Chapter 66: Who Are You? (Second Update—Seeking Pink Tickets)

Evening had come once again.

Lu Ying had not written those two characters today, but having already prepared almost all the food, she was ready to fetch her younger brother.

—She wanted to tell him that, for now, there was no need to worry about the Ping household acting against them.

Just as Lu Ying stepped out of the alley, she saw a youth furtively peering into the lane. He looked around several times, and then, spotting Lu Ying walking slowly towards him, his eyes suddenly lit up.

He stared blankly at Lu Ying as she drew closer. When she passed him and walked several dozen steps ahead, he followed.

As she walked, Lu Ying noticed the surroundings growing quieter, so she stopped and turned back.

Her dark eyes calmly fixed on the young man. Lu Ying asked coolly, “Young sir, is there something you need?” It was a perfectly ordinary question, yet the youth’s face flushed crimson. He appeared to be sixteen or seventeen, thin and lanky, his complexion bearing the sallow hue common to adolescent boys. His brows were thick and close-set, his eyes slightly sunken, squinting as he looked at people—clearly, his eyesight was not good.

Lu Ying recognized him. His family lived not far from the Ping estate and, she had heard, were distant relatives of the benevolent Wang family. In fact, their situation mirrored that of Lu Ying and her brother with the Ping clan.

The difference was that both his parents were still alive—and his mother was said to be particularly shrewd and strict.

Feeling Lu Ying’s gaze upon him, the youth fidgeted awkwardly, unsure where to place his hands and feet.

Seeing his hesitation, Lu Ying turned and continued walking. In such a busy place, it was hardly appropriate for a young maiden to linger and converse with a teenage boy.

Upon seeing her turn away, the youth grew anxious. His face flushed, and he stammered, “A Ying, I—I am Wang, Wang Ke. I’ve met your brother, and he—he agreed, my mother has agreed too.” Somehow finding a burst of courage, he dashed forward, blocking Lu Ying’s path, his face beet-red as he looked at her with hopeful eyes. “A Ying, shall I have my mother send a matchmaker tomorrow?”

A marriage proposal?

Lu Ying looked up.

She gazed steadily at the youth, who grew ever more flustered under her scrutiny, his hands and feet at a loss, panic written all over him. Lu Ying asked, “When did my brother agree?”

“Ah? It—it must have been two or three months ago. You had just broken off your engagement, and I stopped your brother to speak to him. He was very happy.”

Lu Yun had mentioned something like that once.

Lu Ying did not dwell on it. After nodding, she asked coolly, “Why only now?”

“My—my mother didn’t agree at first… But A Ying, I’ve convinced her. She said you’re very capable, able to earn money and support a family.”

Was it really that impressive?

As he spoke, the youth grew excited. He stared at Lu Ying, swallowing a few times before blurting, “I’ll have the matchmaker call in a few days!” With that, he ran off at lightning speed, not waiting for Lu Ying’s reply.

Lu Ying watched his retreating figure, furrowing her brow in thought.

When school ended, Lu Yun saw his sister waiting for him outside and ran to her, shaking his head as he approached.

“Sister.” Even his brows seemed to smile.

Lu Ying was momentarily surprised by his happiness. Then she smiled and said, “You’ve heard?”

“Yes, I heard.” Lu Yun’s eyes crinkled into slits as he whispered, “This afternoon, my classmates were whispering about me. When I walked over, they didn’t come close like before, instead stepping away. They even made sure I’d hear, saying things like ‘his sister has great fortune,’ and ‘she’s ignorant of her own luck.’ Sister, they said it so plainly—how could I not know?”

Lu Yun tilted his head at Lu Ying, not at all troubled by falling from popularity to being ostracized. Instead, his heart brimmed with joy and admiration for his sister. “Sister, have you solved your problem? The Ping clan won’t bother us anymore, will they? Sister, what method did you use? I heard those people say they’d been worried for you—heehee, you’re so clever.”

Lu Ying couldn’t help but smile. She mused silently: just recently, these wealthy families weren’t nearly so well-informed. Why did the news spread so quickly this time? Could it be that the nobleman had other intentions?

Having dealt with him several times, even with her keen intuition, Lu Ying could not quite fathom that nobleman. But reasonably, someone of such high rank would surely have strict standards for those around him. Even if some of his servants sought power or profit, anyone close to him would never be shortsighted or risk losing more for less.

So, hearing that word of her offending the nobleman had spread throughout the city so swiftly, Lu Ying instinctively thought it was likely he himself had leaked the news.

Smiling, Lu Ying recounted what had happened after she met the nobleman, then tilted her head and asked earnestly, “A Yun, last time you mentioned the newly appointed Three Elders who would soon inspect Hanyang. Are they arriving soon?”

