Dandy Escapes From Marriage - Chapter 57

In the backyard of the yamen, Shen Huai sat at the table, silently staring at the two men opposite him. After finishing five cups of tea, he calmly asked, “So, your meaning is that Xiao Wu is actually the young master of the Liu family, the person engaged to you. But like you, he left home and has been living incognito here with you due to dissatisfaction with the marriage?”

 

“Yes, that’s right, big brother is indeed clever,” Liu Shu interjected, skillfully buttering him up.

 

Ever since he found out that Shen Huai was Shen Ke’s real elder brother, he had grown more and more fond of him. He didn’t mind Shen Huai’s official speech and wasn’t worried that Shen Ke had ulterior motives. He addressed him as ‘big brother’ affectionately.

 

“Can you believe such an absurd situation exists in this world? Even fiction wouldn’t dare to write this!” Shen Huai exclaimed.

 

With so many people in the world, how could these two men coincidentally meet each other and both live incognito? What’s more, they both happen to be engaged? And on top of that, they returned this time to cancel the engagement?!

 

“So, it’s fate, unavoidable,” Liu Shu chuckled. “Big brother, are you going to have more tea? Shall I pour you another cup?”

 

Shen Huai belatedly realized he was being called ‘big brother’ along with Shen Ke. He thought, this guy really has thick skin, and calmly said, “You haven’t even gotten married yet, and you’re changing your address so soon?”

 

“Yeah, I’m just getting used to it. Big brother, you should get used to it too,” Liu Shu replied.

 

“…”

 

“It’s getting late. You should go check on the shop first. I’ll come find you later,” Shen Ke interjected.

 

“Okay, I’ll head over now. Big brother, come over for dinner at our place sometime,” Liu Shu said as he got up and left.

 

Once they were gone, Shen Huai looked at Shen Ke pensively and asked, “Swear to me, are you really not playing a joke on me?”

 

“Mm.” Shen Ke poured him a cup of tea. “Drink.”

 

Shen Huai finished the tea in one gulp. “Another cup, to wake me up. I feel like I haven’t woken up yet.”

 

“Friends, I’m back!” Liu Shu bounded over the threshold, looking relaxed as he entered the shop, arms outstretched, but no one came to hug him.

 

Zhang Moyang was discussing delivery routes with Miss Li from the escort bureau, while Zhang Mosheng was serving customers and calculating on the abacus at lightning speed.

 

Both siblings glanced up at him simultaneously. Zhang Mosheng said, “You’ve returned just in time. We’re almost sold out of goods, so we need to speed up production.”

 

“Don’t just stand there. Go help with the customers,” Zhang Moyang pulled him away to attend to the guests.

 

“Alright.”

 

Liu Shu was quick-witted, and with his addition, the shop quickly operated efficiently. As the evening approached and customers dwindled, they finally had a moment to sit down. Liu Shu asked, “Since both of you are here, who’s looking after the shop in town?”

 

“Don’t worry, I’ve arranged trustworthy people, and Chen Yinglian is helping us watch over the goods. Though there aren’t as many customers as here in Huizhou, normal operations shouldn’t be a problem,” Zhang Mosheng replied.

 

Liu Shu pondered for a moment and said, “In that case, you two take care of things here. I’ll go take care of the shop in town.”

 

“There are more customers in Huizhou. Aren’t you coming here?” Zhang Mosheng asked.

 

“I see you two are cooperating well. I’ll look after the shop in town, expand the original production line, and develop new products. By the way, I’ll need the escort bureau to help us with more deliveries,” Liu Shu said.

 

“No problem. Young Master Zhang has already discussed the price with me. We won’t charge you high fees,” Miss Li smiled.

 

“Let’s settle on this for now. We can discuss again in three years.”

 

“Why three years?”

 

“In three years, Ke will be taking the imperial examinations. He may not stay in town anymore.”

 

Zhang Moyang sighed. “So you’re going back to town for his sake?”

 

“I’ve always lived in the village. I can’t bear to leave my chickens and land behind. Next year, we’ll definitely be able to grow crops!” Liu Shu looked forward to the future, his eyes shining.

 

Zhang Moyang thought silently, ‘The mind of a farmer is truly difficult to understand!’

 

“By the way, where did you get those clothes?” Zhang Mosheng was more perceptive than his elder brother, and once they finished discussing business, he brought up the question.

