Chapter 15

Chapter 15: Preparing to Marry

“Thank you,” said Chun Zhi. She did not mind his tone. The hardest problem was about to be solved. Smiling with her eyes curved like crescent moons, she asked Huo Qi: “What do you want for lunch? I will cook it.”

Huo Zheng remembered the tasty egg noodles and lean pork soup from yesterday. The flavor still lingered. He savored the memory but kept his face calm, and said casually: “Make your specialty.”

“All right.” With his promise, she felt so happy. Her eyes were bright. “Then let us have a proper meal at noon. I will stir-fry a few dishes to thank Brother Huo for helping me.”

Huo Zheng said: “As you wish.” [When she needs something, it is Brother Huo. When she does not, it is just you, you, you. This girl is… hard to describe.]

She rolled up her sleeves. Her skin was fair, and when she bared her arms they were as pale as lotus roots, shining in the sunlight.

Sitting in the yard, Huo Zheng watched her from several steps away. She was like a bright spring flower blooming in a worn-out little house, fresh and glowing. No matter how shabby everything around her was, it could not hide her charm. Such a young lady had almost agreed to marry that dark, sunburned fellow from the Li Household. Even he felt that would have been a pity.

Chun Zhi did not know what he was thinking. She only knew that since he agreed to a fake marriage, her life had new hope.

To thank him, she cooked four dishes and one soup: Dongpo Pork, Four Happiness Meatballs, Di San Xian stir-fry of potatoes, eggplant, and peppers, a plate of greens, and a large bowl of chicken soup. The rice was steamed fresh. When she lifted the lid, the smell filled the whole yard. Everything looked and smelled wonderful.

The aroma made Huo Zheng think: [When I recover, I should take Chun Zhi back to the Prince’s Manor as a cook. She could make meals just for me.]

“Time to eat, Huo Qi,” called Chun Zhi, setting the food on the Eight Immortals Table.

Huo Zheng pushed his wheelchair over. He had only been here two days, but when he saw the smile on her face, he suddenly felt a little like he was at home. He had never felt that even in grand palaces, yet here, in a shabby little house, he did. It surprised him. He thought: [Maybe I was hurt too badly. Even my brain is off.]

Chun Zhi first served him a bowl of chicken soup and said: “You are injured. You need to build your strength.”

He drank slowly. The soup was fresh and light, not greasy at all, and tasted great. He soon finished the bowl. She refilled it and put a drumstick in his bowl: “You are what you eat.”

She added, “The pork and chicken were gifts from the vendors on West Street. Since we are fake-marrying, we should still set out two tables. I will invite them to drink wedding wine. You do not mind, right?”

He answered without much care: “Mm.” He did not know any of them and would not see them again. It did not matter to him.

Chun Zhi was cheerful and piled food into his bowl: “Then eat more, eat a lot.”

Seeing the rice mound up like a little hill, he said, “You eat yours. I can serve myself.”

“Okay,” she said, and stopped adding food to his bowl. She took a bowl of soup for herself. The chickens Uncle Sun raised were truly delicious. She planned to turn down Auntie Li later and then head to West Street to invite the small vendors she usually worked beside.

Her wedding dress was already prepared. It had been for marrying Lu Jing Yun, but the groom had changed. The dress would still do. There was no time to make a wedding robe for Huo Qi, so she would have to buy one ready-made.

For ordinary families, it was enough if the bride and groom wore red and they could set two banquet tables. Paste Double Happiness Cutouts on doors and windows, swap in red gauze for the bed curtains, and that would be about right.

She did the math in her head and soon finished eating. Huo Zheng also put down his chopsticks. The four dishes were all gone. Only half the chicken soup was left, enough to heat up for dinner.

Chun Zhi cleared the bowls and washed them. As she dried her hands, she said to Huo Qi: “I am going out to buy things. You should rest at home. If someone comes looking for me, just answer them. If they ask who you are, say… say you are my husband.”

Her cheeks warmed a little. Huo Zheng glanced at her and said: “Not today.”

“Tomorrow you will be,” she said. Afraid he might change his mind, she walked over and asked, “Huo Qi, you will not back out at the last minute, right?”

He said: “I was not going to, but if you ask one more time, I might.”

“Then I will not ask.” She smiled. “I am heading out. Take care of your injury.”

She started for the door.

“Wait,” he called.

She turned back. “What is it?”

His eyes darkened slightly as he said: “Pull your sleeves down.”

Chun Zhi looked at her rolled-up sleeves and smiled: “Got it.” She let them fall, waved at him, and said: “I am going now.”

He did not answer, only thought: [I am not blind. I can see.]

First, she went next door to the Li Household and knocked.

“Chun Zhi is here,” said Auntie Li, hurrying to open the gate. “Have you decided so soon?”

“I have decided,” said Chun Zhi.

Li Jun was still there. When he saw her, he came out to meet her, face red, and said, “Miss Chun Zhi…”

“Brother Li,” said Chun Zhi, “you are a good man…”

“Do not rush,” Auntie Li said, tugging her inside. “Come in and sit if you have something to say.”

Chun Zhi did not move and kept going: “Brother Li is a good man, and he will find a bride who suits him better.”

Li Jun froze at those words. Auntie Li blurted out: “So you still prefer that man in the wheelchair? Chun Zhi, listen to me. You cannot marry just for a pretty face. No matter how good he looks, he is a cripple. How can you trust your whole life to a cripple?”

Chun Zhi gently pulled her hand free and said: “He is not a cripple. He is only using a wheelchair for a few days because he is hurt. He will get better.”

Auntie Li opened her mouth to argue again, but Chun Zhi said: “Thank you, Auntie Li, for taking care of me all this time. Tomorrow Huo Qi and I will get married. If you and Brother Li are free, please come and drink wedding wine.”

“Chun Zhi…” Auntie Li tried again: “Think it over. Do not decide so fast…”

“I have thought it through,” said Chun Zhi with a small smile. “I still need to buy things for the wedding, so I will not keep you. See you tomorrow.”

Auntie Li could not hold her back and had to watch as Chun Zhi walked away.

Chun Zhi went to West Street and told Auntie Zhang and the others: “I am getting married tomorrow. If you have time, come to the banquet!”

Everyone was surprised and asked: “So fast? Who are you marrying?”

Chun Zhi laughed and said: “I picked up a man named Huo Qi. I am marrying him tomorrow.”