Casting Nets to Catch a Husband

Chapter 87: Lure

It was already late in the day when Lu Chengxiao and others returned to the Liu’s house. Wei Shi intended to prepare dinner, but Chen Shi was worried about traveling at night and they hadn’t informed their family at home, so they agreed to visit again next time.

Before leaving, the Liu family escorted them to the outer courtyard. Naturally, Liu Yu was also there. After Lu Chengxiao had obtained Liu Yu’s tacit approval for his proposal during his return from Zhejiang, he felt even more reluctant to part with her. Even though he knew he would see her tomorrow, he still felt unwilling to be separated at this moment.

Feeling even closer to Liu Yu in his heart, despite knowing he would be teased on the way back, he ignored even the intentional or unintentional glances from his mother and stood beside Liu Yu, whispering about the arrangements for their trip to Yuanzhou.

Thinking about traveling by water, he suddenly realized a problem and asked Liu Yu, “Are you okay going by boat?”

Liu Yu wasn’t sure and shook her head, saying, “I’ve never been on one, but it should be fine. Even if I get seasick, I can overcome it.”

She wasn’t that delicate, thinking it wasn’t a big deal.

However, Lu Chengxiao hesitated. After thinking about it, he suggested taking a carriage instead, but Liu Yu refused, “I’m not that fragile. Just stick to your original plan.”

With that settled, they agreed that the next morning Lu Chengxiao would come by boat from the county and pick up the three siblings at the pier in Xifeng Town.

~

As soon as Chen Shi and Lu Chengxiao left Yangshan Village, many people arrived at the Liu family, with a simple question about whether Liu Yanping still accept cloth.

Liu Yanping hadn’t expected Lu Chengxiao’s visits to several weaving households to have such an effect. He was quite pleased but realized he couldn’t afford that much cloth with his means. However, he knew that these villagers who wanted to sell cloth to him were his resources and wealth. Therefore, he treated them politely, saying that if they needed cloth next time, or if the Lu family needed cloth, as long as the quality and quantity were guaranteed, they would be given priority over other villages.

He also had an idea. On this trip back from Yuanzhou, he would inquire whether Lu Chengxiao would buy high-quality cloth from the village. Unlike him, Lu Chengxiao bought cloth for cash, and it was more profitable even if he raised the price by just ten or thirty copper coins per bolt compared to buying from the weaving workshop. With Lu Chengxiao preparing to purchase around two hundred taels of cloth, roughly six to seven hundred bolts, not to mention the medium-quality ones, even the high-quality ones could be selected from other villages to meet the quantity.

After seeing off the villagers, Wei Shi prepared dinner, and the three siblings packed their belongings and toiletries for the trip to Yuanzhou over the past few days.

Early the next morning, as soon as it dawned, the three siblings had finished their meal and headed to Xifeng Town. They didn’t hire any mules for the short journey; the bundles were carried by the two brothers as they walked to the pier in Xifeng Town.

When they arrived, Lu Chengxiao, who had already taken a small boat from the county to the pier, was waiting. As soon as he spotted Liu Yu and the others from afar, he hurried over to greet them.

The boat was moored by the pier, and Babao was already on board. Liu Yanan jumped onto the boat first, and Lu Chengxiao wanted to warn Liu Yu to be careful, but Liu Yanan’s hand was already outstretched: “Yu’er, let Big Brother help you.”

Lu Chengxiao watched anxiously, mindful of propriety between men and women, so he could only watch.

Liu Yanping found it amusing and followed onto the boat.

The boatman and his wife on the boat were a couple in their thirties. Seeing that the passengers they were picking up today were all in good spirits, they were quite polite and exchanged a few words.

Lu Chengxiao led the group into the cabin, where the table was already set with plenty of food and water, not to mention various pastries from Wu Zhi Zhai and various types of plum cakes to prevent seasickness.

Looking at Liu Yu, Lu Chengxiao smiled, “I bought these yesterday when I returned to town. I didn’t know what you liked, so I bought a variety.”

Even Liu Yanping couldn’t help but admire his thoughtfulness.

With everyone on board, the boatwoman cast off the rope, the boatman pushed off with his pole, and the small boat steadily left the shore.

Lu Chengxiao was filled with joy along the way, chatting with Liu Yanping and Liu Yanan. Liu Yu smiled as she listened, making him feel as if he were on cloud nine.

Boats like this were not uncommon in the south, often manned by husband and wife teams, with the boatwoman having excellent cooking skills.

There were self-prepared snacks and pastries in the morning, boat-cooked meals for lunch, and they would find an inn for dinner in the evening.

Liu Yu embarked on her first true journey, feeling a bit excited, especially since she didn’t have to worry about safety issues.

When they stayed overnight at an inn, just like the Li siblings before, they requested adjoining suites for safety. Liu Yu stayed in the inner room, while Liu Yanping and Liu Yanan stayed in the outer room, with Lu Chengxiao and his servant staying in the next room.

The boat owners, a husband and wife, didn’t disembark and stayed on the boat overnight.

The night passed without incident. The next morning, while Lu Chengxiao and the others were still having breakfast, Babao had already packed everything the young master had instructed for their day on the boat.

Naturally, most of it was the kind of food Liu Yu preferred.

