Casting Nets to Catch a Husband

Chapter 209: End of text

As the setting sun descended in the west, the sunlight slanted across the sky, casting a layer of golden shimmering reflections onto the river. On the water outside Yuanzhou City, a luxurious ship sailed across the surface. From a distance, the scene looked like a painting.

However, not far from this grand ship, another much more modest vessel was rapidly approaching.

At first, no one paid much attention to this boat, assuming it was just in a hurry and had hired a few extra rowers.

It wasn’t until the two ships were parallel to each other that two ropes with hooks were thrown up at the same time, hooking onto the side of the large ship. Two men on the smaller boat quickly used the ropes to board the larger ship. The crew on the larger ship didn’t react until they saw the newcomers, standing frozen for a moment in surprise.

“Master Liu, Master Lu?”

Clearly, they recognized the two men, and because of Old Master Liu’s unusual attitude, they considered these two as half of their own. They were confused by the sudden appearance and the way they had boarded the ship.

Before Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yanping could answer, Liu Yanzheng jumped down from the second floor of the ship.

Liu Yu was missing, and Lu Chengxiao thinks the one who had kidnapped her is Liu Yanzheng. If there was any uncertainty in his mind, it was dispelled when he saw the Liu family’s ship still lingering in the waters of Yuanzhou after several days.

As their gazes met, both men were filled with hatred, and without exchanging a word, they almost simultaneously attacked each other.

The power behind their strikes was fierce, each move seemingly aimed at taking the other’s life.

The few men who had been surrounding Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yanping were stunned. They didn’t understand what was going on—some were on guard, while others quickly retreated into the ship’s cabin to report to the master.

Liu Yanping kept his eyes on the fight between Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yanzheng, not daring to intervene rashly. He stayed alert to Liu Yanzheng’s subordinates.

Liu Yanzheng had been trained by a martial arts master since childhood, and Lu Chengxiao was no less capable. In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged over thirty blows, with neither gaining the upper hand. The first real punch landed squarely on Liu Yanzheng’s face just as Old Master Liu emerged from the cabin, supported by Dr. Mo.

“Stop!”

Lu Chengxiao’s eyes were bloodshot. Even though Liu Yanzheng had just been struck, his rage was undiminished, and neither man seemed willing to stop.

However, Old Master Liu’s voice still held authority on this ship. With a glance, several strong men rushed forward and forcibly separated the two fighters.

Liu Yanping positioned himself beside Lu Chengxiao, preventing anyone from taking unfair advantage or interfering.

This small movement caused Old Master Liu’s expression to darken. He looked at the two men who had been pulled apart and asked in a deep voice, “What is going on here?”

Liu Yanzheng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and gave Lu Chengxiao a cold glare. Turning to Old Master Liu, most of his earlier hatred was now suppressed.

“You should ask them,” he replied coldly.

Lu Chengxiao sneered, “You should be the one who knows our intentions best. Where is Yu’er?”

Old Master Liu’s expression shifted, and he turned to look at Lu Chengxiao. “Liu Yu is missing?”

Lu Chengxiao glanced at Liu Yanzheng, then turned back to Old Master Liu. “She disappeared at dusk the day before yesterday. Old Master, I apologize for my rudeness, but we need to search this ship.”

To the seemingly uninformed Old Master Liu, Lu Chengxiao still spoke somewhat politely, but his expression showed no sign of courtesy. Whether or not Old Master Liu agreed, Lu Chengxiao was determined to search the ship.

Old Master Liu could hardly believe what he was hearing, nor could he fathom the implications behind Lu Chengxiao’s words. He glanced at his grandson, seeing the uncharacteristic rage in his demeanor.

“Are you saying that Yanzheng abducted Yu’er?”

Lu Chengxiao remained silent. Liu Yanping, however, cupped his hands and said, “Whether it’s true or not, we should search the ship first and ask questions later.”

