Chapter 196 World Eight (Nineteen)
Bao Shan and Zheng Xiucai stood facing each other. Zheng Xiucai was dressed in a gray robe, with an elegant face, his eyes fixed on Bao Shan. When Bao Shan looked at him, Zheng Xiucai hurriedly looked away, his eyes becoming erratic.
"Miss Baoshan, are you going to write another letter to your cousin soon? I've been studying hard these past few days, and I'm sure I can write better than last time."
Baoshan shook her head gently. "No need, Mr. Zheng. Cousin Yunshan has returned home, so there's no need for letters. I'm truly grateful for the trouble you took to write me last time."
Zheng Xiucai quickly said, "It's not a bother. I...willingly do it."
The two of them were silent. Zheng Xiucai looked up at Baoshan's delicate and gentle figure, and his heart moved. He brought out the words he had prepared in advance. However, he had rehearsed these words several times, and even now, he still stuttered a little: "Now is the fishing season, and I have some blue crabs at home. They are plump and delicious. Why not..."
Bao Shan raised her eyes, her watery eyes trembling slightly. This delicate look made Zheng Xiucai's heart burn. Just as he was about to step forward, he saw Bao Shan's gaze, and she looked past Zheng Xiucai and called softly, "Cousin Yunshan."
Shen Yunshan did not approach, but stood at a distance, his voice slightly cold: "Mother is looking for you."
Bao Shan frowned: "Aunt, why are you looking for me?"
Shen Yunshan's gaze gently swept across the tense Zheng Xiucai, and his voice became even colder: "I don't know."
Bao Shan had no choice but to explain to Zheng Xiucai: "Aunt is having trouble walking, so I'll take my leave first."
After saying that, Baoshan followed Shen Yunshan and slowly left the place.
The two of them walked together, the talented man and the beautiful woman, looking extremely well-matched.
For some reason, Zheng Xiucai felt a little lost.
He and Shen Yunshan were classmates, and his family background was much better than Shen Yunshan's.
But in that imperial examination, Shen Yunshan passed the exam and became a scholar, but he...
Now Shen Yunshan has even entered the Xiangjiang Academy, while he can only live in a corner, unknown.
Such a promising young man is more suitable for Miss Baoshan.
When Zheng Xiucai realized this thought in his mind, he was suddenly shocked.
He patted his head gently, thinking to himself that he was confused, Miss Baoshan and Shen Yunshan.
They are just cousins, so how can there be any question of whether they are compatible or not?
Baoshan has a soft waist and caresses the flowers and plants in the courtyard with her white hands.
These flowers and plants are not precious. Some of them are just wild flowers transplanted from the fields in the forest.
But after being taken care of by the precious fan, it becomes colorful and full of vitality, which has a unique wild charm.
Baoshan holds a wooden kettle, with water drops rolling down from the mouth of the kettle.
In the sunlight, it reflects mottled rainbow colors, as if the colorful light is gently held in the palm of the hand by the soft and white hands.
Shen Yunshan approached the treasured fan and said in a slightly cold voice, "Mother and I will set off tomorrow after noon."
Bao Shan paused slightly as she held the kettle, then said softly, "I know."
Shen Yunshan's eyes were slightly stern. He took another step closer and asked, "Do you know? Do you know if we will come back here again, and when?"
The kettle was put down, and Baoshan's beautiful eyes flashed: "I don't know. Even if cousin Yunshan told me when I would return, people's hearts are fickle, and you never know when they might change their minds.
Therefore, cousin Yunshan, please don't tell me. If I knew your return date, I would definitely wait impatiently day and night, and be anxious all day long."
"How do you survive here, all alone?"
After saying this, Shen Yunshan sneered softly, "I'm being overly suspicious. After all, Zheng Xiucai just invited you to eat blue crabs. How could you feel that your home was deserted?"
Baoshan's eyelashes trembled slightly, and her soft lips pursed and then slowly relaxed. Her face became even paler than before. "Zheng Xiucai is kind-hearted. I asked him to write a letter home on my behalf. I have already troubled him. As for the matter of the blue crab, I will not go again."
