Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Aren’t you going to marry me?

Chun Zhi never thought Huo Qi would suddenly come out. She had clearly told him that someone was here and he should stay inside.

Auntie Li and Li Jun glanced at Huo Qi, then fixed their eyes on Chun Zhi, as if trying to read something from her face. Huo Zheng’s gaze also stopped on her.

The noon sun was bright and heavy, pouring into the small courtyard. The way everyone stared at Chun Zhi felt almost solid.

For some reason, she suddenly felt a little flustered, like she had hidden a man at home and just got caught: [This is so embarrassing.]

She hurried to explain: “Auntie Li, please don’t misunderstand. His name is Huo Qi. He fainted at my door two days ago. He was badly hurt, so I brought him in and saved him.”

Chun Zhi was a Miss from a good family. Since she said so, it had to be true. Auntie Li did not doubt her, but she still said: “Chun Zhi, I have to say this. How can a young lady bring a strange man home just like that? Maybe he is a bad person. Even if he is good, you are unmarried. It is not proper for a man and woman who are not related to live under one roof. I think it is best to send him away as soon as possible.”

Huo Zheng’s brows tightened, and he felt very unhappy: [Why does everyone think they can control Chun Zhi? And who is she to order me to leave?]

Chun Zhi said: “I have two rooms. He lives in one and I live in the other. We do not bother each other. When he gets better, I will make him leave at once.”

Auntie Li wanted to say more. Huo Zheng suddenly spoke in a flat voice: “Aren’t you going to marry me?”

Auntie Li let out a small cry and turned to Chun Zhi: “Chun Zhi, you… weren’t you interested in our Li Jun?”

Li Jun grew anxious and asked, “Miss Chun Zhi, what are you planning to do?”

Chun Zhi had no idea what was with Huo Qi today. Yesterday, when she discussed a fake marriage with him, he looked unwilling. Why was he now… ruining everything?

She said: “The Magistrate’s Office only gave me three days. Today is already the second. I… I’m afraid there is not enough time, so…”

Huo Zheng said: “So you cast a wide net, and whoever you catch, you marry?”

“No…” She could not say in front of Auntie Li and Li Jun that what she had proposed to Huo Qi was a fake marriage. Yet Huo Qi pressed her like a husband who had just caught his wife cheating.

Auntie Li’s eyes slid between Chun Zhi and the man in the wheelchair. She had to admit he was very handsome. Even the top scholar would look a bit less impressive next to him, let alone her own nephew who fished all day and was dark from the sun. If they only compared faces, there was no contest. But however handsome, this man was still a cripple in a wheelchair.

Auntie Li hurried to advise: “Chun Zhi, marriage is a lifetime matter. You cannot pick a husband just because he looks good. Looks cannot feed you. Li Jun may not be as good-looking, but he is honest and works hard. That is the kind of man you should marry.”

Chun Zhi said softly: “I know, Auntie Li. Please, you and Brother Li go home first. I need to make things clear with him.”

“Fine, we will go,” said Auntie Li. “But the Magistrate’s Office gave you three days and there is only one day left. Before dark today you must give me a sure answer. A wedding is a big deal. Even if it is a simple ceremony with two tables of wedding food, we still need time to prepare.”

Chun Zhi agreed and walked them to the gate. Before leaving, Auntie Li still held her hand and lectured her: “The better-looking a man is, the less you can trust him. Look at that top scholar. And this man’s background is unknown. How can he be more reliable than our Li Jun, whom we know well? And he is so badly hurt. Maybe he will need that wheelchair forever. Even if you are capable, you cannot support him all your life.”

In short, in Auntie Li’s mouth, Li Jun was perfect, and the man inside was useless except for his face.

After a lot of effort, Chun Zhi finally sent Auntie Li and Li Jun off. She closed the gate, walked back to the yard, and saw Huo Qi’s handsome face as dark as the bottom of a pot.

She tried to explain: “Auntie Li is just careful about strangers. She meant no harm.”

Huo Zheng lifted his eyes to Chun Zhi and asked stiffly: “Aren’t you going to marry me?”

She had not expected him to say the same line again. “It is a fake marriage,” she corrected, “and you did not agree.”

Huo Zheng frowned. “If I do not agree, you go find someone else?”

“You did not agree, so I can only find someone else.” To her, his question made no sense.

She could bring up a fake marriage with Huo Qi, but she could not say that to Gentryman Zhou, Young Master Chu, or even Li Jun just now. They were all from Linshui Town. When they married, it was to build a life and have children. Only the man before her, Huo Qi, was an outsider. Once he recovered, he would leave. If she could fake-marry him and fool everyone, she might avoid jail this time. So he was her first choice. But if he truly refused, she would have to marry another man.

Huo Zheng said, annoyed: “Are you that desperate?”

“Of course I am,” said Chun Zhi. “The Magistrate’s Office gave me three days, and there is only one left.” She whispered, “Easy for you to say when you are not the one about to pay a fine and be dragged to jail by yamen runners.”

Huo Zheng’s hearing was sharp. He caught every word of her whisper and fell silent: [All right, that stings.]

After a while, Chun Zhi stepped closer and asked gently: “So, will you or will you not fake-marry me?”

Huo Zheng asked instead: “If I had not come out just now, would you have agreed to marry that Li fellow?”

Chun Zhi paused, then nodded once. “Yes.” Among the few choices she had, Li Jun was the best.

Huo Zheng had never imagined that one day he would be compared to a fisherman. This young lady really acted fast. If one did not work, she moved on to the next. He thought that just for the fact that the woman trying to order Chun Zhi around was not even a true elder of hers, he could not let Chun Zhi marry that Li guy. But this would be his first marriage in life. Even if it was fake, it could not be so casual.

Watching his face, Chun Zhi asked in a small voice: “Did you change your mind? Are you willing now?”

Huo Zheng wanted to nod, but he felt awkward. He looked up at the sky and said: “Aren’t you going to beg me?”

Chun Zhi understood at once and followed his lead: “Please, Huo Qi, Brother Huo, please fake-marry me.”

Huo Zheng gave her a glance. “Since you asked so sincerely, I will reluctantly be your fake husband for a few days.”