that, Ran Ran probably thought the words "won't let you off" weren't intimidating enough. So she gritted her teeth and said, "I'll fight you to the death if necessary."
Xu Maozhi: "… Ran Ran, don't talk like that."
Xiao Tian narrowed his eyes, looking displeased.
Ran Ran was a sensible girl, and Xu Maozhi wasn't completely wrong. After all, it was his duty, and the scheme back then really couldn't stand his careful scrutiny.
However, what displeased Xiao Tian wasn't this matter itself, but the way Xu Maozhi looked at Ran Ran and the way he addressed her.
In the past, Xiao Tian might not have understood, but now that he had fallen in love, he clearly saw the affection a man has for a woman in Xu Maozhi's eyes!
Ran Ran hadn't even reached adulthood, and Xu Maozhi was almost twice her age. How could he deceive a young girl like this? Where was his shame?
"Don't call me Ran Ran!" Ran Ran said. "Your Honor Xu, I'm begging you. Are you so idle every day? Then go and write more storybooks to make a name for yourself. Stop pestering our family, okay?"
"There haven't been any big cases recently. The stories I write are so dull. The publishing house wants them, but I'm too embarrassed to give them. They pay so much for the manuscripts. I have to be worthy of their silver." Xu Maozhi said seriously.
Xiao Tian couldn't help but think that he never expected Xu Maozhi to have such a "side job".
"So you've set your sights on my elder brother's case, planning to write your next book based on it?"
"Yes."
Ran Ran didn't waste any more words with him. She picked up the big broom and started hitting him without mercy. "I'll beat you to death! I'll beat you to death right now!"
Xu Maozhi hurriedly dodged backward. "No, a gentleman uses his tongue, not his fists."
"I'm not a gentleman. I'm a petty person. I'm a woman, the kind that's the hardest to please!" Ran Ran gasped while hitting him.
Surprisingly, Xu Maozhi's two dogs just calmly sat there watching the show and didn't show any intention of helping their master.
Xiao Tian frowned deeply.
It seemed that these two were too familiar with each other. Even the dogs were used to their bickering, which wasn't a good sign.
"I'm warning you," Ran Ran stood still, leaning on the broom and gasping for breath. "If you dare to mention my elder brother in front of me again, I'll... I'll shout 'molestation'. You're an official and a teacher here. I'd like to see if you still have any shame left then. Humph!"
After saying that, she angrily turned around and dragged the broom away.
"Hey, don't go! Don't go!"
Xu Maozhi wanted to follow her but was afraid that others might see it and it would be bad for Ran Ran. Watching Ran Ran getting farther and farther away, he sighed and plopped down on the ground.
This time, the two dogs went over and stood on either side of him, really looking like door gods guarding him.
Xu Maozhi stroked one dog with each hand and sighed repeatedly. "You two should give me some advice. What should I do? She ignores me like this. No, she glares at me. If I really confess my love to her, won't she chop me up with an axe?"
Xiao Tian: Hmph, as expected, he's not a good guy. He's really taken a fancy to Ran Ran.
He didn't even realize that under Yi Qing's influence, he no longer rejected Ran Ran as much as before. In fact, subconsciously, he regarded her as his younger sister.
It wasn't love but a sense of responsibility.
"I'm not that ugly, and I'm doing okay in life. I can earn money to support a family. Why doesn't she take a fancy to me?" Xu Maozhi was still muttering to himself.
Xiao Tian originally wanted to walk out and scare him to make him give up, but then he thought better of it. He turned around and quietly left.
Xu Maozhi's two dogs were really useless. They didn't notice his coming or going.
Judging from the dogs to the owner, maybe Xu Maozhi was also a useless person who was overly praised.
Xiao Tian went straight to look for Lu Tianxun. The latter was very polite and invited him into the study alone with a smile.