Yan Chuxue was truly lucky. As soon as she entered the mountain, she spotted a plump rabbit. Perhaps few people usually came up here, because when it saw her, it didn’t run away. It stared at her blankly, then went right back to grazing.
Yan Chuxue’s mouth twitched. She took a fruit knife from her space and flung it at the rabbit. The blade struck it in the head, and after a few spasms, it died. She didn’t dare use her superpower carelessly now. Setting aside whether it would even work, the price of using it was simply too high. One rabbit wouldn’t make up for it; she would need at least three to five.
Smiling, Yan Chuxue went over, skinned the rabbit, and cleaned it, then lit a fire and roasted it. She took seasoning from her space and rubbed it on. Before long, the rabbit was done. Yan Chuxue happily ate half of it, then wrapped up the rest to take back for Madam Zhao and her husband.
Yan Chuxue didn’t stay long on the mountain. Once she had tidied up, she headed back down. As she reached the yard outside the village chief’s house, a young man in a blue-green robe approached her. He looked about sixteen or seventeen, with a tall, slender build, broad shoulders and a narrow waist. His glossy black hair was tied high with a ribbon, and his fair, refined face was striking. His dark, phoenix-shaped eyes[1]“Phoenix eyes” is a conventional Chinese literary description of long, often slightly upturned eyes. It is a metaphor for their shape, not a supernatural trait. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717452_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717452_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); were fixed on Yan Chuxue, and his thin lips were pressed together.
Yan Chuxue froze for two seconds, then stepped aside to let him pass. The man across from her was very much to her taste, but she only admired his looks. She wasn’t the type to swoon over a handsome face.
To her surprise, the man didn’t walk past. He stopped and asked, “Excuse me, are you Miss Yan?”
Then his whole face flushed red.
Yan Chuxue frowned slightly. “Which Miss Yan do you mean?” She thought it over and was sure she had never seen him before.
The man was so nervous he didn’t know what to do with his hands. Keeping his head lowered, he didn’t dare let his eyes wander as he said, “Yan Chuxue.” As if he had noticed her confusion, he quickly added, “My name is Tang Hongxi. I’m the person Miss Yan rescued from the river.”
Yan Chuxue understood. When the original owner had pulled him out of the river, his face had been covered in blood, so she hadn’t gotten a good look at him.
“I am Yan Chuxue. What do you want with me?”
Yan Chuxue didn’t really want to talk to Tang Hongxi out in the open. Her reputation was already bad enough because of this very man. If people saw them talking again, who knew what rumors they’d start?
Tang Hongxi took a deep breath to calm his nerves. “I-I just wanted to thank you for saving my life, Miss Yan.”
Yan Chuxue raised an eyebrow. “There’s no need. If that’s all, I’ll be going.”
She didn’t think much of Tang Hongxi. It had been so many days; she didn’t believe he hadn’t heard the rumors about Yan Chuxue circulating around the village. Yet he hadn’t done anything. So why come thank her now?
Yan Chuxue put Tang Hongxi out of her mind and went straight back to the Yan Residence.
Tang Hongxi, meanwhile, entered the village chief’s yard, his face still red. The village chief’s wife, Yang Qin-shi[2]The suffix “-shi” is a traditional naming convention for married women that identifies their natal surname. “Yang Qin-shi” suggests a woman born into the Qin family and married into the Yang … Continue reading jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717452_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717452_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, asked with concern, “Hongxi, why is your face so red? Do you have a fever? Come inside and rest. Your injuries haven’t healed yet.”
Tang Hongxi shook his head to show he was fine, then asked, “Auntie, is there any news about the matchmaker[3]In traditional Chinese marriage arrangements, a matchmaker served as an intermediary to convey proposals and negotiate between households. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3717452_1_3').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3717452_1_3', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], }); I asked you to find? I want to go to the Yan Residence and propose as soon as possible. Miss Yan ruined her reputation saving me, after all. I should take responsibility.”
Yang Qin-shi thought highly of Tang Hongxi. She had actually wanted to introduce him to her niece from her maiden family, but when she considered Yan Chuxue’s situation, she put the idea aside. After all, if Tang Hongxi really didn’t marry Yan Chuxue, Yan Chuxue might never find a husband. Yang Qin-shi couldn’t bring herself to do that.
As she urged Tang Hongxi to go inside and rest, she said, “Don’t you trust your auntie to handle things? I’ve already found a matchmaker from town. She’ll go to the Yan Residence tomorrow to make the proposal. Don’t worry; I’ve prepared the things needed for the proposal, too.”
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