Free Web NovelChapter 342: Chapter 194: I Think You Are Worthy of Me
Bengbeng was sleeping with her grandmother. The child was getting older and would be talking soon.
Bengbeng could no longer be allowed to see the things that happen between a man and a woman.
Though Bengbeng was little, she was already starting to form memories. She just couldn’t speak yet.
What if one day Bengbeng started talking and told everyone what she’d seen?
If Bengbeng were to say something like, "Daddy was riding the white snake, and Mommy was a giant white snake," Su Liyan would be utterly mortified.
What Lu Yuan and Su Liyan didn’t know was that Bengbeng had been forming memories ever since she was born.
In the past, Bengbeng never even had to pretend to be asleep. Lu Yuan never waited for her to doze off, so she had seen it all!
This was why Bengbeng always gave Lu Yuan such cold, angry glares. Every time he spent the night with her mother, he made her cry out and scream!
Su Liyan’s snake tail was draped over Lu Yuan’s treasure, her head resting on his shoulder. Her beautiful hair was damp, glistening with her fragrant sweat.
Su Liyan said, her breath still unsteady, "Dear, my brother came back today. I think he’s interested in Xiaoqian. What do you think?"
Su Liyan’s mind was on finding a wife for her little brother. As for her own husband taking a concubine, there was no rush.
Hearing his wife, Lu Yuan replied, "That’s a great idea. We can try to set them up. If Xiaoqian is willing, then it’s settled. It would make our families even closer."
Lu Yuan remembered stuffing a sock in Xiaoqian’s mouth. Now, she might become his relative. ’Life sure moves fast,’ he thought.
Of course, he’d only stuffed a sock in her mouth. That same night, his wife had given her three hard slaps across the face.
Thankfully, Xiaoqian wasn’t the type to hold a grudge. She had long since put the events of that night behind her. Otherwise, things would be incredibly awkward now.
Su Liyan was delighted to hear this and gave him a light peck on the cheek.
After a moment’s thought, Lu Yuan said, "Our brother-in-law can’t just keep living in the County Yamen. He’s an official in his own right now. We should get him his own residence."
"There’s no need. He’s used to living on his own. He probably wouldn’t be comfortable in a large house," Su Liyan said, declining her husband’s kind offer.
"That won’t do. How can he start a family without a proper home?" Lu Yuan pressed on. "No young woman would be willing to marry a man like that."
Su Liyan hugged him and murmured, "It’s so late. Let’s talk about it another time. Besides, we don’t even know if Xiaoqian is willing to be with Changliang."
Lu Yuan rolled over to face his wife. "You’re right. First things first. I’ve been staying at your two aunts’ place these last few days. It’s been too long since I’ve gotten to warm up with my wife."
Ever since Su Changliang returned to Taiping City, he started visiting the Zhao Mansion more often. He never had any important business, always saying he was just there to see his niece or something along those lines.
But as for what was really on his mind, Su Liyan and her mother knew perfectly well.
"Hey, Little Brother!" Su Liyan called out from the courtyard, raising her voice so her brother, who was some distance away, and Xiaoqian could both hear. "You and Xiaoqian should go to the fabric shop in the east district to get some cotton cloth. We need to regularly change the baby’s diapers."
Su Liyan was going to great lengths for her brother, trying her best to create opportunities for the two of them to be alone.
As for Su Changliang, he truly adored Xiaoqian, but unfortunately, he was awkward and didn’t know what to say or do in such matters.
Xiaoqian, being a girl, never took the initiative, even though she was also interested.
Sometimes, Xiaoqian felt insecure. Su Changliang was still an innocent young man, whereas she was no longer a virgin.
A few days passed, but Su Changliang and Xiaoqian always maintained a certain distance from each other.
「One day after lunch, Su Liyan called Xiaoqian into her room.」
Lu Yuan wasn’t there; he had left the mansion to take care of his own affairs.
Su Liyan decided to be direct. "Xiaoqian," she began, "my brother is a bit awkward with his words and doesn’t know how to say this, so as his older sister, I’ll say it for him."
