The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 20: This Seat Will Tell You a Story (Part Two)

The next morning, when the Chen family returned from visiting their relatives, they found their orange tree toppled, with oranges scattered all over the yard. There weren't many other households nearby; only the Luo family was in close proximity. Recalling Luo Xianxian's daily longing gaze at the oranges, the Chens immediately concluded—

This misfortune child, Luo Xianxian, must have stolen the oranges!

Not only that, but out of jealousy, she had also cut down their orange tree!

The Chens promptly went to report to Scholar Luo. How could he endure such humiliation? He promptly summoned his daughter and angrily asked if she had stolen the oranges.

Luo Xianxian cried and denied it.

He then asked if she had cut down the tree.

Again, Luo Xianxian denied it.

Finally, he asked if she had eaten the oranges.

Unable to lie, Luo Xianxian admitted that she had.

Before she could explain, her furious father ordered her to kneel down, and in front of the entire Chen family, he severely beat her with a ruler while scolding, "Raising a daughter is worse than raising a son! At such a young age, how could you do such disgraceful and sneaky things? It's shameful! You've brought dishonor to your father's reputation! As punishment, you will have no food for today, and you'll spend three days facing the wall to deeply reflect on your mistakes and seek self-redemption."

"Daddy, it wasn't me! It really wasn't me!"

"You still dare to talk back!"

No one believed her. Although the Lower Realm was in chaos, Butterfly Town was an exception. The town was always known for its simple and honest folk, with unlocked doors at night. Who would believe that a blood-covered madman had suddenly appeared in the middle of the night?

Luo Xianxian's small hands were beaten to shreds.

The Chen family members watched coldly, except for the oldest boy, who tugged at his mother's sleeve, wanting to speak but hesitating.

His mother ignored him, leaving him with no choice but to stand there with a frown on his well-behaved face, unable to bear watching any further.

That night, Luo Xianxian dared not return to her room and instead crouched under the eaves, pitifully standing in punishment.

Her father was a scholar, intolerant of theft, and had a stubborn, old-fashioned mindset. Reasoning with him would be futile, as he wouldn't listen to any explanations.

With her stomach empty from a day without food, Luo Xianxian felt dizzy. Suddenly, someone whispered her name, "Younger Sister Luo."

Luo Xianxian turned around and spotted a well-proportioned face peering over the earthen wall - it was Chen Bohuan, the eldest son of the Chen family who had attempted to intercede for her earlier that day.

Seeing no one else around, Chen Bohuan swiftly climbed over the wall, holding a warm steamed bun in his arms. Without hesitation, he stuffed it into her hands.

"I've seen you standing here by the wall all day without eating anything. Here, take this bun and eat it quickly."

"I...," Luo Xianxian was inherently bashful. Despite living here for several months, she had barely spoken to the neighboring brother. Now, being so close to him made her take two steps back, accidentally bumping her head against the wall. She stammered, "I can't accept it... my father doesn't allow me... he said..."

She rambled incoherently, unable to form a complete sentence.

Chen Bohuan replied, "Oh, your father is always quoting ancient texts. Why bother with his rules? You'll get sick from hunger. Just eat it, or it will get cold."

The steamed bun was soft and fluffy, emitting warm steam.

Luo Xianxian gazed at it for a moment, swallowing her saliva. She was genuinely starving. Disregarding any notions of propriety, she grabbed the bun and started munching, finishing it in no time.

After devouring the bun, she lifted her round eyes and spoke her first coherent sentence to Chen Bohuan, "I didn't cut down the orange tree, and I didn't intend to steal."

Chen Bohuan paused, then smiled slowly. "Mm."

"But they don't believe me..." Under those non-judgmental eyes, Luo Xianxian's heart gradually softened, and her grievances melted like melting snow. With a loud wail, she opened her mouth, wiped away her tears, and bawled uncontrollably. "They don't believe me... I didn't steal... I didn't steal..."