 

Upon hearing this, Zhang Moyang finally noticed Liu Shu’s elegant attire, completely different from his usual worn-out clothes, making him look noticeably more refined.

 

Zhang Moyang couldn’t help but wonder why he hadn’t noticed the difference at first glance. Upon careful consideration, he realized it was because he wasn’t surprised. He always felt that Xiao Wu should be wearing these clothes, and those patched-up garments were the real mismatch.

 

“I went home,” Liu Shu replied.

 

“We know you went home, but didn’t you say you went home to cancel some marriage?” Zhang Mosheng asked.

 

“Yes, I didn’t cancel it, so I came back.”

 

“Why did you come back if you didn’t cancel it? How are you going to explain this to Ke?” Zhang Mosheng was puzzled.

 

Zhang Moyang couldn’t help but chuckle, “What, have you finally grown tired of his poverty?”

 

“Who are you talking about?” Suddenly, Shen Ke appeared at the door, standing behind Liu Shu. He asked, “You mean me?”

 

“I mean…” Zhang Moyang pointed at Shen Ke in shock, his face showing the same expression, but something felt off about him. He scrutinized him, focusing on his luxurious attire, and exclaimed, “Where did you two strike it rich?! Why didn’t you take me along?!”

 

Facing the siblings’ confusion, Liu Shu and Shen Ke exchanged a smile.

 

“Ahem, why don’t you two sit down properly first,” Liu Shu reminded them.

 

“Why does it sound so serious?” Zhang Moyang steadied his chair and muttered, “You didn’t commit some crime, did you? Like robbing someone’s house?”

 

“Well…” Liu Shu cleared his throat, “Xiao Wu is just my childhood name. My real name is Liu Shu.”

 

“What tree?” Zhang Moyang asked absentmindedly.

 

“Liu Shu, as in describing (shu)!” Liu Shu clarified.

 

“Oh, that Liu Shu.”

 

“You’ve seen me before, just didn’t recognize me properly.”

 

“Huh? We’ve met before?” Zhang Moyang belatedly realized, “Wait—Liu, from the Jinling Liu family?!”

 

Liu Shu nodded, “Exactly.”

 

Thud! Zhang Moyang fell off his chair, knocking over the tea cups on the table.

 

“And Ke, he’s not surnamed Ke, he’s surnamed Shen. His real name is Shen Ke,” Liu Shu pointed to Shen Ke.

 

Zhang Moyang quietly picked himself up and sat back down, still shocked and embarrassed. Then he heard his sister say, “Shen Ke? If I remember correctly, isn’t the Prefect called Shen Huai?”

 

“Smart, Shen Huai is indeed his elder brother,” Liu Shu smiled.

 

Thud! Zhang Moyang fell off his chair again, this time with some experience, avoiding the tea cups.

 

“And Shen Ke’s father holds an official position in the capital, a senior statesman of three dynasties, currently the head of the Hanlin Academy.”

 

“Principal Academician,” Shen Ke corrected his phrasing.

 

Zhang Moyang hadn’t fully stabilized his seat when he fell again, this time sitting on the ground, incredulously asking, “Are you making up jokes?”

 

“Are we teasing you?” Liu Shu asked.

 

“It’s quite entertaining,” Shen Ke couldn’t help but remark, watching Zhang Moyang fall off the chair three times.

 

Zhang Moyang:

 

It would take some time to digest all this explosive news, even for someone as composed as Zhang Mosheng. Thus, Liu Shu went directly to a restaurant and ordered a table full of dishes, inviting the other victim, Shen Huai, to join them. At the table, only he and Shen Ke were chatting and laughing, while the other three sat stiffly, holding their food, and rigidly watching them.

 

“We’re getting married at the end of the year. Will you come for the wedding banquet?” Liu Shu asked.

 

“At the end of the year?” Shen Huai, unsure if he was from the bride’s or groom’s side, finally found a topic he could talk about, “Is everything arranged?”

 

“Yes.” Shen Ke nodded, “The marriage contract is settled. We’ve already asked the matchmaker to propose. Next, it’s about preparing the betrothal gifts, and our parents will handle that.”

 

“So soon? If you’re going to Jinling with your parents, why did you also bring the matchmaker along?”

 

“As it happened, we met Official Zhao in Jinling, so we asked him to be our matchmaker.”

