Chapter 36
The sausage in Fu'er's hand fell to the ground with a thud. She said blankly, "Mother, Zhu Ping is here."
Ms. Wen said with displeasure, "You child are so easily startled. You're a grown woman now, and you still can't be more demure."
"Go quickly to the main room and see, he's teaching Chang'er his lessons."
Normally, Fu'er would also be able to meet Zhu Ping openly and confidently.
But he appeared just as her parents were arranging a marriage for her.
Needless to say, Fu'er knew what her mother was thinking. "Mother, Zhu Ping won't do. He's my brother."
"The two of us..."
"You're back."
Before Fu'er could finish speaking, Zhu Ping, whom she was referring to, had already arrived at the kitchen door.
With a smile in her eyes and a bunch of wildflowers in her hand, she said, "Here you go."
It's a purple wildflower that Fu'er likes.
She remembered that they were only found in the mountains and forests on the outskirts of the city. Fu'er hesitated before taking the bag and asked, "Did you go to the outskirts of the city?"
Zhu Ping replied, "I didn't go; I picked them on my way home today."
“There are many more. If you have time, come with me to see them.”
When Fu'er heard that he hadn't gone there specifically for this purpose, she immediately felt relieved.
"I'll put it in the plum vase, you go and sit in the main room."
Seeing her cheerful expression, Zhu Ping's eyes shone, and the corners of his mouth never left her lips.
He looked away and met Wen's encouraging gaze. "That's right, but Fu'er isn't stupid. You can't use the same method too often."
Zhu Ping's ears burned, and she said in a low voice, "Thank you for the reminder, Auntie. I understand."
These days, the only person Wen has been looking for for Fu'er is Zhu Ping.
The couple even made a special trip to his home in Tongluo Lane.
After learning about Zhu Ping's family background from the neighbors, Wen and Luo Linchun were even more satisfied with him.
The two were about the same age, both were ordinary small business owners, and their statuses were compatible.
It's clear that Zhu Ping has feelings for his daughter.
She went out of her way to find the silk shop and told Zhu Ping that Fu'er had left the Ning residence.
Zhu Ping's hope was rekindled, and he took some time to visit Fu'er's home.
I also bought Fu'er her favorite pastries.
Wen said it wasn't special enough.
The food in their home usually goes to their two grandsons, and they send some of Fu'er's favorites as a gift.
This was Zhu Ping's first time trying to win a woman's favor, and he had absolutely no experience in this matter.
Not knowing what was special, Wen took him to the crack in the wall of the deserted courtyard at the alley entrance and picked the wildflowers that Fu'er liked.
Seeing that Fu'er had accepted the flowers with delight, Zhu Ping knew that he had made the right choice.
The whole family sat together in the evening, and it was quite lively.
Luo Linchun and Wen kept serving food to Zhu Ping.
Luo Qiusheng also urged Zhu Ping to have a couple more drinks.
Zhu Ping was very easygoing tonight. He accepted all the wine that Brother Fu poured for him.
If they keep persuading him like this, Zhu Ping will most likely not be able to go back on his own.
Realizing that there wasn't an extra bed in her house, Fu'er quickly snatched the wine cup from Zhu Ping's hand, "Brother, you can't pour any more for him."
"He won't be able to go home later."
It was rare for someone to accompany Luo Qiusheng for drinks today, and Madam Ma didn't care about him. Of course, Luo Qiusheng was unwilling, so he snatched the wine cup and stuffed it back into Zhu Ping's hand.
My vision started to blur. "You're not even married to him yet, why are you being so nosy?"
“How could there be no room? Mother cleared out the east room today.”
"My brother-in-law will sleep in that room later."
Fu'er didn't believe it, so she went to the smallest room in the east wing and saw that it was clean and tidy.
The old, worn-out bed was replaced with a new one.
Knowing that her parents had already conspired, Fu'er rarely interfered anymore.
He then left the main room and returned to his own room.
Man'er knew she was unwilling, so she followed her in and advised, "It's clear that Zhu Ping is a caring and thrifty person, but you..."
