Chapter 41: Falling into the water.

(TN: It’s the river rescue scene later.)
As the setting sun pressed down, the last touch of orange-red faded from the horizon. The daylight gradually withdrew, leaving the long street in a dim and faintly white hue.

In the incense candle shop, as Liu Yu stepped in, a woman around thirty greeted her, “Miss, are you looking to buy something?”

Liu Yu scanned the shop and set her eyes on a cabinet filled with various sizes and colors of river lanterns. She said, “I’ll choose a river lantern.”

The woman smiled and replied, “Sure, dear, take your time to pick one you like. Today is the Empress’s birthday. Whether it’s to commemorate ancestors or make a wish, as long as your intentions are sincere, it’s believed to be very effective.”

Liu Yu nodded. Just as she was about to express her thanks, she noticed the woman’s eyes light up and she said, “Oh, Master Li, have you rushed back from Yuanzhou City?”

Upon hearing the title “Master Li,” Liu Yu’s heart skipped a beat. By the time she reacted, she had already turned her head to look at the person.

The man who entered the incense candle shop was around twenty years old, sturdy in stature, with a neat and thick appearance, albeit a bit dusty. As he came into the shop, Liu Yu turned to look at him. He glanced at her with just one eye, an eye that didn’t reveal much, then said to the woman in the shop, “Indeed, I’ve come to buy a few river lanterns.”

The woman seemed to be familiar with this Master Li and asked, “Is it to commemorate your wife?”

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Yypvla Nk pxkzle, “Gzps vs rayu qsa xu xsvbla’p olzz-clkdt, okpbkdt bla tsse blyzvb.”

Mbl osxyd nbwnjzle, “Gzaktbv, yzaktbv, R’x pwal vbl sze zyeu okzz zkhl y zsdt yde rasprlaswp zkql.”

Nkw Zw’p vbswtbvp olal ds zsdtla sd vbl akhla zydvladp; pbl oydvle vs jdso kq vbkp Yypvla Nk, vbl sdl kd qasdv sq bla, oyp vbl pyxl Yypvla Nk pbl bye clld plyanbkdt qsa kd alnldv eyup.

Tsolhla, obkzl pbl oyp zspv kd vblpl vbswtbvp, Yypvla Nk pllxle kd y bwaau. Tl plzlnvle vbl akhla zydvladp yde iwknjzu ryke vbl ckzz.

Mbl nwavykd yv vbl cynj sq vbl kdnldpl nydezl pbsr zkqvle, yde y xyd sq pkxkzya ytl vs vbl osxyd oyzjle swv, pyukdt, “Xb, Yypvla Nk, eke usw kdhkvl y esnvsa vbkp vkxl? Tso kp vbl sze zyeu?”

Yypvla Nk dseele, “Mbydj usw qsa uswa nsdnlad. R kdhkvle y pldksa esnvsa qasx Kkblvydt kd Zwydgbsw Ukvu. Tl yaakhle vbkp yqvladssd, ralpnakcle xleknkdl, yde sdzu zynjp sdl kdtalekldv. R’zz ts cwu kv qasx Zk’yd Mydt yde blye cynj pbsavzu. R osd’v pvyu zsdt.” Gqvla pyukdt vbkp, bl csole vs vbl pbsrjllrla nswrzl, nyaakle vbl akhla zydvladp, yde cke qyalolzz.

Gqvla Yypvla Nk zlqv, vbl osxyd pktble, “Tl’p vawzu yd wdnsxxsdzu elhsvle rlapsd. Yap. Nk byp clld tsdl qsa yzxspv vball ulyap. Ls xyvvla bso vbl sze zyeu watlp bkx vs alxyaau, bl dlhla alzldvp, fwpv twyaekdt vbkp oyu.”

Mbl pbsrjllrla pbssj bkp blye, “Rdelle, kv’p vswtb. Mbl sze zyeu xktbv dsv cl eskdt olzz vbkp vkxl. Rd vblpl eyup, pbl’zz rascyczu qsanl bkx vs alxyaau. Rv’p yzps y ckv sq ryaldvyz nsxryppksd. Tso nyd ryaldvp clya vs pll vblka psd alxykd zsdlzu vs sze ytl?”

