Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside

Chapter 680: Roadblock

Luo Wu had no intention of entertaining Miss Yang, and upon hearing her suggestion, he shook his head in refusal: "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Yang. I need to go home for the festival and cannot visit the Yang family."

Miss Yang felt very disappointed after hearing this, but she quickly smiled again, took out a jug of wine and a lotus leaf grilled chicken from her basket, and handed them to Luo Wu: "Squad Leader Luo, take these back for the festival, let your family taste some food from the county."

Luo Wu shook his head: "No need, Miss Yang, take them back for Squad Leader Yang and others to add to their meal."

Squad Leader Yang’s family did not live abundantly in the county, these foods were surely meant for the Yang family’s Dongzhi meat dishes, it would not be proper for him to take them, and what would he even say upon bringing them back?

Despite being refused twice by Luo Wu, Miss Yang was not discouraged. Instead, she took out a pair of red silk flowers from her purse and gave them to Luo Wu: "It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Hui Niang, I made these silk flowers myself. Could Squad Leader Luo take them back for Hui Niang?"

Miss Yang had met Luo Huiniang and had also seen Gu Jinxiu. Three years ago during the Qiqiao Festival, Mrs. Jiang invited Miss Gu and her sisters to Jiang Mansion for the festival, and Miss Yang was at the Jiang family’s place. At that time, the group of girls had a competition, but the prize was taken by Gu Jinxiu.

When Luo Wu saw the pair of silk flowers, he thought of Gu Jinxiu... Sister Xiu also made silk flowers for Hui Niang to wear, and the ones made by Sister Xiu were much prettier than these, looking like real flowers, vibrant and making one reluctant to touch them.

Luo Wu, troubled by his unrequited feelings, suddenly felt his eyes well up while looking at the silk flowers.

Miss Yang was startled and quickly asked Luo Wu: "What’s the matter, Squad Leader Luo? Is there some difficult situation you’ve encountered?"

It was beyond her expectation to see a big man like Squad Leader Luo with reddened eyes, it was quite discordant.

"It’s nothing, I just didn’t sleep well last night, my eyes are bloodshot," Luo Wu didn’t want anyone to know what was on his mind. Lady Xia had said that a girl’s reputation is of utmost importance, and if others knew that he fancied Sister Xiu, she would be disapproved of by the old ladies of noble families, and he couldn’t harm Sister Xiu.

"No need, Miss Yang, keep them for yourself to wear. Hui Niang has many silk flowers... made by Miss Gu from next door."

After being rejected three times, Miss Yang’s face could hardly maintain her composure, but she smiled and said, "Miss Gu? You mean Sister Xiu, right? I know her, her embroidery work is indeed good, comparable to an embroidery master."

She looked at Luo Wu and smiled again: "More than her embroidery skills, it’s Sister Xiu’s appearance that is most captivating. My home is in the county, and we have relatives in the Prefecture; I’ve followed my family there and have seen many young ladies, but none can compare to Sister Xiu."

She sighed again: "I don’t know who such an outstanding girl will marry. I suppose she won’t marry into the countryside; it would be unfair to her. She is destined to marry into the Prefecture, to become a lady of an official family."

Luo Wu heard this and his expression stiffened. That’s right, Sister Xiu, such a wonderful girl, keeping her in the countryside would be unfair to her. She deserves to marry into the Prefecture or the Capital, becoming a lady surrounded by many servants in an official family.

"Miss Yang, I must go now, farewell." Luo Wu almost fled in haste, not daring to speak any further with Miss Yang, fearing she might bring up Sister Xiu again, exposing his inadequacies and making it clear how unworthy he was of Sister Xiu.

"Hey, Squad Leader Luo, take care, ride slowly, don’t rush." Miss Yang noticed the change in Luo Wu; she knew of his affection for Gu Jinxiu.

In the past two years, Luo Wu had made no secret of his affection for Gu Jinxiu; whenever Gu Jinxiu visited the Jiang family on Qiqiao Festival, Luo Wu was sure to be there. Every time he received his salary, he would run to buy things for Gu Jinxiu.

