Lu Bocheng was startled when someone grabbed his neck.

After taking a closer look, he saw that it was Liu Juye. He was so angry that he raised his foot and kicked him.

Liu Juye dodged it with a smile.

He quickly approached again, linking arms and shoulders, and wickedly grinned, “I saw it, you know. Don’t play innocent! I was wondering why these past few days, people kept telling me they saw you at the city gate early in the morning, gazing into the distance with your neck stretched out. So, it turns out you were trying to become like the Wife Viewing Stone.”^[1]Though I couldn’t exactly find the reference, there is a stone called Amah Rock, or husband-watching stone in Sha Tin District, Hong Kong. So I am guessing, it is making a similar kind of pun … Continue reading

Upon hearing this, Lu Bocheng’s face grew warm again. He punched him in the chest and said, “What Wife Viewing Stone! Do you have to put it so crudely?”

Liu Juye laughed heartily, “Isn’t it the Wife Viewing Stone? Two days in a row, waiting at the town gate before dawn. Today, you finally managed to catch someone, huh?”

Lu Bocheng ignored him and walked away.

He was going back to catch up on his sleep. He was so sleepy after getting up so early.

After taking two steps, he saw Liu Juye still following him, so he turned around and looked at him seriously.

Liu Juye was so frightened that he guarded his chest with both hands, fearing that he would come again.

“Have you started doing things for your father?” Lu Bocheng asked.

Liu Juye felt relieved.

He walked over, putting his arm around his back, “My old man, ever since he managed to secure a miscellaneous official position in the county, has been indulging in his officialdom. Whenever he’s got nothing to do, he’s at home giving orders, keeping my mother and me on our toes. Well, I am his son after all. So, early in the morning, I get summoned to run errands, don’t I?”

After hearing this, Lu Bocheng’s eyes were a little envious. For the first time, he felt that having a reputation was a good thing.

Liu Juye’s father was just a scholar, and he was not recruited in the two conscriptions. Most of the friends who had been playing together since childhood were taken away.

Now his father has become another casual official. Although he was of no rank or social status, as a miscellaneous official in Pingchuan County Yamen, he could also receive a salary and certain benefits. In Fengting Town, they were already an existence that no one could easily provoke.

If he had not been angry with his family and studied hard, maybe… he could have had a wife and children around him.

He shook his head and shook away some thoughts.

He looked at Liu Juye steadily and said: “After I leave if she needs help with anything, I hope you can help her for the sake of being a good friend for many years. I will be very grateful, brother.”

After that, he solemnly bowed to Liu Juye.

Liu Juye was startled and jumped away repeatedly.

“What are you doing? Which one of us is following whom? Hey, are you serious?”

Lu Bocheng gave him a disdainful look, turned around, and walked away, saying, “If you’re not serious, I won’t bother bowing to you! I’ve got better things to do!”

“Hey, hey, don’t go, are you serious? Didn’t she not meet your standards? Are you really interested in her?”

Liu Juye shouted and chased after him.

Su Qingyu didn’t know what happened in the alleys of South Street.

In the dazzling cloth shop, she picked up pieces of cloth with Mother Su.

Mother Su was thinking about the money in her arms, touching this and looking at that, but couldn’t make up her mind.

“Mom, these are too bright. It’s better to pick something plainer.”

“How can a newly married lady wear something so plain? She should wear something brighter.” Mother Su said and picked up the red cloth in her hand. She then gestured for the sales guy to cut it.

Su Qingyu had a headache: “But, mother, Lu Bocheng is leaving after the wedding. I’m at home alone. I’m wearing such bright clothes. Are you not afraid of people talking about me?”

Mother Su paused upon hearing this.

That’s right, her husband was going away to war, his life and death unknown, and as his wife, she would be all alone at home wearing red and green… No, no, no!

Mother Su decisively pushed back the cloth in her hand.

When the shopkeeper in the corner who was looking at the counter heard this, he immediately came over, pushed aside the helper who was patiently accompanying the selection, and said to Su and her mother: “It turns out that you are the in-laws of Lu Ji Grocery Store. You are the one hired by Lu Bo. Is this your daughter?”

When Mother Su heard this, she nodded: “Do you know them, shopkeeper?”

The shopkeeper smiled at Mother Su and said, “I just heard about him. If you’re talking about the eldest son of Lu Ji, of course, I know him. We all run shops in the town, and their family has been running one for quite a few years. Small town, you know, everyone knows each other.”

After saying that, he looked at Su Qingyu and agreed with what she just said. He secretly said well, it seemed that this girl was a sensible person. After Lu Bocheng leaves, maybe this girl could keep the house for him.

He enthusiastically recommended clothes to Mother Su.

Su Qingyu also learned a lot of knowledge.

The shopkeeper was very talkative and helped to select several items, which were very in line with Su Qingyu’s aesthetic taste. After a while, a pile was piled on the counter. Mother Su just followed and picked happily. When it came time to check out, she was dumbfounded by the pile.

The family originally only gave her one tael of silver, but this was not enough.

The shopkeeper understood it as soon as he saw it.

He took some more out of it and said, “It’s not easy for you two to take them. Let’s make clothes with these. When your daughter gets married in the town, she can come and buy them whenever she needs them.”

Su Qingyu felt that this shopkeeper was really… Able to speak and behave.

Smiling, she said, “I’ll take all of these. I’ll bring the extras home for my younger siblings and parents to have a few sets as well.”

Upon hearing that, the shopkeeper chuckled and set the fabric down. He said to Mother Su, “Your daughter is well-raised, very filial.”

Mother Su smiled at him, then turned back to glare at Su Qingyu.

In addition to the one tael of silver given by her family, she also carried the three taels of silver given by Uncle Su’s family yesterday. She should have enough money to pay for it. But she also wanted to buy another silver bracelet and earrings for Qingyu.

Before she could hesitate, Su Qingyu on the other end had already taken out the wallet given by Lu Bocheng and paid the money.

Mother Su’s eyes widened, where did this girl get her money? She only had two taels of silver on her, and this cloth was nearly three taels.

“Mom, we’ll talk about it later.”

After saying that, she turned around and said, “Shopkeeper, we have to go shopping again. Can we keep the clothes here?”

“Yes, yes. Why not. Just go shopping and come back later to take it.”

Su Qingnyu thanked the shopkeeper and pulled Mother Su out.

As soon as she walked out, Mother Su grabbed her and asked her about the origin of the money.

“Lu Bocheng gave it to me.”

“Huh?”

Su Qingyu took out her purse and looked inside: “There should be more than ten taels left. That’s enough.”

Mother Su reacted and slapped her angrily: “How could you accept his money? You haven’t even married into his family yet. You are giving and receiving it privately, if someone finds out, who knows what they’ll say about you.”

Su Qingyu rolled her eyes toward the sky. Was she afraid of others talking about her? Was she someone who was afraid of other people making irresponsible remarks?

Now that they had decided to get married, they were a couple who shared honor and disgrace. Should they still split expenses? Of course, his money also belonged to her, and she would certainly spend it on him when she made money in the future.

Seeing that Su Qingyu looked at ease, Mohter Su slapped her hard several times.

Thinking of something, she asked again: “Also, I clearly said I came after breakfast at home this morning, why did you still have breakfast with him? And you still winked at me?”

(End of Chapter)