Dandy Escapes From Marriage - Chapter 21

It wasn’t yet dawn when Liu Shu woke up.

 

To be precise, he hadn’t slept well all night.

 

He gently turned his head to look at Shen Ke, who was sleeping soundly, feeling his heart pounding wildly in his chest again.

 

He watched quietly for a while, then suddenly Shen Ke’s eyelids twitched slightly. Liu Shu immediately closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.

 

After a moment, the blanket was gently lifted, and Shen Ke quietly got out of bed and left the room. Soon, there was movement at the door, footsteps getting closer and stopping at the nearby table.

 

Liu Shu discreetly squinted one eye open to see Shen Ke with his back turned, placing a basin of water he had prepared on the table and washing his face. The sound of water was very light, and he deliberately made the motion of washing the cloth gentle.

 

After washing his face, Shen Ke washed his hands again before going out to fetch water and instructing the inn’s staff to prepare breakfast.

 

When he returned to the room, Liu Shu had already gotten up and was getting dressed. Shen Ke looked slightly surprised. “You’re up early today.”

 

“Uh… yeah,” Liu Shu brushed it off, looking up at him. “When are we going back?”

 

“The doctor said you still need to rest for two more days. We’ll go back when you’re fully recovered,” Shen Ke paused, then asked, “Do you want to go back?”

 

“Yeah, there’s nothing fun here. I even miss chopping bamboo.”

 

Shen Ke walked over, his gaze lingering on Liu Shu’s slender waist for a moment, a hint of concern in his voice. “Chopping bamboo is too hard. Why don’t you stop? What if you get sick again?”

 

“Are you worried about me?” Liu Shu’s eyes curved, “But if I don’t chop bamboo, what else can I do?”

 

“How about…” Shen Ke looked around, “you help me grind ink. We’ll be able to make a living with our monthly salary in a few days.”

 

“Okay, I don’t mind. Anything will do,” Liu Shu nodded in agreement.

 

After breakfast, Shen Ke taught him how to grind ink, and then sat down to write while Liu Shu watched him write, but soon lost focus. His gaze fell on Shen Ke’s hand, slender fingers with distinct joints, much more attractive than the words he wrote.

 

“Xiao Wu.”

 

“Hmm?”

 

“Ink spilled.”

 

“Oh, sorry!”

 

After a while, Shen Ke called out again, “Xiao Wu.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“If you’re tired, go take a nap.”

 

“Sorry!” Liu Shu yawned, tears welling up in his eyes. He put down the ink block, rubbed his wrist, and grimaced, “I think chopping bamboo might be more suitable for me.”

 

Shen Ke didn’t insist anymore, but grabbed his hand. Liu Shu suddenly jerked back, pulling his hands behind his back, looking at him incredulously, with a complex emotion that was hard to decipher in his eyes.

 

“I just wanted to help you massage, not hurt you,” Shen Ke hurriedly explained.

 

“Oh…” Liu Shu let out a sigh of relief or regret, turned around and walked out, “I’m going out to play for a while.”

 

“Where are you going?” Shen Ke asked.

 

“I don’t know—” Before Liu Shu could finish speaking, there was a knock on the door. He opened it to find Zhang Moyang standing there. “What’s up?”

 

Zhang Moyang looked at him arrogantly, waved the fan in his hand, about to speak elegantly, but Liu Shu grabbed him and dragged him out.

 

“Let’s go, let’s go out and play.”

 

“?” Zhang Moyang shouted, “How did you know I came to find you to play? Wait, let go of me first!!”

 

The two of them left the inn bickering. Shen Ke watched their figures from the window, lowered his eyes, and looked back at the paper and pen on the table… Was he too boring? Xiao Wu never wanted to play with him.

 

“Do you have any brothels here?” Liu Shu asked seriously.

 

Zhang Moyang choked unexpectedly, his expression complicated. “You have quite the energy. It’s early in the morning, shouldn’t you give the ladies some rest?”

 

“No, I just want them to touch my hand.”

 

Zhang Moyang’s features contorted in disbelief. “And I should praise you for your kindness?”

 

“You just don’t understand!”

 

“How do I not understand? I’ve touched hands before!”

 

As soon as Zhang Moyang finished speaking, he noticed a change in Liu Shu’s gaze. How to describe it… it was like a blind cat stumbling upon a dead mouse, with a strange desire filling his hollow eyes.

 

“What are you… doing?”

 

“Let me touch it.”

