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These past few nights, Fan Erniu and Meng Lihua haven't been sleeping well, always feeling like someone might come and kill them at any moment.

The couple lay on the kang (a heated brick bed), listening to the wind outside the window, neither of them speaking.

Fan Erniu tossed and turned, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right, making the blankets rustle loudly.

Meng Lihua didn't move; she just lay there stiffly, her eyes open, staring at the ceiling.

After a long while, Meng Lihua turned over and faced Fan Erniu. "Erniu, that matter... needs to be taken care of."

Fan Erniu responded in a muffled voice, "Mm."

After a long time, Meng Lihua said again, "Go to the Song family tomorrow. Have Song Yan and Yu'er get their marriage arranged as soon as possible. The sooner we marry Yu'er off, the more at ease we'll be."

"Hmm," Fan Erniu responded again, but he felt uneasy.

He knew in his heart that this was to make sure his two daughters were settled.

With their eldest daughter married to Song Yan, and their younger daughter entrusted to her care, the couple could go to their deaths in peace.

Those powerful enemies will come knocking sooner or later. When that happens, they will be the ones who die, not the girls.

With their husbands' families protecting them, the girls won't face too much hardship. In addition, with the help of their sworn brother He Jingyuan, they should be able to completely hide the two girls away.

As Fan Erniu thought about it, his eyes reddened.

He blinked hard to stop the tears from falling, because he was too reluctant to part with his two daughters.

……

The next morning, Fan Erniu changed into clean clothes, put on the cotton-padded jacket with the fewest patches, took some money with him, and went to the Song family.

When he left, Meng Lihua straightened his collar and told him to be polite and not to get angry with people.

Fan Erniu nodded, pushed open the courtyard gate, and left.

The Song family lived in the east of the town. It was a three-courtyard house with blue bricks and gray tiles. Two stone drums stood at the entrance, making it look very grand.

After Song Yan passed the imperial examination and became a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial examination), the Song family's status rose, and they were frequented by scholars who wore long gowns and square caps and walked with a swaying gait.

Fan Erniu stood at the door, looking at the black lacquered gate, and suddenly felt that his coarse cloth shorts were a bit conspicuous.

However, he still patted his clothes and touched his hair before going up to knock on the door.

The one who opened the door was an old servant of the Song family, surnamed Liu, who had worked for the Song family for decades.

When the old servant saw that it was Fan Erniu, the smile on his face faded, and he was no longer as warm as before. "Master Fan is here? What brings you here?"

Fan Erniu said with a forced smile, "I came to see Song Yan and also to discuss something with Madam Song."

Old servant Liu led him into a side hall, poured him a cup of tea, and said he was going to inform the servant.

Fan Erniu sat in the chair, holding a teacup, but didn't dare to drink.

He looked around. This side hall was even bigger than his main room. There were calligraphy and paintings on the walls, and vases on the long table were polished to a shine, reflecting people's images.

After sitting for a while, I suddenly felt that the chair under my bottom was too slippery, and I couldn't sit comfortably. I didn't know where to put my legs.

After waiting for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Song's mother finally came out.

Song's mother, surnamed Zhou, was in her forties. She wore a royal blue jacket and a silver hairpin in her hair. Her face was expressionless.

She sat down in the main seat, glanced at Fan Erniu, and without offering him tea, asked directly, "Master Fan, what brings you here today?"

Fan Erniu said with a smile, "It's like this, we'd like to discuss Yu'er and Song Yan's marriage with Madam to see when to set a wedding date. The two children are not young anymore, so the sooner it's done, the more at ease we, as elders, will feel."

Song's mother didn't say anything. She picked up her teacup, took a sip, put it down, and then picked it up again to take another sip.

Fan Erniu sat there waiting, but his mood was getting worse and worse.

Mother Song put down her teacup and finally spoke, "Master Fan, this matter is not urgent."

