Chapter 64: Proposing Marriage "If the Liu family is willing, they will definitely prepare good makeup...
The noise was so loud that it alarmed the neighbors. Liu Di, the man next door, heard his sister's voice and hurried out of his mother's room. Widow Wang, the woman across the street, also put on her coat and peeped out to see what was going on.
Widow Wang was shocked when she saw Liu Yeshu twisting Zhang Xiaowang's ear, her face pale. "What's going on?"
Liu Yeshu sneered, the coldness in her eyes growing even colder. "What's wrong? I'll let Sister Wang judge. This little bastard, who hasn't even grown all his hair yet, actually dared to climb over the wall and peek at me bathing! Luckily it was dark and he hadn't seen me yet, otherwise he would have watched me till he was satisfied!"
Widow Wang gasped at these words. She looked Liu Yeshu up and down, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. She'd always seen this girl so gentle and kind, but she hadn't expected her to be so aggressive and unyielding in such a situation. An ordinary woman, faced with such a situation, would probably be too embarrassed to even leave the house, and at most would just chase the person away. How could she, like this, arrest the person on the spot and then seek justice from the family?
Liu Yeling squeezed out of the crowd, her face pale with anger. Regardless of the fact that Zhang Xiaowang was older than her, she rushed forward in two steps, swinging her fist at Zhang Xiaowang's face. "You dirty bastard! How dare you peek at my sister!"
With a "bang", the punch hit Zhang Xiaowang's left cheek. Zhang Xiaowang staggered and would have fallen flat on his face if Liu Yeshu hadn't twisted his ear.
Liu Yeshu was twisting Zhang Xiaowang's ear as she walked out. Aunt Zhang was sitting on the green brick steps in the yard mending shoe soles. When she heard her son groaning, she looked up, quickly put the needle and thread in her hand into the bamboo basket, and stood up in a hurry.
"Hey, Miss Liu, what are you doing? Why are you touching me? Let my Xiaowang go!" Aunt Zhang yelled as she walked quickly forward.
"Aunt Zhang, ask your son what he did!" Liu Yeshu was so angry that her face turned pale. "I was taking a bath in the yard, and he climbed up the wall from the pear tree in the backyard to peek in! If he succeeded, would I still have my innocence?"
Aunt Zhang was stunned at first when she heard this, then her face was full of embarrassment, but she still subconsciously protected him: "Oh, he is still a child and doesn't understand... You see how honest he is on weekdays, maybe he was confused for a moment..." As she said this, she wanted to step forward and pull Liu Yeshu's hand away.
"Kid?" Liu Yeshu sneered and let go of Zhang Xiaowang's ear. Zhang Xiaowang quickly hid behind his mother. "He's already this old, and he still can't tell right from wrong? I discovered it early today, but what if he goes to peek at other girls tomorrow? If we indulge him like this, who knows what kind of trouble he'll cause in the future!"
"That's right!" Widow Wang interrupted, "Sister-in-law Zhang, we can't just let this go. If this gets out, not only will Xiaowang's reputation be ruined, but your Zhang family's reputation will also be affected."
Liu Yeling stepped forward and said, "Sister, why bother saying more? Let's report it to the police!"
Zhang Xiaowang was scolded by several adults in turn. His face was already red. He lowered his head and dared not say a word. He just rubbed the corner of his clothes vigorously.
Liu Yeshu continued, "I'll leave it at that this time, considering he's young and a neighbor. But Aunt Zhang, you have to discipline him. If I catch him doing this again, I'll go straight to the head of the village to seek justice! Also, tomorrow, have him chop off the branches of the pear tree in my backyard, to prevent him from having any more evil ideas!"
Seeing that Widow Wang and Liu Yeling were both present, Aunt Zhang knew that the matter could no longer be concealed. If she continued to protect her son, she would probably end up in a more disastrous situation. She finally put away her previous arrogance and sternly scolded her son, "You little rascal, why don't you apologize to Sister Liu right now? I'll teach you a lesson when we get home!"
Zhang Xiaowang stood out tremblingly and stammered, "Liu...Sister Liu, I'm sorry, I, I won't dare to do it again..." After that, he quickly lowered his head, not daring to look at Liu Yeshu's face again.
Widow Wang saw the situation calming down, so she tried to smooth things over: "Alright, alright, it's settled. Sister-in-law Zhang, go back and teach your child a lesson. Miss Liu, calm down too. Your brother and I will take you home first."
