Miss and farmhand

The fact that Luo San had returned could not be kept secret. The next day, Shen Yurui led him to the garden to pay his respects to Shen Xuying.

Shen Xuying didn't mind at all, and took Luo San's hand, saying that they should stay for two more days this time.

Huang Chu subconsciously glanced at Zhu Xiaoxu, then turned her gaze to the man. Both of them pretended to be indifferent and didn't look in their direction.

She felt that Luo San had changed a lot since her visit. Thinking this was even a bit impolite, as Luo San seemed much quieter. She sat quietly next to Shen Yurui, not interrupting her two cousins' conversation. The wet nurse was with Huang Song, and she would occasionally play with the child and ask the wet nurse how the child was doing.

This was the demeanor of a bride-to-be. Huang Chu also suspected that she had come to finalize things with Zhu Xiaoxu, and couldn't think of any other reason for such a drastic change in her personality. She wanted to ask a few questions and offer her congratulations, but her relationship with Luo San wasn't that close. If Luo San didn't bring it up, asking would seem like she was deliberately causing trouble. It was too complicated.

Others might not know, or even if they did, no one could bring it up openly.

Huang Chu knew that the other person in the know was the man, but ever since he silently returned the medicine bottle to her, the two of them hadn't spoken another word. Actually, thinking about it carefully, this wasn't news that could be casually discussed with a grown man; it concerned another girl's marriage and was something to be taken very seriously.

Huang Chu sat with her in the pavilion for a while, lost in thought, unable to sit still. Today she wore a pale yellow cross-collar dress and a light purple skirt, with only two or three pieces of gold and jade jewelry, like flower stamens, not eye-catching. When she swayed, she looked like a newly opened peony, so busy struggling and crowding among the leaves that she didn't notice the sunlight shining on her, as bright as flowing gold.

Aside from Huang Xingtong, who was a painting fanatic, almost everyone over there couldn't help but look over.

They also noticed who the other was looking at, and the two men exchanged glances.

In just a moment, no one except themselves noticed the tense atmosphere inside.

Shen Yurui said, "They really have taken on apprentices. But how can a craftsman stand with masters and young masters, and even paint together? Isn't that going too far?"

"Zhi Rong said he was a promising talent, but he also pitied his wandering background and the fact that he hadn't met a good master. The eldest sister also knows that he cherishes talent, and when he gets into that mood, he doesn't care about propriety or anything like that. He might even feel that he has mistreated his little apprentice."

"Is that so? My second brother's temper is really something. If we don't talk about him, do you think that young master Zhu would be happy about it? I doubt it. He's a fine young man, what kind of people does he associate with? Now he's going to have to deal with low-class people."

"Young Master Zhu is a good boy," Shen Xuying said with a smile, "so he naturally wouldn't mind. I noticed that he was very friendly to his little apprentice and praised him for his good painting."

"It's just to give my second brother some face. The Zhu family is in a neighboring county and is even better off than our Shen family. They've been running their business for generations. If it weren't for my second brother, they wouldn't even give such people a second glance. Have you ever met the Zhu family elders?"

"Yes, I have. They exchange gifts frequently every year during festivals. After I fell ill, Madam Zhu even sent a lot of medicine. Madam Zhu also came to Rongniang's 100-day celebration, you saw her there too, the one with the three girls. She is the kindest person I've ever met."

"Yes, I remember Madam Zhu adored Yi Niang. She couldn't get enough of looking at her from every angle, and said she wanted to steal her away and take her home as her daughter. Have you ever been guests at their house?"

"No, I've been sick for so long that I've kept my mother from going out. Madam Zhu has invited her several times, but my mother is worried about me and refuses to go."

Huang Chu interjected, "If there's a next time, when Mother is able to go out, she can take Aunt with her. I heard the Zhu family's garden is also very well-maintained."

Shen Yurui smiled as she looked at Luo San, but Luo San showed no sign of joy.

Luo San's voice was hoarse, almost inaudible: "I'm afraid of offending Madam Zhu by coming here without permission."

Shen Yurui said, "If it's just a visit, it's fine. Anyway, I won't see the lady of the house, so how can I cause any displeasure?"

Luo San fell silent, lowering his head and saying nothing.

Huang Chu couldn't stand it any longer. Although Shen Yurui was just like that, and her words were sharp, Luo San wasn't her target before, and she also had a temper, so she wouldn't let Huang Chu bully her like this. Huang Chu lowered her head and asked Luo San if she wanted to go for a walk, without waiting for her to agree or refuse, and pulled her along, then took Huang Song's hand, said they were going for a walk, and left the pavilion.

She walked straight toward the group of men.

Huang Chu and her entourage walked straight towards her. Huang Xingtong and Zhu Xiaoxu both paused their writing, looked up at her, and waited for her to approach. Only the man kept his head down, seemingly not distracted at all.

Huang Chu walked past him and stood in front of Zhu Xiaoxu.

