Chapter 38
"You know him."
Ge Liang scratched the back of his head, a little embarrassed, and said, "Most young folks in these ten-li-eight-village areas should know a bit about him, the only ger of Village Head Ji's family is quite good-looking."
[十裏八村兒" (shí lǐ bā cūn er): lit. Ten-li-eight-village; fif. Folksy Northern Chinese expression meaning "the surrounding villages within a ten-li radius," often used to emphasize how widely known or influential someone or something is across a rural area]
He didn’t dare mention that he himself was still unmarried. Back when he heard that the Ji family had called off the engagement with the scholar’s family, he had actually given it some thoughts.
But after asking the matchmaker a few more detailed questions, he gave up. The ger was the only child of the village head of Mingxun Village, there was no way he’d settle for an ordinary family.
The Ge family’s circumstances were average, and he wasn’t exactly young anymore, so he had no advantages to speak of. Later, when he heard that the village head of their own village, the Zhou family, also had intentions, he dismissed the idea entirely.
Ge Liang, being loose-lipped, added, "Our village head originally wanted to propose their second son to the Ji family too. But then that mess with the scholar’s family happened, and the village head got angry, forbidding his second son from ever going to Mingxun Village again. Later, when the truth came out, the Zhou family’s second son, who had actually been fond of the match, was stuck obeying his father and couldn’t pursue it. These days, he regrets it day and night and still hopes to approach the Ji family."
"Oh, the one repaired the fishpond? I’ve seen him."
Hearing Huo Shu’s cold and somewhat disdainful tone, Ge Liang grinned widely, finding the whole situation absurdly ironic.
The Zhou family lived close to his own, and after returning, he’d had some dealings with the Zhou family’s son. Initially, he’d even advised him to try again, but now that he knew Huo Shu had already snatched the opportunity, he found himself completely siding with Huo Shu.
"In the end, it had to be Captain Huo. Even coming from another region, he managed to win over the Ji family’s ger, that alone puts all the unmarried men in our ten-li-eight-village area to shame. When I get back, I’ll tell the Zhou family’s second son to stop pining. The Ji family has already found the best son-in-law."
Huo Shu suddenly remembered how, not long ago, Ji Taoyu had gotten angry at him, accusing him of being drawn in by looks. No wonder the ger was upset, there were indeed plenty who were swayed by appearances.
Fortunately, he hadn’t blurted out something like: You really are quite pretty.
"Good. Tell him to focus on repairing his own fishpond and forget about coming to the Ji family to repair their fishpond in the future."
Ge Liang smiled even brighter, finding Huo Shu much more easygoing than he’d imagined.
Just as he was about to chat more, however, Huo Shu said, "I have to go."
"It’s rare to run into each other, let’s grab a drink at the tavern!"
"Someone’s waiting at the cloth shop."
Ge Liang immediately understood, but he wasn’t ready to part ways yet. Running into a fellow soldier from his border-defense days in Tongzhou was rare enough, let alone someone he’d always admired.
Shamelessly, he said, "I’ve got nothing to do anyway, and we’re heading back the same way. Why not go together?"
Huo Shu picked up the bow and arrows he’d chosen: "Suit yourself."
Ge Liang cheerfully trailed behind Huo Shu, even trying to pay for the bow and arrows himself—until he learned they were a gift, at which point he gave up.
"Captain Huo, you really don’t need to rush back. Once girls and ger enter a cloth shop, they won’t come out for at least an hour or two."
"Don’t call me Captain anymore. I’m not one. Just use my name."
"Then I’ll call you Brother Huo. You joined the army years before me, so you’re probably older, I hope you don’t mind me calling you that."
Huo Shu found the man’s inability to shut up more exhausting than going to battle, he was just like Zhao Changsui.
"Do all you southerners talk this much?"
Ge Liang coughed awkwardly. "No, no! I’m just happy to see you, Brother Huo. Got carried away. I’ll shut up now!"
The silence lasted barely a moment.
"Hey, Brother Huo, what do you do for a living now?"
"Brother Huo, how did you and the Ji family’s ger meet…?"
By the time Huo Shu endured the chatter all the way back to the cloth shop, he was worried Ji Taoyu would be impatient and angry. But it turned out he and Wu Lianhe hadn’t even finished picking fabrics yet.
He exhaled and glanced at Ge Liang: "You southerners really understand girls and ger."
"Ha! Just from experience."
Ge Liang, meanwhile, was baffled at how this cold, taciturn man had won over the Ji family’s ger. Though curious, he didn’t dare ask.
"Brother Huo, come get your measurements taken."
Huo Shu walked straight upstairs without hesitation.
Though Ge Liang had heard about the Ji family’s ger, this was his first time seeing him in person. After just a glance, his eyes widened.
If I’d known he looked like this, I would’ve—
The thought barely formed before he saw Huo Shu ahead and immediately suppressed it, not daring to have even a flicker of improper ideas.
Thank you so much for the update!!
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