The shopkeeper couple only sighed these few sentences, not realizing how much information they unintentionally revealed to Liu Yu.

The wife passed away, the mother urging him to remarry, not being in Changfeng Town recently, and their ages seemingly matching up—everything pointed to this Master Li being the one Liu Yu had been looking for.

Liu Yu’s heart raced, and a stroke of good fortune crossed her mind as she realized this might be the best opportunity she could seize—this Master Li could be the one she was looking for.

Suppressing her excitement, she inquired about the price of a lotus lantern, paid, and hastily left the incense candle shop, heading towards Yi’an Tang.

~

Outside Yi’an Tang, Master Li, who had just come out carrying a packet of medicine, was followed by Liu Yu.

“Master Li, please wait.”

Upon hearing someone call him, Master Li turned around and saw the girl from the incense candle shop, wondering, “Miss, are you calling me?”

Approaching him, Liu Yu respectfully said, “May I ask if you are Master Li from Linshui Village?”

Master Li nodded, “Indeed, but may I know who the girl is?”

Thinking of her plan, Liu Yu nervously clenched her fingertips into a fist and said, “Master Li, I have a request. Could we talk for a moment?”

Her eyes carried a hint of pleading.

Master Li glanced at the medicine in his hand, hesitating.

Having overheard his intention to deliver the medicine to the elderly lady at home, Liu Yu hurriedly added, “I only need a few moments of your time. It won’t delay you too much.”

After a brief pause, Master Li nodded, agreeing to walk to the side of the street with Liu Yu for their conversation.

At this moment, there were few pedestrians on the road, and there was no worry that someone would overhear. The street corner wasn’t secluded, and there was no suspicion of a private encounter between a man and a woman, making it perfectly suitable. Taking advantage of this, Master Li lowered his guard slightly against Liu Yu, the young woman who had suddenly appeared. He stood still and said, “Miss, what brings you to seek me? Please speak.”

Liu Yu took a deep breath and said, “What I’m about to say may be a bit abrupt. I hope Master Li can forgive me and hear me out.”

Seeing Master Li only furrow his brows slightly, indicating his agreement, she continued, “I am Liu Yu, the adopted daughter of the village carpenter Liu Kangsheng in Liu Family Village. I’m fifteen years old. I sought Master Li’s help today because I am truly at a dead end. I heard about your reputation, and just now in the incense candle shop, I overheard the shopkeeper couple speaking highly of you. That’s why I dared to stop you.”

Starting with a self-introduction made Master Li’s brows twitch slightly. Being close to thirty, he was quite composed, not easily swayed by a few flattering words. He gestured for Liu Yu to continue.

Liu Yu carefully considered each word she was about to say. She continued slowly, “A few days ago, I overheard discussions at home about my family considering selling me. The matchmaker they intended to hire is known for finding talents for the flower houses in the Yangzhou area. I genuinely don’t want to end up in such a situation. I thought of arranging a marriage that would make my family look at me with higher regard to protect myself. I won’t hide the truth; I’ve been inquiring about Master Li for some time. However, you’ve been out, and I only happened to encounter you today by chance.”

While speaking, Liu Yu observed the expressions of the other party. Seeing his brows furrow tighter and tighter, she said, “Master Li, please don’t misunderstand. I came to you precisely because I heard the shopkeeper couple saying that you had a deep emotional connection with your late wife and had no intention of remarrying. I dare not hastily surrender my entire life to escape calamity. I’ve heard that your mother is considering having you remarry, and you are unwilling. I wanted to ask Master Li if we could help each other. You help me avoid the tragedy of selling myself, and I, in turn, provide you with filial piety to put my adoptive mother’s heart at ease. Between us, we can arrange a fictitious marriage. What do you think?”

Master Li’s brows gradually relaxed as Liu Yu spoke. When she mentioned the idea of a mutual exchange, he raised an eyebrow, showing a hint of interest.