Her petal-like lips slightly opened, Baoshan sighed softly, she raised her fair face and looked at Shen Yunshan tenderly.
The shimmering light in her eyes seemed to be stained with the colorful light of a rainbow, making people feel trance-like. Shen Yunshan tightened his grip and asked softly, "Would you rather stay home?"
She was unwilling to speak and went to Luo County with him.
Baoshan's eyes dimmed slightly, and her tone was filled with loneliness: "I was originally alone, but fortunately my aunt took me in, so I have two relatives, my aunt and cousin Yunshan.
Now, my aunt went to Luo County to treat her eyes. And I... who would want to travel with a burden?"
Shen Yunshan blurted out: "I want you to go."
At this time, Shen Yunshan had completely forgotten his previous plans.
Whatever Baoshan said personally, he would then proceed accordingly.
Looking at Baoshan's pitiful appearance, Shen Yunshan knew that Baoshan didn't want to go to Luojun together.
But she was afraid because she had no blood relationship with the Shen family.
If no one spoke up, Baoshan would endure it silently, or even stay in the village willingly.
How could such a cowardly Baoshan make a suggestion that might cause trouble to others?
Baoshan opened her lips slightly, her pretty face full of surprise. She whispered softly, "Cousin Yunshan, is this true..."
Shen Yunshan was willing to take her away instead of abandoning her here alone, just like her father and mother in the past, leaving her alone to be bullied by others.
Shen Yunshan closed his eyelids lightly, then opened them again after a moment. His dark pupils held a reassuring calmness. "This is what I wish. Mother and you are both people I should take care of. Are you willing to accompany mother to Luo County?"
Baoshan nodded slightly: "I am willing to accompany my aunt."
A huge stone in his heart fell, and Shen Yunshan's aching brow bone finally returned to normal.
Shen Yunshan raised his hand and stroked her black hair in Baoshan's clear eyes.
Shen Yunshan felt soft and gentle beneath his palm. He raised his hand and tugged a petal between his fingers. He spoke calmly, "During the time when my mother was ill, I've noted down all the help others have given me. I'll go and thank them later. In the future—this naturally includes Zheng Xiucai. You don't have to keep his kindness in mind all day long, understand?"
Baoshan agreed obediently.
After Shen Yunshan left, Baoshan returned to his room.
She took out the bag she had already packed from the wooden cabinet.
When Shen Yunshan proposed to take Shen Liushi to Luojun to recuperate, Baoshan decided to accompany him.
After all, if Baoshan didn't go with her, would she really stay in this remote village, wait until she was old enough to be arranged a marriage by a random matchmaker, and then spend her life in a hasty manner, farming and weaving.
This kind of day is not what Baoshan wants.
But Shen Yunshan didn't offer to take her along. Baoshan simply pretended to be patient, not clinging to Shen Yunshan. Wholehearted dependence on a woman can inspire pity in a man. But excessive docility can make a man feel that a woman's love for him is genuine and will never change.
Since the woman is already in his pocket, who would spend so much time and effort on a woman who will never change her mind?
Before this, the treasure fan had already taken several steps forward. Shen Yunshan, on the other hand, remained where he was, watching the treasure fan approach with a cold eye, even considering retreating.
Now, it is time for Baoshan to retreat and provoke Shen Yunshan to step forward.
The bundle couldn't hold too many things, so Bao Shan only put a few dresses and the silk handkerchiefs she used every day, which was much lighter.
When Zheng Xiucai saw Shen Yunshan, his eyes couldn't help but wander.
But when he saw that there was nothing behind Shen Yunshan, without that weak figure, Zheng Xiucai could not hide his disappointment on his face.
Seeing that Zheng Xiucai was distracted, Shen Yunshan gave the copper coin for writing the letter to Zheng's mother.
Mother Zheng took it with a smile on her face, saying, "We're all from the same hometown, Yunshan, why are you so polite?"
Shen Yunshan's face was gentle. He did not stay at the Zheng family for long. When he passed by Zheng Xiucai, he reminded him gently, "I heard that Aunt Zheng has already found a marriage for Zheng Xiucai."
