The Little Childhood Friend in a Female-Dominated World (ChatGPT Translated)

15. Bridal gift

Outside the door, there were still people pointing and gossiping, Ding Bing glanced at them and quickly closed the door. "Master Li, don't get angry, let me finish telling you the whole story."

"We have nothing to talk about, go out, go out, all of you get out!" Seeing Master Li about to chase them with a broom, Ding Bing quickly said, "I'm confused about this too, I can't be played around for no reason. Let me finish speaking, and then we can leave."

Although Master Li teaches in the academy, his temper is really bad, not at all like a refined scholar.

Master Li slammed the broom on the ground and impatiently said, "What do you want to say? Say it quickly and then get lost!"

Ding Bing pinched his palm to suppress his anger, his face showing some difficulty, and his tone carried a hint of grievance. "I was entrusted with an important matter. Originally, I said that it would be better to stay at home for the festival instead of going out to propose marriage. But Mrs. Jia from Dong Street came to me in the morning and said that it was agreed with your young master to escort someone tomorrow. I thought it wouldn't be difficult, just a quick trip to earn some money for drinks, so I hurried over right after eating."

Speaking of this, Ding Bing's face also showed some anger as he pointed to the people behind him carrying the boxes and shouted, "What's going on here? Your master didn't say this to me before. It's not something that can be done without the consent of the young master. How can I bring the betrothal gifts over?"

Those few people lowered their heads and grumbled, "We don't know either, we're just carrying the boxes."

"You!" Ding Bing stomped his foot in anger, and then he calmed down, smoothing his visibly fluctuating chest. He turned around and showed a apologetic smile to Master Li and Mrs. Zhang, "It's my fault, I didn't ask clearly. Don't be angry, I'll have someone take the things back."

After he said that, the Li family couldn't make things difficult for an intermediary anymore.

Ding Bing opened the door and saw that there were still many people gathered outside the Li family's door. He furrowed his brows and with an apologetic and negotiating tone, he turned to the Li family and said, "According to reason, I should immediately take these things back, but as you can see, there are so many people outside the door. If we just carry the things back in front of everyone, Mrs. Jia will definitely feel embarrassed. They say that common people shouldn't fight with officials, let alone us ordinary folks, even a wealthy merchant can't win against them. . . If we let her lose face like this, she won't let us off easily. So, why don't we wait until the people outside the door disperse, and then I'll have them move the things away?"

Master Li slammed the broom on the ground and stubbornly said, "Am I supposed to be afraid of her?"

Ding Bing said with a bitter face, "You may not be afraid, but there's only you, a woman, in your family. If she causes trouble for your shop, constantly finding people and causing problems. . . If it continues like this, no one can bear it."

His words made sense. Master Li and Mrs. Zhang exchanged glances and looked at their son, Li Shi, and furrowed their brows. If the Jia family really acted unreasonably, they really had no good solution. Even if they reported it to the authorities, how long could they manage to control the situation?

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

Xu Mu looked at the large boxes and then at Ding Bing's troubled expression. He couldn't help but furrow his light-colored eyebrows. No matter how he looked at it, there seemed to be a problem with this situation.

When he was running "Sweet Delights" by himself before, although there were people plotting against him, Lu Feng secretly resolved those issues. She protected him so well that Xu Mu couldn't figure out what Ding Bing was up to.

When his father was alive, it was his father who protected him. After his father passed away, it was Lu Feng who protected him. Even after marrying into the Lu family, they had a harmonious relationship with his father-in-law. It wasn't until the news of Lu Feng's death came that he realized how well he had been protected.

Xu Mu frowned, feeling that he was naive despite his age, having wasted fifteen years of effort.

Li Shi lowered his gaze and saw his son clutching his sleeve with a frowning face. Even though he had many worries in his heart, there was still a hint of a smile in his eyes. He reached out and put his arm around Mi Jian's shoulder, patting him to comfort him.

The three members of the Li family exchanged glances, afraid of causing trouble, and reluctantly agreed.

Ding Bingren breathed a sigh of relief, leaned against the door crack and looked outside. Seeing that the people hadn't dispersed, he frowned and turned back, saying, "They are gathered at the door to watch the excitement. If I, as an outsider, don't go out, they definitely won't leave. How about I go out first, and when everyone has left, we can bring out the things?"

No one knows what's inside the boxes. When Xu Mu heard that Ding Bingren was going out first, he became suspicious and shook Li Shi's hand, asking curiously, "Dad, now that he's gone, do we have to stand here and watch the boxes for him?"

Naturally, they couldn't watch the boxes for Ding Bingren.

Li Shi frowned slightly, "Ding Bingren, you must find someone to watch over these boxes. We don't want anything inside to go missing and blame it on us."

Ding Bingren was taken aback by the words and pulled the corner of his mouth, smiling, "How can that be? There are so many people in the courtyard watching. The four of them will go out with me to divert attention, and you two will stay here and watch the boxes."

He turned and opened the door. After stepping out, Ding Bingren calmly wiped away the sweat that had just startled him. When Li Shi said those words just now, he was almost scared to death. This husband is truly clever, instantly guessing Jia Niangzi's plan.

According to the original plan, he was going to take away all the people who carried the betrothal gifts in the courtyard. Then the boxes would be left in the Li family's courtyard. If anything went missing inside, it would be blamed on the Li family. Now that Li Shi has figured it out, he can only symbolically leave two people in the courtyard.

Ding Bingren led the four people out, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his hand, smiled at the people at the door, said hello, and then turned and left. He had to inform Madam Jia about this matter.

The onlookers thought it was a lively scene. Seeing that the betrothal gifts were brought in but not taken out, they assumed that the Li family had agreed to the marriage and accepted the gifts. They dispersed in small groups, chatting, and naturally no one counted how many servants followed Ding Bingren out.

The Li family felt relieved when they saw someone guarding the courtyard. Li Fuzi snorted coldly and entered the house with a broom in hand. Zhang Shi walked up to Li Shi and his son, half-bent down and touched Xu Mu's face, frowning, and said, "It's cold outside, let's go inside first."

Xu Mu shook his head, staring at the two people and the three boxes in the courtyard, and said, "It's fine, I'm not cold."

Seeing his persistence, Li Shi could only go into the house and find a hand warmer for him.

Xu Mu stared at the three boxes with wide eyes and thought, "There shouldn't be any more problems now." He didn't believe that Jia Shanren could still harm their family with false accusations!

Author's note: Short scene

Hypocrite: That's right, that's my plan. Hahaha! Li Langjun, where do you think you're going!

Aunt Ji: Haha, those who dared to harm my husband have all knelt before my niece.

Crazy Yilu: What does it have to do with me?

Aunt Ji: Isn't this helping you leave the country?

Crazy Yilu: . . . . . . _(:зゝ∠)_

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Thanks to the landmine on the top of Guchuan, love you~(*＾3＾)

Note: Unrevised