The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 810 - 173: I Am Not a Coward_2

Chapter 810: Chapter 173: I Am Not a Coward_2

The meal was quickly served, and Hong Xia came over to invite her, "Please, Ms. Shen, join us for a meal."

Shen Rou could hardly stomach any food, but she did not want Pei Qin and the others to look down on her even more, so she forced herself to come out.

Pei Qian had not come back for the meal. The Zhang Dacheng family was all at the breeding farm, and she would not go without food there, so they did not wait for her.

They ate a simple lunch at two tables.

Fang Fu then proposed to leave, telling Shen Rou to settle herself in Liu’er Alley and rest well.

Fang Liuming glanced at Pei Qin and also clasped his hands, saying goodbye to Fang Fu.

Shen Rou chased after them to the door, her eyes brimming with tears as she called out, "Brother Liuming!"

"Ms. Shen, rest for a couple of days. If there is a caravan heading north to the capital, I will immediately send someone to take you home!" Fang Liuming clasped his hands, turned, and mounted the carriage.

Shen Rou could barely stand and leaned on her maidservant, her complexion pale. He had actually been heartlessly unfeeling, all for that one cousin.

Mo Heng instructed the servants to take good care of Ms. Shen, then took Pei Qin and Jiujiu back to the back courtyard.

Hong Xia kept her eyes on Shen Rou, preventing her from running off to find Fang Liuming. If she made it to the Fang family, it would be difficult for the young master to explain. The Fang family held their young mistress in high regard, but Old Master Fang did not think much of their young mistress. Seeing this daughter of the Official’s family would certainly cause a commotion that everyone would know about, and then the young master would have no choice but to take responsibility for Ms. Shen.

Upon arriving home, Fang Liuming and Fang Fu found both the Fang family and Fang Family Village wildly excited, people crowding around as if they had never seen Fang Liuming before, insisting on taking another look.

Fang Li excitedly pulled his son, "Dalang! You are now a Sixth Rank Capital Official. Where is your official uniform? Put it on and let Dad have a look!"

Fang Liuming, somewhat helpless, had him sit down and knelt down to pay respects to Old Scholar Fang, Grandma Fang, and his parents.

Fang Fu also kowtowed to his parents, "Dad, Mom, we’re back!"

"Good! Good!" Grandma Fang wiped away tears from her eyes, moved with excitement.

Lady Ruan was also overjoyed. Her daughter was already several years old, but because her husband had gone to Capital Jingcheng for studies, she had not been pregnant for a long time. Each time she returned to her parental home, her parents would urge her, worrying that if she did not bear a son soon, her position would be insecure.

Rising to his feet, Fang Fu glanced at his wife and daughter and beckoned Fang Xin over.

"Quickly call Dad!" Lady Ruan said softly.

Fang Xin was not a little child, but seven or eight years old. They had only been apart for just over two years. Despite feeling a bit strange and scared, she still felt affection and tenderness towards her father, so she threw herself into his arms, "Dad!"

Fang Fu held his daughter and joyfully responded to her exclamation.

Lady Yu’s eyes were red as well. "Have you eaten? I’ll go make you something! You must be exhausted from the journey!" Her urgent message had been sent not long ago, and they had already hurried back; they certainly must have traveled without stopping.

"We already ate at Qin’s place when we passed through the town on our way back!" Fang Fu said smilingly, telling her there was no need to prepare anything.

Grandma Fang opened the sugar and snacks she had brought and shared them with the visitors, "We didn’t bring much, just a taste for you all."

Everyone was calling out to share in Sir Fang’s good fortune, and someone even said, "Liuming has returned this time to get married, right?"

Fang Liuming was only a year younger than Pei Qin. He was now twenty, young and promising, and serving as a Capital Official. It was certainly time for him to take a wife. The girls present knew they had no hope, but they all wondered what kind of bride Fang Liuming would marry, and if she would be a daughter of the Official’s family, a well-bred lady.

"I’ve come back this time to finalize the marriage. We’ll invite you all to the wedding when the time comes!" Fang Liuming said generously, smiling.

On hearing this, the crowd enthusiastically inquired which family’s daughter it was, and if she was from Capital Jingcheng.

Fang Liuming did not elaborate further but spent time conversing with the guests.

After everyone was sent away, Lady Yu anxiously asked, "You went straight to Qin’s place as soon as you got back. What did she say?"

Fang Liuming’s expression was somewhat bitter.

"She’s not really preparing to promise Qianqian to that young master of the Wang family, is she?" Lady Yu’s expression was not good.

"Just a Wang family young master has caught their eye. Let them be! Our Dalang is now a Capital Official; the woman he marries will be an officer’s wife. Not everyone is entitled to such fortune. It’s perfect for finding Dalang a noble match. With Dalang’s current status, which family’s daughter could he not marry?" Fang Li immediately chimed in.

Seeing his reaction, if he knew about Shen Rou’s existence, he certainly would not let the matter drop. Fang Liuming glanced at Fang Fu, "Dad, Mom, I’ve sworn in this lifetime to marry Cousin Qian, and I surely will marry her! Cousin heard some rumors or read in a book that marrying close relatives can lead to children with intellectual disabilities or disabilities. She’s just worried about that. But now that Cousin Qian and I have pledged our love to each other, she will no longer obstruct us!"