Beside him sat a young gentleman in white, with delicate features. Shi Chun, who was serving tea and water, had just noticed them when the gentleman in white smiled at Dongliang Ying behind the counter and said, "Liang Ying."

Dongliang Ying recognized him immediately, her cousin from her maternal uncle's family, Fan Wuzhe.

Far from home, they hadn't seen each other for several years, so upon recognition, she exclaimed with delight, "Cousin, why have you come?"

Saying that, she quickly stepped out from behind the counter to pay her respects.

Fan Wuzhe looked her up and down with a cheerful smile and said, "It's been years, you've grown into a young lady, almost didn't recognize you."

Dong Wenshu gestured with a raised hand to indicate they had things to say and should move to the inner house, and as they passed through the study hall, he glanced at Shi Chun who was busy, with a hint of hesitation.

Dongliang Ying also temporarily handed over the front counter duties to Shi Chun and ran to the back courtyard.

It was naturally a lively reunion between siblings.

Near mealtime, Dong Liangze returned as well, and the cousins naturally had their own lively reunion.

After the liveliness subsided, Dong Wenshu went into the kitchen and called his son in for a private chat, "In the future, don't let Wang Ping come into the inner house to dine with the women of the family; it's time to avoid suspicion. Prepare his meal and send it to the front hall for him to dine alone."

Dong Liangyi, who was busy nearby, paused his busy hands upon hearing this.

Dong Liangze nodded.

With the meals prepared, as Dong Wenshu had instructed, Dong Liangze carried the separated meals to the front hall, letting Shi Chun guard the front hall for dining while he went upstairs to call second sister Dong Liangyu to dine, taking over the post.

Seeing the beauty and grace of Dong Liangyu, Fan Wuzhe's eyes shone brightly, making him appear even more courteous.

Dong Liangyu, however, appeared increasingly reserved.

Midway through the meal, Dong Wenshu suddenly said, "Your cousin hasn't visited Dazhi City for many years, Liangyu, accompany your cousin around the city this afternoon."

Upon hearing this, both young ladies Dong Liangyi and Dongliang Ying looked astonished and secretly watched Dong Liangyu's reaction.

Dong Liangyu's grip on her chopsticks whitened, as refusing wasn't the courteous way, she bowed her head and murmured an assent.

So after the meal, Fan Wuzhe in white and Dong Liangyu in a blue garment stepped out together, appearing quite the matched pair of golden boy and jade maiden, passing through the hall into the street under Shi Chun's gaze.

This scene stirred whispers within the study hall.

The second young lady of the hall rarely went out in public, especially with a man on the street, given Dong Wenshu's strict family discipline, everyone knew it was impossible to make such an appearance without his consent, which was akin to announcing to everyone that the second young lady's heart was set.

The neighbors nearby spread the news quickly, remarking on the stern guardian marrying off his daughter, the focus of the gossip being why the elder wasn't married first.

Dongliang Ying returned to the study hall's front counter, and Shi Chun took the opportunity while organizing a stack of books and going upstairs to ask Dong Liangze, "Was that man in white your cousin?"

Dong Liangze patted the stack of books he had set down, "Seems like a bond of kinship will be formed; he's set to become my second brother-in-law."

Shi Chun remarked in surprise, "Isn't there a saying that close kin marriage can affect the next generation's health, does your family disregard that?"

Dong Liangze seemed unmoved, "There's just that saying, not every instance has problems. Even non-kinship doesn't always avoid issues. Besides, you know my father; he believes a bond of kinship is beneficial."

Shi Chun still puzzled, "Your eldest sister isn't married yet, why your second sister first?"

Dong Liangze couldn't easily reveal his eldest sister's prior betrothal issue to outsiders, but he didn't treat Shi Chun as a stranger and shared some reasons, "Recently, my uncle sent a letter expressing concerns that after the elders passed, the families would cease relations. Essentially, he hoped to secure kinship, wanting one of our three daughters as his daughter-in-law. Father also sees this as beneficial, particularly given my second sister's health concerns; marrying into another family worries him, fearing she could suffer mistreatment. With her uncle watching over, there's less chance for grievance. Father has been absent lately because he went to my uncle's to finalize this matter."

Shi Chun responded with an understanding "Oh," recalling Dong Liangyu's words from yesterday, gaining some insight.

But the matter sank deep in his heart, not stirring further thoughts within him, going downstairs continuing his tasks.

At Bai's Rice Shop, Huang Yingying guarding the shop with an assistant, lay napping on a reclining chair, suddenly heard a stir outside the door, listening closely, discussing something about the guardian marrying off his daughter from the study hall; the second young lady had gone out to stroll with the suitor.

Indeed, the power of gossipers in Dazhi City was unparalleled.

Huang Yingying opened her eyes wide, jumped up swiftly, and shouted to the assistant in the shop, "Watch the shop, I'm going out to collect a debt."

Saying this, she dashed out, with the assistant calling several times but unable to bring her back.

As Huang Yingying remarked to Wu Jinliang, the city was too dull; he had a fondness for excitement, itching for lively events upon hearing about them.

This outing wasn't for anything else, just to see who the second young lady's ideal suitor was, curious to see what kind of person had made that stern guardian relent.

He was too familiar with the city, quickly found the strolling pair, Fan Wuzhe and Dong Liangyu, through inquiries and probing.

To see clearly, Huang Yingying deliberately positioned herself ahead of them, approaching them head-on.

Upon seeing Fan Wuzhe's appearance clearly, Huang Yingying immediately composed her expression into an indifferent state, pretending not to notice them, turned aside to a stall, asking for prices.

Seen by Fan Wuzhe, Huang Yingying's face lost its smile instantly, as he glanced sideways at her, and only relaxed slightly when he saw she didn't seem to recognize him, as he strolled alongside Dong Liangyu, losing their previous ease in conversation.

After the pair moved along, Huang Yingying looked at their backs, memories surfacing in her mind.

A scene not too far in the past, about a month ago, when he delivered Spirit Rice to the mountains at the city center with an assistant, once passed a courtyard gate, inadvertently saw a person shackled inside, worn down with hand and foot shackles, beaten and tormented beyond recognition.

That painful face, he remembered distinctly, though contrasting starkly with the groomed gentleman before him, but seeing this person with Dong Liangyu, affirmed his belief the tortured soul on the mountain was the white-clad man just now.

Back then, when the man suffered so on the mountain, he also looked up to see him, but whether he recognized him now was uncertain. The man's dire condition likely left little room for remembering faces.

With this thought, he conjured other ideas, stroking his small mustache and muttering with a sly laugh, "Found a way to settle debts!"

Raising his brows, he immediately turned and headed straight towards the city gate.

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