Chapter 34 2/2

Taoyu was surprised by the sudden scent, so she lit an oil lamp with a match in the darkness. The wind blowing in through the window caused the lamp to sway back and forth.

Approaching the window to close it, Taoyu discovered a bouquet of plum blossoms placed on the windowsill.

She picked up the bouquet and glanced outside into the dark night, but there was only the sound of the cold winter wind in response.

Being able to quietly sneak the flowers in like this, Taoyu didn’t need to think twice to know who it was.

She just didn’t know when the person had come.

Closing the window, Taoyu took a sniff of the cool plum blossom fragrance and found a note tucked among the branches.

She quickly retrieved the note and saw only two words written on it: “Sorry.”

“Even the message is so brief.”

Taoyu pursed her lips and couldn’t help but mutter.

However, despite the brief message, receiving what she had brought made her feel very happy. She briskly went to fetch a vase and some water, then trimmed the plum branches and placed them in the vase.

Before going to bed, she placed the vase on the bedside cabinet.

The next day, Taoyu woke up early.

Having slept soundly last night, she felt refreshed.

After washing her face, she was about to go and have breakfast, and on the way, she planned to talk to her parents about Huo Shu’s matter. However, as she reached the outside of the kitchen, she overheard a conversation inside the house.

“It’s already winter; everywhere is freezing cold. How can you leave in this month? Why not wait patiently for the New Year? Where are you going anyway? Are you out of your mind?”

“How could I be out of my mind? He said he can’t earn much money in the village and wants to go out to seek opportunities.”

“He’s not young anymore; why can’t he settle down?”

“Well, he originally wanted to settle down and live a stable life. But after the marriage proposal was rejected, men have their pride, and he felt that they looked down on him because he doesn’t have a son yet, so he wants to leave.”

Huang Manjing angrily said, “He’s such a grown man; why is his face so thin-skinned? This temper of his isn’t good either. He needs to toughen up, and you don’t need to worry about him anymore.”

Ji Yangzong said, “I really don’t want to interfere; just pack up and leave today! Oh!”

Taoyu was sceptical, suspecting that her parents were trying to deceive her again. But upon reflection, she realised that she had left without giving them a definite answer yesterday, and perhaps Huo Shu would think she looked down on him for not having money or property.

But hearing that he was leaving today made her anxious.

She didn’t go into the kitchen and instead ran in the direction of the Zhao family.

The sky was gloomy, with a cold mist drifting in the drizzle.

Although the rain didn’t soak her, it was chilly.

Huo Shu, who had never been afraid of the cold, felt the chill early in the morning.

She took out the cloak she hadn’t used in a while and wrapped it around herself, preparing to go to town.

She needed to buy some things and would have to visit the Ji family again in the evening.

“Ah, Shu, while you’re in town, could you exchange the cotton cloth I bought some days ago? The pattern isn’t suitable for sewing.”

“Alright.”

After breakfast, she packed Yuan Huiru’s cotton cloth into a bundle and tied it to her back. She didn’t bother with an umbrella but covered her head with a bamboo hat and rode her horse out of the door.

At this hour, it was still early, and with the gloomy and cold rain, few people were willing to go out unless it was urgent.

She didn’t encounter anyone on the way from the small path to the main road while on horseback.

Thinking it was cold, she decided to take the main road to town, hoping to return early.

However, as she just got onto the village road, she heard an urgent shout from behind.

“Huo Big Brother!”

Huo Shu turned around and saw a figure running hurriedly on the small road, with a layer of frost already forming on top of her head.

On such a cold day, seeing the younger sister without even wearing a hat and not even wearing a cloak that was usually worn in autumn, Huo Shu couldn’t help but frown.

She stopped the horse, intending to dismount, but the person who came running suddenly fell to the ground.

Huo Shu’s heart tightened, and she quickly dismounted to help.

Taoyu lay on the wet and muddy ground, trying to get up, afraid that they would leave if she was late.

She thought her parents were just scaring her, but she didn’t expect Huo Shu to really pack up and leave. Feeling anxious, she stumbled and fell.

As Taoyu tried to get up from the ground, a pair of hands gently grabbed her arm and helped her up.

“Are you okay?”

The fall wasn’t too painful; it just covered her in mud, but upon hearing the familiar voice, Taoyu couldn’t help but feel her nose tingle, and her eyes turned red.

“Are you… are you leaving?”

Huo Shu looked at the almost crying person and frowned even more. “Where would I go? I’m just going to town.”

Then she added, “I’ll buy you some candied chestnuts while I’m at it.”

Taoyu pursed her lips at his words and looked at Huo Shu’s bundle. “Then you carry this.”

“Cotton cloth, my godmother asked me to take it to the fabric store.”

The misunderstanding was cleared up, and Taoyu breathed a sigh of relief.

He then said he couldn’t possibly leave! It was just his parents deliberately provoking him.

But seeing him with the bundle just now still startled her.

“Oh, then… then I’ll go back first.”

Huo Shu wouldn’t let Taoyu leave like that. He held onto Taoyu’s slender arm, keeping him close.

“Do you think I’m leaving?”

“No, I… I just came out to pick vegetables and happened to see you.”

Taoyu’s face flushed. “You go to town; don’t delay.”

Huo Shu looked at Taoyu. “What if I really want to leave?”

Taoyu’s eyes widened slightly at his words, suddenly looking into Huo Shu’s eyes. “You…”

“What about you if I leave? Yuan Miss has a grandson; I can bring Zhao Pan back.”

“Yes, Miss Yuan has a grandson, a daughter-in-law, and still has someone to take care of her in her old age. If you leave, you can also arrange things properly for her.”

