Li Xiuju glanced at Zhou Baoyu, who was still oblivious to what was happening, and smiled, "I originally wanted to find you a marriage partner so that our family could have a better life, but now I think it's a bit late. The number of eligible boys in the neighborhood is decreasing, and if we keep waiting, there won't be any left. Do you have someone in mind?"
She knew it would be like this.
Zhou Chenyu's lips twitched slightly. He calmly took a sip of porridge and slowly replied, "Since I don't have anyone I like, of course I don't want to get married!"
Li Xiuju was hurt by Zhou Chenyu's resolute words, "Why is that?"
What are the benefits of marriage for women?
Let alone accepting arranged marriages in this place, she had never even considered marriage back in modern times.
Having a child is physically demanding, and if you marry a man, you have to take care of his whole family. If you have a fight one day, you also have to endure the risk of domestic violence, or even lose your life.
Being single brings happiness, except for the fact that no one will support you in your old age.
Besides, she'd seen enough of what marriage was all about from the previous generation.
A wise person does not enter the river of love, and a turtle does not enter its shell.
The widowed king pursued his studies with great success, and we eventually became wealthy women.
Zhou Chenyu silently repeated the words in her mind like a mantra, her face nonchalant, "I just don't like men, I can't stand any of them."
Zhou Baoyu was eating when he suddenly opened his mouth in surprise, "Sister, what about me? Aren't I a man too? Do you hate me too?"
"Eat your food." Zhou Chenyu glared at him irritably.
Li Xiuju became a little anxious, "But what woman can live with her parents her whole life without getting married?"
Seeing the old lady's worried expression, Zhou Chenyu didn't want to upset her.
She clung to the old lady, saying haughtily, "I don't want to get married. I want to stay by your side for the rest of my life. Isn't that better?"
Li Xiuju found this tactic very effective. "It's good that you're by my side, but who will take care of you when I get old?"
"I'll make Baoyu's child support me in my old age, and I'll give him everything under my name." Zhou Chenyu kicked Zhou Baoyu, before even beginning his smiling threat.
Zhou Baoyu answered decisively and without any ambiguity, "Mother, don't be afraid, I will take care of my sister from now on."
Zhou Chenyu was very pleased to hear this.
Li Xiuju only mentioned the marriage briefly that night, and then nothing came of it.
Taking advantage of the abundance of bamboo shoots during the rainy season, Zhou Chenyu went with Zhou Baoyu to collect bamboo shoots for two more days. The boiled bamboo shoots could only be soaked for two or three days at most. After storing them for three days, they decided to take them to the market to sell, as it happened to be market day and there were many people.
Early that morning, Zhou Baoyu went to Grandma Wang's house next door to borrow a cart. Zhou Chenyu and Li Xiuju, before it got dark, neatly put the bamboo shoots into sacks and loaded them all onto the cart.
The so-called "market day" is quite different from shopping. The difference is that the market day here is not held every day, but rather on a three-day cycle. Vendors from surrounding villages and towns gather on the market street in the town center to exchange goods at equivalent prices.
Before going out, Zhou Chenyu thought that the market day in Qingshui Town was probably only about one street.
Unexpectedly, upon entering the market, despite the continuous spring rains, the streets were still crowded with all sorts of enthusiastic vendors selling food, clothing, daily necessities, medicinal herbs, and wild game. Pedestrians were constantly coming and going in the middle of the street, creating a lively scene.
Only after getting to know more did I realize that Qingshui Town is a suburban town around the provincial capital, much like the suburbs around first- or second-tier cities. While not wealthy, the families there are certainly not so poor that they can't afford to eat.
It turns out that only their family was poor.
Zhou Chenyu weaved through the crowd, looking at the strange and wonderful toys and delicacies she had never seen before, a long-lost smile spreading across her face. She wanted to try everything, but unfortunately, she had no money in her pocket and could only look.
The only consolation is that everyone's living standards have improved. Some are doing business, some are farming, and no one cares about the meager earnings from selling bamboo shoots.
With fewer competitors selling bamboo shoots, and Zhou Baoyu's charming tongue, not only did they sell quickly, but the price also doubled compared to expectations, earning him a full fifty coins.
Holding the hard-earned money, Zhou Chenyu grinned from ear to ear, "What could be more joyful than suddenly having twenty-odd extra coins?"
"Sister, I'm hungry. Can I buy a steamed bun for a penny?" Zhou Baoyu asked tentatively with a smile, looking longingly at the bustling stall across the street.
Even though he didn't say anything, Zhou Chenyu was already planning to have a good meal. It was past noon, and he was starving.
She smiled and nodded, "Okay, you buy one, I'll buy one, and I'll buy one for the old lady. It's only three coins, so it's worth the money."
Zhou Baoyu nodded vigorously, but as he was about to leave with the cart, he suddenly stopped, clutching his stomach, and said with difficulty, "Sister, I need to relieve myself. Why don't you wait here for me for a while?"
"I'll give you some time since you're the one who made this money. Hurry up, or I won't wait for you." Zhou Chenyu never had the patience to wait for others, so he said this harshly.
"Hey, I'll definitely go and come back quickly!" Zhou Baoyu ran a few steps, turned around and made a face, not believing it at all, and chuckled: "Sister, I know you won't."
Zhou Chenyu looked at Mingming's cowardly attempt to use the toilet while he was trying to hold it in with his legs folded together, and laughed helplessly.
Zhou Baoyu walked into the alley behind him and headed straight for the outhouse.
She squatted down next to the cart, watching people come and go on the street. She had gotten up too early this morning, and after staring at the street for a while, she yawned and felt a little sleepy.
Suddenly, a series of uniform footsteps sounded, and two rows of tall men in light blue uniforms ran slowly toward them, with a man riding a fine horse galloping in the middle of the procession.
Such a big show?
As Zhou Chenyu saw them getting closer, he quickly dragged the small cart a little closer to the side of the road.
After settling in, she looked up and saw the group of people stop in front of the mansion across the street. The man dismounted and turned to face her.
In that instant, Zhou Chenyu's gaze was drawn to the person opposite him, and he stared intently at him.
The man was around twenty years old, tall and strong, with a turban on his head and wearing a dark blue narrow-sleeved robe. He had cold eyebrows and sharp eyes, and his thin lips were tightly pursed. He held a long blade in his hand and stood silently in front of his neatly lined-up subordinates. His inner and outer majesty made people feel intimidated.
Looking at him, Zhou Chenyu seemed to have been struck by Cupid's arrow, desperately suppressing the wildly upturned corners of her mouth, "So handsome..."
After Zhou Baoyu finished relieving himself, he saw the serious scene and quickly grabbed Zhou Chenyu, "Sister, let's go quickly. These government officials are on business. We shouldn't get in their way or offend them."
Zhou Chenyu grabbed Zhou Baoyu's hand, "Baoyu, I think I've been poisoned."
What?
Zhou Baoyu put down the cart and became anxious. "Sister, where do you feel unwell? I was only gone for a moment, how did you get poisoned? What kind of poison?"
Zhou Chenyu cupped her burning cheeks in her hands, reluctantly looking away, "I think I'm poisoned by love."
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