The man driving the cart was none other than the son of Cloth Shop Madam Zhang, named Zhang Youcai.
Zhang Youcai also recognized the person who had fallen—it was the girl who often delivered handkerchiefs to the cloth shop, seemingly surnamed Zhou.
He had originally come today to deliver a batch of fabrics to Landlord Zhao’s residence. He had just finished preparing the goods when this unexpected incident occurred.
He had not expected that this girl would have grown into such a delicate beauty.
He had just been about to step forward to help her up, but then remembered the strict separation between men and women. In such a crowded place, his outstretched hand froze in mid-air. In the end, he could only pick up the handkerchief that had fallen to the ground.
Zhou Qingcha stood up weakly, her gaze shy and timid.
“Thank you, Mr. Zhang.” she said softly and sweetly.
“Oh, it is I who startled the young lady. Zhang hereby offers his apologies. May I ask if you are injured? Do you need to visit a clinic?” Zhang Youcai replied after coming back to his senses.
Having a pretty face truly gave one an advantage. Her accompanying village girl companions were completely ignored, as if they were invisible.
Their eyes met. Zhang Youcai could even smell the faint fragrance of a young woman on her.
Zhou Qingcha took the basket from Zhang Youcai’s hands and replied: “I’m fine, I was just frightened.”
After saying that, she lowered her head and walked toward the cloth shop.
When she stepped over the threshold, she turned back. That single glance made Zhang Youcai’s heart itch. The two of them looked at each other with lingering affection.
It had to be said that Zhou Qingcha knew exactly how to use her beauty. Her youthful shyness was displayed to perfection.
At the same time, in that moment, Zhou Qingcha knew she had successfully drawn the man’s attention.
After settling her payment, Zhou Qingcha left the cloth shop with her companions. Looking at the women coming and going on the street and inside the shops, dressed in silk robes and embroidered dresses, adorned with jade ornaments and trinkets, she could not help but compare herself.
And herself?
She wore only rough hemp clothing. This was already her best outfit.
In the past, when she came to town, she always felt inferior. But today, she unconsciously lifted her chest slightly. Soon, she would also become one of them.
Her companion, Cheng Chunya, noticed Zhou Qingcha’s smiling eyes and budding affection. Both of them were of marriageable age and naturally looked forward to their future husbands. Feeling a bit sour, she teased: “Have you taken a liking to that gentleman?”
Zhou Qingcha snapped out of her thoughts and lightly slapped Cheng Chunya.
“You wretched girl, what nonsense are you talking about? I’ll tear your mouth apart.”
The two of them played around for a while until Cheng Chunya quickly begged for mercy.
“I won’t say it again, I won’t say it again! Please forgive me!”
After the teasing, Cheng Chunya became somewhat dejected.
“How could a young master in town possibly take a liking to country girls like us mud-legged peasants?”
These words were partly spoken to herself and partly directed at Zhou Qingcha beside her.
Zhou Qingcha naturally understood the bitterness in the words, but her resolve only became firmer.
Earlier, she had deliberately approached him. The moment she saw the donkey cart, a bold idea had emerged in her mind.
Half a year ago, Madam Zhang’s daughter-in-law had died in childbirth, and even the child in her womb had not survived.
Zhou Qingcha had pondered this matter many times. However, she rarely came to town and had never had a chance to interact with Mr. Zhang.
So she had created that scene just now.
A widower—so what? As long as she could escape rural life, she did not care.
Moreover, aside from being a few years older and slightly unattractive, Mr. Zhang met all her requirements.
Could looks be eaten? Could they be spent as money? Besides, as a widower, she would have a chance to marry in. Otherwise, there were many young women in the city—many of them beautiful—why would he choose someone from such an unsuitable background?
The Zhang family cloth shop had been operating in town for decades. Its foundation was deep. Although it was not extremely wealthy, it was still a well-off household. Many families of matching status existed.
Now that she had entered Mr. Zhang’s sight, half of her plan had already succeeded. Thinking of this, Zhou Qingcha’s steps became lighter.
At dusk, the whole family sat together for dinner, but the eldest son was missing from the table.
He had been on a hunger strike for two days. The atmosphere in the house was oppressive, and Father Zhou and Mother Zhou both wore stern expressions, as if they might explode at any moment.
The old couple had not expected their son to be so stubborn, daring to openly defy his parents for a woman.
Mother Zhou disliked Lin Guihua even more now, blaming her for bewitching her son.
To parents, when their child was wrong, it was always someone else’s fault.
But historically, in conflicts between parents and children, it was always the parents who eventually compromised.
Although Mother Zhou scolded fiercely, she still felt heartache for her son.
Zhou Guanghe and Zhou Qingcha sensed the situation was bad. They quickly finished their porridge, grabbed their steamed buns, and slipped back to their rooms. Zhou Qingling also treated herself as invisible, finishing her meal and leaving quietly.
Soon, only the old couple remained at the table. In the end, Father Zhou called the eldest son out, intending to settle the matter.
Zhou Guanghai had gone two days without food, his steps unsteady. When Mother Zhou did not see him, she was furious, but the moment she saw his weak condition, her heart softened.
Father Zhou said: “Eldest son, you know our family situation. If we give twenty taels to the Lin family, we will be drained. How are we supposed to live after that?”
Zhou Guanghai naturally understood, but for the sake of his beloved, he still forced himself to speak.
“Then, Father… can we give the Lin family two mu of our irrigated fields instead? We still have plenty of land.”
His voice grew softer and softer, clearly lacking confidence.
“Ridiculous!” Mother Zhou stood up abruptly.
“Eldest son, did she put you up to this? She hasn’t even entered the house yet and already wants to take things from our family?”
She pointed at Zhou Guanghai and shouted, her chest rising and falling in anger.
“You’ve been completely bewitched by that vixen!”
“Mother, Guihua is not that kind of person. I truly like her. Her family plans to marry her off to the butcher Wu from Dahe Village. Her entire life would be ruined!”
“That is her fate.”
In anger, Mother Zhou slapped Zhou Guanghai twice across the face, hoping to wake her foolish son.
It was not surprising that the old couple was so enraged—land was a villager’s lifeblood. Everything else could be lost, but not land.
“Big brother, this is not even your household yet. If you give away the land, are we all supposed to tighten our belts and stop living?”
Old Fourth, Zhou Guanghe, who had been hiding in the room eavesdropping, rushed out upon hearing that his elder brother wanted to give away the land. His eyes burned with fury as he glared at him.
The family land was his future foundation for studying. Without it, how would he continue his education? In his mind, the farmland had long been his own property.
“Old Fourth, what does this have to do with you?” Zhou Guanghai, already full of grievance, turned his anger toward him.
“How is it not my business? I also have a share in the family land!”
Zhou Guanghe retorted without backing down.
If his elder brother got married now, there would soon be a nephew, and household expenses would increase. He was only twelve this year—who knew when he would marry? In his mind, the land should remain untouched for his future.
Seeing the two sons arguing heatedly, Father Zhou slammed the table to stop them.
The brothers immediately fell silent.
After a moment, Father Zhou spoke his decision.
“Eldest son, forget about the land. At most, we will give five taels of silver. If the Lin family agrees, the marriage will proceed. If not, then forget it.”
Thus, the matter ended in chaos.
Seeing the decision finalized, Zhou Guanghai knew the family would not give more silver. He stopped his hunger strike and drank the remaining rice soup in one breath.