Liu Yu continued, “A fictitious marriage with a name but no substance. This way, you won’t feel burdened by your late wife, and it can reassure your mother. Isn’t this a win-win solution?”

Master Li raised an eyebrow, “Wouldn’t this be deceiving my mother? How can that be considered a win-win?”

Liu Yu replied, “Then, Master Li, are you planning to marry a new bride soon?”

This question left Master Li momentarily speechless, confirming Liu Yu’s suspicion that he truly had no intention of remarrying.

Master Li realized that his thoughts were exposed and said, “For me, it is a win-win, but for the young lady, it means sacrificing her reputation. How important is a woman’s reputation, and does the young lady mind?”

Liu Yu shook her head and admitted, “I do mind, but not to such an extent. When faced with two evils, one must choose the lesser. Compared to falling into prostitution, the reputation of being a married and divorced woman isn’t as important. Master Li, if you agree, we can set a time limit in our contract. When the time comes, please help me find a peaceful place to settle down. I’ll establish my own household, and that will be considered my reward for taking care of the old lady and the family. How about it? As for the duration of the contract, we can discuss and agree based on your preference.”

Her words were subtle, but Master Li understood. To ease his mother’s heart, he naturally needed someone to care for her until her old age. This sentiment touched Master Li, and thinking of the possibility that this young woman would willingly spend her time serving his Li family if his mother lived a long life, he decided to test her intentions, “Aren’t you afraid that I might truly develop feelings and turn this fake marriage into a real one?”

Liu Yu smiled, “To be honest, initially, I was looking for ways to arrange a marriage to avoid trouble. One of my targets was you, Master Li. However, after experiencing some events, I changed my mind. I’ve observed that Master Li has an upright character, and you don’t seem to be an unworthy person. Even if my judgment is wrong, and I misinterpreted your character, at worst, it would be a real marriage with Master Li, not much different from my original plan.”

She paused at this point, a hint of a smile on her lips. “Moreover, when Master Li first saw me in the incense candle shop, he only glanced at me and didn’t take a second look. I believe Master Li’s feelings for his late wife are deep and sincere. You wouldn’t have made a mistake. Besides, if you truly intended to remarry, you wouldn’t need to endure these years of disagreement with your mother. You could have done it long ago, couldn’t you?”

Master Li hadn’t been moved by Liu Yu’s beauty, but now he was astonished by her cleverness and insight. Her honesty and composure earned her his full appreciation.

A fictitious marriage, a mutually beneficial arrangement—this proposal aligned perfectly with his current needs. Although it might seem absurd to others, in Master Li’s ears, it had a certain satisfaction.

Observing his expressions, Liu Yu understood that such matters couldn’t be immediately agreed upon. She said to Master Li, “You can consider it carefully, and you may verify my words by visiting Liujiacun. Just don’t delay it too long. I’m afraid I only have about six or seven days of freedom. I hope Master Li can lend a helping hand.”

As she spoke, she bowed to him, her face carrying a hint of a helpless smile.

Master Li, feeling a twinge of compassion, had initially focused on her proposal, marveling at her cleverness. He hadn’t truly grasped the underlying helplessness behind this suggestion. Now, seeing her bitter smile, he sympathized with Liu Yu’s predicament.

Indeed, he had no intention of remarrying. One reason was his unwavering love for his late wife, and the other was his reluctance to entrust his two young children to a stepmother. Over the past half-year, his mother had been overly insistent on his marriage. Now, with her health deteriorating, she persistently spoke about his marriage every day. At times, she even threatened that if she couldn’t witness him remarrying, she wouldn’t be able to close her eyes at the end.

However, the concept of a contractual marriage was still quite perplexing. After mulling over the matter in his mind, he said, “Miss, allow me some time for careful consideration. You won’t need to wait for six or seven days. I’ll give you an answer in two or three days. How does that sound?”

That seemed to strike a chord with Master Li, and Liu Yu was more than willing. “I’ll wait for Master Li’s message. I often come to town, and if Master Li needs to discuss something, you can leave a message with Cui Erniang at the embroidery shop,” she added.

