Chapter 4: Seeing Someone

He picked up Li Luo's suitcase in one motion and led her forward. "Brother Ling shouldn't be home at this hour. I'll take you to the house first."

Li Luo didn't stand on ceremony with him; after all, her legs weren't quite working well right now.

Ling Zhuoqun's home was a detached property, roughly two hundred square meters. A fence surrounded the yard, with a path paved in pebbles running through the middle. The sides were partitioned off, likely intended for growing vegetables and flowers.

However, these two plots were currently wasteland, and strange noises were emanating from within.

If one didn't know people lived here, they might have thought it was a "haunted house."

What a waste of resources!

To let such a beautiful house rot like this was simply a waste!

Li Luo felt a small sense of disdain for the "wicked rich man" that was Ling Zhuoqun.

Er Zhu heard the commotion inside as well and shouted through the fence, "Da Mao, Xiao Mao, Ya Ya?"

"Who is it? Are you trying to die? Why so noisy in broad daylight?" An older woman wearing a green scarf that revealed some graying hair and eyes flashing with sharpness emerged from the house, cursing under her breath while clutching a handful of melon seeds.

Upon seeing the visitors, she hurriedly stuffed the seeds into her pocket, wiped her hands on her clothes, and put on a wide, beaming smile. "Er Zhu? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be working in the fields at this time? And who is this woman with you?"

"Auntie Wang! Is Brother Ling not home? Please open the door. This is Brother Ling's fiancée; she's come to see the house." Er Zhu was also smiling as he stepped aside to let Li Luo approach.

"Where did Little Ling get a fiancée? That money-grubbing girl ran away long ago! Where did this wild bird come from, claiming to be family? Ptooey!"

Wang Xiumei spat out the remaining melon seed shells, her face instantly dropping. Her eyelids drooped, and she refused to open the door.

"This is...?" Li Luo was momentarily confused by the situation, bewildered by the woman before her. Was this Ling Zhuoqun's mother?

Er Zhu hadn't expected Auntie Wang to be so hostile toward Li Luo. He gave a forced smile and explained, "Auntie Wang came to help look after the children. Brother Ling is busy at the factory and doesn't have time for them; otherwise, he wouldn't be in such a rush to arrange a marriage."

"Even though she's being paid, a home still needs its own family members. It's not good to trouble the neighbors year-round."

Li Luo nodded in understanding.

In this era, nannies were not yet common, let alone live-in help.

Looking at it from another perspective, children needed a mother's companionship for their physical and mental growth.

Since she currently had no place to stay, she could help Ling Zhuoqun look after the children, provided he provided her with housing and funds.

In her spare time, she could also engage in small trades; she couldn't let her skills go to waste.

But this middle-aged woman was extremely annoying.

"Auntie Wang, this should be Ling Zhuoqun's home, and I am his fiancée. It wouldn't be very polite to keep someone out like this. You're acting quite like the mistress of the house right now. Could it be... you want to be the lady of this house?"

Li Luo's casual remark made Er Zhu shiver beside her: *Is that something one is allowed to say?*

Auntie Wang was famous for her loud voice. Hearing this, she flew into a rage and immediately began cursing, "God damn it! You dare slander me? When my Old Wang gets back, I'll scratch your face! You little vixen, who are you trying to seduce with those flashy clothes?"

Hearing this, Li Luo immediately pulled a mirror from her pocket and began admiring herself, even tilting her head from side to side in a most provocative manner.

"Thank you for complimenting my beauty. You don't even have to say it; I already know Ling Zhuoqun is a lucky man to be able to marry a beauty like me."

Wang Xiumei froze. Normally, a girl would have burst into tears by now, but this girl was sharp-tongued and talking back, which triggered a strong sense of crisis in her.

This girl was not easy to deal with; she wasn't a pushover. She couldn't be allowed to stay in the Ling household.

"You little brat certainly have a silver tongue. But I advise you not to waste your breath. Little Ling isn't home, and I absolutely will not open the door for you. There are children in this house. Just because you say you're the fiancée doesn't make it true. Who knows if you're a human trafficker?"

"And Er Zhu, you can't just bring anyone into the house from now on. Have you verified her identity? If something happens to these children, I'll see what you do! Don't let her beauty bewitch your soul. Take her and leave immediately; don't stay here being an eyesore!"

Wang Xiumei knew very well that the three children were what Ling Zhuoqun cared about most. If anything happened to them, he would turn Wanshou Village upside down.

"Comrade, how about we leave first?"

Er Zhu was in a difficult position. Brother Ling did indeed treasure Da Mao and the others, and he truly hadn't verified her identity.

But if Li Luo wasn't Brother Ling's fiancée... why would she take a several-hour long-distance bus to come to such a poor place?

Seeing the hostility on Wang Xiumei's face, Li Luo had no desire to continue the argument.

At worst, she would find a place to stay for a couple of days. Once she saw Ling Zhuoqun, she would ask him if he still wanted a wife or not.

If he didn't, it wouldn't be her breaking the engagement, and she wouldn't have to return the five thousand yuan bride price.

Just as Li Luo was about to turn and leave, she saw Wang Xiumei's eyes flash with panic. She hurriedly and clumsily opened the main gate and rushed into the house without looking back.

*What on earth happened?*

However, she had no habit of trespassing, so she picked up her suitcase and prepared to leave.

"Brother Ling, you're finally back!" Er Zhu shouted excitedly, jutting out his chin to point toward the person behind him. "Brother Ling, this is your wife. She's come to find you."

Li Luo watched the man slowly approaching her. He had a tall, upright posture and walked with a brisk, decisive stride. To an outsider, he might have been mistaken for a soldier.

And his face certainly didn't look like that of a greasy middle-aged man!

Small head, broad shoulders, narrow waist, a straight nose, natural double eyelids, and long eyelashes...

Was this really her "country bumpkin"?

In modern times, this was a top-tier visual. And he was wealthy too—how could he not be able to find a wife?

Li Luo got straight to the point and introduced herself, "Hello, my name is Li Luo. 'Li' as in the dawn, 'Luo' as in falling flowers. Lin Ge can no longer be a member of the Lin family; I am the true biological daughter of the Lin family. Therefore, I am the only one who can marry you. Are you willing?"

Ling Zhuoqun was not surprised at all. He pushed open the door, took the suitcase from Li Luo's hand, and invited her inside.

"Come in."

He had already heard about Lin Ge's recognition of her relatives in the neighboring village. He just hadn't expected that the Li family would be willing to send the daughter they had raised for eighteen years to suffer in the countryside.

"Brother Ling, I have things to attend to at home, so I won't stay long."

Having completed his task, Er Zhu had no interest in watching their gossip and hurried back to his own home.

Ling Zhuoqun motioned for Li Luo to follow him inside, saying as they walked, "I know you are from the city, and my current status may not match yours. But since you have come, settle in here peacefully. If there is anything you don't understand, just ask Auntie Wang."

(End of Chapter)