Chapter 94 She's Getting Married
When Mantou found Fu Yunxiu, he was wandering aimlessly through the streets like a zombie. His face was expressionless, his eyes lifeless; even drunkards passing by avoided him in the middle of the night.
As if she was holding on and waiting for him, Fu Yunxiu suddenly gave a bitter laugh and lost consciousness after he saw that it was him.
When the steamed bun touched his forehead, it was indeed frighteningly hot.
Having traveled with Fu Yunxiu from south to north for three years, Mantou was already adept at handling such situations. Carrying Fu Yunxiu back to the inn, Mantou called the waiter for hot water, wiped his whole body with a handkerchief, and then took out the fever-reducing pills specially made by Doctor Guo and drank them with the hot water.
Just like before, the fever subsided in less than half an hour.
Mantou looked at the person lying on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, lifeless, and wondered how to start the conversation.
"Young master... have you seen Ah Man?" Although it was a question, Mantou was almost certain.
"..." After a long while, Fu Yunxiu finally managed to utter a muffled sound, "Hmm."
"Is she doing well?" Mantou asked.
“It’s all good,” Fu Yunxiu said. “She has a famous shop in Bingzhou, a house to live in, and a beautiful and lovely daughter.” As for her husband, although Fu Yunxiu couldn’t see his face clearly, she could tell from his figure that he was a handsome and elegant gentleman.
Aman looked at him with very gentle eyes.
Fu Yunxiu seemed to have finally found his voice, and said with a sob, "Mantou, she got married."
At that moment, Mantou's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally died.
On the way here, Mantou had actually considered this issue.
Ah Man left the young master heartbroken back then. Three years have passed in the blink of an eye. Ah Man is an excellent woman, and she probably has no shortage of suitors.
Sure enough, his guess came true.
"Then..." Mantou wanted to ask Fu Yunxiu what to do next, but saw that Fu Yunxiu closed his eyes, looking like he didn't want to talk about it.
"Oh! Young master, please rest well first. We can talk about it tomorrow." Mantou sighed and turned to go to the outer room.
Tonight is destined to be another sleepless night.
The next day, when Mantou woke up, it was still dark. Rubbing his sleepy eyes, he was about to get up to pee when he caught a glimpse of a dark figure by the window.
Mantou was startled, then realized that the person was Fu Yunxiu.
"Young master," Mantou called out, getting up and walking over to him, "Didn't you sleep all night?"
Fu Yunxiu didn't reply, but suddenly said, "It's snowing."
Mantou pushed open the window, and a gust of cold wind swept in. Outside, everything was white and quiet, and all was still.
Fu Yunxiu choked on the wind and suddenly started coughing. Mantou took out the prepared medicine and handed it to him, but Fu Yunxiu waved his hand and said, "No need."
“Young master, your health is the most important thing,” Mantou said.
Fu Yunxiu chuckled but didn't reply.
The master and servant stood there by the window, neither of them speaking. Mantou glanced at Fu Yunxiu, her eyes filled with undisguised heartache.
He would rather the young master had never come to Bingzhou, never found Aman. At least, the young master still looked like a living person.
Unlike now, [he/she] is alive, but his/her soul is already dead, silent, neither sad nor happy. After breakfast, Fu Yunxiu developed a fever again. After serving him his medicine, Mantou saw that he was finally asleep and then felt relieved, so he went to the backyard to feed the horses.
The two horses have suffered greatly from the wind and rain along the way and need to be well-fed.
While watching the horses eat their feed, the stable boy came over and chatted with him.
"Young master asked Lady Lin yesterday if she had found the person?"
Yesterday, Mantou bumped into him on her way out and that's how she found out the location of Aman's shop. But she was in a hurry and didn't ask him how he knew Aman.
"Hey, who in the whole of Bingzhou doesn't know Lady Lin? That flower dew she sells in her shop is considered a treasure by women." He smiled sheepishly. "I went to see it with Ayin before."