After a moment’s thought, she added, “If Master Li is unwilling or disagrees, that’s fine too. But if this doesn’t work out, the path of getting married and leaving my home is closed for me. I hope Master Li can help me with an alternative. At that time, I’ll sell myself and become a servant in the Li family, signing a two-year contract.”

Master Li’s gaze shook.

Liu Yu smiled bitterly and said, “Selling myself and becoming a servant may be better than being sold to a brothel by my stepfather or stepbrother. I’ve had this thought several times, but I didn’t want to resort to it unless absolutely necessary. Liu Yu doesn’t want to become a slave. If the master is a kind person, there might be a future. This is why I made the earlier proposal, whether it’s the trade of a fictitious marriage or purchasing me as a servant to find shelter under the Li family for two years, I am grateful for your assistance.”

She finished with a graceful bow.

Master Li was at a loss for words, and the hand he had left hanging in the air made a gesture as if to assist, saying, “Miss, don’t go through this formality. I understand your difficulty and will carefully consider your proposal. I will respond to you within two days.”

From “two or three days” earlier, it had now become “within two days.”

By now, the sky had darkened, and the golden sun had been replaced by a silver moon. The moonlight was not very clear.

Expressing her gratitude, Liu Yu then glanced at the medicine package in his hand and reminded him, “Master Li, please go back quickly. You’ve been delayed for quite some time, and the old lady must be waiting for her medicine.”

Master Li agreed, bowed to Liu Yu, and then left with the medicine and the lotus lantern he had purchased.

Liu Yu watched his figure, feeling fortunate at this moment that she had changed her mind. Comparing the results of plotting a marriage versus openly discussing a transaction, the latter seemed more effective. Instead of hastily entering an unknown marriage to avoid trouble, she could obtain a distant future, establish a new household, and completely break free from the Liu family. She felt much lighter in her heart, holding the newly bought lotus lantern in her hands, she headed north toward the town.

~

In the South Street candle shop, Madam Chen, who had returned to find it empty, had a somewhat displeased expression. However, she was aware that this trip had taken longer than expected.

She stepped out of the candle shop. Under the moonlight, about three or four steps behind Madam Chen, there was Liu San, the one who had searched for medicine for her yesterday.

Liu San followed Madam Chen, neither too close nor too far, maintaining a distance of three or four steps. From a distance, they seemed like two strangers who didn’t know each other. However, when there was no one around, Liu San spoke, “Has the person already left?”

Madam Chen covered her mouth with a handkerchief and replied, “Not far. She should have gone north to release river lanterns.”

In truth, she was anxious as well.

Liu San grinned, feeling a bit amazed. He hadn’t spoken so much in many years, yet for the past two days, he had come to their doorstep. In the darkening night, as they walked towards the north side of town, more people appeared to release river lanterns. Among them were the Chen siblings and several members of the Lu family.

On the Lu family’s side, Mrs. Lu, accompanied by her daughter-in-law and daughter, led two grandchildren, while Lu Chengxiao was selected by his mother to accompany them.

Mrs. Lu looked around as she walked, quite curious. She asked Lu Chengxiao in a low voice, “Is the girl you like coming out tonight?”

Lu Chengxiao, well aware of his mother’s insistence on having him accompany her, just smiled without saying a word.

Mrs. Lu spat, “This taciturn fellow!” and turned to amuse her grandchildren.

~

By the Yu River bank, men, women, and children of all ages had gathered, creating a lively and crowded scene as they prepared to release the river lanterns.

Unknown to others, someone had set up a brazier every ten or so yards, creating a vividly dark night. It made it convenient for those lighting the river lanterns to gather around those braziers.

Amidst the dense crowd, Madam Chen easily spotted Liu Yu. She was too conspicuous, remarkably beautiful. Lifting her chin, Madam Chen subtly gestured towards the direction where Liu Yu stood and said, “The girl who just lit the lantern and turned around, the most beautiful one at a glance.”

In the darkness, Liu San no longer maintained his distance from Madam Chen. Following her gaze, his eyes widened instantly.