Fan Erniu was taken aback for a moment. “How can we not be in a hurry? Yu’er is already fifteen. If we delay any longer, she’ll become an old maid. Song Yan is also twenty-five. It’s time for him to get married.”

Song's mother glanced at him, and that look made Fan Erniu's heart skip a beat, and his heart sank. "Master Fan, there's something I've been wanting to tell you. A few days ago, I had someone analyze Yu'er's birth chart."

Fan Erniu's heart leaped into his throat, his voice tightening. "A fortune telling? How was it?"

Instead of answering directly, Song's mother took out a piece of red paper from her sleeve and handed it to Fan Erniu, saying, "Take a look for yourself."

Fan Erniu was naturally literate—a cursed lone star.

His face turned pale instantly, and he was so angry that his hands started to tremble.

“Fan Dongjia, this person’s birth chart is that of a cursed lone star. He will bring misfortune to his relatives. He will bring misfortune to his parents, brothers, husband, and children. I’m afraid Song Yan won’t be able to bear it if such a person enters my Song family. Song Yan has finally passed the imperial examination and his future is important. We can’t let him lose his life because of a wife.”

Fan Erniu's hands trembled violently, the red paper rustling in his hands. "Impossible! Yu'er is perfectly fine, how could she be a cursed loner? Which fortune teller is spouting nonsense? Bring him here, I'll ask him face to face!"

Ignoring Fan Erniu's excitement, Song's mother took back the red paper, folded it neatly, and stuffed it into her sleeve.

"Master Fan, please return the betrothal letter from back then. Let's just call off this marriage."

Fan Erniu suddenly understood.

It wasn't some cursed zodiac sign at all; it was simply that the Song family looked down on the Fan family.

Song Yan passed the imperial examination and became a Juren (a successful candidate in the provincial-level imperial examinations). The Song family believed that their social status had risen and looked down on them, the pig butchers.

All this talk about birth charts and destiny is just an excuse; it all boils down to them not wanting to acknowledge this marriage.

Fan Erniu stood up, his hands still trembling and his legs a little weak.

He looked at Song's mother's indifferent face, wanting to say something, but he couldn't say anything.

To curse her? I can't bring myself to do it.

Beg her? It's no use begging her.

In the end, Fan Erniu took out the betrothal letter from his pocket and tore it to shreds in front of Song's mother.

"Fine, I'll back out then."

Then he turned and walked away, but stopped at the door.

"Is there anything else, Master Fan?" Song's mother's voice came from behind, but it was full of unspeakable sarcasm.

Fan Erniu suddenly turned his head and stared fiercely at Song's mother, questioning her, "Back then, it was your Song Yan who came to me for Song Yan's father's funeral. The coffin, paper offerings, and funeral banquet cost twelve taels of silver, all paid for by our family. Over the years, Song Yan's tuition, writing materials, paper, and the rice, oil, and salt for festivals were all provided by our family, at least three or four taels a year. Over seven or eight years, it would amount to at least twenty taels. Do you remember these things, Madam Song?"

"..." Meeting Fan Erniu's murderous gaze, Song's mother felt a sudden panic for no reason. "Don't worry! I'll have Old Liu return it to the manor later."

Fan Erniu nodded. "Okay, just remember that."

Then he pushed the door open and slammed it shut behind him.

……

When she got home, Meng Lihua was feeding the chickens in the yard. Seeing Fan Erniu's ashen face, she quickly dropped the chicken feed and ran over. "What happened? What did the Song family say?"

Fan Erniu, his face still ashen, said, "The Song family has broken off the engagement."

Meng Lihua glanced at it, her face paled, and her lips trembled. "What? The Song family... has broken off the engagement?"

"People say our Yu'er is destined to be unlucky, a cursed star, and will bring misfortune to her husband, so they dare not marry her."

Meng Lihua became anxious, "What do you mean by 'cursing one's husband'? Yu'er is perfectly fine, how could she be a jinx to her husband? How could she be a cursed loner? Isn't the Song family bullying us?"

