Chapter 14: Flirting Works
In the evening, Bai Hua followed Ning Jue to Green Vine Village.
Xiaohe lives in the east of the village. The mother and daughter live in three simple thatched huts. The originally dull yellow earthen walls and the wooden doors that have not been repaired for a long time are particularly eye-catching because of the double happiness characters pasted on them.
The doors were wide open, indicating that many friends and neighbors had come to pay their respects and offer their congratulations tonight.
Ning Jue stepped forward and knocked on the rusty brass ring on the door. The person inside quickly responded and came out, their face showing surprise upon seeing the visitor.
"Young Master Ning? What brings you here? And Miss A Peng too..."
Aunt Li first looked at Ning Jue, then her eyes were drawn to Bai Hua's beautiful outfit. She thought back to the last time she saw this girl when she was struggling to catch chickens. But after a few days, she had changed completely. At first glance, she was so beautiful that she looked like a fairy from the Jade Pool.
Bai Hua and she looked at each other in surprise, and then realized that Xiao He's mother was the aunt who had kindly helped catch the chicken that day. She was even more surprised that she remembered her name after only meeting her once.
She felt an immediate sense of warmth and greeted him with a smile, placing her hands together in front of her as a polite gesture of greeting an elder.
Aunt Li was taken aback by the sight and was a little flustered. She quickly helped Bai Hua up and said, "Aunt Li is just ignorant. Where is this custom from? Even bending your knees casually looks so beautiful..."
Upon hearing this, Bai Hua felt a pang of panic and nervously glanced at Ning Jue.
Her attention was only on the conversation, and she didn't think much about it when she bowed. She just followed her usual habits and ignored the fact that farmers don't pay attention to these rules and formalities, and she had never even seen them before.
Fortunately, Ning Jue didn't pay attention to this and even changed the subject, saying, "Xiao He is getting married soon, these gifts are just a token of my appreciation, please accept them."
Aunt Li looked down and saw what Ning Jue was holding. She quickly waved her hand apologetically and refused, saying, "This, how can I accept this..."
Bai Hua also reached out and handed over the dress, saying, "Young master has prepared a chest full of gifts, while I have only prepared a small token. I wonder if Little He likes the style and color of this dress?"
Aunt Li couldn't refuse either way, so she had no choice but to invite the two of them in.
On such a cold day, there's no reason not to invite guests inside to chat.
Aunt Li lifted the thick windproof curtain for the two of them. Bai Hua entered first. The interior space was small, and the furniture was made of old wood. The walls were covered with rough mud plaster, and an old spinning wheel hung on it, covering the most uneven part of the wall.
Even so, the room was clean and tidy everywhere. Whether it was Aunt Li or Xiao He who was skillful, they cut out many lifelike paper-cuts, including portraits, auspicious symbols, and the character for "happiness," which were pasted on the bedside table, mirror, and cabinet doors, adding warmth and joy.
Even without a man to support them, the mother and daughter did their best to live a happy and fulfilling life.
Bai Hua was slightly moved and was about to look away when she glanced around and noticed a figure flashing through the inner room, seemingly trying to avoid people.
She glanced at him curiously. Just then, Ning Jue patted her shoulder from behind. Bai Hua turned around and saw him placing his things on the long table in the main room. She followed suit and put the dress she was holding down beside him.
Aunt Li called out from inside, "Xiao He, stop what you're doing and come out to see who's come to our house?"
It turns out the person inside was Xiao He.
The girl who was called responded with a buzzing sound, and slowly moved out of the inner room, keeping her head down the whole time, not daring to look up, and her expression was even more unnatural.
Aunt Li pulled Xiao He to the front, her eyes crinkling with laughter, and said frankly, "My daughter is a bit shy. When the young master rescued her from the bully, I casually mentioned to her that since Young Master Ning is an upright man and if he has no family, she should offer herself to him. Actually, it was just a passing fancy. Then I thought, the young master is no ordinary man; he might leave Xianyang Mountain at any time. Besides, I personally sounded out his intentions and learned that he has no intention of settling down anytime soon, so I gave up on the idea. Who would have thought that my honest girl would be so upset for days? Now she just wants to avoid you..."
Xiaohe was even more embarrassed, her cheeks turned completely red, and she stammered, "Mother, what... what nonsense are you talking about? This matter happened so long ago. Now, Silang and I are in love and we love each other. Let's not bring up what we just said, and let's not bother Young Master Ning with it."
Aunt Li immediately agreed: "Okay, Mother won't mention it again."
Bai Hua watched the scene unfold, her gaze shifting from Xiao He's flushed cheeks to Ning Jue's reaction.
Unfortunately, Young Master Ning remained calm and composed, his expression unchanged. He was unmoved by the blushing young lady, and even when he spoke again, he remained serious and rigid.
“I’ve had someone inquire about him. Li Silang is an honest and kind man. The Li family is considered wealthy in Lianshui Village. After Xiaohe marries into the family, she will have someone to protect her.”
Aunt Li knew that Young Master Ning had a wide network of connections, and she was grateful for it: "Thank you for your trouble, Young Master. It is our good fortune to be able to get to know you."
Xiaohe also mustered her courage and stepped forward, bowing her head and looking down to express her gratitude to Ning Jue for his past rescue.
Bai Hua, standing to the side, noticed Ning Jue's slight unease and took the initiative to step forward and say, "Miss Xiao He, the young master has prepared a wedding gift for you, which also contains my heartfelt wishes. Do you like this dress?"
