Chapter 38

Mother Xie’s attitude softened, but she still felt embarrassed. After thinking momentarily, she said, “How about we ask a matchmaker to find out? Whether it’s settled or not, whether he has a match or not, the matchmaker can find out.”

The mention of a matchmaker made Xie Tao uneasy. She looked at Mother Xie and said, “If we have a matchmaker running back and forth, who knows what might get mixed up again? I’ll ask him myself. It’s the clearest and most direct way.”

Mother Xie looked at Xie Tao’s face and remained silent for a moment. Then she sighed and said, “Alright, go ask him yourself.”

If Ruan Changsheng still had feelings for Xie Tao and hadn’t found another match because of her, wouldn’t it be a real missed opportunity if they didn’t clarify things and try?

If it could still work out, and she could have a good life, then it was worth the effort.

Xie Tao held onto this hope. That night, as she lay in bed, she silently prayed that Ruan Cuizhi and Ruan Xi were speaking out of spite, that Ruan Changsheng didn’t have a match, and that he still thought of her. As long as he was willing, she wouldn’t set any conditions this time. With these thoughts, she didn’t sleep well and woke up early the next morning. But after getting up, she didn’t rush to Fengyan Village. She calculated the time, thinking arriving around noon when Ruan Changsheng should be home would be best. If she went too early, he would likely be at work, and finding him at the worksite with so many people around wouldn’t be convenient.

With plenty of time, she spent the morning carefully getting ready. She put on her best clothes, usually reserved for visiting relatives, braided her hair neatly, even the ends, and used a burnt matchstick to darken her eyebrows and red paper to tint her lips.

After getting ready, she took some food from home and set off for Fengyan Village, feeling anxious and excited. As she walked, she took deep breaths and silently hoped her trip wouldn’t be in vain.

Previously, when Ruan Changsheng and Xie Tao interacted, it was always Ruan Changsheng who went to the Chiyu Brigade to see her. She had never gone to Fengyan Brigade to find him. This time, she decided to go to Fengyan Brigade herself, bringing some gifts. Her gesture would surely move Ruan Changsheng.

Xie Tao arrived at Fengyan Brigade, wiping sweat from her forehead, just as everyone had finished lunch.

Entering the village, she saw two elderly women cooling off under a large tree with umbrella-like branches. She politely approached them and asked, “Granny, could you please tell me how to get to Ruan Zhigao’s house?”

One of the elderly women turned and pointed, “Go that way.”

Xie Tao thanked them and started walking, but after a few steps, she returned. She bit her lip, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, “Granny, can I ask if Ruan Zhigao’s youngest son, Ruan Changsheng, has found a match?”

The elderly woman replied, “I haven’t heard anything, so probably not. The family hasn’t hired a matchmaker.”

Xie Tao’s eyes brightened, and she asked, “Has he found someone himself?”

The elderly woman said, “I haven’t heard anything about that either.”

Feeling relieved, Xie Tao took a deep breath, thanked the elderly women again, and headed in the direction they pointed. As she neared Ruan Changsheng’s house, a child offered to show her the way.

At the entrance of Ruan Changsheng’s house, the child poked his head in and shouted, “Xiao Wu, someone is here to see you!”

Ruan Changsheng came out, not immediately concerned with who was looking for him, but playfully smacked the child’s head, saying, “Who are you calling Xiao Wu?”

The child rubbed his head and pointed back, “A sister is here to see you.”

Following the child’s direction, Ruan Changsheng saw Xie Tao standing not far away.

Today, smiling at him, Xie Tao was dressed neatly and prettily in a clean white floral blouse. She walked up to him, handed him the cloth bag she was carrying, and said with a smile, “I brought some things for your family.”

Ruan Changsheng looked puzzled, frowned at Xie Tao, and did not reach out to take the bag.

Liu Xinghua’s voice came from inside the house, “Xiao Wu, who’s looking for you?”

Ruan Changsheng quickly replied, “A friend.” He then walked out, calling to Xie Tao, “Let’s talk outside.”

