My Fulang is a Delicate Flower Chapter 21 Part 1

Chapter 21  

Ji Taoyu saw his father’s strong reaction, and his heart skipped a beat. But he honestly didn’t deny it, nodding lightly.  

Ji Yangzong widened his eyes: "The villagers privately told me this man is hard to get along with, not only does he not greet others when coming and going, but he barely responds even when others greet him. How come he’s gone out of his way to look after you so many times? Could it be this fellow…"  

"Dad, can you stop jumping to conclusions? Just because a man talks to me, you assume he has ulterior motives."  

Ji Taoyu quickly cut him off: "It’s ridiculous, making it seem like I’m some kind of heavenly treasure."  

Ji Yangzong scowled at Ji Taoyu, his brow furrowed in displeasure: "You’re still young, a little ger who doesn’t understand anything."  

Then he tapped Ji Taoyu’s hand lightly: "Besides, my ger is a treasure."  

Ji Yangzong continued: "Today at the city gathering, the village head of Hongli Village asked about you, saying their second son is now of marriageable age."  

"I’ve met the second son of Village Head Zhou. Though not as handsome as that little bastard from the You family, his features are decent. I’ve come to realize that while scholars are good, their pride is too high for ordinary families like ours to handle. It’s better to find someone steady and reliable."  

"That second son of the Zhou family is hardworking and dependable. He’s already dug his own fishpond to raise shrimp and fish, making good money. It’s not a bad choice…"  

Ji Taoyu, seeing his father ramble on endlessly - even more than his mother, turned away before he could finish: "I don’t understand anything, I’m going back to grind medicine."  

"Ah, Dad knows you’re still upset about You Erlang, but life must go on, right?"  

Ji Yangzong watched as his ger walked away without looking back and quickly stood up to follow: "Alright, alright, if you’re unwilling, we won’t rush. We’ll take our time, okay? Don’t be mad at Dad, or your mother will scold me again…"  

The next day, Ji Taoyu woke up early, unlike his despondent self from the past few days.  

He packed all the finished frostbite ointment into bottles and placed them in a box, telling Ji Yangzong and Huang Manjing that he was going to the city to sell his goods.  

In the tenth month, Ji Yangzong was busy collecting taxes and had been worried about not having time to comfort Ji Taoyu. Seeing him willing to go out on his own, he felt much more at ease.  

Naturally, he didn’t stop him from going to the city. Instead, he even took out some loose silver for Ji Taoyu to buy food or something fun in the city.  

"Your grandfather still doesn’t know about the broken engagement. Since you’re going, you can inform him first."  

After speaking, Ji Yangzong couldn’t help but sigh: "When he’s free, he’ll surely come to the village."  

Huang Manjing picked up some food and placed it in Ji Yangzong’s bowl: "This isn’t your fault. Weren’t you just thinking of what was best for Xiao Taozi from the start?"  

Ji Taoyu, biting into a steamed bun, sensed his father’s worry about being scolded by his grandfather.  

He raised his face and whispered: "Is Dad also afraid of his father-in-law?"  

"You don’t understand anything, yet you dare laugh at your dad." Ji Yangzong pinched Ji Taoyu’s cheek and took the steamed bun from his hand: "Eat less. Save some stomach space for wontons at the city’s breakfast stalls. Don’t you like those?"  

Huang Manjing slapped Ji Yangzong’s hand: "What kind of father stops his child from eating their fill?"  

Ji Yangzong chuckled, dispelling the gloom that had hung over the family these past few days. He put down his chopsticks and stood up: "Alright, I need to hurry and collect taxes early."  

As he draped his outer robe over his shoulders, he added: "Xiao Taozi, if you plan to stay at your grandfather’s house tonight, send word back first."  

Ji Taoyu also set down his chopsticks: "Got it."  

Ji Yangzong left first, and soon after, Ji Taoyu picked up a small box, ready to leave as well.  

Huang Manjing had originally wanted Ji Taoyu to take some cured meat to his grandfather, but considering he was already carrying a box and would struggle with the extra weight, she gave up.  

Instead, she straightened his cloak, her heart aching as she looked at his thinner face: "Go, have fun."  

"Mm."  

Ji Taoyu walked through the morning mist with his small box. Before even reaching the village entrance, he spotted a man leading a horse slowly along the main road.  

The majestic black horse followed its master at a leisurely pace, occasionally lowering its head to nibble at the few remaining green blades of grass that had managed to  survive the withering effects of autumn.  

Huo Shu didn’t call out to the ger. He stopped, waiting for him to approach, then took the small box from his hands when no one was around.  

He then mounted the horse: "I’ll wait at the village entrance."  

With that, he rode off.  

Ji Taoyu rubbed the back of his hand, reddened by the chilly late-autumn wind from carrying the box, and quickened his pace toward the village entrance.  

Like last time, one rode a horse while the other took an ox cart, entering the city one after the other.  

By the time they reached the city, the mist was still thick. Ji Taoyu lifted his hood and looked around but couldn’t spot Huo Shu in the fog.  

Just as he wondered where to find him, a familiar voice came from behind: "Here."  

Ji Taoyu saw the man holding the box alone and sighed in relief: "Where’s the horse?"  

Huo Shu replied: "Took it to the stable."  

Ji Taoyu nodded and reached for his small box: "Let’s sell my ointment first."  

Huo Shu walked beside Ji Taoyu, glancing at the box: "What kind of ointment?"  

"Frostbite ointment."