Chapter 566: Chapter 555: All Partings Must Come
"Keep your voice down!"
"We only have so much space at home; Sese is just next door. If she hears this, it will upset her."
"What could possibly go wrong? Tomorrow I’ll fix the eaves. She didn’t eat dinner tonight, and her complexion isn’t right. You, as her mother, should at least care a little."
Soon, a middle-aged man intervened.
Yet the woman was relentless.
"Can’t I even speak in my own house? What, is your daughter so precious? Am I being too harsh on her, or depriving her of food? It’s not a big deal; skipping one meal won’t kill anyone!"
Thinking about this, she got quite upset.
Her aunt’s family lived right next door!
Every time she scolded Sese, her aunt would come over and tell her to stop, to not hurt her daughter’s feelings and make them the laughingstock of the neighbors.
"Years ago, I wrecked my health giving birth to her. Six years ago, she was nearly abducted by kidnappers, but I chased after them and rescued her—only to end up wounded myself!"
The woman, heartbroken, did not bother cleaning up the mess on the floor but instead burst into tears.
"Do you have any idea what people said about me back then? They said I cut off the lineage of your Xiao Family. Don’t think I don’t know that before she passed away, mother-in-law was still planning for you and Widow Wu!"
"Fortunately, I later felt a stir in my belly and gave birth to a son, providing a descendant for the Xiao Family! Yet all you do is blame me!"
"Enough!"
She was interrupted.
Father Xiao became impatient: "You keep bringing up the same thing over and over again. Aren’t you done yet?"
His face turned cold, and Lady Xiao, still scared, fell silent at once.
Her own daughter, how could she not love her?
But for Sese’s sake, she had suffered so much. The fortune-teller even said that keeping her daughter would only bring misfortune.
Distraught, she tidied up a bit before going back to lie down. As she tossed and turned, unable to sleep, she heard Father Xiao say.
"From now on, don’t order Sese around too much. Go buy some fabric tomorrow and make her a few more dresses. At her age, it’s indeed time to start arranging her marriage."
Lady Xiao was overjoyed.
"My parental home just asked someone to inquire for us; that young master Wang has a good reputation and is worth entrusting for marriage. My daughter shouldn’t be ruined by him."
"Shut your mouth now! The Wang Family’s financial situation is merely passable. They could at most give ten silver taels for the bride price. Although we, the Xiao Family, don’t engage in selling our daughter, we still want her to have a good life. But our household is poor, and Sese is naturally beautiful—many young men desire her, so we must choose carefully. As the elder sister, it’s natural for her to consider her younger brother."
This statement struck right at Lady Xiao’s heart.
She didn’t mention the Wang Family again, her mind whirring with thoughts.
"Then I shall ask the matchmaker later."
"I already have someone in mind. Enough now, let’s sleep."
Those men, how could they compare to the young master of the Shen Family?
That vast estate of the Shen Family, all of it would eventually be his. He can read and write, and if he ever becomes a Master Scholar... that would be extraordinary.
Father Xiao did witness it last time! Shen Zhi stealthily escorting Sese home from a distance of ten steps.
He became suspicious at that moment. After watching Sese enter the house, he deliberately went out to stop Shen Zhi.
The young master of the Shen Family was startled, his face flushed red, and he even quietly called him uncle!
That call left him feeling elated.
It’s clear that his Sese was destined to soar and become a phoenix!
Their conversation made Sese feel extremely embarrassed.
Her existence seemed like a burden to everyone.
Mama blames her. Daddy doesn’t say it, but doesn’t his heart feel the same?
She bit her lip, feeling unbearably hot, yet her stomach was twisting in cold pain.
When she finally managed to fall into a deep sleep and woke up, it was already bright outside.
Exhausted and feeling unwell, Sese dressed in a coarse cotton skirt, her hair simply pinned up with a wooden hairpin. She was about to leave the room when her gaze abruptly stopped on an exceptionally delicate pastry box on the table.
Her brows did not furrow; she was puzzled.
As she approached, the fragrance of the pastry filled her nose.
Sese knew well that the family didn’t exactly mistreat her; valuing sons over daughters was the norm. How many women in this alleyway didn’t beat and scold their daughters? At least she wasn’t physically harmed.
It was just that all the good food and drink were reserved for her brother. She never got her turn.
Who sent this?
"Sese, are you up yet?"
Outside, it was the shouting of Lady Xiao.
"How can you be so lazy? Get up and cook already. Quan is fussing for egg pancakes, and your daddy does physical labor. I was thinking of cooking porridge this morning, and then make two egg pancakes for each of them."
"Did you hear me? Don’t you take too many. I know exactly how many eggs we have at home."
Sese responded, instinctively reaching to take the food box out, but as soon as her hand touched the door, she withdrew it.
If she took it out, she feared she might never get it back.
The girl lowered her gaze; she allowed herself to be selfish for once. Hesitating, she picked up a piece and took a careful bite.
It was very sweet.
————
When Cui Yun left, Shen Zhi escorted Shen Hua all the way to see him off.
Until they were outside of Fengzhou City.
Shen Zhi smiled: "All farewells must come to an end."
"No rush. I have something to say to you."
Cui Yun recounted everything from last night, one by one. The smile faded from Shen Zhi’s face.
He never thought that Sese was in such a situation. After repeatedly confirming it, he looked at Shen Hua.
Shen Hua was troubled: "I didn’t mean to keep it from you, I just thought it over and over. Brother is probably unrequited."
Perhaps Sese doesn’t even know who brother is.
Shen Zhi coughed lightly.
Shen Hua annoyed that iron can’t become steel: "With you being like this, always secretly fancying someone from behind. You won’t make your mark until next year or the year after. What’s the use of telling you? I might as well tell Mama, let her go straight to propose marriage."
Her idea was simple.
The elders of the Xiao Family would have to be fools to refuse!
Cui Yun’s heart had always been with Shen Hua. The girl’s red lips and white teeth, delicate beyond words.
"Ni Kang stays here."
Shen Zhi was about to say thanks.
Shen Hua: "Oh."
"Although I’m in Shengjing, I will often write to you, remember to reply."
Shen Zhi was about to agree.
Shen Hua kicked the pebbles on the ground. Very perfunctorily: "Got it."
Shen Zhi: ???
Cui Yun walked towards this spot.
"I took the golden hammer last time. You always exchange items for items, and I thought I can’t just take it without giving something in return. I’m also afraid you’d really forget about me straight away, I have to leave you with something."
Shen Hua stretched out her hands to him without hesitation.
She knew the value of things well and quickly targeted a jade piece at his waist.
"I want this one!"
Cui Yun was initially planning to leave her a silver note, so the little girl wouldn’t have to cry poor again. Following the direction of her pointing finger, Cui Yun looked over. His expression became a bit more serious.
It was the jade pendant for the daughter-in-law from the Cui family; brother gave his piece to sister-in-law, and his piece...
He scoffed: "You sure know how to pick."
Cui Yun casually removed it, his slender fingers skillfully placing the jade pendant around the waist of the little girl.
Shen Hua was quite happy about it; she felt Cui Yun was exceptionally generous.
"This item is important, don’t lose it."
"Mm-hmm."
Shen Zhi’s eyes twitched uncontrollably: "This isn’t right, Brother Cui, don’t stoop to her level."
Cui Yun ruffled Shen Hua’s hair, and then he mounted his horse.
"It was meant for her, after all."
