The Landowner And His Wife

Chapter 167: Tricked?

Disclaimer: 

1. This is an unofficial translation and no permission has been obtained from the author/ official publisher. It may be taken down if the author/official publisher requests. 

2. This is a fan work and the interpretation represents only the translator’s personal views without any input from the author. 

3. No permission has been granted to use, publish, upload and/or copy this translation to any other site except for Second Life Translations.


Liu Shu was the eldest – his marriage was something that Liu Changgeng took very seriously. And Liu Changgeng had always valued Liu Shu’s own opinion. Because he first heard his son say that he had chosen someone, he was immediately supportive. He didn’t expect to hear his wife say that she had chosen someone else, and this other person was also an excellent choice. 

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Liu Changgeng had never met Zhang Bing, so there was nothing he could say about her. Seeing He shi stare meaningfully at him, he thought for a moment before saying, “What kind of family does Shao Rong have? Shu, why don’t you share?”

Liu Shu explained Shao Rong’s family situation, and explained how he got involved with the Shao family. There was nothing to hide after all. 

Liu Xu’er had originally thought that her dage wouldn’t say anything about how the Village Head’s son had taken a fancy to Shao Rong. After all, that really wasn’t anything good, and might even reflect somewhat badly on Shao Rong. But he still said it.

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Liu Shu also sighed, “When I lent them the silver, it was only because I saw that they really had no other way out. I really didn’t expect….” He paused for a moment before saying, “If I knew that this would happen, I wouldn’t have lent it to them…. But there’s no other way. When dad and mum agree, I will definitely explain the situation clearly to Shao Huai.”

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Liu Xu’er nodded her head and smiled, “Shao Huai ge isn’t a petty person. If you explain it clearly to him, he probably wouldn’t overthink it…. That’s right, dage,” She smiled and blinked at Liu Shu, “Do you know why I helped you speak up earlier?”

Liu Shu thought for a moment. He wasn’t fooled by her innocent look. He smiled and said, “Of course it’s because you felt that Shao Rong was the better choice… You’ve known Shao Rong for longer, so felt that she was better. That’s natural. When we get married….”

“Oh, I hadn’t finished, so why are you so anxious to change the topic? I felt that Shao Rong was good, because Shao Rong is prettier than Zhang Bing. Zhang Bing is darker; look at how fair Shao Rong’s skin is! And her figure is good too, willowy and thin, not like Zhang Bing’s sturdy body…. Don’t you think?”

Liu Shu had honestly never thought about Shao Rong’s appearance. Although the idea would sometimes flash in his head – he was just a man after all – he wouldn’t deliberately think about it. Now that Liu Xu’er started to point it all out in detail, the usually cool headed Liu Shu finally blushed. He stood up and knocked her head, smiling, “What nonsense are you saying!”

Liu Xu’er quickly jumped up to dodge. Laughing, she said, “Dage, you admit it!”

Liu Lin and Liu Sen had just entered the door, so they started to ask – what did he just admit? Liu Shu of course, refused to say, so Liu Xu’er re enacted their earlier conversation. Liu Lin was both shocked and delighted. He rushed to congratulate Liu Shu. Liu Shu laughed involuntarily, “We haven’t confirmed anything yet!”

“It will happen really soon!” Liu Sen smiled and started to wander around, “Very soon, I will have a dasao!”

“What will happen soon!” Liu Shu went to smack him.

Liu Sen wrapped his arms around his head protectively and started to run, “Dage, you should thank me! If it weren’t…. Hmph, hmph, hmph!”

Liu Lin had gone to ask Liu Shu about Shao Rong, so Liu Shu didn’t hear what Liu Sen had just said. Liu Xu’er did hear it, so she smiled and asked Liu Sen, “Senzi, what are you hmphing about?”

Liu Sen continued to hmph a few more times, but didn’t say anything. He put his head behind his back and lay down on the kang, his legs crossed. “It’s nothing!”

Liu Shu couldn’t stand how he was positioned, so went over to smack him. Liu Sen finally sat up straight, hmphing away. 

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Liu Xu’er was actually the clearest about the matter. She covered her mouth to smile, but didn’t say a word. 

During the meal, no one mentioned the matter. Liu Changgeng and He shi continued to discuss it during the next two days, and He shi even went to solicit Liu Xu’er’s help to see if she could get Shao Rong over for a visit? She wanted to have a look at her. 

Liu Xu’er thought it over a moment. Her parents placed a lot of importance on the eldest daughter-in-law. Mum had originally intended to personally select the candidate. But now that dage had chosen for himself, it was natural for her parents to want to understand her better. So she agreed. But she repeatedly warned He shi. It’s fine to have a look at her, but she definitely cannot make things difficult for her. It would be very embarrassing otherwise. 

