Chapter 150 New Year's Eve Dinner
"But I don't want to leave, you know..." He looked at her earnestly and said, "I always feel that if we spend more time together, you will know that I am not the same person as before... So, I want to ask, are you really unwilling to give me any chance, even to look back at me again..."
Yu Huatang lowered his head and said nothing. He continued, "I know you lied to me. Last time I went to Hui'an County, I saw your old courtyard. I know you liked me and loved me, but you wouldn't marry anyone. You only married me because I was the one, right? ...Huatang, now I truly love you, respect you, and admire you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Are you really unwilling..."
Yu Huatang unconsciously clenched her hands and quickly turned her head away, afraid that he would see the expression on her face.
Finally, she took a deep breath and tried to smile, but at first she couldn't smile no matter how hard she tried. Finally, she calmed down and said, "Lord Zhao, you're joking. Your Excellency is so beautiful and graceful that any woman would be moved by you. Besides, at that time, I was just a teenager who had never seen the world. When I first saw you, I thought you were a celestial being and even thought about getting close to the bright moon in the sky. But now that I'm older, I know that some things can't be achieved just by thinking about them. Some people are born different from us, and the feelings we had when we were young are now just memories. Just like when people are young, they love the beauty of flowers, but when they grow up, they may appreciate the elegance of bamboo. Those past times are finally gone."
"Even if I wanted to buy some osmanthus wine to travel with you, it's a pity that I no longer have the same feelings as in our youth. My Lord, I no longer love you..."
Zhao Yanniang staggered back a few steps and managed to steady herself by holding onto the table and chair beside her, with a look of despair in her eyes.
But she had already turned her head towards the door and no longer looked at him.
After a long moment, he said in disbelief, "Maybe... it's not like that. Maybe I'm different now than I was before, or if you don't like something about me, I can change it..."
He spoke incoherently, "Things I like, people I've loved won't be forgotten so quickly, right?... Maybe when you look back... I'm no longer the same person I was back then..."
He spoke eagerly, staring at her intently as he spoke. Yu Huatang had never imagined that one day he would speak to her in such a humble tone.
If he acted like this when they got married, she would definitely be very happy. At that time, she would really hope that he could look at her.
But she had waited for seven years for these words, three years of agonizing waiting, four years of forgetting. When she no longer needed him, he came... But she was no longer the girl she was seven years ago...
"I wish you a successful promotion. After returning to Beijing, I also hope that your wish will come true and you will find a happy marriage." After she said that, she did not stop and walked straight out the door.
Her words were still ringing in my ears. She said she wished me a happy marriage...
He gave a sad, bitter smile. How could she say such a thing? A happy marriage... Haha... A happy marriage! ... He leaned weakly against the back of his chair, smiling miserably...
The weather was getting colder, and the New Year's Eve arrived as scheduled. On this day, Yu Huatang asked all the employees to go back and the shop was closed.
When it was almost New Year's Eve, someone from the Baili family came to pick up the relatives here and take them to Fuzhou. They would never come back again. It seemed that the business over there had been concluded.
Everyone in the city knows that Lord Zhao is leaving and the new governor will take office next spring.
Because of the Tuque alliance, the Jiang family case, and Chen Juezi's affairs, everyone said that after this upright judge left, no one knew what kind of official would come.
This news was spread in the city every day, and Yu Huatang was thanking the people his cousin had sent.
New Year's Eve was approaching, and her cousin asked her to go back for the New Year's Eve dinner, and she smiled and agreed.
On New Year's Day, she got on the carriage and the driver asked, "Will you come back this afternoon? Today is New Year's Day, so I might have to go home early."
"I'll be back at noon."
The driver said, "Okay, I'll leave after noon."
Most families would have a New Year’s Eve dinner, but since it would take Yu Huatang a long time to come and go, her cousins would change to a more substantial lunch so that she could go home earlier after eating.
Her cousin also wanted her to stay there, but she refused. After all, it was someone else's home and she didn't want to cause any trouble.
After having dinner at my cousin's house, there were not many people on the way back.
When we got to the city, the wind and snow had gotten stronger, all the shops were closed, and everyone had gone back home.
She first went to Changming Pavilion to check all the doors and windows, and then packed up all her things. When she returned to her courtyard, it was already dark.
She had cleaned the house the day before, and now all she had to do was put up the Spring Festival couplets and hang up the lanterns. She had plenty of lanterns to practice with, so she hung them all up, brightening the room and adding a touch of warmth.
Gradually, every household started setting off firecrackers, and the sound of people bidding farewell to the old year became louder and louder. After the sound of firecrackers from Grandma Xu's house next door stopped, she lit a string of firecrackers by herself.
She used to find such noises noisy, but now she feels a bit lively when she hears them.
After the last few firecrackers stopped ringing out, the town finally fell silent. In the past, when I had nothing to do while staying up all night, I would just read a few books. But today, I couldn't concentrate.
Although Qingxing has only been an apprentice for a short time, her family only asked her to go back after she has learned well, and they probably want her to get married soon.
Although Xu Fu was reluctant to go back, his father came to pick him up in person this year, but he might not come again next year.
Then there is Baili Yunzhou. After the merchant ships of Fuzhou Prefecture are opened, he probably won’t come back here again.
Finally, it’s Zhao Yan, he is leaving too.
Everyone has their own future and destination.
She sat by the window, listening quietly to the sounds outside.
The night passed by little by little. Perhaps she was a little tired, so she fell asleep on the table for a while. When she woke up, she vaguely heard a knock on the door.
She thought she had heard wrongly, as no one would normally come to see her at this time.
She stood up and poured herself a cup of tea, and then there was another knock on the door.
She went over and opened the door. In the middle of the night, she saw a vague figure. She asked, "Who?"
"It's me, Huatang..."
She walked over and opened the gate again.
He said, "Tonight is New Year's Eve, and I think you're lonely. If possible, I'd like to invite you to come over to my place and sit with me."
He quickly explained, "I didn't mean anything else. I originally thought you would be at your cousin's house, but I didn't expect you to come back. Anyway, there's nothing to do during the New Year's Eve. I have some tea ready. Go over and have a cup. When you want to come back, I'll take you back."
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