Casting Nets to Catch a Husband

Chapter 153: False affection

“Mother, how about we move to the county too? We could stay there for a while and then come back home for a bit. After all, there’s enough space behind the shop,” Lu Shuang suggested without thinking.

“Do you want to live in the county?” Chen Shi looked at her. Their family had been running a shop in Anyi County for almost three years, and this was the first time she’d heard Lu Shuang express a desire to live there. She remarked, “Living behind the shop isn’t as comfortable or free as living at home.”

But Lu Shuang nodded eagerly without hesitation, “I do!”

Living in the county would be wonderful—she could visit the embroidery workshop every day.

Chen Shi thought about it and felt it was a good idea. She turned to her eldest daughter-in-law and asked, “What do you think, Yulan? Would you like to take the children and live in the county?”

Qin Shi’s heart leaped with joy.

Of course, she wanted to. Her husband was in the county, so how could she not want the whole family to be together?

In the past, it had been inconvenient because the children were too young, but now, the youngest, little Rui, was almost two years old. With Xiaoya and Yu Ge’er to keep him company, he no longer cried and fussed as much as before. Naturally, Qin Shi wanted to go.

She nodded immediately and said, “As long as it doesn’t affect the business at the front of the shop, it would be wonderful.”

Seeing that her eldest daughter-in-law was also willing, Chen Shi smiled. “Alright, then we’ll move over in a while. We’ll split our time between the county and the town.”

Although Chen Shi said they would live in both places, she had already made up her mind. Her second son and his wife had their own shop, and her third son and his wife had bought a house. Once Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yu moved, the whole family would be living there long-term. The house would be spacious enough, and they would probably only return to the town for festivals and special occasions.

One reason was that the family could be together, and another was that Chen Shi had started to seriously consider Lu Shuang’s marriage. She felt that living in the county might offer more opportunities.

Since her sons were all doing business in the county, would she really marry off her only daughter to someone from Changfeng Town?

Changfeng Town was no longer Chen Shi’s first choice for a son-in-law.

~

The next morning, Liu Yu and Lu Chengxiao loaded their belongings onto the mule cart. Babao drove the cart, and the couple set off for Anyi County.

However, an unexpected incident occurred before they even left Changfeng Town.

The curtain of the mule cart was lifted, and as they passed through the street, Chen Sheng, who was being forcefully dragged by Liu Shi to meet with a prospective family, spotted Liu Yu inside the cart from a distance.

In that instant, Chen Sheng almost doubted his eyes. But even so, he didn’t hesitate—he immediately took off running after the cart.

The mule cart moved quickly, but Chen Sheng didn’t care. He chased after it, shouting for them to stop, and in a moment of desperation, he even called out Liu Yu’s name loudly.

Liu Shi, left behind, was struck as if by lightning.

Liu Yu?

“Stop! Liu Yu! Stop!”

Chen Sheng was panting heavily from the run, and in the cart ahead, both Babao, who was driving, and the couple inside, Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yu, heard the voice. Liu Yu and Lu Chengxiao even vaguely recognized who it was.

Liu Yu was momentarily stunned.

Chen Sheng?

Old memories began to resurface. The past six months had been so good that Liu Yu had almost forgotten the people and events of the past.

Lu Chengxiao glanced at Liu Yu. Since their marriage had been arranged, this was the first time Liu Yu saw a hint of bitterness in Lu Chengxiao’s eyes.

Though the bitterness was deeply hidden and fleeting, Liu Yu noticed it clearly.

The situation made Liu Yu feel somewhat awkward. She tapped on the side of the cart and said, “Babao, stop the cart.”

Lu Chengxiao raised an eyebrow, and Liu Yu softly explained, “Should we just let him chase us down the street and shout like this?”

The mere thought of that scene made Lu Chengxiao’s expression darken.

Lu Chengxiao gently pulled Liu Yu closer and switched places with her. The mule cart gradually came to a stop, and when Chen Sheng finally caught up, the first thing he saw was Lu Chengxiao’s face at the window. The name “Liu Yu” that was about to burst out from his throat got stuck there.

