Master Tong saw that his daughter had become so unfilial and rebellious, he thought that she must have been bewitched by an evil man. He trembled with anger and he decided to put his daughter under house arrest. He even made sure to hasten the preparation for her marriage. Tong Yu Er was anxious yet distressed, she cried and pleaded to her mother for help. Even though Mistress Tong loved her daughter dearly, she knew that her husband did it for her daughter’s own good. Instead of helping, she persuaded her daughter to follow through with the marriage. Tong Yu Er refused and went on a hunger strike as a protest. As her mother, Mistress Tong cried and finally gave in, yet Master Tong grew even angrier and he coldly spatted, “Even if you died, your memorial tablet will be placed on a sedan chair and be married off!”
That sentence put Tong Yu Er in complete misery as she lost hope. After she cried her heart out, she finally ate a little. When Mistress Tong assumed that her daughter had finally thought it through, she was elated and relieved. Thus, on a day that was raining cats and dogs, Tong Yu Er set up a plan and escaped her home as she went looking for Miao Chu He.
When Miao Chu He found out about what happened, how could he not be worried? Tong Yu Er was a weak girl since she had been spoiled since she was little. Could she even live without a maid? Even if she escaped, she would most probably be found by the Tong family very soon. Thus, Miao Chu He promptly decided to bring her to his sister’s house.
Afterall, his sister had always been kind and she loved him dearly. His sister was previously forced to marry too, surely she would be able to sympathize with Yu Er. He only had to beg her and she would definitely help them. Who knew that this would make his sister so angry in the end?
Once everyone finished listening to the story, Mr Wu sighed as he sympathized with them, Lu Zhong frowned slightly with furrowed brows, but Miao Cui Lan coldly glared at Miao Chu He before exclaiming at Mr Wu, “Now that you’ve heard it, Mr Wu. What do you say should be done?”
“Sister!”
“Chu He, your sister is right, both of you are in the wrong.” Mr Wu slowly stated, “Firstly, you don’t have a marriage certificate; secondly, you’re not engaged, this means you’re eloping! If the Tong family found you, all of you could be brought to court and your future would be ruined! Even if you don’t care about success or fame, and left Gu Xi Town with Miss Tong to elope, the life of endless wandering and hidden identities will not be a happy life. Let’s just talk about the daily necessities; do you think living is that simple? Miss Tong is used to a wealthy life, while you too had never earned a living by yourself. You might not even know how to use a weighing balance, are you sure you can take care of her? Huh, I think it would be tough to even take care of yourself! Don’t tell me that with love, drinking water would be enough. Once you’ve experienced it, you’ll know that it’s not real. You still have many days ahead of you, can you promise that your determination will be as strong as now? It wouldn’t be worth it if regret turned into a grudge. Even if both of you manage to live, you would be disgraced for life. Chu He, you would never be able to give back Miss Tong her dignity, and she would be scorned upon and laughed at. Both of you would never be able to come back to your parents. Even when you die, you would remain as wild souls! That won’t end with you, your children would be illegitimate and they will be forever a lower class compared to everyone else; they won’t ever be able to walk with their head held high. Did both of you clearly think through what you are about to do?”
When Miao Chu He and Tong Yu Er finished listening to the ‘speech’, their faces turned pale and sweaty. It was as if their heart was splashed with cold water!
Mr Wu’s words were like knives which cut into them word by word. However, they sat there without uttering a word because they knew very well that Mr Wu was telling the truth.
They did not care about what happens in the future. They believed that as long as they were together, they could overcome everything no matter how difficult life would be. But…
Miao Chu He could not accept that he would not be able to give the girl he loved the dignity she needed, letting her suffer and face the judgements of everyone. Even when she died, she would be a soul without a family to return to. Besides, how could Tong Yu Er let him give up on his bright future and to wander the world with her? Moreover, their children in the future would be illegitimate! She shivered at that thought, how could she do that?
Miao Cui Lan secretly sighed in relief when Mr Wu finished. She was worried that Mr Wu would stand with them at first, but this was better. What Mr Wu said made sense, and every sentence had no fault. They would have no choice but to give up! She deliberately gave a glimpse at them, knowing in her heart that what would happen next.
Tong Yu Er slowly rose to her feet, and she bowed, “About what happened today, I was too hasty. I’m sorry! I, I understand now, I’ll go home…”
“Yu Er!” Miao Chu He gasped worriedly.
“That’s enough!” Tong Yu Er held back the tears that were on the verge of escaping, and gently murmured, “Mr Wu is right, we thought that this whole ordeal was so simple. I, I’ve thought it through now, the life of endless wandering without a home to return to would be a treacherous journey. I’m sure I won’t ever get used to it. Instead of regretting it later on, wouldn’t it be better if we turn back now? I… I should go now! Goodbye!”
Tong Yu Er turned around and rushed out of the house.
“Yu Er!” Miao Chu He grabbed her arm, his eyes filled with sorrow and pain. He knew deep down that she did not mean that. He knew that she just did not want to prevent him from achieving his dreams, but what good would that do?
