Chapter 127: Strong Determination (Zhengzheng)

At an old wooden table, a nervous Li Fangchang sat across from the charming woman, wringing his hands repeatedly.

After a long pause, he stammered, “May… may I ask for the lady’s name?”

The woman extended her index finger, dipped it lightly in the tea before her, and began writing on the table.

“Yu Zhengzheng?¹” Li Fangchang read the delicate script on the table and couldn’t help joking, “Miss, you’re so graceful, but your name sounds so strong and unyielding.”

“Hehe…” Yu Zhengzheng gave an awkward laugh.

Li Fangchang continued, “Miss Yu, do you have any hobbies?”

Yu Zhengzheng dipped her finger into the tea again and wrote: Reading.

This young lady is certainly shy—writing instead of speaking. But her handwriting is beautiful… Li Fangchang smiled and asked, “What kind of books do you usually read, Miss Yu?”

Yu Zhengzheng wrote: The Analects, Mencius, Zhuangzi…

“Marvelous!” Li Fangchang clapped his hands, his face lighting up with excitement. “I share the same interests as you!”

Yu Zhengzheng wrote: That’s wonderful.

After a brief pause, as if summoning courage, Li Fangchang straightened up and said earnestly, “Miss Yu, I’ve fallen for you at first sight. May I ask how you feel about me?”

Yu Zhengzheng smiled and nodded before writing: The feeling is mutual.

“Fantastic!” Li Fangchang’s face flushed with joy as he stood up. “In that case, let’s set a date, and I’ll come to your home to propose!”

Swish!

To his surprise, the previously shy Yu Zhengzheng suddenly stood up, grasping his hand tightly.

“Miss… Miss Yu…” Feeling the warmth of her palm, Li Fangchang’s face turned visibly red. “Men and women should not touch hands…”

“No problem!”

“Young Master Li, were you serious about what you just said?”

It was the first time Yu Zhengzheng spoke, her tone neither high nor low, but it sounded peculiar.

Li Fangchang furrowed his brow slightly and asked with a smile, “Miss Yu, has your throat caught a chill?”

“Young Master Li, I’m actually a man. Would that bother you?” Yu Zhengzheng looked at him with soft, affectionate eyes.

“Just being a man is nothing; I wouldn’t mi—” Before he could finish, realization dawned on Li Fangchang, and his mouth twitched. “Miss Yu, this isn’t a funny joke!”

“This is no joke…” As Yu Zhengzheng spoke, he raised his chin to reveal an unmistakable Adam’s apple. “See?”

Swish!

A flustered Li Fangchang yanked his hand away. “Miss… no, Mister Yu, I don’t like men…”

“But you just said…” Yu Zhengzheng began, but Li Fangchang quickly interrupted, “Enough! I must have been out of my mind earlier.”

Yu Zhengzheng covered his face and sobbed, “Young Master Li, you’re so heartless!”

With that, Yu Zhengzheng stormed out, leaving his umbrella behind and disappearing into the rain.

Li Fangchang stood there, his expression complicated, as the lingering scent of powder filled the air. He glanced at Gu Ning’an and his three students, seated by the wall.

After a long silence, he finally spoke. “Tell me, how does my aunt manage to come up with these things?”

Gu Ning’an chuckled. “Well, it’s certainly a unique experience.”

Tang Zi pouted. “That sister… oh no, brother, was indeed very good-looking. What a shame…”

“I think,” Wang Sheng said seriously, “Teacher shouldn’t care about societal norms. If you like that brother, I’d be the first to support you!”

Sun De nodded in agreement. “Confucius said—”

“Little De! Don’t start quoting Confucius; you’re giving me a headache!” Li Fangchang interrupted. Sun De let out an “oh” and lowered his head.

Seeing this, Li Fangchang was about to comfort him when a woman’s furious voice boomed from behind.

“Li Fangchang! You’ve rejected all three girls! Are you trying to drive your aunt to her grave?”