The Three Elders were unique to this era. They governed education and morality, honoring those exemplary in loyalty, filial piety, and integrity, to promote virtue and suppress vice. They patrolled to prevent crime and theft.

“They’re supposed to arrive in a few days.”

“How long will they stay?”

“I don’t know. Teacher said a few days.”

“When they arrive, be sure to tell me right away—remember?”

“I will, sister.” At this, Lu Yun grew curious. “Sister, why are you so concerned about them? I’m not yet eligible for the filial piety recommendation.”

He paused, then said gloomily, “Besides, it’s so hard to be recommended for filial piety. Sister, I’ll work hard to study and try to become a scholar.”

In truth, getting the filial piety recommendation was easier than becoming a scholar, but those virtues of loyalty and filial devotion were not so easily recognized. The Ping family had worked for years and never been honored.

Seeing his sister unresponsive, Lu Yun turned to look at her.

He was met with Lu Ying, her brows slightly furrowed, lost in thought and somewhat absent-minded.

Lu Ying continued pondering even after returning home. Lu Yun, seeing her distracted, asked several times but got no clear answer, so he gave up.

Soon enough, the next day dawned.

After sending her brother off and visiting the morning market, Lu Ying was returning home when she heard a commotion from down the street.

As she drew near, the noise had mostly faded, leaving only a few neighbors gossiping. When they saw Lu Ying approach, they all turned to stare at her.

Each of them stared, occasionally whispering together. Lu Ying glanced up, but she would not go knocking on doors to ask questions, so she suppressed her curiosity and walked home.

Back inside, just as Lu Ying finished washing rice and started cooking, she heard a knock at the door.

“Who is it?”

“Is this the Lu maiden?” The voice was unfamiliar.

Lu Ying opened the door.

Outside stood two women. One was short and plump, around thirty, with thin lips and an air of eloquence, dressed tidily. The other wore a faded cloth blouse, was slightly taller, with a narrow face and sharp, shrewd eyes that fixed on Lu Ying from the moment she appeared.

Lu Ying did not know either of them.

But with a glance, she guessed these must be the matchmakers Wang Ke had mentioned. Why two? Could one be Wang Ke’s famously shrewd mother?

Smiling gently, Lu Ying said, “I am the Lu maiden. Please, come in.” She turned and led them inside.

Seeing her invite two strangers in without asking their identities, the tall woman frowned and said, “You’re A Ying of the Lu family? Your parents are gone, yet you let people in without question? Such behavior is far too forward!”

She began with reproach.

Lu Ying sighed inwardly, too weary to reply. She ignored the tall woman’s displeasure, entered the kitchen, poured water for both guests, then sat elegantly across from them and said coolly, “I’ve heard of you two.”

The short woman flashed a smile and was about to speak, but Lu Ying’s words gave her pause.

The tall woman looked at Lu Ying in surprise, her face puzzled.

Lu Ying took a sip of warm water and said calmly, “Were you just asking my neighbors about me?”

The tall woman understood. She looked Lu Ying up and down, baring her prominent teeth in a grin. “No wonder people say the Lu maiden is clever—she certainly is.” She frowned and quickly added, “But it’s one thing for a young lady to be clever; being bold and sharp-tongued is not acceptable.”

This Lu maiden was indeed beautiful, her appearance worthy of her son.

(In a mother’s eyes, her son was always unmatched—no one could be good enough. For this woman to think Lu Ying was worthy was the highest compliment.)

This courtyard was nice, too. From this angle, she could see a room packed full of scrolls. She’d heard of it, and now saw it herself—those bamboo scrolls were valuable, and a whole roomful could feed a family for half a lifetime. Excellent! She would soon propose that these scrolls be part of Lu Ying’s dowry.

In this era, dowries for women were changing. In many places, once a woman married, her dowry became her husband’s property. So, seeing that roomful of books, the tall woman’s eyes sparkled as she quietly calculated how to deal with them.

Then she looked at Lu Ying, whose indifferent expression and graceful bearing carried an indefinable air. Despite her displeasure, the tall woman thought: This temperament needs tempering.

Thinking thus, she scowled, “You, young lady, haven’t you only lived here a few months? Look at all the trouble you’ve caused in that time! And with the Ping clan as your maternal family, I hear you even shut them out? That won’t do!”

She continued her tirade.

Lu Ying was not one to suffer in silence. At first, she was mindful that matchmakers liked to gossip and intended to resolve things gently. Now, however, she grew impatient.

Leaning back, her fair, slender hands folded at her side, she raised her head slightly, her expression cold yet graceful, and fixed her gaze on the woman, asking slowly, “Madam, who are you?”

She curled her lips and said icily, “Madam, from the moment you stepped into my home, you have berated me. May I ask—do you even know me?” (To be continued)