 

Shen Huai pondered for a moment, then gave him a thumbs up.

 

“Which Official Zhao Daren?” Zhang Moyang asked curiously.

 

“Regent Prince,” Liu Shu said, tilting his head.

 

As expected, Zhang Moyang fell off his chair again, and Liu Shu burst into laughter, slapping the table.

 

“We’ll definitely come to your wedding banquet,” Zhang Mosheng said.

 

“Yes, I haven’t been to the capital yet, so it’ll be a good opportunity to broaden my horizons,” Zhang Moyang said weakly.

 

“Let’s hope you won’t keep falling off chairs that day,” Liu Shu joked.

 

“Nonsense, I have experience now. Next time, I won’t panic!” Zhang Moyang asserted confidently.

 

Everyone laughed, finally easing the atmosphere. They continued to inquire about the details of their misunderstanding incident and before they knew it, it was almost curfew time, so they bid farewell and left separately.

 

In Huai Prefecture, Zhang Moyang rented a house as a temporary residence and arranged a room for Liu Shu. Just as he was about to take Shen Ke to the adjacent room, Liu Shu grabbed him firmly and said assertively, “We’re family, no need for two rooms.”

 

Zhang Moyang looked at them both with a complex expression as they entered the room together and closed the door, almost wishing he could poke his own eyes out.

 

The next day, the two continued their journey to Quzhou. Upon returning to town, Liu Shu first went around the shop before returning to the village with Shen Ke.

 

From afar, he saw a dog running wildly with two teenagers chasing behind, calling out, “Fugui, don’t run, we can’t catch up.”

 

Liu Shu put his hand to his mouth and whistled loudly.

 

Upon hearing the whistle, Fugui immediately changed direction and ran towards them.

 

Liu Shu had just gotten out of the carriage when Fugui pounced on him, knocking him down onto the nearby grass and rolling around with him.

 

Liu Shu was about to laugh when he suddenly stopped, “Fugui, why are you so dirty?!”

 

The once snow-white dog was now covered in dirt and dust.

 

“Little Wu Ge, you’re finally back.” The two children panted as they ran over.

 

Seeing the mud on the two of them, well, let’s go.

 

“Go back and wash up.” Shen Ke took Fugui and suddenly asked, “Its surname is Liu?”

 

“Yeah, I didn’t dare to tell you the full name before.”

 

“No worries, the name sounds good.”

 

“Pfft.” Liu Shu laughed, “Why are you so unprincipled? I made it up myself, don’t you think this name sounds too rustic?”

 

“Rustic and cute.”

 

Liu Shu put Fugui down and then took Shen Ke’s hand and walked home.

 

It had been almost a month since he had returned, but there seemed to be no changes at home. There were more eggs in the basket, and the house remained clean and tidy.

 

“The basket weaver comes every day to collect eggs and clean up after you. My mother comes every few days to clean the house for you,” the children said.

 

“Thank you.” Shen Ke handed all the eggs in the basket to them, “Take these back as a thank-you gift.”

 

The two children glanced at each other and thanked him before quickly carrying the basket back home.

 

“It seems that going to school wasn’t in vain. They even know how to say thank you,” Liu Shu said, “But they need to be more humble.”

 

The two unpacked their luggage, and as Liu Shu hung up his nice clothes one by one, Shen Ke walked over and handed him the box filled with gold, saying, “Take this to do business.”

 

Liu Shu turned around, “This was given to you by your mother, it’s yours.”

 

“I don’t need it. You need liquidity for your business. There are plenty of places where you need money more than I do. We’re all family, so why separate what’s yours and mine?”

 

Liu Shu’s mind was filled with thoughts of family, family, family.

 

“Alright, I’ll use it for now. In the future, I’ll earn even more money for you, so much that you won’t be able to spend it all!”

 

“Great,” Shen Ke smiled.

 

That evening, upon hearing they had returned, the basket weaver hurried over to invite them to dinner. During the meal, he blushed and announced some good news, “Qiuhui and I are about to get married soon. You’re all welcome to come celebrate with us.”

 

“Congratulations, congratulations!” Liu Shu clinked glasses with him and smiled, “Ke and I are also getting married. You’re welcome to join us for a celebration too.”

 

“Huh?!” The basket weaver’s typically expressionless face contorted with rare confusion.

 

—When did this happen? Since when did the friendship between young people sour?!