Seeing his shy and timid appearance, Mantou knew that this Ayin must be his sweetheart.
"Speaking of Madam Lin, she is quite an extraordinary woman. An outsider, she managed to make a name for herself in Bingzhou and stand out among many local cosmetic shops. Many women in Bingzhou take her as their role model."
"Really? I didn't expect you to know so much." Seeing how well he knew Aman, Mantou couldn't help but ask him, "Do you know who that Lady Lin's husband is?"
"Husband, I haven't heard that Madam Lin got married!" The coachman was completely confused.
"How could that be? Didn't they say that Madam Lin brought a child with her?"
“Oh, you mean this?” the coachman said, his interest piqued again. “I heard that this Lady Lin was indeed married before, but her husband died, so she came to Bingzhou with her daughter to make a living.”
She has no husband, but she has a child.
Could it be that the child is actually the young master's offspring?
The thought of this possibility instantly excited Mantou. "Thank you, big brother. I'll treat you to a drink sometime."
Without waiting for the coachman to say anything, Mantou rushed upstairs, excitedly pushing open the door, "Young master, let me tell you, Aman actually didn't make it..."
The underfloor heating in the room was burning brightly, but the person on the bed was nowhere to be found.
After a night of heavy snow, the entire Bingzhou was covered in a blanket of white. The wind was biting, and people on the streets hurried home. Fu Yunxiu wrapped his cloak tighter around himself, hiding behind a plum tree, watching with a greedy look at the little girl playing in the snow in front of his door.
As expected of Aman's biological child, even when playing alone, she can have a great time, clapping and shouting at the snowman she built, cheerful and lively like a little sun.
Fu Yunxiu couldn't help but think of how Aman had also built a snowman in Wutong Garden back then. With him, with her, and with Fu Bao, they could be considered a family of three.
But times have changed, and Aman has now formed a family of three with someone else.
As his thoughts returned, Fu Yunxiu gave a self-deprecating smile. When he looked up again, the door was empty.
"Uncle, what are you looking at?" A soft, sweet voice rang out. Fu Yunxiu looked down and saw that the little girl had noticed him at some point and was standing in front of him, staring at him fiercely.
"I..." Fu Yunxiu didn't know how to explain. He wanted to reach out and touch her, but she took two steps back and dodged him.
The little girl continued to stare at him, "Was the person here last night also Uncle?"
Unexpectedly, she discovered it. Fu Yunxiu chuckled and answered truthfully, "Yes."
"Is that uncle a bad person?"
“No,” Fu Yunxiu shook his head, “Your uncle and your mother… are friends.”
"Uncle knows my mother?" the little girl suddenly exclaimed excitedly. "Then Uncle knows my father?"
Before she could finish speaking, Aman suddenly came out and stood at the door calling to her, "Little Bell, what are you doing there? Hurry up and go home."
"Mother." Upon hearing her mother's voice, Little Bell ran over as fast as she could.
"Slow down, don't fall." Aman bent down and picked her up, about to take her back to the house, but Xiaolingdang twisted her body and refused, pointing her finger directly in the direction of the plum tree, "Mom, there is an uncle there who said she is your friend."
friend?
Aman looked in the direction the little bell was pointing and saw that there was indeed a person standing there, with most of his body blocked by the plum tree, so his face could not be seen.
From the glimpse of the cloak, Aman recognized the man. "Young master?"
The familiar voice and address made Fu Yunxiu feel like he was dreaming. He clenched his fingers and, after struggling for a while, finally showed himself.
He forced a smile that looked more like a grimace and said, "Aman, long time no see."
Aman smiled and said, "Long time no see."
Fu Yunxiu had imagined a thousand different scenarios of meeting Aman, but none of them would be as calm as this one. There was no questioning, no resentment, no hysteria; it was as calm as a lake, with only slight ripples.
"How have you been these past years?" Fu Yunxiu asked.
“It’s fine,” Aman said.
"Yes, it's good." Fu Yunxiu nodded.
