Babao saw that Lu Chengxiao seemed to have regained his spirit, so he eagerly asked, “Third Young Master, should I prepare the carriage now? Shall we go to the Liujiacun?”
Lu Chengxiao, eager to see Liu Yu, shook his head, saying, “Not now. I don’t even know where she lives. If we go searching like this, wouldn’t it harm her reputation?”
Pausing for a moment, he continued, “Tomorrow, tomorrow morning, I’ll go to North Town Stone Bridge and wait there.” He needed to see her before Chen Sheng did.
Babao understood and changed the subject, “Then, Third Young Master, have something to eat.”
Lu Chengxiao waved his hand, “I’m not hungry.”
He was preoccupied with thoughts of how to apologize to Liu Yu and win her back. At least he couldn’t casually accept the Chen family’s marriage proposal. He was too anxious to think about food.
Babao sighed, thinking that at least he wasn’t trapped anymore. It was a good thing.
Soon, Chen Shi walked over, and upon seeing Lu Chengxiao’s room door open, her eyes lit up. She quickened her pace and peered inside. Lu Chengxiao was pacing, and Babao was accompanying him. The tableware was still untouched, and no food had been eaten.
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Yap. Ubld oyp dsv vbl zlypv ckv osaakle; kdpvlye, pbl zssjle yv bkx okvb y pxkzl yde jdsnjle sd vbl essa.
Tlyakdt vbl pswde, Nw Ubldtmkys vwadle cynj, qllzkdt y ckv lxcyaaypple obld bl vbswtbv ycswv zypv dktbv’p eawdjlddlpp yde vseyu’p plnzwpksd. Tl nyzzle bkp xsvbla yde kdhkvle bla vs pkv kdpkel.
Ubld Fbk eslp dsv dlle vs zssj vs jdso obyv oyp sd bkp xkde. Fbl eked’v pkv esod lkvbla. Fbl pxkzle yv bkx yde pyke, “Mlzz Ysvbla obyv jkde sq ckt vaswczl usw’hl tsvvld kdvs. Zsw’al eawdj yde dltzlnvkdt xlyzp. Nlv xl twlpp, kp swa Mbkae Zswdt Yypvla rlabyrp…”
Fbl elzkclayvlzu lmvldele vbl pldvldnl, rasxrvkdt Nw Ubldtmkys vs pvsr bla, “Ysvbla, esd’v vlypl uswa psd.”
Fllkdt bkx czwpbkdt, Yap. Ubld nswzed’v blzr cwv cwapv kdvs zywtbvla, pyukdt, “Gzaktbv, R osd’v vlypl usw. Jwv kq usw alyzzu zkjl y tkaz, kv’p ds wpl xsrkdt yaswde yv bsxl. R osd’v zsnj usw wr yv bsxl. Rq usw oydv vs ts vs Zwydgbsw Ukvu, vbld ts.”
Nw Ubldtmkys oyp rwggzle, “Ebyv Zwydgbsw Ukvu?”
Jycys pvkqzle y zywtb, yde Ubld Fbk alyzkgle bla xkpvyjl, “Rpd’v vbl tkaz usw zkjl qasx Zwydgbsw Ukvu?”
Mbkp oyp y nsxrzlvl xkm-wr. Nw Ubldtmkys tyhl Jycys y tzydnl, yde Jycys iwknjzu pbssj bkp blye, “Rv oypd’v xl obs pyke vbyv; Yyeyx twlpple kv blaplzq.”
Blame was passed on very cleanly.
Chen Shi realized that she had misunderstood and then her eyes lit up. She asked Lu Chengxiao, “Is she from our town then?”
Lu Chengxiao couldn’t withstand his mother’s enthusiasm and quickly said, “Mother, let’s not talk about this now. Nothing has been decided yet. When I need to propose formally, I will definitely inform you and father. At that time, I’ll ask you to personally intervene.”
He gently guided Chen Shi out, supporting her shoulders.
Chen Shi was overjoyed. Her son had truly grown up. She patted the hand on her shoulder and laughed, “Stop pushing, I can walk by myself.”
As she was about to leave, she turned back and added, “Chengxiao, pursuing a girl requires a thicker skin.”
Seeing Lu Chengxiao’s ears were so red that they reached the entire pinna, Chen Shi laughed heartily and went back to the inner courtyard in a happy mood.