He didn’t invite her in or let her see his parents, causing Xie Tao’s smile to falter for a moment. She followed Ruan Changsheng, carrying the bag, to a secluded spot where they could talk privately.

Ruan Changsheng, with no particular emotion, asked curiously, “What brings you here?”

Xie Tao bit her lip slightly and looked up at Ruan Changsheng. As a girl, she still had her pride and found it hard to let go of her dignity.

After hesitating for a moment, she took a deep breath, then said, “I asked around when I came, and the village grannies said you don’t have a match yet, and your family hasn’t hired a matchmaker. Aunt Wu said you asked if I had found a match, so I’m here to tell you, I haven’t either. After looking around, I still think… you’re the best…”

Hearing this, Ruan Changsheng couldn’t help but chuckle.

Seeing him laugh, Xie Tao looked up at him and asked softly, “Why are you laughing?”

Ruan Changsheng, suppressing his smile, cleared his throat and said, “I just asked casually when I heard she was from Chiyu Village, really didn’t mean anything by it. I think you might have misunderstood. And no matter what happens, I won’t send my third sister back to her in-laws, so we’re really not suitable for each other.”

Xie Tao looked at him, her eyes sincere, “There’s nothing wrong with your third sister living at home. It’s lively with more people.”

Ruan Changsheng was momentarily stunned, then quickly realized what was happening.

Yesterday, Ruan Xi and Ruan Cuizhi went to the Chiyu Brigade to make clothes, and today, Xie Tao came to see him. This was not a coincidence but rather the Xie family seeing Ruan Cuizhi and wanting to rekindle things with him.

He cleared his throat, his face now devoid of any smile. Looking directly at Xie Tao, he said, “My third sister might not want to live with you.”

Xie Tao’s smile faltered, and she quickly lowered her head to hide her embarrassment.

Ruan Changsheng, mindful of her feelings, softened his tone, “It’s all in the past. Let’s not talk about it anymore. There are many men better than me. With your qualities, you can easily find someone better. There’s no need for this.”

Sensing his care, Xie Tao felt a pang of sadness, her eyes moistening as she sniffled, “But… I still think you’re the best… My family no longer minds about your third sister. We…”

“There is no ‘we’.” Ruan Changsheng interrupted her, slightly impatient.

He didn’t want to see her crying, especially since she hadn’t been wronged. So he bluntly said, “Even if your family had compromised back then, I wouldn’t have married you. You shouldn’t have brought this up.”

Xie Tao’s head shot up, “Is it a crime to set conditions?”

Ruan Changsheng replied, “It’s not a crime, but for me, it means I won’t marry you.”

Xie Tao bit her lip, her lips turning pale. The more upset she felt, the more determined she became. After a moment, she asked, “Then why haven’t you found a matchmaker for so long? Isn’t it because of me?”

Ruan Changsheng couldn’t help but laugh again, making Xie Tao feel as if ants were crawling all over her, causing her discomfort.

Suppressing his laughter, he said, “Miss Xie, you’re really overthinking this. If I couldn’t let you go, with my personality, I would have gone to Chiyu Brigade to find you a hundred times already. You wouldn’t need to come looking for me. I just find arranged marriages boring, so I decided to find someone myself.”

Xie Tao then asked, “So, have you found someone?”

Just as Ruan Changsheng was about to speak, a clear and vibrant female voice called out, “Ruan Changsheng!”

He turned to look and saw the same little kid from the village, now bringing along a girl.

This girl wasn’t from the village. She looked stylish and pretty, with a fair, clean face and big eyes. She wore a bright red top and two braids hanging in front. Her face was adorned with a radiant smile, as bright and dazzling as the sun.

He furrowed his brows, looking at the girl, feeling she looked familiar.

After a moment, he realized who she was, his eyes widening as he muttered, “Oh my…”

This is… Qian Chuan??

The same Qian Chuan who looked like she had crawled out of a coal mine with no trace of a girl??

Xie Tao naturally saw Qian Chuan too, noticing this bright and eye-catching girl. Her face stiffened, and she asked Ruan Changsheng, “Who is she?”

Ruan Changsheng turned and ran towards Qian Chuan, “She’s my girlfriend!”