Casting Nets to Catch a Husband

Chapter 38: When seeing Liu Yu, the fist swung at him got stuck in mid-air.

Babao’s round and innocent eyes lit up. “Exactly, Third Young Master! That’s the spirit! What’s it called? ‘Never give up!’ Yes, that’s it, ‘Never give up!'”

Lu Chengxiao chuckled at his enthusiasm. “You’ve spent a few years in the academy in vain, haven’t you?”

Master and servant entered the Lu family’s gate together.

Chen Shi chased after her grandson running around the courtyard and overheard their conversation. She smiled and asked, “What’s this ‘never give up’ about?”

Lu Chengxiao rubbed his nose, lifted the wobbling little nephew who had been running around, and avoided his mother’s teasing gaze. He said, glancing around, “It’s almost lunchtime, isn’t it, Mother? What are we having for lunch?”

Chen Shi couldn’t contain her laughter in her heart. After all, there would come a time when she knew what was going on. She didn’t tease Lu Chengxiao too much and listed a few dishes. The group then headed inside.

In the narrow alleys to the west of Changfeng Town, in a chaotic little courtyard, a woman in her thirties paced back and forth. Her neat attire stood out in sharp contrast to the shabby and messy surroundings.

The woman was no stranger; she was none other than Madam Chen, who had left earlier in the morning. Since Chen Zheng left, she had been waiting here for half the morning, her handkerchief tightly clenched and twisted into wrinkles. Finally, she heard footsteps coming from the alley, and a short, thin man in his late twenties cautiously entered the courtyard.

Seeing that it was the person she had been waiting for, Madam Chen’s stern face darkened. “Why did it take you so long? If you didn’t return soon, it would be noon. Where are the things?”

The short man, named Liu San, handed over a small bottle, accompanied by a smile. “Sis, don’t be angry. The thing you wanted is not easy to get.”

Hearing him call her “sis,” Madam Chen’s expression turned cold. “Don’t talk nonsense. I don’t have a brother like you.”

This man, Liu San, was not actually Madam Chen’s brother; he was just a relative from her maternal family. He lost his parents when he was in his teens and had been living on his own, avoiding marriage. He was a jack of all trades, engaging in various activities such as eating, drinking, gambling, and occasionally taking odd jobs for some extra income. Politely, he was considered idle help; bluntly, he was called a troublemaker.

A person like Liu San was someone Madam Chen looked down upon, but in this particular situation, he was the only one who could handle it properly. That’s why she sought him out. She looked at the porcelain bottle in her hand and asked, “Does this really work?”

When she reached to pull out the bottle stopper, Liu San quickly shouted three times, “No, no, no! Don’t open it! If you smell it for too long, you’ll be affected!”

Madam Chen was startled, and her hand, which was about to pull out the bottle stopper, quickly withdrew. She looked at Liu San and asked, “Is it really that effective?”

Liu San nodded, “Could I deceive you, sister? This thing is not easy to come by. It took some tricks, and it’s from the best brothel in the county, a private collection for enhancing pleasure.”

Madam Chen blushed, spat at him, and said, “Don’t talk nonsense in front of me. How is this thing used? Explain it to me.”

Liu San’s lascivious gaze roamed over Madam Chen, and with a wicked smile, he said, “Easy, whether it’s for a man or a woman, just sprinkle this evenly on a handkerchief, then cover it. I guarantee the medicine will take effect quickly.”

Madam Chen immediately scowled, “Do you think I’m a fool? Why use a handkerchief to cover it? This has to be done discreetly.”

“That works too. Let the medicine slowly evaporate,” Liu San raised his eyebrows and leaned closer to Madam Chen, asking with a sly look, “Sister, who is this medicine for? Tell me more details, and I’ll give you some ideas.”

Madam Chen moved away from him, not letting him get too close. She gave Liu San a fierce look and said, “When money is involved, you don’t ask questions you shouldn’t. Now tell me, if I want the medicine to take effect a bit slower, say, in fifteen minutes, how should I use it?”

Liu San shrugged off the disappointment, and he didn’t dare to approach Madam Chen again. After all, the one paying was the ancestor. He wore a forced smile and said, “Simple. Look for something that is closest to the nose and frequently touched. Apply this to it just before use, and it should take effect in about fifteen minutes. Alternatively, reduce the dosage a bit and mix it in with food. If that’s not feasible, then apply it to your own hands. It won’t leave any traces when it comes into contact with the person’s face, especially around the nostrils. It won’t be a big issue timing-wise.”