~
Now, let’s talk about the village of Liu’s family. Liu Yu, rarely leaving her house, sought out a familiar girl to discuss and find work. This girl wasn’t a stranger; she was a neighbor and had been close friends with Liu Yu since childhood. Her name was Cui’er, the younger daughter of Chen Ma’s sister.
It turns out that when Aunt Chen called Liu Yu out, she had already sensed the scrutinizing gaze. She casually glanced over, noticed an unfamiliar woman, and simply returned to her room. Later, when she came out again, she saw that the woman was accompanying Aunt Chen.
Considering Chen Sheng’s mention of proposing, Liu Yu had been alert these past few days. She had some vague suspicions, leading to her outing today.
As the two girls chatted while doing chores, after discussing various topics for a while, Liu Yu subtly shifted the conversation to Aunt Chen’s house.
“Did Aunt Chen have guests today? I saw her walking with an older lady of similar age during the day.”
Upon hearing this, Cui’er laughed and said, “That’s Aunt Chen’s eldest sister from her maternal home. She works as a helper for a wealthy family in town. Don’t be fooled by the term ‘helper’; her life is better than ours.”
Liu Yu thought as much and curiously asked, “Do families in town still hire helpers?”
Cui’er wiped the needle on her hair and continued sewing swiftly. She replied, “Yes, Aunt Chen’s eldest sister, I heard my mother say, works at the private bookstore opened by that family. She’s been working there for over ten years. The pay is good, enough to match that of a male laborer.”
Liu Yu had a clear understanding of the situation; indeed, it was someone from the Chen family coming to inquire about her.
Feeling somewhat uneasy, she wondered if Chen Sheng’s parents were amicable and whether the difference in social standing would be a significant obstacle. Could she smoothly navigate through this? Adding today’s events, she realized she only had ten days left.
However, one thing Liu Yu was certain about was that, regardless of how well or poorly the Chen family got along, she couldn’t visit the bookstore tomorrow. Her subtle tactics might not be apparent to men, but women could be more discerning in such matters. She didn’t want to create any unnecessary discord; it would only complicate things.
Unaware of Madam Chen’s multiple actions, which included finalizing the wife candidate for Chen Sheng to consider, Liu Yu decided that the next day she would go to the embroidery shop and find an alternative route. With this plan in mind, she peacefully fell asleep.
Liu Yu had a restful night.
On the other hand, throughout the night, all that occupied the mind of Lu Chengxiao was her. He longed to see Liu Yu as soon as possible, and sleep eluded him entirely.
The next morning, as the faint light spread through the window paper, Lu Chengxiao got up, tidied himself, had a quick breakfast, and was ready to head to the northern town.
Chen Shi was quite curious, itching to see how this girl had captured her son’s heart so completely, making him act this way.
Babao was tempted to follow but caught a disdainful glance from Lu Chengxiao, prompting him to retreat back inside the door.
Even though Qin Shi and Lu Shuang, who spent most of their time in the courtyard, sensed something unusual, unfortunately, Chen Shi revealed nothing about it.
In the clear morning of April, the breeze carried a lively sense of vitality and hope on the face. Lu Chengxiao’s heart resonated with the same feelings, anticipating a fresh start with Liu Yu.
He strolled along, crossing the stone bridge and reaching the dirt road along the northern mountainside. Thinking about the day Liu Yu had stood here with the two children to inquire about his whereabouts, he recalled her enduring the sun, patiently waiting for him. Though he stood so close, he never came out to meet her.
Wandering around, today it was his turn to wait for her arrival at this spot. His heart felt swollen with a hint of indescribable joy and anticipation. He realized that when your heart is pleased with someone, even the restless and anxious wait could evolve into a sweet experience that grows crazily from the depths of your heart.
As the sun rose from the east, the mountainous wilderness echoed with bird calls, insect sounds, and the gentle murmur of flowing water. Gradually, pedestrians appeared, villagers from the other side of the mountain heading to Changfeng Town.
Compared to the rustic clothing of the farmers, Lu Chengxiao standing here compelled people to look back even if they had traveled a long way.
As the sun rose higher, the number of pedestrians increased. Lu Chengxiao finally remembered that today was the tenth day of April, the market day in Changfeng Town. If he waited here much longer, it would likely attract unwanted gossip and rumors about him waiting for Liu Yu.
