Nian Jiaojiao showed no reaction when discovered by Bai Qingqing, merely gazing at him indifferently.
Bai Qingqing continued to confirm. "You, you are Nian Dabao!?"
Nian Jiaojiao raised her head slightly. "Is there a problem?"
"Then why did you lie to me?" Bai Qingqing immediately questioned.
"What did I lie to you about?" Nian Jiaojiao retorted.
"You, you..."
Bai Qingqing recollected for a moment, realizing that Nian Jiaojiao had indeed not introduced herself since they got into the carriage. Yet, he still harbored suspicions. "Then why didn't you say you were Nian Dabao?"
Nian Jiaojiao understood the implication of his words, but feigned ignorance. "Didn't you recognize Yuchuan? I thought you knew. But… who did you think I was? What man would share a room alone with a woman other than his wife?"
Bai Qingqing was instantly speechless. He couldn't possibly say he thought she was Bai Qingqing's sister, could he? If he did, his intention to climb the social ladder would be obvious. Therefore, revealing it would only give her more reason to mock him. Thinking this, Bai Qingqing said, "I, I, I of course know. What I mean is… why did you pretend not to be familiar with me?"
Nian Jiaojiao tilted her head, as if pondering. "Are you very familiar with me?" After a pause, she continued, "Well… one could say we are familiar, after all, I am your creditor!"
Hearing Nian Jiaojiao mention repaying the debt rendered Bai Qingqing speechless. He felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles. What if she insisted on collecting the money now? Bai Qingqing tightened his grip on the money pouch tied to his belt. No! This was money crucial for his future life; he absolutely could not give it away! But… if he got off the carriage now, they were still quite far from town. Moreover, he was a mere man, rarely traveling far. What if he got lost?
Nian Jiaojiao, naturally aware of his predicament, ignored Bai Qingqing and instructed the coachman, "Keep going."
"Yes! Alright!" The coachman, relieved that Nian Jiaojiao wasn't actually going to force the passenger off the carriage midway, unhesitatingly urged his old yellow ox onward.
...
Shanshui Town.
As the coachman reached the town entrance, he called out a greeting into the carriage.
Bai Qingqing, upon hearing they had arrived in town, expressed his desire to disembark immediately. Seeing the somewhat familiar town gate, he felt a slight sense of reassurance. He hastily offered his thanks to Nian Jiaojiao and Yuchuan and left without looking back.
Nian Jiaojiao watched his retreating back and softly grumbled, "What's the rush? No one's chasing you."
Yuchuan, sitting opposite her, smiled dotingly and said, "It's just that wife-master jokingly threatened to collect the debt."
...
Xu Manor.
Having just passed the New Year, the Xu Manor was bustling with activity. Visitors offering New Year greetings were incessant. Nian Jiaojiao and Yuchuan, upon arriving at the manor gates, were ushered in by servants under the envious gazes of those in line to present gifts. Having visited twice before, Nian Jiaojiao, with her photographic memory, was as familiar with the place as if it were her own home. They returned to the small courtyard where Yuchuan had previously resided.
"Third Young Master, the Family Head is currently meeting guests and cannot receive you. You will be able to see the Family Head at the evening banquet." The servant conveyed this and hurried away.
Nian Jiaojiao offered a wry smile. "Your servants are quite busy." It wasn't an exaggeration. This courtyard had been unoccupied for a long time. Not only were there no food or drinks, but the hygiene had also not been attended to. Yuchuan was also helpless, stating directly, "I apologize, wife-master. I don't have much status in the manor." Even though Yuchuan was not favored and lived in the smallest and most dilapidated courtyard of the Xu Manor, it was still about the same size as Nian Jiaojiao's house in Qinghe Village. And before, only Yuchuan and his father had lived here.
"It's alright. It's still early before the evening banquet. Let's tidy this place up a bit." With that, Nian Jiaojiao rolled up her sleeves and began to work. Yuchuan wanted to stop her, but Nian Jiaojiao insisted on doing it. If Yuchuan were to clean it alone, it would be impossible to finish today. Having spent considerable time with Nian Jiaojiao herself, Yuchuan knew that while his wife-master's temper had improved, her demeanor had become very insistent, not easily swayed. Thus, he ceased his persuasion and merely accelerated his own cleaning efforts.
By the time they finished cleaning, nearing the evening banquet, they had tidied the room they would sleep in and the living area. Nian Jiaojiao slumped onto the edge of the bed for a while. Smelling the faint scent of sweat on herself, she looked up at Yuchuan and said, "Let's take a bath and change our clothes. Fortunately, knowing we'd be staying overnight, we brought spare clothes."
"Okay." Yuchuan agreed and personally went to the kitchen to fetch a bucket of hot water. Nian Jiaojiao arranged for each person to have half a bucket of hot water, then mixed in an equal amount of cold water, making exactly two buckets. While bathing, Nian Jiaojiao attended to the particularly smelly areas, scrubbing vigorously with soap. Rinsing with water, she finished in less than three minutes. As it was winter and cold, Nian Jiaojiao could only aim for a quick resolution. Shivering, she put on her clothes and called out to Yuchuan outside the room, "Yuchuan, I'm done. You can come in and bathe."
Yuchuan stood at the doorway for a minute after hearing her before pushing the door open and entering. Nian Jiaojiao, having just finished bathing, had a bit of steam on her face, her delicate features flushed. Yuchuan found her rather alluring for a moment. "Yuchuan, what are you spacing out for? Hurry up and wash; we need to go for dinner. I'm starving." Nian Jiaojiao walked out, wiping her slightly damp hair with a dry cloth. Yuchuan came back to his senses, lowered his head, entered the room, and closed the door. Nian Jiaojiao: ???
...
On New Year's Eve, the Xu Manor was brightly lit, especially in the courtyard where guests were being entertained, with red lanterns hung densely. When Nian Jiaojiao and Yuchuan arrived, most of the guests had already arrived, and the banquet was about to commence. The two of them directly took their seats among the direct relatives of the Xu family. As soon as Nian Jiaojiao sat down, Xu Xuan, seated opposite, looked at Yuchuan and said, "You're here. Why isn't she? Who is this?"
Nian Jiaojiao, naturally aware that Xu Xuan had not recognized her, waved at Xu Xuan. "Yo, Little Xuanxuan, haven't seen you in so long, and you don't recognize me?" Hearing the somewhat familiar yet mischievous voice, Xu Xuan's eyes widened in surprise. "You're… Nian Jiaojiao?!"
Nian Jiaojiao, accustomed to such reactions, took her seat and said with a half-smile, "What? You really don't recognize me?" Xu Xuan's mouth fell open. "My heavens! What happened to you? Did you get a completely new face?" Nian Jiaojiao shook her head helplessly, unwilling to deal with her exclamations. In the family seating area, only Xu Xuan was sitting alone; the others were dispersed, busy greeting relatives and friends they were close to. Nian Jiaojiao asked Xu Xuan, who was still reluctant to accept the reality, "Why aren't you going to greet them?" Xu Xuan gave her a complicated look and said, "Me? I don't like these kinds of occasions. We clearly don't interact much normally, yet everyone insists on pretending to be close and exchanging pleasantries. It's boring..."