The Road to Doting Wife

Chapter 24 Midnight
In the hot summer, the most comfortable time is the cool breeze in the early morning and evening.

In the early morning light, the black horse was grazing with its head down, and Zhao Chen on the horse looked at the gurgling river, enjoying his leisure time in the countryside.

Until Chen Ping led Meng Zhongjing to the intersection.

Zhao Chen smiled playfully, put the purse in his cuff, turned his horse's head, and walked towards the intersection in a leisurely manner.

As he came this way, Meng Zhongjing stopped in his tracks, watched the rich man slowly approaching with a sullen face, saw his expressionless face, looked at himself with a cold gaze, watched him get off his horse gracefully, stand tall, and look at him. He brushed off his robe casually, a white jade pendant swaying slightly around his waist.Meng Zhongjing doesn't understand jade, but he just thinks that the jade is crystal clear and absolutely extraordinary.

After reading, Meng Zhongjing raised his eyes to meet the man's eyes, waiting for the other party to explain his purpose.

Zhao Chen winked at Chen Ping, and Chen Ping quickly backed away.

Only then did Zhao Chen say to Meng Zhongjing: "Brother Meng, have you seen the deer I sent Ah Ju to?"

Meng Zhongjing clenched his fists and reminded him in a cold voice: "Aju is my fiancée, Young Master Zhao is not related to her, please call her differently."

"Neither a relative nor a reason? It seems that Ah Ju still doesn't have the heart to tell you, so let me tell you."

Zhao Chen smiled, and turned to look in the direction of the village over there: "That time in the study, I had already proposed marriage to Ah Ju, maybe I couldn't help offending her, she didn't agree right away, saying that she would think about it for a while I went there a few days ago, and she obviously figured it out, opened the door for me personally, and took the opportunity to promise me. Brother Meng, you should understand after saying so much. Just be a villain for her once, and advise you to resign, so that everyone will look good. Don't worry, I won't steal your marriage for nothing. If you want money and beauty, just ask, I will do what I say."

Meng Zhongjing didn't believe a word.Aju would cry so sad because of being bullied, afraid that he would not want her, and would be jealous because of Ru Niang's quarrel with him, she is pretty and cute, how could she show affection to this person?
"You don't believe me?" Zhao Chen asked him with a smile, "Then do you know that Aju's uncle and aunt will come over tomorrow? What do you think they are here for? To see you, the old son-in-law, or me, the new one? But It doesn't matter if you don't believe me, then you and I will stand together, and I believe that Ah Ju's family members will make the wisest choice..."

Before he finished speaking, Meng Zhongjing punched him. This man provoked him again and again. If he could bear it, he would be inhuman!
Zhao Chen dodged away, his eyes full of sarcasm: "You are not my opponent, I advise you not to bring shame upon yourself."

Meng Zhongjing couldn't hear it, and continued to punch with red eyes.Zhao Chen sneered, turned around, and hit Meng Zhongjing's back with his elbow. The force was completely inconsistent with his thin figure. Meng Zhongjing only felt a sharp pain in his back, and he was lying on the ground when he regained consciousness.

Zhao Chen didn't take advantage of the victory to pursue him. He stood on one side and looked down at him. His cold voice was accompanied by the sound of water not far away. To marry her, I still have plenty of ways to snatch her over. If you want to live a peaceful life and avoid being a laughingstock in the village, you'd better find an honest woman to marry and bring home, otherwise I don't mind playing with you. "

Meng Zhongjing clenched his hands, grabbed two handfuls of gravel, and asked him bitterly, "Are you not afraid that I will tell Uncle Lin everything you have done?"

Zhao Chen smiled, turned around and walked in front of the horse, while stroking the mane on the horse's neck, he said chattingly: "Don't mention whether they will believe you, if you have the heart to ruin Ah Ju's reputation, just say it. In your eyes, Ah Ju is a childhood sweetheart, in my opinion, she is just a rare beauty. As long as she is alive, I will snatch her away, if she can't bear the humiliation and commits suicide, I have nothing to lose."

"You bastard!" Meng Zhongjing stood up suddenly and rushed towards him.

Zhao Chen didn't even hide, but he grabbed the opponent's hand in time before he touched him. With a little force, Meng Zhongjing couldn't move forward any more.Compared with Meng Zhongjing's painful and angry expression, Zhao Chen's face was extremely calm. After a while, he shook off Meng Zhongjing, and when he staggered to his feet, he said, "Instead of arguing with me here, why don't you go back and find another marriage?" , you don’t want Ah Ju first, it’s better than she doesn’t want you, right?”

Meng Zhongjing stared at him with murderous eyes.