Zheng Xiucai looked slightly stunned.
Shen Yunshan continued, "My cousin is simple-minded and doesn't understand much about the differences between men and women.
I heard that Zheng Xiucai's fiancée is bold and easygoing, and has a great reputation in the county. She will surely be able to support Zheng Xiucai in the future."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiucai felt a chill all over his body.
Turning around, Shen Yunshan's brows were slightly cold.
——In this world, there are always people who dream of having all the happiness in the world.
With his decent appearance, he deceived a woman with a soft personality like Baoshan.
When Li Dongran was pulling his stall home, he saw Li's mother holding two copper coins.
Seeing the beads of sweat on Li Dongran's face, Li Qiuran snorted softly and fanned himself with a handkerchief, not disguising his disgust: "Why don't you go wash it? It's so dirty!"
Li Dongran responded softly, walked towards the yard, and asked casually, "Where did the copper coins in my mother's hand come from? They are strung together with red thread, which looks very elegant."
Li's mother didn't want to say anything, but Li Qiuran chuckled and said, "The scholar sent it. He said it was a thank you gift for taking his mother to the clinic."
Hearing this, Li Dongran paused and looked up at Li Qiuran: "Brother Shen is here?"
Li Dongran hurried out the door. She looked around several times, but there was no sign of Shen Yunshan. Li Dongran raised her foot, wanting to chase after Shen Yunshan. Li Qiuran leaned against the door, telling her not to waste her energy.
"The scholar left long ago. Even if you run fast, can you still catch up with the carriage?"
Li Dongran turned around, his face full of anxiety: "Where is Brother Shen?"
Li Qiuran shook the copper coins in his hand: "The Shen family has all gone to Luo County. Oh, if only the marriage that my parents had promised could be successful.
Now, I should be on the carriage to Luo County."
To this day, although Li Qiuran still feels uncomfortable about Shen Liushi not choosing him, he is not as resentful as before.
When Li Qiuran met Shen Yunshan today, he felt a little regretful because of his cold and handsome appearance.
If she had known this earlier, she, Li Qiuran, would have sacrificed her face and tried to please Shen Liushi.
What a pity and lament.
However, when Li Qiuran saw Li Dongran's gloomy face, he felt a little happy in his heart.
Even if she couldn't marry Shen Yunshan, she could still find a good husband. But the same couldn't be said for Li Dongran. Li Qiuran had never imagined that Li Dongran, who usually kept silent, actually had such feelings for Shen Yunshan.
"Not only did the scholar leave, he also took his delicate cousin with him.
I think this scholar is also a lover of beauty. The journey is long and with a beauty by his side, it is inevitable that he will..."
Li Dongran's eyes turned red, and for the first time he got angry at Li Qiuran: "Don't talk nonsense!"
Seeing the copper coin in Li Qiuran's hand, Li Dongran reached out to take it back: "This is what Brother Shen gave me, give it back!"
Li Qiuran raised his eyebrows and threw the copper coins to the ground. "If you are so capable, why don't you vent your anger on the scholar? Li Dongran, don't take your anger, which has nothing to do with the scholar, out on me!"
Li Dongran picked up the copper coin on the ground and said nothing.
Li Qiuran closed the door angrily and said, "Scholar, you don't even like me, how could you like you, Li Dongran!
Even without that weak little cousin, the scholar could be yours. Don't dream!
Luo County is well connected, and even the official roads for carriages and horses are much larger than those of remote towns.
The streets were bustling with people, and Shen Liushi needed to rest from time to time, so she sat alone to one side. Baoshan sat side by side with Shen Yunshan. A white, soft hand gently lifted a corner of the carriage curtain. A child was walking beside the carriage. When Baoshan's eyes met, he grinned and called out, "Sister, sister!"
Baoshan's hand trembled, the curtain of the carriage slowly fell, and she moved closer to Shen Yunshan.
Shen Yunshan shifted his gaze from the book and said softly, "It's just a naughty boy, don't pay any attention to him."
"Yes, cousin Yunshan."
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