Exile after Divorce? Empty the Scumbag Husband First!

Chapter 170 - 167: Xie Huai’an Pauses, Then Smiles Helplessly

"But, miss, although you think this way, the mistress, the master, and others don’t see it like that. Although not getting married is none of their business, when things pile up, it can be quite troublesome."

Shaoxi’s words made some sense, but she didn’t care.

Little did anyone know, Vice Minister Dong had witnessed Hong Wu’s mid-way marriage proposal.

Seeing things going awry, Vice Minister Dong rushed back to report.

"My lord, oh my lord! This is a grave matter! Dire, dire indeed!!"

Xie Huai’an furrowed his brow, "What has you so flustered?"

"Ah, you wouldn’t believe it. Just now, that man called Hong Wu stopped Miss Ruan, saying he wants to propose and marry her! What are you going to do?"

Xie Huai’an froze for a moment and then let out a helpless laugh.

This smile left Vice Minister Dong puzzled, "What is the meaning of your laughter, my lord? The matter is urgent, and you’re not worried?!"

"Are you just going to watch Miss Ruan be taken by someone else?!"

"Even I was refused by her. Do you think she will be taken by someone else?"

Vice Minister Dong paused, then awkwardly said, "My lord, you overestimate yourself a bit. Although you are extremely learned and handsome, the girl might not fancy your type."

"What if Miss Ruan likes someone honest, who can provide her a stable life?"

However, Xie Huai’an remained infinitely calm, and Vice Minister Dong found the situation truly dire, so he decided to return to Ruan Mian and tell her.

"Miss Ruan, there’s something I must tell you."

"Do you know why the lord came to find you?"

Seeing no one around, Ruan Mian spoke frankly, "He said a scout saw me in the local military camp and was worried I’d be in danger, so he came over."

"Yes, that’s true, but you don’t know the specifics! Ever since you were missing for two days, the lord rode through the night to the garrison to find you. He even sneaked into the Wang Brothers’ mansion, turned it upside down, and was shot as a thief!"

"It was hard for him to escape. He then asked General Huo to send someone to inquire until he heard you were in the local military camp. He ignored all obstacles and severed a finger, posing as a junior general in the enemy camp, just to enter smoothly. Otherwise... did you think the Lanqiang military camp was so easy to enter?"

"The lord’s feelings for you are beyond words!! He even forbade me from telling you these things, but... but I can’t keep it in."

Ruan Mian was stunned, apparently not expecting such peril behind a few simple words.

He even willingly severed a finger...

No wonder he always kept his hand wrapped in those days. When she asked, he said it was due to concerns about the plague and handling the patients’ items might be safer with coverings.

Ruan Mian hadn’t thought deeply about it at the time.

Unexpectedly, it was for this reason.

Just as she was lost in thought, Mrs. Zhang’s voice suddenly came from behind.

"Mianmian."

"Mother?" Ruan Mian collected her emotions, and Vice Minister Dong stood up straight.

Seeing the mother and daughter together, he knew it was inappropriate to disturb them, so he greeted them and gave Ruan Mian a look before leaving.

Seeing Ruan Mian’s complex expression, Mrs. Zhang took a deep breath and said.

"Mianmian, you probably didn’t expect Mr. Xie to care for you so much, did you?"

"To be honest, when you weren’t at the house a few days ago, even though your aunt said you had urgent matters, we were quite worried. I saw Mr. Xie waiting outside the house for several nights, perhaps... waiting for you?"

"And just now, the Lord Vice Minister said that he got shot and even severed a finger to find you in the military camp. Regardless of what you think, we must be grateful for Mr. Xie’s intentions."

"Don’t worry, mother, I understand in my heart. Mr. Xie... he is a good man."

She smiled slightly, pulled Mrs. Zhang to sit down, and the mother and daughter had a heartfelt talk.

When Mrs. Zhang learned she had gone to Lanqiang to treat the plague, her eyes turned red, and her voice trembled.

But her face showed pride, "Mianmian, initially, it was my fault, pushing you into the abyss of the Qi Family. As your mother, I didn’t even know how capable you were, making you waste years in the Qi Family. It’s all my fault!"

"All these past events, why dwell on them, mother? Aren’t our days getting better now?"

"Yes, our days are gradually improving, and it’s all thanks to everyone’s hard work! Only I, doing nothing, enjoying your protection, I feel..."

"Mother, don’t think that way."

Ruan Mian noticed Mrs. Zhang’s thoughts and quickly took out the handkerchief she carried with her.

"Mother has excellent embroidery skills, isn’t that good? And the clothes Mianmian is wearing now were also made by you, mother! Such a fine design, even the craftsmen in the tailoring shops outside can’t match your handiwork."

"Only you can comfort me like this."

"This is not comfort, mother. Since we’ve talked about this, why don’t I speak frankly to you?"

"General Huo will help us in Jinsha Village to repair the road connecting to Wuheng City, and I will also hire others to repair the road leading to Lanqiang Town."

"By then, our place will be at the intersection of three small cities, a prime route for trade. I have opened a medicine shop in the garrison and have other business ideas."

"With such great skills, you and Shaoxi, I want to open a clothing shop, focusing on the latest fashionable clothes. People in small cities are sure to need it."

"In winter, we’ll have goose down and duck down products sent to Wuheng, and at that time, we’ll sew those down vests into the clothes. It must sell well."

When they were exiled, she had even done business with the shopkeeper.

But with the recent upheavals in Wuheng, the shopkeeper surely wouldn’t dare to come over, waiting only for an opportunity to let Yun Xiu take a trip.

Hearing this, Mrs. Zhang was a bit unsure, "Mianmian, do you want mother, just like your father, to run her own business?"

"Does mother not want to?"

"Of course not, but as a woman, if your father finds out, he might..."

"Mother!" Ruan Mian thought she was worried about something, yet it’s not as complicated as she thought. Like her and her sister-in-law Mrs. Hai, many women of this era are constrained by entrenched ideas.

"Father is open-minded. If I can open a shop, why can’t you? Moreover, in business, it’s not just for men. For clothing and cosmetics, only female owners can understand what’s beautiful, and more people will buy."

"With your skills, success is certain! When the time is right, I’ll go to the garrison to find a place."

Wuheng City just ended a war, it won’t prosper immediately, and being on the border of Da Jing, there aren’t many people.