“Auntie! I knew you were nearby!” Li Fangchang turned around, raising his voice. “And you call them three girls? Was that third one even a girl?”

“That was clearly a man!”  

“You brat! Have you grown wings, daring to talk to me like that?” With those words, Aunt Zhou picked up a firewood stick from the ground and swung it at Li Fangchang’s backside!  

Startled, Li Fangchang dodged frantically while pointing at Gu Ning’an by the wall. “We have guests, Aunt!”  

“Oh, there are guests…” Aunt Zhou set down the rolling pin and cupped her hands toward Gu Ning’an. “Dear sir, forgive me for this scene.”  

Gu Ning’an waved his hand. “Please, carry on.”  

*Smack! Smack!*  

Two sharp cracks filled the air, and Li Fangchang’s rear end throbbed in agony.  

For the next incense stick’s worth of time, the kitchen became a stage for a full-blown brawl.  

The three children watched intently, even marveling at how their teacher screamed so dramatically while being beaten.  

“Sit down!”  

“Standing there in front of me, just to annoy me?”  

As she spoke, Aunt Zhou couldn’t help but grab the rolling pin on the table again.  

“I’ll sit! Right away!” Li Fangchang’s eyes widened as he hurried to sit, only to leap back up immediately.  

“Hsss—hsss—”  

Li Fangchang inhaled sharply, clutching his rear and grimacing. “Aunt, it’s not that I don’t want to sit, it’s just too painful…”  

“Fine, fine! Stand then!” Aunt Zhou waved her hand impatiently and turned to Gu Ning’an, smiling. “You’re Mr. Gu, right? Come, have a seat. It’s rare to meet another scholar like you, and I’d like you to help me judge this matter.”  

Hearing this, Gu Ning’an smiled, gently pried Tang Zi off his leg, and walked quickly to the dining table to sit.  

“Mr. Gu, are you aware of this brat’s deeds?” Aunt Zhou pointed at Li Fangchang with an expression of deep disappointment.  

Gu Ning’an nodded. “I’ve heard from the three little ones.”  

“Good. Then tell me, am I wrong to insist this brat settle down with a family first and stop dreaming about becoming a scholar?”  

“You are not wrong.”  

Aunt Zhou glared at Li Fangchang, scolding, “You hear that? Even another scholar agrees with me!”  

Feeling the searing pain in his rear, Li Fangchang swallowed the words he was about to say.  

Seeing this, Gu Ning’an chuckled and said, “Aunt Zhou, as an outsider, I shouldn’t say too much.”  

“You want Teacher Li to marry first and pursue his career later—this is out of concern and care from an elder to a junior. You’re not wrong.”  

“But Teacher Li is focused on passing the imperial exams and wants to establish his career before marrying—this isn’t a crime either… In life, everyone needs something to strive for, don’t they?”  

Hearing someone speak on his behalf, Li Fangchang immediately raised his head and said earnestly, “Aunt, listen to him!”  

“Mr. Gu is a scholar; he understands me!”  

“Did I say you could talk?” Aunt Zhou gripped the rolling pin tightly and said coldly.  

Sensing that this aunt-nephew duo was about to start another argument, Gu Ning’an quickly raised his hand to mediate. “Aunt Zhou, I can see that you treat Teacher Li as your own son. Otherwise, you wouldn’t go to such lengths—finding him a wife, arranging his livelihood.”  

Hearing that even a stranger could see her true intentions, Aunt Zhou’s expression froze. Her eyes reddened, and the grievances she had suppressed began to overflow.  

“Mr. Gu sees it clearly!”  

“You, you brat, have no idea how much I care for you!”  

“Your parents passed away early; I was the one who raised you!”  

“You were born bright and loved reading, and I always supported you!”  

“But enough is enough! Your parents’ belongings are now down to these three shabby houses! And yet, you still want to pursue the imperial exams!”  

“Life is governed by fate; you must believe that!”  

“If you marry early, then even if I, your aunt, pass away one day, I can rest in peace!”