Liu Yanan felt relieved, while Liu Yanping, who was twenty this year and hadn’t thought about marriage yet, learned how to treat her future sister-in-law from Lu Chengxiao, her future brother-in-law, in advance.

The journey by boat was indeed fast, and by the evening of the second day, they had arrived in Yuanzhou City. Lu Chengxiao and Babao were quite familiar with Yuanzhou City. After entering the city gate, they headed straight for the best inn in the city.

Instead of requesting separate suites, they opted for a secluded small courtyard with a main hall, a flower hall, four guest rooms, and a small garden attached. When the courtyard gate was closed, it became a small sanctuary, free from any disturbances. It was much quieter than the previous suites.

Of the four guest rooms, one was for the Liu brothers, one for Liu Yu, and one for Lu Chengxiao and his servant.

Dinner was served in the courtyard. Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yanping ordered the dishes, which were brought in by the waiter. After dinner, Babao went to deliver a letter to the Li family for Li Zhongjue, and Lu Chengxiao planned to visit the Li family early the next morning.

When one arrived in Yuanzhou City, it was customary to pay a visit to the Li family. Another reason was a prior agreement between Lu Chengxiao and Liu Yanping during their journey.

Li Zhongjue was involved in the silk business. Every year, he purchased silk from Suzhou, dyed it in Yuanzhou, and sold it in Hongdu Prefecture. Therefore, the Li family had familiar dyeing workshops. Since Li Cunyi was currently not in Yuanzhou, Lu Chengxiao planned to accompany Li Zhongjue’s visit to find a reliable dyeing workshop, which would not only ensure quality but also offer better prices.

~

After two days of sailing, the young men were still fine, but Liu Yu was a bit tired. Liu Yanping asked the waiter to bring some water for her to freshen up before she could rest properly.

At the Li family’s residence, Li Zhongjue, whom Lu Chengxiao wanted to find, was still at the dyeing workshop studying dyes with the familiar dyers and hadn’t returned home yet. Babao encountered Li’s wife, Mrs. Qian, and the hastily arrived Li Yunbi.

Mrs. Qian seemed fine, but Li Yunbi looked almost emaciated.

Babao didn’t dare to stare too much, so he relayed the message that his young master would visit tomorrow. Mrs. Qian asked a few questions, including about Lu Chengxiao’s marriage.

It turned out that when Li Zhongjue returned home last time, he mentioned to the family that Lu Chengxiao was already discussing marriage. So now, seeing Babao, Mrs. Qian naturally asked a few more questions, including about the background of the girl.

Babao carefully answered them one by one, and when he wanted to find Li Zhongjue, he learned that he hadn’t returned from the dyeing workshop yet.

Seeing that Babao seemed to have something on his mind, Mrs. Qian said, “Go to Zhongjue’s courtyard and find Liu Liang, and tell him to pass on a message. Zhongjue hasn’t been coming home before midnight these days.”

Babao thanked her and bid her farewell, then went to the Li family’s outer courtyard to find Li Zhongjue’s servant Liu Liang. He asked him to relay a message to Li Zhongjue, saying that his young master would visit tomorrow and asked him to wait at home.

Liu Liang agreed, and then Babao left.

Back at the inn, Lu Chengxiao asked Babao about his visit to the Li family. Babao recounted everything, and when he mentioned that Li Zhongjue was still at the dyeing workshop, Lu Chengxiao smiled and told Babao to freshen up and rest. He said, “Tomorrow morning, prepare some gifts with me. We’ll pay a visit to the Li family.”

Babao agreed, wanting to mention that Li Yunbi seemed unusually thin, but considering the lack of familiarity between their young master and the Li family girl, he thought it wasn’t appropriate and decided against it.

~

In the Li residence, Li Yunbi had been lost in thought since Babao left.

Lu Chengxiao had arrived in Yuanzhou City and would visit tomorrow.

Thinking about what she had heard earlier, Lu Chengxiao and the girl from the Liu family weren’t engaged yet, but judging from Babao’s demeanor, it seemed imminent.

Li Yunbi paced back and forth in the room, feeling as if her heart was being tormented.

Ever since returning from Anyi County, she had been trapped in this torment.

Her personal maid, Cui’er, bit her lip. “Miss, are you really going to watch Mr. Lu marry that girl from the Liu family?”

Li Yunbi gripped her clothes over her heart, her eyes red as she looked at Cui’er, who had been with her since childhood. “What else can I do? He has shown kindness to our family. It’s not like our family has done anything for him. Can we force him to marry me?”

Cui’er, kneeling in front of Li Yunbi, looked up at her. “But what if we could force him? Would you want that, Miss?”

Li Yunbi trembled all over, her lifeless eyes flickering slightly as she looked down at Cui’er. “What… what are you saying?”

“Cui’er says, there’s always a way if you want it, Miss.”

“If Miss wants it, Cui’er will help you.”

The words that came from the maid’s lips, like the temptations of a devil, echoed incessantly in Li Yunbi’s ears.

She hadn’t spoken for a long time, and Cui’er hadn’t moved either, just staring at her.

Finally, Li Yunbi’s eyelashes trembled lightly, and so did her voice.

“What can you do to help me?”

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