“Twelve, you’ve grown up.” Luo Shi’s thick eyebrows relaxed, and he smiled with relief, then looked at the distant stone steps. “Actually, you are a girl. Rather than saying we didn’t realize it, it’s more accurate to say that you didn’t realize it yourself, or perhaps you didn’t intend to realize it.”
Birds flitted about on the branches from time to time, and the dappled shadows of the trees shifted and changed.
Even when you learned that your senior brothers had gone down the mountain, you never asked why. But it was only after returning from Jiangdu this time that you suddenly had an epiphany.
Seeing her brows furrowed, as if she were troubled by something, Luo Shi couldn't help but feel guilty.
He was indeed devastated. It's hard to imagine any woman recovering easily from the shock of more than ten failed blind dates. Even his unusually youngest son couldn't do it.
"Don't be discouraged. A marriage that happens on the first try may not necessarily last a lifetime."
A young girl's troubles are like the cicadas chirping in the tall tree; they sound bright, but are actually melancholic, and can linger into autumn even after the summer heat has subsided.
Please be patient and persuasive to avoid a tragedy.
He was racking his brains, trying to come up with a few examples of couples who had successfully gone on blind dates but ended up becoming bitter enemies, when he heard someone say beside him.
"It's just strange, isn't it? How can romantic feelings develop in such a short period of time?"
"Of course."
She stared wide-eyed, eager to learn.
"If you feel a connection at first sight, that's called love at first sight. If you only start to like each other on the second meeting, that's called falling in love at second sight. And if you meet again, that's called falling in love at third sight."
"Only three sides?" Her surprised, crescent-shaped eyes were quite endearing.
"Yes, that's how it's written in plays: love at first sight, infatuation at second sight, commitment at third sight, and so on..."
"Just what?"
"Let's go to the bridal chamber!" How could he explain such a thing? What if he did, and then the youngest child asked what the bridal chamber was? His youngest child is good in every way, except for being too inquisitive.
"Senior brother?"
Her fluttering eyes made him break out in a cold sweat, and he had no choice but to bite the bullet and say it.
"Twelve, don't overthink it. Look at the first poem in the Book of Songs, 'Guan guan cry the ospreys, on the islet in the river,' a girl was picking water plants, and as she was picking, a passing young man took a liking to her."
Then?
Those two words were clearly written in the youngest child's eyes.
Then, and then… ah, he understood!
"Twelve, you go and pick water chestnuts tomorrow!"
His youngest child is both gentle and sweet; there's no reason why she can't do what others can.
Luo Shi was still jumping for joy when the old man at the dinner table said something that finally brought down the little sparrow that was jumping around in his heart.
"What?" The nightmare returned.
"Congratulations, senior and junior brothers!" the baby-faced man said first.
"Don't give me that! Master wants you to marry him!"
"First come, first served; I understand that principle."
"When you marry, you should marry someone who understands you. Twelve has been your best friend since childhood, so please don't be modest, junior brother."
A heated exchange ensued at the dinner table. Just as the two were getting into their argument, a calm voice rang out.
"I'm full. Please enjoy your meal, Master and Senior Brother."
The smoke cleared instantly, and the old man and the two young men stared blankly at the figure who had only realized his mistake after hitting a wall, and asked in unison, "What happened to Twelve?"
When I woke up the next day, it was already dawn.
Luo Shi was annoyed that he had slept too soundly last night when he heard the old man shout, "He ran away!"
That brat dared to run away!
Without even putting on clothes, he ran off shirtless.
Filled with rage, Luo Shi turned the corner and suddenly crashed into another "wall of flesh" that was also rushing towards him.
"Senior brother?"
"eleven?"
The two looked at each other, wondering if it was...
"A-Gui has run away from home!"
The desolate old voice echoed for a long time on Tianlong Mountain in mid-July.
A month later, the Shangguan family in Jinling received a letter.
Ziyu, I am delighted to receive this letter. We parted so hastily in Jiangdu; I wonder if you are well?
As for me, since returning home in June, my days have never been "boring." I'm sure you already know the details of how it all unfolded.
The mountains are high and the rivers are long; the "plague god" of Nanzhu Town, Hepu County, Lianzhou Prefecture, Lingnan Circuit thanks you. I understand your meaning, Ziyu; please have mercy and spare those thirteen innocent families who have suffered.
Actually, your decisive words and actions that day at Slender West Lake had already served as a wake-up call. Although I am dull-witted, I understand the meaning behind that spring dress and your "closeness".
In this world there are men and women, and yin and yang attract each other.