As a member of the Liu family, they were entitled to search the ship—after all, if it came down to it, it would be entirely proper for them to take the ship willingly. Old Master Liu, leaning on his cane, looked at the men around him. He called out the names of two subordinates and instructed, “You two, take these young masters and search every place on the ship where a person might be hidden.”

Two men obeyed the orders and led Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yanping down into the ship’s cabin.

Outside, Old Master Liu stared intently at Liu Yanzheng. After a long pause, he asked, “Tell me the truth, is Liu Yu’s disappearance related to you?”

Liu Yanzheng remained silent.

Old Master Liu’s expression darkened inch by inch.

He knew his grandson well; when Liu Yanzheng didn’t want to lie but didn’t want to answer, it meant he was hiding something. Over the past few days, their ship had stopped at each county, claiming it was for buying fresh ingredients and allowing him to rest. But their journey, which should have taken two days, had already dragged on for almost five. Old Master Liu began to breathe heavily.

“Chen Wu, count the people on board!”

Liu Yanzheng had allowed Lu Chengxiao and the others to search the ship, which meant that, most likely, Liu Yu wasn’t on this ship at all. Old Master Liu needed confirmation.

Hearing Old Master Liu’s command, Liu Yanzheng’s brows furrowed. Chen Wu glanced at him before heading to gather the crew.

~

Meanwhile, Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yanping had searched every possible place on the ship but found no sign of Liu Yu.

They exchanged a glance and returned to the deck. Before Old Master Liu could ask about the results, Lu Chengxiao called out loudly to their own boat next to the big ship.

“Uncle Li!”

This call seemed like a signal. Almost immediately, dozens of ropes with iron hooks were thrown across, and in just a few breaths, over twenty armed men had boarded the ship.

At this, even Liu Yanzheng’s face changed slightly, but only for a moment.

“What, you can’t find anyone, so you plan to leave us behind?” Liu Yanzheng looked at the many ships in the distance, near the Yuanzhou water gate. He sneered, “Do you think you can stop us?”

Liu Yanping countered with a cold laugh, “Whether you stop us or not, you’ll find out soon enough.”

The Liu family’s subordinates were all hardened men, used to dangerous situations. As soon as the twenty-odd armed men boarded the ship, they became alert and ready to draw their weapons. However, Old Master Liu barked, “I dare anyone to try!”

Old Master Liu had controlled the island for nearly thirty years, and his presence alone was enough to make the men hesitate. At his command, they sheathed their weapons.

On the other hand, the group of twenty men were not ordinary mercenaries. They were all bodyguards working under Qin Er, stationed in the county. They were no strangers to dangerous situations, especially since Lu Chengxiao had promised them a large sum for this job. They knew that if things got serious, their families would be taken care of for the rest of their lives. When faced with such an employer, they weren’t afraid to risk their lives. Seeing that the other side had so many people, they didn’t flinch, waiting for Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yanping to give the signal to act.

Old Master Liu could tell at a glance that these men were trained but not malicious.

He turned to Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yanping and said, “Please wait a moment. If this truly involves Yanzheng, I will give you an explanation.”

As he spoke, Chen Wu had already come out with everyone except the crew. Seeing the situation on deck, he was about to whisper to Old Master Liu, but the old man waved him off, signaling him to speak openly, “There are no outsiders here. Tell me the truth.”

Chen Wu glanced at Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yanping, nodded, and said, “Twelve people are missing. Yan Si and Xu Liu aren’t on the ship.”

Yan Si and Xu Liu were two of Liu Yanzheng’s most trusted subordinates.

In fact, Old Master Liu had been unaware of the missing people, and Chen Wu, being Liu Yanzheng’s subordinate, certainly knew. However, Liu Yanzheng had always kept tight control over his subordinates, and since the old man had not asked, no one had dared to mention it.

Old Master Liu shot Chen Wu a look and said, “You stay outside. These are important guests, and if there’s trouble, I’ll hold you responsible.”

He turned to Liu Yanzheng, “Come with me.”

