The prize pool keeps growing
Xie Yan looked at Zhou Wanwan and said, "So you're from the mountains. No wonder you're so ill-mannered."
Zhou Wanwan looked at her and said, "You're from the capital, but I don't see any manners in you."
Xie Yan retorted angrily, "You country bumpkin, how dare you insult me like that? Do you believe I'll slap you?"
Zhao Wanting quickly pulled her aside and said, "Sister Yan, don't take it to heart, let's go play on the boat first!"
Once on the boat, she chuckled and said, "Don't bother with her. I'll show you a good show in a bit."
Xie Yan's eyes lit up and she asked, "What kind of show is it?"
"Just you wait and see!"
Everyone was ready, Nie Rou Cui Yingying led Zhou Wanwan onto the boat.
As soon as the boat entered the middle of the lake, Nie Rou suddenly shoved Zhou Wanwan hard.
Zhou Wanwan turned around, smiled faintly, and pulled her along.
With a series of thumping sounds, the ship began to move strangely in a short while, leaving everyone puzzled.
The entire boat capsized, and all the young ladies on board fell into the lake.
Cries for help echoed across the lake, "Help! Help! Waaah..."
Zhou Wanwan and Zheng Xing'an were pulled ashore by the Old Scholar Tree.
Zhou Wanwan entered the treehouse, changed her clothes, and sat on a branch of the Old Scholar Tree, saying, "Trying this again? The Cui Family is truly shameless."
The Old Scholar Tree chuckled and said:
"Doesn't he like saving people? Then I'll let him save everyone here."
"I'd like to see what he does then."
Cui Hongyuan did want to find Zhou Wanwan, but who knew this would happen?
He couldn't worry about anything else right now; he rescued Cui Yingying first. Cui Yingying cried and said, "Brother, hurry and save Nie Rou! She's about to die."
Cui Hongyuan had no choice but to turn back and rescue Nie Rou.
He didn't know why, but he felt like he was having a particularly lucky day, and he was able to save everyone he saved.
After rescuing Nie Rou, he heard cries for help not far away.
"Help! Hongyuan, please save me!"
Upon hearing Zhao Wanting's voice, Cui Hongyuan quickly swam over.
Zhao Wanting and Xie Yan were about to sink.
Cui Hongyuan rescued them, one in each arm.
The prize pool continues to accumulate, and Lu Lan and Wen Zhiyu have also been rescued by Cui Hongyuan.
The other women on the shore looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Has Cui Hongyuan mad? He's saved so many people at once, doesn't he care about these young ladies' reputations?"
"Oh no, what will happen to these women?"
"Xie Yan is the legitimate daughter of the Xie Family! Now her reputation is ruined, how will she ever get married!"
Because of prior arrangements, there were no servants at all, only young ladies and maids.
They screamed until they were hoarse, but no one came to help.
The ladies rushed over when they heard the news, and their expressions changed when they saw Cui Hongyuan and the young ladies.
Madam Cui the Younger looked at Cui Hongyuan, "Where's Zhou Wanwan? Did you rescue her?"
Cui Hongyuan shook his head and said, "I've searched for her for ages but haven't found her. She might have drowned."
Madam Cui the Younger frowned and said, "Didn't I tell you to keep an eye on things? What's going on here? Why are your clothes all wet?"
Cui Yingying sobbed, "Mother, the boat capsized just now, and we all fell into the water, but my brother saved them all."
Madam Cui the Younger's face turned pale. "What? Whom did your brother save?"
Cui Yingying whispered, "Me, Nie Rou, Zhao Wanting, Xie Yan, Lu Lan, and Wen Zhiyu..."
Madam Cui the Younger was dizzy and disoriented. Saving just one person would have been manageable, but she had to save so many at once—what was she going to do?
Before Madam Cui the Younger could speak, Madam Nie slapped her across the face.
"Cui Clan, are you doing this on purpose?"
You deliberately pushed my daughter into the lake; you're repaying kindness with enmity!
Madam Xie said coldly, "You're dreaming if you think our Xie Family's eldest daughter can marry into your Cui Family."
Lu Lan and Wen Zhiyu were hiding to the side, crying and sobbing. Zhou Wanwan then emerged from the bushes and asked, "Oh dear! What happened? Why are all these ladies' clothes wet?"
Madam Cui the Younger looked at her and said, "Zhou Wanwan, what are you doing here? Where did you go just now?"
Zhou Wanwan said helplessly:
"Ouch! Didn't I just fall into the water?"
Luckily, my maid could swim and pulled me to the shore.
"That's why I changed my clothes and rushed over."
Madam Cui the Younger asked anxiously, "You were the one who should have fallen into the water, why did they fall in too?"
Zhou Wanwan looked at her and said:
"How would I know? You should ask them!"
Why did they all inexplicably fall into the water?
You were saved by Cui Hongyuan, right? Doesn't that mean you're not clean?
These people are here today to see her make a fool of herself; they all have a premeditated plan to make her their concubine.
Zhou Wanwan didn't respond; she just needed to play dumb.
"What are we going to do now...?"
These young women have all been hugged and touched by Cui Hongyuan; their reputations are completely ruined. How are they supposed to face people now?!
"Such a fine girl, she's fallen so low for no reason, her life is over."
Someone sighed and replied sourly:
"If we're talking about luck, the Cui Family is the lucky one, getting so many pretty girls out of nowhere."
From now on, they'll all become Cui Hongyuan's concubines; the house will be so lively!
No sooner had these words been spoken than someone spat out a disdainful remark:
"Pah! You guys actually think this is a good thing? Cui Hongyuan before yesterday, he even lost all the betrothal gifts he had prepared for his new bride!"
Who would genuinely want to follow someone who's utterly hopeless and good-for-nothing?
The ladies nearby immediately looked grim and said urgently:
"Then... what else can we do if we don't go with him?"
"My reputation is ruined. What other way out do I have besides marrying into the Cui Family?"
"Even if I were to become a concubine, I wouldn't be able to live a normal life with such a gambling addict..."
Zhou Wanwan listened from the side, and Madam Cui the Younger's face turned even paler.
Those families took their daughters away and went inside to change their clothes.
Madam Nie looked at Madam Cui the Younger and said, "Now how do you plan to end this? My Rou'er will absolutely never become your concubine."
Madam Cui the Younger quickly waved her hand and said, "I never intended for your Rou'er to become my concubine."
Madam Nie was furious. "If you won't be a concubine, then what are we supposed to do? Are you suggesting that your Cui Hongyuan marry my Rou'er?"
Madam Xie was standing nearby, said, "Then what will happen to my Yan'er? Is she going to become your concubine? Does your Cui Family have the audacity to say such a thing?"
Madam Cui the Younger was on the verge of tears, Madam Zhao was standing beside her, said:
"The marriage between my Zhao Family and the Cui Family is already arranged. Are you suggesting we call off the engagement?"
"My Zhao Family can't afford to lose face like this." Chapter 435 The prize pool continues to accumulate.