Chapter 22

In the morning, Liao Tingyu opened his eyes. He was a little dazed; saw a strange room and bed. He rubbed his head and recalled last night. He seemed to drink too much and couldn’t remember clearly. In the end, it was uncle Huang who sent him back.

“I don’t know if I made a mess yesterday.” He muttered to himself worriedly.@@novelbin@@

“Liao-xiucai, is everything fine? You can wash up; we have prepared it.” the maid heard the movement inside and knocked on the door.

“Okay, I will wash up.” Liao Tingyu put on his clothes and cleaned up quickly.

“What time is it?” Liao Tingyu asked them.

He had been in this world for a while and he didn’t know how the clock work here.

“It’s almost noon, Liao-xiucai.”

“Master Huang and others are awake?” Liao Tingyu didn’t expect he would sleep for so long. Naturally, he had to bid farewell before he left.

“They woke up early. Master told us to prepare food for you.” The maid replied with her head down.

Liao Tingyu nodded; this was normal. Uncle Huang was a merchant, he had been in many places. Wine must be a water for him, but Huang Hao really surprised him.

“Then, you bring the food here. I will eat and bid farewell.” Liao Tingyu said.

Huang Yujin personally ordered the kitchen to prepare breakfast for him. It was luxurious dish, Liao Tingyu was stunned at his breakfast. He actually ate seafood porridge which was really delicious. In this era, seafood was a delicate rarity; it was hard to keep them fresh.

Once done eating, he asked the maid to guide him and found Huang Yujin. Uncle Huang just finished some works, he looked at Liao Tingyu carrying a burden on his back.

“Is nephew going back?” Huang Yujin asked.

“Yes, I thank uncle Huang for his hospitality. My parents are still waiting for the good news, so I can’t keep bothering uncle.”

“You should tell your family the good news. How about I prepare a donkey cart for you? That way you can go home faster.” Huang Yujin felt it was better to deliver the news faster, his idea was good.

Liao Tingyu felt this was reasonable, “Then, I will trouble uncle. By the way, why didn’t I see Huang Hao? Didn’t he get up too? I should tell him before leaving.”

“You tell me, I didn’t know where that monkey has gone.”

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Liao Tingyu was about to get into the cart when Huang Hao came over, “It seemed I came at the right time, I almost missed you.”

“Oh, indeed.” Liao Tingyu put his things on the donkey cart, “I’m going home now. Let’s meet up again in a while.”

“Okay, you go slowly.” Huang Hao said and secretly put a pouch in Liao Tingyu’s hand with a wink.

Liao Tingyu held the pouch tightly. Before he left, he looked back at the magnificent Huang Mansion. It was a pity; he didn’t see Huang Zilan. But Liao Tingyu wasn’t discouraged, his talk with uncle Huang wasn’t for nothing. Uncle Huang who was drunk kept holding his hand and asked him this and that. It wasn’t that he was narcissistic but uncle Huang attitude was very clear.

Now, he only needed to build a career and owned some properties. Then, he could propose marriage. After all, he didn’t want Huang Zilan to suffer with him. He was poor, even a house he didn’t own it.

On the way back, Liao Tingyu kept thinking about Huang Zilan. His cat-like eyes and puffy face when he was angry, that memory made him smiled and laughed silly. He looked at the delicate blue pouch in his hand, he didn’t know how Huang Hao stole it.

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Naturally, Huang Yujin noticed their movement. He glanced at the familiar thing Huang Hao gave and looked at his nephew with a smile after Liao Tingyu left.

Huang Hao entered the mansion and sat on the chair, he ordered the maid to serve the tea, “I did this for my cousin’s benefit. Besides, the young man is interested. Uncle, didn’t you want me to intervene?”

“It doesn’t matter whether you intervene or not. I just wondering what will happen to you?” Huang Yujin didn’t care about Huang Hao’s words.

As soon as he was done, Huang Zilan came over, “Huang Hao, let me ask you. You came to my yard so early this morning, tell me! Did you steal my pouch that I put on the table?”

“Yes, I did. I gave it to you Liao-gege*.” Huang Hao took credit of his good work, “You are so shy, just leave this matter to your cousin.”

“Hmph!” Huang Zilan looked at his unscrupulous cousin with a frown then left.

In the hallway he said, “Xiao Liu, let’s go to uncle house.”

He wanted to talk to his uncle properly. It was hard to pass the exam, the cousin didn’t even go back and bullied him; stole his thing without permission. What else, he must talk to his uncle!

Huang Zilan didn’t know what he suddenly thought about, his face turned red; even laughed then calmed down.

Huang Hao who thought he had won good game, didn’t understand his uncle’s pity look at him. He prefers to play with a paper fan and pretend to act elegant.

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As soon as Huang Hao got home, what greeted him was his father loving education and mother’s love. He looked at huge books stacked on his desk; it turned out there was no better villain than a spoiled ger. Such a difficult thing didn’t even know the goodness of people.

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Liao Tingyu was admiring the pouch; he touched the embroider on it such a delicate work; he must spend a lot of time on this. He remembered how stupid he was smiling and laughing at the pouch; a love truly was a misleading thing. Such a small thing enough to make people go crazy.

When Liao Tingyu arrived at home, sister-in-law was picking vegetables in the yard with her eight months belly. She stood up very slowly and carefully.

Liao Tingyu said farewell to the driver and ran over to help her, “Sister-in-law, be careful, your belly is so big. You don’t have to do this works. Just take care of yourself and the baby.”

“I’m fine. Why did you come back?”

“There is news from the county town.”

Wen Xiuer felt her strength was coming back, Liao Tingyu returned home which meant the exam was done and settled.

She had heard the donkey’s sounds from faraway, she guessed it much some landlord checking their fields. Unexpectedly, the donkey cart was coming to her house. She waited patiently while stroking her pregnant belly.

Note

*Pouch (or sachet): It was a small bag made from clothes. It was filled with different type of herbs, mainly used for perfume. They usually have to embroider a tree or flower from the scratch, for a woman it was seen as a token of love; so, they gifted a pouch filled with herbs for their lover.

*-gege was very affectionate way to call a man. For someone calling older man, Chinese only use -ge (Liao-ge), but a woman usually use -gege to call older man sweetly.