Chapter 17: Colored Stones

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Qin Xiaoruo had just returned to the Fu Family's entrance when she heard Fu Jingwen's excited voice emanating from the hall, speaking of the "Three Days General's" heroic deeds with Lady Guan and a few others. Qin Xiaoruo couldn't help but roll her eyes.

It was common knowledge by now, so what was the point of keeping it a secret!

Not wanting to join the lively discussion in the hall, and ready to make dinner in the kitchen, Qin Xiaoruo saw Village Chief Qin Daliang walk in with his hands clasped behind his back.

"Village Chief, you're here?" Qin Xiaoruo greeted.

After scrutinizing Qin Xiaoruo for a moment, Qin Daliang asked, "Is Hanwen at home?"

"Village Chief, are you looking for me?" Fu Hanwen, hearing the commotion, came out from the hall.

Lady Guan and Fu Jingwen followed out, and hearing that the Village Chief was looking for her son, Lady Guan thought he was here again to persuade her son to return to Qingping City to become a Protector. "Village Chief, let's speak inside if you have something to say."

As the Village Chief was looking for Fu Hanwen, Fu Jingwen and Qin Xiaoruo retired to the kitchen, and Lady Shao went to fetch water for Changer's bath.

"It's good that Mother Hanwen is here, actually, this matter should be decided by you," the Village Chief stated plainly as he entered the hall.

Fu Hanwen's eyes darkened, immediately guessing the purpose of Qin Daliang's visit. "Village Chief, did Lady Woo come to you?"

Seeing Qin Daliang nod, Lady Guan was bewildered. "Village Chief, what does Lady Woo's visit have to do with us?"

They had heard while working in the fields that Lady Woo and Qin Anshun had returned. Knowing Lady Woo's nature, she would normally speak directly to them about any matters, instead of going to the Village Chief. This was very unlike Lady Woo's character.

Before Qin Daliang could speak, Fu Hanwen interjected, "Village Chief, let's talk outside."

Qin Daliang looked hesitantly at Lady Guan, then at Fu Hanwen, and after a moment's hesitation, he stood up. "That might be best."

Fu Hanwen was back in less than a quarter of an hour, and before even entering the courtyard, he saw Qin Xiaoruo craning her neck looking outside, chuckling to himself—it seemed the girl had also guessed why the Village Chief had come.

"Don't worry, the issue is resolved," Fu Hanwen approached and said softly.

"How was it resolved?" Confronted with his calm demeanor, Qin Xiaoruo had guessed the outcome but still asked, unable to let it go.

"The Village Chief agreed not to interfere anymore."

Watching the figure walking into the hall, Qin Xiaoruo's brows furrowed in worry.

Who said she didn't have to worry? Living under the same roof as this man, she would have to be doubly cautious from now on.

Qin Xiaoruo didn't know how Fu Hanwen managed to persuade the Village Chief. Apparently, Lady Woo had made several visits to the Village Chief's house to demand he take her side and let Fu Hanwen allow her to return home, but the Village Chief had scolded her severely, leading to Lady Woo quieting down and not daring to cause trouble at the Fu residence.

Lady Woo was a person who never let things go when she had the upper hand, and Fu Hanwen clearly had no standing to keep her at the Fu house. Yet she didn't dare to make a fuss at their home. Qin Xiaoruo was dying of curiosity but didn't have the guts to ask Fu Hanwen for an explanation.

Every time Qin Xiaoruo entered the secret space, she would find herself by the river. That night, after filling her stomach in the space, she headed toward the farthest mountain peak.

Arriving at the foot of the mountain, Qin Xiaoruo discovered to her amazement that one of the mountains was actually colored. This mountain seemed to be made up of multicolored stones piled together, stunningly beautiful.

But the beauty wasn't the thing that excited Qin Xiaoruo—the stones on this mountain didn't seem to be ordinary stones.

Having had a friend in her past life who studied oil painting, the moment she saw these colored stones, a bold guess sprang to her mind.

To verify her suspicion, Qin Xiaoruo picked a few colored stones of different hues and took them back to the riverbank. After grinding each stone into powder and mixing the stone dust with water, the next moment brought a miracle...

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