His father even teased him once, asking when he would celebrate his wedding, and at home, they talked about how deeply enamored Luo Wu was with Eldest Miss Gu.

Miss Yang had also said that Sister Xiu had found a good man, but after she broke off her own engagement, the women in the county spread some unsavory rumors about her, resulting in her being unable to be engaged till now.

Already nineteen, she would be twenty after the New Year, a proper old maid. Finding a good man was not easy, and she would not give up on Luo Wu.

It wasn’t as if she was stealing someone else’s betrothed, for Luo Wu and Gu Jinxiu were not yet engaged. She was simply taking the timely opportunity to show goodwill towards Luo Wu, without resorting to any underhanded tactics.

"Dan Niang, what are you doing standing here? Have you bought the wine? We are waiting to offer it to our ancestors." Seeing that Miss Yang had not returned home, Squad Leader Yang’s wife went out with a servant to look for her, found her standing by the roadside staring ahead, smacked her on the back, and took her by the hand into a nearby alley, heading home: "Your dad has to go to the government office tonight, we need to eat dinner early."

Miss Yang Danniang said, "Mother, don’t worry, I also bought a lotus leaf roasted chicken. We’ll use the roasted chicken for the offering, and then stir-fry a few quick dishes to start dinner. It won’t delay dad from his duties."

Squad Leader Yang’s wife laughed after hearing this; her daughter was capable in handling things, only her marital prospects were not favorable, which worried the family deeply.

After exiting the county, Luo Wu rode his horse straight to Qingfu Town, but he had barely been out of the county for fifteen minutes when he was blocked by a mule cart.

"Brother Wu, what a coincidence to meet you here," Master Xia, wearing a large cloak, got down from the mule cart and said to the driver, "Why don’t you watch where you’re driving? How could you drive the cart into a ditch?"

Look at this, he wasn’t here to block Luo Wu on purpose; it was his household’s driver who couldn’t drive properly and had driven the good mule cart into a ditch, leaving him stranded.

Seeing Master Xia, Luo Wu turned pale instantly; he was already afraid of Master Xia. Although Master Xia appeared amiable, he was sharp in his words and had thoroughly humiliated Luo Wu. Fearing him deeply, Luo Wu simply nodded at Master Xia and then tried to ride away.

But how could Master Xia let him leave?

"Brother Wu, you are strong, come over and help lift the cart," Master Xia walked over, blocking his path, indicating that if Luo Wu wished to avoid a serious situation, he would have to dismount.

Left with no choice, Luo Wu dismounted to help, but he remained silent throughout, refusing to say a word no matter what Master Xia said.

After they lifted the cart out, Luo Wu wanted to leave but was stopped by Master Xia, "Brother Wu, don’t rush off. The wheel of the mule cart is damaged and can’t go further. There is a copper tripod inside the cart that is too heavy. Could you help transport it by horse to the manor? My manor is nearby, you’ve been there before."

Luo Wu’s complexion worsened; he disliked Master Xia’s manor intensely, as it was the manor that shattered all his dreams.

He shook off Master Xia’s hand: "Master Xia, I need to rush home for Dongzhi, I haven’t been home for a long time. If I don’t go back this time, I’m afraid I’ll be scolded by my parents."

Being with Master Xia, Luo Wu subconsciously spoke more elegantly... He didn’t want Master Xia to criticize him as an uncultured brute who could not even speak gracefully.

Master Xia looked at Luo Wu and smiled, "Actually, I called you to the manor this time to discuss Sister Xiu’s marriage. You might not know since you are in the county, but some time ago, a legitimate son from a Jiangnan noble family proposed to Sister Xiu."

Luo Wu froze upon hearing this, a noble son from Jiangnan proposing to Sister Xiu, really?

He was worried Sister Xiu might be at a disadvantage and quickly asked, "Then, what is the character of that man? Will he treat Sister Xiu well? Will his family look down on Sister Xiu?"