Seeing his almost drooling expression, Madam Chen, with a meaningful smile on her lips, said, “Push her into the river, then go rescue her. If you have the ability, you’ll get yourself a wife. If not…” She skipped the vulgar and unsightly details and continued, “If not, you’ll still get some silver money. It’s a win-win.”

Madam Chen didn’t need to say more. Liu San would consider it. Even if he couldn’t marry her, at least he had hugged and touched her, not coming out empty-handed.

“I’ll go now!” His eyes gleamed with excitement, ready to make his move.

“Wait!” Madam Chen hurriedly reached out, grabbing his clothes and pulling him back.

Liu San looked puzzled, “What are we waiting for? Once people finish lighting the lanterns, won’t they leave?”

Of course, they were waiting for her precious son. If she didn’t make him see it with his own eyes, how could he give up?

Madam Chen, with a cold expression, searched around. She knew her daughter, whom she had raised herself, very well. Her plan was ambitious, and she had advised her daughter against it multiple times.

Liu San saw that Liu Yu had found a spot by the riverbank, lit her lantern, and prayed silently. He became increasingly impatient, “Let go, what are we waiting for?”

In reality, Madam Chen found her obstructive. He was willing to do the job even without pay, of course, provided money didn’t bite his hand.

He was just anxious.

Madam Chen was also anxious!

Finally, they saw two familiar figures from a distance. She released her grip and said, “Go!”

Chen Sheng and his younger sister were specifically looking for Liu Yu. As they spotted her, Liu San rushed forward like an unbridled wild horse!

“Miss Liu!” Chen Sheng’s cry was heart-wrenching.

At least, Liu San, who had just bumped into someone, was shaken three times by Chen Sheng’s loud voice. Who was Liu San? He relied on mixing with relatives to get by. Among the relatives, the wealthiest one was Chen Sheng. He had frequented the gathering at the Academy of Virtue these years. Compared to Madam Chen, who despised him, he was more likely to get some charity from Chen Sheng who has a soft demeanor,.

Chen Sheng’s heart-wrenching cry and his frenzied rush left Liu San stunned. He suddenly realized what kind of person Madam Chen had asked him to harm, and in disbelief, he turned to look in Madam Chen’s direction.

It was not only Liu San who heard that “Miss Liu,” but Lu Chengxiao and Babao, who had just arrived at the riverbank. Lu Chengxiao recognized Chen Sheng’s voice, and his face changed. He rushed towards the direction where the sound of falling into the water and shouting came from!

Chen Sheng was fast, and Madam Chen, who was prepared, was not slow either. She pounced over and hugged her son, “Sheng’er, why are you not resting at home and running out?”

Chen Sheng ignored her, “Miss Liu fell into the water, and I have to save her.”

Would Madam Chen let him go to the rescue? That’s why she arranged all this trouble. She grabbed him and said incredulously, “Are you crazy? How can you jump into the water with your injuries? And what reputation does she have left if you go down? There will be women who can swim to rescue her.”

Chen Sheng didn’t care. He shouted, “I’ll marry her!”

His strength also reached its maximum potential, and he broke away from Madam Chen without regards if she was hurt or not.

Lu Chengxiao came over and heard Chen Sheng saying, “I’ll marry her.” His expression changed suddenly. Seeing that Chen Sheng was already rushing towards the riverbank, he grabbed Chen Sheng’s collar and pushed him towards Madam Chen, shouting, “Babao, watch him!”

“I know, Third Young Master!” Babao understood and quickly stood guard in front of Chen Sheng.

While Chen Sheng was entangled by his mother, Lu Chengxiao had already plunged into the river.

With a muffled sound, the people on the shore shouting that someone had fallen into the water called out again, “Someone has gone down to rescue!”

---

Sansukini: Hehe. In Lu Chengxiao’s mind, he’s probably thinking, “CHANCE!”, then pushed Chen Sheng. Time is ticking for Liu Yu. Thinking about it, if she had been more honest with Lu Chengxiao from the beginning, things wouldn’t have been this hard for her. It’s not that nobody wanted to marry her, there’s just a lot of complications. It’s so hard to act with all the societal rules in this era.

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