Chapter One: A Wedding for Good Luck
In order to bring good fortune to their son, the Li family posted notices in Pingchun County, stating that as long as a woman's birth date and time were compatible with that of the Li family's young master, the Li family would marry her with a grand betrothal gift, regardless of her family background.
"Fellow villagers who have ideas, please write down your daughters' birth dates and addresses here," the Li family servant said to the crowd.
Four or five people stood in front of him and told him the birth date and address of their daughter.
Li Shi took a step forward, but was stopped by the woman beside him. "Husband, what are you doing?"
Li Shi explained, "Xing'er is of marriageable age, and I'm finding her a good family to marry into!"
Madam Su frowned and said worriedly, "Although the Li family is large and powerful, the young master of the Li family is a sickly person!"
"The doctor said he wouldn't live past twenty. Do you want our daughter to marry into that family and become a widow soon after?"
Li Shi said fiercely, "So what if I'm a widow?"
“Even if I’m a widow, I’ll be a widow in a wealthy family! I won’t have to worry about food or clothing!” After saying that, she walked directly to the servant of the Li family.
"Su Yuexing, aged sixteen, was born on the seventh day of the lunar calendar in the year of Jia Shen at the hour of Zi (11 PM - 1 AM). She lives in the Su family in Xikou Village."
The servant of the Li family wrote down what he said one by one, and said, "Okay, after we find a master to calculate it, if your daughter's birth chart is compatible with our young master's, we will send someone to tell you."
Su Shi asked, "How long will it take to get a result?"
“Three days later,” the Li family servant replied.
On the way back to Xikou Village, Su said with a stern face, "How are you going to explain this to your eldest daughter!"
Su Shi also said with a stern face, "I'm her father! What's wrong with finding her a good marriage!"
Su stopped and looked at him, saying, "But you know perfectly well that Liu Xiucai and Xing'er are close, and that they both have feelings for each other."
Why are you trying to break up this loving couple?
Su Shi said angrily, "I did this all for Xiao Bao! He is weak and needs precious medicinal herbs to keep him alive."
"You know our family situation. If Xing'er can really marry into the Li family..."
“We will receive a generous dowry, and Xiao Bao’s illness will no longer be a problem!” After saying this, he put his hands behind his back and kept walking forward.
With tears in her eyes, Su followed silently behind, feeling truly sorry for her Xing'er.
The Li residence, in the Longevity Garden, was filled with the strong smell of Chinese medicine. A pale-faced man held a bowl of medicine in his hands and drank it without changing his expression.
The perceptive Xiao Si immediately handed him the handkerchief he had prepared beforehand, and Li Jinghe took it and wiped the medicine dripping from the corner of his mouth.
Dongyang, who was standing nearby, said, "Young Master, the Master is at the city gate today, looking for a bride to bring you good luck in marriage."
Li Jinghe frowned slightly and said, "A marriage to ward off bad luck?"
"Young Master, you don't know yet?" Dongyang was somewhat surprised.
He continued, "Master said that no matter what the other party's family background is, as long as their birth dates and times are compatible, Master will help you marry her."
Li Jinghe clenched his fist in his sleeve. A month ago, his father had casually asked about the marriage to bring good luck, and he had expressed his opposition at the time.
I never expected that he would still do it, completely disregarding my feelings. I really don't know what else I can do with my worthless life.
A sparrow suddenly landed on the windowsill, and Li Jinghe winked at Dongyang beside him.
Dongyang immediately understood his meaning and swiftly caught the sparrow in his hand.
The sparrow tried to struggle but still couldn't escape. Li Jinghe looked calmly into the sparrow's eyes and said, "I can't control my own fate, so how can I control yours?"
Dongyang covered the sparrow with a handkerchief and handed it to Li Jinghe.
Li Jinghe's hand slowly tightened, and a vibrant life silently died under his touch.
Dongyang was used to such scenes; the young master wasn't like this when he was a child.
In recent years, however, the young master has become increasingly abnormal due to the torment of his illness.
When Su Shi and his wife returned home, their second daughter was squatting in the yard playing with mud, while their youngest son sat in a wooden wheelchair, covered with a blanket, holding a book and looking at the contents of the book intently.