The conversation has now ended.
The two fell silent, and the atmosphere became awkward. Little Bell tugged at her clothes and said, "Mom, this uncle looks cold."
She pointed at Fu Yunxiu's lips.
My mother once said that when a person is cold, their face turns pale. This uncle's face is not only pale, but his lips are also deathly white; he must be very cold.
The temperature was indeed not high today. Seeing that Fu Yunxiu was dressed so lightly, Aman finally softened her heart and asked, "Would you like to come in and have a cup of hot tea, young master?"
“Okay.” Before Aman finished speaking, Fu Yunxiu hurriedly agreed, as if afraid that if he was a second late, Aman would change her mind.
Over the years, although Aman has earned money and bought a house, she still does everything herself. So, apart from the old woman who takes care of Xiaolingdang, there are only her and her daughter at home.
Just now, the old woman had a stomachache and went to the outhouse, which allowed Little Bell to sneak out alone.
Fu Yunxiu followed quietly behind the mother and daughter, his heart filled with mixed feelings.
Logically speaking, he shouldn't have shown up, shouldn't have disturbed Aman's peaceful life. But since Aman had invited him, he simply couldn't bring himself to refuse.
Upon entering the main courtyard, Aman settled Fu Yunxiu in the main hall and called an old woman to serve him tea.
Along the way, Fu Yunxiu took in the layout of the entire courtyard. It wasn't luxurious, but it was cozy and full of thoughtful details, giving it a very homey feel. The old woman served tea, and Aman said, "We don't drink tea often at home, so this is all old tea from last year. Please don't mind, young master."
"You know I've never cared about these things." Fu Yunxiu picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and then spoke again, "I heard you've already succeeded."
"Where are they? The door is open, where have they all gone?"
Fu Yunxiu wanted to ask Aman if she was married, but he was interrupted by a sudden voice.
Upon hearing this, Little Bell, who had been nestled in Aman's arms and obediently eating pastries, lit up with her eyes and leaned forward to get down.
"Uncle." The little girl's voice was sweet as she ran over like a puppy.
The man's face lit up with joy. He squatted down, opened his arms, and hugged the little girl tightly. "Oh, my little darling."
The man in fine clothes stood up and tossed her high into the air. The little girl giggled with delight. "Tell me, did you miss your uncle?"
"I've thought about it," Little Bell replied sweetly. The man in fine clothes immediately gave her a kiss on the cheek. "You're such a good baby, Uncle."
The uncle and nephew were being very affectionate, and Aman couldn't stand it, so she stepped forward and pulled the little bell off him. "Get off quickly, your shoes are covered in mud and water, don't get your uncle's clothes dirty."
The little girl clung to the man, refusing to let go. The man turned away, preventing Aman from making any moves. "It's nothing, just a piece of clothing."
Carrying the little bell into the house, the richly dressed man noticed there was already someone sitting inside and asked Aman, "Are there guests?"
“Yes,” Aman nodded, and introduced them, “Let me introduce you, this is Young Master Fu, from Yongzhou, and this is me.”
Upon hearing that he came from Yongzhou, Chen Baixun immediately realized that the person in front of him was the bastard who had caused Yuechu heartbreak.
He interrupted Aman and spoke up himself, "My name is Chen Baixun, and I am Yuechu's sworn brother. May I ask how you are addressed, young master?"
Sworn brother? So that means this person isn't Aman's husband?
Last night it was dark, and Fu Yunxiu didn't get a clear look at the man Xiaolingdang called "Daddy." However, judging from his voice and figure, he was exactly the same as the young master Chen in front of him.
That means Aman wasn't actually married. No wonder he couldn't see any trace of a man living in this house.
Fu Yunxiu felt as if he were bathed in a spring breeze, and he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.
"So it's my sworn brother. I am Fu Yunxiu from the Cheng'an Marquisate. I am grateful for your care of Yuechu over the years."
