Shi Fa Ke was completely unaware of Chu Yizhi’s rich inner drama. Of course, even if she knew, she wouldn’t take it to heart. In her view, when one should act decisively but hesitates, disaster follows. She knew Chu Yizhi was indecisive by nature, so she would have to be the one to make the decision.
Soon putting Chu Yizhi out of her mind, Shi Fa Ke returned to the courtyard and sat down, continuing to eat the chilled melon while thinking about Lu Chi’s situation.
As she thought about it, she felt he probably wouldn’t plan to return to Tongluo Town before the autumn imperial examinations.
For some reason, thinking this way made her chest feel somewhat stuffy.
She had even gone with Zhu Keji to clean the courtyard on Willow Leaf Lane just two days ago… If he wasn’t coming back before the autumn examinations, she’d have to take Little Black home to care for it first, otherwise it would starve to death in the Willow Leaf Lane courtyard without anyone knowing.
Little Black was the little black donkey that Lu Chi kept, which Shi Fa Ke and Zhu Keji had been feeding every few days.
Shi Fa Ke didn’t know that Lu Chi, whom she thought wouldn’t return before the autumn examinations, was currently on his way back to Tongluo Town.
“Achoo, achoo, achoo!” Lu Chi sneezed several loud sneezes in succession, rubbed his nose, and wondered whether someone was cursing him or if Ah Ke was thinking of him.
Mm, it must be Ah Ke thinking of him.
Before leaving Feiqiong Stronghold this time, he had boldly declared that he would definitely marry Ah Ke when he returned to Tongluo Town. Thinking of how his sister-in-law’s eyes lit up when she heard that Ah Ke would become her sister-in-law, and his elder brother’s disdainful expression, Lu Chi was determined not to let them look down on him.
With this thought, Lu Chi spurred his horse and continued traveling with renewed energy.
Traveling day and night, hurrying along, he still didn’t reach Tongluo Town until evening of the second day. However, summer days were long and nights short, so when Lu Chi arrived at Tongluo Town, it was still light.
Lu Chi appeared at the entrance of Tongluo Town, travel-worn and dusty. He led a fine horse by the reins, completely different from his image of riding a donkey last time. Last time he had secretly slipped down the mountain at midnight, and that little black donkey was bought at the foot of the mountain with the meager funds he had on him. But this time was different—he had come out openly and officially, so naturally his equipment was different.
At this moment, his mood was as bright as the June sun. Having been away from Tongluo Town for so long, he was experiencing the feeling of homesickness for the first time… Everything about Tongluo Town made him nostalgic: the wonton stall where he had eaten with Ah Ke, the children and teachers at the school, even his student Zhu Keji… mm, and the bustling tea stall beside him now.
Everything seemed so wonderful.
Of course, what he missed most was still that girl named Ah Ke.
Who could have predicted that this departure would last so long? After all, his mother’s pregnancy at her age carried considerable risk. He had originally planned to wait until after the first three months when the pregnancy was stable before leaving, but then he received an urgent message by carrier pigeon from an old friend, earnestly requesting him to go to the prefectural city to meet someone on their behalf… That’s when he left the stronghold early.
Then, thinking that since he was going to the prefectural city, returning to Tongluo Town would be along the way, well… here he was.
After all, he had made such a bold declaration!
That girl Ah Ke should be missing him too, right? He had been sneezing quite a lot lately. Lu Chi thought happily, almost impatiently wanting to go to the Shi family to see her.
Just then, a gentle breeze blew by, and with the wind came the sounds of joyful music and firecrackers, and listening carefully, there were also sounds of laughter and celebration, very festive. This lively atmosphere made those who heard it unconsciously smile along.
Lu Chi also smiled slightly. This seemed to be someone’s wedding celebration. From the sound, it seemed to be coming from East Street… Speaking of which, Ah Ke also lived there.
What a good omen.
Lu Chi remembered that last time he came to Tongluo Town, he had also happened upon a wedding celebration, and then met the clever and mischievous Ah Ke. Speaking of it, it was truly a wonderful fate. Thinking of Ah Ke, he couldn’t help but smile.
Would Ah Ke be very surprised to see him? Lu Chi was thinking this when he suddenly heard several people chatting at the tea stall nearby.
“The wedding between the Shi family and the He family is really lively,” one person sighed with an envious tone.
“Yes, who would have thought the Shi family’s fortune was no less than the He family’s. They usually kept such a low profile…”
What… what?!