Speaking of this, his expression took on a hint of lewdness. “Just be careful yourself. Don’t touch your mouth or nose with the hand that has the medicine. Otherwise, hehehe.”

“Enough!” Madam Chen looked disgusted, stuffed the porcelain bottle into her sleeve, threw down two silver coins from her money pouch, and turned away from the small courtyard.

Behind her, Liu San tossed the two silver coins in his hand, his gaze lingering on Madam Chen’s swaying figure. He licked his lips with a lecherous expression. The sight of the old woman really turned him on.

~

A day passed uneventfully, and the next day was the eleventh of April.

This day, seemingly ordinary in other parts of the dynasty, held a different significance for the people along the banks of the Yu River.

From who knows which year or month, the people on both banks of the Yu River have believed in the protection of the Yu River Goddess. Therefore, in the area around Yuanzhou, the people along the banks of the Yu River, compared to those in other places who celebrate the Bathing Buddha Festival on the eighth day of the fourth month, honor the birth anniversary of the Yu River Goddess on the eleventh day of April.

From early morning, the townspeople were busy at home offering incense and prayers. Those with spare time went to the Yu River Goddess temple to pay their respects early in the morning. The temple of the Yu River Goddess was already crowded as soon as the day broke, and by the hour of Chen, the number of people coming to offer incense gradually diminished. It was at this time that the families of Chen and Zhou in the town finally finished their preparations and set out towards the temple of the Yu River Goddess.

When Madam Zhou led Zhou Ruyi out, Zhou Ruyi kept looking back. In the neighboring room on the east side of the Zhou family, a boy aged seven or eight stuck his head out. Zhou Ruyi signaled to him, and the boy nodded. Only then did Zhou Ruyi continue to follow Madam Zhou out of the house.

Once the two of them left, the young boy from the Zhou family hesitated at home for a while. He waited until his own parents also left the house before slipping out of the Zhou family and running towards the west side of the town to deliver the message for his little aunt Zhou Ruyi.

For a child of eight or nine years old, it took quite some time to reach the west side of the town. Still at the crossroads, he unexpectedly bumped into Lin Huaigeng and Liu Zhang, who were coming back carrying an empty bamboo pole. It turned out that the day before yesterday, each of them had carried a load of preserved meat to sell in the county. Unfamiliar with the routes, they had changed several locations before selling everything, dragging on until yesterday afternoon. Given that the escort leader had some matters to attend to, they stayed overnight in the county and only started their journey back early this morning.

Because of this, Zhou Ruyi’s attempt to send her nephew to deliver the message yesterday had failed. Fortunately, they crossed paths today. The clever young boy respectfully called Lin Huaigeng “Uncle Lin” and hurried over to explain the situation clearly. However, due to his young age, he was unaware of which family his aunt was interested in.

Lin Huaigeng paid no attention to the empty bamboo pole on his shoulder. He handed the items to Liu Zhang and swiftly rushed towards the Yu River Goddess Temple after learning the details.

Liu Zhang, feeling anxious, looked around and saw a nearby household. He knocked on the courtyard door, greeted the homeowner, and left the two empty bamboo poles there. He urged the messenger boy to quickly return home, while he himself headed towards the Yu River Goddess Temple to assist.

Upon reaching a fork in the road, Liu Zhang thought about the temperament of Madam Zhou. He wondered how the situation would unfold with Lin Huaigeng rushing to impress another family. In the past, whenever there were matters to attend to, it was always Lu Chengxiao who made the decisions, leading everyone. With Lu Chengxiao now back, Liu Zhang felt it would be better to find him first before taking any action. He considered that having Lu Chengxiao’s guidance would be much better than going alone. He changed direction and headed towards the direction of the Lu family.

~

Lu Chengxiao, calculating the time, was about to go to the northern town to meet Liu Yu. He and Babao happened to meet Liu Zhang the door. When the three of them arrived at the Yu River Goddess Temple, Lin Huaigeng had already caused a commotion in the backyard.

Originally, in this so-called matchmaking, Madam Chen and Madam Zhou both avoided it and went to listen to the master in the temple giving a sermon. As for Chen’s younger daughter, she was originally with Zhou Ruyi. However, after a short while, Madam Chen had a female master call her to recite scriptures and seek talismans. In the bamboo grove in the backyard, only Chen Sheng and Zhou Ruyi remained.