Zhao Chen didn't take it seriously, and took the rein to leave, but suddenly thought of something, turned around with a smile, took out something from his cuff, and handed it to Meng Zhongjing: "This is the token of love that Ah Ju gave me when he opened the door for me that day. Brother Meng, don't worry, Ah Ju is so beautiful and gentle, after she marries me, I will treat her well for you."

His hands were slender and fair, with his thumb and index finger pinching a belt, and a small and delicate purse hung below it, azure silk and a cluster of orchid leaves were lifelike.

Meng Zhongjing stared at the cluster of orchids, Ah Ju likes orchids the most, and also likes to embroider orchids on close-fitting objects.

"See clearly?" Zhao Chen slowly withdrew his hand, hid the purse in his arms, gave Meng Zhongjing a meaningful look, and led the horse away.

Meng Zhongjing stood blankly, looking at his back.Soon, he saw Lin Chongjiu running towards him. Seeing him, Lin Chongjiu greeted him from a distance, and then he was picked up by the man on the horse and galloped away along the river. The laughter gradually spread.

As he listened, Meng Zhongjing suddenly felt ashamed.So what about animals, he is wearing human skin, and the Lin family are all close to him.

Meng Zhongjing walked back in a daze.

Walking up the gentle slope at the intersection, he looked towards the backyard of the Lin family, wanting to ask Ah Ju for clarification, but remembered that she was still angry with him.

He was still happy because of her anger last night. Thinking about it now, Ru Niang made her words so clear and she still made trouble for no reason. Is she using this method to force him to let her go first?Yesterday he said he was renouncing the marriage, but she still told him to bring it up to her father angrily...

No, the girl who played hide-and-seek with him when he was a child, the girl who would take his clothes home and ask her mother to mend them for him when his clothes were torn, never had that kind of scheming.

It's just that she has grown up, she was born too beautiful, she was taken in by a dude, he couldn't keep her person, and he probably couldn't keep her heart either.

If he has money too, if...

But he didn't, he was just a rough man working in the fields, he started dreaming when she promised to marry him, and now he woke up.

After returning home, Meng Zhongjing went to the new house, and lay on the bed with his eyes closed, recalling the bits and pieces of these years, thinking of sweet places, he would smile, and the smile turned into a wry smile.His younger brother called him for lunch, but he didn't want to eat, and his father came to call him for dinner. Meng Zhongjing didn't want to worry his family, so he managed to cheer up and went, but the food was tasteless.

Chatting after dinner, Father Meng asked him which clothes to wear to the Lin family tomorrow.

Meng Zhongjing was stunned, thinking of Aju's uncle and aunt.The Zhou family is a big family in the town, and they wear silk and satin in gold and silver, especially Aunt Aju, who likes to give Aju and sisters clothes and jewelry very much.They didn't look down on him, but every time they visited him, he didn't know what to say. Lin Xian talked to him thoughtfully, but he didn't know that this thoughtfulness also embarrassed him.

Perhaps, he really should wake up, from the beginning to the end, he was not worthy of Ah Ju, he was not with them.

Heartbroken, after returning to the new house, Meng Zhongjing took out a jar of wine prepared for the wedding.Staring at the mouth of the altar, he hesitated and got a headache, finally closed his eyes and opened it, and poured it with his head up.He gave up, he fulfilled her, she is so beautiful, she should be a pampered young mistress, instead of following him to endure hardships.As for him, he should marry an ordinary-looking...

A face suddenly appeared in my mind.

Meng Zhongjing froze, put down the wine jar and looked out the window.The moon was hanging high outside, and she said that she would wait for him in the second watch. As a single woman, would she really dare to go to Bangzidi at night?What on earth was she going to tell him?
Meng Zhongjing was not at ease, and quietly left the room.

Lin.

Ah Ju suffered from insomnia again.

I don't know if it's because Meng Zhongjing didn't come to see her that day as expected, or because that person will come to visit her home tomorrow, she was very disturbed, and she was tossing and turning all kinds of thoughts, and she was about to torture her to death.Ah Ju grabbed the bedsheets, trying to calm herself down, but it didn't work, she closed her eyes, and the faces of two men appeared alternately in her mind, and occasionally Ru Niang, she stood with Meng Zhongjing and scolded her together.

Tears rolled down from the corners of his eyes, Ah Ju ignored it, and let the tears flow into his ears, turning cold.

Suddenly someone beside him slowly sat up.

Ah Ju gasped for breath.

With her eyes closed, she heard that Ru Niang carefully dressed and went down to the ground. She seemed to have taken something else, Ah Ju didn't dare to turn her head to look, and immediately heard Ru Niang open the door very lightly, and went out quietly.After confirming that Ru Niang had left the house, Ah Ju turned her head, and under the bright moonlight, she found that the bundle Ru Niang had packed during the day on the kang was gone.