"Father! Mother! You're back!" Su Yuewei quickly got up and ran over to throw herself into Su Shi's arms.
Looking at the mud on her daughter's face, Mrs. Su was both amused and exasperated. "Wei'er! Look at you, your face is covered in mud from playing."
After saying that, he led her to the water tank in the kitchen and used a towel to wipe her face clean.
Seeing his son engrossed in reading, Su Shi pretended to cough, covering his mouth, and asked, "Is this Liu Xiucai's book?"
Su Yueyang put down the book in his hand and nodded, saying, "Yes, Father."
“Our family has no relation to Liu Xiucai’s family. It’s not right for you to keep borrowing their books. Give me the book and I’ll return it to them right away.” Su Shi said, snatching the book from Su Yueyang’s hand.
"Father!" Su Yueyang reached out to take it, but Su Shi dodged it.
Hearing the commotion, the mother and daughter rushed over from the kitchen. "Honey! What are you doing?" Su asked as she walked over.
Su Shi forcefully hid the book behind his back and said to them, "From now on, you are not allowed to have any contact with the Liu family!"
Madam Su quickly stepped forward and grabbed his sleeve, whispering, "It's not even close to being settled yet, husband, aren't you going a bit too far?"
Just as Su Shi was about to speak, Su Yuexing's voice interrupted them, "Dad! What's wrong?"
She came in from outside, carrying two wild rabbits in her hands.
Liu Jin followed behind her, carrying a basket of medicinal herbs on his back. "Uncle! Aunt!" he said as he took the basket off his back.
When Su Shi and the others saw Liu Jin, their expressions became somewhat unnatural, a quirk that Su Yueyang keenly noticed.
Why did my parents look so strange when they saw Brother Liu? They seemed a little guilty.
Su Shi said, "Xing'er, you're back." After saying that, she hit Su Shi and gave him a look.
She walked up to Su Yuexing, took the rabbit from her hand, and praised, "This rabbit is quite plump today. My Xing'er must have worked so hard."
Su Yuexing shook her head and said, "This is what Xing'er should do."
She squatted down, looked at Su Yueyang with a smile, and said, "I'll keep one for Xiaobao to nourish his body, and I'll take the other one to the street to sell later."
"The money from the sale will be used to buy medicinal herbs for Xiaobao."
Su Yueyang's eyes curved into crescent moons. "Thank you, sister."
Liu Jin stepped forward and said, "I'll go to the street with you."
Before Su Yuexing could speak, Su Shi beside her said seriously, "No way!"
Everyone looked at him with puzzled expressions. Su Yuewei tilted her head and asked, "Didn't Dad usually like Brother Liu a lot?"
Why is Dad's attitude so unusual today?
Liu Jin wondered, "Did I do something wrong?"
Shi, who was standing next to him, tugged at his sleeve and smiled at Liu Jin, saying, "What the child's father means is that the time you spend with my Xing'er will interfere with your imperial examination."
"Xiao Jin, you should go back and prepare for the imperial examination."
Liu Jin understood and replied with a smile, "It's alright, I know what I'm doing with the imperial examinations."
Su Shi and Su Shi exchanged a glance, their eyes conveying an unreadable meaning.
Su Yueyang asked, "Dad, why do you want me to return the book to Brother Liu?"
Su Shi couldn't find a suitable explanation in his mind for a moment, while Su Yuexing looked at the book he had placed on his back.
He stepped forward, took the book in his hand, and asked in confusion, "Return the book?" He looked at Su Yueyang and said, "Xiao Bao, have you finished reading this book?"
Su Yueyang shook her head and said, "No, I was engrossed in reading it when Dad snatched the book away, saying he wanted to return it to Brother Liu."
Su Shi accepted the scrutiny from Su Yuexing and Liu Jin.
"Alright, Xing'er, didn't you say you were going to sell wild rabbits on the street?" Su asked in a flustered manner.
"You and Liu Jin should hurry up and go, it will be late and it won't be safe to come back at night." Madam Su handed the rabbit to Su Yuexing and pushed them to the door.
"mother……"
"Bang!"
Su Yuexing wanted to say something more, but she was met with a tightly closed door.
