My Lady Says She Wants to Marry Me - Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Lu Youming returned home carrying the wild green onions and her vegetable basket. Su Wanrou had accidentally fallen asleep on the bed; after an hour in the carriage, followed by petting the dog and organizing her belongings, she was exhausted.

June weather was unpredictable; a pitter-patter of light rain soon began drumming against the flowers and grass. Lu Youming walked home with a relaxed stride despite the rain. The entire Apricot Blossom Village had gone quiet, save for the rhythmic sound of the rainfall.

She unlocked the door and pushed it open. Fortune was sitting in his kennel wagging his tail as usual, but upon seeing it was her, he simply flopped back down to continue his nap. Seeing the dog’s reaction, Lu Youming shook her head with a smile. She grabbed a towel hanging under the eaves to dry the rain from her hair, then took the vegetable basket to the kitchen.

Rolling up her sleeves, Lu Youming put on a custom-made apron she had commissioned to keep her clothes dry from the wash water and clean from oil splatters. Her movements were nimble and practiced as she washed the vegetables and sliced them on a circular wooden chopping block. She set the sliced eggplants aside and continued prepping the other ingredients with fluid speed.

Meanwhile, in Jinling Prefecture, the eldest son of the Shao family had completed the task of “purchasing” an official post for Lu Youming. Lu Youming had been granted the low-ranking position of County Sheriff, a rank-eight official post. Though the rank was modest, it put her in charge of a county’s security and the apprehension of bandits. Much like the County Vice-Magistrate, the Sheriff was an assistant to the County Magistrate—one focused on civil administration, the other on military/security matters.

“Good. In two days, when Wanrou returns for her formal visit, tell our grandson-in-law the news in private,” Shao Yun said, setting down his book.

Shao Jiechuan, the eldest son and Su Wanrou’s uncle, was over forty. He was of medium build, with hair neatly combed and a thin, spirited face. He frowned slightly, looking at his father. “Father, I used my own quota to purchase this post for Youming. I informed Shaojun before doing so.”

Shao Yun nodded. He had long expected this outcome.

“He’ll likely marry again soon,” the Old Master sighed. He knew Su Shaojun’s mind all too well. Su Shaojun was a man who maintained a reputation for virtue and uprightness, often citing ancient rites and etiquette, yet every move he made was a pursuit of power. If not for that, he wouldn’t have tried so desperately to marry his legitimate daughter off as a secondary wife to a fifty-year-old man; his greed was becoming unsightly.

When Shao Yun was still in court, Su Shaojun was humble and obedient. Now that he had retired, Su Shaojun’s rank was a level higher than those of Shao Yun’s two sons. Su Shaojun was a fourth-rank official, recently transferred back to the capital to join the Supervisory Department. With the current Emperor encouraging open criticism, the power of a Censor was immense.

“If it were just for power, it would be manageable. But the court situation is chaotic right now. If he gets involved, one slip could implicate the whole family. It’s better if we keep our distance. If he does well, we won’t ask him for favors; if he falls, we won’t kick him while he’s down. You and Zhengzhi must be cautious in word and deed, understood?”

Though retired, the Old Master’s sources of information had never dried up. Su Shaojun was determined to swim in the Emperor’s “fishing net,” and there was nothing an old man like him could do to stop it. “Fortunately, Wanrou is married now. Whatever happens to him in the future won’t implicate a daughter who has wed out of the family.”

“Besides, Youming’s connections are through us. In a way, we should thank Su Shaojun for that, hahaha!” Thinking of this, the Old Master happily picked up his book again and waved his son away.

In the village kitchen, Lu Youming ladled oil into the wok. The firewood burned fiercely, and the scent of oil filled the air. She threw in the sliced cured meat; the sudden sizzling sound woke Su Wanrou from her dreams.

Su Wanrou’s nose twitched, and her eyes snapped open at the delicious aroma. “Smells so good.” She rubbed her nose, sat up, and followed the scent out of the room.

Lu Youming’s large ladle moved quickly. The cured meat met the spirited wild onions, creating a heavenly fragrance that billowed out of the chimney.

“Sigh, that Lu lad… how does he make food smell so good? My own dinner tastes like nothing now,” Grandpa Wang, the neighbor, muttered as he caught a whiff. He had no choice but to eat an extra bowl of coarse rice to fill the void.

