Chapter 51: Too Difficult

After finishing his words, Zhou Huaishan smugly rolled his eyes again.

"Wait until I pass the imperial exam to become a Jinshi,^[1] which might be never!"

Zhou Qing immediately tugged on Zhou Huaishan's arm.

"Father, what nonsense are you talking about! Am I the type to want to get married? I won’t feel at ease getting married unless I see you pass the Jinshi exam."

Shen Li gave Zhou Qing a gentle look and said to Zhou Huaishan, "I will definitely work hard to help Master pass the Jinshi exam."

Looking at Zhou Qing. 

Looking at Shen Li.

Oh no!

I seem to have dug a hole for myself.

With a flash of thought, Zhou Huaishan waved his hand, "As long as I don’t work hard, no matter how hard anyone else tries, it’s useless!"

He finished speaking and gave Shen Li a contemptuous glance.

How can I, a wastrel, be the type to work hard!

Hahaha...

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Zhou Qing gazing at him softly.

"Everyone disperse, I still have a competition tomorrow. Seriously, you’re all disturbing me! Studying makes me happy, no one can stop me! I’m going to study through the night!"

Zhou Huaishan turned and quickly retreated.

As he left, Zhou Huailin and Zhao exchanged glances and went back to the kitchen to cook meat.

Although it had been quite a commotion today, it ended up being a blessing in disguise.

From now on, the main house would no longer be able to cause trouble for them.

Qing’s marriage was also resolved.

Though it was distressing, the outcome was good.

As for Shen Li and Qing...

Before entering the kitchen, Zhao grabbed Zhou Ping, "Keep an eye on your sister in the future, don’t let her be alone with that Shen guy too much!"

Whether they marry in the future or not, it’s not proper to be alone together now!

Zhou Ping received the mission and slapped his chest, "I promise to complete it!"

He turned and ran to Zhou Qing’s side, bringing a small stool to sit on.

Zhou Ping looked up at Shen Li and smiled, "Senior Brother, you two continue, pretend I’m not here."

Shen Li smiled helplessly and patted Zhou Ping's head, then looked up at Zhou Qing.

His eyes were full of tenderness, intense like wine.

"I will definitely help Master pass the Jinshi exam."

Zhou Qing patted Shen Li's shoulder, showing brotherly affection.

"If my father passes the Jinshi exam, he won’t treat you badly! Thanks a lot for today, don’t take my his words to heart."

"I understand."

Of course, he didn’t take Zhou Huaishan’s words about letting Zhou Qing marry Cheng Wu seriously.

"Do you really not care about rumors? I actually..."

"You saved me once, how could I repay your kindness by burdening you? Don’t worry, I’m not the type to repay a life-saving grace with marriage."

How lowly would one have to be to do such an unethical thing by marrying someone just because they saved them!

Then why did you wrap your arms around my waist just now?

Shen Li wanted to ask but didn’t dare.

Feelings should not be spoken of prematurely, lest the one who fell in love first becomes embarrassed.

With a gentle smile, Shen Li’s face was full of tenderness, "After all this fuss, you should go rest. You have a competition in the city tomorrow, I’ll clean up here."

Having fought so hard with Zhou Huaihai, Zhou Qing indeed felt her hands and feet go weak.

"Alright, I’ll leave it to you then. I’m really tired, going to sleep now."

Zhou Qing walked towards the house, followed closely by Zhou Yao, who whispered, "Sister, do you not like Shen Li?"

"I like him."

"Then why don’t you want to marry him?"

"Just because I like him, should I marry him? There are plenty of good men in the world, can I marry them all?

You can’t just marry one today because you like him and then marry another tomorrow because he’s also good, right? That would be so immoral, I could never do such a thing."

I have nothing to say to that?!

"But you kissed Shen Li just now. If you don’t marry him, how will you get married later? The rumors..."

Zhou Yao, who hadn’t reached marriageable age, blushed when she said the word "kissed."

Zhou Qing rolled her eyes.

"Why must I get married? Isn't it better to enjoy life on my own? What do I need a man for!"

"Sister?"

"Think about it, if you get married, you might end up quarreling or even fighting with your husband. If he’s a good man, fine, but if he’s not, you’ll have miserable days ahead."

Zhou Yao thought of Zhou Huaihai and the widow in the cornfield.

She also remembered the slap Zhou Huaihai gave Wang just now.

Her mind filled with dread.

"Being single is much simpler. You can do whatever you want without anyone controlling you!"

After pondering this, young Zhou Yao's eyes lit up as if she had discovered a new world.

The sisters continued their conversation as they entered the house.

In the courtyard.

Zhou Ping and Shen Li both twitched their eyes.

Zhou Ping let out a long sigh, "Do all girls think this way now? It’s going to be hard for me to find a wife in the future. Sigh, life is hard."

Shen Li’s twitching eye movements paused, and he turned to look at Zhou Ping.

Five-year-old Zhou Ping, looking all wistful, carried a tray of empty tea cups to the kitchen.

Early the next morning.

After having breakfast, Shen Li drove the carriage, taking Zhou Qing and Zhou Huaishan to the city.

Zhao was busy making dumplings in the kitchen while Zhou Huailin chopped the stuffing with a knife.

"Husband, what did Second Brother mean yesterday? Why does Qing have to wait until he passes the Jinshi exam to marry Shen Li?"

Zhou Huailin said, "Think about it, Shen Li is a small shop owner in the county, and our family are just farmers. If Qing marries him and he bullies her, we wouldn’t be able to stand up for her."

Zhao suddenly understood.

"I thought Second Brother looked down on Shen Li."

"Don’t worry about Qing’s marriage. Second brother is now studying, and if he becomes an official in the future, Qing can marry even better."

"I know, you don’t need to tell me." Zhao rolled her eyes at Zhou Huailin, a smile tugging at her lips. "I hope Second brother can become an official, so Yao can marry well in the future."

Zhou Huaishan, who was being talked about, was pouting and squinting as he squatted in the carriage.

"Daughter, I’m nervous."

He was so nervous that he couldn’t sit down, only able to squat.

"If you win the competition today, I’ll treat you to lamb hotpot for three days!"

Zhou Huaishan took a deep breath and sighed.

"In my life, I’ve competed many times, but except for cricket fights, I’ve never won in anything else."

He whispered these words to Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing rolled her eyes at him, "You’ve never competed in calligraphy before?"

Zhou Huaishan grinned, "Who dares compete with my calligraphy?"

Zhou Qing said, "Then today, win with your calligraphy!"

"But the competition isn’t just about calligraphy."

As he was speaking, the mule cart suddenly jolted, and Zhou Huaishan, squatting in the cart, let out a series of farts.

Toot toot toot toot.

Immediately...

"Father! I told you to eat fewer radishes, and you didn’t listen, it stinks!"

"I was thinking, if the competition gets tough, I’ll fart to disrupt his concentration, stink him out!"

"You’ll stink me out before you stink him out!"

"Daughter, let me fan you, fan you."

Shen Li, driving the cart in front, listened to their conversation with a smile on his face.

But...Master’s farts are really stinks!

_____

Footnotes:

[1] Jinshi (Chinese: 進士; pinyin: jìnshì) was the highest and final degree in the imperial examination in Imperial China.