Chen Bohuan frantically patted her back. "I know you didn't steal. Oh dear, you stand under the tree every day watching, but you've never taken a single orange. If you were going to steal, you would have done it by now..."

"It wasn't me! It wasn't me!" She cried even harder, snot and tears streaming down.

Chen Bohuan continued patting her. "It wasn't you, it wasn't you."

The two children quickly became close friends.

Later, a murder occurred in a neighboring village. It was said that a blood-soaked bandit had entered a home one night, asking to rest in their annex. The homeowner refused, and the bandit killed his entire family in retaliation. Then, he calmly slept among the corpses before leisurely leaving the next day. Before departing, he even deliberately wrote a lengthy message on the wall with blood, detailing all the atrocities he had committed, as if he wanted the world to know of such an evil person.

The news spread rapidly and eventually reached Butterfly Town. This incident coincided with the night Luo Xianxian mentioned encountering the "crazy big brother."

Both the Luo scholar and the Chen family were left speechless.

After the misunderstanding was cleared up, their interactions increased. The Chen couple, charmed by Luo Xianxian's adorable appearance and diligent, sensible nature, believed that given their family's circumstances, they could not hope for a better daughter-in-law. As a result, they decided to arrange an early marriage between Chen Bohuan and Luo Xianxian, planning to hold an official wedding ceremony when they reached the age of maturity.

Scholar Luo observed the innocent camaraderie and childhood friendship between his daughter, Luo Xianxian, and Chen Bohuan, and thus happily consented to their potential union.

As days turned into months, if not for Scholar Luo's love for elegance and his fascination with incense crafting, the Chen and Luo families would have likely led their modest lives as initially envisioned.

However, misfortune struck when Scholar Luo unintentionally created a unique "Hundred Butterfly Incense Powder."

Though the scent of this powder held no particular distinction from the common incense in town, it possessed an extraordinary quality that ordinary blends could not match – its aroma lingered for a hundred days, leaving a lasting impression.

The Hundred Butterfly Incense Powder had an unusually long-lasting fragrance that was difficult to dissipate, making it a sought-after affordable commodity for everyday households.

Scholar Luo held the belief that "all professions are inferior to scholarly pursuits." Despite inventing the incense powder, he refused to sell it, deeming it beneath his dignity.

Unwilling to let the opportunity slip by, Lady Chen attempted multiple times to acquire the recipe from Scholar Luo and persuade him to open a shop. However, her efforts were met with rejection, causing her some embarrassment. Eventually, she ceased mentioning it, but the desire remained deeply rooted in her heart.

The year Luo Xianxian reached maturity, an opportunity presented itself. Scholar Luo, frail and ailing with consumption, fought a losing battle against his illness and passed away. As part of Luo Xianxian's future family, despite their daughter not yet being married, they felt a sense of obligation and affection. Thus, they stepped in to assist with the funeral arrangements, bustling about tirelessly.

Grateful to the core, Luo Xianxian was unaware that Madam Chen had harbored a hidden intention. While sorting through Luo Scholar's belongings, she had stealthily taken the perfume recipe.

That very evening, under the dim light of an oil lamp, Madam Chen approached the formula with a heart brimming with excitement. However, after only one glance, she was left dumbfounded.

Luo Scholar's calligraphy was like dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing, his cursive script flowing with an elegant grace. Despite staring at it for ages, she couldn't decipher a single character.

With no other choice, she quietly returned the formula to its hiding place.

After a few months, when Luo Xianxian's emotions had settled, she invited the young lady to her home for a meal. Amid casual conversation, Madam Chen "accidentally" mentioned the Hundred Butterfly Flower Fragrance.

Luo Xianxian thought to herself that the recipe was useless in her possession, and since her mother-in-law treated her so kindly, she might as well give it to her if she desired it.

Thus, she retrieved her father's belongings and even assisted Madam Chen in deciphering the characters, meticulously piecing together the intricate formula.

Madam Chen was ecstatic. With the recipe in hand, she began discussing with her husband about opening a perfume shop.