 

“…Huh! Are you coveting my beauty?!” Zhang Moyang suddenly became cocky, “You have good taste, I am—Hey, hey, where are you going? I said the brothel needs to rest!”

 

Liu Shu had already walked into the nearby brothel. Unlike the lively atmosphere at night, it was quiet now, with only a few servants cleaning up.

 

“Sir, we’re not receiving guests now,” the madam, who was about to rest, said.

 

“Are there still people who haven’t rested? I’ll only take up the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.”

 

The madam’s eyes were full of interest, as if saying, “You young man, you look so young and handsome, yet you’re done in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.” But seeing Zhang Gongzi standing beside him, she received them warmly and called for a courtesan who hadn’t yet washed up to come out.

 

The courtesan, with professional demeanor, still maintained her seductive posture despite her exhaustion, blinked at him, while Zhang Moyang watched with delight.

 

Liu Shu had an expressionless face, then suddenly reached out his hand. “Press my hand.”

 

The courtesan’s slender jade fingers touched his, about to lean over, but he suddenly changed his expression, taking several steps back.

 

“How was it?” Zhang Moyang walked over to him and whispered, “Any feeling?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“What feeling?”

 

“…I went limp.”

 

“???!”

 

Both the madam and the courtesan were stunned — a new record set, the shortest visit ever!

 

Zhang Moyang walked out of the brothel with a grim expression, looking as if he himself had gone limp.

 

“It’s all your fault. Now they don’t even look at me the same way!” Zhang Moyang complained, keeping his distance of two meters from him.

 

Liu Shu sighed deeply.

 

“Hey.” Soon after, Zhang Moyang came over with a mischievous smile, nudging his shoulder, “Buddy, are you really limp?”

 

“No.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“I was perfectly fine and hard as a rock this morning, but who knew that woman touching my hand would make me go limp,” Liu Shu lamented, “And the worst part is, this isn’t the first time. I’ve seen all sorts of beauties before, and I never had any strange thoughts about them…”

 

“I got it, buddy, you’re sick.”

 

“What sickness?”

 

“Impotence.”

 

“Maybe you should still see a doctor. I don’t understand your condition. Come on, I’ll cover the medical expenses. I still want you to be my brother-in-law, but you can’t be limp.” Zhang Moyang pulled him to see a doctor.

 

After listening to the symptoms, the doctor looked at the two in front of him. He recognized Zhang Gongzi, who was somewhat handsome, but the man beside him was even more eye-catching. He asked slowly, “You said you were hard this morning… ahem, had a reaction, and it lasted a long time. Could it be because you saw someone you liked?”

 

Liu Shu was stunned. “Someone I liked?”

 

“Yes, this person…” The doctor glanced at the eager Zhang Moyang and hinted, “Perhaps it’s even a man?”

 

Liu Shu’s eyes widened suddenly. After a brief moment of shock, he quickly accepted this fact.

 

Perhaps he had already had a vague answer in his heart, but he lacked a convincing explanation.

 

Since the doctor said so, then the crux of the matter was found.

 

“That’s right,” Liu Shu nodded, feeling embarrassed, “It’s just a man. When he touched my hand, I… um.”

 

Now it was Zhang Moyang’s turn to be shocked. “Oh my! You… you… you… can’t be my brother-in-law anymore?”

 

Liu Shu gave him a glance, patting his shoulder. “Quickly pay the genius doctor.”

 

Zhang Moyang cursed, feeling like he had lost both money and a brother-in-law. While paying, Liu Shu had already gone out. He lowered his voice and asked the doctor, “Can he still be saved?”

 

The doctor was puzzled. “Didn’t he see you this morning?”

 

“Yeah, what’s wrong?” Zhang Moyang looked at the doctor’s expression, not knowing what he was thinking. Suddenly, he widened his eyes in realization. “No way, no way! Could it be… he likes me?!”

 

“You can go ask him yourself.”

 

Zhang Moyang walked out of the clinic in a daze, but he couldn’t find Liu Shu’s figure. Where did he run off to? Was he shy?

 

“A Ke!”

 

Shen Ke looked up, watching Liu Shu suddenly running back, panting as if there was some good news, his face flushed, exuding vitality.

 

“Why did you come back so soon?” Shen Ke also couldn’t help but smile.

 

“It’s nothing, I just suddenly missed you and came back to see you.” Liu Shu sat down opposite him, smiling and looking at him for a while, making Shen Ke wonder if he had been hit by a carriage on his way out and gone mad. He then extended his hand, “Here, you wanted to help me with my hand earlier, right?”