On the way, Su Yuexing recalled her parents' unusual behavior and felt increasingly puzzled.
"Did I do something wrong?" Liu Jin asked anxiously.
Seeing his worried expression, Su Yuexing comforted him, "It's alright, this has nothing to do with you."
"Don't be unhappy." Su Yuexing pinched his cheek.
Her intimate gesture made Liu Jin blush. He quickly took a few steps back and pretended to be angry, saying, "Xing'er! You've overstepped your bounds!"
Seeing his shy expression, Su Yuexing had a wicked thought. She pressed closer to him, a malicious smile on her face.
"So what if I overstepped the bounds? Are you planning to eat me alive?"
Liu Jin lowered his head and backed away step by step, not noticing a stone under his feet, and his whole body leaned back.
Su Yuexing instinctively grabbed him, which caused her to fall as well.
Fortunately, there was a human body cushioning his back. Liu Jin could smell the girl's fragrance, and their hearts were so close.
Su Yuexing realized what was happening, her face flushed, and she quickly stood up and bowed her head, saying, "You should go back to your studies."
Liu Jin quickly got up from the ground and took her hand.
Su Yuexing paused, realizing his actions were impolite, and quickly released his hand.
"Xing'er, there's something I need to tell you," Liu Jin said.
Was he going to talk about proposing marriage to me? Su Yuexing felt a little nervous. "What is it?"
Su Yuexing was too shy to look Liu Jin in the eye.
Liu Jin cheered himself up, knowing that she would find out about this sooner or later, and besides, he didn't have much time left.
I'm leaving tomorrow.
Liu Jin's words plunged Su Yuexing's heart into despair. She looked up in disbelief and asked, "Go? Where to?"
"Are you going to the capital to take the imperial examination?"
Liu Jin nodded, and Su Yuexing asked in confusion, "But isn't there still three months until the imperial examination?"
Why are you in such a hurry?
Liu Jin explained, "Pingchun County is far from the capital. I roughly calculated that it will take about a month and a half to travel there."
"The sooner I get to the capital, the sooner I can adapt to the climate and environment there."
After hearing this, Su Yuexing's face showed worry. "Does it really have to be this urgent?"
Seeing her appearance made Liu Jin feel sad, and he promised, "Xing'er, don't worry, when I come back, whether I pass or not, I will marry you!"
Su Yuexing didn't care whether he had any official rank or not; the thought of not seeing him for three months made her feel sad.
Tears slowly streamed from her eyes, dripping down her cheeks and onto the ground.
Liu Jin coaxed, "Okay, stop crying. Wait for me to come back, okay?"
Su Yuexing wiped away her tears and regained her composure. "Whether I wait for you or not depends on my mood."
Upon hearing this, Liu Jin panicked and quickly blocked her path, "Xing'er, you..."
Su Yuexing walked past him and said, "What time are you leaving tomorrow? I'll see you off."
Liu Jin walked beside her and said, "Xing'er, you must wait for me as soon as it's light tomorrow!"
He held Su Yuexing's hand and looked at her earnestly.
Su Yuexing looked at her hand, then at him, and said, "Brother Liu, you've overstepped your bounds." She then shyly pulled her hand back.
Liu Jin pulled her into his arms. "So what? Unless you eat me."
"Brother Liu, you..." Su Yuexing tried to break free from his embrace, "Brother Liu, let me go."
Liu Jin held her tightly and said, "I won't let go unless you promise to wait for me to come back."
Su Yuexing never expected that Brother Liu, who was usually a gentleman, would be so shameless.
“Okay! Brother Liu! I’ll wait for you,” Su Yuexing replied.
Liu Jin happily hugged her and spun her around, their noses touching as they felt each other's breath.
Just as they were about to kiss, Su Yuexing realized what was happening, pushed him away, and got out of his arms.
At this moment, both of their cheeks were flushed, and they dared not look up at each other.
"It's getting late, let's hurry up and go," Liu Jin said.
Su Yuexing gave a faint "hmm" and continued walking forward, with Liu Jin following behind.
Watching Su Yuexing's retreating figure, Liu Jin's lips curled into a faint smile.
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