"You might feel sorry for me right now and want to marry me because you pity me."
"But the days that follow will be tough. My mother's illness is not something that can be cured in a day or two. Gradually, you will get tired of this kind of life."
"You'll regret your decision now. Even if we divorce, it'll be better if we don't have children. But if we do, it will hurt you even more. So, let's just forget about it."
Lu Xiuyuan stood up. "I, Lu, have no interest in marriage in this life. There is no need to mention this matter again."
After Lu Xiuyuan finished speaking, he got up and left.
Pei Zhi sighed slowly. She really hadn't expected that Lu Xiuyuan, a man, could be so thoughtful.
What Lu Xiuyuan said might scare away an ordinary woman.
But Pei Zhi was different; she became increasingly convinced that Lu Xiuyuan was truly a good person.
Pei Zhi didn't take what Lu Xiuyuan said seriously.
Lu Xiuyuan's current predicament is simply because he has no money.
At worst, I can just marry Lu Xiuyuan and then figure out how to make some money, right?
The torrential rain lasted for several days, and Pei Zhi personally called Lu Xiuyuan over every day to change his dressings.
Pei Zhi's medicine was very effective; the wound scabbed over in just four days. As long as she didn't do heavy work, the injury should heal quickly.
With the weather clearing up, every household has a lot of things to dry.
Pei Zhi also took out the quilt she had slept in for several days. It had been raining every day, and the quilt always felt damp.
While hanging the quilts out to dry in the yard, I happened to run into Aunt Wang.
When Aunt Wang saw Pei Zhi, her eyes darted away, then she glared at Pei Zhi fiercely before swaggering off to the neighboring courtyard with her entourage.
Pei Zhi finished airing out the quilt and took out her clothes from the past few days when she heard a commotion next door.
It seemed to be Aunt Wang saying something.
Pei Zhi heard it more clearly after she went outside.
"The girl's family owns a house in town, and she has servants to wait on her whenever she comes and goes. If it weren't for the marriage arrangement, would such a good thing have come to you?"
"You're just a scholar, your family is dirt poor, and you have a mother who needs medicine every day. And you still dare to be picky about other women?"
“The young lady said that after the marriage, she would agree to let you bring your mother to the mansion and have servants take care of her, so that your mother can live a few good days.”
Pei Zhi stood in the courtyard, hanging clothes to dry while listening with great interest.
Pei Zhi was also very curious as to why Lu Xiuyuan would refuse.
Lu Xiuyuan refused her because he was afraid that she would act impulsively and be unable to endure hardship in the future.
The girl that Aunt Wang mentioned must have some family wealth, since she has servants to take care of her.
Could it be that Lu Xiuyuan refused because he didn't want to become a son-in-law?
Having come this far, is Lu Xiuyuan still unable to let go of his pride as a man?
“Aunt Wang, it’s Xiu Yuan’s misfortune that he doesn’t have. Please don’t bring it up again.”
When Aunt Wang saw that Lu Xiuyuan had rejected her, her face immediately fell. "If he didn't value you because you're a scholar, would you be acting all high and mighty?"
Aunt Wang uttered vicious words, "You're such a wretched girl, it's no wonder your father died young."
Lu Xiuyuan was so angry that his face turned red, but he couldn't utter any curse words.
Pei Zhi watched from the side, then scooped a ladle of water from the water vat in the yard and splashed it on Aunt Wang.
Aunt Wang was suddenly splashed with water.
Just as she was about to start cursing, she met Pei Zhi's gaze and could only angrily say, "What are you doing?"
"Excuse me, my hand slipped. Aunt Wang, would you like to come to my yard, take off your clothes, and I'll help you hang them out to dry?"
When Aunt Wang recalled Pei Zhi holding the knife, she dared not say anything more and could only lead her people away in a dejected manner.
Lu Xiuyuan bowed to Pei Zhi and said, "Thank you."
Pei Zhi leaned against the fence of the yard, "Why refuse such a good marriage offer?"
Lu Xiuyuan explained, "I am not being aloof."
Pei Zhi propped her chin on her hand, wanting to see what Lu Xiuyuan could say in his explanation.
If it's not that you're aloof, why reject that girl?
If Lu Xiuyuan agrees to this marriage, his current predicament will be resolved, given that his family is wealthy.
"I still want to take the imperial examinations."
Pei Zhi didn't quite understand: "So?"
Does that mean that once Lu Xiuyuan gets married, he can no longer take the imperial examinations?
"After I marry into the family, I will change my surname and will no longer be able to participate in the imperial examinations."
Pei Zhi was unaware of this custom.
"Do you really have to take the imperial examination?"
Lu Xiuyuan stared straight ahead, his eyes vacant.
"On the day my father went out to sea to fish, all the other fishermen rested, and he went alone."
He said that if there were fewer boats traveling together, we could catch more fish and make more money, so he encouraged me to participate in the imperial examinations.
"After my father passed away, my mother worked so hard to raise me that she went blind from doing embroidery."
"I refused, not because I was arrogant, but simply because I haven't reached the end of my rope yet."
Lu Xiuyuan sighed, "I also want to preserve the last glimmer of hope for myself."
Pei Zhi asked, puzzled: "Hope?"
Pei Zhi saw absolutely no hope in Lu Xiuyuan.
"The imperial examination was the only chance for us people from the bottom class to change our lives. Unless we were truly desperate, I wanted to keep this hope alive."
Pei Zhi was somewhat shocked.
Pei Zhi thought for a moment, "If this girl didn't ask you to marry into her family, but simply married you and brought a generous dowry, and had people serve your mother, would you agree?"
After hesitating for a moment, Lu Xiuyuan said, "I think so."
"Whether she will divorce me in the future or not, it's good if it can improve our lives for a period of time."
Pei Zhi nodded slightly, indicating that she understood.
Lu Xiuyuan asked Pei Zhi, "At this moment, are you disappointed in me?"
Pei Zhi asked curiously, "Why would you ask that?"
"I'm afraid you'll think I'm worldly, but actually, I'm just an ordinary person."
If Lu Xiuyuan didn't have a mother, then, as Pei Zhi said, Lu Xiuyuan might not have agreed.
“No.” Pei Zhi shook her head. “We’re all just ordinary people. If you refuse, I’ll think you’re faking it.”
Lu Xiuyuan sighed, "Fortunately, there's no such good thing to test me."
“Lu Xiuyuan, actually I have a considerable amount of wealth, and I can also make money. Really, please reconsider me.”
Pei Zhi never asked someone a third time after being rejected twice.
"inappropriate."
"Come on, tell me this time, what's your reason?"
Pei Zhi wasn't surprised at all; she was just curious about what excuse Lu Xiuyuan had this time.
“I would agree without hesitation if a stranger asked, but not you.”
Pei Zhi didn't quite understand what Lu Xiuyuan meant: "Why?"
If others can do it, why can't she?
Could it be that she is not even a stranger in Lu Xiuyuan's heart?
Lu Xiuyuan stared into Pei Zhi's bright, watery eyes. This woman should be a celestial being, why has she fallen to the mortal world?
Because Pei Zhi is different in Lu Xiuyuan's heart, it won't work.
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