 

“Is your hand still sore?”

 

“It’s sore, really sore.”

 

Shen Ke began to massage his hand, and the room was very quiet. After a while, he glanced at the sunlight outside the window and asked, “Is it too hot?”

 

“Is it?”

 

“Your face is all flushed.”

 

“Y-yes.” Liu Shu chuckled nervously, retracting his hand and rubbing it with a flushed face. “It’s better now, not sore anymore. Thank you.”

 

“Where did you guys go just now?” Shen Ke asked again.

 

“Just… wandered around town.” Liu Shu scratched his head, avoiding eye contact.

 

“Did you have a good time?” Shen Ke pursed his lips, smiling, “Do you want me to accompany you for another stroll?”

 

“No, no, no need at all!” Liu Shu didn’t want to take this well-behaved kid to the brothel. Besides, he was still immersed in his own teenage thoughts and didn’t notice the fleeting sense of disappointment in Shen Ke’s eyes after hearing his words.

 

At this moment, there was a sound of gongs and drums outside, and people around craned their necks to see what was happening. Shen Ke and Liu Shu also looked out the window.

 

They saw four soldiers on the street, banging gongs and shouting, “Tomorrow is the Golden Cluster Festival. The winner can receive ten taels of silver. Those who want to participate, hurry up and register.”

 

“What kind of festival is the Golden Cluster Festival?” Liu Shu asked Shen Ke, who shook his head, also unaware of this festival.

 

It was Zhang Moyang, who came back gasping for breath, who told them the answer. As soon as he entered, he kept gasping for breath, “You little rascal, you made me run all over the place. If I hadn’t run into Huishang, he said you might have come back…”

 

“Where’s Huishang?” Liu Shu looked behind him, but there was no one there.

 

“He’s downstairs registering.” Zhang Moyang picked up the teapot and took a few sips of tea directly, catching his breath before saying, “The Golden Cluster Festival is a unique festival here, it’s just an archery competition. The son of the county magistrate loves horseback archery and wants to find a group of people to play with, so he came up with the idea of organizing a group of people to accompany him in the competition during these days every year. It started as a small affair, but later more and more wealthy and influential people joined in, pouring money into the competition, making it more and more grand.”

 

Shen Ke frowned, “Isn’t this an abuse of power? Isn’t anyone going to stop it?”

 

“Who’s going to stop it? We’re far from the capital, and the county magistrate is the highest authority we can encounter. If we don’t want trouble at home, it’s better to stay honest. Besides, this competition isn’t completely useless. After all, there’s really ten taels of silver, which is more enjoyable than planting fields for a few months, isn’t it?” Zhang Moyang said, “And quite a few people practice in advance just for the prize.”

 

“Are you participating?” Liu Shu asked.

 

“Do you think I need those ten taels?” Zhang Moyang snorted, raising his chin proudly. “Our family provides the competition venue, so I’m an honored guest. I’m only responsible for watching those people compete.”

 

“No wonder you said it’s a good thing, collusion between officials and businessmen.” Liu Shu hit the nail on the head.

 

“Can’t help it. If we don’t agree, some people are eager to provide venues and other things. This is a great opportunity to cooperate with the government. You wouldn’t understand.” 

 

“Huh.” Liu Shu thought to himself that he understood much more than Zhang Moyang did, so he didn’t like dealing with the government. It was better to be a carefree dandy than a lapdog of the government.

 

Liu Shu suddenly looked at Shen Ke, who had been silent all this time, and thought that in the future, when he participated in the imperial examination, would Shen Ke also become the type he hated the most? What should he do then? Should he still marry Shen Ke, and whose surname would the child take…

 

Oh, it seems he couldn’t have children anymore.

 

Great, one problem was solved so quickly.

 

“What are you thinking?” Zhang Moyang saw his expression change from sunny to cloudy, then back to sunny again, couldn’t help but shiver, thinking he wouldn’t be thinking about anything perverted, right?

 

Shen Ke also looked over, and Liu Shu immediately regained his composure, asking with a pretense of calmness, “Why did Huishang go to register? Is he good at archery, or does he want ten taels of silver?”

 

“He wants the silver, but he can’t shoot.” Zhang Moyang said.

 

“Then why did he register?”

 

“He registered for you guys, didn’t you know?”

 

“What!?” Liu Shu was shocked.

 

“He said this is your chance to make money. Whether you participate or not, there are always many people trying their luck every year, and you can even get a free lunch. Other merchants provide the lunch, claiming it’s a gesture of gratitude to the people, but in reality, it’s a way to curry favor with the county magistrate.”