The smile on Lu Chi’s face froze instantly. He felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over his head in this June heat—absolutely bone-chilling! He suppressed the panic in his heart and hurried forward a few steps to ask, “Which Shi family, which He family?”
Don’t panic, don’t panic. It might not be the Shi family and He family he was thinking of. After all, there were quite a few families with the surnames Shi and He in Tongluo Town.
Unfortunately, his self-deception was quickly shattered.
“You’re from out of town, aren’t you?” One of them looked at him knowingly and smiled, “Which other Shi family and He family could it be? Just the Shi family that runs the pawnshop and underground money exchange, and the He family that runs the wedding cake shop.”
Thunder from a clear sky!
The Shi family was going to form a marriage alliance with the He family? Could it be that while he was away, Ah Ke was actually going to marry that He Kexian?!
Lu Chi’s mind was in chaos, his face looked terrible. He clenched his fists, turned around, and hurriedly ran off leading his horse.
“Eh? What’s wrong with that person? His face suddenly looked so awful…”
“Probably had an urgent need,” another person said casually.
“Haha, yes, yes, nature calls. I also get that expression when I have urgent needs,” that person laughed heartily, then wondered aloud, “But he was leading a horse, why didn’t he ride it?”
“When you have urgent needs, sitting on a horse bouncing up and down would be even harder to endure, wouldn’t it?” another person said with experience.
“I see.” That person nodded convincingly, then looked enviously toward East Street, “Speaking of which, that third son of the Shi family is really blessed, marrying such a gold mine. Did you see all those palanquins of dowry… tsk tsk, it’s no less impressive than when the eldest daughter of the Zhu family got married.”
“The betrothal gifts the Shi family sent a few days ago were also impressive. They’re truly a well-matched couple.”
“I really never realized the Shi family had such wealth before. They have three sons, oh and a daughter too. Wonder who that Shi girl will end up with…”
“You dare say such things? If Shi Changhuai heard you, he’d knock your teeth out.”
Everyone knew that Shi Changhuai doted on his daughter. Years ago, that little Shi girl was a little tyrant in Tongluo Town, someone no one dared to provoke. Later, when the young lady grew up and became charming and lovely, although she had an inexplicable passion for the matchmaking profession, she was undeniably cute. So some reckless people would make crude remarks about her… Later, tsk tsk, that person’s fate was simply too horrible to recall!
That incident reminded the residents of Tongluo Town just how terrifying this daughter-doting Shi Changhuai could be… and once again confirmed that the Shi family’s young lady was not to be trifled with!
The person who spoke earlier realized his mistake and quickly changed the subject. He looked around cautiously and whispered, “Hey, do you think that third son of the Shi family is really impotent?”
“Should be false, right?” Someone nearby came over and interjected, “If it were true, would Miss He be willing to marry down to him?”
Another person came closer and said mysteriously, “But they’re so eager to move up the wedding date, don’t you think this is trying to cover up the truth?”
And so, a new round of gossip began…
Lu Chi was unaware of the gossip behind him. He wasn’t having urgent needs either—he had simply forgotten he was leading a horse due to his anger… Yes, right now his heart and mind were filled with anger and despair that Ah Ke was about to marry someone else.
He didn’t even know what kind of mindset drove him to rush to the Shi family so urgently. Was he going to watch Ah Ke get married with his own eyes? Then offer his congratulations for a hundred years of harmony and eternal unity?
This was of course impossible! Just thinking about that scene made Lu Chi feel like he couldn’t even breathe!
In this contradictory and conflicted state of mind, Lu Chi rushed to East Street’s Neighborhood Quarter. Those sounds of joyful music, firecrackers, and laughter were getting closer… but this time, he couldn’t smile along with them.
“The bride is here!” some mischievous children called out, chasing after the bridal sedan.
When Lu Chi dragged his horse to the front gate of the Shi family residence, the bridal sedan had just landed. Those mischievous children swarmed forward, chattering as they begged for wedding money, while the groom good-naturedly scattered copper coins.
Lu Chi stood outside the crowd, watching the festive scene before him in a daze, as if his soul had left his body. He didn’t even have the courage to look and see if the groom was He Kexian. At this moment, his clever mind was completely useless, and naturally he didn’t consider why the bright red bridal sedan had stopped at the Shi family’s front gate, why the bride covered with a red veil was being helped out of the sedan… nor did he notice that this didn’t look like giving away a daughter, but more like welcoming a daughter-in-law.
At this moment, his mind was filled with only one thought.
Father was right—sometimes bride-snatching is a necessary measure!