Chapter 173
173, The Way it Originates (3 more)
“How did you all get out?” asked Old Man Yuan.
Offending the young master of the governor’s residence was not something one could simply walk away from.
“…” Yuan Wang fell into silence for a moment before he said, “It was Miss Xie, she went to the Governor’s Office!”
“?” Old Man Yuan’s eyes immediately reddened.
Old Lady Ni remained silent.
After a while, Old Man Yuan said, “She is kinder than I imagined. From now on, do not trouble her or disturb her anymore. As for the life-saving grace, she has already repaid it long ago!”
Yuan Wang nodded. “Grandpa, rest assured, I understand!”
It was precisely because he understood that he felt ashamed and embarrassed.
He had never thought that his family would use the debt of gratitude to coerce Xie Zhinuan into being given away to someone else.
A woman’s reputation for chastity was especially important.
His mother had been too presumptuous, so when his father sent her back to her maternal home, he, as the eldest son, did not protest or plead.
His mother hated and resented him; he knew it and it hurt, but he never said much.
“You should also advise your father. If the family is harmonious, all will be well. No matter what your mother has done, she gave birth to several of you, which is a great contribution!” Old Man Yuan said softly.
Yuan Wang smiled faintly. “Grandpa, don’t worry, Father will bring Mother back!”
The family spoke quietly among themselves.
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Yuan Wang left the courtyard after dinner and looked in the direction of Xie Zhinuan’s house.As a young man with a budding affection, he carefully cherished the girl in his heart. He had planned to confess his love and ask for her hand after the autumn exams, but with what had happened, there was no possibility for him and her anymore.
This fledgling affection, he could not even speak of; for the rest of his days, he could only keep it close to his heart, gradually forget it, and carefully cherish the memory of a time when he had harbored tender feelings for a gentle and lovely girl.
“Wang’er!” Old Man Yuan came out and patted his grandson’s shoulder gently. “Stop thinking about it. She is not someone you should think about. In the future…”
“Grandpa, it’s late, let’s sleep,” Yuan Wang interrupted the old man.
Some things are best left unsaid.
This was his secret alone, forever his and his alone.
“Alright, time to rest!”
Just as he was about to turn around, it seemed someone had hurried back.
Next door, Yuan Liuwang’s house still had lanterns hanging, and the mule cart that had arrived appeared to belong to Yuan Liuwang.
The mule cart stopped, and Yuan Liuwang peered at Yuan Wang through the lantern light. “Hey, Yuan Wang, are you back to celebrate Mid-Autumn with your grandparents?”
“Mm!” Yuan Wang responded.
Yuan Liuwang smiled. “Good for you. I’m heading back first; I’ve been on the road all day and I’m starving!”
He was exhausted and hungry; he needed to get home quickly for some food.
Yuan Wang nodded.
The doors to Yuan Liuwang’s house opened, and Liuwang’s mother came out joyfully. “Liuwang…”
Yuan Liuwang jumped down from the mule cart. “Mother, I bought quite a lot of things; they’re all on the mule cart. Quick, make me something to eat, I’m starving!”
“I’ve got chicken soup boiling for you, come inside and you can eat soon!”
Laughter and noise came from next door.
That kind of bustle was something Old Man Yuan’s house did not have.
In the midst of the liveliness, there was prosperity and the scent of fireworks.
Old Man Yuan thought of what he had said to Xie Zhinuan that night, and considering that she hadn’t shown any response tonight and hadn’t visited in these past days, he knew that their relationship was severed.
“…”
With a soft sigh, he walked back into the house with a faltering step.
Yuan Wang watched him, pursed his lips, and also went back into the house.
From next door came the merry voices, seemingly about Yuan Liuwang promising to give the children money to go into town, and then to Xieji’s braised meat shop to have braised meat noodles. The children’s joyful shouts could be heard clearly.
“…”
Yuan Wang chuckled softly to himself.
On the sixteenth day of the eighth month, very early on, Yuan Wang and his brothers headed back to the county town.
Yuan Liuwang also got up early, tidied himself properly, and then went to Xie Zhinuan’s home.
Chapter 174