Chapter 591 - 363: Sneaking into the Haystack at Midnight

Chapter 591: Chapter 363: Sneaking into the Haystack at Midnight

Other people may know, but Xiaomi really doesn’t.

Anyway, after arranging the banquet for the day after tomorrow, Jiang Hu’s second aunt nervously and apprehensively started preparing for tomorrow’s lunch.

However, Xiaomi observed carefully. As for her big brother, there’s no need to mention it, he must have known early on and seemed very calm, even asking their parents to relax, suggesting there might be a surprise.

Jiang Wei still acted like he didn’t care about anything, showing no extra reaction to the fact that they would meet the County Magistrate the next day.

As for the second sister, she also seemed unperturbed, neither nervous nor expectant, busying herself after meals, tidying and checking her embroideries before leaving.

Alright, after looking around, Xiaomi couldn’t figure out anything else.

"So, it seems like everyone already knows, right?"

Wei Ziang suddenly leaned over to Xiaomi and asked softly.

Xiaomi nodded, then shook her head: "For sure, the parents don’t know."

Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so nervous.

Wei Ziang nodded in agreement: "I’m not sure about Xiao Wei, but the big brother and second sister definitely know."

Xiaomi looked at him, puzzled.

Wei Ziang laughed and explained: "Big brother has been in the county longer than any of us, studying at the best academy, and he often ate at the Liu family before."

Xiaomi nodded; that was true, she couldn’t deny it, her big brother certainly knew.

"And what about the second sister? Why does she know?"

Wei Ziang put his hands behind his back, looking relaxed: "The second sister is even simpler. Any reputable family in town would definitely be known by the people at the embroidery workshop. Second sister has been at the embroidery workshop for two years; it’s impossible for her not to know."

The embroidery workshop she went to was the best in the county, often customizing various embroidery pieces for the county’s most distinguished guests.

The Liu family’s name couldn’t possibly be missing from the guest list at the embroidery workshop, and it would be easy for second sister to find out.

Alright, that’s indeed true; Xiaomi couldn’t help but agree. The second sister certainly also knew.

Wei Ziang changed the topic and curiously asked, "But what about you, Xiaomi? You seldom go to town, so how did you find out?"

The four of them went to the county every day, so knowing who the County Magistrate was wasn’t difficult. Xiao Wei probably knew too.

Her uncle and auntie rarely went to town, and even if they did, they wouldn’t inquire about the County Magistrate’s name.

And Xiaomi, even less so; when selling game, she either asked Liu’s steward to take it to town, asked someone from the village going there to deliver it, or had her uncle take it.

If she could avoid going to town, she wouldn’t bother to go.

So how exactly did Xiaomi find out? He was very curious.

Xiaomi shrugged: "I snuck into town the year before and happened to see Sister Liu, and then others mentioned the County Magistrate’s daughter, so I knew, yeah."

"By the way, how did you know?"

"I heard classmates mention the County Magistrate’s name, and then I knew."

It really wasn’t a secret; Uncle Liu never deliberately deceived anyone, at most, he just didn’t actively inform anyone.

However, the Jiang family, except for the kids who had to go to town for classes every day and Xiaomi who learned inadvertently, the two heads of the family were way too introverted.

It was clearly information they could have easily found out with a little inquiry, yet the couple had lived on the edge of the county for two years without knowing a thing!

The two exchanged a glance and then sighed softly again.

Xiaomi shrugged: "Forget it, let the parents be shocked slowly tomorrow."

Wei Ziang smiled helplessly: "Uncle Liu and Aunt Qian never falsified their names. If you were to ask the village chief, he’d definitely know who it is."

Xiaomi: "Who goes around telling their friends’ names to others when it’s not necessary? Even if the village chief knows the County Magistrate’s name, he definitely hasn’t seen what the person looks like, so this matter..."

After saying that, she shook her head. One has to say, Uncle Liu and Aunt Qian’s identity being successfully hidden for so many years also has to do with the parents’ own nature.

"Third Young Master, Fourth Miss, you’re here." Zhang Yingchun came over from the front.

Initially, Zhang Yingchun used to call her ’Miss Xiaomi’, but later got corrected by Steward Wang.

As for the ranking, since Wei Ziang is the nominal adopted child of the Jiang family, at least outwardly, so Wei Ziang ranks third, followed by Xiaomi and Jiang Wei.

Humans are indeed creatures of habit; at least from being awkward at first to being accustomed now, it only took Xiaomi a year.

"What’s the matter?"

Xiaomi turned around, and Wei Ziang did not move, not even sparing a glance at Zhang Yingchun.

Zhang Yingchun, who had been at the Jiang house for a year, was no longer the dark, skinny, scrawny little girl she once was.

In a year, she had grown taller, her face had matured, and her skin, while not fair and tender, had improved drastically compared to before.

Most importantly, her former timid and weak demeanor was now confident and graceful.

"Fourth Miss, the few birds we’ve been raising in the backyard suddenly started molting a few days ago, and new feathers have grown back, which look different from before. Some seem colorful, but some don’t."

Zhang Yingchun had a busy workload every day, running around all afternoon, and only now had a chance to find someone.

Xiaomi was initially stunned, then remembered what Zhang Yingchun was talking about, and immediately rejoiced: "Really? That’s great!"

With that, she pulled Wei Ziang and ran: "Brother, let’s go take a look; maybe they’re growing up now. It’s been three years, finally we’re seeing it."

The peacocks she waited three years for, diligently waiting!

At last, they were going to mature, and spread their tails!

"Slow down, slow down, watch your step," Wei Ziang repeatedly reminded her, but unfortunately, Xiaomi wasn’t listening at all.

They ran all the way to the backyard, and when they passed by the kitchen, they didn’t forget to grab an oil lamp.

It was almost dark, and without an oil lamp, their sight wasn’t that clear.

The peacocks were raised next to the stable, usually let out during the day, and they’d return to their place to sleep at night.

Xiaomi directly dragged Wei Ziang to where the sleeping peacocks were, and the awakened peacocks let out sharp, piercing sounds.

Wei Ziang was immediately startled and covered his ears: "Xiaomi, can’t we look tomorrow? It’s too noisy."

But the excited Xiaomi didn’t seem to feel it, and even handed the oil lamp to Wei Ziang, then grabbed one peacock.

"Brother, come on, bring the oil lamp closer, let me take a good look."

Wei Ziang sighed helplessly and resignedly moved closer.

A streak of blue-green shimmer, Xiaomi was instantly delighted: "It’s really starting to molt!"

Meanwhile, an annoyed voice came from outside: "What are you two doing, sneaking into a haystack in the middle of the night, aren’t you afraid people will gossip?"

It was Jiang Yu.

This time Xiaomi reacted quickly, snorting: "Sneaking into a haystack, big brother, your words are terrible!"

Jiang Yu rolled his eyes: "Is it my words that are terrible, or is it you two who are insensible, running around in the dark."

To be fair, not announcing it to everyone was her fault, but being behind their own house, how important was it to be so particular?