Chapter 80: Ning Yaxin’s Proposal

Xu Mo could not help but sneer inwardly, thinking: What a clever scapegoat! You believe that because you are older, I won’t dare to do anything to you, is that it?

At this moment, the room was so quiet that even a falling pin could be heard, and all eyes were fixed on Xu Mo. Just as he hesitated about what to do, a woman suddenly appeared at the doorway.

“Master Xu!”

Hearing her voice, Xu Mo turned and was immediately surprised, “Miss Ning?”

“Sister?” Ning Yongqiang was equally astonished.

The next moment, Ning Yongqiang received a glacial stare from Ning Yaxin, immediately lowering his head and falling silent. After all, Ning Yaxin had strictly forbidden him from coming to such places.

Ning Yaxin ignored Ning Yongqiang and addressed Xu Mo, “Master Xu, may I have a word with you in private?”

Seeing Ning Yaxin, Wang Lingshan felt a sudden tightness in his chest: Why has she come? What does she intend?

Xu Mo considered for a moment, then nodded, “Very well.”

“Please wait a moment, I’ll be right back,” Xu Mo said to Wang Lingshan and Wu Anmin, then walked out. Qin Mutou wanted to follow, but Xu Mo stopped him, “Why would you come along? Wait here.”

“Oh,” Qin Mutou replied simply, stopping in his tracks.

Soon, under the gaze of everyone in the room, Xu Mo left and followed Ning Yaxin to the covered walkway nearby.

Once they had stopped, Xu Mo asked, “Miss Ning, what brings you here?”

Ning Yaxin did not answer directly but instead asked, “Master Xu, how do you plan to resolve today’s matter?”

Xu Mo immediately sensed she had something to say and replied, “And how does Miss Ning think I should resolve it?”

Ning Yaxin spoke earnestly, “In my opinion, Master Xu should let the matter rest, minimize its impact, and not escalate further. Otherwise, it will benefit no one.”

Xu Mo frowned and asked, “Miss Ning, you must know what happened just now, correct? Do you truly want me to let them go?”

Ning Yaxin nodded seriously, “Yes! You’ve already punished them, and both Master Wang and Master Wu have apologized. For the sake of the future, it is best to end things here and not let them spiral out of control.”

Xu Mo pondered briefly, then asked in doubt, “Miss Ning, as far as I know, the Wang family is your Ning family’s nemesis. Wouldn’t you want to use this opportunity to strike at them? Yet you’re pleading on their behalf?”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Xu Mo added, “Miss Ning, you aren’t afraid of the Wang family, are you?”

Ning Yaxin shook her head coldly, “Master Xu, I am not afraid of the Wang family, nor am I pleading for them. I simply do not wish for you to make an irreparable enemy of them over such a trivial matter. The loss would outweigh the gain!”

---

Xu Mo understood at once and said, “Miss Ning, you’re concerned they might retaliate against me, correct?”

Ning Yaxin did not deny it, replying solemnly, “Master Xu, that is part of it, but I am also thinking of our business. The soap workshop and the fragrant skin shop are just starting out—smooth progress is crucial. You wouldn’t want anyone secretly sabotaging us, would you?”

Xu Mo could certainly appreciate Ning Yaxin’s concerns, but he had his own thoughts. He asked, “Miss Ning, do you believe that if I let them off today, I’ll never face retaliation in the future?”

Ning Yaxin immediately shook her head, “Of course not! I just think there’s no need to turn this into a bitter feud. Master Wang is not unreasonable; he knows better than anyone who was right and who was wrong today. If you let them go, he will surely appreciate it.”

Xu Mo stroked his chin in contemplation. Eventually, he accepted Ning Yaxin’s advice, nodding, “Very well! I know what to do now, Miss Ning.”

Having said that, Xu Mo turned and went back inside.

Returning to the room, Xu Mo addressed Wang Lingshan and Wu Anmin, “Master Wang, Master Wu, I won’t say more. Let’s end today’s matter here.”

“I hope you will properly discipline your sons in the future. You’re fortunate today that you encountered someone like me who was merciful. If it had been another, the consequences could have been dire.”