"Sister, you're overthinking it. I won't marry Zhu Ping."
"If I can't control my parents and Zhu Ping, I can at least control myself."
"I'm going to make incense."
Man'er sighed inwardly, wishing that if Zhu Ping knew about Fu'er's situation, he would still treat his younger sister well.
That night, Zhu Ping was made drunk by Luo Qiusheng and had no choice but to stay at Fu'er's house.
The next day, after sobering up, Fu'er didn't want to talk to Zhu Ping.
But seeing his innocent look, I couldn't bear to say anything more.
The two walked together into the street, and on the way, Fu'er warned, "No matter what my parents say in the future, don't believe them."
"I don't want to get married right now, I just want to focus on making incense."
"The shop can't be short-staffed, you should go back quickly."
Zhu Ping's gaze dimmed, his eyes filled with disappointment.
She had only taken two steps when she turned back and said, "My aunt said you need a lot of flowers to make incense."
"In a couple of days, it will be my turn to rest. How about I take you to the outskirts of the city to pick some fresh flowers? My family has a mule cart."
Fu'er was tempted, and she had already picked almost all the flowers around her.
Just when she was worried about where to pick them, she heard that Zhu Ping was taking her to the outskirts of the city.
The area is surrounded by mountains and forests, and summer is the time when flowers are in full bloom. With someone by her side, she is not afraid.
After hesitating for a long time, Fu'er said, "Then promise me that you will continue to call me Sister Fu'er and I will go."
Zhu Ping felt a pang of sorrow and really didn't want to call her "sister" anymore.
But if she didn't call him that, she would be eager to sever ties with him, so she reluctantly called out, "Fu'er... Sister."
Fu'er grinned, "Good girl, I'll buy you candy next time."
Hearing this, Fu'er felt reassured, as if she had taken a pill to calm her nerves.
Zhu Ping's face darkened immediately, but then, remembering Wen's reminder, he shamelessly said, "She's not my biological sister, I can still marry her."
"Be my wife."
After saying that, he didn't look at Fu'er's expression anymore and left without looking back.
Fu'er was so angry that he could only raise his fist on the spot.
That evening, Granny Yu came again.
She came to tell Fu'er that the shop Ning Shiyu had arranged for her had been found.
On Jinxi Street in the east of the city.
Fu'er poured tea for Granny Yu and brought it to her, then resolutely refused, saying, "Granny, I will not accept anything from the young master in the future."
"You're busy with household affairs every day, so you don't need to come looking for me about these things."
Granny Yu recalled Ning Shiyu's parting words to Fu'er, and a hint of worry was hidden in her eyes.
Then he changed his mind and said, "Since you don't want the shop, why don't you write a letter to tell him?"
"If he comes back and sees that we haven't even handled this small matter properly, he will naturally punish the people below us."
"You know his temper."
Fu'er saw through Granny Yu's provocation and laughed, "Granny, although he has a bad temper, he won't punish his subordinates indiscriminately."
"Just push it onto me then."
Seeing that Fu'er wasn't fooled, Granny Yu sighed, "Don't you really worry about his safety?"
"The things he entrusted to me before he left were all related to you."
"You could write him a letter to comfort him, so that he has something to look forward to even in that dangerous situation."
Fu'er didn't believe it, thinking that Granny Yu was tricking her into writing the letter, and casually asked, "How dangerous is it?"
"He and his cousin led troops to Lingnan to fight against the Rong people."
"Once you reach the battlefield, life and death are uncertain."
"Young lady, are you really not worried at all?"
Fu'er felt a sudden panic in her heart, and the incense-making tools slipped from her hands and fell to the ground with a 'clatter'.
His face paled. "Granny, are you saying he's going to die?"
Granny Yu looked solemn and did not answer.
Seeing that Fu'er wasn't as heartless as she claimed towards Ning Shiyu, Granny Yu stood up and said, "I'm going back to the manor now. Someone is sending medicinal herbs to Lingnan tomorrow. If you want, take a letter to the young master."
"Remember to deliver it to your residence early in the morning."
Fu'er was in a daze and didn't come back to her senses even after Yu Mama had been gone for a long time.
