This matter cannot withstand such discussion.
Yun Chu had always believed that marriage was entirely a matter of parental arrangement, and that one could not do whatever one wanted. Moreover, with Zhang Shi still alive, how could she dare to agree?
"I don't."
"Of course I know that you don't have anyone in mind, I'm just asking what type you like? Like Father or Grandfather?" Yunling suddenly realized that her question was a bit off. Weren't Yun Shenghua and her father the same type? So she changed her question to, "Gentle, talkative, or quiet?"
"Yes, Chu Niang, let's talk like close friends and share our innermost thoughts. What kind of girl do you like?"
Zhang's voice was soft, as if a young woman a little older than herself was whispering to her. Yun Chu's little fingers twirled in front of her chest, and she hesitated for a while before finally deciding what to say and replying, "I like those who are kind-hearted."
“Then they’re studying medicine,” Yunling immediately added.
"That's not necessarily true. Your father wasn't a doctor, but he's just as compassionate."
Yunling nodded, "Sister, please continue."
Yun Chu's little finger twirled more and more, and she bit her lower lip before continuing, "Polite."
"That means they don't gossip."
"That's not necessarily true. Your father is a chatterbox, but he's also very polite."
Now, Yunling and Yunchu looked at Zhang Shi at the same time. In the dim candlelight, they could see Zhang Shi's happy face. The two looked at each other and shivered. This must be their punishment for not sleeping at night.
"Does your sister have any requirements regarding his appearance, height, or age?"
"Not bad looking, not short, not old."
Zhang secretly noted that Yun Chuxin's ideal type was someone who was good-looking, tall, of similar age, polite, kind-hearted, literate, and preferably skilled in medicine.
"And what kind of girl does Lingniang like?"
Yun Chu turned to the side, propping her head up with her hand, also wanting to know what kind of girl Yun Ling preferred.
Yunling was a little confused and shook her head, saying, "I...I don't know."
"Hey, isn't that just cheating? You're trying to trick me into telling you, but you're keeping it a secret from me." Yun Chu reached into Yun Ling's armpit and tickled her.
Yunling couldn't stand the intense pleasure and immediately begged for mercy. Zhang Shi gently patted her, signaling her to speak quickly, as she also wanted to know if Yunling had any chance of liking the young master Lu.
Yunling wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, sniffed, and thought seriously, "Interesting, straightforward, understanding, good-looking, wealthy, wouldn't use my money, diligently sending money every month, with odorless feet, and no belly..."
Yun Chu could barely count them on her fingers. She frowned and said, "Ling Niang, if you keep talking like this, you'll have to live on your own. Where can you find such a good young man?"
“Yes, yes, yes.” Zhang nodded vigorously. “That’s just how your father is.”
Yunling: ...
Yun Chu: ...
**
After dawn, Yunling finished washing up and was caught by her mother-in-law to burn incense. She had to circle the incense burner three times, bow to it, and receive red paper for warding off evil and misfortune. Only after that did she pack her bags and follow Zhang Shi into the city with Yun Shenghua's carriage.
Upon arriving at the escort agency, Gangzi and the others had already prepared a carriage and water. Zhang was initially a little anxious because she couldn't see Chen Jie, but when she saw Gangzi, who had accompanied her last time, and heard Gangzi say that the other two people traveling with them were top-notch experts and elites of the escort agency, she felt relieved.
Since summer is approaching and things are not easy to store, Zhang did not buy too much dry food, but only the pastries that Yunling liked.
“Brother, my girl is sure to cause trouble, so you’ll have to keep an eye on her and make sure she comes back as soon as she finishes her business.”
"Don't worry, Auntie, we will definitely get back as soon as possible."
With the departure time that Old Lady Yun had calculated approaching, Zhang Shi couldn't say anything more. She simply hugged Yun Ling tightly in her arms, giving her countless instructions and reminders, consuming the last bit of their time together before finally calming down.
Yunling sat in the carriage, poked her head out of the window, and said goodbye to Zhang Shi. She only stopped when Zhang Shi's figure became thinner and smaller, gradually turning into a tiny dot that she could no longer look down on.
Yunling didn't know whether Zhang's actions stemmed from maternal instinct or from her grandmother's teachings. Perhaps her grandmother had treated her the same way when she was away from home, and she had passed on this love to herself.
Yunling thought that if she had children in the future, perhaps she would also be like Zhang Shi, waiting at the crossroads of parting, hoping for the next reunion.
**
It had only been half a month since they left Pingcheng, and the weather had already secretly turned into summer. Yunling had already shared the two water bags of perilla drink with Gangzi and the others. Under the high temperature, not to mention people, even the horses felt too tired to run. They had no choice but to avoid the official road and travel along the shaded paths. They would stop to rest and bathe whenever they encountered an inn or teahouse.
Yunling felt refreshed after washing away the filth. As she stepped out of the wooden tub and began to dress, she heard a commotion downstairs. She heard a woman cursing:
"What kind of nonsense is this? It's not like we didn't order food to help you out. Now we're getting some water to drink on the way, and you treat us like this? We'll probably have to go and complain to the officials."
"You filthy old woman, you brought your whole family and ordered two steamed buns that didn't make you gain weight, and you expect us to give you two pots of fragrant drinks? You wish! Don't even think about going to the officials, you can't reason with the King of Hell."
Yunling hurriedly dressed, hoping to get out as soon as possible to see what this gossip storm was all about. But as she was putting on her socks, she heard the woman cursing again:
"What, do you think we can buy steamed buns for free? Aren't these fragrant drinks for our guests? We're in a hurry and can't drink them right away, so we put them in a water bag. You can criticize that? Call your manager out here, I'll have to let him judge this."
"The shopkeeper is busy with distinguished guests and has no time to deal with you poor wretch. Get out of here and don't dirty our place."
Upon hearing the words "poor slut," the woman immediately jumped up in anger. "You're the poor slut! If you're so capable, you should be the manager yourself. Why are you working for others to earn money? Let me tell you, I'm rolling in money! I have three excellent sons..."
As the sound faded into the distance, Yunling hurriedly rolled up her wet hair, covered it with a hat, and rushed out. But when she looked down, the woman was nowhere to be seen. She had truly missed a good piece of gossip.
She turned and went back into the house, took off her hat, and combed her hair while recalling the sounds she had just heard. The image of Liu standing with her hands on her hips, cursing, immediately came to mind.
However, she quickly dismissed this absurd idea. Her family was busy paying off debts, so how could they have the leisure to travel far?
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