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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.
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While the two women at the Hanlin family were preparing for their “big matter”, the Liu family were busy preparing for the New Year. Just as Liu Lin had guessed, the women were more anxious than he about the wedding date. When the matchmaker went over to discuss dates, Madam Song had suggested setting it for the second month.
Although Liu Lin knew that the two of them were anxious – so was he! – he had never imagined they were this urgent! It was already the middle of the 12th month. Their proposed date was a mere two months away! But Liu Lin didn’t refuse. He too hoped to get married as soon as possible, so he discussed the situation with his family.
Liu Changgeng and He shi were astonished when they heard. Both of them felt it was too rushed.
When Liu Lin had returned from the Hanlin residence, he had explained the situation to Liu Shu and Liu Xu’er. After all, the matter of the store was something that the three of them had discussed together, so the two were somewhat familiar with the overall situation. As such, when Liu Lin mentioned the proposed wedding date, Liu Shu and Liu Xu’er were both agreeable. Liu Changgeng and He shi didn’t have any strong objections. After all, the betrothal gifts had already been given. Although the occasion hadn’t been as festive as they had anticipated, perhaps that was just how it was done by prestigious households! Who knew what kind of rules they had!
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He never expected Liu Changqi to have a different idea. After so many years, and having gone through so much, Liu Changqi had no intention of moving to town. He felt that Taohua Village suited him much better. Since Liu Tao was working in town, he should buy a residence and stay by himself!
How could Liu Tao agree? Honestly, the reason he had worked so hard for so many years was so that one day their family could move to town to stay. His mother had stirred up so much trouble, tried all ways and means, grumbled and scolded everyone around her, all because of the desire to move to town. Liu Tao could clearly recall everything.
At the time, he was young and didn’t know any better. He too had grumbled and felt resentful of Liu Xu’er and her family. But as he slowly grew older, he started to understand. He felt that this matter…. Wasn’t Liu Xu’er’s family’s fault? Everyday he would follow his father to the fields to work. There wasn’t a day when he wasn’t so tired he could collapse. At the time, all he wished was for this to stop. When would the hard days end!
In the end, the chance to turn his life around came from Liu Xu’er. When he came to town to work at the store, and stayed with their family, he personally saw how everyone in the family gave their all. He saw how much effort and work went into it, yet no one complained or became lazy. Instead, everyone worked together. And as that was happening, their lives slowly improved.
At that time, Liu Tao understood. In order to have a better life, he needed to work hard! It was useless to grumble or to resent others. So he too started to give his all, and he too started to personally experience slowly making more and more money. Then, his life slowly became more and more prosperous and happy.
These past few years, he had been thinking of buying a home in town, and bringing his father out. He could stay near to his ershu, sishu – the brothers would all be close together. They could discuss any situation that arose, just like what was happening between his ershu and sishu now.
But Liu Changqi was genuinely unwilling to move out. He had his own concerns. Although his current wife was rather virtuous, Liu Changqi felt that it was in part due to the fact that Liu Tao wasn’t staying with them. If they were to stay together, life might become different. After all, his wife was not Liu Tao’s biological mother.
Furthermore, Liu Tao hadn’t had it easy all these years. He was at the age where he needed to consider his own marriage. Liu Changqi was not willing to stay together. He was not willing for Liu Tao to hand in his hard earned cash to his current wife. If he did, no matter how virtuous his wife was, she couldn’t possibly spend all of Liu Tao’s money on Liu Tao…. Liu Changqi was unwilling to see that happen. He only had one son. Even if he had more in the future, Liu Tao had been with him in hard times. He was unwilling for his son to suffer.
Liu Tao’s money should be managed by himself, for himself. If he wanted to give some money on occasion to the family, Liu Changqi would accept it. That was Liu Tao’s expression of love. But Liu Tao’s money must not be managed by his stepmother. Furthermore, when Liu Tao got married, it would be awkward for his bride to have to serve his stepmother. After all, she wasn’t his biological mother. There would definitely be awkwardness and possibly resentment.