Tong Yu Er’s body stiffened but she did not look back, merely saying gently, “Chu He, let me go! Would I still have my dignity if I marry you? If I leave with you, would I still be able to face everyone with dignity?”
Miao Chu He was stupefied. He felt as though a piece of lead was pressing against his chest, restricting his breathing. His hand loosened the grip around her arm and dropped to his side. He stood there like a log, lost of any energy or will to keep her with him.
The moment his hand left her arm, she felt like nothing mattered, as if her soul had left with him; as if they would never meet or contact each other again for the rest of their life. She wanted to steal a glance at him, just a little peek would do, but she did not dare to. She feared that if she did look back, she would never be able to leave or even worse if she cried like a baby.
Clenching her teeth, Tong Yu Er fled from the house. All she left behind was the sound of her steps splashing the water on the ground before disappearing into the twilight.
Miao Cui Lan sighed heavily as she gently pulled on Miao Chu He’s sleeve, “I’m not being cold-hearted. You heard what Mr Wu said as well, without the marriage certificate, there’s no way you could be together! Oh, my little brother, do you think I don’t want you to live a comfortable life? Why did you…” Why did you fall for a girl like that? Why did their family not wait for you to finish your studies before setting up for marriage?
Miao Cui Lan’s eyes turned red, she could not help but choke on her tears.
“Sister, I understand,” Miao Chu He’s pain had become numb, and he glanced at Miao Cui Lan, “Back then, it must have been difficult for you too.”
Miao Cui Lan was startled, those memories brought tears to her eyes, and she hastily turned around to wipe them away with her sleeve. In the beginning, she was so angry at Miao Chu He and she even hated Tong Yu Er, thinking that she had seduced her little brother. Now that the girl left so suddenly, it pained her to see her little brother like this.
Mr Wu piqued up again, “Hey, both of you should stop being so upset! It’s already so late, Miss Tong might not know her way. It would be best to chase after her and make sure to send her off properly. Don’t create any problems or else it would be really troublesome!”
Miao Chu He woke up from his daze and he hastily rushed out.
“That little brat! Ugh!” Miao Cui Lan grew worried again. She stomped her feet as she put on a raincoat and chased after him. If someone were to send her home, it should have been her, how could it be Chu He? What if someone saw them? That would put them in trouble!
“Let’s go watch what happens!” Mr Wu got up and dragged Lu Zhong with him.
Suddenly he paused as he glanced at the two little girls at the corner and winked at them, “Girls, do you want to follow?”
Lu Xiao Shu really wanted to watch the commotion, yet it was still pouring outside. If she insisted on going, her mother would definitely give her an earful later, she had better not go…
So, she shook her head vigorously, “No, it’s pouring!”
Mr Wu chuckled at them while Lu Zhong called Lu Qi from his room to accompany his two little sisters before following Mr Wu out of the house.
After a while, the doorbell rang followed by noisy footsteps, signalling the return of the adults. The three children curiously peeked from the door.
They saw Miao Cui Lan holding a sobbing Tong Yu Er while soothing her with words that they could not hear. Lu Xiao Shu’s eyes went wide with amazement! Just what is happening? How did Mother’s attitude change so drastically? Uncle too, oh, he looked like he could’ve been a ghost just now, yet he looks a lot better now. Could it be? They took a walk outside and worked out the whole thing? That’s so amazing…
It turned out that Tong Yu Er was not planning to go home. After leaving the Lu family’s house, she walked aimlessly ahead. When she saw the river at the edge of the village, she walked directly towards it as if she was bewitched. She stood on the riverbank, looking at the turbid waves, suicide was on her mind. Luckily, Miao Chu He came in time to pull her away from the riverbank. Otherwise, if she jumped, she would never have survived the turbulent waters.
When Tong Yu Er saw her beloved rush up to her, she immediately broke down. She could not hold up her act anymore and she threw herself into his arms all while crying profusely. Miao Chu He’s heart ached as if it was stabbed by a knife. No one knew what would happen in the future, but if he had lost her, he would have never been able to find another girl just like her!
Miao Cui Lan sighed at the scene that was uncovered in front of her. Things turned out this way, what else could she say? This girl turned out to be a feisty one.
They had a change of clothes again and the few of them sat down for another round of discussion. Miao Cui Lan kept quiet, she was alright with them being together, but her only condition was that they had to do it properly with dignity. Eloping was out of the question.
Tong Yu Er and Miao Chu He were unsurprisingly elated, yet how could they continue on with honor and dignity when they had already made such a mistake?
Tong Yu Er hesitantly mumbled, “What if, what if I go home and find a way to steal the marriage certificate?”
Miao Cui Lan rebuked, “What good would it do? Is the name written on the marriage certificate Chu He’s?” The Miao family was small, and Miao Cui Lan’s father could not read. Back then, her marriage certificate was written by an old scholar, so Miao Cui Lan tricked him to write down Lu Zhong’s name. Her father did not even know that it was a wrong name written on the certificate. However, how could the Tong family members not be able to read?
