Chapter 27

Shen Mo’er hadn’t expected someone like Fu Mingze to be so straightforward about her financial difficulties. But she quickly understood—Fu Mingze was trying to persuade her not to take reckless risks just for some material possessions.

Her mood instantly lifted. She couldn’t help but smile and ask, “Is Comrade Fu worried that we might get into danger?”

Fu Mingze was momentarily taken aback. Then he lowered his eyes, didn’t answer her question directly, and instead said, “No matter how much it’s worth, nothing is more important than life. Even if it really gets stolen, we can always figure out another way.”

After a pause, he added, “Even if I don’t have any money on hand, Zheng Jiamin’s family is quite well-off and has a bit of money. Plus, I have a good friend whose family is financially well-off too. He can easily lend me money anytime. If you run short in the future, you can come to me, and we’ll figure something out together.”

Shen Mo’er hadn’t expected him to say that.

Since he had a financially well-off friend, by reason he shouldn’t be so poor himself. This only proved that even if what he said about being able to get money at any time was true, he probably wasn’t the type to ask for help easily.

But the fact that he was willing to say this now meant that, should she ever need help, he’d be willing to make an exception and ask his friend for her.

Shen Mo’er smiled and didn’t refuse. Instead, she said, “Alright then, thank you, Comrade Fu.”

Fu Mingze glanced at her, a trace of warmth in his eyes as he smiled softly, said nothing more, shook his head, and carried the bucket away.

Watching his slender figure gradually disappear into the distance, Shen Mo’er suddenly thought of the time just before the rebel army surrounded the capital.

That day, her imperial uncle and her father were drinking tea and playing chess at the Lotus Pavilion in the Imperial Garden. The chessboard hadn’t moved for a long time, yet the two of them had already gone back and forth listing all the prominent young gentlemen in the capital. Then, feigning nonchalance, they asked her what kind of husband she wanted to choose.

At that time, she had been leaning against the edge of the pavilion, fishing idly. She thought for a moment and replied, “A good-looking one.”

Because of her father’s sensitive status, she naturally couldn’t choose someone too clever and ambitious, lest he become uncontrollable and cause trouble within the family.

Besides, she had disliked ugly things since childhood. Since she would have to face her future husband every day for years to come, she naturally wanted someone pleasant to look at.

Her imperial uncle burst out laughing at her answer and said, “I’ve heard that the fifth son of Grand Secretary Xu is a man of refined appearance and elegance. He’s also obsessed with painting and a great admirer of your father’s work. I’m sure he’d be happy to marry you.”

But her father had said, “I’ve met that boy before. Unfortunately, he has inherited a bit too much of Grand Secretary Xu’s pedantic air. I don’t think he’s suitable. Mo’er enjoys martial arts and archery with her imperial brothers. I think the youngest son of General Zhu would be a better match. I’ve seen that child—he’s quite spirited.”

After a pause, he added, “But unfortunately, he’s a Zhu. I don’t like that surname.”

Her imperial uncle wasn’t offended in the least. After some thought, he said, “The top scorer of the current imperial examination isn’t good-looking. The second place is too old. But the third-place scholar isn’t too bad…”

Her father responded boldly, “Just ‘not too bad’? How could that be good enough for my little Mo’er?”

The emperor was momentarily speechless, then laughed and pointed at her father, saying, “You really are something. But you do make a fair point.”

Her father didn’t feel the least bit guilty for contradicting the emperor. Instead, he replied seriously, “Of course I make sense. If we were just going to pick someone ‘not too bad,’ why would we bother troubling Your Majesty? I could’ve found someone like that myself with a flick of the wrist.”

“Now that you mention it,” he added, “I recall that the second prince of Western Qi is said to be the most handsome man in all of Western Qi. If he’s willing to come for a marriage alliance, he might be worth considering.”

…

That day, her imperial uncle and father brought up countless young noblemen. Shen Mo’er had been dozing off under the sun, drowsy from the heat, marveling at how her busy uncle could still remember the names of so many young men.

Soon after, portraits of all the young men her imperial uncle and father had mentioned were sent to the prince’s residence.

Rumor had it that even a portrait of that famously handsome second prince of Western Qi was among them.

Unfortunately, just as the stack of portraits arrived, the rebel army reached the gates of the capital. How could she have had the heart to look through a picture album then?

After that, the world turned upside down.

Now, in this entirely different world, a sudden thought popped into Shen Mo’er’s mind: What kind of husband should she choose in this world?

First and foremost, he had to be good-looking.

No matter the world, if someone was going to be by your side for decades, pleasing to the eye was the first requirement.

As for the second criterion…

Shen Mo’er recalled what the neighborhood aunties had said about picking a partner: What were the family’s living conditions like? Their financial status? For city dwellers, did the man have a stable, respectable job? For those from rural areas, could he earn enough work points to support a family? In short—decent economic conditions.

But then she thought of her own circumstances and the treasure vault that had somehow come with her into this world. Shen Mo’er decided she should go the opposite route—she ought to choose someone poor, the poorer the better.

Life for the poor here was hard, yes—but at least it was stable. Many who had once been rich now lived in misery.

Take Lin Kaicheng, for example. She’d heard that this entire region, including some parts of the neighboring Songshu Brigade, used to belong to his family. Many of the villagers’ grandparents had been tenant farmers under them.

Now, only he and his mother were left. That skinny boy was doing the hardest, most exhausting labor in the entire brigade.

So it was better to be poor. Being poor made you less conspicuous.

Still…

Good-looking and poor.

Shen Mo’er’s gaze drifted to Fu Mingze, who was carrying a bucket into her kitchen, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat.

By that measure, wasn’t Comrade Fu actually quite suitable?

As soon as that thought emerged, Shen Mo’er smirked at herself. He had just offered to borrow money from a friend to help her family. How could she shamelessly start lusting after him just because he was handsome? Besides, her family was planning to find a live-in son-in-law. Someone like Comrade Fu probably wouldn’t agree to that arrangement.

She didn’t dwell on it further. Shaking the thought away, she quickly finished washing the vegetables and carried the enamel basin back.

Halfway home, she ran into Fu Mingze again, on his way to fetch more water. She quickly said, “Comrade Fu, I can carry the water for the vat myself later.”

Fu Mingze looked at her and smiled. “I’m just using it as an excuse to slack off.”

Shen Mo’er: “…”

So he was returning her earlier joke.

She didn’t argue with him. Besides, Aunt Chen and Sister Xinmei had said they were staying home today to wash and dry clothes, which meant she had more chores to do. If someone was helping with the water, she was happy to take it easy.

Today, there were five extra people joining them for a meal. Since it was their first time eating at her place, Shen Mo’er figured she should make something meaty.

The rabbits they’d hunted the other day had been eaten within two days. All that was left now was some dried meat from before, but not much—and that stuff was more of a snack than a proper dish.

She glanced at the sky. It was still early. Maybe she could try her luck in the back mountains again? With that in mind, she went inside to grab a bamboo basket and the short bow she’d made earlier, preparing to go for a stroll through the mountains. If she didn’t catch anything, she could try the stream and see if she could fish something up.

But just as she reached the door, something suddenly blurred her vision.

With a loud squawk, something came flying straight at her face—

Shen Mo’er instinctively reached out and grabbed it. “Eh?!”