Chapter 28: Confession

Zhou Qing smiled at Cheng Wu and said, "My father's calligraphy is excellent,  so he wants to become his apprentice."

Cheng Wu's eyes seemed to shoot daggers at Shen Li.

"I think he's up to no good. Uncle Huaishan actually agreed to this?" Cheng Wu didn't lower his voice, he wanted the young boss to hear him. "Who knows what kind of intentions this stranger has?"

Zhou Qing awkwardly glanced at Shen Li.

Under the moonlight, Shen Li, wearing his unusually old-fashioned dark robe, stood by the pigsty. When he saw her looking at him, he smiled slightly.

"He's already become my father's apprentice, and my father has accepted the apprenticeship gift," Zhou Qing said, laughing to ease the tension. "Is that the reason you came?"

Cheng Wu was the original owner's childhood friend, so even though his words made Shen Li uncomfortable, Zhou Qing didn't feel it was necessary to embarrass Cheng Wu for Shen Li's sake.

"Are you going to town tomorrow? If you are, take me with you. My father finished copying that book, and I need to get another one," Zhou Qing changed the topic.

Cheng Wu nodded, "Yes, I’m going. Same time as usual. I’ll come to pick you up and bring you some roasted sparrows."

As he said this, Cheng Wu then looked at Shen Li with a mix of pride and provocation.

"Alright, see you tomorrow morning. My father is still writing, so I won't keep you. You should head back early too."

With that, Zhou Qing turned and walked away with the pig slop basin from the pigsty.

Watching Zhou Qing's back, Cheng Wu looked at Shen Li with hatred and then, taking a deep breath to muster up his courage, he took a step forward and grabbed Zhou Qing's hand.

The secret he had kept hidden for so long was finally ready to come out. He was trembling with nervousness, sweating profusely.

"Sister Qing, I... I want... I want to marry you."

Despite having practiced this in his mind countless times, when Cheng Wu finally said it out loud, he stuttered and spoke as softly as a mosquito.

After finally getting the words out, Cheng Wu lowered his head, not daring to see Zhou Qing's reaction.

His heart was pounding, almost jumping out of his throat.

Silence. Silence...

After a long period of silence, Cheng Wu's heart was filled with anxiety and fear.

Why isn't Sister Qing saying anything?

Is she angry?

Growing more restless, Cheng Wu looked up at Zhou Qing, "Sister Qing, I..."

As he raised his head, he saw the young boss smiling coldly at him.

Cheng Wu...

His eyes widened suddenly.

Standing in front of him was not Zhou Qing, but the young boss.

Cheng Wu instantly lowered his head.

He was holding the young boss's hand, not Zhou Qing's???!!!

The huge shock caused Cheng Wu to stumble backward as if he had seen a ghost.

How...

How could it be the young boss's hand?

He was sure he had grabbed Zhou Qing's hand!

Shen Li smirked coldly, but said nothing and turned to leave.

Cheng Wu felt breathless, his head spinning, not knowing how he managed to leave the Zhou family’s doorway.

He had grabbed the wrong hand, the wrong hand!!!

And it was the young boss's hand!!!

Oh my God!

Cheng Wu just wanted to shout to the heavens.

Shen Li entered the house without mentioning what had just happened.

With both the mule cart and Shen Li joining in, Zhou Qing decided to cut the entire roll of paper for them to write on.

Including what they wrote before dinner, there were 800 large characters, 800 medium-sized ones, and 1000 small ones.

By the time they finished, it was late, and Shen Li bid farewell to the Zhou family.

"Miss Qing, are you going to town tomorrow? I need to go back too to buy some daily necessities. Could that brother just now give me a ride too?" Shen Li asked Zhou Qing gently, his voice as tender as the moonlight.

Since Zhou Huailin was going to town with Shen Li’s mule cart to sell the characters tomorrow, which they had just agreed upon, Zhou Qing immediately replied, "Sure."

"Thank you, Miss Qing," Shen Li smiled happily.

Zhou Qing felt a bit embarrassed, "Why thank me? It's because we're using your cart to sell our characters that you don't have a cart to use."

"Still, thank you, Miss Qing. Go to bed early. We have to get up early tomorrow."

"Mm, see you tomorrow." Zhou Qing waved and turned to go inside. After a few steps, she noticed he hadn't moved and turned back, "Why aren't you leaving?"

"I’ll leave after seeing you go inside." Shen Li smiled dotingly.

Zhou Qing...

This feels like a boyfriend sending his girlfriend home.

Rolling her eyes in her mind, Zhou Qing went inside.

Watching her figure disappear, Shen Li smiled, turned, and left.

But he didn't return to the courtyard he had bought.

In the quiet of the night, Shen Li headed straight for the back mountain of Qingyang Village.

From then on, the people in the mountains had a new training task: night training.

Who knew what kind of excitement had gotten into Lord Shen in the middle of the night?

The next morning, as the day broke, Shen Li appeared at the Zhou family's gate, full of energy.

Zhou Qing, who had gotten up early to cook, was startled when she stepped out and saw Shen Li, "Why are you here so early?"

She opened the courtyard gate for him as she spoke.

Shen Li smiled sheepishly, "I'm living alone there and don't have anything yet. Could I have breakfast here first...?"

Zhou Qing suddenly understood and smiled, "Of course."

"Thank you, Miss Qing," Shen Li said, his face beaming with satisfaction. "What are you doing? Let me help."

Zhou Qing didn't hesitate, "I'm making breakfast. You can start the fire."

"Alright."

Shen Li started the fire while Zhou Qing kneaded dough. The simple kitchen was filled with harmony.

Supporting his chin with one hand, Shen Li looked up at Zhou Qing. Is this what idyllic life feels like?

While they were cooking, Zhao came over.

"Qing, why are you making breakfast? Isn't it my turn today?"

"I'm making noodles today. I thought it wasn't a holiday or anything, my aunt and uncle might not want to eat white noodles, so I'm making a separate batch."

Zhou Qing couldn't get used to the ancient type of noodles mixed with cornmeal.

Especially the cornmeal, which seemed to have ground corn cobs mixed in, making it rough on the throat.

Seeing the dough in Zhou Qing's hands, Zhao smiled, "Well, since you've already started, I'll take advantage and make some white flour too. Later, I'll make separate ones for the main family."

Her two children were growing, and Zhou Huailin would be gone all day selling characters, they needed something good to eat.

Zhao quickly fetched her flour, and Zhou Qing made noodles with her.

Yesterday, Shen Li brought some pork belly, so Zhou Qing cut some and cooked it with greens for the topping.

Early in the morning, the kitchen was filled with the savory smell of meat.

As soon as Wang stepped out of her room, she headed to the kitchen, "Oh, what special occasion is this? Meat noodle soup? Is it to celebrate my second brother-in-law taking on an apprentice? Should we inform the whole village?"

Jealousy made her sharp-tongued.

Zhou Qing smiled, "It’s not for you."

Wang's eyes were glued to the overflowing meat, and she nearly choked on Zhou Qing's words.

"Qing, are you being selfish?" Wang said coldly, standing in the doorway.

"Yes, I am. If you can't stand it, why don't you have the village elder inform everyone that we've split the family?"

With that, Zhou Qing glared at Wang and walked away with her bowl of meat noodle soup.

Wang watched Zhou Qing, gritting her teeth, and lifted her leg to trip her.

I'll show you. No more meat noodle soup for you, just dirt.

Sitting on a small stool by the fire, Shen Li picked up a small, short stick from the ground, flicked it with his fingers, and it flew straight at Wang's ankle.

"Ah!"

_____

Footnotes:

She's making a saozi noodles.