Chapter 10

Chapter 10

For a moment, Pei Mu thought he had gone deaf or was hallucinating.

He had hallucinated before when he was wounded on the battlefield, lying in a military tent with a fever and talking nonsense, but now he was standing safe and sound in his own home, neither injured nor poisoned.

A rare look of astonishment appeared on Pei Mu's face. He looked at Zhong Yizhu in disbelief. "Have you lost your mind?"

Ever since he returned to the village, no girl or young bachelor from the villages around dared to come near him. Wang Ping'an and his husband were worried for him and tried to find a matchmaker, but as soon as the matchmaker heard it was for him, they waved their hands repeatedly—not out of conscience, fearing they would send some girl or young bachelor into a living hell, but because they were afraid that if he wasn't satisfied with the match, he would break their legs.

Having started the conversation, Zhong Yizhu's tension did not diminish in the slightest. He held his breath. "I'm not crazy. If you are willing, send someone to propose marriage. I don't want any betrothal gifts. I only ask that you protect me and my mother."

Pei Mu looked at the wound at the corner of Zhong Yizhu's mouth, reading between the lines. He resumed his usual demeanor and asked flatly, "And if I refuse?"

"If you refuse..."

"Then think of it as me hiring you as a live-in guard. You pretend to marry me, and I'll pay you privately. We'll sign a contract for three years. When the term ends, we divorce, and we'll each be free to go our own way."

Zhong Yizhu knew full well that coming to a man on his own to propose marriage, bypassing his parents, would be considered unorthodox and utterly shameless anywhere. He dared to act so boldly because circumstances forced him, and because he refused to resign himself to fate.

Zhong Yizhu had considered simply hiring someone as a live-in guard, but with one an unmarried man and the other an unmarried youth, living together in the same house without other servants to separate front and back courtyards like in wealthy families would only create gossip about their reputations, which would be bad for both of them.

This was the safest plan he could think of. Pei Mu wouldn't lose out, and he himself could resolve his current predicament, buying himself some breathing room. But Pei Mu said, "And if I still refuse?"

Zhong Yizhu was stunned for a moment, looking at the man with the cold expression before him.

Pei Mu's eyes didn't waver in the slightest. Though it was a question, his expression had already given the answer.

Zhong Yizhu had considered the possibility of rejection, but he hadn't expected Pei Mu to refuse so decisively without even asking about the money.

After all, he was an unmarried young man. To offer himself so proactively and be rejected so humiliatingly—even though he knew it was simply the other's choice and he couldn't fault him—his pride was still shattered.

Zhong Yizhu thought back over his seventeen years of life; never had he felt so embarrassed as at this moment.

He forced back his emotions and said quickly in a low voice, "I was presumptuous. Please pretend today never happened."

Having said that, Zhong Yizhu turned around and ran toward the mountain as if fleeing.

He had taken a roundabout mountain path to avoid being seen by the villagers, so naturally he had to go back the same way. Zhong Yizhu stared hard at the ground, tears streaming down his face like a broken string of pearls. The path blurred before his eyes. He ignored the mud under his feet; he just wanted to get away as quickly as possible.

"Stop."

The voice that reached his ears seemed muffled, as if through a membrane. It took Zhong Yizhu a few seconds to realize it was actually coming from behind him.

He didn't know what Pei Mu wanted to say; he just wanted to run ahead blindly, but the next words from Pei Mu pinned him to the spot.

"Who hurt you?"

...

As soon as Zhong Yizhu returned to the old house, Sun Yunniang hurried over anxiously.

Zhong Yizhu had heard a lot about Pei Mu from Liu Mingtao, and Sun Yunniang, having chatted with the village aunties and uncles these days, knew even more than he did. So when she first heard that Zhong Yizhu wanted to go see Pei Mu, she absolutely disagreed.

Even fortune-tellers had said Pei Mu had a hard fate, bringing misfortune to relatives and those close to him. If she didn't keep her distance, her own life might be at risk. Moreover, he was such a fierce fighter; if he had some unspeakable perversion for tormenting his spouse, how could her Zhu Ge'er endure it?

In her eyes, Zhong Yizhu would be jumping from one poison pit into another fire. How could she agree?

Later, when Zhong Yizhu told her that he had actually been saved by Pei Mu when he fell into the water that day, she still couldn't rest easy. The Pei family situation was so complicated; even if Pei Mu was a good person, this was definitely not a good match.