“Hey, stop,” Chen Baixun raised his hand, “I don’t have a sworn brother as old as you. You should just call me Young Master Chen like everyone else.”
These words were utterly disrespectful to Fu Yunxiu, and Fu Yunxiu even sensed a hint of hostility in them. But Fu Yunxiu didn't seem to care at all, and said with a smile, "I apologize, it was I who was being presumptuous."
"It's alright," Chen Baixun said with an air of magnanimity. "But speaking of which, the end of the year is just around the corner. What brings Young Master Fu to Bingzhou at this time?"
"When I was young, I was ignorant and lost my beloved. Now I have come to find her." Fu Yunxiu said this to Chen Baixun, and also to Aman.
"Is that so?" Chen Baixun sneered. What a bastard, why didn't you do this earlier?
Looking back at the beginning of the month, she was holding a handkerchief, wiping Xiaolingdang's hair, which was wet from the melting snow, completely ignoring Fu Yunxiu's words.
Chen Baixun was delighted. "In that case, I wish Young Master Fu all the best."
After speaking, Chen Baixun ignored him and looked at Aman instead.
"By the way, at the beginning of the month, Mother said that you and Xiaolingdang should spend the New Year at the Chen residence this year. It would be more lively with the whole family together."
“No need,” Aman stopped what she was doing. “I don’t know many people in the Chen family. It would be awkward for me to go. Besides, Xiaolingdang isn’t feeling well. The doctor said it’s not good for her to go to places with too many people.”
I knew she would refuse. For the past two years, every Chinese New Year, she and Xiaolingdang have been all alone.
"What about that pedantic scholar of yours? He's getting married after the New Year, why hasn't he shown up yet?" Chen Baixun asked angrily.
“His father is sick, and he went out to collect debts. He should be back in the next couple of days. Brother, don’t call him a pedantic scholar. He has a name, Feng Yan.”
"Yes, yes, his name is Feng Yan. You always protect him." Chen Baixun's tone was sour. He just couldn't understand why he had fallen for Feng Yan when countless men had pursued him. He was useless, unable to lift a finger or carry anything, except for having the title of a scholar and being able to write a few pretentious poems.
“They’ve already said they’re getting married after the New Year. If I don’t protect him, who else should I protect?” Aman said.
"Tch!" Chen Baixun rolled his eyes in dissatisfaction, but ultimately didn't retort. "By the way, speaking of your marriage, Mother said that when you get married, the Chen family will escort you to your wedding, so that Suanxiu and Feng Yan will know that you're not alone. You can't possibly refuse that, can you?"
Aman knew that Madam Chen's actions were for her own good. Feng Yan was a scholar, while she was a genuine businesswoman. She was out in the public eye doing business, and although Feng Yan didn't say anything, it was hard to guarantee that his relatives wouldn't gossip behind her back.
Although the Chen family also engages in business, they have a century-old reputation in Bingzhou and enjoy extremely high prestige. With the Chen family backing her up, even if those people want to bully her, they have to think twice about their own strength.
"Please thank Mother for me," Aman said.
"We're all family, why be so formal?"
Chen Baixun had only stopped by the shop to visit Aman, and now that he had finished talking, he didn't want to stay any longer, so he left after sitting for a while.
Aman saw him out, along with Fu Yunxiu.
At this moment, Fu Yunxiu's lips were even paler than before.
In less than fifteen minutes, he experienced the feeling of going from heaven to hell.
Turning the corner, Chen Baixun, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped. "Young Master Fu, let's find a place to talk!"
The two found a nearby teahouse and sat down. Chen Baixun ordered a pot of tea. The tea on the table was boiling and bubbling.
“Young Master Fu, I know who you are.” Chen Baixun spoke first. “If I’m not mistaken, you abandoned Yuechu for the title back then, forcing her to leave her hometown and raise her child alone to make a living.”
Aman has never confessed her past to anyone, but Chen Baixun also comes from a wealthy family. After learning about Fu Yunxiu's identity, he can roughly piece together the truth of the matter.