Hearing that Xu Mo would not pursue the matter, Wang Lingshan felt a weight lift from his heart. He quickly nodded and clasped his hands in respect, “Master Xu, you are right! Rest assured, once we return home, I will strictly discipline my son and ensure he never repeats today’s mistake!”

Wu Anmin also clasped his hands, echoing Wang Lingshan’s sentiment.

Then, Wang Lingshan turned to Wang Shunyang and barked, “Scoundrel, come apologize to Master Xu!”

Wang Shunyang was unwilling in a thousand ways. He thought, I’ve already been beaten like this, and now you want me to apologize? Are you really my father?

But his father had spoken, and Wang Shunyang dared not disobey, lest he face further punishment. So he reluctantly walked up to Xu Mo, lowered his head, and mumbled a barely audible “Sorry.”

Xu Mo responded with a cold smile, not bothering to argue further.

Next, Wu Boyi was summoned by his father’s intimidating glare and formally apologized to Xu Mo.

After the apologies, Wang Lingshan and Wu Anmin bowed once more to Xu Mo, then led Wang Shunyang and Wu Boyi away.

It is worth noting that as Wang Lingshan left, he made a special gesture of respect to Ning Yaxin, whispering a word of thanks.

Once the Wang and Wu families had departed, Madam Yang immediately summoned Mo Jianjia to properly apologize to Xu Mo.

Xu Mo replied briefly and then left with Qin Mutou.

Soon, the group exited from Lishui Pavilion.

Ning Yaxin intended to escort Xu Mo back to Jimi Alley, but he politely declined.

“Miss Ning, we’ll take our leave for now. See you tomorrow!”

---

Xu Mo spoke, then walked away with Qin Mutou.

Ning Yaxin watched Xu Mo recede into the distance for a moment before abruptly turning and calling sharply to Ning Yongqiang, “Get on the carriage!”

Ning Yongqiang dared not utter a word, hurriedly climbing aboard.

Ling’er then helped Ning Yaxin onto the carriage as well, which slowly started off toward the Ning family estate.

...

Inside the moving carriage.

From the moment they boarded, Ning Yaxin had kept her face sternly fixed on Ning Yongqiang, forbidding him to speak.

Ning Yongqiang was made so uncomfortable that he finally could not help but say, “Sister, could you stop staring at me like this? Honestly, I had nothing to do with it.”

Ning Yaxin asked coldly, “Are you really shameless enough to say that? Who brought Master Xu to Lishui Pavilion? Was it me?”

Ning Yongqiang hurried to explain, “Sister! It’s all Li Changsi’s fault. If he hadn’t told me to invite Master Xu to Lishui Pavilion, I wouldn’t have gone!”

He continued, “Sister! We didn’t do anything at Lishui Pavilion. We just had a meal and chatted; I didn’t even drink! Smell for yourself! Ha…”

Ning Yongqiang leaned toward Ning Yaxin and exhaled.

“Go away, stay far from me, that’s disgusting!” Ning Yaxin immediately pushed him aside, her brows furrowing deeply.

She waved her hand to fan the air, then sneered, “Ha! That’s the famous Lishui Pavilion, full of beautiful girls. You expect anyone to believe you just ate and talked?”

Afraid his sister would misunderstand, Ning Yongqiang quickly raised three fingers and solemnly swore, “Sister! I swear to heaven, we really just ate and chatted. If there’s a single lie, may thunder strike me down!”

“Very well, I’ll believe you this time,” Ning Yaxin finally relented.

No sooner had she spoken than a smile appeared on Ning Yongqiang’s face, and he scooted a bit closer, saying, “Sister, do you know? Earlier, Li Changsi and the others tried to humiliate Master Xu, but not only did they fail, Master Xu made them drink a lot… The scene was so satisfying!”

Ning Yaxin frowned, “Didn’t you just say you didn’t drink?”

“We didn’t drink; Li Changsi and the others did, and it was mixed spirits…”

Ning Yongqiang launched into a lively retelling of the earlier events, describing each scene in vivid detail for his sister.