Chapter Fifty-Seven Accidental Gain

  "That little girl who eloped with Yang Er is running off with someone else again!"

  It is no longer possible to verify who specifically spread this explosive news, but roughly after noon, the news began to circulate in Xiū Wén Fāng and by evening, the entire Xiū Wén Fāng was aware of it.

  Each storyteller fully exercised his imagination, further processing and embellishing the story, making it sound more moving, more touching, more gossip-worthy, and more reasonable. In the end, it was so perfect that there was no room for doubt, even if Yang Fan himself stood up and shouted loudly: "My little wife did not elope with anyone!" No one would have believed him anyway.

  After being collectively recreated by the masses, the mainstream version of this story is currently like this:

  The merchant's daughter who eloped with Yang Er was only 28 years old, with a skin as white as ice and snow, and a beauty unmatched. Unfortunately, she was like a willow in the water, sentimental but not long-lasting.

  At first, she eloped with Yang Er, but it was just a moment of confusion and infatuation. Although Yang Er was handsome, his family was very poor. The rich girl who was used to wearing silk and eating fine food, having many servants around her, and being pampered, how could she bear such a hard and simple life?

  Taking advantage of Yang Er's absence while doing business in the town, this merchant woman was seduced by a peddler and eventually eloped with him.

  Why hasn't Yang's family had meals for several days? It's because that merchant's daughter ran away with someone.

  Yang Er hasn't been home for days, and even during the day, there are hardly anyone in the village who can see him. That's because he went out to look for his wife.

  Xiao Qianyue lost his wife and never dared to mention it to the neighbors, and he was also very careful when searching for her, afraid of causing rumors and ridicule. But now, he puffed out his chest and loudly searched for the wife he had picked up.

  The sky fell, and there was a tall one holding it up. Xiao Lang lost his wife, Yang Er's wife ran away with someone else, this is the fundamental difference, what does he have to be ashamed of? As expected, when he made this matter public, it did not cause any controversy, everyone's attention was drawn to Yang Fan's elopement.

  "Poor Yang, with a heart so sincere, has encountered such a greedy and flirtatious woman. Who knows if he can pass this test of love? If he becomes desperate, who knows what he might do? What a calamity!"

  The kind aunts and sisters-in-law gathered together, talking and talking, couldn't help but pull up their sleeves to wipe away tears, shedding sympathetic tears for him. Yang Fan's good relationships with others were fully revealed at this moment.

  "Shh, shh, Yang Er is coming! Don't let him hear!"

  "Ah, Liu Auntie, how about accompanying me to stroll around South City tomorrow at noon?"

  "I asked if the Liu family was still hiring a cook?"

  Several women hastily changed the subject and waited until Yang Fan walked away before gathering together again to whisper to each other.

  Yang Fan felt a sense of eeriness, as everyone he met on his way had an eerie expression. He thought that the people whispering to each other in huddles were definitely talking about him, but every time he walked over and perked up his ears from afar, what he heard was always something unrelated to him.

  "Ma Qiao this good fellow, where has he died to!"

  Yang Fan was getting annoyed.

  "Ma Qiao! Come here!"

  At the entrance of the alley in front of Yang Fan's house, Yang Fan finally saw Ma Qiao. He immediately rolled up his sleeves and went forward to greet him, grabbing his collar and gritting his teeth: "Ma Qiao, what have you been saying about me outside again?"

  Ma Qiao said with a changed expression: "Xiao Fan, you're wronging me! Can I spread this kind of thing outside? What's our relationship? Although we're not born from the same mother, we're brothers who wear the same pants. Can I gossip about your ugly affairs outside? How can you think of me as such a person? If you lose face, won't I also look bad?"

  Yang Fan relaxed his hand and asked: "Slow down, slow down, you first make it clear, what exactly is this about me?"

  Ma Qiao sighed and said, "Xiaofan, we've been brothers for a lifetime, how could you hide this from me? To be honest, when I first heard about it, I didn't believe it either. Every time I saw the two of you together, you were always so affectionate with each other. How could she just leave like that without saying goodbye? But I went to your house just now and she really wasn't there. That's when I realized it was true."

  Xiao Fan, a man, having such an affair, indeed can't hold his head up. But you can't keep it hidden forever. In my opinion, don't take this to heart, such a woman is better off gone! If she stays, sooner or later she'll still do something to wrong you. I just ran over to discuss with Xiao Ning...

  Yang Fan gradually came to a realization, his expression becoming somewhat strange: "Qiao Ge, what you said... could it be Anu?"

  "Right!"

  "People in the village... think she ran away?"