It turned out that these two individuals had their own love interests. Zhou Ruyi indeed intended to leave, but as she lifted her foot to turn around, she suddenly felt weak, her body overwhelmed by an indescribable heat. Her legs gave way, and she fell towards Chen Sheng.

At this moment, Lin Huaigeng burst into the backyard. Seeing Zhou Ruyi stumbling, he quickly pulled her away from Chen Sheng and immediately started beating him.

Confused and unjustly attacked, Chen Sheng fought back, and the two ended up in a brawl.

Only Zhou Ruyi remained standing, leaning on the stone table in the courtyard, breathing heavily, struggling to stay on her feet. She called her cousin two or three times, and only then did Lin Huaigeng realize something was wrong. Turning back, he saw Zhou Ruyi beginning to pull off her clothes.

Shocked and horrified, Lin Huaigeng hastily left Chen Sheng and rushed to restrain Zhou Ruyi’s hands. Being an eighteen-year-old lad who hadn’t accompanied the group on many trips, he was not accustomed to dealing with such situations. He was at a loss, holding Zhou Ruyi’s hands and anxiously asking, “Ruyi, what’s happening to you?”

Chen Sheng was also dumbfounded; just a moment ago everything was fine…

Seeing Zhou Ruyi’s face turning red, her breathing rapid, and her appearance suggesting that she might soon be unable to breathe, he was frightened and involuntarily took a step back.

The Chen family operated a bookstore, dealing with various types of books, not just the ones needed for the proper study of the imperial examinations. Chen Sheng wasn’t naive and could guess at least something about the situation. Fearing he might be implicated, he decided it was time to leave.

As Lu Chengxiao entered, he witnessed Lin Huaigeng holding Zhou Ruyi, desperately trying to undress herself, and Chen Sheng attempting to retreat. It became evident that Chen Sheng was planning to make a quick escape.

Upon realizing that the one who sought Zhou Ruyi’s favor was Chen Sheng, Lu Chengxiao, who had been in Yuanzhou City for several years and was familiar with the current situation, was infuriated. His veins bulged on his forehead, and he shouted, “What are you standing there for? Hurry, take her to the medical clinic!”

Additionally, he thought of something and asked Lin Huaigeng, “Where is your aunt? Go find her!”

Lin Huaigeng finally took the initiative, but he had no idea where his aunt, Madam Zhou, was at the moment. He anxiously asked Zhou Ruyi, who had already leaned into his chest.

Blushing, Lin Huaigeng, at a loss, turned to Zhou Ruyi for guidance. Zhou Ruyi, however, was entirely preoccupied with him.

Seeing the chaotic situation, Lu Chengxiao turned to Liu Zhang and said, “Go, go ask the master in the temple to find Madam Zhou, quickly!”

While chaos unfolded on one side, Chen Sheng had slipped away to the corridor. Lu Chengxiao, with a stern expression, walked briskly towards him. The sound of his footsteps and the hint of his anger startled Chen Sheng, and with an uneasy feeling, he turned around to see Lu Chengxiao approaching with a stern face. Panicking, he tried to escape.

Lu Chengxiao felt an overwhelming anger, thinking, “Beast! Yesterday, you vowed to go to the Liu family immediately to propose marriage, but today you come here for a match with the Zhou family and use such despicable methods!”

A thud, and a punch landed directly on Chen Sheng’s face.

Chen Sheng wailed in pain, but Lu Chengxiao, concerned about Zhou Ruyi’s condition in the courtyard, didn’t want to continue the confrontation here. He lifted Chen Sheng and headed out.

Almost half-dragging Chen Sheng out of the temple, Lu Chengxiao, regardless of his struggles, held onto him like a pair of iron tongs.

In a corner of the backyard, two children peeked secretly through the window of the woodshed. They watched until Lu Chengxiao appeared, and the siblings exchanged a surprised glance. The boy’s eyes flashed, and he said to his sister to leave. The two children sneaked out of the woodshed through the back door, heading straight for the north bridge.

~

Liu Yu didn’t expect to see the siblings again at the north bridge so soon. She was pleasantly surprised and hurriedly walked to meet them.

Both of them were wearing the outfits Liuyu had bought for them. Though old, compared to the previous set, which had been worn for who knows how long, they seemed much cleaner, probably having had a chance to be changed and washed.