After returning home, Liu Yeshu boiled water again while thinking about it. She had to find someone to raise the wall tomorrow and deal with the pear tree in the backyard to prevent this kind of thing from happening again. She didn't really hope that the boy would come to cut down the tree tomorrow.
As he thought about it, he sighed again. This child is obviously about the same age as Ling'er, but he has learned these despicable things. Who did he learn it from?
After the hot water was restored, she carefully checked the area around the courtyard wall to confirm that there were no hidden dangers before she took a bath. However, after this visit, her original relaxed mood was gone.
Liu Yeshu was upset and knew that she would have to take a bath in the general's mansion in the future.
The next day at noon, Liu Yeshu finished her farm work as usual and returned home. Instead of Zhang Xiaowang chopping down trees, she saw a stranger standing in the backyard, gesturing with his hands at the branches of the pear tree. Liu Yeshu approached and saw that the man was about twenty years old, with delicate features and a tall figure. His clothes were ordinary, yet his elegance was undeniable.
He noticed Liu Yeshu approaching and immediately lowered his hand, nodding slightly towards her. "Miss Liu, I'm Zhang Xiaowang's cousin. I heard last night that my brother had made a mistake, so I came to help him. Let's cut down this pear tree today to avoid further trouble."
Liu Yeshu raised her eyebrows slightly and sneered, "Zhang Xiaowang's cousin? I didn't expect him to ask someone to replace him. He did what happened yesterday himself, and now he's asking his cousin to replace him. I'm afraid it's just a change of name, the root cause remains unchanged."
After hearing this, the man replied neither arrogantly nor humbly, "Miss Liu is right. Xiaowang is young and ignorant, and indeed did something he shouldn't have done. His mother punished him last night, and this morning she told me to help him make up for his mistake, so that he will remember it." As he spoke, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his strong arms, picked up the saw, and began to process the branches of the pear tree.
As she watched him work, Liu Yeshu wondered: When did a cousin appear in the Zhang family? Yet, this man's movements were not at all pretentious; instead, he possessed a certain poise. As he sawed off thick branches one by one, gradually leaving the pear tree bare, she couldn't help but secretly admire his decisiveness.
Soon, the man cleared away the branches and leaves, and chopped the pear tree down to a bare trunk. He wiped his sweat, turned around and said to Liu Yeshu, "It's done. If you have any dissatisfaction, please feel free to tell me, and I will help you deal with it."
Liu Yeshu nodded slightly, the chill in her heart dissipating a little. "Sister-in-law Zhang has asked you to come here. It seems she's still trying to keep this secret. I hope he really learns his lesson." She looked at the cleanly broken end of the pear tree and said, "May I know your name?"
The man said in a gentle voice: "My surname is Fang, and my given name is 'Bai'."
*
Time flies, and it is late spring now. Spring plowing can finally come to an end.
During this time, Fang Bai would occasionally visit the Liu family's farm, bringing fresh snacks or dry food, and occasionally some nourishing soup, to share with the hard-working Liu Yeshu and the servants. After the last incident, Liu Yeling remained indifferent to the Wang family relatives, and even ignored Fang Bai, rarely speaking to him.
Fang Bai didn't mind this, maintaining a gentle demeanor. Occasionally, when he saw Liu Yeling working in the fields, he'd step forward to help pass water or carry tools, never minding her indifference. Gradually, Liu Yeling realized Fang Bai wasn't just trying to curry favor, but was helping out naturally, and she even felt a little guilty for ignoring him.
Fang Bai's cheerfulness and humility actually made him warmly welcomed by the servants, Tall and Strong, and Short and Fat, and they soon became close friends. Tall and Strong, known for his outspoken nature, immediately helped Fang Bai fetch water and transport supplies, and naturally appreciated his kindness. Short and Fat, seeing how well he and Tall and Strong got along, gradually let down his guard, often jokingly teasing Fang Bai, "Master Fang, your hands are even more dexterous than ours! It looks like you've got some kung fu skills."
Fang Bai responded with a smile, and said modestly: "It's not that I have any kung fu skills, but I've been used to doing odd jobs since I was a child, so physical work is not difficult."
The atmosphere in the fields had become much more lively these days thanks to Fang Bai's arrival. Although Liu Xiaodi was still wary of him, seeing Fang Bai's frankness and lack of hypocrisy, the cold wall in his heart gradually melted a little. He remained cold in words, unwilling to show any sign of intimacy.
When Liu Yeshu saw him coming, she treated him politely, occasionally exchanging a few words, and spent more time on the 300 acres of land in the general's mansion.
