The Little Lucky Girl

Magistrate Tao was startled, his face immediately darkened, and he asked, "Did Feng Da bully Wu Niang along the way?"

"It's not what you think," Mrs. Tao shook her head, "Feng Da doesn't know about it yet. It was Wu Niang who made up her mind and wanted us to help."

This matter was too unexpected. Magistrate Tao pondered for a moment and said, "Don't worry, I'll ask someone to clarify before I deal with it."

He first called the servants of the group from the grassland to make sure that Feng Da had not violated the rules during the journey; then he asked Feng Da to come over for a drink, and mentioned Han Wu Niang many times during the meal, intentionally or unintentionally.

Feng Da's answer was quite conventional, but Magistrate Tao was an experienced man and could tell what Feng Da was thinking at a glance. The young man concealed his feelings well, but the gleam in his eyes could not deceive anyone.

The messenger sent Feng Da, who was drunk by him, back home. Magistrate Tao also returned to his room. Mrs. Tao had been waiting anxiously for a long time and asked hurriedly, "What did he say?"

Magistrate Tao sighed, "Feng Da also has feelings for Wu Niang, but he understands his status and can suppress these feelings. Now the key lies in what Wu Niang will do."

Mrs. Tao felt relieved that Feng Da still knew when to advance and retreat; she just didn't know why her usually calm sister suddenly got so hot-headed.

She complained, "Wu Niang is really something. Marriage is a big deal. No matter how good Feng Da is, his status is too low. She shouldn't have such thoughts at all."

Magistrate Tao was more open-minded. "The epidemic on the grassland may be more dangerous than we imagined. The two of them have experienced life and death together. They are young, so it is understandable that they have feelings for each other."

He was afraid that his wife would be too concerned, so he advised: "Wu Niang has been married once and has experienced a lot. She has her own ideas about marriage, and we should respect them."

Mrs. Tao frowned and thought for a while, "It's still not possible. I'm afraid my father and brother won't agree to this. If things go wrong, even we will be blamed."

Magistrate Tao thought of his eldest uncle's temper and felt a headache. "Then let's delay it for a while, let Wu Niang calm down, and find a time to explain Master Yin's matter to her."

Although they were not very satisfied with Master Yin, after all, both families were officials and they knew each other well. In addition, Master Yin was deeply in love with Wu Niang, so the couple was more optimistic about this marriage.

Mrs. Tao knew that she couldn't act too hastily, so she endured for two days with great difficulty. Finally, when Ming Youyou came over again to get the topic for the competition, she found a topic to talk about, and she told him that Master Yin was the son of the Huang family.

Han Wuniang was quite surprised and thought it was a bit absurd. "Although we live in the same city, we have never met each other. How can there be admiration?"

"He said he saw you at the birthday banquet in the 29th year of Yongjia. You painted a picture of peonies in full bloom that time, and he has never forgotten it since then."

"In the 29th year of the Yongjia reign..." Han Wuniang recalled, "I was 15 years old that year, and the birthday banquet... should refer to my great-aunt's birthday."

She suddenly found it a little funny, "Sister, you said that what he hasn't forgotten is me on that day?"

Mrs. Tao finally remembered, and her expression became unnatural, "Why did it have to be that day?"

Han's great-aunt was very particular about rules and didn't like the Han sisters' bold and outspoken nature. Since they were going to celebrate the old man's birthday, they should not make him angry. They were also afraid that their father would be scolded by their great-aunt, so that day the Han girls dressed properly, spoke and acted properly, making sure that no one could find fault with them.

Han Wuniang had only reluctantly painted that gaudy peony painting because her great-aunt liked it, but she really disliked it in her heart.

Han Wuniang sighed, "If he thinks of me based on what he saw that day, I'm afraid both the person and the painting will be disappointing."

Mrs. Tao was also speechless. "Let's not talk about this for now. He went to the Wang family to find you and followed you to Yuqing County. This deep affection is counted."

The Fifth Lady smiled faintly and shook her head, "If the two of us had once been in love and pledged to each other forever, it would be reasonable to call it 'deep love', but we have never even spoken to each other. This so-called deep love is actually 'obsession', an obsession that cannot be obtained."

Mrs. Tao felt that her sister was a little negative. "Love is the most difficult thing in this world. In the opera, it is said that 'love comes from nowhere, but it is deep and lasting'. Maybe for Mr. Huang, you are his destined one. No matter what, you should always give him a chance."

Han Wuniang thought that was not necessarily the case. "Let's not talk about what happened before. Even during the two months I was in the grassland, the competition was interrupted. If he wanted to, he could find out what happened to me. But I didn't see that Mr. Huang take any action."

Mrs. Tao's heart skipped a beat. Because of the epidemic, everyone in the county government was extremely busy. In addition, Han Wuniang was not around, so she naturally had no energy to pay attention to Mr. Huang.

"Hehe, didn't you say that some people who are obsessed with painting have minds that are somewhat different from ordinary people? Maybe he is like that. Look, as soon as you came back, didn't he ask Ming Youyou to send a lot of paintings over?" Mrs. Tao sighed in her heart. She herself felt that this excuse was pale and powerless.

Han Wu Niang smiled, "So, he knows where I have been during this period?"

Ming Youyou was eating snacks in the cubicle. She was so startled when she suddenly heard someone mention her name that she almost choked.

After she delivered the painting, she was brought in by the maid to eat. It was obvious that the Han sisters had forgotten that there were people outside and started discussing.

Ming Youyou and the maid looked at each other and blinked at the same time. They tacitly and carefully lowered their presence and continued to listen attentively.

Seeing that her elder sister still refused to give up, Han Wuniang continued, "That Mr. Huang is the eldest son of the Huang family. He will return to inherit the family business sooner or later. But elder sister, do you think I can be a good wife of the eldest son? If that happens, not only will the Huang family be dissatisfied, but I will also be worn out by those rules."

Mrs. Tao stared at Han Wuniang in a daze, and suddenly felt that her sister had grown up and had her own opinions. She was no longer the naive little girl who was immersed in her own fantasies.

But this is the price of growth...Mrs. Tao felt distressed, "Forget it, if you don't want to see it, forget it."

"Sister, have you asked anyone about Feng Da's situation?" Han Wuniang said embarrassedly.

Mrs. Tao didn't want to discuss Feng Da now. "My head hurts a bit. Let's talk about this next time."

She hurried out from the inner room and found that there were two more people outside.

Madam Tao glared at the maid, who lowered her head to show that she acknowledged her mistake; Ming Youyou came over with a smile, took Madam Tao's hand and walked out.

Walking back to her room, Madam Tao let go of Ming Youyou's greasy hands with disdain, asked the maid to wipe them for her and said, "Tell me, is there anything you want to tell me?"