She thought Zhong Yizhu sought out Pei Mu only because Pei Mu was strong, and she advised him that there were other capable men in the village, but Zhong Yizhu insisted on Pei Mu.

"If the death of elders is to be blamed on the children, then I am also an unlucky one who caused my father's death. Mother, I don't know those people you mentioned. I'd rather it be Pei Mu."

Sun Yunniang understood and finally gave in.

This matter would have been more proper if she had gone to speak, but Pei Mu's elders couldn't control him, and for her, an elder he had never met, to go find Pei Mu himself would also seem strange. Moreover, the situation was special and couldn't be known to others, so she let Zhong Yizhu go himself.

She waited anxiously in the house. When she saw Zhong Yizhu return, she hurried to meet him, but first noticed the traces of tears on his face.

Sun Yunniang had already thought it was a stretch, and seeing this, she instantly flared up. "Did that bastard bully you?"

Zhong Yizhu shook his head and was about to explain when suddenly there came a knocking at the front gate.

"Is the Zhong family home? Good news has arrived!"

Sun Yunniang looked surprised and, forgetting to press Zhong Yizhu further, hurried to answer the door. She gave Zhong Yizhu a push and whispered, "Quick, go change your clothes and shoes."

Zhong Yizhu quickly returned to his room and closed the door. He didn't know who had come, but it felt like a death warrant, suffocating him.

The sheets and covers in his room had all been replaced with new ones by Sun Yunniang, erasing all traces of last night's nightmare, leaving only the half-embroidered sachet that was not yet finished.

He changed out of his mud-splattered clothes and shoes, but avoided the bed and sat on a chest placed on the floor.

The window in his room was open, and a beam of sunlight streamed in, casting a bright patch on the floor.

Zhong Yizhu stared at the tree outside the window for a long time, lost in thought.

Meanwhile, Sun Yunniang opened the front gate. The unfamiliar woman outside was about forty years old, with a red flower in her hair—an unmistakable matchmaker's attire.

As soon as she saw Sun Yunniang, Liu Qiaozui immediately beamed. "This must be Madam Zhong! Look at that bearing—truly different from us villagers. No wonder you raised such an outstanding young man as Zhu Ge'er."

"Oh dear, I'm so happy I forgot to introduce myself. I'm the matchmaker Liu Qiaozui. Today, a family has entrusted me to propose a marriage. Everyone in these parts knows that I, Liu Qiaozui, never lie or cheat. This is truly a most suitable match."

Liu Qiaozui spoke eloquently, but Sun Yunniang felt little joy; instead, she grew wary. She didn't show it on her face, but smiled and invited the matchmaker inside, asking which family it was.

Only when she heard Liu Qiaozui say it was Zhang Tieniu from the village, not some town thug, did Sun Yunniang breathe a sigh of relief. But Zhang Tieniu's family...

She had met Zhang Tieniu's mother, Zhang Guihua. In recent days, Zhang Guihua had been the most frequent visitor to their home. Although she didn't say it outright, she had been beating around the bush, inquiring about the mother and son's assets, and saying that Zhu Ge'er was weak, couldn't even lift a bucket of water, and needed someone to take care of him soon.

But judging by her attitude, if Zhu Ge'er actually married into that family, it would be a miracle if he wasn't mistreated.

No matter how eager Sun Yunniang was to arrange a marriage, she wouldn't choose such a family. No matter how beautifully Liu Qiaozui described the match, she still found excuses to politely refuse.

Seeing that Sun Yunniang was not being modestly demurring but truly unwilling to accept, Liu Qiaozui's face immediately fell. The Zhang family had said that if she succeeded, they would give her an extra fifty wen in celebration money. Seeing the silver slip away, she couldn't be bothered to keep up a smiling face. Only thinking that the Zhong family might still receive other marriage proposals and she might have another chance to earn money did she hold back from making a scene.

But while she could let it go, Zhang Guihua and Zhang Tieniu, who had been eagerly waiting, simply could not accept it.

The moment she left after delivering the news, Zhang Guihua started cursing in anger. She had wasted extra money trying to give Zhong Yizhu some face, but the ungrateful wretch didn't appreciate it. A disreputable, down-and-out young man with a consumptive mother—who would want him if not for their family's kindness? Pah!