Taoyu frowned, her lips trembling slightly. “Then… what about me? You said you wanted to marry me.”

Huo Shu’s voice sounded regretful. “But you didn’t want to, did you?”

“I didn’t.”

Taoyu’s face turned red, and her voice lowered. “I didn’t want to.”

Huo Shu’s eyebrows lifted, and he repeated, “Then I want to marry you.”

Blushing, Taoyu replied, “Yes.”

“Then I’ll check the almanack and pick a good day to propose to your family.”

“Yes.”

“Then I want to kiss you.”

“Yes… yes?”

Taoyu, embarrassed, suddenly realised what was happening, her face turning even redder. “Huo Shu!”

Huo Shu laughed openly for the first time, then bent down and lifted the complaining younger brother in his arms.

Taoyu’s body suddenly hung in the air, subconsciously grabbing onto Huo Shu’s arm.

His strong and powerful arms seemed to pulsate with strength in her soft palms. She rarely had contact with men, let alone such intimate actions.

Although Huo Shu had hugged him before, at that time he was struggling for his life; where would he have time to think about anything else?

But now he was sober, even more embarrassed, and his heart was beating fast for a while.

“What are you doing?”

“It’s cold outside, and you’re wearing so little. Be careful not to catch a cold. I’ll take you back first.”

Taoyu nervously said, “Put me down; I can go back by myself.”

Huo Shu held the soft and light younger brother in his arms, unwilling to let go. “What’s there to be afraid of? I’ll just ask them to prepare a meal when we get back, so we won’t have to inform them twice.”

“There’s no one like you!”

Huo Shu looked at the person in his arms, who was almost crying, and pulled his cloak. “Alright, no one will see us like this.”

Seeing this, Taoyu nestled in Huo Shu’s arms. Although both were stiff, it was fortunate that they didn’t feel powerless or fearful halfway through. They didn’t have to get wet in the rain, and his body felt warm.

Although she thought so in her heart, she still had a stern face.

Huo Shu patted the horse, indicating it to go back on its own, then lowered his head to see the person holding a grumpy face. “What’s wrong?”

“You didn’t used to be like this.”

“What do you mean?”

“You weren’t so impolite before, and you used to ask for my opinion about everything.”

Huo Shu’s brow twitched slightly. “Can I still hold you?”

“But you’ve already…”

Taoyu bit her lip, only agreeing to marry him, and he was already so bold. If some time passed, wouldn’t he do whatever he pleased?

Huo Shu, thinking of his father-in-law’s teachings, coaxed, “I was wrong; I’ll ask for your opinion in the future.”

Taoyu felt somewhat relieved hearing Huo Shu speak softly, but before she could say anything, she saw her own door in the distance.

She grabbed onto the hem of Huo Shu’s clothes, reluctant to let him leave.

“Can you take me in through the front door?”

“Just to the door; you can walk a few steps from there.”

Taoyu remained silent at his words.

Seeing this, Huo Shu suggested, “Then shall I escort you in?”

“Or… or we could enter from where you usually climb over the wall.”

Taoyu hastily added, “I don’t even know how you get in.”

“Okay.”

Huo Shu carried Taoyu to the back of the Ji family’s house. Carrying someone while climbing the wall was indeed difficult, so he lifted Taoyu onto his back and climbed over the wall with his bare hands.

When they landed, looking at the windows of his own house, he still couldn’t believe it. Huo Shu had actually brought him over the tall wall.

Huo Shu put Taoyu on a chair, then familiarly picked up the kettle next to the charcoal fire and poured a cup of hot water. “Have some warm water to warm yourself up; change your clothes; don’t catch a cold.”

Taoyu looked at Huo Shu in his room, feeling extremely surreal. Although she had dreamt of him many times in her room, seeing the real person here still felt unbelievable.

Belatedly, he realised that his palms and knees were a bit sore.

Huo Shu said, “Then I’ll leave first.”

Taoyu rubbed her palms gently and stopped him. “Don’t go!”

“My knees hurt; can you apply some medicine for me?”

Huo Shu looked at the younger brother and walked back. “Shouldn’t you change your clothes first?”

Taoyu’s face flushed. “How can I change with you in the room?”

“Then I’ll go out.”

Taoyu grabbed Huo Shu’s clothes again and said, “Forget it, it’s too cold outside. You, you stay here. I’ll change behind the bed curtain. You, you don’t…”

“After we’re married, then we’ll see.”

Blushing, Taoyu rushed behind the bed curtain, frantically changing into a different set of clothes before coming out again.

Peeking out from behind the bed curtain, he saw Huo Shu sitting at the table with his back to him, looking very honest.

Then he took the medicine and approached him, sitting down besides him and bending over to roll up his trouser legs, revealing his fair legs.

For the first time, Huo Shu saw the skin under Taoyu’s clothes, and his heart moved, but he didn’t have any romantic thoughts. The bruise on his knee had already occupied his mind.

Huo Shu rubbed the medicine in his palm until it was warm, then gently applied it.

Knowing that this younger brother was delicate, he didn’t expect him to be injured so badly from falling on the muddy ground.

He would have to take even more care of him in the future.

“Be more careful when walking in the future.”

Taoyu took a deep breath. “Okay. It didn’t really hurt that much, fortunately.”

“Even so, you still need to take care of yourself.”

Taoyu blinked. “Do you care about me that much?”

Huo Shu paused his movements and looked at Taoyu.

He accepted things quickly. One moment he was blushing and stuttering, and the next moment he could say these things.

Huo Shu was about to speak, but then there was a knock on the door from outside. “Little Taoyu, aren’t you up yet? Mother’s coming in.”