 

Liu Shu: “Free lunch? Count me in.”

 

Zhang Moyang: “…”

 

He’s giving in just like that? He was just about to storm out and punch someone a moment ago?

 

Excitedly rubbing his hands, Liu Shu said, “A Ke, let’s go taste this lavish lunch.”

 

“Sure, I was actually thinking the same thing.” Shen Ke smiled.

 

Seeing their helpless appearance, Zhang Moyang decided to bring his sister over to watch the spectacle, so she could see for herself that just having a pretty face isn’t enough for a man! Maybe she could even find a decent man at the competition.

 

Early the next morning, Liu Shu and Shen Ke packed up and, led by 慧伤, headed to the venue.

 

The location was an open area outside the city gate, surrounded by mountains. Large tents were set up on both sides for government officials and some merchants to rest and watch. Zhang Moyang and his sister were among them.

 

“Will Ke Shen really come?” Zhang Mosheng asked again.

 

“He will.” Zhang Moyang looked around for a while before finally spotting three familiar figures walking in. They stood out among the crowd of robust men, looking too refined, too handsome, too… bald.

 

“Look, there they are.” Zhang Moyang pointed.

 

Walking outside the tent, Zhang Mosheng took a look and was about to go over, but a man suddenly appeared and blocked her path.

 

“Miss Zhang, it’s been a while. How have you been?” It was Fang Qiong, the magistrate’s son.

 

Zhang Moyang gritted his teeth inwardly. This guy has been interested in his sister for a long time, and has even come to propose several times, but was politely rejected each time with the excuse that she was still too young. Now that she’s old enough, it’s hard to use that excuse anymore.

 

It would have been a good match to have a relationship with the magistrate’s family, but unfortunately, this Fang Qiong is just too ugly. His features are like they were squeezed together, making him look weird. Even their dad doubted the craftsmanship of Nuwa when he saw him.

 

“Could you please move aside, Mr. Fang?” Zhang Mosheng said expressionlessly.

 

“Why do you always avoid me whenever you see me? Are you shy?” Fang Qiong teased.

 

Zhang Mosheng: “…”

 

Zhang Moyang: “…”

 

At this moment, Liu Shu and the others walked over, and Zhang Moyang promised to lend them some good bows and arrows from the competition.

 

“Master Zhang, we’re here.” Shen Ke said.

 

Fang Qiong clearly felt a certain charm on Zhang Mosheng’s face, subconsciously looked over, but saw three handsome men… First, exclude the bald one, leaving two men… Who the hell stole his woman?!

 

Zhang Moyang thought it was perfect timing, and hurriedly let them into the tent.

 

Fang Qiong also wanted to follow in, but was called away by his servants to change clothes, so he could only leave for now.

 

“Although you’re just here for a free meal, I’m a kind person. I’ll still place bets for you.” Zhang Moyang said as he handed them the bows and arrows.

 

Liu Shu instantly picked up on the keyword: “Bets?”

 

“Hmm, do you think it’s just your competition? Where’s the fun in that?” Zhang Moyang whispered, “There’s also a betting pool outside. Many people are betting on Fang Qiong. One, because his archery skills are indeed good, and two, because not many people dare to compete against him. But with more bets, the chances of winning are lower. Since you guys are my friends, I’ll reluctantly give you some face so you won’t be embarrassed on or off the field.”

 

Liu Shu’s eyes flashed, and he smiled teasingly at Zhang Mosheng.

 

Zhang Mosheng: “??”

 

The competition lasted the whole day, with group matches in the morning and individual matches at the end.

 

The first round was with ten people in each group, with only ten winning teams advancing to the next round. This round eliminated most participants, but those eliminated could still get the simplest porridge, noodles, and steamed buns.

 

People on the field started to pick teammates. Liu Shu walked around, relying on his excellent social skills, and joined someone else’s group with Shen Ke and Hui Shang.

 

Zhang Moyang sat on the platform, analyzing the current situation with his sister: “Fang Qiong already has fixed teammates, and their combat power is strong. As for Xiao Wu’s side, they chose a skinny man, a short and weak woman, two kids, and three old guys who were barely hanging on… Are they here just to mooch a meal? They were weak to begin with, and now they’ve joined a group of the old, weak, sick, and disabled?”

 

“Are you really joining us?” The middle-aged man held his family and looked guilty. “We just wanted to come for a meal.”

 

“It’s okay,” Liu Shu reassured him. “Do we look like winners to you?”

