Nong Si Niang was the exact opposite of Mr. Wei. She was loud, but a real charmer. As soon as she learned Lu Yin had returned, she latched onto him and even tracked him down to Mr. Wei's place. Still, she had a small problem.
"A sword duel?" Lu Yin asked in surprise.
Mr. Wei also turned to Nong Si Niang curiously.
Nong Si Niang pursed her lips, looking both frustrated and annoyed. "Liu Que is way too arrogant. All I said was that his sword looked like our family's hoe, and he actually said our hoe wasn't worthy of comparison. The nerve! Mr. Hao Yu, tell me, doesn't that chipped old sword of his look like a hoe?"
Lu Yin found it rather amusing. Now that she mentioned it, if you bent the hilt around, it did look a little like one. But just because it looked like one didn't mean she should say so. "So you picked a fight with him?"
"Hmph! Our family's hoe can turn soil and grow crops, or dig graves and bury the dead. What can his broken sword do? Fine, we'll fight. It's just swordsmanship, and our family's hoe isn't to be underestimated." Nong Si Niang clenched her fist, cheering herself on.
Lu Yin was at a loss for words and looked helplessly at Mr. Wei.
Mr. Wei chuckled. "I've heard the Nong family's hoes from the Seed Garden are formidable. Looks like we'll get to see one in action."
Nong Si Niang proudly lifted her chin, but soon it drooped again. She looked at Lu Yin for help. "Mr. Hao Yu, our family's hoe is impressive, but I'm not. I—I can't beat Liu Que. What should I do?"
"Why did you come to me, then?" Lu Yin asked, puzzled.
Her eyes lit