Lu Chengxiao clenched his fists but did not stop the grandfather and grandson from entering the cabin. He watched them walk in, then turned his gaze to the distant ships.

~

Inside the cabin, Old Master Liu stared at Liu Yanzheng with a stern expression.

“Where is Liu Yu?”

Liu Yanzheng bit his lip, remaining silent.

“Speak!”

Old Master Liu’s voice rose, trembling with anger.

This was the first time Liu Yanzheng had seen him so furious. He hesitated, unwilling to yield, his eyes reddening as he finally spoke, “Grandfather, why do you have to pressure me like this?”

“I’m pressuring you?” At this point, Old Master Liu could no longer guess Liu Yanzheng’s intentions. He took a deep breath and said, “Yanzheng, I’ve told you, you can like anyone you want, but not Liu Yu.”

Liu Yanzheng narrowed his eyes. “Why? Give me a reason.”

The question took Old Master Liu by surprise, and for a moment, he couldn’t find the words. After a long pause, he finally replied, “She’s already married. Isn’t that enough?”

“So what if she is? I don’t care.”

Old Master Liu looked at his grandson, who seemed almost delirious, and for a moment, he felt as if his head would explode. Instinctively, he pressed his hand to his forehead and said, “Liu Yanzheng, have I ever taught you to behave like this?”

Old Master Liu’s chest heaved violently, his voice losing its strength. “Bring her back, or you can forget about me as your grandfather.”

Liu Yanzheng pressed his lips together tightly. “Are you trying to sever our grandfather-grandson relationship to force me? Grandfather, blood ties can’t be severed. There’s nothing more to say about this. I can listen to you in everything else, but not on this matter.”

With that, he turned and walked toward the door.

“Stop!”

Liu Yanzheng paused for a moment but continued walking toward the door.

Behind him, Old Master Liu trembled with anger. Watching his grandson walk away step by step, he closed his eyes. Just as Liu Yanzheng’s hand touched the wooden door, Old Master Liu finally gave up the struggle inside.

“Yanzheng, you can like anyone you want, but not Liu Yu. You two are siblings.”

Liu Yanzheng froze, his hand still on the door. He turned around, his face filled with disbelief. “You’re making up this story just to make me let go?”

Old Master Liu gave a bitter smile. “I didn’t have to make it up. This was a secret that should have been taken to the grave.”

Liu Yanzheng’s face grew cold inch by inch. “What do you mean by that?”

Old Master Liu bowed in the direction of Anyi County. “Madam, I have broken my promise today. Please don’t blame me.”

Seeing the old man’s posture, Liu Yanzheng’s heart sank. The next moment, Old Master Liu spoke again: “You and Liu Yu—your grandmother was the same person. Your father, Liu Yu’s father, and her elder brother were siblings, with the same mother but different fathers. Do you understand now?”

“The old lady you paid respects to that day… she was your real grandmother.”

It felt as if a thunderclap had struck Liu Yanzheng’s head. Every word from Old Master Liu was clear to him, but his mind was buzzing, instinctively rejecting the idea of piecing the words together.

“What are you talking about?”

Old Master Liu sighed and said, “Your father wasn’t born to your grandmother and me. We adopted him.”

At this point, there was no denying it. Liu Yanzheng, still in disbelief, stood silent. Old Master Liu started from the beginning to explain further.

“Madam’s first husband was not the general. Back then, the general was just a soldier. He saved Madam, who was already pregnant with a child. No one knew what had happened, but Madam rarely spoke and never mentioned the child’s father.”

“The general took Madam in and cared for her. After she gave birth, she only glanced at the child once before refusing to look at him again. The general arranged for the child to be adopted.”

“Your grandmother married me. We lived in the back and had no children for seven years, so that child was brought into our home.”

“Afterward, Madam stayed at the border for another two years. During those years, the general often visited, helping with the heavy labor. Madam, who had once been silent, gradually began to teach the general how to read, even teaching him military strategies.”

“The general was already brave, and with Madam’s guidance, he gradually rose through the ranks.”

