Transmigrated as a Peasant Girl with Prophetic Dreams: Using My Space to Become the Richest Person - Chapter 39

Chapter 39: Not the Village Chief’s Nephew

Wanting to keep her secrets, Yang Xue naturally pretended not to recognize Lin Yuansheng.

Lin Yuansheng had assumed that because he had bought her goods, Yang Xue would view him as a valuable acquaintance. He expected her to greet him warmly the moment she saw him. Instead, he watched as Yang Xue gave him a calm, indifferent glance, greeted the Village Chief, and turned to leave.

She acted as if she had never laid eyes on him before.

Wait a minute, he thought. We just met yesterday. How could she forget today?

“Hey, little girl! Don’t you remember me? Yesterday, you—”

Yang Xue cut him off instantly. “Have we… met before?”

Lin Yuansheng: “…” ??? Had he mistaken her for someone else? Impossible! He couldn’t possibly forget a face he had just seen yesterday.

“No, look, yesterday you—”

“Uncle Chief,” Yang Xue interrupted again, “did any of you see a small puppy nearby today?”

The words Lin Yuansheng was about to say were swallowed back down.

The Chief looked at her, puzzled. “A puppy? Why would there be a puppy out here?”

Yang Xue replied naturally, “I rescued one on the mountain, but it suddenly ran down here, so I came to look for it.”

“I see. No, we haven’t seen it.”

The other villagers chimed in, “Xue, if you can’t find it, just let it go. In times like these, people can barely feed themselves, let alone a dog.”

Yang Xue didn’t argue. She simply smiled. “Mm, I’ll look a bit more. If I can’t find it, I’ll give up.”

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she asked curiously, “Uncle Chief, did you take my eldest aunt to the authorities?”

Since she was a member of the Yang family, the Chief didn’t hide the truth. “Yes, we sent her there.”

“And my aunt…?”

The Chief sighed. “Your aunt has to go to jail. She did a terrible thing, and it’s only right that she be punished.”

Yang Xue nodded. “I understand, Chief. How long will she be locked up?”

“Not long. Six months.”

Yang Xue was highly dissatisfied with that answer, but she kept her expression obedient. “Six months… then Auntie will be back soon. Shu’er and the others won’t have to wait long to see their mother.”

The Chief waved his hand. “Alright, if you can’t find that dog, head back home quickly, you hear?”

“Okay~”

…

Lin Yuansheng refused to believe it. He could not have mistaken her. This girl was definitely the one who sold him the herbs yesterday. If he was wrong, he would—he would—his eyes landed on a large boulder at the village entrance—he would eat that rock!

Lin Yuansheng raised his hand, determined to call out to her, but Lin Zhiyuan stopped him. “Can’t you see she has no intention of acknowledging you?”

Lin Yuansheng was confused. “But she just sold me some herbs. It’s not like it’s a shameful crime. Why is she afraid of people knowing?”

“You don’t need to worry about why she wants to keep it secret. Since that’s her wish, don’t bother her.”

“Oh. I just thought, since she’s from this village, it must be fate. Next time she sells herbs, she won’t have to trek all the way to town.”

Lin Zhiyuan gave him an unreadable look. “Do you take me for a medicine jar?”

He just had a common cold and had been sick for a few days; he wasn’t going to be an invalid for the rest of his life. Why was his servant already planning daily herb purchases?

Lin Yuansheng scratched his head. “Even if you’re not sick, buying some ginseng to nourish your body is a good thing.”

As they spoke, they arrived at the center of the village. The residents were busy rebuilding. The Chief led the two men to his home. “The house hasn’t been fully tidied up yet. I’ll have someone clear out a room for you. You’ll have to make do for a few days.”

“It’s fine. I can manage anywhere.”

The Chief frowned and went to close the courtyard gate. Once it was secure, he walked up to Lin Zhiyuan. “Wei Xiao, you said something happened at home. What exactly is going on?”

As it turned out, the man before him was not the Chief’s nephew, Lin Zhiyuan. His name was Wei Xiao.

Wei Xiao was the son of a magistrate from a small county in Da’an. Years ago, the Village Chief had served as a constable under Wei Xiao’s father. Ten years ago, Magistrate Wei had discovered a dangerous secret involving certain powerful people. To protect his family, he resigned and fled.

The Chief and Magistrate Wei were more than superior and subordinate; they were close friends. When the Magistrate left, he told the Chief that if Wei Xiao ever came seeking him, he would go by the name “Lin Zhiyuan” and pose as the Chief’s nephew.

The Chief had never forgotten those instructions, which was why he had reacted so quickly back in town.

Wei Xiao’s eyes turned cold. “Those people believe my father holds evidence of their corruption. They never stopped hunting us. Two months ago, they finally found him.”

“My father has been taken.”

The Chief was horrified. “Taken? Then your father…”

Wei Xiao’s gaze was murderous. “As long as he doesn’t hand over the evidence, his life should be safe for now. They are currently looking for me. Uncle Lin, I may need to hide here for a while. I’m afraid I’ll be a burden to you.”

The Chief sighed. “Don’t talk about burdens. As long as you are safe, I can answer to your father.”

At that moment, Lin Zhijie and Lin Zhiyong returned. They had heard their father brought home a “cousin” and rushed back to see when they had suddenly acquired a new relative.

“It’s you! You’re Wei Xiao, aren’t you?”

Lin Zhijie was twenty-five now. Ten years ago, he was fifteen—old enough to remember everything. He had played with Wei Xiao as a child. Lin Zhiyong, who was thirteen ten years ago, also had vivid memories. He was only two years older than Wei Xiao and they had gotten along famously.

“Wei Xiao? What are you doing here?”

“Brother Zhijie, Brother Zhiyong. It’s me.”

Lin Zhijie laughed and clapped Wei Xiao on the shoulder. “Haha! Ten years and you’ve turned into quite the elegant gentleman!”

Lin Zhiyong compared their heights. “Wait, I remember you being half a head shorter than me. How did you suddenly grow so tall? Now you’re half a head taller than me!”

Wei Xiao smiled. “Maybe it’s because I’ve been running around so much.”

Zhiyong was skeptical. “Does running make you grow that tall?”

Lin Yuansheng looked like he wanted to jump in. His young master didn’t grow tall just from “running.” His master had spent a fortune on tonics and grueling training to ensure his son would be fast and strong enough to escape his enemies.

Reunited with their childhood friend, the two brothers were overjoyed. However, the Chief had more to say and cut their reminiscing short.