Yunlan handed the shoes to him and told him to ask Juhua not to make his shoes anymore, lest she prick her hands. She said she would just make them for him herself.
"If Juhua wants to practice, she can make single-layer shoes—their soles are thinner. I’ll make her cotton-padded shoes for her, too," Yunlan said.
Qingmu looked at her rough hands and asked with concern, "With so much to do at ho, will you be able to manage? Please don’t stay up late. Working by an oil lamp is terrible for your eyes. I used to read at night, so I know better than anyone. That’s why I started waking up early to read instead."
He gazed at her, feeling a pang of reluctance. ’She said she’d make shoes for and Juhua, but she’ll surely make a pair for my parents, too. She’s just too embarrassed to ntion it. That would be far too tiring for her.’
Yunlan smiled, her lips pursed. "It’s no trouble. I’m very fast when it cos to making shoes." She then looked at him with pride, like a small child showing off a new toy.
Qingmu smiled and said encouragingly, "In that case, just make a winter pair for for now. Let Juhua make the single-layer shoes. You can make shoes for both and Juhua next winter."
The room they were in belonged to Juhua’s maternal grandmother. It was sparsely furnished, holding nothing but two ancient-looking chests and a jumble of sewing baskets, scrap fabric bins, and other odds and ends.
Yet the two of them found it comfortable, warm, and sweet.
They didn’t talk much. Often, after a long mont of silence, one of them would ask a question, the other would reply with a few sentences, and they would occasionally et each other’s gaze and smile. Yet they felt no boredom or awkwardness, nor the bashful unease of their first eting. It was as if they had known each other for a very long ti.
But whenever their eyes t, they both felt drawn in, unable to look away. In those monts, they made no effort to hide their affection, simply gazing at one another with open, smiling faces.
They remained in the room like that for a long ti, talking and laughing in hushed tones, completely losing track of how much ti had passed.
Qingmu told her about his family and the layout of his ho. "Juhua and I planted lots of fruit trees, so there will be fruit for you to eat when you arrive. We also planted plenty of wild chrysanthemums along the base of the walls..."
Just as he was speaking, a clear, young voice rang out from the courtyard. "Grandma, I’m ho!"
The voice was like a stone tossed onto a placid lake, shattering the room’s warm, sweet atmosphere. Liu Yunlan jumped, startled. She shot to her feet in a panic, unsure what to do, her face flushing a deep crimson.
Qingmu was startled as well, but seeing Yunlan’s panic, he forced himself to be calm. He quickly reassured her, "That’s my second aunt, she’s back with Laicai and Laishou. Just sit tight, I’ll go out first."
Seeing her face flushed with an embarrassnt so intense it was as if they’d been caught in an affair, he said softly, "Don’t be afraid. I’ll be visiting your family soon and bringing a matchmaker with the betrothal gifts. We were just talking, and Juhua and Grandma are right outside. It’s nothing to worry about. Besides, in a few days, you’ll be my fiancée anyway."
Seeing his confident and responsible deanor, Liu Yunlan felt her heart settle. When she heard him say she would soon be his fiancée, she gazed at his handso features and smiled blissfully. "You should go out first, then," she whispered. "Just have Juhua co in and keep company."
Qingmu nodded. Just as he was about to leave, he heard Juhua’s clear voice call out, "Sister Yunlan," followed by a knock on the door.
Qingmu opened the door and smiled at her. "Co in. Is Second Aunt back?"
Juhua nodded nonchalantly, trying her best to keep her expression neutral. She smiled at Yunlan. "Sister Yunlan, let’s go out for a walk."
’Second Aunt is back. I don’t want to be in here anymore.’
Qingmu understood what she was thinking. He glanced at Yunlan with a smile, then said to Juhua, "Why don’t you two go to First Uncle’s house, then." With that, he headed out.
Liu Yunlan was a little shy at first when she saw Juhua, but Juhua didn’t tease her. Instead, she took her by the arm, led her out of the room, and said softly, "We’re going to my first uncle’s house."
Mrs. Lin was a bit surprised to see Yunlan and Juhua coming out of the room together, but she didn’t give it much thought. She greeted Yunlan and made so small talk.
Mrs. Wang said to Mrs. Lin, "I’m going to the garden to pull so garlic shoots for the pork. Juhua and Qingmu will be eating here tonight. They’ve been eating at the eldest’s house for the past two days; I haven’t even lit my stove."
Hearing this, Mrs. Lin quickly said, "Go on then, Mother. I’ll rest for a mont, and then I’ll help you with the cooking."
Mrs. Wang turned to Yunlan. "Yunlan, you should stay too. Why don’t you have dinner here with us?"
Liu Yunlan quickly declined. "Oh no, I still have a lot to do at ho. Grandma Wang, please don’t let keep you."
Mrs. Wang knew that with the two families having just arranged the match, the girl was shy and easily embarrassed. She didn’t press the matter and went off to the vegetable garden.
The mont Juhua stepped outside, Laicai and Laishou sward her.
It was always lively wherever Laicai was. Though he was more sensible than before, he was still a handful. Laishou, however, was becoming more and more adorable. Grandma Wang had taken him to Juhua’s house twice the previous year, so he still recognized his older cousin. The mont he saw her, he yelled, "Sister Juhua!"
Juhua was fond of the boy, so she sat down, took his hand, and asked him what he ate and what he played with at their other grandmother’s house. She listened to him prattle on about his little adventures, while occasionally shooting a warning glance at Laicai and raising her hand as if ready to smack him at a mont’s notice.
Amid the commotion, Liu Yunlan picked up her sewing basket to take her leave.
Juhua quickly grabbed Laishou’s hand, getting ready to leave with Yunlan and head to her first uncle’s house. ’As for dinner,’ she thought, ’that’s up to Mrs. Lin and Grandma, of course. I’m a guest here, after all.’
Mrs. Lin was resting on a small stool when she spotted a pair of exquisite shoe insoles in Yunlan’s sewing basket. She quickly stood, took them in her hands for a closer look, and marveled at the checkered pattern.
Yunlan said sheepishly, "They’re mine, actually. They were a little small for , so I brought them for Juhua. But I didn’t realize her feet were even smaller, so they’re still a bit too big for her."
Mrs. Lin imdiately chid in, "Then give them to ! I’m sure they’ll fit perfectly."
She had been too embarrassed to ask at first. After all, she didn’t know the Liu Family well—she had no idea that Liu Yunlan and Qingmu were about to be engaged. But as soon as she heard they were originally a gift for Juhua and were too big for her, she felt no qualms about asking for them herself.
The villagers were well aware of Mrs. Lin’s temperant, and Yunlan was not one to be pushed around. Ordinarily, she would have found a polite excuse to refuse. But this woman was about to beco her second aunt-in-law. She couldn’t very well say no, so she decided to just let her have them.
But before she could say anything, Juhua cut in. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to co to Qidian to vote with recomndation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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