"Stop using as an excuse," Zhou Lijun said. "If I never get married, would you dare to never take a wife?"
Zhou Liwei: ...Of course he wouldn’t dare, but he thought his second sister dared, so he didn’t speak out.
Only then did Zhou Lijun hum a couple of tis and remind him, "Don’t use as an excuse in front of our parents, got it? Also, cover for a bit."
Zhou Liwei: "Cover what?"
"Just tell our parents about your sweetheart and let them worry about you," Zhou Lijun said. "People’s energy is limited. If our parents are worried about your business, they naturally won’t have ti to ddle in mine."
She said, "I estimate that this ti they will stay until at most July or August before they have to go back, otherwise, with the need to collect dicinal materials in the winter and plant new herb seedlings, Third Uncle and Third Aunt-in-law will definitely be too busy."
So as long as it drags until then, it will be fine.
Zhou Liru couldn’t help but say, "Second Sister, you’re so cunning."
Zhou Lijun said, "What do you know, this is called diverting disaster to the East."
Zhou Liwei was exasperated: "...I’m still right here."
"Fool, it’s a disaster for , but not necessarily for you. That’s just my term, for you, it’s good luck from the East, got it? Together, it’s a win-win situation for us."
"Really? Why does that sound so strange? Second Sister, what kind of books have you been reading lately? I haven’t heard that getting engaged is called ’good luck from the East’ even though I haven’t read that many books."
"Anything good can be called that phrase. Isn’t having soone you love a good thing? Think about it, wouldn’t it be nice if you got engaged to her? By the way, you haven’t even told who your sweetheart is. Do I know her?"
Zhou Liwei couldn’t help but quicken his pace, and Zhou Lijun chased after him, "Are you dumb? Why are you avoiding ? If you tell , I can even give you suggestions. If you’re embarrassed to tell our parents, I can help pass the word for you. Who will do it for you if you run away?"
Of course, it would be Zhou Lichong.
The two cousins grew up together and their relationship was beyond good, especially since they were often together these years.
So there was nothing about each other that they didn’t know.
Besides Zhou Lijun, only the other knew the amount of money they had saved, showing how well they understood each other.
Ms. Feng and Zhou Erlang also thought it was best to ask Zhou Lichong about such matters, so after the three families gathered for a welco dinner in the evening, Ms. Feng rolled up her sleeves to help wash the dishes in the kitchen, while Zhou Erlang pulled Zhou Lichong aside to have a whispering conversation.
Zhou Lijun saw this and regretted it, feeling she was too careless.
She simply turned around to find Zhou Liwei, pulled him aside to chat, "I’m your sister, will you help or not?"
Zhou Liwei: "Second sister, do you really plan to stay unmarried all your life?"
Zhou Lijun asked, "Is getting married more freeing than it is now? What’s the point of getting married?"
Zhou Liwei opened his mouth, taking a while before he squeezed out, "For him to love you?"
Zhou Lijun glared at him, "What an idiot, if he loves but I don’t love him, what good is it? You get married not for living a better life, but it should be because I love him. Of course, it’s best if there’s mutual affection."
"But I don’t have anyone I like right now. Looking around, among the families I’m familiar with, none can offer a better life than I have now, so why should I get married?"
Zhou Liwei actually felt she made a lot of sense, but sothing felt amiss too. After a while, he said, "Second sister, mom said it’s better to find soone who loves you than soone you love."
"That’s mom, not ," Zhou Lijun lifted her chin, "If I had to get married, and I must choose between two, I will definitely find soone I love."
Zhou Liwei was puzzled, "Why?"
Zhou Lijun gave him a sidelong glance, "Though emotions can’t be compared proportionally, I think there’s so commonality. If you want to buy a cat, would you rather keep a cat that likes you or a cat you like?"
Zhou Liwei: ...
Seeing his face of helplessness, Zhou Lijun said, "If you don’t believe it, you can ask our aunt when she gets back."
If the family couldn’t decide, asking their aunt never went wrong.
Zhou Lijun said, "But before that, you have to help . Now, who is the one you like?"
Zhou Liwei was shy for a mont, fidgeting before saying, "It’s Mr. Jing from the sa street as our restaurant..."
Zhou Lijun raised an eyebrow. On their street lived a private school teacher, who had set aside two rooms in his own courtyard for teaching. He taught children who were just starting to learn, up to the age of about twelve. So left when they learned to read, others went on to take entrance exams for better schools.
This Mr. Jing wasn’t very old, with a son and a daughter. The son was only about thirteen, while the daughter was fifteen and it was said that he wanted to take the imperial exams.
Zhou Lijun also knew the little girl, having bought whitening cream from her before. She said, "You’ve got a good eye."
But just judging by their parents, their Zhou family was far less than the Jing family.
However, Zhou Lijun didn’t tell him to give up his mind imdiately, but instead said, "If the girl is not interested, just collect your thoughts. But if she is, then work hard. Studying isn’t promising for you, so just earn more money. Maybe the Jing family will approve of the marriage because of your earnings."
Zhou Liwei said sowhat gloomily, "I know I’m unworthy, so I haven’t said anything."
Zhou Lijun curiously asked, "Will big brother say it?"
"He won’t," Zhou Liwei confidently said, "I told him not to tell anyone, not even uncle, aunt, or our aunt."
If Zhou Lichong wouldn’t ntion it even to parents or their aunt, he certainly wouldn’t tell Zhou Erlang.
Zhou Lijun felt satisfied upon hearing that and patted his shoulder, "Nicely done."
Zhou Liwei imdiately said, "Second sister, don’t ss it up. There’s nothing between her and , we’ve only exchanged a few words when she ca to buy food at our restaurant."
"I know, do you think I’m that kind of unreliable person? Relax." Zhou Lijun said with a grin and was about to leave, only to turn around and see a silhouette under the flower tree, startling her. She couldn’t help but loudly ask, "Who’s there?"
The shadow behind the tree paused, then the siblings widened their eyes as they watched Xiang Mingxue sheepishly erge.
He did feel sowhat awkward, bowing to the two of them under the tree, "I was just picking flowers and really didn’t an to eavesdrop."
Only then did they notice that he still had a flower in his hand, presumably to put in a vase.
Zhou Lijun realized this was indeed the path to the guest room where Xiang Mingxue was staying, probably blocked by their sudden appearance while he was picking flowers.
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