The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 592 - 581: Am I Beautiful?

Chapter 592: Chapter 581: Am I Beautiful?

Guan Xin was one of the old soldiers who caused a ruckus on the streets last year, calling friends to drink and eat meat everywhere, and he was even the leader of one of those groups.

When Manbao mentioned to Yang Heshu, "Getting married would be good," Yang Heshu then found a way to get them wives.

Of course, it was based on the principle of voluntariness, so Guan Xin, who did not fancy any of the women, was left alone. Eventually, he took a liking to Zhou Xi when he was dining at Qian’s Restaurant.

These soldiers found it hard to get wives, especially since they were a group of old soldiers who had been to battle, were older, had injuries, but had no military accomplishments to advance to official positions. In the event of a border conflict, they would be the first to be called to fight.

So which well-off girl would want to marry them?

Basically, the women Yang Heshu introduced to them were either widows or women who, for various reasons, remained single well into their years, to the point where the imperial court was about to forcibly assign them partners.

Of course, Yang Heshu was not that dictatorial. He just gathered these groups of men and women together and let them meet in the courtyard of the County Governmental Office.

Then he arranged for two matchmakers to run around passing messages, and in less than three days, most of the newly transferred single soldiers had found matrimonial matches.

As a result, the streets of Luojiang County became much quieter, no longer filled with the shouting of drunk soldiers linking arms and staggering around.

Guan Xin and a few soldiers who hadn’t been able to find someone suitable at the matchmaking event were left alone. After Yang Heshu arranged a couple more meetings, in the end, only Guan Xin remained single.

He had taken a fancy to Zhou Xi.

The first time they met, Guan Xin thought it had been pleasant. Of course, that was just what Guan Xin believed—Zhou Xi didn’t think there was anything delightful about their first encounter, she didn’t even remember Guan Xin then.

By that time, it was February, and the family had started plowing the fields. Zhou Dalang and Zhou Wulang went back to farm, leaving Junior Ms. Qian and Zhou Xi busy in the restaurant with Datou and Daya.

Guan Xin, though a thick-headed soldier, was not short on money. After all, when one is full, the whole family has no worries. So one day, as he left the barracks, he intended to visit his regular tavern. Passing by Qian’s Restaurant, he saw a man kneeling in front of the restaurant crying bitterly. Curious, he stood watching for a while. He only paused for that brief moment when Zhou Xi, holding a kitchen knife, rushed out of the restaurant. She charged past him and swung her knife at the man...

Then Guan Xin couldn’t move his legs. After the commotion, he learned that the man was Liu Dalang, Zhou Xi’s former husband.

The reason he was kneeling there was to plead for Zhou Xi to remarry him.

And then Guan Xin learned of their grievances and disputes from Junior Ms. Qian’s scolding.

Liu Dalang had once sought to divorce Zhou Xi on the grounds that she couldn’t bear children. Although they ended up separating consensually, a grudge between the two families had been established.

Afterward, Liu Dalang married a widow who bore a child. According to Junior Ms. Qian, the child was not Liu Dalang’s.

So the problem was not with Zhou Xi, but with Liu Dalang.

Junior Ms. Qian dared to say this also because Zhou Xi had seen a doctor. The resentment had been stuck in Junior Ms. Qian’s chest for many years, and now that Liu Dalang had carelessly shown up, she certainly wouldn’t let it slide.

Did he really think that Zhou Xi hadn’t remarried all these years because she couldn’t?

He wishes!

The aunt and niece, one wielding a knife with fierceness and the other with a sharp tongue, directly made Liu Dalang turn pale and flee in a panic.

It was said that the next day, the brothers of the Zhou Family even went to Liu Dalang’s village, caught him, and beat him up again, and no one in the Liu family dared to utter a word.

From that day on, whenever Guan Xin could get out of the barracks, he would eat at Qian’s Restaurant and take any chance to talk to Zhou Xi.

As for Manbao, as long as she had time, she would slip into the city to enjoy delicious food. After a few visits, the two got to know each other.

Guan Xin knew that this little girl was the darling of the Zhou Family; Manbao was aware that this big-bearded soldier had unsavory intentions towards her elder sister.

Meeting here, no matter what they thought inside, everyone wore a beaming smile on their faces.

When the shopkeeper brought out two baskets from the kitchen, Manbao and Bai Shanbao lifted the lids to check. After confirming they were correct, they were about to pay when Guan Xin immediately intervened, offering, "I’ll pay, I’ll pay. Since Brother Guan has met you here, how could I let you pay? It’s my treat."

Bai Shanbao looked at Manbao.

Of course, Manbao didn’t like it. Didn’t she know what her elder sister thought? How could they owe someone a favor in this regard?

So Manbao insisted on paying herself.

Seeing that Guan Xin’s hand continuously pressed down on hers to prevent her from paying, Manbao grew a little angry and said with a stern face, "Brother Guan, I want to pay myself!"

Guan Xin was stunned for a moment. As he hesitated whether to insist further, Bai Shanbao had already taken out a piece of silver from his pocket, handed it to the shopkeeper, and said, "Put it on our tab. Just deduct our meal costs from this in the future."

The shopkeeper hurriedly agreed and sent them out with a cheerful smile.

Guan Xin watched them leave with a look of regret.

His companion whistled in amazement, "That young mistress is so young, but she carries quite a presence! But, Brother Guan, things don’t look great for you. The young mistress wasn’t happy about you paying the bill. It’s obvious their family doesn’t want to marry into yours."

Guan Xin also sighed, "If only I weren’t a soldier."

"That might be a bit difficult; we can’t exactly go back into our mothers’ wombs and be born somewhere else."

Bai Shanbao walked beside Manbao with the baskets in hand, tilting his head to look at her, "Do you also disdain him for being a soldier?"

"Not at all," Manbao said. "Great Jin is guarded by them, we are guarded by them, why would I disdain them?"

She paused, then added, "But getting married is my elder sister’s affair. She has to make her own choice. I don’t even know if she’s willing. If she isn’t, it would be difficult for me if I accepted his kindness, wouldn’t it?"

Bai Shanbao nodded. After thinking for a bit, he said, "Actually, Guan Xin is not a bad person. He could be considered as a prospect."

"You should tell that to my elder sister," Manbao fretted. "I don’t even know what kind she likes."

Bai Shanbao asked her curiously, "What type do you like then? You are sisters; you should have similar tastes, right?"

"Then Brother Guan doesn’t stand a chance," she replied.

"Why not?"

Manbao said, "Because I like handsome ones."

Bai Shanbao: "...What do you consider handsome?"

Manbao’s eyes sparkled as she dreamily said, "He should look like a celestial being, so extraordinarily handsome that it counts. I don’t know for now, but I’ll tell you when I see one."

Bai Shanbao quickened his pace, then turned to stand in front of her, slightly tilting his chin and asked, "Do you not find me handsome?"

Manbao looked at him and politely said, "You’re okay."

Bai Shanbao frowned, "What kind of answer is that?"

"I’m too familiar with you; I can’t tell if you’re handsome or not right away. Maybe you haven’t grown up yet."

"I haven’t grown up, but have you?"

Manbao said, "I didn’t say that I had. My sister-in-law said that I would grow to be even more beautiful in another three or four years..."

Bai Shanbao: ...It seemed like they were talking about the same topic, yet it also felt like they weren’t.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.