He shi naturally agreed. 

Liu Xu’er then went to speak to Liu Shu, and explained that their parents wanted to meet Shao Rong. Liu Shu understood and agreed. Similarly, he warned Liu Xu’er and He shi not to make things difficult for her. It would be bad if she got scared away.

He shi and Liu Xu’er then began to plan how they could invite Shao Rong over for a visit. 

While they were busy with their tasks, everyone else was busy with theirs. Of them, Liu Lin should have been the one with the most free time, but these past few days, Liu Lin got a very strange feeling – strange, why did he feel like he had been tricked?

It was about the examinations. Originally, he had thought that the one most invested in it would be his dage, because he had been the one to have arranged for everything – from the gifts to his teacher, to getting the recommendation. The rest of them, including Liu Sen and Shi Cheng, didn’t bother asking about it, as if it had nothing to do with them. 

So Liu Lin had continued to believe that he was just there to accompany his ge for the examination, and to test the waters, and see what kind of questions would come out. He could also see where he stood etc. 

But after a few days, Liu Lin noticed something wasn’t right. Everyone else seemed to be studying extremely hard!

Of course, they weren’t sticking their noses in their books the entire day, going everywhere with their eyes glued on their texts, but, very obviously, Liu Sen wasn’t going out to play anymore. And when Shi Cheng came over, most of the time, he was with Liu Xu’er, looking through his books. 

Especially Liu Sen – he was working much harder in school. He used to hide from the teacher, but now, he was deliberately seeking the teacher out to ask questions. Even the teacher found it strange – he wasn’t used to it!

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Liu Lin thought that this wasn’t looking too good. Originally, all of them were there just to try out the examinations, and whether they passed or not was immaterial. But now, it seemed that the only one who thought that way, was him! The rest of them paid it lip service, but all of them were actually studying very hard, as if they were desperately striving to pass!

If this were to continue, and the only one who failed was him…. That would be too embarrassing!

Liu Lin didn’t care about the others, he was mainly comparing himself to Liu Sen. He was older than Liu Sen by seven years! If Senzi were to pass, while he failed, he would be ashamed. And it was looking increasingly likely that the rest of the three would pass, and only he wouldn’t make it…. That would be even more embarrassing!

Liu Lin could only start to pick up his books and seriously study. His interest was in business, especially when it came to the store, he had lots of ideas. Some of these ideas had already matured, and were about to be put into action, but he hadn’t realized that everyone was so serious about becoming a xiucai!

Liu Lin was a competitive person by nature, and definitely didn’t want to lose to his younger brother. More than that, he didn’t want to be the only person left behind – he couldn’t afford to lose! So he put down his own expansion plans for the business. After all, Xu’er wouldn’t be getting married till the year after! There was still time. He needed to pay more attention to his studies now!

When he had thought it through, Liu Lin joined the rest in seriously studying. No matter what, he couldn’t be the only one to fail. With that mindset, Liu Lin really pushed himself to study.

These past few days, Shi Cheng had been coming over to Liu Xu’er’s home everyday. When he got here, he would look for a place to quietly study. But sometimes, he would look at other texts, such as business strategies, warfare etc. Liu Xu’er would accompany him sometimes. Sometimes she would do her own thing, but today, she came over to update Shi Cheng about her dage’s matter. Shi Cheng laughed when he heard, “That’s good, dajiuzi has finally noticed his mortal desires.”

Liu Xu’er laughed, “My dage isn’t Tang Seng1唐僧/Tangseng – Name of a buddhist monk. Mortal desires indeed….”

Shi Cheng smiled and said, “Well, the rest of us have long felt that he is too calm, completely unflappable. That’s right, have you seen your erge these past couple of days?”

Liu Xu’er said, “If he isn’t at the store, he’s at home looking through his books. After all, the examinations are around the corner.” Then she took the opportunity to lecture Shi Cheng, “You need to study hard too! If Senzi were to pass, and you failed, wouldn’t that be too embarrassing!”

Shi Cheng protested, “I’m studying too….” But hearing what Liu Xu’er said, Shi Cheng started to take things more seriously! If it really were the case that he was the only one to fail, he really would be too embarrassed! No matter what, he couldn’t let Xu’er get embarrassed right?

With that thought in mind, Shi Cheng started to study much harder. He had plenty of examination experience. He took out all his old text books and started to study them along with the rest. 

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In the end, all of them were hotblooded competitive youngsters. The instant that one worked hard, the rest would follow along. Senzi, unknowingly, had become all of his brothers’ benchmarks. So long as he passed, they had to pass as well!


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pawdles [Translator]

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2 Comments

    1. pawdles
      pawdles [Translator]

      I know right? The type of healthy competition teachers would love to see!