Chapter 949: Calculating Scholar 4

Seeing the smile on Mother Li’s face, Tang Wan returned a faint smile, then shook her head. “No, Aunt Li. I still need to go back and cook.”

“Then come eat at my house tonight!” Mother Li said immediately.

If it were the original Tang Wan, she would have agreed happily. But this time, Tang Wan would never step into the Li household for a meal again.

She quickly smiled and shook her head. “No need, Aunt Li. I just came to bring you some vegetables.”

With that, she handed over the basket in her hand.

Mother Li was already used to Tang Wan bringing things over, so she stepped forward and accepted it. “Alright then. Fuze will be back in a few days—come over to eat when he returns.”

“We’ll see,” Tang Wan replied lightly.

Then she turned and walked back toward her own home.

…

Tang Wan’s family courtyard had been well maintained before her father’s death, as he had been a diligent and capable man.

As soon as she stepped inside, a yellow dog wagged its tail and ran toward her excitedly.

“Woof!”

Seeing this, Tang Wan couldn’t help but reach out and pat its head.

The original owner’s appearance was so striking that it easily attracted unwanted attention. Especially in the past two years, some idle men in the village had even started wandering near her home at night.

Fortunately, this dog had always stayed by her side. Whenever anyone tried to approach with ill intentions, it would growl lowly, scaring them away.

It was a pity that, in the original plot, this dog was later secretly beaten to death.

And after its death… the original owner’s fate had quickly spiraled toward destruction.

…

After playing with the dog for a while, Tang Wan went into the kitchen and finished preparing dinner.

Once she and the dog had eaten, she closed the door, lay down on the bed, and said to Little Cutie, “Little cutie, do you know where Tong Tong lives?”

The villain of this world was named Ye Qingtong, a hunter from the neighboring Ye Village.

On the surface, he had nothing to do with Li Fuze.

But a year later, Ye Qingtong would enlist in the army. Within just five years, relying on his courage and strategy, he would rise to become a general.

After achieving fame, he would return to the capital to receive rewards. The emperor would personally bestow a marriage upon him.

However, the princess looked down on Ye Qingtong and instead favored Li Fuze, who had become the top scholar.

But an imperial decree could not be defied.

In order to marry Li Fuze, the princess went so far as to ruin her own reputation at a banquet.

Left with no choice, the emperor reassigned the marriage—giving the princess to Li Fuze instead, and compensating Ye Qingtong with additional rewards.

Because of this, Ye Qingtong bore a grudge against Li Fuze and frequently obstructed him in court.

But in the end, he still lost to the male lead. After a failed power struggle, he was sent to the frontier to guard the borders.

…

Hearing Tang Wan’s question, Little Cutie quickly replied, “Yes, but host, wouldn’t it be inappropriate for you to go find him directly?”

Tang Wan rolled her eyes. “Do I look that stupid? Why would I go straight to his house?”

Then her eyes flickered, and she smiled. “Just tell me when he goes up the mountain to hunt. I’ll head up there too. That way… won’t we ‘happen’ to run into each other?”

Little Cutie paused for a moment, then nodded.

But inwardly, it couldn’t help thinking: With the host’s personality, she’s probably planning to use some kind of ‘injury tactic’ to trap the villain again…

“I understand. Don’t worry, host,” Little Cutie replied promptly.