CHAPTER 685: CHAPTER 681: PROPOSAL TO MARRY SHUANGSHUANG (SECOND UPDATE)

Liu Zian felt a sweet joy in his heart upon hearing Mu Shuangshuang’s congratulations.

His cheeks were flushed, as if trying hard to express a certain thought.

"Thank you, Shuangshuang!"

"Xiao Han, shouldn’t you serve your teacher a cup of hot tea? Little Zhi, help out by bringing over a stool." Mu Shuangshuang instructed her two younger siblings.

Mu Xiaohan rushed into the kitchen in a hurry.

Little Zhi was just about to do what Mu Shuangshuang had instructed when Xue Zheng surprisingly acted faster, went to Mu Shuangshuang’s room, and brought a stool out.

After placing the stool in the courtyard, he stood beside Mu Shuangshuang, his eyes fixed on her, as if afraid she might run away.

"Xiao Zheng, you’re really great. Thank you for bringing a stool for Brother Zi’an!" Mu Shuangshuang praised Xue Zheng.

Xue Zheng shyly smiled at Mu Shuangshuang, with a hint of blush appearing on his face.

Liu Zian looked puzzled at the unfamiliar child in front of him. He had spent a day and a half in Er Gui Village, clearly knowing the members of Shuangshuang’s family.

"This is Xiao Zheng, a good friend of Yuanbao and Little Zhi. He lives in town but has been staying at my house for a while."

Liu Zian nodded in understanding and said,

"Shuangshuang, go ahead and sit down. I can stand for a while, no problem."

Liu Zian didn’t sit but wanted to offer the stool to Mu Shuangshuang.

His first action upon entering was to scan the surroundings of the Third Branch courtyard of the Old Mu Family, looking for familiar faces.

He happened to see Shuangshuang squatting on the ground, holding a large kitchen knife in one hand, chopping pig feed.

A pile of pig feed lay beside Shuangshuang; she seemed to have been working for quite some time.

"How could that be right? You’re the guest, and besides, I haven’t finished my work." Mu Shuangshuang said as she picked up the knife and continued chopping pig feed.

From her proficiency in work, Mu Shuangshuang was no different from most daughters of peasant families.

But there was something about her that was different from other girls.

Liu Zian gazed longingly at the person he hadn’t seen in a while, gripping a fifty-tael silver note in his palm so tightly it almost created moisture.

This was what he had prepared for Shuangshuang—

Liu Zian was the top scholar of this year’s Qianzhou Prefecture examination, ranking first in the county and first in Qingshan Town.

Qianzhou Prefecture awarded Liu Zian fifty taels of silver as a reward for this exam, and they would cover all the costs for his trip to the Capital for the subsequent provincial examination.

Now, Liu Zian had finally achieved success, only waiting for next February’s Imperial Examination and the following Palace Examination to see the results.

If successful, Liu Zian would probably enter officialdom.

He would then have a future to look forward to.

Once a man has a career, he must think about starting a family.

All Liu Zian wanted to do now was to express his feelings to Shuangshuang.

"Shuangshuang, you... are you doing well lately?"

Liu Zian was still a bit nervous, wanting to talk about something else first, to divert his attention.

"Not bad. Eating well, drinking well, I’ve even gained a bit of weight." Mu Shuangshuang smiled.

Just then, Yuanbao, who had been playing nearby, suddenly chimed in.

He said loudly, "Of course! My second brother always thinks of my Sister Shuangshuang first with any good things, even I, as a brother, don’t get to eat them."

Liu Zian’s expression momentarily stiffened.

He glanced around, not finding any sign of Lu Yuanfeng, feeling both relieved and a bit worried.

The feelings between Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng were something Liu Zian had to face.

The two often played together, though he wasn’t sure of their true feelings for each other.

Liu Zian couldn’t help but furrow his brows.

Mu Shuangshuang asked, "Liu Zian, your letter of appointment should have arrived already, right?"

"Yes, it should have come long ago, but Governor Zhuang kept me in Qianzhou for over a month, and I only returned from Qianzhou yesterday."

"Haha, so I’m the first one you visited, huh?" Mu Shuangshuang teased Liu Zian jokingly.

Speaking of which, Mu Shuangshuang was quite happy for Liu Zian for becoming a scholar.

After all, she still considered him an acquaintance, and even if her uncle really became an official sometime, she’d at least have a friend who could rival him.

Traditionally, commoners do not contend with officials. If her uncle did become an official, it could potentially be a troublesome matter for her and the Third Branch.

"Yes!"

The season was winter, and the weather was incredibly cold. Liu Zian wore a not-too-thick cotton jacket, his cheeks red from the cold, but still stood in the courtyard, accompanying Mu Shuangshuang.

After chopping two pots of pig feed, Mu Shuangshuang explained to Liu Zian and went to the kitchen, kindled a fire, and poured the pig feed mixed with some broken rice into a big iron pot all at once.

The pig feed needed to cook for about two cups of tea’s time; Mu Shuangshuang just needed to add a few thicker logs of wood to the stove.

While moving firewood, she noticed there wasn’t much left at home and thought she might have to find some time to collect more from the mountains.

In the courtyard, Liu Zian gradually found some courage.

He took a deep breath and walked toward the kitchen of the Third Branch.

"Mu Shuangshuang, do you have a moment? Could I talk with you?" Liu Zian asked.

Mu Shuangshuang smiled and nodded, "Come in, though the smell is a bit strong here, it’s still better than outside."

"Shuangshuang, do you... do you like your life now?" asked Liu Zian through gritted teeth.

"I quite like it, why?"

Mu Shuangshuang thought it was a coincidence, as not just Liu Zian, but Lu Yuanfeng had asked her this question before too.

"Do you... do you want to go to the county town, or the Capital?"

Liu Zian thought he might end up developing in one of these places in the future, and if Shuangshuang was willing to join him...

"Of course, I’d like to. The county town and the Capital are big places, much more convenient than the village for doing things."

"Really?" Liu Zian’s face lit up with excitement.

At this moment, he was filled with hope, feeling like this was the happiest moment of his life.

"Naturally! But I don’t want to go now; I haven’t saved enough money to head to the county town yet, and Xiaohan and Yuanbao’s schooling issues are still unresolved."

The things Mu Shuangshuang spoke about were what she currently wanted to solve the most.

She already prepared the tuition fees for the two children, but there simply wasn’t a suitable school available.

Either some teachers charged too high a fee, or some schools were just too far away, making a daily round trip difficult not only for the two children but even for herself.

"I know a good school in town; it’s where I studied. I can take Xiaohan and Yuanbao there."

"I’ve checked the school in town; it’s too far away. We don’t have a residence there, and without daily transport like a bull cart from the village, it’ll be inconvenient for the kids."

Liu Zian could fully understand Mu Shuangshuang’s concerns. Back then, if not for a man from the Liu Family Village working daily in town and giving Liu Zian a ride,

he might not have been able to study in town either.

"It would be great if a school could be established in the village." Mu Shuangshuang suddenly said.