It's busy time again in Tianxiang County. As soon as Song Ning returned, every household started harvesting cotton.
This year's cotton harvest is bountiful; the fields are full of white cotton fluff, just waiting to be picked.
These days, every household has someone taking turns watching over them at night, just in case someone comes to steal cotton.
Everyone was looking forward to Song Ning's early return so that they could pick cotton, sell it, and have enough cotton clothes and quilts for the winter.
The news had already been spread, and people outside who wanted to buy cotton couldn't wait any longer. Even half of the soldiers stationed at the border came, saying they wanted to help them pick cotton.
Song Ning was picking cotton with a burlap sack when Luo Yingying walked up to her.
"Er Ya, there's something... I don't know if I should tell you."
Seeing Luo Yingying's expression, Song Ning asked, "What's wrong? Did you have a fight with Xingwang?"
Luo Yingying blushed: "No, it's not my fault, it's... it's Yunniang's fault."
"What's wrong with Yunniang?"
Luo Yingying looked around and, seeing that no one was paying attention, whispered, "This matter is related to the county magistrate."
Song Ning paused. Was there something else about Lord Zheng?
“During the time you were gone, I noticed something strange. The magistrate… seems to come to see Yunniang often, but Yunniang has always been avoiding him.”
"Judging from the magistrate's appearance, he seemed rather anxious, as if he knew Yunniang, but Yunniang's attitude was very cold."
The magistrate and Yunniang?
Song Ning remembered that Lord Zheng had come to her house to ask about Yunniang a couple of days ago. Could it be that he had taken a fancy to Yunniang?
“In the past few days, the magistrate has come every day. He is probably afraid that Yunniang will be unhappy. He sits in a place where he can see Yunniang and stays there all day. He leaves whenever Yunniang leaves.”
Song Ning blinked. She'd only been gone a few months. Had things developed that quickly?
Your Excellency, magistrate...don't you have a deceased wife?
He has never remarried because he misses his deceased wife; he is a very devoted person.
You've already fallen for it in the last few months?
But based on Song Ning's understanding, Zheng Gaoyi wasn't that kind of person.
"Who else knows about this?"
"Not many people probably know this. I haven't told anyone else. I'm just waiting for you to come back."
Song Ning looked at Yun Niang, who was picking cotton not far away, pondered for a moment, and said, "I know about it. Don't worry, I will keep an eye on it."
"After all, this concerns the county magistrate, so you should be careful."
"I will."
At noon, the cotton-picking team returned home one after another. Yunniang came over, took her arm, and said with a smile, "Erya, let's go back together."
"Ah... um."
She glanced to the side and sure enough, the magistrate was standing at a distance, watching them.
What Luo Yingying said is true; the county magistrate is really not normal.
But how could she bring up the subject?
"Yunniang, have you ever thought about... getting married in the future?"
Yunniang chuckled: "Why are you suddenly asking this?"
"I just feel that you're always alone and it's kind of lonely. It would be nice if someone were there to take care of you."
Yunniang smiled faintly: "You, you just got back and you're already joking with me. I'm already this age, what am I going to get married for? You don't think I'm annoying or that you're disgusted by me, do you?"
"No, no, that's not what I meant. It's just... if you have that thought, please don't be shy. We also want to see you marry a good man and be loved by someone."
Besides, you're only in your early twenties, still young, why can't you find someone else?
Yunniang fell silent. In her life, she had experienced everything she should and shouldn't have experienced.
Now that she has finally achieved a stable life, she doesn't want to waste her time and energy on men.
If men can't be relied on when you're young, how can you expect to be reliable now?
What you couldn't get from a man before, you won't get in the future.
"Er Ya, I know you're worried about me, but I'm doing fine now. All those sad things from the past... are in the past. If you don't mind..."
“How could I look down on you? You’re family now. Um… you’re a little younger than my mother. According to seniority, you’re my mother’s younger sister, which makes you my aunt.”
Yunniang hesitated for a moment before laughing again: "That's great! From now on, I'll be your aunt and you'll be my niece."
The two walked home chatting and laughing. Zheng Gaoyi, who was behind them, did not come forward but followed quietly until they were almost at their doorstep before leaving.
During lunch, Song Ning kept glancing at Yun Niang across from her. Liu Yuelan noticed something was wrong and gently nudged her daughter, saying, "What are you looking at? The food will get cold."
Song Ning smiled and shook her head.
She observed for several days and found that Yunniang often spaced out, sometimes sighed, and her expression changed immediately when she saw the county magistrate.
There's also the county magistrate, who used to be very busy, but lately he's been seen wandering around the cotton fields quite often.
He also had to pretend to approach Yunniang casually.
These two are definitely not normal.
Even Liu Yuelan and Old Lady Liu noticed that something was wrong.
"Er Ya, has Yun Niang been troubled by something lately? She doesn't seem to be in a good mood."
"She's probably just tired; she'll be fine in a couple of days."
Song Ning finally couldn't hold back and pulled Zheng Gaoyi aside when he reappeared in the cotton field.
"Lord Zheng, there is something I would like to ask you."
"you say."
Have you made arrangements for the sale of cotton in our county?
"Don't worry, I've made all the arrangements. We're just waiting for our cotton to be processed."
"That's good. Um... there's something else I'd like to ask you, sir."
"Why are you being so polite with me? Just ask."
Song Ning considered his words carefully before asking, "Lord Zheng, is there something you wish to discuss with Yunniang recently, or does Yunniang resemble one of your old acquaintances?"
Zheng Gaoyi was slightly taken aback, lowered his head and remained silent for a moment before speaking: "I knew you would see through it."
It wasn't just her; many people around them must have noticed it too, right?
Even her maternal grandmother noticed that something was wrong with Yunniang, so it was impossible to hide it from others.
Zheng Gaoyi looked at Yunniang in the distance with an unprecedented tenderness in his eyes.
"Remember when I said that my wife had passed away?"
"I remember, Your Excellency is a man of deep affection. His wife passed away many years ago, but he has never remarried."
Zheng Gaoyi suddenly smiled, but the smile was different from usual. It was more like the satisfaction of fulfilling some long-cherished wish. He stared blankly into the distance, lost in thought.
"She's not dead."
Song Ning froze for a moment, looked at Yun Niang, and was so surprised that her mouth opened slightly.
What an incredible coincidence!
Yunniang, is she actually the county magistrate's deceased wife?
Yunniang has been in Tianxiang County for so long, but she has never mentioned her family. She always said that there was no one left in her family, so Song Ning always thought that she was all alone.
ah?
Now tell her that the person she saved by chance was the wife of the county magistrate who had passed away many years ago.
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