The younger sister, Xiaoya, was already shouting her sister’s name from afar. After not seeing each other for a while, or perhaps out of a special yearning, she was no longer as easily embarrassed as before and had become more proactive.

As for the boy, keeping to serious matters, without much time for reunion pleasantries, he quickly informed Liu Yu about what happened at the temple today: “Sister, that person you had me watch, the one surnamed Lu, got into a fight with someone surnamed Chen in the temple.”

Hearing the surname Chen, Liu Yu’s eyebrows twitched, and she asked, “Why did they fight?”

The boy thought for a moment and said, “When Lu called the one surnamed Chen, he cursed him, saying he’s a beast. He said that yesterday he swore to go to the Liu family to propose marriage, but today he went to see the Zhou family. Moreover, he used despicable means.”

As for the specifics of what “despicable means” entailed, the boy didn’t quite understand, but it didn’t stop him from parroting what he had heard. He also remembered that Liu Yu had explicitly told them not to keep an eye on Lu Sanlang and took the initiative to explain, “We didn’t intend to keep an eye on him. He just came into our view.”

It turned out that these siblings were temporarily staying in the firewood room behind the temple.

Liu Yu understood. Though the two children intended to share news about Lu Sanlang, they unintentionally revealed that Chen Sheng was involved in something today.

With the surname Chen and mentioning the proposal to the Liu family yesterday, getting into a fight with Lu Sanlang today, Liuyu didn’t need a second guess.

Without further delay, she decided to let the two children lead her to the scene.

~

Outside the temple, it was chaotic. Madam Zhou and Lin Huaigeng had hastily taken Zhou Ruyi to the clinic. Madam Chen and Chen Xiaomei were also alarmed and came out. After dealing with Madam Zhou’s grim expression, they helplessly watched Chen Sheng being beaten by Lu Chengxiao in one direction.

The temple’s masters were all nuns, and none of them had the ability to intervene. Madam Chen and Little Miss Chen wanted to step forward, but with Liu Zhang and Babao blocking the way, no one could get through.

“Surname Lu, have you gone mad? What grievances do my son and you have? You dare to resort to violence. Is there no law? Is there no law?”

Madam Chen, witnessing her son being punched repeatedly, felt the frustration of being unable to stop it. Lu Chengxiao continued his relentless assault, and with each punch landing on Chen Sheng’s face, it felt like a blow to Madam Chen’s heart. She was so angry that she almost fainted.

~

Liu Yu was brought to the front of the temple by the young siblings amidst Madam Chen’s furious tirade. Lu Chengxiao was in the midst of scolding and suddenly noticed Liu Yu. His hand, in the midst of delivering a blow, hesitated, and the punch he was about to throw took an abrupt turn, freezing in mid-air.

Chen Sheng had endured more than ten punches in a one-sided beating from Lu Chengxiao, who was simultaneously scolding him. He was almost unrecognizable to his own mother, dizzy and unable to retaliate. Just when Lu Chengxiao paused to deliver another reprimand, Chen Sheng, regaining some stability, saw that Lu Chengxiao was frozen in place. Seizing the opportunity, he threw a punch, the only one he managed to land squarely on Lu Chengxiao’s face today.

Lu Chengxiao furrowed his brows, wiped the blood from the corner of his lip with the back of his hand, and, lifting Chen Sheng by the collar, refrained from throwing another punch.

Chen Sheng, swaying as he was being held by Lu Chengxiao, finally caught sight of Liu Yu standing not far away. Understanding the reason behind Lu Chengxiao’s sudden pause, he cast an accusing look at him.

Lu Chengxiao, feeling awkward, attempted to explain, “Chen Sheng was courting another girl today, and…” He hesitated, reluctant to disclose the details of the situation with Zhou Ruyi. He continued, “I couldn’t stand it.”

Chen Sheng, with half-swollen eyes narrowed to a slit, glared at Lu Chengxiao, wishing he could shut him up. He then turned to Liu Yu, wanting to explain, but his swollen face made talking difficult.

Observing the two men before her, Liu Yu wondered if these were the dependable figures she sought. One had been eager to propose marriage with vows of commitment, only to be caught the next day courting another girl.

Liu Yu suddenly felt she had been too naive. People’s character and everything aside, when it came to matters of marriage, how much say could a young man have in his own decisions?

She suddenly felt disheartened, as if she had wasted a considerable amount of time and effort on a path that had been wrong from the very beginning.

With a light scoff, she chose not to say anything and turned to leave.

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