Xiaoqian sat obediently, blinking as she looked at Su Liyan. "Sister, what is it? What did you want to talk to me about?"
Su Liyan cleared her throat and paused before continuing, "Xiaoqian, we... we truly think of you as family, you know?"
"Yes, Sister. All of you have been so good to me." Xiaoqian couldn’t guess what she was getting at.
"What do you think of my brother, Su Changliang?" Su Liyan asked.
Su Liyan was no longer the naive young woman she had been before her marriage. She was now starting to adopt the tactics of a matchmaker, trying to bring the two of them together.
"Brother Changliang? He’s wonderful," Xiaoqian answered easily and fluently. "He takes great care of me and always looks out for me. You, your husband... you’re all my family. I love being with all of you."
"Xiaoqian, Changliang is a bit reserved, but he’s a very good person. He has feelings for you, he just doesn’t know how to say it. I wanted to know what your thoughts are on the matter." freewёbnoνel.com
Though young, Xiaoqian understood the ways of men and women better than Su Changliang. She was, after all, a flower that had already bloomed.
When Xiaoqian heard Su Liyan’s words, her mind went blank. It wasn’t that she had never considered the possibility, but now that it was actually happening, she could hardly believe it was real.
Understanding what her sister was saying, Xiaoqian lowered her head, nervously tugging at the hem of her clothes. "Sister," she mumbled, "I... you know that I’m not good enough for Changliang. I..."
Normally, Xiaoqian wasn’t so withdrawn. She was usually lively, cheerful, and confident.
She had been open and at ease around Su Changliang, her smooth and frequent use of "Brother Changliang" making his heart flutter with joy.
Looking at the timid girl before her, Su Liyan knew what Xiaoqian was trying to say. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
Su Liyan comforted her, "You were a victim, weren’t you? It wasn’t voluntary."
Su Liyan took Xiaoqian’s hand. "Don’t let it weigh on you. It’s alright."
"He is the County Magistrate of Taiping City. He deserves someone better. And I’m just... someone who has been sullied." This sense of shame was deeply ingrained in the hearts of everyone in that era. With that, Xiaoqian refused Su Liyan.
"Xiaoqian," Su Liyan urged, "everyone is worthy, and everyone deserves to have a love life of their own, don’t they?"
"Look at me. Two years ago, I was just a simple girl from the countryside. When I was being set up for marriage, everyone talked about a proper wedding, but they only coveted my looks. No one actually wanted to marry me.
"Then my husband chose me, and I married into Shige Village. Now our lives are better, and my husband has never once looked down on me. And you, Xiaoqian, are a real beauty yourself."
Speaking from experience, Su Liyan pleaded earnestly with Xiaoqian.
"Xiaoqian, you have to learn to make peace with yourself. You’ll have to get married eventually." As she was speaking, Su Liyan suddenly made a shushing gesture.
Seeing her sister’s gesture, Xiaoqian fell silent, afraid to make the slightest sound.
Su Liyan’s feet lifted an inch off the ground, and she floated toward the door.
She had learned this floating skill from Yunyun.
Su Liyan yanked the door open, causing the person leaning against it to eavesdrop to stumble inside.
The person who stumbled in was none other than Su Changliang.
Su Changliang steadied himself and scratched his head in embarrassment. "Sis! Xiaoqian! You’re both here. What a coincidence. I came to the mansion and couldn’t find anyone, so I just wandered over."
Su Liyan didn’t say a word. She first had Su Changliang take a seat, and the three of them sat around the circular table.
Su Liyan shot her brother a look, and he began squirming on the stool like a maiden being carried to her wedding.
Su Liyan thought to herself, ’My brother is wonderful in every other way, so why does he turn into such a useless oaf when it comes to things like this? He’s certainly never this awkward with me.’
After a moment of silence, Su Changliang was the first to speak. "Xiaoqian," he blurted out, "I think you’re good enough for me!"
