Chapter 11.11 Considering Her Life's Most Important Matter
Six years ago, on a winter night, Yuezhi secretly vowed to protect him for the rest of her life.
Time passed, and over the years, she earned a lot of money with her embroidery and sewing skills. Pei Heng, on the other hand, studied and taught at the same time, learning not only how to grow vegetables and cook, but also how to do chores like washing clothes and folding quilts.
He said, "The embroiderer's hands must be well cared for; she cannot do any rough work," which naturally turned her into a pampered person who could not lift a finger.
Yuezhi knew that he didn't care about the little money she earned from embroidery, but rather that he felt sorry for her working late into the night and was worried about her health. He would cook her different kinds of delicious food every day to nourish her blood and improve her eyesight.
“I’m of age now, and I can take the civil service exam in a few days. My family isn’t short of money, so you don’t need to take on so many jobs.”
Pei Heng picked up his vegetable basket and got up to wash the vegetables by the well.
Yuezhi smiled and said, "You've said this so many times, and I've heard it all. But Master He's daughter is on good terms with me, and she asked me to make her new clothes. How could I refuse?"
The boy turned his head to look at her, his eyes deep and thoughtful.
Pei Heng had seen people who were exceptionally beautiful before. Compared to those stunningly beautiful faces, Yue Zhi in front of him was like a flower blooming on a cool moonlit night, soft and gentle. Her watery eyes were as clear as a lake, and when she looked at him, ripples spread across her eyes.
He turned his face away uncomfortably, and suddenly realized that he had been staring at Yuezhi's face intentionally or unintentionally for the past two years... just like that silly man Wang Qiushi next door, acting very strangely.
His throat felt a little itchy, so he coughed lightly twice.
"The student paid half a pork rib as tuition; I'll make you soup tonight."
Upon hearing this, Yuezhi curiously went to look at his book box. Inside, besides books and pens, there was indeed half a fresh pork rib wrapped in oil paper.
Which family is so wealthy?
“He has many children, and these things are the tuition fees for three of them. I thought you like to eat them, so I agreed.”
Yuezhi chuckled. She had only cooked frequently during the six months she came to Wangshan Village. Later, Pei Heng entered the kitchen more often, and before long, he had learned all of her cooking skills. Now, he cooks even better than her.
From chopping firewood and washing vegetables to reading and practicing martial arts, there was nothing he couldn't learn or do well.
"Don't rush to cook." She got up and went inside to get a dress and brought it to his side. "This dress will be finished with a few more stitches. Try it on and see if it fits."
Pei Heng stood up, took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, and took the clothes she handed him. It was a light blue gauze dress, which he wore over his outer garment, and it fit him perfectly.
Sunlight streamed down, casting dappled, flowing light and shadow on the blue outer garment through the gauze dress—a truly beautiful sight.
Yuezhi couldn't help but laugh.
I thought this refined scholar's attire was unsuitable for a young man of his age, but to my surprise, he looked quite noble in it, not like a scholar, but more like a pampered young master from a wealthy family.
She stood in front of him and carefully straightened his collar.
Her admiring gaze shifted from the clothes to the boy's strong jawline, and when she saw his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, her heart tightened, and she quickly looked back at the clothes.
"It looks nice on, but it's a bit too wide at the waist. I'll cut it a couple more times and it'll fit perfectly." She said this casually, but her heart started racing for no reason.
Strange, she didn't do anything...
My heart started pounding uncontrollably.
As she lowered her head in thought, Pei Heng secretly observed her from above, from her jet-black hair to her soft shoulders, her slender figure seemed so delicate that he could easily wrap his arms around her.
The figure that seemed so reliable and warm when I was a child is now so thin.
"Yuezhi, you're still too thin," he murmured, then said earnestly, "Eat more tonight."
A few words made Yuezhi laugh out loud, and she calmed down. She just replied, "Okay."
In the summer, pork doesn't keep well, so Pei Heng cooked yam and pork rib soup, and also specially selected a few thin spare ribs to make sweet and sour pork ribs. As usual, he took two bowls to the Wang family next door.
On a quiet summer night, the two sat in the courtyard eating and chatting about interesting things. A gentle warm breeze carried the fragrance of lush green grass and trees from the mountains, making them feel relaxed and happy.
*
Yuezhi finished sewing the clothes for Miss He, waiting for Granny Wang to go to town to sell grain so she could hitch a ride with the Wang family.
Wang Qiushi was driving the cart at the front, with several large bags of grain in the back. Yuezhi and Aunt Wang sat at the back of the cart, whispering to each other.
“You don’t know, a few days ago a new family came to the village. Old Liu thought that family would be as easy to talk to as you and your brother, so he went over to help them renovate their house, and they almost beat him up.”
"Huh?" Yuezhi frowned. "Why would he hit someone?"
Aunt Wang's expression was exaggerated. "That household was a man in his twenties. He lived alone and didn't say why he came to the village. He had a fierce look on his face and never gave anyone a friendly look. The people living next door were terrified and didn't dare to knock on his door."
The more Yuezhi listened, the more convinced she became that this person was probably guilty of a crime.
In the past few years, seven or eight families have moved into Wangshan Village. I don't know what they were like in the past, but they are living a good life now. It is rare to see people who do evil deeds so openly. It sounds dangerous.
Upon learning that the person lived at the north end of the village, which was more than halfway away from her home, she breathed a slight sigh of relief and decided to avoid the north side of the village from now on.
She calmed her fear, and Aunt Wang quietly advised her, "You're twenty-one this year, and Aheng is also of age to take the civil service exam. Haven't you thought about your own important matters?"
"Me?" Yuezhi didn't understand.