After a moment of contemplation, he decided to leave the bridge area and return to the northern town, finding a more inconspicuous and quiet place to wait.
Unbeknownst to him, after he retreated, about half an hour later, Chen Sheng emerged from another small path in the northern town, crossed the bridge, and waited at the spot where Lu Chengxiao had been standing. When Lu Chengxiao noticed, it was already too late; Liu Yu’s figure had appeared on the other side of the river, accompanied by pedestrians from nearby villages heading to Changfeng Town.
Lu Chengxiao couldn’t just turn back at this point and engage in a contest with Chen Sheng. That would only draw more attention to Liu Yu, inviting unnecessary gossip and criticism. All he could do was anxiously watch, hoping that Chen Sheng would be considerate, noticing the crowd and avoiding confrontation to prevent any damage to Liu Yu’s reputation.
However, this wishful thinking proved futile. Chen Sheng was full of excitement about sharing the good news that his mother had agreed to the upcoming proposal, didn’t consider diverting his attention upon seeing Liu Yu. Instead, he not only failed to avoid her but eagerly stepped forward a few paces, attracting the curious gazes of three or five passersby who were on the same route as Liu Yu.
Liu Yu’s expression stiffened; she couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable under the scrutiny of onlookers. She silently observed them, relieved that there were no villagers from her hometown around.
Unaware of her discomfort, Chen Sheng hurried over and said, “Miss Liu, my mother has agreed, and in a few days, we’ll have the matchmaker visit.”
Several passersby exclaimed in surprise and turned their heads to look at the two young people, wearing intriguing expressions.
Liu Yu felt awkward and didn’t know how to respond to Chen Sheng’s words. She pursed her lips, remaining silent.
Chen Sheng seemed to realize his oversight and looked apologetically at Liu Yu. This time, he consciously stayed behind her as they crossed the bridge, leaving a few steps between them.
Some passersby ahead kept glancing back from time to time; Liu Yu’s appearance was indeed eye-catching. Since Chen Sheng was often at Ji Xian Zhai, he’s well-known to many in town. The sight of the two walking together, combined with Chen Sheng’s earlier statement, inevitably attracted attention.
Liu Yu’s expression wasn’t pleasant, not solely because of the onlookers but more due to the fear that Chen Sheng’s family might become suspicious. She worried that this encounter might leave a frivolous impression, not fearing the difficulties that lay ahead but dreading the potential setbacks in her current plan.
She slowed her pace until she was shoulder-to-shoulder with Chen Sheng, whispering, “Master Chen, if you’ve already discussed the marriage proposal with your family, coming to see me in this manner might not be appropriate.”
Chen Sheng, not oblivious to social nuances, simply hadn’t given this matter much thought. Seeing Liu Yu’s attitude and hearing her words, he realized his misjudgment and apologized, “I didn’t consider it well. I’m sorry; I’ll leave now. Don’t worry, my mother has agreed. The matchmaker will come in a few days.”
Liu Yu nodded lightly, making a soft “Hmm” sound. Chen Sheng glanced at her with a lingering reluctance and said, “Then I’ll go first.”
Seeing a faint smile appear at the corner of Liu Yu’s lips, Chen Sheng felt reassured and quickened his pace. He gradually distanced himself from Liu Yu in the middle of the bridge and walked away.
Seeing him leave, Liu Yu breathed a sigh of relief.
With only nine days left, she couldn’t afford any more complications. If another issue arose, she would be left with only the option of evading it. If she couldn’t escape the notice of Liu’s family, she would have to flee to a distant place, presenting a daunting challenge. For her, it was equally fraught with danger, making it far from an easy solution.
Her steps slowed as she walked down the stone bridge towards the north of the town, realizing she was now alone. She pondered the challenges ahead, contemplating the difficulty of the path she had chosen.
Meanwhile, with a hopeful heart, Lu Chengxiao was about to step out. However, just ahead of him, not far away in a narrow alley, a woman in her thirties emerged. She called out to Liu Yu with a single word, “Miss Liu?”
It was a simple address, but the tone held a hint of uncertainty. It seemed the woman was not entirely sure, yet the voice carried a certain arrogance and self-assuredness.
Sansukini: Because the two moms are both surnames Chen, Madam Chen is Chen Sheng’s mom while Chen Shi is Lu Chengxiao’s mom.
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Who is this now??? It’s getting so intense now, lol!
Thank you for this chapter!