“Three years later, Madam married the general.”

Liu Yanzheng shook his head, still unwilling to believe it.

Old Master Liu sighed, “Your father was very smart as a child, but he was weak because of poison he carried since birth. After he learned to read, he studied medical books on his own. Your grandmother couldn’t have children, and she was desperate, often seeking treatments. From the herbs she used, your father learned the truth that we weren’t his biological parents. He quietly investigated and found out his real background.”

“Afterward, he often secretly watched Madam, seeing the general’s eldest and second sons born. He couldn’t understand why he had been abandoned. But none of this stopped his longing for his birth mother. Yet, he dared not speak of it, because he could tell Madam didn’t want to see him. His short life was spent envying his two brothers.”

“When I saw this, I once drank with the general and tried to inquire about the name of his grandson, if he ever had one.”

“The general said that if there was peace and prosperity in the world, he would name his first grandson Yanqing.”

Old Master Liu turned to Liu Yanzheng and said, “Do you understand now? Haian Heqing, Yanqing[from Haian Heqing[/mfn]… I couldn’t give you the character ‘Yan,’ so I gave you the homophone, ‘Yan,’ to comfort your father.”

With the name carrying such meaning, it was impossible for Liu Yanzheng not to believe it.

Old Master Liu looked at him and said, “Few people know about this now, but Uncle Chen knows a bit. If you don’t believe it, you can ask him privately. Just remember, now that you know, this secret must remain in your heart for the rest of your life. I don’t know why Madam sent your father away, but I know she clearly didn’t want to talk about it.”

Liu Yanzheng stood frozen, dumbfounded.

He and Liu Yu were siblings?

Old Master Liu didn’t rush him. He waited patiently for him to process the news before saying, “Stop this. Bring her back.”

Liu Yanzheng pressed his hand to his chest, unable to speak. He stood there, overwhelmed.

After what felt like an eternity, footsteps came from outside, and someone knocked on the door, breaking the silence.

“Old Master, there’s a ship approaching us from the other side. It looks like Yan Si is on the bow,” Chen Wu’s voice called from outside.

Liu Yanzheng seemed to finally snap out of his daze. His heart raced wildly as he quickly turned and opened the cabin door, striding outside.

~

The Liu family’s ship was moving forward, while the other ship was moving against the current. The two ships were getting closer, and now it was clearer—besides Yan Si, there was also Liu Yanqing and a tall young man Liu Yanzheng didn’t recognize. Yan Si wasn’t standing on the bow; he was being pushed there, bound.

Yan Si saw Liu Yanzheng from afar, his head lowered in despair, thinking this was the end.

He too felt aggrieved. They should have left the Yuanzhou waters an hour ago, but who knew the border gate would suddenly close, and the soldiers would inspect every ship?

Yan Si had thought they were searching for criminals, but he didn’t expect Liu Yanqing to be among the soldiers. He was quickly captured and tied up.

He wondered what punishment he would face when he returned.

~

Yang Cunxu didn’t share Yan Si’s worries. He had helped accomplish a big task today and was in high spirits. From a distance, he saw Lu Chengxiao and waved. “Chengxiao, over here!”

He turned to tell the boatmen to hurry up.

Perhaps hearing Yang Cunxu and Lu Chengxiao greeting each other, Liu Yu stepped out of the cabin.

She looked toward the ship, and all her focus was on one person—Lu Chengxiao. Their eyes met, and tears immediately filled her eyes.

This sight broke Lu Chengxiao’s heart. Even before the ship had fully docked, he had already leaped across.

Liu Yanzheng stood frozen, watching the scene. The person who had been on alert for him had now flown into Lu Chengxiao’s arms like a fledgling returning to its nest.

This was his sister… How could the world be so absurd?

His eyes stung and slowly blurred.

~

Lu Chengxiao gently wiped away Liu Yu’s tears and then noticed how pale her face was. She had almost no strength left and was relying on him for support.