 

The man glanced at them, one after another refined, and couldn’t help but smile.

 

Soon, many ordinary people came to watch outside, making it a rare lively scene.

 

The competition started quickly. Observant people noticed two unforgettable men in the group of the old, weak, sick, and disabled, along with a monk, but due to the very ordinary archery skills of the others, they were quickly attracted by the stronger teams.

 

The competition was simultaneous, with each team shooting at one target, and the final score was calculated.

 

Liu Shu arranged them in order, observing the performance of other teams and checking his own team’s scores.

 

In that family, only the middle-aged man and one of the kids could barely hit the target. Shen Ke and Hui Shang could also hit the target, but their positions were a bit off.

 

“Fang Qiong’s team has finished,” Zhang Moyang’s attention was also drawn to the strong team. After they finished, he looked towards Liu Shu’s team, about to speak, but found that his sister was no longer by his side. He looked around in confusion, and Zhang Mosheng reappeared.

 

“Where did you go?”

 

“To do something,” Zhang Mosheng took a sip of water and asked, “What’s the situation now?”

 

“If nothing unexpected happens, Fang Qiong’s team should be first. Xiao Wu’s team… Oh, they’ve also finished,” Zhang Moyang looked at the sky, “Well, it’s time to pack up and prepare to go back.”

 

“Don’t be in a hurry, the results haven’t been announced yet.”

 

“What’s there to listen to? Aren’t you afraid Fang Qiong will come to show off in front of you again?”

 

“I mean Ke Shen’s team’s result.”

 

“The result is obvious, isn’t it?” From a distance, Zhang Moyang couldn’t see the exact situation on the target, but he didn’t think they would achieve much. Just as he was about to leave, he heard the referee announce the top ten winning teams.

 

And Liu Shu’s team, in the group of the old, weak, sick, and disabled, happened to be tenth.

 

“What?! They’re so lucky?” Zhang Moyang jumped back suddenly. “How did they manage that?”

 

Zhang Mosheng looked at him speechlessly, without saying a word.

 

In the next round, teams would be reorganized, with the remaining people divided into five groups, and two groups would be eliminated in the end.

 

Liu Shu chose to merge with a team that performed decently in the previous matche这么

 

“Their judgment is off. The team next to them is second only to Fang Qiong’s team. Why didn’t they choose that one?” Zhang Moyang scratched his head in frustration.

 

This round lasted a bit longer, ending amidst the continuous cheers from the audience. Zhang Moyang clasped his hands together, concentrating intently, “May the Buddha bless us, may the Buddha bless us.”

 

Coincidentally, Liu Shu’s team had another stroke of luck and barely made it into the top three.

 

As the competition paused for lunchtime, although there were meals provided by merchants, Zhang Moyang directly called the three of them into the big tent for a special meal. They enjoyed delicious food and drinks, except for Hui Shang, who could only eat some boiled vegetables.

 

“This time, you really have me to thank. If it weren’t for me and the blessings of the Buddha, how could you have made it to the individual competition?” Zhang Moyang said proudly.

 

“Well, thank you then. Continue to bless us in the afternoon,” Liu Shu said.

 

“Sure thing.”

 

Hui Shang and Shen Ke exchanged a glance, both seeing complex emotions in each other’s eyes, and they smiled at each other.

 

The afternoon was the real competition, with everyone fighting individually, and no one could rely on others.

 

“You’ve come this far, beyond what I imagined. Don’t push yourselves too hard, and don’t cry later. A man shouldn’t shed tears!” Zhang Moyang encouraged them, watching them go to the arena.

 

Liu Shu waved his hand without looking back, while Shen Ke checked his equipment and pulled the bowstring.

 

Hui Shang scratched his head. He only casually signed up to get a free meal. How did he end up here?

 

Outside, people were already applauding and cheering for the competitors, especially those who had bet on Fang Qiong. Fang Qiong had the loudest cheers, and he seemed to enjoy the attention, standing in the center of the arena and waving to everyone.

 

“Making such a big scene just to satisfy his vanity.” Liu Shu, a former fan of big events, couldn’t bear to watch.

 

Shen Ke looked around and whispered to Hui Shang, “Did the county magistrate not come?”

 

“He only shows up during the awards ceremony, probably to protect his reputation. The entire event is presided over by his steward.”

 

“I’m not educated, but I want to ask if this is what you intellectuals call wanting to be both the prostitute and the one stealing the man?”