After a long discussion, Liu Tao couldn’t convince Liu Changqi to move out, and so decided to forget about buying a house. But then Liu Changqi started to protest. He knew that Liu Lin was about to get married; it wouldn’t be good for Liu Tao to keep staying at Second’s place. Since he had the money to buy a house, he should! Liu Tao could buy a small place to stay in town, and prepare for his own wedding. Wasn’t that ideal?!
Liu Changqi went and discussed the matter with his brothers and requested for them to help keep an eye out for Liu Tao.
When Liu Changgeng heard, he was rather shocked. After the New Year, he returned to his home. During a meal, he asked Liu Tao, “ You plan to move out? When did you start to think about this? Why didn’t you mention it to the family?”
When He shi heard, she exclaimed, “What?! You want to move?!”
Liu Tao turned red. Before he could say anything, Liu Xu’er had already chimed in, “Why do you want to move out? It’s not as though we have run out of space. I stay in the right wing, while you and Senzi stay in the left. We have plenty of room!” Then she turned and smiled at Liuy Changgeng and He shi and said, “Although, dad, mum, I do feel that we don’t have enough courtyards. Actually, our backyard is so spacious. We could probably create another small courtyard in the space. We just need to build a few rooms. Sange could stay there.”
Liu Changgeng thought about it, “Sure. Let’s do that.”
Liu Shu nodded his head, “Xu’er’s idea is quite good! The space there is large. I was originally thinking of planting a few trees and flowers there. But it is such a large space; even with flowers, it would look empty. It’s better just to build another courtyard.”
Liu Lin had already started to smile at Liu Tao, “Are you worried that there would be more people in the family? There’s no need to worry – there’s plenty of space.”
Liu Tao watched everyone discuss the matter. They were behaving as though he wasn’t going to be moving out, but actually, Liu Tao had his own ideas. After his conversation with his father, he had thought about it. Considering Liu Lin’s upcoming marriage, it really wasn’t convenient for him to continue to stay with them. Although his ershu’s home was spacious, there really weren’t many courtyards. Furthermore, he had the money to buy his own home, so why continue to squeeze?
So he quickly smiled at everyone and said, “That’s not it. I just want to buy a house. I wanted to bring my parents over with me…. My dad wasn’t willing to move, but I was thinking I should still go ahead and buy a house. If my father were to change his mind in future, I would have space for him.”
He shi and Liu Changgeng were still unwilling. After a long discussion, it was Liu Xu’er who finally started to understand. Liu Tao was at a marriageable age after all. Furthermore, who didn’t want to have their own personal space? Who didn’t want to stay in their own home? Every day, they could come back to their own safe haven – wasn’t that the most comfortable? Since sange now had the money, why shouldn’t he buy his own home?
Her parents and Liu Tao continued to discuss it until finally even Liu Shu smiled and supported Liu Tao. “Tao is right. Dad, mum, it’s alright for him to buy his own place. It would be more comfortable…. Furthermore, even if he were to buy his own place, it’s not as though we would lose contact with him. We are still family, and would definitely meet each other frequently. He should buy a house that’s closeby, just like sishu! Then he can prepare for his own wedding!”
Liu Xu’er giggled at that. She nodded and said, “What dage said makes sense. Dad, mum, even though you are sad to see him go, it’s not as though he would never visit.”
Liu Tao quickly nodded and smiled, “Of course! I would definitely visit. I was just thinking that it would be best to find a house nearby. That way, it would be convenient for us to keep in contact.”
Liu Lin smiled and said, “That’s true. Liu Tao is already 16 and should be looking for a wife. Mum! You should help him keep an eye out. Dabo and his wife would look for suitable candidates in the village, while you should see if there’s anyone in town.”
He shi nodded and sighed. Seeing her children all agree, she and Liu Changgeng were helpless. Still, her children did make sense, so she too agreed. Of course, as always, it wasn’t easy to buy a house, especially one that was close by. They would have to keep an eye out and slowly look for a suitable place.
Translator’s Note: I rather appreciate how Liu Changqi behaves as a father here.
Now that ma Shi is gone, Lui Changi’s mind is now straight, he no longer resented or felt jealous over Xue’er’s family…
Thanks for the chapter!!!
Yeah, he was rather stuck in a difficult position when he was married to her! I really like that Liu Changqi managed to find his way back to being a sensible person and is managing his branch of the family decently well. Always nice to have a happy ending