jdhmnovel Chapter 172 One with feelings, one without intention
Chapter 172 One with feelings, one without intention
Lin Xiaomei had some schooling and knew quite a few characters when she was young. When she first met Yang Yu, four words came to mind: imposing and dignified.
His posture was upright, and his face was more beautiful than jade. Even just looking at his eyes, which were as bright as the moon, one couldn't help but want to be captivated by them.
A man with such looks and demeanor, let alone a farm boy who only knows how to farm, even a wealthy young master in a town or county wouldn't be as good as him.
Lin Xiaomei gazed at him adoringly for a moment, then softly called out, "Brother Yang~"
Then, blushing slightly, she handed over the basket beside her, saying, "These are jujube blossom pastries I made, with less sugar on purpose. You and your younger siblings can try them."
How many times have I given them this? Osmanthus cake, walnut shortbread, hawthorn cake...
The girl was shy, so Yang Yu had to come up with different reasons each time he refused her, so as to save her face.
She said she doesn't like sweets, that she can't eat walnuts, and even that her father, who died young, used to grow hawthorn trees at home, and she didn't want to be reminded of those memories...
He was really racking his brains until his head ached.
Forget it, it seems the tactful approach won't work. This time, I'll just be direct and cut off any lingering hopes!
"Miss Mei, we're not a good match, and I don't like these kinds of snacks. I hope you understand." That's direct enough, isn't it!
Lin Xiaomei selectively understood what she was hearing. "Brother Yang doesn't like pastries, so I'll bring you dried meat next time!"
"..." Yang Yu was speechless and could only respond with silence.
One of them was standing at the door, wanting to go inside for some tea, while the other was behind the door, not intending to invite them in.
Neither side yielded nor uttered a word.
The stalemate lasted for about half a cup of tea's time. After hanging up the clothes, Ashu came over to take a look.
Two doors separated the two people. Yang Yu is in trouble again. Well, I have to lend a hand!
"Yang Yu, what are you standing there for at the door? Let's go back inside and see if the food is ready. I'm starving!"
I genuinely wanted to help call the person back inside, but I was also genuinely hungry!
The few mouthfuls of rice porridge he drank in the morning had long been used up during the morning's strenuous exercise, and he was so hungry he was seeing stars.
For the first time, Yang Yu found the kid's voice so pleasant. "Okay, I'll be right there."
Then he slowly said to Lin Xiaomei, "Miss Xiaomei, my family is in dire straits, so I won't keep you for dinner."
My family is poor, we have little rice, little vegetables, and even less meat. Don't come, there's not enough to eat, understand?
Lin Xiaomei's eyes reddened, she clenched the thing in her hand tightly, and then said tearfully, "Brother Yang, I thought you understood my feelings~"
She spent the whole morning happily making snacks at home, and then she came all this way. Did she need a few meals from his family?
How could this man be so clueless about romance? He wouldn't even invite her in for a cup of tea.
It's inevitable to feel some disappointment and resentment.
He mustered his courage and said, "Brother Yang, a few days ago my parents arranged a marriage for me with Wang Mingchuan, a scholar in town, but I didn't want to and refused him."
For me, what good is becoming an official's wife, living a life of luxury, if I can't be with the person I love? Do you understand my feelings?
"..."
He didn't understand, nor did he want to understand, so he pretended to be surprised and said:
"Miss Mei, congratulations in advance on such a perfect match! I will definitely bring my younger siblings to your home for a celebratory drink when the wedding arrives."
"You!" Lin Xiaomei's face flushed red, and she almost lost her gentle expression.
Ahua ran into the yard and called out, "Brother Yang Yu, brother, dinner's ready!"
Is dinner served?
A-Shu's eyes lit up, and he swallowed hard. He felt so hungry that he could eat a whole pig!
Never mind, eating is more important! She turned and walked towards the kitchen. "Brother Yang Yu, you keep working, I'm going back to eat first!"
Yeah, hurry up, he still needs to help serve the dishes.
As if no one was hungry, Yang Yu was a little impatient and directly told her to go home and eat, "Miss Xiao Mei, you should go home and eat too." He was about to close the door after saying that.
"Brother Yang, you..." Lin Xiaomei wanted to say something more, but reached out to stop her.
Yang Yu's hand, which was closing the door, suddenly paused. A few words silenced her before she could say anything more.
"Oh right, I forgot to tell you, Ahua takes care of all the big and small things at home every day, and has never had the time to play as you described."
She was sick and bedridden for a few days and has only been resting for a few days. Please don't speak ill of my family in the future. Goodbye!
A loud "bang!" cut off Lin Xiaomei's figure and the words she was about to say.
She stomped her foot hard, almost throwing the basket on her wrist. "Yang Yu, what's wrong with me that you look down on me like this? Why do you never give me a kind look!"
In the entire Youxian Village, and even in Luoxia Town, Lin Xiaomei is second to none in terms of both appearance and talent!
Countless men openly or secretly harbored feelings for her, pursuing her and hoping to marry her. Why was it that Yang Yu, the one she herself had chosen, was so oblivious?
Wang Mingchuan, a scholar from that town, had some family wealth and wanted to offer ten taels of silver as a bride price to marry her.
Actually, if I really went there to be a future scholar's wife, in charge of the household, that would be fine.
But everyone in town knew about Wang Mingchuan's situation; he had failed the imperial examination five times and had no hope of becoming a scholar!
Moreover, he has two children, aged five or six, left behind by his deceased wife. If she goes there, she will have to become a maid and raise other people's children.
Also, I heard he has a bad temper, and I don't know how the previous person died, who knows!
In such a family, the parents happily accepted the money, coaxing and even pressuring him to send him over, so that the bride price could be saved for the younger brother to marry a good wife.
Ha, do you really think she's a fool who only listens to her parents' arrangements in everything?
No!
She had to find a way to ruin this marriage; even a son from an ordinary farming family would be much better off than the Wang family.
Yang Yu is her best option right now, and she must try her best to hold onto him!
Lin Xiaomei stared at the door, made up her mind, and then turned and left with full confidence.
……
"Wow, Sister Chunyi, the dishes you made smell so good!" Ashu took a deep breath of the aroma from the low table and almost drooled with hunger.
A small, low table was filled with food: a small pot of stewed dried mushrooms and cured chicken, a plate of stir-fried cabbage, a plate of cured pork stir-fried with green beans, and a plate of braised pig's head meat brought by the two sisters.
Lin Chunyi was the first to sit in the seat directly opposite the door, followed by Lin Lanshan on her left.
Then there's Yang Yu on the right, and finally, sitting opposite them are Ashu and Ahua.
With the arrival of the two sisters, today's lunch was naturally much more sumptuous than usual, and everyone was incredibly hungry.
Lin Chunyi picked up a piece of chicken with her chopsticks and said with a smile, "Let's eat."
As soon as she finished speaking, several afterimages appeared on the table, none of them giving way to the other.
The saying goes that there are no feelings at the dinner table; at this time, who cares about the distinction between elders and juniors?
The room was full of young men and women who worked every day and also practiced martial arts. In less than half an hour, the plates on the table were almost empty.
Ahua quietly touched her bulging belly, grinning from ear to ear:
"My biggest wish used to be to have enough to eat. Now that my wish has come true, I hope that in the future I can eat all the delicious food in the world! Hehe~"
She seems a bit greedy.
But wishes are always distant. Let's try a little bit more; who knows, maybe one day they'll come true?