Li Hongmei and Hu Ziqiang looked up in the exact same way.

If they weren’t dating, who would believe it?

Chen JianShe, for one, certainly wasn’t buying it.

Lu Yuanbin’s eyes flashed, and he moved closer to Chen JianShe.

Chen JianShe shoved him away.

"If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t get so close."

Lu Yuanbin was left speechless.

’This moron! Do you have to shout when we’re plotting against someone?!’

He took a deep breath, suppressing the curses in his heart, and once again moved closer to Chen JianShe.

Chen JianShe shifted away unhappily.

Lu Yuanbin yanked him right back.

"I’m doing all of this for Brother Leng."

The moment Chen JianShe heard it had to do with Brother Leng, he finally allowed Lu Yuanbin to get a little closer.

Lu Yuanbin began in a low voice,

"Didn’t Li Hongmei try to frame Sister-in-law before? I think she and Hu Ziqiang are a good match. When you get a chance, spread the word around the village."

"If they don’t get married after all this, that’s considered hooliganism, and that’s a serious crime."

After speaking, he deliberately moved his stool, putting a meter of distance between himself and Chen JianShe.

’As if I’m so eager to be near him.’

’It’s only because Chen JianShe is from this village, which makes it more convenient to handle things.’

’If I were from the same village as Brother Leng, I would’ve dealt with these scoundrels long ago. They wouldn’t have been left around until now.’

The more he thought about it, the more unfair Lu Yuanbin felt it was.

’Why do fools have all the luck?’

’Chen JianShe is so stupid, yet he’s so fortunate.’

’He got to meet Brother Leng when they were kids.’

’If I had been following Brother Leng since childhood, I’d definitely be more capable than Chen JianShe now.’

Though he was cursing inwardly, his expression was that of someone entrusting a great responsibility.

"You’re the only one who can pull this off."

Chen JianShe didn’t get it at first, but thankfully, he wasn’t a complete idiot and quickly caught on.

’He knew it. That punk Lu Yuanbin is a cunning one, full of dirty tricks.’

’But this is a good deed, too.’

’Helping two lovebirds finally get together.’

’Maybe when Hu Ziqiang and Li Hongmei get married, they’ll even thank me!’

At that thought, Chen JianShe immediately grew smug.

"Of course. This is a job only I can do."

And so, the matter was settled. Lu Yuanbin said no more.

The big-pot stew, with Aunt Leng and Third Aunt Leng at the helm, had been simmering for half an hour, and its fragrance was already wafting out.

Leng Yuan had prepared a lot of pork, and as it simmered over a high flame, a rich aroma filled the entire courtyard.

The smell was making many people hungry.

The kitchen staff checked on the progress and began to plate all the prepared dishes.

The standard at the time was eleven dishes per table.

The dishes included pheasant with mushrooms and potatoes, braised rabbit, braised pork belly, Four-Joy Meatballs, sautéed fish fillets, fried fish nuggets, and pickled cabbage with sliced pork. The rest were vegetable dishes.

It was, by all accounts, an incredibly lavish spread.

At other people’s celebrations, braised pork belly would have been the main event. But at Leng Yuan’s, there was plenty of pheasant, not to mention the addition of braised rabbit and Four-Joy Meatballs.

The Four-Joy Meatballs were especially impressive. They were packed with ingredients, each meatball was as big as a fist, and they were cooked to perfection—even more delicious than the braised pork belly.

While the kitchen was busy dishing out the food, Leng Shuyue and Liu Xinxin approached from outside.

"Leng Yuan, why didn’t you greet your aunt? Didn’t you see I was here?"

Leng Yuan’s cold gaze fell upon Leng Shuyue, his tone flat. "I believe we’ve already severed our relationship."

The man’s flat tone was nothing like the village rumors suggested. Instead of the closeness people spoke of, it was filled with distance and indifference.

Back when Grandma Leng, along with the second and third branches of the family, took over the main branch’s house, he had cut ties with the Leng Family. Leng Shuyue had returned from the County Town right at that time.

Her very first words had been a reprimand.

"How could you sever ties with the Leng Family!"

Leng Yuan hadn’t held back then, severing his relationship with Leng Shuyue as well.

But the incident was never made public, so the villagers didn’t know. They still thought he and Leng Shuyue were on good terms.

As for Leng Shuyue wanting to take him to the County Town, that part was true. However, it wasn’t because she wanted to adopt him as a son, but because she was after the connections his father had left behind.

Leng Yuan had refused her outright, and the two had had no contact since.