Unwilling to give up, Chen Sheng craned his neck to get a better look. This time, he clearly saw that the person sitting next to Lu Chengxiao was indeed Liu Yu, whom he thought had been sold off.

Chen Sheng was rendered speechless, staring blankly at Liu Yu. After a long while, his gaze moved from her face to her hand, which was clasped with Lu Chengxiao’s.

It was as if all the energy had been drained from him. Chen Sheng’s chest heaved, but he couldn’t form any words.

Lu Chengxiao couldn’t stand the way Chen Sheng was looking at Liu Yu. He shifted slightly, blocking Chen Sheng’s view. “Young Master Chen, what business do you have with my wife?”

The word “wife” hit Chen Sheng like a thunderbolt, leaving him utterly dumbfounded. He looked at Lu Chengxiao in shock. “Your wife… you… you…”

“We got married just a few days ago. Didn’t you hear the news?” Lu Chengxiao replied.

Chen Sheng staggered, nearly losing his balance. Liu Shi, who had just caught up and overheard this, felt her heart sink as well. She supported her son and glanced into the mule cart.

From her angle, Lu Chengxiao didn’t block her view, and she locked eyes with Liu Yu.

If Liu Yu felt a bit awkward seeing Chen Sheng, as she had once used him for her own purposes, then seeing Liu Shi only filled her with disdain.

Liu Shi had heard Lu Chengxiao’s words clearly, but she could never have imagined that the woman Lu Chengxiao had married was Liu Yu.

“Weren’t you sold off?” Liu Shi asked in disbelief, blurting out the first thing that came to mind.

Lu Chengxiao’s expression immediately darkened. He shot a cold glance at Liu Shi and Chen Sheng, then instructed Babao, “Babao, let’s go.”

Babao acknowledged the command and was about to urge the mule forward when Chen Sheng instinctively grabbed onto the cart, still unwilling to accept the truth. He looked at Liu Yu desperately and asked, “Liu Yu, did you really marry Lu Chengxiao?”

Liu Yu: “…”

“You should address me as Mrs. Lu,” she replied.

The title “Mrs. Lu” caused Chen Sheng’s face to pale. Meanwhile, Lu Chengxiao, who had been frowning due to Liu Shi’s hurtful words, suddenly looked as if the clouds had parted and the sun had come out. His expression softened, and even a hint of a smile appeared on his lips.

Liu Shi couldn’t stand it any longer.

She had secretly compared herself to Chen Shi for a long time, feeling bitter all the while. And now, seeing her son overshadowed by Chen Shi’s son? That was unbearable!

She immediately pulled Chen Sheng back and scoffed at Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yu in the cart, scolding her son, “We didn’t think much of her before, so why treat her like some treasure now? We have a proper meeting scheduled—don’t waste time here and miss it.”

Lu Chengxiao’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the mother and son from the Chen family. In the past, he would have had some sharp words to say, but seeing Chen Sheng’s pale, defeated look, and feeling Liu Yu squeeze his hand gently, he decided not to engage in a public argument with them. Instead, he sneered and said, “So you were on your way to a match-making meeting. Chen Sheng, do you know what is the cheapest thing in the world?”

Chen Sheng stared blankly at Lu Chengxiao.

“False, useless affection,” Lu Chengxiao said, brushing Chen Sheng’s hand off the cart window.

Babao, who had been keeping an eye on the situation, snapped the reins and drove the mule cart away with a shout.

“False, useless affection…”

Chen Sheng was left in a daze.

In no time, the cart had traveled far down the road, but Chen Sheng stood rooted to the spot, as if his feet were nailed to the ground.

“False, useless affection…”

Chen Sheng clutched his chest, wanting to argue, to defend himself, but he lacked even the strength to utter a single word.

No, what he lacked was not strength, but the confidence to refute Lu Chengxiao’s words.

