Shopkeeper Wang sobbed like an ox, tearing away Xu Jiang's sorrow and bitterness. She was speechless for a long moment, then advised, "It's all over now. Look, I'm sitting here peacefully now. Don't cry. It's so ugly at your age."
It would have been better if she hadn't tried to persuade him. This made Shopkeeper Wang cry even harder. After he stopped, she said in a muffled voice, "I've also made it this far alone. I understand how hard it is to make a living. But compared to you and your master, my little hardship is nothing. Madam Xu, I admire you from the bottom of my heart and I love you. If you don't mind, you can treat me as your brother in the future, and I will treat you as my sister. Let's get married. From now on, we'll be more than just neighbors, we'll be family. How about that?"
Xu Jiang was deeply moved and couldn't help but say, "Okay, brother!"
"Good girl!" Shopkeeper Wang poured her a glass of wine.
Lou Yunchun took the drink for Xu Jiang and fed it to her. He then poured himself a glass and toasted to Shopkeeper Wang, "Thank you for your care, brother."
He was usually busy with official duties and there were always people he couldn't take care of. It is said that a distant relative is not as good as a close neighbor. With Manager Wang taking care of him, he felt much more at ease.
Shopkeeper Wang drank happily with him and felt that he had made the right choice in choosing this young man, Xu Jiang, who was considerate and thoughtful.
Xu Jiang didn't know if it was because of the two people in front of her or the wine, but she felt warm all over.
In the midst of the ordinary, there is a faint immortality.
The wind and snow, the pain she had endured in her short life, amidst the vast mountains and rivers, amidst the mundane world, were constantly healed by this ordinary yet tiny spark of light. It eventually cleansed away the blood and rust on her body, returning her to a pure and innocent soul.
Shopkeeper Wang sat for a while, muttering some comforting words. Xu Jiang listened with a smile until his son came to call him back to deliver the goods. Then he said goodbye to the two of them and went back to his shop.
Xu Jiang looked at the door and sighed to Lou Yunchun, "Manager Wang is a warm-hearted man. It's my great honor to have made his acquaintance."
Lou Yunchun didn't respond for a long time. She turned around and saw him staring at her, his eyes slightly red. Her heart burned, and she smiled and comforted him, "That's all in the past. I'm fine."
As soon as she finished speaking, Lou Yunchun leaned over, carefully held her in his arms, and whispered in her ear: "It would have been great if we could have met earlier."
Knowing that he was worried about her, Xu Jiang felt relieved, but she said, "The world has its own laws of fate. It's a pity that we met too late. It's better to meet now, when the time is right for us."
The great way is natural, that's it.
Hearing this, Lou Yunchun hugged her even tighter. He was confused, but he was willing to be confused by it.
The two of them embraced each other tenderly until the sound of carriages and horses approached the outside of the temple. They reluctantly separated. Xu Jiang, blushing slightly, stood up and said, "I'll go take a look."
Lou Yunchun also followed suit and picked up the cups, plates and bowls on the table and took them into the kitchen to wash them.
Xu Jiang walked outside and saw that it was Zhong Lu's carriage. She hurried to meet him and said hello to him.
Zhong Lu did not get out of the carriage, but simply lifted the curtain to greet her. Then he said, "I was on my way to the village community's La Festival, and on the way I came to ask Manager Xu about the progress of the county annals repair."
"I have already revised and annotated three volumes. Would you like to take a look, sir?"
Zhong Lu waved his hand, "No, I'm just asking. I'll proofread it after I finish the revisions and annotations." He then took out a gift box from the cart and handed it to her, saying with a smile, "Thank you, Shopkeeper Xu, for taking the trouble to send gifts to my family every festival. This is just a small gift in return, but it's not considered a token of my respect."
"Thank you, sir." Xu Jiang gladly accepted it and added, "Such a small thing, and you took the trouble to deliver it personally. Xu Jiang is flattered."
"On my way, just on my way." After saying that, he saw Lou Yunchun coming out of the bookstore and was a little surprised, "Yunchun is here again? Why are you staying in your bookstore today instead of at home?"
Lou Yunchun saluted Zhong Lu from a distance. Zhong Lu returned the salute and said to him, "Since we've met, why don't you go with me to the village community to officiate the La Festival? We're in need of a divine messenger, and I think you'd be suitable."
"The village community's La Festival?" Xu Jiang asked curiously, "Is Mr. Zhong also presiding over the ceremony and offering sacrifices to the gods?"
"The village elders came to me and asked me to officiate the La Festival. I was so grateful for his kindness and thought it was a good deed to do, so I couldn't refuse. Over time, it became a custom."
"It seems like a lively scene."
Seeing her fascinated look, Zhong Lu said, "If Shopkeeper Xu has some free time, why don't we go take a look together?"
Before Xu Jiang could answer, Lou Yunchun came over, bowed to Zhong Lu and said, "Okay."
Zhong Lu thought to himself, you don’t say anything when I ask you, but you rush to answer when I ask others.
"Then follow me. Coincidentally, the La Festival takes place in Changhuai Township, which was once under the jurisdiction of Yao County. If Manager Xu goes there, perhaps it will be helpful in revising the county annals."
Xu Jiang was even more eager to go after hearing this, and nodded immediately, "Well, I'll take advantage of you and go see it for myself."
Zhong Lu asked Lou Yunchun, "Would you like to ride with me?"
Lou Yunchun shook his head. "Thank you for your kindness. I'll just ride a horse."
Zhong Lu then asked Xu Jiang, "Where is Shopkeeper Xu?"
Xu Jiang replied, "I ride a donkey."
Zhong Lu nodded, "Then I will go ahead and wait for you in Changhuai Township."
After saying this, he asked the coachman to drive ahead.
Xu Jiang turned to Lou Yunchun and asked, "When did Zhaoyue start to like joining in on this kind of fun?"
Lou Yunchun replied in a gentle voice: "Since I met you."
What a sin, what a sin! Xu Jiang shouted, fanning her face, and went into the backyard to lead the donkey, with Lou Yunchun following closely behind.
Upon entering the backyard and seeing the Cao family's horses, Xu Jiang remembered that the three Cao family members would be back soon. After a moment's thought, she simply asked Lou Yunchun to unhitch the Cao family's horses and take them to Nanshan Academy on the way.
Village sacrifices usually start at the hour of Shen, and now it is already the hour of Wei, so we have to hurry, otherwise we will miss the auspicious time.
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