It wasn't until her mother came to call her for dinner that she replied, "Mother, you eat, I have no appetite."
Then he continued to bury himself in making incense.
I had a nightmare in the middle of the night, dreaming that Ning Shiyu was covered in blood and collapsed on the ground.
She felt as if she were separated by a barrier; no matter how she called out, he wouldn't respond, his eyes tightly shut.
Just like when Ning Shiyu caught a cold and fainted when he was a child, Fu'er was terrified.
Man'er woke up from the other bed with her crying.
"Fu'er, Fu'er, wake up, wake up."
Fu'er opened her eyes and looked at her older sister, remaining bewildered for a long time.
Man'er brought her a cup of warm tea, and after drinking it, she calmed down a lot.
What did you dream about just now?
Fu'er clutched her chest, which was still slightly sore, paused for a moment, and said, "Sister, Mother said that dreams are always the opposite of reality."
"If someone dies in a dream, does it mean they are still alive and well?"
Seeing that she was looking at her expectantly, Man'er couldn't bear to refuse and nodded.
Who did you dream about dying?
Fu'er didn't want to talk about it and shook her head, saying, "Nobody, sister, you should go to sleep first."
Man'er was indeed tired from taking care of the children during the day, and saw that Fu'er had just had a nightmare.
After giving a few instructions, I fell asleep again.
Fu'er convinced herself that Ning Shiyu, as her master, had treated her well.
My worries stem from my gratitude for his kindness to me.
She had read in a book that even the smallest act of kindness should be repaid with boundless gratitude.
She couldn't produce Yongquan (a type of traditional Chinese medicine).
Writing a letter to express your concern and remind him to be careful is a good idea.
After figuring all this out, Fu'er got up and took out a pen and paper from the drawer.
As dawn approached, Fu'er finished writing the letter and folded it into a small square after the ink dried.
Then she put it into the purse she always wore, and when sealing it, she hesitated for a moment before taking out the amulet her mother had gotten for her.
Hearing that there are many mosquitoes in Lingnan, I also took out the mosquito-repellent sachets I made and put them in the sachet as well.
Fearing her parents would find out, she went to the Ning residence before they even got up.
When the doorman saw Fu'er return, he quickly opened the door for her.
Fu'er went to Granny Yu's courtyard first and handed her the letter.
Granny Yu was overjoyed to see that Fu'er was finally willing to write a letter to Ning Shiyu.
Go back to your room and take a look. After you leave, I won't let anyone touch your things.
Fu'er nodded, thinking of the things Ning Shiyu had given her.
Fu'er lived in the courtyard next to Granny Yu's, and she and Xiang'er shared the same courtyard.
After she left, the courtyard became much quieter.
Seeing that the light was on in Xiang'er's room, Fu'er did not knock on the door to greet her.
Instead, he quietly went into his own room.
Although it wasn't fully light yet, the things inside the house were clearly visible.
The things in the room were not only untouched, but it also seemed that someone had cleaned it.
Fu'er subconsciously picked up the white jade teacup on the incense table.
Not long after Ning Shiyu brought him back from Chang'an, Fu'er even took him to a pawnshop to ask about the price.
The shopkeeper offered a flat price of eight hundred taels of silver.
Fu'er immediately understood that this cup was made of fine jade and could definitely sell for thousands of taels of silver.
Seeing her hesitation, the shopkeeper wanted to add more.
Fu'er couldn't bear to pawn it in the end, so she took it back.
She wouldn't even use water, and Ning Shiyu said she was stupid.
It's just a drinking cup, but Fu'er treasures it very much.
The other items were all the same; she had agreed to sell or pawn them, but then she changed her mind after agreeing on a price.
Last time, she harbored resentment and only took a few of her own clothes.
When I returned, everything was still exactly as it was.
I suddenly remembered the things I had written on my bed frame during those angry moments.
They immediately became alert and lit the palace lanterns to take a look.
Oh no, the bed curtains have been changed.
At that time, Ning Shiyu's most closely guarded secret—had it been discovered?
Who changed the bed curtains?
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