If he had truly been sincere and useful, he would have married Liu Yu half a year ago. But he didn’t. He failed to keep his promise to Liu Yu, listened to his mother’s advice, and went to meet Zhou Ruyi. He stood by and watched as Liu Yu fell into the water, held back by his mother, while Lu Chengxiao went to save her. Then, he heard that Liu Yu had been sold…

Liu Yu had indeed been sold. Knowing this, while Chen Sheng was dejected, Lu Chengxiao found Liu Yu and married her.

Useless false affection… Useless false affection…

Chen Sheng felt a lump of frustration lodged in his chest, unable to release it no matter what.

Liu Shi was frightened by her son’s devastated expression. “Sheng’er, Sheng’er, what’s wrong with you?”

Chen Sheng could no longer respond. All he could hear in his mind was that phrase—useless false affection—nothing else.

Now truly scared, Liu Shi’s voice trembled, “Sheng’er, don’t scare your mother like this. It’s just Liu Yu. A good man doesn’t lack for a wife. Sheng’er, go meet the Lin family’s girl; she’s wonderful too.”

Chen Sheng finally reacted, pausing his steps.

Liu Shi felt a slight relief and quickly continued, “Really, you should meet her. She’s beautiful, from a good family, with a farm outside the town and a business in town. She’s well-educated and polite. You’ll like her.”

But Chen Sheng began to laugh. He laughed until his eyes turned red and filled with tears.

Look at this—he’s out on a match-making meeting again. How ironic, how absurd, that Liu Yu witnessed it. False affection, hahahaha, how laughable, how mocking.

Lu Chengxiao was right; his feelings were nothing but false.

Chen Sheng tilted his head back and laughed, but it sounded more like crying. Though he held his head high, tears still rolled down from the corners of his eyes.

His crazed demeanor startled many people on the street, who began to look his way.

The Chen family was well-known in Changfeng Town; who didn’t recognize Chen Sheng? Naturally, people started pointing and gossiping.

Liu Shi had never felt so humiliated in her life. She grabbed Chen Sheng and tried to drag him away from the street.

Chen Sheng let her pull him along until they reached an intersection. To the left was the place where the match-making meeting was scheduled, and to the right was the road back to Jixian Zhai. When Liu Shi tried to pull him left, Chen Sheng shook her off and headed right.

Liu Shi, infuriated, stomped her foot and called out, “Sheng’er!” But Chen Sheng ignored her, walking aimlessly along the familiar path.

The street was bustling during the morning hours. Liu Shi couldn’t make a scene, so she hurried after him, lowering her voice as she caught up. “Sheng’er, I’ve already promised we’d meet with them today. You can’t just leave them like this.”

Chen Sheng kept walking.

Liu Shi’s expression darkened, almost pleading, “Sheng’er, think about your mother’s reputation. If you do this, how can I face people in the future?”

Chen Sheng remained unmoved.

Liu Shi stomped her foot again, saying, “How many times has this happened? Changfeng Town isn’t that big. Do you think there are endless good girls for you to choose from? You’ve offended the Zhou family, and now you’re going to offend the Lin family too? If you do that, no one in this circle will want to marry into our family anymore. Do you really want that?”

Chen Sheng finally stopped.

Liu Shi felt a glimmer of hope and was about to reach for Chen Sheng when he suddenly chuckled. Then he looked at her and said, “Isn’t that perfect? I’ve told you a long time ago—if I can’t marry Liu Yu, I won’t marry anyone else.”

His voice was faint, but the despair in it was unmistakable.

After saying this, Chen Sheng continued walking towards Jixian Zhai, still lost and without any desire to argue or fight with Liu Shi. But it was this very demeanor that was even more alarming.

Liu Shi’s knees nearly gave out, and she almost collapsed. She clutched her chest, and her once-straight back slumped.

Sansukini: I don’t feel sorry for Cheng Sheng. He’ll move on, but maybe Liu Yu would be the cinnabar mole of his life.

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