Chapter 58
58 Releasing the Wife
Li Yu’s heart skipped a beat when she saw Zhou Jia’s smile. She hurriedly took the deer skewer from Li Qing and took a big bite. She smiled at Li Mei and her husband and said, “Aunt, Uncle, try this roasted deer meat too.”
Zhou Jia picked up his wine bowl and stood up. He looked at Li Mei, Liu Changmin, and Li Yu with a smile. “Auntie Li, Uncle Liu, Xiaoyu, today is the happiest day I’ve had in the past few years. Thank you for celebrating my birthday.”
Liu Changmin held his wine and said with a restrained smile, “As long as Mr. Zhou doesn’t mind our humble family, you’re welcome to come and play anytime.”
Zhou Jia smiled at Li Yu and said meaningfully, “As long as Xiaoyu doesn’t despise me, I can’t wait for such a day.”
Liu Changming replied honestly, “No, no. We don’t despise you”
Li Mei secretly pinched Liu Changmin. Liu Changmin did not know what he had said wrong and sat down with an embarrassed smile.
Li Yu glanced at Zhou Jia and thought to herself, It seems that this beautiful trouble wants to cling to me. Li Yu was a little hesitant about accepting this trouble.
Zhou Jia secretly looked at Li Yu and thought to himself, Little Yu’er, don’t hesitate. Come to me!
After everyone had their fill, Li Yu, Zhaodi, and the others were busy clearing the tables and grills in the courtyard.
Zhou Jia and Li Mei sat in the central room and chatted. Zhou Jia looked at Li Mei and Liu Changmin and asked sincerely, “Auntie Li, Uncle Liu, I like Xiaoyu. I want to marry her and hope that the two of you can fulfill my wish.”
When Li Mei heard Zhou Jia say that he wanted to marry Li Yu, she was also a little tempted. However, she still rejected, “Mr. Zhou, our families are too different. Your elders won’t agree. It’s best if you don’t disturb our Xiaoyu anymore. Let her find a good family in the future.”
Zhou Jia looked at Li Mei and said sincerely, “Aunt Li, don’t worry. I’ll make the decision for my marriage. I mentioned this in front of my grandfather, father, and mother when my grandfather was still alive. The elders also agreed.”
Li Mei felt that Zhou Jia was a good candidate. He had a good family background, was good-looking, and had status and knowledge, so she did not refuse. “In that case, as long as Xiaoyu is willing, we won’t stop you.”
Seeing that Li Mei was no longer stopping them, Zhou Jia happily bowed to Li Mei and her husband. “Thank you, Auntie Li and Uncle Liu.”
Li Mei looked at Zhou Jia’s ecstatic expression and smiled. “It’s useless to thank us. Xiaoyu has to be willing.”
However, Zhou Jia thought to himself, As long as the two of you don’t stop me, the possibility of Xiaoyu agreeing to my request will be much greater.
After Li Yu and the others packed up, Li Mei and Liu Changmin came out of the central room and said to Zhaodi, “Let’s go and pluck the weeds from the rapeseed field and wheat field while it’s still early today. Otherwise, we won’t have any time to work tomorrow.”
Zhaodi nodded obediently. “Sure! I’ll get the backpack.”
The few of them took their backpacks and went out. Li Yu saw that Zhou Jia was sitting in the central room and didn’t leave. She looked at him and smiled. “Zhou Jia, are you going to sit here for a while? Or are you going to pluck the weeds with us?”
Zhou Jia watched as Li Yu walked up to her. He blushed and said nervously, “Xiaoyu, I have something to tell you.”
Seeing Zhou Jia blush, Li Yu felt a little amused. “Are you talking about starting work tomorrow?”
“No.” Zhou Jia mustered his courage and looked at Li Yu. “Xiaoyu, I like you. I want to marry you. Are you willing to entrust yourself to me?”
Li Yu didn’t expect Zhou Jia to say it so directly. She was stunned for a moment and thought to herself, Didn’t they say that the ancient people were very reserved?
Li Yu looked up at Zhou Jia and smiled. “Zhou Jia, I admit that I have a good impression of you, but I’m not to the point of wanting to entrust my life to you. Also, have you ever thought that it might be because you’ve never come into contact with a woman like me before? Perhaps you are just curious about me?”
Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu and said seriously, “Xiaoyu, it’s not like that. I had a good impression of you after I first saw you, but at that time, I was indeed curious about you. I just wanted to know what kind of woman you were, but after knowing you, I couldn’t stop the desire in my heart to see you every moment.
I also knew that this was wrong, so I suppressed the crazy idea of wanting to see you every day. I asked myself if I was more curious about you or if I really liked you until I came to settle the bill with you that day. After seeing you, I knew that I liked you and wanted to marry you and protect you.”
When Li Yu saw Zhou Jia’s expression, she knew that he was telling the truth. However, in her previous life, she had seen many couples who lost their love for each other.
Although the ancient people wouldn’t divorce like modern people, they could put you aside when they were tired of you. They could look for second and third wives openly. Just thinking about it made Li Yu feel disgusted. She didn’t want to become like those women in the backyard who were jealous of one another because of a man all day long.
No, if she married Zhou Jia, it would probably be difficult to get a divorce.
Zhou Jia watched nervously as Li Yu’s expression changed. He hoped that Li Yu would give him the answer he wanted.
After thinking about it, Li Yu said to Zhou Jia, “I know that you’re indeed sincere now, but since ancient times, the most difficult thing to control is the human heart. Perhaps my thoughts are a little unorthodox. I don’t think I can accept the kind of life where I’m locked in the backyard every day fighting with a bunch of women and waiting for my husband to dote on me. I like to pursue my own interests and be independent. I don’t like to live a life where I’m controlled by others.”
Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu in confusion. “But since ancient times, women have been taking care of their husbands and children at home after getting married. Men work hard outside to support their families. Don’t you like to live a leisurely life?”
Li Yu smiled when she heard that. “That’s why I said that my thoughts are a little unorthodox. Zhou Jia, if you think that our cooperation will be inconvenient in the future, I’ll withdraw!”
Zhou Jia hurriedly waved his hand when he heard that. “No, no, Xiaoyu, there’s nothing inconvenient about it. I’m not saying that what you said is wrong. I’ve just never heard anyone say such a thing and was suddenly stunned.
Also, you said that it’s absolutely impossible for you to compete with a bunch of women after you get married and wait for your husband to dote on you. It might be because of what we’ve seen from the previous generation. I’ve always wanted to marry a woman who’s in love with me and live a peaceful life with her.
As for you saying that you’re going to do what you like, Xiaoyu, think about it. Isn’t it because we’re doing what you and I like together that we’re working together now? Xiaoyu, believe me, I’m going to walk with you, not marry you and restrain you in the backyard.”
Li Yu was stunned by Zhou Jia’s words. She looked at Zhou Jia in a daze. Zhou Jia walked forward and held Li Yu’s hand. “The first time we met, you held my hand and protected me down the mountain. In the future, let me hold your hand and we’ll walk together, okay?”
Li Yu was a little moved by Zhou Jia’s words. “I can travel with you through thick and thin. However, you have to promise me that if you have other thoughts in many years, let me go so that we don’t hate each other.”
Zhou Jia nodded without hesitation. “Alright, I promise you.”
Li Yu smiled slyly and said, “A gentleman never goes back on his word. Write me an undertaking to release your wife first before getting someone to propose marriage.”
Zhou Jia did not know whether to laugh or cry at Li Yu’s words. “Xiaoyu, how can I write a divorce letter before getting married?”
Li Yu smiled sweetly at Zhou Jia. “We can be the first to implement this. As long as you don’t have any ulterior motives, the letter is just a decoration!”
Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu’s smile. “Alright, I’ll write it for you now.”
Li Yu smiled as she took the letter that Zhou Jia had written and placed it in her pocket. She looked at Zhou Jia and said seriously, “As long as you don’t leave me, I will travel hand in hand with you.”
“Xiaoyu, believe me. Time will prove everything.” Zhou Jia looked at Li Yu longingly. “I’ll go back and find an official matchmaker to propose marriage.”
Li Yu agreed generously. “Alright, go ahead! I have to go and pull the weeds.”