Aunt Wang clicked her tongue and leaned close to her ear, "It's about your marriage, haven't you ever thought about getting married?"
Upon hearing this, Yuezhi became somewhat nervous.
In the past, when wealthy young ladies mentioned marriage, they would either blush or smile, but their minds were only on making clothes and embroidering patterns; they had no interest in such matters.
She shook her head, and was pulled close by Aunt Wang.
“Women all have to get married. If there’s a man in the house, you don’t have to do heavy work, and you don’t have to worry about bad people coming to your door. You should think about it carefully.”
"But Ah Heng is at home..."
“His physique is even worse than Qiu Shi’s.” Aunt Wang shook her head repeatedly. “Even if he can hold you up for a while, can he take care of you for a lifetime? In the end, you are siblings. You will marry and separate sooner or later.”
As Yuezhi listened to the experienced woman's advice, her thoughts gradually broadened—
No wonder she sometimes felt flustered when she saw Pei Heng lately; it turns out she's reached the age to get married.
After thinking for a moment, she said, "Once Aheng passes the civil service exam, I will consider getting married."
Aunt Wang laughed, "Alright, Ah Heng is smart, he'll definitely pass the exam. I'll be your matchmaker and find you the best man in the surrounding area, so your family can have double happiness."
The oxcart slowly made its way into town.
Yuezhi delivered the clothes to the He family residence, but the He family's young lady was not there, so she didn't linger. She accepted two taels of silver as a thank you, bought some food and other necessities in the street, and then took the Wang family's oxcart back to the village.
When the oxcart reached the edge of the field, the Wang family loaded the newly harvested wheat onto it, while Yuezhi carried her bundle and went home first.
As the sun set, the rugged man walked into the field, gazing intently at the woman's departing figure.
Aunt Wang patted her son on the back to bring him back to his senses, "If you wanted to take Yuezhi back, why didn't you offer your help earlier? She's already so far away, why are you still looking at her?"
Wang Qiushi lowered his head sullenly, "Mother, she's too good... I feel like I'm not good enough for her."
Aunt Wang was exasperated. "You don't even know what other people are thinking, and you're already upset? Once Aheng passes the civil service exam, I'll go to her house to arrange a marriage for you. Stop thinking about it and get back to work."
As Yuezhi walked along the ridge of the field, she glanced back at the Wang family mother and son busy in the field as she approached the village, and couldn't help but smile knowingly.
If one could marry someone they love, like Granny Wang, and have a pair of sensible and filial children, then the rest of their life would be free of worries.
But she might not have the same good luck as Granny Wang.
Yuezhi recounted the men she knew: Su Jingyun, who lived far away in the capital; Mr. Li, who owned a shop; Miss He's cousin... She had spoken with them and thought they were all good people, but she couldn't imagine who would be willing to marry her...
Thinking of this, Yuezhi awkwardly pinched herself to stop her wild thoughts.
Summer evenings are long, a cool evening breeze blows, and the laughter of children playing can be heard from the haystacks not far away.
Yuezhi paused to look at the distant green mountains, a sense of peace settling over her.
Suddenly, a cloud of smoke blew in from beside her, like cooking smoke carried by the wind. It choked her, making her cough and her eyes water. When she raised her hand to disperse the smoke, she felt her body go weak.
Suddenly, a rough hand appeared beside her, grabbed her wrist, and forcibly dragged her to an empty, dilapidated courtyard.
"What...what are you doing?" Yuezhi felt weak and breathless, and in the struggle, she dropped her bundle.
The man strode forward, practically dragging her along, and into the courtyard, where he roughly threw her onto the overgrown ground.
Yuezhi squeezed out tears and vaguely saw the person in front of her. It was a completely unfamiliar face, a tall and strong man with a weathered face and a fierce look between his brows. He looked to be about thirty years old.
The man sneered, "You don't remember me?"
Yuezhi shook her head, "Hero, spare my life."
The man squatted down and grabbed her skirt tightly. "Six years ago, in the winter, on the road to exile, we servants suffered alongside our master, but we heard that a maid was living a life of luxury thanks to the deposed crown prince."
“I saw you from afar back then, and now you’ve grown even more beautiful.”
The rough, bark-like back of his hand brushed against Yuezhi's face, startling her so much that she shrank back. Her eyes, clouded by smoke, couldn't stop the tears from flowing, and she coughed and begged for mercy.
"Brother, I have never offended you. The confiscation of your property and exile were ordered by the Emperor. How dare you target me?"
The man chuckled, "I'm not going to kill you. I just heard you're the best money-making woman around here. I'm also unmarried, so we're both in the same boat. If you agree to marry me, I'll let you go."
Yuezhi dared not respond.
When she was still in the palace, she heard the embroiderers say that many of them were forced into marriage by wealthy families and then sent to the palace. The rewards they earned in the palace went to their husbands' families, and in their spare time they had to help their husbands train more embroiderers to earn money, making them worse off than servants.
The man clearly had the same idea in mind; he wouldn't let go of her skirt, and his hands were also very restless.
Yuezhi sat up shakily, pretended to think, then took out a small knife from her waist and quickly stabbed it into the man's neck.
The man was originally a guard in the Changsun family. He was quite skilled and dodged the fatal blow by turning to the side, but his neck was slashed. Feeling the pain, he angrily knocked the knife out of Yuezhi's hand and pushed her to the ground.
"You little bitch, how could you be so ruthless!"
He raised his hand, and Yuezhi's face showed fear.
Before the slap could land, a sizable rock came hurtling through the air, striking the man in the face, sending him flying and crashing into the wall, where he coughed up blood.
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