"Senior brother, why don't you come with us for a walk in the garden? Father can't keep you with him all the time. You need to study for the imperial examinations and become an official. What's the fun in painting with an old man who's half-buried? I think it's the most boring thing ever. You should go back to the academy when we get to the back."

Huang Xingtong was both angry and amused. "Is that how you talk about your father? I've spoiled you for nothing!"

Huang Chu ignored him. Zhu Xiaoxu smiled wryly and had no choice but to put down his pen and follow them.

After wandering around the garden twice, Huang Chu, holding Huang Song's hand, suddenly exclaimed, "Oh dear, Rongniang is being naughty! How did you get your skirt dirty?"

Huang Song: "..."

"I'll take you back to change your dress." She turned to Zhu Xiaoxu and said, "I'd appreciate it if you could look after my aunt for me. She's a precious guest, and it's not easy for her to come all this way, so please don't neglect her."

After saying this, he curtsied, picked up Huang Song, who looked like a meatball, and disappeared in a flash.

"..."

"..."

Now they feel much better. After all, it's their own business, and even if they want to keep it to themselves, there's no reason for them to listen to unrelated relatives interfering. It's really unpleasant.

After Huang Chu was reborn, he became even more convinced that life is short. Following etiquette, he never spoke his mind, never asked questions when he was wronged, and procrastinated on everything. Sooner or later, he would only make himself suffer by living this way.

Zhu Xiaoxu had treated her well, and Luo San hadn't offended her, so it wasn't a big deal for her to do a good deed.

She left, and for the first time today, Luo San was truly energized. He stared in disbelief at her retreating figure, then couldn't help but glance at the tall man beside him.

"It wasn't my intention... I didn't ask Yi Niang to come and help us..." she murmured.

"I know. My junior sister knows about what happened between us. She's been a bit headstrong and willful these days, but she doesn't mean any harm. You don't need to worry."

Although Zhu Xiaoxu said that Huang Chu was willful, his expression was completely different. His eyes and brows were gentle, and he didn't seem to want to blame Huang Chu at all.

Miss Luo stared at him blankly, wondering how Huang Chu knew. She hadn't explicitly said anything before leaving last time; Huang Chu couldn't possibly be so certain based on just a few words. Who told her? Did Zhu Xiaoxu tell her on his own initiative?

He and she were childhood sweethearts, sharing everything. Didn't he think it was inappropriate to tell her such private matters?

Luo San thought of the servants in Shen Yurui's household who spoke with great certainty that Young Master Zhu and the eldest daughter were intimate, and that Shen Yurui also said that Madam Zhu adored Huang Chu.

Her mood had been fluctuating wildly these past few days, and she was truly terrified. Even after hearing Zhu Xiaoxu say that he would marry her after passing the exam if things didn't work out, she was still unsettled and needed a more straightforward guarantee and a more direct explanation.

Her lips trembled, and she didn't care whether her question was petty or might displease Zhu Xiaoxu. She simply said in a low voice, "I heard... that Madam Zhu is particularly fond of Miss Huang and treats her with exceptional kindness..."

……

Huang Chu carried his younger sister for a short distance before he couldn't carry her anymore. He put her down, patted her head, and said, "Rongniang, can you walk by yourself?"

Huang Song spun around in place. "Big sister is lying. The skirt isn't dirty."

Huang Chu: "Big sister made a mistake. How about you pick the flowers for me as punishment?"

Huang Song nodded, "I want a big one." He stretched out a circle the size of his head with his two chubby arms.

Huang Chu bargained: "Big ones are no good, how about fragrant ones?" She saw jasmine flowers ahead and didn't want to go too far or go through too much trouble, so she decided to just go with the nearest ones.

Huang Song thought about it seriously for a moment. It was probably because few adults would discuss things with her. Although her request was not met, she was satisfied that her emotions were taken seriously, so she agreed.

She has always been a good-natured child.

Huang Chu led his younger sister to sit on the stone railing of the flowerbed, and had his sister scoop up her clothes to collect the jasmine flowers she had picked. Soon, the scoop was full.

"Too much, it hurts," Huang Song said.

"It doesn't hurt, big sister will teach you how to thread the chain and wear it on your wrist, it will make you look pretty."

As the man walked through the flowerbed and looked over, he saw the two sisters sitting opposite each other on the flower bed, surrounded by the fragrant jasmine. Huang Chu was weaving a long bracelet by threading thin branches through the jasmine buds, and he pulled his sister's wrist to measure the length.

The simple craft wasn't difficult to make. Two long ones had already been made and hung around Huang Song's neck. Huang Song felt that one was enough and was happy to share, so she busied herself taking off the other one to put on her sister's head.

The pale green flower buds tickled her cheeks. Huang Chu laughed and complained at the same time, "Don't move, or you won't be able to measure the length accurately."

Huang Song insisted, hanging the jasmine flower on her sister's hair bun. It wasn't secure; instead, it caught the jade hairpin. Huang Chu was afraid the hairpin would fall off and break, but she couldn't free her hands, so she didn't dare to move.

"Hey, you're being naughty again—"

The weight on my head instantly felt lighter.