Perfect Encounter - Salmon Latte Archived

PROOFREAD BY AFREANA

Chapter 5

The fourth sister, An Ruofang, thought An Ruochen hated that the second and third sisters got to sit at the front seat and thought she felt neglected. She took her chopsticks, put some food on An Ruochen’s plate, and said in a small voice, “Big sister, please eat.”

An Ruofang was born of the fourth house, Mrs. Duan. Among all the sisters, she was the one who treated An Ruochen best and at the same time was also the most beautiful. At twelve years old, she was already lovely and charming. She fully deserved her mother’s good looks. Her mother, Mrs. Duan, was a breathtakingly beautiful village girl from Lai Xi village. However, she was sharp-edged personality and harbored a lot of resentment and jealousy toward the other houses. Because Mrs. Duan hated An Ruochen for scolding her when she was young, she forbade An Ruofang from learning how to write. But An Ruofang still liked her eldest sister the most and often sought An Ruochen out to talk to her.

An Ruochen smiled at her fourth sister and ate the food she served. If she manages to leave, the person she would most likely miss is this sister. Now, she is still young, and her father may not do anything. But in a few years, don’t know how her father will trade his most beautiful daughter. Hopefully, her sister is blessed with a beautiful heart and can marry into a good family. As for herself, she only wants to find a place to stay and live in peace.

On the high seat, Big Long barely said anything. It was all Zong Zeqing replying. In contrast, An Zhifu’s side was much more lively. An Zhifu talked a lot, accompanied by some merchants and gentlemen, who were unwilling to stay behind. Praises came one after another until General Long was praised to the sky. Even Zong Zeqing, who was ‘knowledgeable’, had to rub his face.

An Zhifu said: “The General’s reputation is needless to say. Even this community has ‘General Long’s Biography.’ This book is widely praised and everyone wants to read it but can’t get it. It took me a lot of effort and money to get a copy. General, what do you think of the book?”

“It is well written.” Big Long replied.

‘Pfft’ An Ruochen spewed out a mouthful of soup, choking and coughing several times.

The whole room fell silent. An Zhifu gave An Ruochen a fierce glare. An Ruochen bowed and apologized, saying she drank in a hurry and choked. An Zhifu reprimanded her twice, and the crowd continued to be lively.

An Zhifu continued with the topic, saying it is good the general likes it. He arranged to set up a stage in the garden. After dinner, they can enjoy the flowers and listen to the opera. An excerpt from “General Long’s biography.”

“Pah”, a crunching sound. The whole room fell silent again. Their eyes swept to the source of the sound. It was An Ruochen’s bowl falling.

An Ruochen shrank under the table and fumbled to clean up, but in reality, she did it all to hide her distorted face. She can’t believe they’re even going to perform? An excerpt from ‘General Long’s Biography’?

God, she sincerely wanted to write the word ‘submit’ to her father.

This time, An Zhifu could not stand it anymore and scolded An Ruochen for being a “disgraceful thing”, ordering her to leave.

An Ruochen bowed down in a panic and agreed. Great, if I had known earlier, I should have dropped the bowl sooner. General, you eat well and listen to the play. I’m leaving.

An Ruochen returned to her courtyard. As she expected, there was no one around. The maids and servants transferred to the front yard to entertain the guests. She dismissed the old nanny and her maids. She pretended to write but listened carefully to the movements outside while she did it. When she was sure no one was around, An Ruochen acted quickly.

She wrapped her breasts tightly, grabbed her bag and ran to the backyard.

She met with Lu Daniang yesterday and told her the house was unsuitable. She did not want the money paid for the rent back, but she asked for the owner to keep it a secret and not to involve Lu Daniang. Yesterday, Lu Daniang was busy. An family banquet required many ingredients. She had to make several trips to deliver it all and did not have time to chat with An Ruochen. After hearing what An Ruochen said, she did not ask questions, agreed, and left.

As An Ruochen finished the explanation, she was relieved for having this matter concluded. After arranging everything again, all she had to do was to wait for this moment.

In the west backyard, there were wood piles next to the wall that hadn’t yet been split into firewood. There was also a tree outside the wall. One can climb up the wall using the wood piles and then climb down using the tree. An Ruochen had already calculated. The guests’ door, the main door and the side door must have a servant waiting, and she did not dare to slow down. She can’t disguise herself to go out. The only way is to climb over the wall.

