My Lady Says She Wants to Marry Me - Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Lu Youming specifically took the back paths with Su Wanrou, worried that she might find the enthusiastic local grandfathers, grandmothers, and aunties a bit overwhelming.

“The village is so quiet; not many people are out walking,” Su Wanrou remarked as she stood on the bluestone path. She looked at the stones under her feet—though not perfectly smooth, it was clear that a great deal of effort had gone into paving the road with them.

“The Village Chief of Apricot Blossom Village must be a very remarkable person,” Su Wanrou mused, considering the organized apricot forest and the stone road beneath them.

Lu Youming smiled at her observation. The Village Chief was indeed a man of great foresight. Because travelers often came to play in the apricot grove, he anticipated that tourists would wander into the village as well, so he had the roads properly regulated. He followed the philosophy of “rising at dawn to sprinkle and sweep the courtyard,” meaning the village had to be kept tidy inside and out. He wanted every guest to feel that Apricot Blossom Village was no different from a legendary Peach Blossom Spring.

In fact, every time the apricot blossoms bloomed, the village collected a small entrance fee—only ten wen per person. While it wasn’t much individually, it added up to a substantial income for the community.

Fortune trotted along with vigorous strides, occasionally pawing at the ground. His powerful, domineering physique provided a profound sense of security.

“Don’t you think the name ‘Fortune’ is a bit beneath him?” Su Wanrou asked, looking at the broad-chested dog with its sharp, cold gaze. Her bright eyes hinted that the name was a bit too “rustic” for such a handsome and majestic hound.

Lu Youming looked at Fortune, who had doubled back and was staring at her expectantly. She felt a rare wave of embarrassment. Fortune had wanted a name change for a long time; she just couldn’t think of anything that sounded sophisticated. She gripped the string of the pastry box she was carrying, her gaze flickering away, not daring to meet the eyes of the dog or the smiling Su Wanrou.

“Why don’t you give him a name then?” Lu Youming rubbed her nose guiltily. Whenever it came to naming things, her mind just defaulted to “Fortune.” When she first arrived, she was so poor that after recovering at the Taoist temple, her only focus was making money. Eventually, she went hunting in the mountains and picked up this half-grown wolfdog pup.

“Oh, would that be alright?” Su Wanrou said modestly, though her eyes were already sparkling with excitement. She was clearly already brainstorming a name that would reflect his dominance.

“How about ‘Zhufeng’ (Wind-Chaser)?” Su Wanrou knelt to stroke the big dog’s head. The newly renamed Fortune seemed to understand; he happily nuzzled Su Wanrou’s palm.

“Chasing the wind and pursuing the moon—that is indeed a fine name. From now on, you shall be Zhufeng.”

Lu Youming happily accepted. She knelt beside Su Wanrou to stroke Zhufeng’s back. The dog’s muscle lines were beautiful, and thanks to Lu Youming’s care, his coat was glossy and smooth.

They dallied on the road for a while before reaching the Village Chief’s house. The Chief, a man in his sixties named Old Mr. Liu, was lying in a rocking chair sipping tea. Lu Youming treated him with great respect, bowing with a smile. “Grandpa Liu, this is my new bride. I’ve brought her to pay her respects to you.”

The Village Chief opened his eyes and saw the dignified, elegant Su Wanrou. He hurried to stand up; it would be discourteous to remain reclining. He cleared his throat and asked his daughter-in-law to pour two cups of tea.

“Greetings, Grandpa Liu,” Su Wanrou performed a formal Wanfu salute. The old man nodded with a beaming smile. He decided to act as an elder today; otherwise, given her background, a Censor’s daughter wouldn’t normally need to bow to a mere Xiucai (scholar who passed the entry-level exam).

The Lu lad married a fine wife, Old Mr. Liu thought. A truly well-bred noble lady. How did a brat like him land her? He couldn’t figure it out, but he chalked it up to destiny.

“Lu lad, you’ve married a good woman. You must treat her well. A wife is a partner; only when man and woman are equal can they be of one heart,” Old Mr. Liu advised earnestly. Lu Youming nodded quickly, stepping forward to familiarly support the old man’s arm as he sat, before ushering Su Wanrou to a seat.

Old Mr. Liu had always liked children who were refined yet capable, and Lu Youming fit that mold perfectly—plus, she was literate. When she first settled in the village, the old man had helped her with everything from zoning her land to establishing her hunter status.

The Village Chief’s wife came out and took an immediate liking to Su Wanrou. She sat with her, quietly teaching her the “art of managing a husband,” much like Su Wanrou’s own grandmother.

“In a marriage, everything is a give-and-take,” the old woman whispered, patting Su Wanrou’s hand. “Never over-indulge the other person. If you pamper them too much, they’ll take an inch and ask for a mile. A relationship is like a rope with two ends; you pull a bit, I pull a bit. You must be considerate of each other. Only with mutual effort can the affection stay strong.”

“You don’t find this old woman too talkative, do you?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye.

Su Wanrou shook her head and replied softly yet playfully, “This is a lifetime of your experience; I have much to learn.”

They stayed at the Liu house for over an hour. When evening approached, Lu Youming rose to say goodbye. The Lius invited them for dinner, but Lu Youming declined. “Thank you for your kindness, Grandpa Liu, but I plan to take my bride for a walk around the village.”

On the way back, the village was more crowded. People who had attended the wedding banquet called out, “Congratulations! May you have a son soon!”

“Thank you, thank you,” Lu Youming replied with a cupped-hand salute, ushering Su Wanrou and Zhufeng toward home.

“It seems we didn’t explore much today. I’ll take you out more tomorrow,” Lu Youming said as they reached the house. Su Wanrou, having gathered a basketful of “life experience” from the old woman, sat down to digest the new knowledge.

“Grandmother Liu is a truly wise woman,” Su Wanrou mused. “Everything she told me today was about the dynamics of living together, yet it’s clear she and the Chief are very much in love.”

Lu Youming nodded. “Granny Liu is also a scholar’s daughter and has read many books. She is kind-hearted; all the younger generation loves her.”

After dinner, Lu Youming told Su Wanrou to rest early. “If you need anything, just call. Zhufeng won’t be leashed tonight; he can roam the yard freely to protect you.”

“Can… can I let Zhufeng sleep with me?” Su Wanrou asked, dressed in her white inner robes with an outer cloak thrown over. She pressed her hands together, looking at Lu Youming with a pitiful, pleading expression.

Lu Youming: “…No. No dogs in the bedroom. That’s my bottom line. Go to sleep; I’ll keep you safe.”

“Sigh, fine. I knew you wouldn’t agree,” Su Wanrou sighed melodramatically.

Lu Youming felt a metaphorical black line slide down her forehead. “Then why did you ask?”

“I thought I’d give it a try. What if you had said yes?” Su Wanrou looked at her innocently.

“Goodnight,” Lu Youming muttered, thinking to herself that she should have known better than to ask.

After locking the courtyard and bracing the main door with a solid timber beam, Lu Youming returned to the study. Her small single bed was ready with a thin quilt. A sachet of insect repellent and a bit of herbal incense ensured the mosquitoes stayed away.

In the next room, Su Wanrou lay on the bed. She thought she would be too restless to sleep with so many thoughts in her head, but before she could even sort them out, she drifted off. Her first day at the Lu house had been pleasant, relaxed, and free of worries. She slept soundly and sweetly.