How can someone travel through time and space and become a beggar?

Cuihua slowly raised her head and looked over. It was decided already? No need to tell the master and mistress? No need to tell the young masters? Just decided it on your own?

Xia Chu was still in a daze. Zhao Huazhang's smile was surprisingly innocent, completely different from his usual smile. Upon hearing the content, he quickly explained, "No! No! Why do I have to go through the three letters and six formalities?"

Zhao Huazhang's mood fluctuated from unbelievable surprise to incomprehensible confusion. He frowned and asked, "You don't want to?"

"I want to get along with each other first, at least to understand whether we are suitable for each other, and then talk about marriage, right?" Xia Chu rubbed her fingers, then looked up at Zhao Huazhang and smiled faintly, "Is that okay?"

"Miss!" Before Zhao Huazhang could say anything, Cuihua exclaimed in surprise. She couldn't help herself. How could a young lady talk about such a thing? "Miss, be careful with your words! This is illogical! Your marriage should be decided by the master and the mistress. No, no, you are making decisions on your own!" To put it nicely, it sounded like making decisions on your own, but if this got out, who knows how bad it would sound.

"It's indeed illogical." Zhao Huazhang also disagreed. "I can tell you anything you want to know, but if you and I meet alone without an intermediary or a marriage proposal, it will attract criticism."

Xia Chu looked up at him and thought to herself, "You've been to my house quite often, and now we're meeting alone. Last time, you even climbed over the wall in the middle of the night!"

Zhao Huazhang's heart softened at her gaze, wishing he could agree to anything she asked. However, he turned away and insisted, "Why don't you want to get engaged first? If you regret it later, I... you can just cancel the engagement!" Zhao Huazhang said the word "cancel" softly, his brows furrowed tightly.

"That's too much trouble," Xia Chu curled her lips, "Just tell me if it's okay or not. Just do it my way."

"Miss, no," Cuihua advised, "Why don't you just do as Mr. Zhao says? I think we should discuss this with the Master and the Madam."

Xia Chu raised her chin and looked at Zhao Huazhang inquiringly. "How's it going? Is it okay? If not, forget it."

Zhao Huazhang nodded, although he didn't understand at all.

and then?

The two of them looked at each other, and then what happened?

Zhao Huazhang didn't understand. If they were to get married, he would have too many things to do. Xia Chu would also have a lot to do, but if they just wanted to get to know each other, what should they do?

Having established their relationship, the two should stay together. Unfortunately, Xia Chu was going to Yin Ge Garden, and Zhao Huazhang, as a man, was not able to enter, so she waved her hand and said, "Then you go back first. I'm going to work."

"Go to work?" Zhao Huazhang heard this new word for the first time and didn't understand its meaning.

"It's just work, doing the work." Xia Chu explained.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Huazhang said after hearing this: "You still want to work? Is it because there are not enough people around you?" As he said this, he looked at Cuihua, as if evaluating her ability to do things.

"No." How should one explain work? Xia Chu looked at Zhao Huazhang. "Don't you have to work in the barracks? Soldiers have their own work, generals have their own work. Maids have their own things to do, and I have my own things to take care of. What do you call that? On duty? Attending court? Responding to the military call? It's almost the same thing."

Zhao Huazhang understood, but he was reluctant to leave. "Can I go in?"

"No, men are not allowed in." Xia Chu shook her head. The man's expression remained unchanged, but he was obviously disappointed. She thought for a moment and said, "How about we have lunch together at noon? Do you have time?"

Zhao Huazhang looked up, his eyes seemed to light up, "What do you want to eat? Where should we eat? I'll have someone prepare it."

"You arrange it, I'm fine with it, I'm not picky about food." Xia Chu waved her hand, "Then it's a deal, I'll wait for you here at noon."

Zhao Huazhang smiled, his eyes gentle, "I'll come over soon."

Xia Chu hadn't really looked Zhao Huazhang in the eye before, avoiding suspicion and showing disinterest. But now, seeing his eyebrows slightly curved, his lips curled, his aggressive eyes brimming with smiles, it was as if a cat, fresh from a fight, had turned its head, sheathed its sharp claws, and patted you with its furry paws.

Her heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably. His facial features were clearly the same as before. Why did his eyes seem so bright today, as if they were secretly filled with starlight? Xia Chu turned away and whispered, "You don't have to come so early."

After saying that, they hurried into Yin Ge Garden. Shiwu Shiliu peeked at the door for a long time. They were worried that those playboys were here to harass them, and that they would rush out if the young lady shouted. But judging by Cuihua and the young lady's expressions, they looked more like acquaintances.

Fifteen was curious and wanted to ask, but Sixteen gently stepped on her toes, met her gaze, and shook his head.

When Xia Chu entered, Shiwu said dissatisfiedly, "Why did you step on me?"

"What do you want to do?" Sixteen asked back.

Fifteen immediately became interested, and the unhappiness of being stepped on disappeared. "What do you think is the relationship between that elegant man and the young lady?"

Sixteen glanced at her sideways and said, "You're just a gatekeeper, why are you asking these questions?" Then he walked into the garden and said, "I'm going to patrol, you keep watch."

"Aren't you a gatekeeper too?" Fifteen snorted. What's wrong with being a gatekeeper? It's so easy.

Although she said she was going to work, Xia Chu didn't actually have much to do. Qiu Niang and Hong Niang could handle the small things, and the big things weren't that big of a deal.

After hanging around for the whole morning, it was almost time for lunch. Xia Chu glanced at Cuihua who was following behind him.

When you're on a date with your boyfriend, you shouldn't bring any third wheel, right?

"Cuihua, don't go. I can go by myself." After she said that, she didn't dare to look at Cuihua's expression and slipped away.

Before Cuihua could say no, the man ran away.

How could she be alone with a man? Even in broad daylight, she couldn't! Cuihua stamped her feet and chased after him.

But it was only delayed for a short while, and when she came out, she could only watch the young lady's back as she climbed into the carriage.

"Where are you going, miss?" Fifteen approached from behind and asked.

Cuihua didn't dare to speak loudly, fearing that she would attract attention and ruin her reputation. She calmed down for a moment and turned around to answer, "I'm going to eat."

"Then why didn't they take you with them?" Fifteen said curiously, "The carriage arrived early this morning. It was waiting there not long after you entered. There seemed to be a man inside..."

"Fifteen!" Cuihua interrupted her, "Do you know what we're having for lunch?"

Speaking of food, Fifteen widened his eyes slightly and asked expectantly, "What do you want to eat?"

Cuihua had no idea what to eat, but she'd seen the cook making a lot of jar meat in the kitchen yesterday, and wondered if it was for today. She just wanted to distract Shiwu, knowing he was craving it, so she told him about the process. "I saw her making it yesterday. She cut the pork ribs into small pieces, added seasonings and spices, and simmered them in a porcelain jar... When it came out of the pot, it was rosy red, the broth was thick, and the meat was tender..."

Shiwu licked his lips, as if he could already smell the aroma of meat. His mind was filled with Cuihua's description of the jar meat, and he completely forgot what he was about to say.