  "Right!"

  “……”

  "Xiao Fan, don't be sad. Seeing you like this makes me feel uncomfortable. I just discussed with Xiao Ning and she has a cousin who is only 12 years old this year. You're only 17 now, so it's still three years before you can get married. By then, she'll be 15 and you'll be 20, which will be just right."

  “……”

  "Old Mrs. Liu said that another day, bring that girl over first and let you two meet each other. If you think it's suitable and the girl's family agrees, then arrange your engagement first. If it doesn't work out, it's no big deal. The aunties in the neighborhood all say that as long as they see a suitable girl, they will definitely bring her over for you to get acquainted."

  “……”

  "Little Fan, don't think about her anymore. She abandoned you and ran away, that's because she didn't have the fortune to be with someone like you. A man like you is hard to find even with a lantern in hand...she's blind to good fortune..."

  Yang Fan took a deep breath and asked word by word: "Who told you that Anu ran away with someone?"

  Ma Fan's face was full of surprise, and he said: "She didn't run away? She's still at home? You're talking nonsense! These people are really... how can they talk recklessly like this! This is great, I'll go and speak up for you right away, tell them not to ruin your daughter's reputation!"

  Yang Fan suddenly lowered his head and his shoulders began to heave violently.

  Ma Qiao hastily asked: "Xiaofan, what's wrong?"

  Yang Fan lowered his head, endured for a long time, and finally restrained the urge to burst out laughing. His eyes were already filled with tears.

  He slowly raised his head, with tears in his eyes, and said: "You're right, Anu... she's really gone..."

  Ma Qiao looked at him, suddenly opened his arms and gave him a tight hug. He said emotionally: "Brother! I know you're bitter in your heart, if you want to cry, just let it out! Once you've cried, your heart will feel better! We men value loyalty and brotherhood, crying doesn't make us lose face!"

  Yang Fan... was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

  But he really didn't know how to explain, Tian Ai Nu's sudden appearance was naturally taken by the neighbors as a runaway girl, and this reason also became the most acceptable and believable reason for the people in the alley. Today, Tian Ai Nu's departure can be explained by elopement too, which saves a lot of trouble.

  So Yang Fan "admitted" this matter.

  In this way, Yang Fan became the first tragic male in Xiū Wén Fāng. He had to cooperate with everyone, didn't he? Besides, if he acted as if nothing was wrong, it would also arouse suspicion.

  So, the sorrowful man put on his night clothes every evening and sneaked into the Ministry of War to look for the list of Longwu Army leaders who were in charge of escorting the deposed Crown Prince Li Xian to Bazhou. During the day, he walked around the streets and alleys, putting on a gloomy face, accepting people's kind condolences.

  Regardless of age or sex, everyone gave in to him and coaxed him. Even Su Fangzheng, who was known for his loud voice, and the notorious ruffians from Wu Houpu, spoke in a soft and gentle tone when instructing him.

  Spreading rumors is due to curiosity, but it doesn't stop them from expressing their good intentions to Yang Fan. Yang Fan also happily uses this reason to explain the sudden appearance and departure of Tian Ai Nu, the only thing that makes him feel a bit annoyed is that he has been on more blind dates recently.

  To avoid these unnecessary disturbances, Yang Fan had no choice but to decline politely on the grounds that Ah Nu had just left him and he was in a bad mood, thanking one by one the kind intentions of the aunties and mothers in the lane.

  This time, the bitter man has upgraded to a infatuated man. The flirtatious glances that were once thrown at him are now filled with gentle affection, as if he only needs to crook his little finger and the female bodhisattvas will offer their bodies and tender feelings to comfort his wounded heart.

  Such a gaze is even more terrifying than a flirtatious glance, so when Yang Fan patrols the streets and alleys with his whistle stick, clearing drains, inspecting lanes, and maintaining order, as soon as he sees someone, he lowers his head and hurries away, unwilling to chat with them. And naturally, people interpret this as "heartbroken and melancholic".

  The infatuated man has transformed and upgraded to a love saint.

  The kind-hearted and enthusiastic people of Xiwenfang are single-mindedly and tirelessly shaping their ideal romantic hero step by step.

  However, it was the case that flowers planted with care do not bloom, while willows planted without intention grow into shade. Yang Fan never thought that because of this misunderstanding, he would finally have a lead on the whereabouts of his sworn enemies! P: Heroes of the Three Mountains and Five Peaks, each of Yang Fan's sworn enemies is about to be beheaded. Zhuang Zhou dreams of butterflies - is Zhuang Zhou a butterfly? Please draw your swords and vote!