On the day when spring plowing was finished, the servants returned home in groups of two or three. Liu Yeshu stood alone on the ridge of the field, and the spring evening breeze blew on her face, carrying the slightly fishy smell of loess.
In the distance, neat rows of freshly green wheat seedlings spread out, like a veil of tender green covering the Loess Plateau. Buckwheat and millet seeds had just been sown, yet to break through the soil, yet she could already see the sight of buckwheat blossoms covering the mountains in summer.
The setting sun stained the rolling hills in the distance red, gilding this barren yet vibrant land with a golden hue. A mountain breeze blew through the wheat fields, creating waves of green. Occasionally, a few tits flew across the sky, returning to their nests with their cheerful chirps.
She reached out, her fingertips gently caressing the slender leaves of the wheat seedlings. These tenacious creatures, searching for nutrients in the dry earth, stubbornly grow upwards. Liu Yeshu's eyes couldn't help but conjure up the image of harvest season, the golden waves of wheat blanketing the mountains, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly.
The cool evening breeze lifted her sleeves, and the sunset glow stretched her silhouette. Standing in this vibrant field, Liu Yeshu's mood was like the spring sky, a blend of light and darkness. The wheat seedlings before her were already green, but how many more trials and tribulations would they have to endure before they could grow into golden ears?
The distant tinkle of sheep bells, mingled with the melodious strains of a shepherd's flute, these familiar sounds of the frontier soothed her anxiety. Watching the villagers returning home, carrying their farm tools, crisscross the mountain paths, and breathing in the scent of new sprouts and loess, Liu Yeshu's heart gradually calmed. Perhaps, like this resilient land, after years of cultivation and patience, a bountiful harvest will finally arrive.
"Sister! It's time to go home!" Liu Yeling's clear, young voice came from a distance, "I baked your favorite buckwheat pancakes!"
Liu Yeshu couldn't help but smile when she heard her brother's slightly triumphant cry. She took one last, deep look at the fields that held such hope, then turned and walked toward the village where smoke curled up. The setting sun stretched her back, yet it remained straight.
In the distance, Liu Yeling waited by the fence, his tall figure against the sunset glow, as if eloquently depicting the vibrant power of life. A mountain breeze blew, carrying the scent of distant green grass, and the silhouettes of the brother and sister gradually merged in the twilight.
*
Upon returning home, as soon as I stepped through the courtyard, a murmur of voices drifted out from Liu Mu's house next door. In the late spring breeze, a few suppressed laughs and the clinking of teacups drifted faintly. This bustle seemed particularly abrupt in the usually quiet courtyard.
Liu Yeshu was slightly startled, then dropped the bag from her shoulders, still smelling of the farmland soil. Liu's mother had always lived alone, and aside from Widow Wang, she rarely had visitors. Especially at this hour, with such a lively voice, she couldn't help but pause and focus.
It was already dark, but the lights inside Liu Mu's house were exceptionally bright. Liu Yeshu tiptoed to the door and peered through the half-open crack. The light and shadows inside the house flickered before her eyes, outlining two clear figures.
At a table by the window sat a well-dressed middle-aged woman. She wore a lilac-colored satin gown, delicately embroidered with cloud patterns on the cuffs and collar. In her hand, she held a gilded sandalwood folding fan, which she gently waved from time to time. Her lightly made-up face wore a determined smile, and her eyes and eyebrows revealed a sophisticated shrewdness.
Liu's mother sat opposite him, her body straight but somewhat stiff. Her wrinkled face was filled with an inextricable worry, and her fingers unconsciously stroked the teacup, as if she was pondering something unspeakable.
"Although the Fang family isn't wealthy, they are a respectable family," the woman said in a low voice, her tone brimming with confidence, gently tapping the table with her folding fan. "This child has known filial piety since childhood and treats others with sincerity. He and Miss Liu are of similar age. If they were to marry, they would surely support each other and spend their years together." She added meaningfully, "If the Liu family is willing, the Fang family will certainly prepare a fine dowry and will never let the girl suffer any injustice."
Liu's mother frowned slightly and was about to speak when Matchmaker Li caught a glimpse of a figure at the door out of the corner of her eye.
"This is Miss Liu, right?"
Liu Yeshu stood at the door, the moonlight cast from behind her, leaving a clear shadow on the threshold.
Everyone in the room looked at her at the same time. The cool spring night breeze blew past her from behind, lifting the corners of her slightly thin clothes and bringing the faint scent of grass from the distant wheat fields.
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