CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45: PREPARE GIFTS FOR THE MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

"Stop joking around with me, just tell me, what’s the deal with Han Muchi?" Meng Yao glared at Zhao Xiaohua.

Zhao Xiaohua quickly recounted what had happened.

In short, it was all thanks to Meng Yao’s teaching, never leaving someone in peril. Even if unsure, it’s worth trying. And just like that, in a moment of luck, he was saved.

"They all say Han Muchi is handsome, but I think he’s just so-so! He can’t hold a candle to Brother Qin Zheng!" Zhao Xiaohua scoffed, "The villagers just haven’t seen Brother Qin Zheng yet! Once they do, they’ll know how blind they’ve been."

Meng Yao almost burst out laughing.

She thought it was just a less-than-perfect first meeting.

It turned out to be very disappointing; Han Muchi didn’t impress Zhao Xiaohua at all, and instead, annoyed her.

Zhao Xiaohua continued to complain, "He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed either!"

"How so?" Meng Yao was intrigued.

After all, the villagers said Han Muchi is already a child scholar. A twelve-year-old scholar would be considered exceptionally gifted anywhere.

"Even though it has snowed here, it’s not that cold yet. The river has ice, but it’s thin. Throw a big stone, and the ice will shatter, let alone standing on it?" Zhao Xiaohua pouted, "Besides, don’t they have silver? If they want to eat fish, they could just send someone to buy it from town."

"They’re new here and might not be familiar with the weather, so it’s understandable they made a mistake," Meng Yao replied.

"Ah, mom, let’s not talk about that fool anymore. Hurry and make braised pork." Zhao Xiaohua clearly had no interest in Han Muchi and didn’t even want to say a few more words about him, urging Meng Yao with a flattering look, "I’ll go and fetch Xiaoshu to greet my second brother."

"Wear more clothes," Meng Yao reminded her.

"Got it," Zhao Xiaohua replied cheerfully, and soon, she was dragging Zhao Xiaoshu out the door.

At the Han Family.

Madam Han handed a heated hand warmer to Han Muchi with a heartache look, "Ah Chi, I just said that casually, how could you go and risk yourself on the river? If something happened to you, what would I do?"

Han Muchi tightened the blanket around him and held the warmer close, even though the house was filled with the warmth of the brazier, he still felt very cold.

Quickly, a servant brought ginger tea. After downing several cups, Han Muchi finally felt some warmth in his chest.

"Mother, don’t blame yourself. It was my carelessness." Han Muchi comforted Madam Han, "See, I’m fine now!"

Madam Han dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief, "You must never do this again! If something happens to you, how can I face your father when I pass away?"

"I’ll listen to you, mother." Han Muchi said, "Mother, we should send a thank-you gift to the one who saved me."

"No need for you to worry about that. I will take care of it," Madam Han replied.

"And about that young lady..."

Thinking about what the villagers said, that it was that young lady who breathed life into him and pressed on his chest to save him.

Han Muchi’s face suddenly turned red.

"Which young lady?" Madam Han hadn’t seen Zhao Xiaohua when she arrived.

Seeing Han Muchi’s red face, she got nervous, thinking he had a fever from falling into the water, "Quick, get the carriage, we need to go to town. A high fever can be life-threatening."

"Mother, I’m fine." Han Muchi quickly stopped them.

Madam Han touched Han Muchi’s face, which felt very hot.

"You’re this hot and still say nothing’s wrong."

"I, I, mother, could you find out which family the young lady who saved me belongs to, I..." Han Muchi stammered, "I have to take responsibility."

Madam Han was a bit confused upon hearing this.

"Take what responsibility?"

"In public view, I had physical contact with that young lady, which ruined her innocence. My father taught me to be responsible as a man of integrity. So, please, mother, inquire about it, prepare the gifts and propose a marriage." Han Muchi took a deep breath and expressed his inner thoughts.

A loud hum went through Madam Han’s mind as she looked at her son in disbelief. She understood every word he said, but somehow, together, she couldn’t comprehend them.

How long has her son been in the countryside? And now he wants her to propose to a village girl!

A village girl, unworthy of her son marrying!

If not for the misfortunes befell the Han family, wouldn’t there be many well-bred young ladies vying for her son?

A village girl isn’t even qualified to be a servant at the Han Mansion.

Madam Han took a deep breath and her mind gradually cleared, "Ah Chi, what are you saying, I don’t understand."

Han Muchi, though a bit embarrassed, explained how he was rescued to Madam Han.

Indeed, a village girl, so shameless to act so scandalously, kissing a stranger in public—this was truly outrageous!

She completely forgot that if it weren’t for Zhao Xiaohua’s shameless act, Han Muchi would probably be dead by now.

"Ah Chi, you are still young, and should focus on your studies. Have you forgotten your responsibilities?" Madam Han forced herself to calm down.

"Mother, I certainly remember my responsibilities, but I can’t ruin a young lady’s reputation and pretend not to know. We can get engaged first and marry after she comes of age." Han Muchi replied.

"You should stop thinking about this and rest well. Let me find out more first," Madam Han said.

Han Muchi thought she was right. Being newcomers here, they needed time for her to inquire about things.

Anyway, he would take responsibility.

Zhao Xiaohua suddenly sneezed.

She rubbed her nose, thinking she shouldn’t catch a cold, as she wasn’t foolish enough to fall into the river.

Zhao Xiaoshu quickly handed his hat and hand warmers to Zhao Xiaohua, "Sister, mom told us to dress warmly before going out. You didn’t wear your hat or hand warmers for the sake of looking good. You can’t neglect health just because you’re learning medicine now."

"It’s just a sneeze, why are you fussing?" Zhao Xiaohua mumbled.

But she obediently put on Zhao Xiaoshu’s hat and warmers and hopped around in the snow with him.

After hopping around for a while, they finally saw Zhao Dahe’s figure.

Zhao Xiaoshu quickly ran up to him and insisted on carrying Zhao Dahe’s book box.

Zhao Xiaohua stuffed the hand warmers into Zhao Dahe’s hands, not forgetting to tease him, "See, you didn’t like the look of the hand warmers and now you’re frozen!"

Zhao Dahe’s lips were trembling from the cold, and he just wanted to get home quickly, not in the mood to banter with Zhao Xiaohua.

A quarter of an hour later, the three were home.

Zhao Dahe went straight into Qin Zheng’s room, shedding his outer coat and shoes, diving right into the bed.

Meng Yao had ginger tea simmering on the stove, giving each of Zhao Dahe, Zhao Xiaohua, and Zhao Xiaoshu a bowl.

The first thing Zhao Dahe said once he warmed up was, "Mom, I want a hat that covers the ears and I want hand warmers too."

When faced with the cold, looking good has to take a backseat.

"I’ll make them after dinner," Meng Yao said.

"I suggested mom make braised pork!" Zhao Xiaohua claimed credit.

"If you don’t eat it, I’ll be grateful," Zhao Dahe, now warmed up, retorted quickly.