 

Shen Ke immediately looked at him, his eyes full of warning, and he changed his tone, “Wanting to be both the widow and the one stealing the man?”

 

Hui Shang chuckled.

 

Meanwhile, the new targets were ready. With ten people per round, Shen Ke and Hui Shang were in the first few groups, with average scores and no hope of winning, so they returned to the big tent one after another.

 

“Not bad at all. I thought you would have been eliminated in the morning, but I didn’t expect such good luck. It’s already good enough to have made it this far,” Zhang Moyang comforted them kindly. “If you feel like crying later, you can come find me, and I’ll take you out for a drink!”

 

“Bro, do you see any hint of sadness in their faces?” Zhang Mosheng couldn’t help but remind him.

 

Zhang Moyang was taken aback and looked closely. The two guys were standing in front of the tent, talking and laughing, discussing whether to ride horses or donkeys back to the village tomorrow.

 

“They’re in good spirits. But this is all luck—”

 

“Who said we’re relying on luck?” Hui Shang suddenly interjected, smiling. “Have you even watched the competition properly?”

 

“How could I not? I was itching to join in!”

 

“You were attracted by Fang Qiong’s team in the morning, right? Not just you, everyone was. So you didn’t notice that Xiao Wu’s arrows were fast and steady.”

 

That was a different Xiao Wu than usual.

 

When Liu Shu pulled the bow, his casual demeanor faded away, replaced by a sharp gaze as he narrowed his eyes. With only one goal in mind, he forcefully extended his elbow, revealing the prominent butterfly bones, resembling a poised butterfly about to take flight.

 

“Are you not joking?” Zhang Moyang couldn’t believe it. He took out a stool and stood on it, squinting his eyes almost shut, grumbling, “This position is too biased. I can’t see clearly.”

 

Soon, he saw clearly because only two people were left on the field.

 

Neither Fang Qiong nor the other participants expected anyone else to remain, and they all looked at this stunned youngster. They had never seen him before, so he was likely not from the local area and thus unaware of the rules.

 

Every year, there were only a few strong contestants, and behind the scenes, they would secretly arrange for them to lose to Master Fang, who would then secretly reward them with twenty taels each, benefiting both parties.

 

Little did they know, this year, an unexpectedly handsome young man had emerged.

 

Fang Qiong remembered him; he had just appeared on Zhang Mosheng’s side, one of the potential romantic rivals, and he glared at Liu Shu with sharp eyes.

 

Liu Shu, always observing courtesy, threw a flirtatious glance at him across the distance.

 

Fang Qiong: “… Crazy! Are you playing with fire, kid?”

 

Deciding to retaliate, Fang Qiong stuck out his tongue and slowly licked from the left corner of his mouth to the right, adding a threatening tone, “Man, don’t mess with fire.”

 

“Oh, my eyes.” Zhang Moyang covered his eyes. “Seeing this clearly isn’t a good thing either.”

 

The crowd below erupted into discussion, all talking about this unknown newcomer who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere. They were on the verge of winning money and leaving, and nearly everyone in the audience was cheering for Fang Qiong.

 

Fang Qiong proudly pulled back his bow and successively hit four arrows on target.

 

The surrounding area immediately erupted into a louder cheer, and he proudly raised his chin, provocatively looking to the side, only to find that the opponent had already put down his bow. He looked at the target in confusion and blinked rapidly—had he already finished shooting?

 

All arrows hit the bullseye.

 

Sweat dripped from his forehead as Fang Qiong tightened his grip on the bow and swiftly shot five more arrows. His breath became more erratic, and he almost missed the bullseye.

 

The surrounding voices became piercing to him, and he felt as if these people had changed sides, cheering for someone else. When he caught a glimpse of Zhang Mosheng from the corner of his eye, his heart skipped a beat, but he saw the kid carelessly holding the bow and walking over to Zhang Mosheng’s side. The two of them were chatting, looking quite intimate.

 

So it’s you, kid!

 

Envy reddened Fang Qiong’s eyes, and with a loud roar, he forcefully shot an arrow.

 

Missed.

 

The outcome was already decided.

 

Liu Shu raised his hand and exchanged a high five with Shen Ke.

 

After the explosive applause, the spectators realized they had lost money and immediately followed with a chorus of lamentations.

 

Liu Shu winked at Zhang Mosheng, who turned and left helplessly.

 

At that moment, a large hand suddenly grabbed his collar, accompanied by a furious rebuke, “Kid, who the hell are you? Where did you come from?!”

