The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 2055 - 2030: Illness

She made an excuse to send her mother away, wanting to ask Mingxue Xiang in person what his intentions were. Sitting back and waiting was not her style; it’s always better to clarify matters face to face.

But she didn’t expect to overhear this conversation.

Zhou Lijun began to ponder.

Inside the room, Mingxue Xiang looked up towards the door. Zhou Silang turned his head to look back but saw nothing outside and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Mingxue Xiang heard the person behind the door wall turn around and seemingly leave. He shook his head and said, "Nothing."

Zhou Silang, humming a tune, left Mingxue Xiang’s place to return to his own room. As he passed through the main hall, he saw a shadowy figure standing by the path in the dim night.

Having drunk a lot and feeling a bit muddled, Zhou Silang’s legs went soft. When he saw the figure seemingly turn towards him, he immediately shouted, "Wha—what do you want, don’t come over here."

The figure paused. Zhou Silang’s racing heart calmed a bit, and he shouted again, "Injustice has its head, debt has its owner. Our family just moved in; if you want revenge, look for the previous owners..."

"Fourth Uncle!" The figure stepped forward and said with hands on hips, "What nonsense are you babbling?"

The cold sweat on Zhou Silang’s back was chilled by the night wind, and he took two steps forward, rubbing his eyes. Only then did he see clearly who was standing by the wall, and he let out a big sigh, annoyed, "Why are you standing here without a lantern? Don’t you know scaring people can kill them?"

Zhou Lijun: "...Grandfather and grandmother don’t give lanterns, saying it’s too costly. Didn’t you notice not a single lantern was lit on our side tonight?"

Zhou Silang looked up; indeed, before, they used to light lanterns and only extinguish them after everyone returned to their rooms.

Zhou Lijun said, "Besides, what’s so scary about this? We used to walk through the village at midnight, passing by graves, and you weren’t scared either?"

"What do you know? Back then there were many of us, mostly men with strong yang energy; of course, we weren’t scared," Zhou Silang said. "They say in such big houses many people meet untimely deaths. Who knows how deep the resentment runs?"

Zhou Lijun couldn’t help but give him a glare, but it was too dark for Zhou Silang to see, so she said, "Fourth Uncle, don’t say such things even in front of family. This house used to belong to the Crown Prince; what will people think if such rumors spread?"

Zhou Silang replied, "Didn’t you see it’s because you scared me? Have you ever heard me say such things before?"

Because he was both drunk and startled, he felt a bit dizzy at the moment, so he turned his head and said, "I seem to recall there’s a big stone around here..."

Zhou Lijun pointed it out for him, and the uncle and niece sat together on the big stone.

Zhou Silang let out a breath, feeling much better, and asked, "So, what did you want to talk to me about?"

Zhou Lijun asked, "What does Young Master Xiang mean?"

She didn’t call him Brother Xiang anymore.

Zhou Silang did not keep it a secret and told her word for word what Mingxue Xiang had said tonight. He was very optimistic about this marriage proposal, saying, "I know your temperament. If you were to marry back in the village, that would be too much of an injustice. You’ve been educated, can read, write, and do accounts, and you’re not lacking in means to make money; who in the village could match you?"

"But if you marry within the city, to a family that matches your upbringing and abilities, they may not let you get involved in the outside businesses," he said. "For young men your age, their parents are surely still in their prime and can handle affairs for another twenty or thirty years. Never mind you, even their own sons may not have a say, and if there are several brothers, who knows how many troubles and disputes may arise over money."

Zhou Silang said, "You frequent back courtyards and must understand such matters better than I do."

Zhou Lijun said nothing, which was precisely why she had been reluctant to marry.

She was the small aunt’s niece, and her capable reputation was well-known. Over the past year or two, many people had subtly inquired through the family about her.

Even several Imperial Physicians at the Imperial Hospital had mentioned this to her small aunt, but she never agreed, precisely because of this reason.

Once married, she would essentially be serving her parents-in-law and husband, with not much else to do.

That sounded easier than farming in the village and seemed lighter than her current life, but she simply didn’t like it.

She found joy in using her money to earn more money.

Zhou Silang said, "There are not many in-laws who would give you the kind of freedom you have now. Mingxue Xiang not only agrees, but we also know them well; he has a good character and appearance, which is why I think it’s a good match."

After some serious thought, Zhou Lijun said, "I have to think about it."

"Think about it," Zhou Silang stood up from the stone, holding his waist, and said, "Anyway, you don’t have to decide immediately. Once Manbao leaves the palace, you can ask her opinion. By the way, she’s leaving the palace the day after tomorrow, right?"

Zhou Lijun replied, "Yes."

Manbao left the palace early in the morning. Everyone in the Zhou family who wasn’t out working waited in the front yard. It had been a long time since Zhou ErLang and Ms. Feng had seen her, so they were happily welcoming her as soon as they saw her.

They intended to bring up Zhou Lijun’s matter soon, but after greeting them, Manbao turned her head and fixed her gaze on Zhou Silang, "Fourth Brother, are you sick?"

Zhou Silang looked puzzled, "No."

Everyone turned to look. Apart from seeming a little spiritless, they didn’t notice anything wrong. Zhou Dalang said, "Did you stay out drinking again last night?"

"No," Zhou Silang replied, "I’m not really into drinking. I was at home last night."

Manbao stepped forward and touched his forehead, frowning, "You’re sick."

Ms. Fang immediately reached out to feel his forehead and exclaimed, "Why is it so hot? Don’t you feel anything?"

Zhou Silang touched his own forehead; it did seem a bit hot, but he couldn’t quite tell he had a fever.

He said, "I don’t feel uncomfortable anywhere."

However, Manbao had already felt his pulse, and her brow furrowed tightly.

Bai Shan came forward to check his complexion and asked, "Does your throat hurt?"

"That’s because I drank two days ago..."

Manbao gave him a stern look and said, "Not only did you drink, but you also caught a cold. Let me give you acupuncture and prescribe some medicine."

Thus, before Zhou Silang could say much, he was filled with medicine. However, he didn’t feel too bad and, prompted by Second Brother and Second Sister-in-law at noon, discussed the matter regarding Mingxue Xiang and Zhou Lijun with Manbao.

Manbao was quite surprised, "Brother Xiang likes Lijun? Does Lijun like him?"

Zhou Silang said, "Yesterday, she told me she thinks he’s not bad."

Manbao looked skeptical, "Really?"

"Of course it’s true. Yesterday Mingxue Xiang went to talk with her, and after they parted, she told me that the Xiang family isn’t bad. If you don’t believe me, you can ask her."

Manbao turned around and went to ask Zhou Lijun.