Chapter 514: Chapter 514: It Really Has a Smell

"Marriage?" Xia Wenjin widened her eyes.

Seeing that she actually looked confused, Xia Wanqing couldn’t help but laugh, saying, "Didn’t you say he’s not bad, and you have no objections?"

Xia Wenjin suddenly realized, looking at Xia Wanqing with an exceptionally strange gaze, not just strange but also somewhat examining, "Father, since mother passed away, all sorts of renowned beauties of the Jianghu have been trying to win your heart subtly, and you’ve been indifferent. I didn’t expect you to like someone so... flavorful!"

Something seems off about this. Xia Wanqing puzzledly said, "Jin’er, what are you talking about? What do you mean I like someone flavorful? What does it have to do with me?"

Xia Wenjin said, "How can remarriage not be related to you? Could it possibly relate to me? Oh, right, I guess it does relate to me because eventually I will have to call her my Second Mother!"

What kind of ghostly Second Mother is this? What’s with this unexpected plot twist?

Seeing matters develop increasingly bizarrely, Xia Wanqing knew that he and Xia Wenjin were likely not talking about the same thing. He asked, "Who on earth are you talking about? Who exactly did you see?"

Xia Wenjin blinked and said, "What I saw was Widow Qin who carries night soil!"

She gave Xia Wanqing a thumbs-up and said admiringly, "Dad, I hadn’t noticed until you mentioned it. Now that I think about it, Widow Qin is indeed quite pretty. Although she’s nearly forty, she’s still charming in her maturity. She dresses simply, but considering her limited circumstances, it’s expected. As for her ’flavor,’ that’s inevitable since carrying night soil is her job; some odor will inevitably cling to her. If you marry her, you’ll have to treat her well and let her stop carrying night soil!"

Xia Wanqing: "..."

Why does he feel like spitting out old blood all over his daughter’s face?

What Widow Qin, what charming maturity, he’s never even met the person! Although he lived there for so long, the task of carrying night soil was done by servants.

How could he come into contact with such a person?

Besides, he’s always had only Wenjin’s mother in his heart; when did he consider remarriage?

Seeing his father’s face darken, Xia Wenjin chuckled as she said, "Dad, don’t be embarrassed. Mother has been gone for so many years, it’s normal for you to develop feelings elsewhere. Besides, you didn’t fancy the Jianghu beauties or the wealthy daughters, but a simple and hardworking widow—a practical choice—showing you truly want to settle down. I’ll support you, and rest assured, my brother will too!"

Xia Wanqing: "..."

Practical choice? Truly wanting to settle down? Even if he did think of marrying again, he wouldn’t find a widow in the Capital City; what kind of nonsense is this?

This girl really wants to drive him crazy. He shouted, "Stop it, where did you hear all this nonsense? I don’t know any Widow Qin, nor do I have plans to remarry. Don’t drag me into your thoughts, I’m talking about you!"

Xia Wenjin raised an eyebrow, spread her hands with resignation and slight grievance, saying, "Father, I feel you no longer care for me. Previously, you forced me to marry, albeit to a man, but now you’re forcing me to marry Widow Qin?"

She switched to a sad and aggrieved tone, seeming utterly forsaken, "If father insists, then I will marry Widow Qin!" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Xia Wanqing: "..."

He resisted the urge to spit blood: "Don’t mention Widow Qin to father again. What kind of nonsense are you talking about, how did you even come to know such a person?"

Xia Wenjin pursed her lips and said, "Dad, that’s not right. Though Widow Qin is a night soil carrier, she’s also earnest and diligent; how can she be considered nonsense? You are a Jianghu person with strong moral integrity, how could you say such things?"

Xia Wanqing stammered, "Father didn’t mean that..."

Just hearing Xia Wenjin mention marrying Widow Qin without him dying on the spot was considered mental fortitude.

But, Jin’er would rather marry Widow Qin than Huangfu Yuxuan?

Ridiculous, what kind of marrying Widow Qin—she knows he won’t permit it, she’s saying it on purpose.

Seeing her father looking all tangled and disheveled, Xia Wenjin secretly laughed. Actually, she didn’t know any Widow Qin either. But with Huangfu Yuxuan’s father, Uncle Hua, and Uncle Gu living there, she instinctively felt Huangfu Yuxuan didn’t have good intentions, so she paid extra attention.

Everything here, including all the servants in the residence, had been thoroughly checked. Today, Xia Wanqing was moving, so he either gave the servants time off or sent them away, which is why when Huangfu Yuxuan came, he couldn’t find the servants stationed there.

No one knows a father better than his daughter. Xia Wenjin’s evasive talk made Xia Wanqing realize, helplessly saying, "Jin’er, you’ve grown bold now, even playing tricks on your father?"

Xia Wenjin shrugged, made a funny face, and said, "Not at all!"

Originally, Xia Wanqing was neither angry nor happy with his daughter’s antics, feeling both stifled and helpless, yet seeing her cheeky demeanor, he couldn’t help but smile and shake his head. His Jin’er should be carefree, the little princess of the mountain village, grown with everyone’s affection and protection. This is how she should be!

Last time he saw her, her eyes were clear yet steadfast, deep down more transparent, hiding a sense of seeing through worldly matters.

That was why he suspected at the time.

How could she be simple like a blank sheet? Just two years into the Jianghu, she suddenly seemed to change entirely.

Xia Wenjin’s funny face reminded him of her playful and joyful demeanor in the mountains, evoking fatherly tenderness. He hoped his Jin’er would be cheerful and happy every day, so he wished even more for Jin’er to find a good home.

He was about to speak again when he heard the sound of a carriage. Looking over, he saw Cui Huai in the distance clasping his fist.

The carriage quickly arrived at the door.

Concerning his unannounced move, Xia Wanqing felt somewhat lacking in etiquette. Just wanting to speak face-to-face with Huangfu Yuxuan, seeing Huangfu Yuxuan actually coming, he was pleased.

Seeing Huangfu Yuxuan’s carriage and Wenjin’s carriage arriving consecutively, and this residence being found by Wenjin, with Wenjin asking him to move today—he himself didn’t even know where they would move to until arriving there.

So it’s certain Huangfu Yuxuan didn’t know either, clearly following Wenjin here.

Yet, when he asked Wenjin earlier, Wenjin said she hadn’t seen anyone else.

Xia Wanqing suspiciously looked at Xia Wenjin, saying, "Jin’er, didn’t you say you only saw night soil carrying Widow Qin?"

"Oh!" Xia Wenjin said indifferently, "I seem to remember. Not only Widow Qin but also an imposter Imperial Grandson idiot. His guards weren’t as good as mine; I knocked them down with a single swing. I taught him a lesson; he’s probably here to demand medical expenses now!"