 

“What’s wrong, Master Fang, can’t accept defeat?” Liu Shu lazily raised his eyebrows. “Your scope is too narrow. So many people are watching. Don’t make a fool of yourself with such a small mind.”

 

“You!” Fang Qiong’s eyes were about to burst.

 

“Let go.” Shen Ke stepped forward, silently staring at Fang Qiong and twisting his wrist outward.

 

Fang Qiong immediately grimaced in pain and reluctantly let go.

 

Just as Zhang Moyang, who was about to go help and speak some good words, suddenly paused. It was as if he were meeting Shen Ke for the first time and didn’t expect this seemingly gentle guy to be quite frightening when angry. He didn’t know how much effort he had exerted, but even Fang Qiong felt the pain.

 

Fang Qiong frowned and turned to look at Shen Ke, angrily saying, “Who are you, kid? Believe me, I’ll make you kneel—ah!!!” 

 

Before he could finish his sentence, he was kicked hard in the stomach, causing him to stumble back several steps. Before he could react, another kick landed on his right shoulder, flipping him onto the ground.

 

Liu Shu retracted his foot and casually drew out an arrow, placing it on the bow, aiming at the man’s forehead with narrowed eyes, preparing to release.

 

The situation changed too quickly. By the time the crowd reacted, the tense atmosphere had already set in, and the steward quickly led people to surround Liu Shu.

 

Zhang Moyang was sweating profusely. “Steward, it’s all a misunderstanding. My friend didn’t mean any harm…”

 

The steward interrupted, “He’s about to shoot an arrow at the young master’s face, and you call that not meaning harm?!”

 

“…But it was Master Fang who attacked first. Everyone saw it,” Zhang Moyang explained.

 

The steward looked around. With so many pairs of eyes watching, it wouldn’t be easy to take someone away directly. He scolded, “But it’s a fact that he openly injured someone.”

 

“Xiao Wu, put away the arrows quickly. Apologize to Master Fang, and that will be the end of it,” Zhang Moyang hurriedly interjected.

 

“Apologize to his grandfather!” Liu Shu didn’t move an inch, and the direction of the arrow moved from the forehead to Fang Qiong’s mouth. “If you don’t want this mouth, I can help you get rid of it…”

 

At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared in front of them, blocking his path.

 

Liu Shu looked at Shen Ke’s back, pursed his lips without speaking, but heard him coldly say, “Even if you apologize, it should be Master Fang apologizing to Xiao Wu. Does verbally attacking not count as harming?”

 

Liu Shu’s eyelids trembled as he stared at Shen Ke’s tall figure, and a smile tugged at his lips.

 

“The county magistrate is here!” someone outside shouted.

 

The steward hurriedly led the way, and Fang Qiong rubbed his stomach as he passed by, shooting a fierce glare at both of them.

 

In no time, the county magistrate listened to the steward’s account of the whole incident, took a glance over, and instead of getting angry, walked over with a smile. “Is this the young talent who won the competition? Bring the reward silver.”

 

Liu Shu received ten taels of silver, and the county magistrate invited them all to dine at the mansion. He was about to refuse, but Shen Ke accepted first.

 

The thought of having to dine with that despicable Fang Qiong made Liu Shu want to vomit. After everyone left, he whispered, “I don’t want to go.”

 

“I can go alone, and you can go back to the inn with Hui Shang,” Shen Ke suggested.

 

“You’re going alone?!” Liu Shu felt hurt. “Then I’d rather accompany you. What if that kid insults you again? I can help you vent.”

 

Unable to resist, Shen Ke patted his head. “Were you angry just now because he insulted me?”

 

“Of course! I even wanted to pull out his teeth one by one!”

 

Shen Ke chuckled and glanced at the bow in his hand, then found an excuse to send Zhang Moyang away and asked in a low voice, “Where did you buy this bow? How much did it cost?”

 

“Not expensive, just around thirty taels.”

 

“Since I won’t be using it anyway, want to sell it to me?”

 

“Sure.”

 

“… Thirty taels? Are you sure?!” Zhang Moyang’s expression was as if he had eaten three catties of garlic in one breath.

 

“Yeah.”

 

Zhang Moyang wanted to say something more, but he saw his sister returning and handing a money pouch to Liu Shu.

 

“What’s this?” Zhang Moyang immediately walked over. “Sister, what are you doing?”

 

“Before the competition started, he borrowed a tael of silver from me… to place a bet, and this is his winnings,” Zhang Mosheng explained.

 

Zhang Moyang gasped and ran outside. “I almost forgot, I also placed a bet for you guys!”

