Classmate.
It was indeed his fault.
A chill suddenly rose in Liu Donghuai's heart, along with a surge of overwhelming rage, an impulse to tear someone apart.
"It hurts so much!" Lingxi cried out.
The restraint on her hand was abruptly released.
Liu Donghuai's dark eyes held an unreadable emotion, his tense face cold and icy.
"Liu Donghuai, what's wrong?"
The woman frowned, her eyes filled with panic and worry.
Liu Donghuai gradually calmed down and asked in a low voice, "Are you injured?"
"No."
"Good, tell me, which small courtyard, which classmate?"
...
Liu Donghuai left the room, the gloom in his eyes gradually spreading again, his hands clenched into fists, his arms trembling.
Du Lin.
Zhou Xingshen.
They deserved to die.
After this, Liu Donghuai became even busier. He heard that the canal construction had begun, and the village schools were starting one by one. When Lingxi went shopping again, she could hear more public discussions. Most people were talking about the new county magistrate being young and capable, while others said he was seeking fame.
The schools were shared by several neighboring villages, built with voluntary donations from villagers. Donors would have their names inscribed on the stone tablets of the school.
For the school in Bozi Village, Xiao Shan was naturally inscribed first. The entire school was larger and brighter than those in other villages, capable of accommodating students from at least five surrounding villages.
The eternal Yangtze River, nurturing talent for a century, a prosperous nation and strong people must first be wise.
This was a good deed that would be remembered for ages, and everyone was grateful. It was also a time when the imperial court was vigorously selecting talent, so villagers who were even slightly well-off sent their children to school.
Soon, the schools were full.
The sound of diligent reading spread through the villages, and the look of hardship on the villagers' faces seemed to have disappeared. When they were tired from labor, they would stop outside the school to listen, and it would invigorate them.
Those who could not afford the tuition were allowed to listen from outside.
A circle of people often gathered outside the school.
When Lingxi returned to Bozi Village, she would always walk by the school. Seeing the books in the children's hands, many of which were copied by themselves, made her feel incredibly proud.
It made her feel that she was not useless and that there were many things she could do while alive.
Of course, she was even prouder of Liu Donghuai; he was truly a good official who loved his people.
He was always busy until very late at night. Sometimes, when she woke up in the middle of the night to use the privy, she would see the light still on in his study and go to remind him. As soon as she went, he would acknowledge her and quickly turn off the light, not saying another word to her.
This made Lingxi feel uneasy; he seemed to be avoiding her.
Later, Lingxi took the money she got from her third brother to buy pastries and brought him a plate of pastries every night before she went to bed.
He wanted to do things for the people, but he also needed to take care of his own health. Why did he have to work so hard?
For three consecutive nights, Liu Donghuai, who barely spoke to her, grabbed her arm as she was leaving.
He had watched for three nights and finally saw the words on the peach pit chain she wore on her hand.
The promise.
A promise to grow old together.
"Don't bring them anymore," he said in a low voice.
"What's wrong? You don't like sweets? This is the new chestnut flour cake from Wufuzhai, it's not very sweet. Try it? It's not good to make food late at night, and besides, my cooking skills..."
"No, I'm not hungry. You should go to bed earlier and don't come over anymore."
In the past, he felt he owed Su Yurou, so he always considered her feelings and only started copying books at night after she had fallen asleep.
Except for his mother occasionally waking up to remind him, no one had ever brought him food in the middle of the night. Of course, country folk weren't so delicate and didn't have the habit of eating in the middle of the night.
He really didn't want such a habit to form.
It would make people, breed greed.
"Liu Donghuai, you have to do things for the people, but you can't work yourself to death like this! I finally managed to get some, try it, it's really delicious, I haven't even been willing to eat it myself!"
Why should she give him food if she wasn't willing to eat it herself?
This sentence almost blurted out.
Liu Donghuai turned his gaze and saw their shadows cast on the window lattice, one tall and one short, silent and still.
The night was cold, and he was dressed thinly. If his body wasn't strong, he could easily catch a cold.
He was still very thin. It was because his family was poor before, but it was much better now. Why didn't he treat himself better?
"Try it."
Lingxi picked up a pastry and stuffed it directly into his mouth.
Liu Donghuai was startled and quickly backed away.
"I said I wouldn't eat it!"
He pushed her, and the pastry fell to the ground.
"Liu Donghuai!" Lingxi cried out in anger, looking at the broken pastry on the ground, feeling heartbroken. "This pastry costs 20 wen! You're making me so angry!"
That was the cost of copying a book!
It was ruined like this, and she had only eaten two pieces!
At 20 wen each, there were ten pieces in this plate. Liu Donghuai's flustered expression gradually deepened.
"Where did you get the money?"
"I, my imperial sister gave it to me." Lingxi's气势 immediately deflated, and she lowered her head.
Lying!
She didn't even dare to look him in the eye!
Liu Donghuai's heart tightened. He grabbed her arm and asked sternly, "Where did you get it from?"
His gaze had become terrifying again. Lingxi struggled, "I didn't steal your money, why are you shouting! I won't bring you anything anymore! Ungrateful wretch... You, what are you doing?"
Liu Donghuai approached again. Lingxi could even smell the ink on him. She felt extremely flustered and reached out to push him.
"I'll ask you one more time, who gave it to you?"
Did she do something for money?
Zhou Xingshen?
Or someone else.
"Third Brother! Third Brother gave it to me!"
As Liu Donghuai forced her against the wall, Lingxi shouted.
Third Brother, he knew him. He was that cold and mysterious young man with a golden lotus on his forehead. He was Xiao Niangzi's brother. When he first saw him upon returning to Bozi Village, he had recognized him.
He was very powerful.
Or perhaps...
A god.
"Why did he give you money?"
A sense of panic began to spread.
"He's my brother, can't he give me money?" Lingxi's eyes reddened, and she pushed him again, but couldn't move him.
The man looked thin, but he was really strong, unlike a woman.
What did he want!
Liu Donghuai lowered his head, looking at the pitiful woman trapped within the small space. If he lowered his head a little more, they would touch.
Some uncontrollable beast wanted to rush out from the depths of his heart.
"What brother is he? You have no relationship."
His head gradually lowered, getting closer and closer.
Lingxi froze, not daring to move at all. His enlarged face was before her eyes, and she could even see the fine hairs on it. Their breaths mingled.
She felt like she couldn't breathe.
"Why did you bring me food? Do you know that a girl shouldn't run into a man's room in the middle of the night? What are you thinking? Can't you maintain a distance from men, and don't casually take other people's things..."
Lingxi finally pushed him away fiercely and ran out without regard for anything.
Liu Donghuai had gone mad. He had gone mad.
Running back to her room, closing the door, and covering her now rapidly beating heart, Lingxi slowly slid to the floor.