Perfect Encounter - Chapter 6.1
PROOFREAD BY AFREANA
Chapter 6
The news that the granary would be attacked was taken very seriously by Big Long. In order not to alert the culprit, he quietly sent his army to strengthen the defense and did not inform the county government office. He also sent his men to monitor both Xu Matchmaker and An Ruochen. But for several days, there was no unusual movement in any place.
“Granny Xu visits people of marriageable age every day and has no contact with suspicious people. Miss An spent most of the time in the residence and sometimes would go out for a stroll, followed by the maid. The only special thing is that she went to the county government twice, circling around the courthouse’s gate. She told her maid that the words were well written and she should take a good look and learn.”
It is interesting that after his speech that day, this An Ruochen thought about the law. Big Long thought she was an unpredictable girl, always surprising people. She was bold and reckless, but also cautious. He first thought of her as complicated and sophisticated but later found that she was just simple and ignorant. But to say she is simple, she would suddenly appears taking some unexpected actions. Her second bag was like the first one, with only some clothes and belongings, nothing special. Big Long was curious, how much money and silver did she have? Next time, how can she escape? Also, is the information she gave him true or false?
Big Long was patient and waited for the news.
A few days later, the news did came. However, it was not the granaries that were attacked but a horse farm in the western suburbs.
The horse farm was full of military horses. Not only have the bandits burned the horse pens and the straw barn, but they also managed to put poison in the horses’ food, and many horses ended up dying horribly. Although the stables had been well guarded, the bandits were skilled. By the time the stableman and guards found out, the fire was already burning. The guards chased after the bandits for a long time, but in the end, they were still able to get away.
The story spread quickly in the city, including the testimony of the stableman: “When the thieves saw the guards arrive, they hurriedly ran away with loud shouts, and listening to their accent, they sounded like South Qin people.”
South Qin dared to bring chaos to Zhonglan City, burning the horse farms and poisoning the horses! There was a lot of talk in the streets and alleys, and people were scared.
When An Ruochen heard the news, it was like a bolt from the blue sky. It’s over, it’s not the granaries, but a horse farm. Is it because they were suspicious that someone overheard their conversation, so they changed the plan, or were there two separate plans altogether?
If the bandits remain uncaught, then how about the Xu Matchmaker?
Xu Matchmaker was busy proposing marriage to the second girl of Liu family in the east of the city. This was the second piece of gossip An Ruochen heard that day. The second girl of the Liu family was going to marry the third young master of the Sun family in the city’s south. The two families are big, and the money Matchmaker Xu can get for the wedding must be a lot. Heard she was smiling until the wrinkles on her face were bursting with flowers.
It was terrible. An Ruochen felt the situation has taken a turn for the worse. It seemed like she has become a liar who had lied to the General, and she would be imprisoned.
No, before the General gets angry and punishes her, she has to meet him and explain properly.
But it’s not easy to meet the General, even her father had to send him several invitations and gifts before he received a reply. She certainly can’t deliver the invitation to the General by herself, and if her family knows, she will be in trouble. An Ruochen thought left and right and came up with a solution.
The next day, coincidentally, the housekeeper’s wife wanted to distribute some fruits to all the courtyards, but the maids did not have enough manpower, so she told them to make more trips. An Ruochen saw this and said, “It just happens that I have nothing to do, and I’m looking for someone to chat with. I will deliver them to my sisters.”
She carried two baskets and went to deliver the fruits.
Since it was the same way, she went to the fourth house’s courtyard first. When An Ruofang saw her sister coming, she wanted to go with her on the next trip. The two of them went to the second house together.
On the way, An Ruofang took An Ruochen’s hand, wanting to say something. An Ruochen knew it was because her father had slapped her the day before. That day when Qian Pei came to visit the house, his viper-like eyes would stare at each of the beautiful girls, from the maids to the An sisters, and then he would reveal a sickening smile. He deliberately touched An Ruochen’s hand during dinner, and she unable to hold back her nausea for a moment, subconsciously drew her hand back with force. That night, An Zhifu came to her room and slapped her.
The story soon spread within the family. An Ruochen overheard the second sister, An Ruoxi, saying that it was fortunate the eldest sister was going to marry that disgusting old man. As for the fourth sister, An Ruochen saw sympathy in her eyes.