 

Hui Shang looked curiously at the money pouch. “How much did you win?”

 

“Almost a hundred taels,” Liu Shu estimated as he weighed it. 

 

Hui Shang couldn’t believe it.

 

Liu Shu opened the pouch and carefully counted, “Ninety-two taels.”

 

Hui Shang widened her eyes. “You earned this much in such a short time?!”

 

“Yeah.” Liu Shu took out eleven taels and returned them to Zhang Mosheng, saying, “The extra is your reward.”

 

“No need. I only need this one tael.” Zhang Mosheng didn’t lack this money and only took back her one tael of silver.

 

Looking at her, Liu Shu thought, in some ways, she and A Ke are quite similar. If only she didn’t like A Ke.

 

In the end, Zhang Moyang only got back ten taels of silver. When asked why, it turned out he had only bet ten wen.

 

“Ten wen is still a show of goodwill!” Zhang Moyang said nervously, then shouted, “It’s all your fault for not mentioning earlier how good you are at archery!”

 

“Yeah, why have I never heard you mention it before?” Hui Shang also asked.

 

Shen Ke looked at him without a word.

 

“No one asked,” Liu Shu said. “It’s just something I casually did before. It’s not worth mentioning.”

 

Zhang Moyang rolled his eyes. “Haha, keep pretending.”

 

Liu Shu continued, “Compared to my other talents, archery is really nothing.”

 

Zhang Moyang rolled his eyes again and then got back to the point, “The Fang family is hosting a banquet tonight, and besides inviting you guys, several other families, including ours, are also invited.”

 

He glanced at Zhang Mosheng, who wanted to refuse, and sighed, “We can’t escape this time.”

 

Zhang Mosheng lowered her eyes unhappily.

 

Sensing the change in their tone, Shen Ke asked, “What’s wrong?”

 

Zhang Moyang explained the situation with the toad wanting to eat swan meat, feeling irritated. “It’s difficult. If they really insist on a forced marriage one day, our family will probably find it hard to refuse.”

 

“Unless…” Zhang Mosheng suddenly interrupted, glancing meaningfully at Shen Ke, her cheeks turning slightly red, “Before that, I already have an engagement with someone else.”

 

Liu Shu’s eyelashes trembled, and he instinctively looked at Shen Ke.

 

Shen Ke glanced around, Zhang Moyang wanted to interrupt but was at a loss for what to do, scratching his head in frustration, while Hui Shang’s eyes sparkled, not knowing whether she was looking forward to witnessing a romance or anticipating gossip.

 

However, Liu Shu avoided his gaze, bowing his head to touch the bowstring.

 

Zhang Mosheng’s gaze fell directly on him. She hadn’t intended to reveal her feelings so soon, but since her brother had already blurted it out after drinking, hiding it would only be self-deception. It was better to take a gamble now.

 

Winning would be great, but if she lost… so be it.

 

“Thank you for your kindness, Miss Zhang, but I already have an engagement. I’m sorry to disappoint you,” Shen Ke said warmly.

 

The bowstring suddenly emitted a rapid buzzing sound. Liu Shu looked at him in disbelief, but before he could speak, Zhang Mosheng asked in surprise, “But didn’t you say you didn’t like anyone?”

 

“Yes, I’ve never met the person. This is an engagement arranged by my parents…”

 

The rest of his words didn’t need to be said, as it was clear that when parents ordered, matchmakers obeyed. Since there was already an engagement, it wouldn’t be appropriate to break it off easily and embarrass the other party.

 

The blush on Zhang Mosheng’s face gradually faded as she lowered her head slowly. “Okay, I understand.”

 

“You should have said earlier that this kid isn’t suitable for you!” Zhang Moyang snorted coldly, pulling her away first. “Let’s go, let’s go. Tomorrow, I’ll find a group of men for you to choose from!”

 

“Brother… you’re going the wrong way.”

 

After watching the siblings leave, Shen Ke finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had been wanting to find an opportunity to explain things to Zhang Mosheng, to avoid wasting her youth. After thinking it through, the engagement was the best reason.

 

“Let’s go too,” he said to Liu Shu, but found the other still standing there in a daze, his expression complicated, like he had swallowed arsenic, unable to swallow or spit it out. Shen Ke reached out and shook his hand in front of Liu Shu’s face. “Snap out of it. What are you thinking?”

 

“You…,” Liu Shu looked at him, feeling heartbroken, “such a good person, how did you end up engaged?”