Fan Erniu didn't speak, his clenched fists making him wish he could kill the entire Song family.

Fan Erniu was once such a majestic general, but now he's fallen from grace and is being bullied by dogs.

Thinking of Song's mother's fawning and condescending attitude just now, and the rice, grain, oil, and salt that I had sent to the Song family over the years.

When Song Yan's father died, it was Fan Erniu who helped arrange the funeral, and he even helped pick out the coffin.

Song Yan couldn't afford tuition, so Fan Erniu paid for it and sent it to him every spring.

During holidays and festivals, Fan Erniu would always send meat, rice, and oil to the Song family without fail. Sometimes, even when his own family didn't have enough to eat, he would still send some to the Song family. Over the years, the Song family never lacked anything.

Moreover, it was Song's mother who, out of gratitude for the Fan family's kindness, took the initiative to propose this marriage.

To everyone's surprise, now that they've passed the imperial examination and become successful, they're looking down on their daughter.

They looked down on the butchers, saying their family was too lowly and unworthy of the scholars.

Meng Lihua couldn't help but wipe away her tears, "What about Yu'er? How heartbroken she would be if she found out! That girl is very thoughtful; she may not say it, but she remembers everything."

Fan Erniu stood up. "Keep it a secret. Don't tell her yet. We'll keep it a secret as long as we can."

……

But this matter couldn't be kept secret at all.

The news of the Song family's annulment of the engagement spread throughout half of the town that very day.

The neighbors were talking about it. Some said the Song family was ungrateful, some said the Fan family's daughter was unlucky, some made sarcastic remarks, and some just wanted to watch the show.

Old Mrs. Wang, who sells tofu, said to someone, "I knew it! What kind of good family could the butcher's daughter marry into? The Song family has a scholar as their master, would they even want her?"

Someone nearby chimed in, "That's right! I've watched that girl grow up since she was little. She has an unlucky face; she looks like she'll bring bad luck to her husband."

Upon hearing this, Fan Changyu immediately ran to question his mother.

After stammering for a long time, Meng Lihua finally told the whole story.

After saying that, she couldn't help but cry, cursing the Song family for being heartless.

Fan Changyu was stunned for a while, but her face remained expressionless. "Mother, you and Father don't worry, I'm fine."

Meng Lihua looked at her, tears streaming down her face. "Yu'er, it's the Song family who have no conscience. Don't take it to heart. We'll find someone better, a hundred times better than the Song family."

Fan Changyu shook her head, even managing a forced smile. "Mother, I'm really fine. Marrying into a family like the Song family wouldn't necessarily be good. His mother looks like she'd be hard to get along with. And Song Yan is such a meek person, he listens to his mother in everything. If I marry into that family, I'll just suffer."

After saying that, he picked up the bowl and walked to the backyard.

As Meng Lihua watched Fan Changyu's retreating figure, she cried even harder.

Knowing that her daughter was putting on a brave face, Meng Lihua felt even more heartbroken.

……

In the backyard, Su Ning was chopping wood.

Fan Erniu went to the butcher shop to keep busy with business, and Su Ning was a little bored, so he started chopping firewood and then piled the chopped firewood against the wall.

Fan Changyu stood by the moon gate, holding a bowl, watching him chop wood.

He bent down, raised the axe, and brought it down.

One stroke at a time, slowly and deliberately, the axe fell and with a snap, the wood split in two, clean and efficient.

Chopping wood was a simple task, but to Fan Changyu, it was incredibly pleasant and stylish.

Fan Changyu stood there for a while before walking over and saying, "Brother Su, dinner's ready."

Su Ning put down the axe, took the bowl, and glanced at her.

I noticed her eyes were red and her eyelids were a little swollen, as if she had been crying.

"what happened?"

Fan Changyu shook his head. "Nothing."

Then she sat down on a nearby rock and watched Su Ning eat.