He changed his expression slightly and asked Liu Yu, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Liu Yanqing shook his head. “She wouldn’t dare eat the food provided on the ship. She hasn’t had anything to eat or drink for two days and nights. I gave her a little water earlier, and once we get ashore and she eats something, she should be fine.”

Lu Chengxiao felt a sharp pain in his heart. As he reached out to take Liu Yu’s hand, he felt something sharp and metallic. He then noticed she was still holding a hairpin tightly in her hand. His heart skipped a beat, and in the next moment, a dark fury appeared in his eyes.

“Let me borrow your bow and arrows.”

He took the bow and arrows from Yang Cunxu, drew the bow, and in one swift motion, the arrow flew out.

Yan Si, Chen Wu, and the others gasped in shock, but Liu Yanzheng didn’t flinch or dodge.

The arrow struck his flesh, almost piercing through his left shoulder. Liu Yanzheng grunted in pain and staggered back slightly from the force, but his gaze never left Liu Yu.

A second arrow was fired, and this time, Chen Wu leaped to block it. The arrow aimed at Liu Yanzheng’s right shoulder was deflected, but he couldn’t prevent the next three arrows from being released. Ultimately, Liu Yanzheng’s right shoulder was also struck, but he remained standing.

“Chengxiao!” Yang Cunxu’s face darkened as he grabbed the bow and arrows from Lu Chengxiao. Furrowing his brows, he said, “Leave the rest to me.”

If someone were to be killed here in front of everyone, it would be impossible to control the situation.

Lu Chengxiao’s eyes were still filled with anger, but he understood that the law would not allow him to kill Liu Yanzheng here. Coldly, he stared at him and said, “If this happens again, we will settle it for good.”

Settle it for good? Liu Yanzheng gave a bitter laugh. What had he ever been afraid of in a life that had nothing left to fear? He didn’t even have the right to make Lu Chengxiao fear a fight to the death.

On the large ship, Liu Yanping glanced at Old Master Liu and said, “I will tell my mother the truth about today. You no longer need to claim that the two families are close friends. My Liu family cannot afford to have such so-called ‘friends.’ Farewell!”

The group had already returned to their ship. On the Liu family’s large ship, with Old Master Liu present, no one dared to stop them.

The matters here were left to Yang Cunxu and his group of soldiers. To escape this, the Liu family would have to pay a steep price.

Only then did Lu Chengxiao lower his head to look at Liu Yu again. Her face was pale, and though she still gripped the hairpin tightly in her hand, it seemed like she didn’t know how to let go of it.

He carefully took her right hand and gently pried open her fingers one by one, taking the now slightly misshapen hairpin from her grasp. He raised his hand and threw it into the river, then softly stroked Liu Yu’s back. “I’m sorry, I came too late.”

Liu Yu shook her head and gave Lu Chengxiao a smile. “You weren’t late at all.”

Lu Chengxiao rarely said the words “I love you,” but Liu Yu knew that he would always find her at the fastest speed possible, no matter how much she had to suffer, whether it was for one more day, one more hour, or even one more minute.

Liu Yanping’s ship slowly approached the one where Lu Chengxiao and the others were. Lu Chengxiao crossed over first, then extended his hand to Liu Yu.

“Let’s go home.”

Liu Yu placed her hand in his, letting him hold it.

This handoff was for a lifetime.

She could trust Lu Chengxiao forever.

Sansukini: Dun Dun Dun! Plot twist. Well, if Liu Yu didn’t die in the past life, they would have !nc3st. But, anyway, I think this was not taboo during this era so I guess the author just wanted to shock the readers.

There are still 3 chapters left. One was Yang Cunxu and Chengxiao’s sister, and then the extra of Liu Yu and Chengxiao’s life.

I think I would follow this novel up with a comedy for a change. It’s about a girl who transmigrated to a real daughter/fake daughter family, but she had a melon system with her so she gossips everywhere but she didn’t know that people can hear her thoughts.

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