"Do you know what it was like when I first saw her? She was a frail woman, carrying a child on her back, hawking her wares under the scorching summer sun. She was being chased all over the street by thugs who came to collect protection money, all to save those four coins. Four coins might not seem like much now, but back then, it was the food money for the mother and child for a whole day."
"Now that I've finally started living a good life through my own hard work, why are you suddenly appearing here, acting like you're heartbroken? What are you trying to do?"
Chen Baixun sneered, "If you find your beloved, then you are your beloved. Why did you give up in the first place? Since you gave up, why do you think Yuechu will wait for you in the same place? You must have heard that Yuechu is getting married after the New Year. Although he is just a minor scholar, he treats Yuechu very well and treats Xiaolingdang as his own daughter."
“You like Yuechu too, right?” Fu Yunxiu suddenly asked.
From the way he looked at Aman, and from the sour tone in his voice when he mentioned that scholar, Fu Yunxiu was almost certain that this so-called sworn brother's feelings for Aman were not innocent.
Chen Baixun paused in his tea-pouring, then readily admitted, "Yes, I like her."
If it weren't for his mother's interference back then, how could he and Yuechu have become siblings?
Chen Baixun's family situation was not as complicated as that of the Marquis's family. He was the only son in the family and had high hopes placed on him since childhood.
He lived up to expectations, displaying exceptional intelligence from a young age. The adults wanted him to pursue a career in government, but he was more interested in business. His parents couldn't persuade him otherwise, so they had to let him be.
Once he came of age, his marriage became the most important event in his family.
Matchmakers practically wore out his doorstep. Tall or short, fat or thin, daughters of merchants or officials, he didn't fancy any of them.
Until that day, by chance, he met Yuechu.
She is brave and resilient, never bowing down even to thugs; she is worldly-wise, always managing to turn difficult customers into safe situations; she is optimistic and cheerful, able to make even a cold steamed bun taste like a Manchu Han Imperial Feast; she is intelligent and capable, a woman with a child who managed to carve out a niche for herself in the male-dominated business world.
If one person is initially attracted to another by their good looks, then what initially attracted him at the beginning of the month was her independent and strong soul.
Falling in love with her is as easy as breathing.
However, coming from a merchant family, he was inevitably influenced by so-called class consciousness, and at the beginning of the month, he had a child with him. He didn't know how to be honest with his family, so he only dared to secretly visit the mother and child without their knowledge.
But secrets don't stay hidden forever, and his unusual behavior was soon noticed by his mother.
His mother was born into a scholarly family and was well-versed in poetry and literature from a young age. She was a renowned talented woman in Bingzhou. When she learned about Yuechu's hardships, she did not, like the ordinary women in storybooks, try to humiliate and drive her away with money. Instead, she planned to take her in as her goddaughter.
He regretted that at that time, his heart and eyes were only on Yuechu, and he did not care at all about who this soon-to-be adopted sister was, until she saw Yuechu holding the child at the family reunion banquet.
Chen Baixun still remembers what his mother said to him: "Baixun, this is your sworn sister Yuechu. From now on, you must treat her as your own sister."
To hell with my sister, I only want to marry her and live a harmonious life together.
No one knows a son better than his mother. Just before he was about to have an outburst, his mother grabbed his hand and said the second thing that made him want to die. She said, "I've already asked Yuechu, and he has no romantic feelings for you. Don't cause trouble."
And at the beginning of the month, it was tacitly agreed.
Afterwards, he also complained about Yuechu, blaming her for not telling him about recognizing his adoptive mother. But then he thought that if his mother had taken action, how could she have given him a chance to find out?
Ultimately, it was his indecisiveness that turned his lover into a younger sister.
So all these years, he has always been by her side as an older brother, protecting her.
As for that scholar, he disregarded societal norms and bravely stood beside Yuechu. In that respect alone, he surpassed either of them.
"So, don't disturb her peaceful life. She's very happy now."
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