Su Ning took a couple of bites, put down her bowl, and said, "I've heard about the Song family's situation too."

Fan Changyu was taken aback, not expecting him to bring this up. "You know? Haven't you been staying home lately?"

Suning knows that finding out anything is very simple.

Fan Changyu lowered her head, and after a while, she asked softly, "Brother Su, do you also think I have bad luck? Everyone says that I'm a cursed star, that I bring misfortune to my family."

Su Ning looked at her and said seriously, "You believe in this?"

Fan Changyu shook her head, then nodded, unable to explain it herself. "I don't know. Everyone says it, and when so many people say it, it seems like it might be true. Sometimes I wonder if it's really just bad luck of mine."

Su Ning picked up the bowl and continued eating, saying, "I don't believe it."

Fan Changyu looked up at him, her eyes bright, "Why?"

Su Ning thought for a moment, "When I was cultivating on the mountain, my master said that one's fate is one's own, not what others say. What kind of fate you have is up to you. What others say is just their mouth, not your fate. If you believe what others say, then you are handing your life over to them."

Fan Changyu looked at Su Ning, at his calm face, and suddenly felt that what he said made a lot of sense. "Brother Su, your master is really amazing. I've never heard anything like what he said before."

Su Ning smiled. "That's quite impressive. But anyone can say those things; the key is whether you believe them or not."

Fan Changyu nodded, thought for a moment, and then asked, "So what do you believe in?"

Suning said, "I believe in myself. Wherever I go, that's where my destiny lies. What others say has nothing to do with me."

Fan Changyu looked at him and suddenly burst into tears. "I just... I just feel a little wronged. Our family has been so good to the Song family. We supported Song Yan's education, provided for Song Yan's food and drink, and even made the clothes for Song Yan's mother. How could they do this? Even if they didn't want to marry him anymore, couldn't they have just talked to him nicely? Why did they have to say he's a cursed lone star? How am I supposed to face people in Lin'an Town now?"

Su Ning didn't say anything, just stood there listening.

Fan Changyu wiped away her tears and sniffed. "Forget it, I won't say anything more. It's no use saying anything."

Then she stood up, smiled, her eyes still red, and said, "Brother Su, you should eat! It won't taste good if it gets cold."

Su Ning shoveled the last mouthful of rice into his mouth, stood up, picked up the axe, and continued chopping wood.

Tap, tap, tap.

The sound of the axe falling was steady and resonant, one strike after another, unhurried and measured.

Fan Changyu sat on the rock, listening to the sound, and felt at ease.

Watching Su Ning chopping wood again for a while, I suddenly said, "Brother Su, your wood-chopping posture is so cool, teach me how to chop wood."

Su Ning turned to look at her, "Why are you learning this? It's so simple!"

Fan Changyu said, "Your way of chopping wood is completely different from others. It's so relaxed and graceful, and it looks beautiful too. Can you teach me?"

Suning handed her the axe directly.

Fan Changyu took it, gripped the axe handle with both hands, raised it, and chopped down, but he never quite achieved the same ease as Su Ning.

Su Ning laughed, "That's not how you chop it."

Then he walked behind Fan Changyu, took her hand, and helped her lift the axe. "Use your waist, not your arms. Keep your eyes on the target, and don't let the axe fall off course."

Fan Changyu froze, her face burning red, her heart pounding, as Su Ning held her hand.

Suddenly, I felt like all I could hear was my own heartbeat, and I couldn't hear anything else.

With a snap, the wood split in two, neatly arranged.

"See, that works." Su Ning released his grip and took a step back.

"Hmm." Fan Changyu stood there, gripping the axe, head down, not daring to look at him.

Suning bent down, picked up the chopped firewood, and stacked it against the wall.

Fan Changyu stood to the side, watching Su Ning stack firewood, and suddenly felt that the matter of the Song family breaking off the engagement didn't seem so bad after all.

Without Song Yan, perhaps there would be someone better.

...(End of this chapter)