Seeing Qin Yihuai about to leave, Han Xiangmei quickly called him back and warmly invited him to stay for dinner.
"Few people can have a pleasant conversation with this old stick-in-the-mud. Since you're already here, stay and have dinner before you go."
Ye Zhinan slightly raised her eyebrows. This scene was extremely similar to when Han Xiangmei had once invited Zhao Qingfeng to stay for dinner.
Even the excuse was almost the same.
But Han Xiangmei wasn't a thoughtless person. Presumably, after the previous experience, she would be more cautious when it came to matchmaking for her.
Besides, Ye Yingfeng wasn't even married yet. What was she in such a hurry for?
Qin Yihuai found it hard to decline the kind invitation and quickly sat down, but his eyes fell on the outside of the door.
"Is Xiaohai waiting outside?"
Ye Zhinan blinked. As soon as the words left her mouth, Chen Zhenhai popped his little head out from the door.
She didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She quickly explained to Han Xiangmei and invited him in.
"I'm really sorry for keeping you here on such short notice. But my mother is a great cook. Her cooking must be better than what you men can make."
Chen Zhenhai was already starving. He gobbled up two mouthfuls of rice and said contentedly,
"Indeed. If I could, I'd come here to mooch off your meals every day."
Ouch—
He let out a startled cry. Looking at Qin Yihuai's expression, he swallowed all his grievances.
He knew he had said the wrong thing.
Qin Yihuai smiled, trying to ease the awkwardness and make an excuse for himself.
"He's just a glutton. He's so unpromising. Don't mind him."
Han Xiangmei understood completely. Looking at Chen Zhenhai's pitiful expression, she even felt a bit sorry for him.
By the end of the meal, Chen Zhenhai's bowl was piled high with vegetables like a mountain. He put down his chopsticks and let out a satisfied belch.
Qin Yihuai chatted a bit more about daily matters. Seeing that it was getting late, he pulled Chen Zhenhai away.
"I have to say, that Xiaohai beside Inspector Qin is a sincere boy. He's honest and has a good personality."
Han Xiangmei kept chattering on and on. Ye Zhinan was too lazy to respond. She casually found an excuse and slipped away.
Ye Shenyan was sitting in the yard drinking tea. He tilted his head up, looking at the moon in the sky with an inscrutable look in his eyes.
"Father, could you please tell me what the riddle you two were playing is all about?"
There was a look of expectation in Ye Zhinan's eyes. She leaned against her father's leg and said a lot of nice things.
Ye Shenyan tapped her on the head and deliberately kept her in suspense.
"If there's news, you'll naturally find out. If not, sometimes it's good for you to be a bit ignorant."
Ye Zhinan pouted. She disliked talking in riddles the most.
She was angry and turned around to go back to her room.
She didn't believe that without their telling her, she wouldn't be able to figure out the reason!
On the way back, Chen Zhenhai was so stuffed that he could hardly walk, while Qin Yihuai strode forward quickly.
"Inspector, wait for me. I really can't walk anymore."
Qin Yihuai glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, his tone full of mockery.
"Then why did you eat so much?"
"Mrs. Ye's cooking is just too delicious. But we came here to find out about their marriage with the Zhao family. Why did we end up staying for dinner?"
At the mention of the marriage, Qin Yihuai blushed. His already slowed steps sped up again.
He had indeed heard rumors that Ye Zhinan and the eldest son of the Zhao family were on intimate terms and had frequent interactions.
At first, he thought it was just baseless gossip, but when he saw the two of them setting up the shed together, he couldn't help feeling jealous.
Moreover, Zhao Qingfeng had been always finding various excuses to visit the Ye family every now and then recently.
He just felt so frustrated.
"And it was also you who secretly made arrangements for the matter in Qinghui County. If you had told Miss Ye about your feelings, the two of you might have been together long ago."
This time, Qin Yihuai was really angry. He turned around, his eyes cold.
Chen Zhenhai was telling the truth and was also doing this for his boss's own good. So he wasn't afraid at all. He straightened his back and stared directly into his eyes.
But within three seconds, he cowered.
"Don't mention it again. I owe the Ye family my life and should repay them. As for other things, I don't dare to have any illusions."
The look in Qin Yihuai's eyes dimmed. He lowered his head and walked forward quickly.
It was indeed he who had secretly planned the matter of the Zhao family. Not for any other reason, but because Zhao Qingfeng was really an untrustworthy person.
On the surface, Zhao Qingfeng had a smooth official career and was very shrewd in the officialdom. He seemed to be having a great time.
In fact, behind the scenes, his underhanded operations were dirtier than anyone else's.
His opportunistic attitude was exactly the same as Zhao Yongyu's.
In the face of major issues of right and wrong, he could never stand firm on his own position and might betray those around him at any time.
"Miss Ye seems smart, but in fact, she's straightforward, kind, and has never had any malicious thoughts. If she were to enter the den of wolves in the Zhao family, she might not even have a single bone left."
Qin Yihuai knew that Zhao Yongyu had always been looking for a chance to make a comeback. Now that they were powerless and had no influence, they could only rely on a powerful backer.
Previously, they thought that Ye Shenyan still had some old connections in the northern border and might be able to rely on him.
But Ye Shenyan had no contact with his old acquaintances. Not to mention making a comeback, even making a small change was difficult.
Zhao Yongyu wanted to take a chance but was too afraid.
He knew his good brother too well, so he was always restricted and hesitant. He couldn't make up his mind.
Qin Yihuai took advantage of this opportunity. When he went to a neighboring county on business, he mentioned a few things in front of the county magistrate.
Both sides got what they wanted, and Zhao Yongyu also got rid of a troublesome matter.
"You're just too timid. If you like her, just go after her. The Ye family has fallen into such a state, and you're at least an official. Do you think she won't take a fancy to you?"
Qin Yihuai shook his head, his tone full of determination.
"No. The unjust case of the Ye family will eventually be redressed."
When he said this, it was a promise to the Ye family.
Chen Zhenhai sighed. He really didn't understand his boss's thoughts. So he simply didn't care anymore and strode forward.
Ye Zhinan's shed was starting to show results. She was working in the field, and many people came to watch, extremely envious.
But because of the previous conflicts, they didn't dare to come forward.
She didn't initiate a conversation either. After finishing her work, she turned around and left, looking as cold as a stranger.
She was turning the soil in the shed. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone standing at the door. When she took a closer look, she found it was Sister Hong.
"Why are you here? Please help me take a look at the crops I've planted. Is there anything wrong with them?"
Sister Hong wasn't in the mood to chat with her. She pulled her to a secluded corner, her brows tightly knitted.
"What's going on with your family recently? First, you offended the county magistrate, and now you've even angered the prefect."
The prefect?
She stood there stunned. Sister Hong poked her elbow hard, which made her finally come to her senses.
"You'd better go home quickly. Your father and elder brother are already on their way to the prefect's mansion. They happened to meet me and asked me to come and get you."
Ye Zhinan's heart was pounding like thunder. She remembered what Qin Yihuai had said at home that day, and suddenly everything seemed to fall into place.