Xiaohe was surprised and looked in the direction the finger was pointing.
Those were a pair of sandalwood chests of superior quality, and their price must have been quite high.
She glanced at her mother, then quickly lowered her head: "Such a valuable gift, I... I can't accept it."
Aunt Li sighed bitterly behind her. Actually, she had originally wanted to grit her teeth and buy a pair of clothes to give to her daughter as dowry to make her daughter look good. However, she was short of money and could only rely on her meager savings from washing clothes for wealthy families in the city. She was willing but unable to afford it.
My daughter is sensible and considerate. She doesn't compete or ask for anything, and would rather make herself use her cousin's old suitcase than let her overspend.
Ning Jue didn't have the patience for haggling back and forth, and he was capable of simply leaving the gift behind. Bai Hua noticed that he had no intention of continuing the conversation, so she took the initiative to smooth things over, saying, "Young Master is not good at socializing. Now that he has finally taken the initiative to give a gift, if he is rejected again, he may really not want to associate with people in the future. Aunt Li, Xiao He, please be kind and considerate of his first time, and accept the gift."
Having said that, Aunt Li stopped insisting on refusing, but she would remember this favor.
Xiaohe was also very polite. She walked up to Baihua and said softly, "Thank you for the dress, sister. I have worked in the city for many years and have never seen anyone as beautiful as you. You are indeed worthy of the young master..."
Bai Hua was about to say "You're welcome," but Xiao He's next sentence made her choke on her words.
She quickly explained, "Xiaohe, you've misunderstood. I'm just the young master's maid, responsible for taking care of his daily life."
Xiaohe nodded and said, "I see, I misunderstood."
Bai Hua breathed a sigh of relief.
Aunt Li, straightforward and frank, didn't connect Bai Hua and Ning Jue together. She said casually, "Actually, I'd be more than satisfied if you could come and support me tomorrow. It would be a great honor. Why bother preparing gifts... I'll definitely have to make a big show of it tomorrow. By the way, Miss A Peng, you only recently came to Xianyang Mountain, right? Where are you from? If someone as beautiful as you were born in our Green Vine Village, you'd definitely be the most eye-catching phoenix in the village. Matchmakers would be lining up at your door, trying to find you a marriage partner from the Jiling official's household."
For daughters of ordinary families, marrying into the household of an official is a glorious thing, hence Aunt Li's words.
It's not that I necessarily want her to marry into a wealthy family; it's just a beautiful expectation, a casual wish.
Bai Hua understood what he meant, so she smiled and brushed it off. Unexpectedly, Ning Jue suddenly interjected, saying somewhat emotionally, "She won't marry into an official's family."
Bai Hua looked at him in surprise, and Aunt Li's expression also showed a slight embarrassment.
Xiao He, on the other hand, remained calm and composed, her gaze sweeping between the two of them, with a knowing look that suggested she understood but didn't say anything.
Tomorrow is the day of the banquet, and there is a lot of preparation to be done the night before. They didn't want to disturb them any longer, so after chatting for a few more minutes, they said goodbye and left.
Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, one tall and aloof, elegant and refined, the other graceful and charming, Xiaohe thought to herself, what a perfect match they were.
...
On the way back, Ning Jue walked ahead without saying a word, while Bai Hua followed with difficulty.
This was a mountain path. In the past, when the two of them walked together, Ning Jue would either deliberately slow down his pace in front, or, like last time, he would insist on holding her hand, naturally saving her energy in the process.
But today was different. He didn't wait for her and even seemed to pick up his pace, making her struggle to lift her skirt and walk, soon becoming breathless.
Bai Hua, quick-witted as ever, soon sensed something was amiss. She jogged a few steps to catch up with Ning Jue and asked, "Why is Young Master displeased?"
Ning Jue remained silent, his pace unchanged.
Bai Hua took two more steps, tilted her head, and asked again, "Did I offend you, young master? I'm slow-witted, so please enlighten me."
Ning Jue glanced at her and looked at her coldly: "Since you love to distance yourself from me so much, then stop talking to me."
Bai Hua was taken aback. Was it because her explanation to Aunt Li had just upset him?
But she was telling the truth, so what was wrong with that? If she hadn't explained at the time and let the misunderstanding continue, wouldn't that have been seen as an attempt to climb the social ladder and take advantage of him?
She thought for a moment, then used a feigned retreat to advance, saying, "Does the young master wish to have a relationship with a mere maidservant, or... a romantic one?"
Her gaze lingered on him, but Ning Jue turned his eyes away.
He replied, "That depends on you."
Bai Hua only had a superficial understanding.
She lay hidden deep in the mountains, unconcerned with formalities, prioritizing the observation of sword techniques above all else. However, as she spent time with Ning Jue, she unconsciously shed her disguise and began to interact with him in her true self.
When she explained, it was a completely subconscious reaction, and Ning Jue's displeasure was unexpected.
But no matter what, we can't let him continue to hold a grudge against us and create a rift between us.
So Bai Hua took the initiative to hook her hand, grab his index finger joint, and pinched him in the same way he pinched her own.
Ning Jue's body stiffened almost instantly.
Bai Hua leaned very close to him, almost touching his ear, and asked softly, "Can I hold your hand? It's dark and windy, and I can't keep up with you, young master."
Ning Jue's expression remained somewhat cold, and he remained silent, but his hands moved obediently, following her prying and prodding force, he took her hand and continued walking up the mountain.
Bai Hua hadn't expected that acting cute would be so effective; with just one sentence, the young master's pace really slowed down considerably.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
