Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Do You Want to Come With Me?

Chun Zhi said: “You and I cannot be husband and wife, and we cannot be brother and sister.”

People reach for higher places. If Lu Jing Yun had told her earlier that he would marry a high official’s daughter, Chun Zhi could have understood. After all, she was a tofu seller and did not match a top scholar. But Lu Jing Yun chose to hide it. He even brought his new wife back to their hometown and said Chun Zhi was only a maid of his family.

Chun Zhi was not the kind to cling. She only wanted one clear sentence from Lu Jing Yun. Yet he gave no explanation and only told her to be his concubine. How laughable. Ten years by his side, and Lu Jing Yun still did not understand her at all. Her ten years of devotion became a joke.

Earlier in the hall, Wu Xin told Lu Jing Yun that he had come to fight for the tofu workshop because Ji Ru Zhen told him to do it. Chun Zhi wanted to ask how Lu Jing Yun would explain this to Ji Ru Zhen later, but then she thought: what passes between husband and wife has nothing to do with her anymore, so she did not ask.

Now that she had the deed to the tofu workshop in hand, no one could drive her out of Linshui Town again. As soon as Chun Zhi thought of this, joy filled her heart. She wanted to hurry home and tell Huo Qi the good news.

After a long silence, Lu Jing Yun finally said: “It is getting dark. It’s not safe for you to go back to town alone. Take my carriage.”

“No need,” Chun Zhi said, “I can rent a carriage from the coach yard.”

Lu Jing Yun wanted to say more. Chun Zhi said: “Before you and I met again, your wife already sent Wu Xin to fight me for the tofu workshop. If I sit in your carriage to go back, who knows what your wife will do.”

Lu Jing Yun knew she was right. Ji Ru Zhen came from a high family and never cared about others’ feelings. She did whatever she wanted. Even as her husband, he could not say what she might do next. What Chun Zhi said made sense.

Lu Jing Yun could only say: “Then be careful.”

Chun Zhi answered: “Mm,” and turned to leave.

On the way to the coach yard, she bought some braised meat and two jars of wine, then rented a carriage to go home.

By the time she arrived, it was late. A lantern burned by the gate. Chun Zhi paid the fare and told the coachman to return. Carrying the braised meat and two jars of wine, she pushed the door open and saw Huo Qi sitting beside the Eight Immortals Table. An oil lamp burned on the table. The dim, warm light wrapped around Huo Qi and made the small courtyard feel cozy.

“I’m back.”

Chun Zhi brought the braised meat and wine forward and set them on the Eight Immortals Table.

Huo Zheng lifted his eyes to her. In his dark pupils, her figure was reflected: “You came back so late and look so happy?”

Chun Zhi smiled: “The magistrate lord awarded the tofu workshop to me. Of course I’m happy. I even bought braised meat and wine so we can celebrate.”

Huo Zheng looked a little surprised and asked: “That Wu Xin came to the County Yamen?”

“Yes,” Chun Zhi said, “he was beaten so badly, wrapped in white cloth from head to toe, and carried in on a stretcher.”

[Huo Zheng thought he had underestimated how stubborn common folk can be when it comes to money.]

Not knowing his thoughts, Chun Zhi asked: “Have you eaten dinner?”

Huo Zheng said: “What do you think?”

“Then you haven’t. You must be hungry. I’ll cook now. It will be quick.”

Chun Zhi put the braised meat into a bowl, lit the stove, and quickly fried two dishes. She carried them to the Eight Immortals Table and found two cups. She poured wine for both herself and Huo Qi.

Chun Zhi said: “Today the magistrate lord not only gave the tofu workshop to me, but Lu Jing Yun also transferred the deed to my name. That’s worth a toast. Let’s drink!”

Huo Zheng did not think a small tofu workshop was anything to celebrate, and from her words it sounded like: “Lu Jing Yun really came to testify for you?”

“Yes.” Chun Zhi already held up her cup. She tipped her chin, asking Huo Zheng to lift his cup too.

As he picked up his cup, he asked: “Did you come back together with Lu Jing Yun?”

“I would never go with him,” Chun Zhi said, “I rented my own carriage.”

She clinked cups with Huo Qi and drank it all in one go. The fruit wine from the county was sweet and very good.

After one cup, Chun Zhi filled her own again. Seeing that Huo Zheng had not drunk, she smiled and asked: “Do you not like wine, or is your tolerance poor?”

Huo Zheng raised an eyebrow and emptied his cup in one drink.

Chun Zhi filled his cup once more and urged him to eat. The braised meat was fragrant and perfect with wine. The fruit wine tasted sweet, but it was strong afterward. After a few cups, Chun Zhi’s cheeks turned pink and the wine rose to her head. Looking at Huo Zheng before her, she felt he was even more handsome and gentle.

She stared at Huo Qi for a long time. Huo Zheng felt hot under her gaze: “Why are you staring at me?”

“Because you are good-looking,” Chun Zhi said without thinking, a little drunk.

Huo Zheng laughed: “Do you stare like this at every good-looking person you see?”

“Not, not really,” Chun Zhi kept her eyes on him, “I don’t stare at others. But you are my husband.”

Huo Zheng said with a soft laugh: “So now you won’t bring up that our marriage is fake?”

“Shh,” Chun Zhi put a finger to her lips and said to Huo Qi: “You look better when you don’t talk.”

Huo Zheng: “…”

Chun Zhi wanted to drink more. She picked up her cup and found it empty, so she lifted the jar and filled both cups to the brim. With a tipsy voice she called: “Huo Qi.”

“Hm?”

Huo Zheng sat by her side and tilted his head back to look at the river of stars above. In the little courtyard, one only had to look up to see the wide, shining sky.

Chun Zhi leaned sideways against Huo Zheng’s shoulder and held up her cup: “Are you leaving soon?”

Huo Zheng did not push her away: “Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know,” Chun Zhi said, “I just feel that once your wound heals, you will go.”

When she was clear-headed, she would never say this. But tonight she was happy and did not know how strong the fruit wine was. After several cups, her mind went fuzzy, and she spoke whatever came to her.

Huo Zheng did not answer at once. He lowered his eyes to look at her.

Leaning on him, Chun Zhi murmured: “After you leave, will you come back to see me?”

In the ten years she had lived in Linshui Town, she treated the Lu Clan as her home. After she left the Lu Clan, she treated the tofu workshop as home. She was too lonely alone, so she treated this man she had picked up as family. When sober, she knew Huo Qi was only a passerby and would leave sooner or later. But after drinking, she could not help asking: would he come back to see her after he left?

Huo Zheng was traveling south to Nanzhou by imperial order. Once he finished the affairs in Nanzhou, he would leave here and return to the Capital. The Capital was a thousand miles from Linshui Town. He might never come back in this lifetime.

Huo Zheng said: “No.”

Hearing those two words, Chun Zhi suddenly felt sad. Her almond eyes grew wet: “If you won’t come back, then forget it.”

After a moment of thought, Huo Zheng lowered his voice and asked her: “Do you want to come with me?”