An Ruochen couldn’t help but sigh and said: “If this sister is gone, take good care of yourself. Don’t be too scared. Let your mother keep an eye on you and marry into a good family.”
When An Ruofang heard this, her tears came down. She hugged An Ruochen: “Sister, you should not marry him, okay? He is scary.”
An Ruochen patted her head: “Don’t be silly, don’t say this outside, so that father won’t get angry and beat you.” It took a few words of comfort to persuade An Ruofang’s tears to stop.
When they arrived at the Second House, An Ruoxi saw An Ruofang’s bitter face and was immediately upset: ” Why do you come to me with a crying face? Are you looking for bad luck?”
An Ruochen said she came to deliver some fruits, and the little girl talked to her on the way, saying she couldn’t bear let her older get married. An Ruoxi scolded An Ruofang for being stupid, but was also interested in marriage topics, so they talked about it. An Ruochen took the opportunity to ask: “Sister, you also reached marriageable age. That day father let you and the third sister sit beside General Long. What did that mean?”
The bold and spirited An Ruoxi blushed: ” How do I know? Father did not mention it afterwards.”
An Ruochen mused: “General Long is a good match. Many wealthy merchants in Zhonglan City invited him, but he did not go but instead came to our An House. This thing may be possible. I just don’t know whether father prefers you or third sister.”
An Ruoxi’s face sank. She certainly hopes that this opportunity is hers.
An Ruofang could not involve herself into this conversation and was not interested in the topic, only quietly ate her fruit.
An Ruoxi said: “Ronggui is the eldest son. It is because of my mother that the jade store can be supported by Master Qian. And I am older than Ruolan. No matter what, this good thing cannot belong to the third house.”
An Ruochen smiled, “I’m getting married anyway. This has nothing to do with me.”
“How is it not relevant?” An Ruoxi said, “Don’t forget, you will marry over to Fu’an County. It is my mother’s maternal family’s place. If there is anything, they can take care of it.”
An Ruochen thought: “Then, okay, I will also give you an idea. You know our father’s mind, as long as General Long is interested, it doesn’t matter which daughter, it’s not a problem for him. The third sister has no plan, but the third aunt is smart. It is impossible to determine what she said to Father. The first one who takes action will have the biggest advantage. Until there has been no action on the third aunt’s end, you have to attract General Long’s attention. Then when father mentions this idea to him, he will only remember you. Naturally, the chance of success will be greater.”
An Ruoxi frowned: “But General Long does not come to our residence. How can I meet him?”
An Ruochen said: “The General is working hard for the people, and our father respects him. But father is busy with business, so he can only ask his family members to send some supplements to the General and visit him, which is reasonable, right?”
Reasonable a pig, dog, cow, sheep, chicken, duck, and goose, but An Ruochen knows the second sister is the same as their father. When they want to gain profit, they do not care about anything else.
That night, An Ruoxi came to An Ruochen. She said she found out what her father meant. He was indeed interested in climbing up to General Long’s family. It is not necessarily her but depending on who General Long likes.
An Ruochen smiled as she listened to her second sister’s complaint and sighed in her heart that her father sure was ambitious. Didn’t he think it was a little too high? As a second-rank General, protector of the country, would he be interested in our small family of crude merchants in the border town?
“Father thinks the idea I proposed to personally send a gift is good, and he will send a request to the Purple Cloud House tomorrow.”
“Mm-hmm.” An Ruochen nodded vigorously. Since her father is going to help her to deliver the invitation, the second sister would not let the elders accompany her, making An Ruochen the only one suitable to go. The second sister will most likely want her to go together with her. Then this matter would be done.
“It’s just that it’s not appropriate for me to go alone as an unmarried girl, while my fourth sister is too young, and I can’t talk about this with my third sister’s side, so you should accompany me on this trip, big sister.”
Sure enough.
An Ruoxi looked blank and said: “Still, back then, when sister ran out of the residence to see the General, it was indeed a bit out of the line. You are engaged and waiting to get married. Your admiration for the general should be kept to yourself, don’t think too much.”
An Ruochen smiled and agreed.