Of course, she still cherished this gentle and understanding future daughter-in-law, especially as Luo Xianxian grew more beautiful with each passing day. Despite her family's misfortune, her looks were exceptional, attracting considerable attention from many young men in the town.

Fearing that time might bring unforeseen complications, Madam Chen resolved to expedite matters.

However, Luo Xianxian had just lost her father, and according to the customs of Butterfly Town, one must not marry for three years after both parents pass away.

Madam Chen couldn't wait that long. She racked her brains and came up with a plan.

One day, while Luo Xianxian was braiding the young miss of the Chen family's hair - the girl was very close to her, always calling her "Sister Luo" - Madam Chen walked into the courtyard and summoned Luo Xianxian to the inner chamber. She said, "Xianxian, you and Bo Huan have been childhood sweethearts, with a pre-arranged marriage. Now that your father has passed, you're all alone, and life won't be easy. Originally, you were supposed to marry into our family this year. But with the mourning period of three years, it prevents you from marrying. As your aunt, I thought, if you wait three years, how old would you be then?"

Luo Xianxian lowered her head, not speaking, but she was clever and could guess where Madam Chen was going with this, causing her cheeks to flush slightly.

Sure enough, Madam Chen continued, "Living alone is tough and exhausting. How about this - you marry into our family first, but we'll keep it quiet, just performing a private ceremony in front of heaven and earth. If anyone asks, you can say you're living with Aunt Chen for support. This way, you'll fulfill the traditional wedding rites without drawing criticism, and it will bring peace to your late father. After the three years are up, we'll hold a grand wedding for the two of you, alright?"

Her words sounded like they were all for Luo Xianxian's benefit, and since Luo Xianxian was an innocent person who didn't suspect ill intentions, she agreed.

Later on, the Chen family became prosperous by selling their Butterfly Fragrance Powder, allowing them to move out of their old home and purchase a large plot of land in town. They renovated the estate and became a prominent family.

Luo Xianxian thus became a seldom-seen figure among the many members of the prominent family.

In the town, people believed Luo Xianxian was merely under the benevolent protection of Madam Chen and thus lived in the Chen residence, unaware that she had already taken part in a wedding ceremony with Chen Bohuan.

Despite the hardships, Luo Xianxian accepted her situation, thinking that her mother-in-law was acting out of concern to avoid gossip and for her own well-being. As Chen Bohuan genuinely cared for her, the couple led a contented and affectionate life, awaiting the day when their unconventional arrangement would return to normal after three years.

But that day of a proper marriage never came.

The Chen family's business flourished, and coupled with Chen Bohuan's handsome appearance, not only the daughters from prominent families in Butterfly Town but also those from neighboring towns began to set their sights on the eldest son of the Chens. As time passed, Madam Chen's thoughts started to shift.

She had initially arranged this childhood marriage because she, as a peasant family, feared they could not secure a high-quality bride. Thus, she hastily bound Luo Xianxian to her son.

Little did she expect the wheel of fate to turn, bringing prosperity to her own Chen family. Now, when she looked back at Luo Xianxian, the young lady seemed lacking in presence and wit, as naive as her stubborn, wooden-headed late father. Everything about her grated on her nerves.

Regret began to weigh on her heart.

The arrival of Miss Yao transformed that "slight regret" into "deep remorse."

Miss Yao was the daughter of the county magistrate, fond of martial attire. One day, after returning from hunting on her fine steed, she passed by a perfume shop and decided to pick out a few scents. However, instead of finding perfumes to her liking, her eyes fell upon a handsome young nobleman busily attending to business inside the establishment.

That young man was none other than Luo Xianxian's husband in name only, Chen Bohuan.

Author's Note: Chu Wanning (serious expression): This incident teaches us that private betrothals are not advisable. Without formal agreements, ending a relationship can be hasty and irresponsible.

Mo Weiyu (innocent expression): Eh? I think someone secretly married me in the previous chapters, but I can't quite recall. Who was it? I was actually prepared to take responsibility for them, but since they don't want it, then never mind. (smiles)