Her words were harsh, but their neighbor Wu Cuijuan listened with relish.

Ever since she was punished to kneel in the ancestral hall and had to compensate Zhong Yizhu one tael of silver, Li Siniu hadn't spoken a single word to her voluntarily. Knowing she had caused trouble, she dared not go out and stir up more these days, focusing only on winning her husband back.

She didn't dare provoke Zhong Yizhu, but she was very happy to see him suffer. Zhang Guihua was the most vindictive and doted on her Zhang Tieniu. Since the Zhong family had rejected her son's marriage proposal, she would never let Zhong Yizhu off easily.

Sure enough, before long, Zhang Guihua took her needlework and went visiting around the village.

Everyone was peacefully stitching soles and chatting, but she hadn't even made a few stitches before she started wiping tears. When asked, she said with a sorrowful face that Sun Yunniang had privately agreed to the marriage a few days ago, but when she sent the matchmaker to propose, Sun Yunniang turned her back because she thought the betrothal gifts were too low.

The people nearby quickly asked how much betrothal gifts were given. Zhang Guihua named a figure, which was among the highest for marrying a young man in the village. Upon hearing this, everyone started chattering about the faults of Sun Yunniang and Zhong Yizhu.

Liu Fulang sat in the corner, coldly watching Zhang Guihua lie. He slowly threaded the needle through the shoe fabric without calling her out. Others might not know, but he saw clearly that Sun Yunniang had never taken a liking to any of the families that had come forward on their own.

Perfect. Once that brainless Zhang Guihua finished ruining the Zhong family's reputation, and the Zhong family's young man lost his marriage prospects, it would work in his family’s favor.

Seeing the crowd grow indignant, he chimed in with a few words, successfully adding fuel to the fire.

……

In Chuiliu Town, the western side was a crowded residential area, with several families squeezed into each dwelling, chaotic and noisy.

Lai Laoer lay in bed, listening to some kid from who knows where wailing outside. He shouted in irritation, which only made the crying louder. Furious, he smashed a bowl, his anger only growing.

When he woke up in the morning, he found himself thrown into a mountain ditch, drenched all over, with a sharp pain in the back of his head. He regretted his carelessness that had led to his failure, which in turn stirred an even stronger urge for domination and revenge.

He returned all the way to Chuiliu Town, went to a medical clinic to get the doctor to pull out the embroidery needle from his neck, and got some medicine for external injuries. Not only did he come up empty-handed, but he also ended up spending money.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Cursing, he planned to teach that young man a lesson next time, but he’d have to go easy on him. Such a rare beauty, even if he grew tired of him, he could probably sell him to others for a good sum...

"Bang!" As Lai Laoer was lost in his fantasy, the door was suddenly kicked open, startling him.

Everyone in the courtyard knew he was a thug; ordinarily no one wanted to provoke him. He thought it was some rival coming to pick a fight, and started cursing as he looked over, only to find it was a stranger.

The man was taller than him, and although not as burly-looking, the menace in his eyes was frightening. He instinctively knew this man was dangerous, so he quickly softened his tone to speak. But the man only asked coldly, "Lai Laoer?" as if confirming his identity.

Lai Laoer didn't dare to answer, but the man had already confirmed his identity. He strode over, lifted him with one hand, and slammed him to the ground.

After finishing his business in the west, Pei Mu thought for a moment and went to a shop to buy a roast chicken. Wang Ping'an and his husband often invited him to meals, but he had no cooking skills to return the favor, so he could only occasionally send some game or buy food from the town to bring back.

He made the trip quickly. When he returned to the village, the setting sun was still hanging over the mountain. He took a detour to avoid the village center and arrived at Wang Ping'an's yard, where he saw the young man from the village head's family, whom he had met before, talking indignantly with Chen Xiaorong about something.

Upon seeing his figure, the young man shot to his feet, hurriedly said goodbye to Chen Xiaorong, and ran away. Pei Mu thought for a moment but couldn't recall his name, so he put it out of his mind.

He didn't realize he had scared someone. He walked into the yard and handed the roast chicken to Chen Xiaorong, ignoring Chen's refusal, then turned to leave. When he reached the gate, he hesitated for a moment and turned back.

"I heard you talking about the Zhong family?"

Author's note:

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Thank you to all my readers. Love you all. I'll send small red packets in the comments of this chapter~