An Ruochen made her way to the backyard wall. She carried her bag, climbed up the wood piles, stood on her tiptoes, raised her arms, and tried to climbed up the wall with her feet.

The bag behind her swayed, making it difficult for her to use force, and she tried several times unsuccessfully. Time was running out. An Ruochen became anxious. She took off the bag and threw it to the outside of the wall. With a burst of energy from her hands and feet combined, her arms finally propped up the wall. She lifted her legs when a voice behind her said: “The way you use your strength is not right. Your wrists will hurt.”

An Ruochen was shocked. She lost her grip on the wall and fell. She rolled down to the wood piles, knocking her knee, and twisting her foot.

“There is no place to put your feet on the other side of the wall. I guess you want to climb down the tree, but it seems you are not tall enough. Your arms are not that long, making it impossible to climb it. But, if you leap with force, it may be possible for you to hold onto one of the tree’s branches. Then again, looking at your strength when you were climbing the wall, the strength of your legs and arms is not enough. Probably, you can not jump over. And even if you somehow get passed this, you still can’t hold onto the tree.”

Anyway, the result is a fall to death.

An Ruochen sucked in her breath in pain, without having to wait for the ‘can not jump over’, she already fell. An Ruochen was annoyed and angry, feeling painful that all her efforts have gone to waste. She crawled down from the wood piles and saluted with her aching legs: “Greetings, General.”

Why don’t you eat and listen to the play properly? Why did you come here?

An Ruochen looked around. There was no one else, only this General Long. Not sure if it is a blessing in misfortunes or bigger misfortune in misfortunes.

“How come the general is here?” An Ruochen smiled and asked as if nothing had happened. As if being caught red-handed just now had never happened.

Big Long swept his eyes at her breasts and replied seriously, “To use the privy.”

Where are you looking?

An Ruochen was annoyed in her heart, but she still maintained a smile on her face: “We really didn’t greet you well. Why didn’t someone lead the way for the General? If you don’t mind, I’ll take you there.”

It would be crazy to believe him. How could you go to the privy in this remote backyard?

“I’ve been away too long, people will be looking for me.” Big Long said, “Miss should not waste time to play dumb, make it short.”

An Ruochen’s heart jumped and she put away her smile, not really grasping the meaning behind Big Long’s words. “What does the General want me to say?”

“Miss is going to run away from home?” Although it was a question, Big Long’s tone of voice was certain.

An Ruochen’s heart beat faster: “What does the General want?”

Blackmail her? What did she have that would be worth getting blackmailed for?

“I will give you a chance to convince me not to tell your father about this.”

Several speculative thoughts passed through An Ruochen’s mind, but she still didn’t understand. “What does the General want?” She asked directly.

She was frank and calm. It wasn’t a normal performance from a girl living deep within a boudoir. When Big Long looked at An Ruochen, his suspicions could not be dispelled. “Where are you going?”

An Ruochen bit her lips, and her eyes gradually reddened. She twisted her fingers with a nervous face and said pitifully: “General, my father is going to marry me to Master Qian of Pingnan County, who is already 60 years old and has many concubines and chambermaids, and I heard he has a violent temper, is vicious and cruel, and scolds his concubines at will. His last wife died strangely. I am scared. I don’t want to marry over there.” As she spoke, tears were coming down.

This time her acting is good. It seems she was skilled in pretending to be pitiful and has less experience pretending to be a man-eater.

Big Long remained expressionless, showing no sympathy in his voice: “So where do you want to go?”

This question An Ruochen can’t answer. General Long acted suspiciously. Even if he has the intention to help her, she could not believe it. An Ruochen hung her head and sobbed lightly, sniffling and rubbing her eyes. Her appearance was pitiful.

She was calm and collected.

Big Long measured An Ruochen, not saying anything.

An Ruochen did not speak, with red eyes and head down.

She was thinking about how to respond, but Big Long didn’t intend to give her the opportunity. He said, “You have not properly planned. I am afraid you cannot escape anywhere.”

An Ruochen didn’t react.

“You only think about the front and side door, but have you thought about the wall in the backyard being impossible to climb?”