“What? Is my cooking not good enough for you anymore?” Grandma Wang shot him a glare, and Grandpa Wang could only chuckle and stay silent.

Lu Youming prepared one meat dish, two vegetable dishes, and a vegetable soup. In fifteen minutes, the meal was served. Su Wanrou, who didn’t know how to do anything in a kitchen, sat at the table waiting to be fed, though she did considerately pour some warm water for Lu Youming.

Lu Youming downed the water in one go, exhaled, and motioned for Su Wanrou to sit. “Let’s eat. See how my cooking tastes.”

Su Wanrou looked at the fragrant food and couldn’t help but swallow. In the quiet room, the sound was rather loud. Her face flushed instantly; she had never been so discourteous. She didn’t dare look at Lu Youming.

Lu Youming only smiled inwardly. Seeing the girl’s reddened earlobes, she simply used the serving chopsticks to place a piece of meat in Su Wanrou’s bowl. “Eat.”

The cured meat was delicious, and soon the two forgot the awkwardness as they enjoyed the meal.

“The sun is too strong right after lunch for a walk. When it gets cooler this afternoon, I’ll take you out. Apricot Blossom Village is quite unique.”

“Alright. I’ll follow Husband’s arrangements,” Su Wanrou nodded. She ate slowly and gracefully, a sight that was very pleasing to the eye. Lu Youming ate faster, but her movements weren’t crude.

After lunch, Lu Youming brought some books from the study for Su Wanrou. “If you can’t sleep, you can read these stories to pass the time.”

“I just ate, so I really can’t sleep. Has Fortune eaten?” Su Wanrou asked, wanting to see the dog again.

Lu Youming shook her head. “Fortune only eats two meals a day. He’s very disciplined, not greedy like most dogs. He’ll want to go out for a stroll later; we can accompany him.”

“Okay,” Su Wanrou replied brightly. Lu Youming nodded and returned to her study.

Su Wanrou set the book down and looked around. Lu Youming’s home had four rooms and a central hall. The central dining area doubled as the main hall, with bedrooms on either side. The study was connected to Lu Youming’s bedroom, separated only by a bamboo curtain.

Su Wanrou was moved by the fact that Lu Youming had walked out of the study’s courtyard door to hand her the books, rather than simply lifting the curtain and entering the bedroom area. From this small detail, she could tell Lu Youming was a very considerate person.

She sat on one of the chairs under the eaves, leaning back on a cushion Lu Youming had put out. Like a beautiful white cat in a quiet corner, she stretched her limbs and basked in the filtered sunlight until she drifted off again.

Through a crack in her study window, Lu Youming saw the “white cat” in her relaxed state. She smiled softly and went back to her books. She was currently studying the laws of the Great Sheng Dynasty. This was crucial; law was the foundation of a dynasty, ensuring that society didn’t descend into total chaos under a class system. The laws were comprehensive, covering everything from birth to death. Lu Youming took notes on ordinary bamboo paper, repeatedly copying unfamiliar sections to memorize them.

When Su Wanrou woke up, it was time for Fortune’s walk. Lu Youming had changed into a simple, elegant bamboo-green robe. Her hair was pinned back with a wooden dowel, making her look sharp, heroic, and spirited.

“Wash your face and get ready; we’re heading out.” Lu Youming brought a basin of water and a towel. After ten minutes, Su Wanrou was ready, having changed into shoes suitable for walking.

The two people and one dog left the house and headed toward the village paths. “I’m an outsider here and have no ancestral hall, so I need to take you to meet the Village Chief and introduce you,” Lu Youming said, carrying a gift wrapped in yellow paper.

Su Wanrou nodded. They encountered few people, but the sweet scent of apricots lingered everywhere. Lu Youming explained the village layout: it was built in a semi-circle at the foot of the mountain, with fields spread out in front. Most of the residents were migrants from disaster-stricken areas or their descendants, which was why they had accepted an outsider like her so easily.

Lu Youming had carefully built relationships here, being kind but showing she was not to be bullied. After all, in the eyes of the villagers, she was a hunter who could pin down and kill a wild boar—let alone a person. Overall, the atmosphere was good, and the Village Chief was a fair and highly respected man.