Is she planning to leave overnight?

Ah Ju doesn't really believe that Ru Niang has such courage, and she doesn't need to be like this at all. Doesn't she still want to hear the news from her uncle?
But she really left with a burden.

Ah Ju frowned, and suddenly remembered the half an hour when Ru Niang and Meng Zhongjing were alone last night, what did they say?
Ah Ju thought of that dress again, and with the thought, she couldn't lie down anymore and dressed quietly.

The [-]th moon is full of afterglow, and the figures and shadows in the yard are clearly visible.Ah Ju hid at the door, and saw Ru Niang tiptoing out of the gate, and the doe in the fence made a slight movement, which was hardly noticed by the sleeping people.Apart from going out to watch lanterns with her parents, Ah Ju rarely walked at night. She was a little scared, but curiosity and suspicion finally defeated those fears. She bit her lip and followed lightly.

At this time, it was the second watch, and the village was surprisingly quiet, except for the croaking of frogs and insects one after another.Ru Niang walked quickly in front, and Ah Ju followed her far away, until she reached the edge of the crop field, with stick seedlings as tall as a person on both sides, shadows everywhere, Ah Ju finally regretted it.If Ru Niang really intends to leave overnight, she can't follow her all the time, then she will be alone, dare to walk at night?

It's just that she has already come out, wouldn't it be a waste of time to go back now?
Ah Ju couldn't help speeding up her pace, getting closer to Ru Niang, she wasn't that scared after all.

As he was walking, he came to his own stick, and Ru Niang stopped suddenly in front of him, and Ah Ju hurriedly hid on the side of the ground, about a hundred steps away from Ru Niang.On the left side is the faint sticky land, and Ah Ju became more and more frightened, but when Ru Niang called out the word "Brother Meng" softly, all the fear and fear were replaced by shock. She clutched the front of her clothes and stared there in disbelief.

Meng Zhongjing had been waiting here for a while, and when he heard Ru Niang calling him, he came out of the field, looked around first, and then asked the girl under the moonlight in confusion: "Miss He, what do you want to say? You, what are you doing with your baggage on your back?"

Ru Niang was first surprised to see him, followed by a bitter smile, bowed her head and said, "I have lived here for so long, and I have caused a lot of trouble for Brother Meng and Miss, so I want to leave. Brother Meng, tonight should be Let's meet for the last time... I've finished sewing your clothes, try it, it's a peace of mind for me to go." Said, put the bag on the ground, and unpacked it.

Meng Zhongjing was completely dumbfounded, "Where are you going?"

Ru Niang stood up holding the clothes, and said softly: "Go back to Yangzhou, after all, it is my hometown. Brother Meng, take off this clothes, try this."

Meng Zhongjing didn't move, he frowned and asked, "Even if we leave, why don't we wait until dawn?"

Ru Niang sighed: "Aunt Lin Shulin is a kind person. They will definitely keep me when I leave in the daytime. I am afraid that if I feel soft-hearted and stay, I will cause trouble to Brother Meng. Brother Meng is a gentleman. I believe that the eldest girl is also the same." I believe it's just that she cares too much about Brother Meng, so it's easy to misunderstand, so I'd better go."

Mentioning Ah Ju, Meng Zhongjing felt bitter, but he didn't say anything.Ru Niang was saved by him, if he divorced the Lin family, it would definitely be more embarrassing for Ru Niang to live there, she might as well leave, but, she is a weak woman, how could he let her leave in the middle of the night?

Meng Zhongjing wanted to keep him, but Ru Niang took a step closer to him: "Brother Meng, Ru Niang's only wish now is to see you put on this dress, will you promise me?"

The moonlight was like water, the girl raised her head, her face was pretty, and there were tears in her eyes. Meng Zhongjing's heart softened, and he couldn't help taking the clothes, "You, I'm sorry to trouble you, then wait a moment, I'll go inside and change." After finishing speaking, he turned and left .

Ru Niang hugged him at this moment, she hugged him without warning, when Meng Zhongjing reacted, Ru Niang had already put her face on his back, crying and begging: "Brother Meng, let Ru Niang serve you for a while Right. You don’t know, when you rescued me that day and saw you, Ru Niang recognized you and wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, but I didn’t expect Brother Meng to be married. The eldest girl is so beautiful, Ru Niang I don't know why, I stopped thinking completely, and then you mistaken me for a big girl and stared at me, I was really happy for a while, I wish Brother Meng was looking at me."

Meng Zhongjing was struck by lightning, he never thought that Runiang would like him.

