But at noon, when she was ho alone, she could stir-fry so red sweet potato leaves—her favorite.
Alas, she hoped her arrival could bring at least a small change to this backward society. The first step was to ensure everyone in the village had enough to eat. If every family could grow the red sweet potatoes she had brought, then she could openly enjoy eating the leaves. As for the second step, that would still be buying land to farm. Hunting and gathering dicinal herbs were only temporary, unsustainable solutions. But it was too early for that; she would wait until Xiao Yunjing returned. Regarding her dical skills, she didn’t plan to reveal them publicly; she would operate in secret. Since she had decided to live here, she would make the best of it.
After tidying up in the Space, it was already noon. She went out to stir-fry so red sweet potato leaves and had a simple al with the leftovers.
In the afternoon, she didn’t go out. Ms. Wu and the others had likely gone to pay their New Year’s respects at the Village Chief’s house, so she decided to take a walk on the mountain instead.
She left through the back door and headed up the mountain. Little did she know, soone was standing on the mountain behind her house, watching her ascend.
"Huh? Is that you?" Gu Qingli had just climbed up and steadied herself, intending to catch her breath, when she saw soone standing right in front of her. It was Chen Erlang.
Chen Erlang stared foolishly at the vastly transford Gu Qingli. In her light purple cotton robe, her fair, rosy skin seed even brighter, and her large, lively, beautiful eyes looked as if they could ensnare his very soul. Especially her otherworldly temperant; it was like... yes, just like a fairy from a storybook—ethereal and pure.
Chen Erlang could never have imagined such a drastic change in Gu Qingli. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that the fairy-like woman before him was the fiancée whose engagent he had broken just a few months prior.
The timid woman, who always kept her head down, had suddenly looked up, and the sight was so breathtakingly beautiful it left him utterly captivated. He couldn’t focus on his studies, had no appetite, and couldn’t sleep; his mind was completely filled with her.
"Li’er, I..." Chen Erlang choked, his mind racing with a thousand things he wanted to say, yet he didn’t know where to begin.
Gu Qingli caught her breath. Her heart sank, and she frowned with annoyance. "Chen Erlang," she said impatiently, "my maiden na is not for you to use. Please address as Mrs. Xiao or Yunjing’s wife."
She doubted that Chen Erlang, a delicate scholar, had co up the mountain rely to enjoy the snowy scenery or to hunt. And he certainly wouldn’t be waiting specifically for her at this path intersection.
Wasn’t he making his intentions painfully obvious? What on earth is wrong with this guy’s head? She really detested self-important fools like him. He actually thought he was so kind of prize when he was nothing but a pile of dog crap, still believing she was the sa naive ’white lotus’ as the Original Host.
Gu Qingli shot him a look, then turned and headed back down the mountain. If soone saw them, they might misunderstand and think she was an unfaithful woman. Being unjustly saddled with such a reputation would be awful.
"Li’er, listen to ! I..." Chen Erlang, seeing her turn and walk away, called out anxiously. But Gu Qingli acted as if she hadn’t heard him, quickly descending the mountain and returning to her house in a few quick steps.
Chen Erlang was furious, but he didn’t have the courage to chase her into the Xiao family ho.
He could only return ho dejectedly.
Ms. Liu was shocked to see her son returning looking so utterly dejected. She quickly pulled Chen Erlang around, checking him for any injuries, before asking, "Son, what happened? You went out perfectly fine. How did you co back looking like you’ve lost your soul?"
Chen Erlang was in no mood to deal with Ms. Liu. He walked into his room and SLAM! The door slamd shut.
Ms. Liu’s nose was almost hit by the door.
"Eh? What’s the matter with Erlang?"
She hurried to Chen Dalang’s room and banged on the door. "Dalang! Dalang! Get up this instant! It’s broad daylight and you’re still sleeping? Are you trying to sleep yourself to death?!"
Chen Dalang had just been intimate with his wife when he heard Ms. Liu’s call. He hurriedly got up, put on his clothes, and ca out.
"Mother, what are you yelling about?" Chen Dalang shouted back, his face etched with annoyance. "It’s freezing cold! If we’re not staying ho, are we supposed to be out working in the fields?"
"So you just stay in your room all day doing..." Ms. Liu couldn’t bring herself to finish the accusation. She glared at Chen Dalang and demanded, "What’s wrong with Erlang? Do you know?"
Chen Dalang asked, puzzled, "What happened to Erlang?"
The ntion of Chen Erlang imdiately sobered Chen Dalang. Their entire family was counting on his younger brother to pass the exams and achieve great success, which would elevate all their statuses. They couldn’t afford any mishaps.
Ms. Liu snapped, "If I knew, why would I be asking you, you good-for-nothing! He was fine when he left, but he ca back looking like he’d lost his soul. He completely ignored when I asked him what was wrong. You go talk to him. I’m going to get your father."
Chen Dalang nodded.
Ms. Liu imdiately scurried off towards the Village Chief’s house.
Chen Dalang then knocked on Chen Erlang’s door. "Erlang, open up. It’s ."
Chen Erlang had been lying on his bed, his thoughts consud by Gu Qingli. Hearing it was his elder brother, he got up and opened the door.
The mont the door opened, Chen Dalang saw Chen Erlang’s indeed listless appearance. His heart tightened with worry. "Erlang, what on earth happened?" he asked urgently.
"Brother, it’s..."
"What is it? Spit it out! You’re making sick with worry," Chen Dalang urged when Chen Erlang hesitated.
"I... I went to find... the second daughter," Chen Erlang stamred.
"Brother, what should I do? I can’t stop thinking about her. I can’t focus on my books. I even dream about her when I sleep. Brother, I..."
Chen Dalang was dumbfounded. He never imagined Erlang had actually gone to find the second daughter, let alone that he was still so obsessed with her.
Heavens! If Mother found out, Erlang would surely have his legs broken! Worse still, if this got out, it would ruin Erlang’s prospects for an official career! This was absolutely unacceptable!
"No, no, no, Erlang, listen to your brother!" Chen Dalang quickly bolted the door and pulled Chen Erlang down to sit. "Erlang," he said urgently, "you absolutely mustn’t do this. Think about it—the second daughter is married now! And even before she was married, she was considered ’damaged goods.’ How can you, an aspiring scholar, pursue her like this? It would destroy your future prospects! Don’t you want to pass the xiucai examination?"
Chen Dalang racked his brains, laying out all the potential dire consequences he could think of.
But Chen Erlang’s mind was entirely consud by Gu Qingli’s delicate, alluring image. He yearned to bring her back imdiately and cherish her. How could he possibly take in anything Chen Dalang was saying? What was the use of passing the xiucai examination? Would Li’er have a change of heart just because he beca a xiucai?
Seeing that Chen Erlang wasn’t taking in a word he said, Chen Dalang began to rack his own brains for a solution.
"Aha! I’ve got it!" Chen Dalang slapped his thigh, an idea suddenly striking him. He grabbed Chen Erlang’s shoulders and said, "Erlang, Big Brother has a plan. Want to hear it?"
"What’s the plan?" Chen Erlang’s interest was piqued.
"You do this..." Chen Dalang explained his plan, and Chen Erlang actually began to consider it.
His elder brother’s plan really was a good one. Once he passed the xiucai examination, and then the juren examination, he would have an official position. Then, he could get Li’er. At that ti, how could Xiao Yunjing, a re commoner, dare to compete with him?
"Thank you, Big Brother! I know what to do now." Chen Dalang’s words had enlightened him, and Chen Erlang felt completely revitalized. He asked Chen Dalang to leave, then imdiately picked up his books and began to study.
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