"Brother Meng, Runiang really likes Brother Meng. She liked it so much that she was jealous of the eldest girl and wanted to replace her. She liked it so much that she would rather serve as a slave to the eldest girl just to stay with Brother Meng. But the eldest girl is so kind, I didn't I can't do that kind of thing, and I will only be sad if I stay here, so I decided to leave. Brother Meng, I don't ask you to like me, I just ask you to let me serve you for a while, okay?"

Meng Zhongjing was very confused, he didn't know how to answer her, although she was down and out, she also came from a wealthy family, how could she fall in love with him?

But Ru Niang slowly turned to him and looked up at him: "Brother Meng, stand still, I will change your clothes with my own hands. Ru Niang is not lucky enough to marry Brother Meng, and she only hopes to serve Brother Meng like this once. "

There were tears on her face, like pear blossoms with rain, Meng Zhongjing was stunned and couldn't refuse at all.

Ru Niang smiled gratefully, raised her slender hands, and undressed him.The two were so close, and the surrounding was so quiet, Meng Zhongjing could smell the fragrance of Ru Niang's hair, as well as the faint smell of sweat and alcohol on his body.Meng Zhongjing wanted to back away in embarrassment: "I'll do it myself..."

Ru Niang held him down, didn't speak, just shook her head shyly.Meng Zhongjing had to continue to wait, he didn't dare to look at Ru Niang, and turned his head to look at the field on one side, but Ru Niang's hand touched him, and she retreated as soon as it was touched, it was obviously nothing, but Meng Zhongjing gradually couldn't bear it, Hands quietly clenched.

"Brother Meng, close your eyes, Ru Niang wants to give you another thing." Ru Niang put the man's robe on the ground, bowed her head and said.

Perhaps because he hadn't spoken for a long time, Meng Zhongjing's voice was a little hoarse when he spoke again: "I, shall I try on the clothes first?" Standing in front of her like this, he was nervous.

Ru Niang shook her head, her voice was too low to be heard: "Brother Meng, please close your eyes, I've seen it anyway, so why are you embarrassed?"

Meng Zhongjing looked at the girl who lowered her head to hide her shame, clenched her fists and closed her eyes.

He kept talking, but he didn't know that every sound came to Ah Ju's ears very clearly.

Ah Ju turned around and walked back step by step. Her eyes were blurred and she couldn't see clearly. Fortunately, the road was smooth and she wouldn't stumble.

As she walked, the voice behind her could no longer be heard, and she could no longer walk, she slid down slowly while holding onto a tree, covering her face with her hands.

Why is it so.

He is her fiancé, how can he promise to marry someone else, how can he be with someone else...

There was a churning in her stomach, and Ah Ju clutched her chest, retching uncomfortably.The huddled figure seemed to be still in front of her eyes, and the familiar yet unfamiliar voice seemed to be still in her ears. Ah Ju's heart felt so uncomfortable that she couldn't think of anything, but could only shrink into the shadow of the tree and cry.

Crying and crying, she didn't know how much time had passed, footsteps sounded in the distance, Ah Ju covered her mouth to keep herself from making a sound, and heard the man slowly approaching, passing behind her on the road, and then gradually going away.Ah Ju covered her mouth and turned her head, seeing a tall man under the moonlight, carrying a girl on his back, heading towards the village.The moonlight elongated the figures of the two, and the evening wind brought a woman's soft whisper.

She looked at Meng Zhongjing's figure under the moonlight, he walked so steadily, how old was he when he carried her like this?
"Ah Ju, I'll give you this jujube, the biggest one."

"Ah Ju, you are so pretty."

"Aju, can I go to your house to propose marriage?"

"Ah Ju, there are only four months left..."

As a childhood sweetheart, she still failed to marry him in the end. When he was less than three months away from getting married, he personally agreed to marry someone else, and he asked for someone else in front of her.

He doesn't want her anymore.

Ah Ju sat on the edge of the ground, because there was no one in the field, and because her family was not around, she let herself cry, crying about her past with him, her expectations that could never be fulfilled, and all her grievances.

Not far behind her, Zhao Chen was dressed in black, leaning against a tree trunk, looking up at the moon.

He wants to marry her, and this day is destined to come, but seeing her shrinking in the dark, listening to her cry non-stop, crying so hard, his chest is also stuffy, this is the first time he is so stuffy, it's so stuffy that he can't help it I want to go over and hug her so she won't cry anymore.

He was sorry for her, but he promised that it was enough to hear her cry like this once, and after getting married, he would never make her cry again.

He will let her do everything, he will guard her well and watch her bloom the most beautiful orchid for him.

(End of this chapter)