I Don't Want You To Marry Her

With light, joyful steps, Bai Ruxue ran down She Mountain and returned to the village.

As soon as Bai Ruxue entered the village, a crowd of aunties and elder ladies surrounded her.

"Ruxue, congratulations! Your Xiao Mo passed the imperial examination."

"Ruxue, you'll be a scholar's wife from now on."

"When Xiao Mo becomes a high official in the future, don't forget us old aunts and relatives!"

The aunties and elder ladies spoke one after another.

Bai Ruxue's eyes lit up, and she said happily, "Did Xiao Mo really pass?"

"Of course! Not only did Xiao Mo pass, but he was also the Jieyuan? He got first place! Even the County Magistrate came."

"Ruxue, you should have seen how polite the County Magistrate was to Xiao Mo. Usually, it's others who are so polite to the Magistrate."

"Brother Mo is truly the Wen Qu Star descended to earth!"

Listening to the praise for Xiao Mo from the various aunts and elder ladies, Bai Ruxue felt delighted in her heart.

Bai Ruxue didn't know what passing the imperial examination represented.

But Bai Ruxue knew that if Xiao Mo achieved what he set out to do, he would definitely be very happy.

If Xiao Mo was happy, she would be happy too.

Just as Bai Ruxue was about to run home, planning to cook him a delicious meal to celebrate, Widow Wang from the north of the village saw Bai Ruxue and hurried over:

"Ruxue, something's wrong! The County Magistrate is proposing marriage to Xiao Mo, wanting to marry his daughter to Xiao Mo."

"Huh?" The aunties and elder ladies were stunned.

Aunt Chen was the first to react and said to Widow Wang, "What nonsense are you spouting? Where did you hear such rumors?"

"It's not a rumor at all!" Widow Wang slapped her thigh. "I just happened to pass by Brother Mo's courtyard and overheard it!"

"This..."

"Ruxue, don't worry. It's possible Wang Mei misheard."

"Yes, Ruxue. You've taken such good care of Xiao Mo; he definitely won't let you down."

Everyone quickly comforted Bai Ruxue.

Everyone had seen how Bai Ruxue took care of Xiao Mo.

"That's what you say, but she's still the County Magistrate's daughter. If I were Brother Mo..." At this moment, a young woman muttered from the side.

But before she could finish, she was glared at by others.

"Aunt Chen, Aunt Wang, I... I'm fine," Bai Ruxue said with a slight smile. "Xiao Mo passed the imperial examination; I should be happy. I'll go cook for him to celebrate."

Bai Ruxue smiled slightly at everyone and then walked forward.

But looking at the girl's slightly dejected back, everyone knew Bai Ruxue couldn't possibly be fine.

But what could be done about such a matter?

Ruxue was indeed beautiful, but she was, after all, just a woman from an ordinary family.

Any man would find it hard to refuse the County Magistrate's daughter.

Bai Ruxue walked on the road home.

She didn't know what kind of feelings were swirling in her heart.

Her mind felt very confused.

She naturally understood what marriage meant.

Marriage meant a man and a woman being together, never separating.

"If Xiao Mo marries another woman, will I have to leave Xiao Mo?"

"Will Xiao Mo agree to the County Magistrate?"

"Will Xiao Mo abandon me?"

The more she thought, the more confused Bai Ruxue became.

Just as Bai Ruxue was about to reach the courtyard, she saw Xiao Mo bidding farewell to a man in official attire.

Bai Ruxue quickly hid behind a rock.

Seeing the two of them chatting happily, Bai Ruxue's heart skipped a beat.

Could it be that Xiao Mo had already agreed to marry his daughter?

After the County Magistrate left, Bai Ruxue slowly stood up and returned to the courtyard.

"Ruxue, you're back."

"Mhm."

"I have good news for you. I passed the imperial examination."

"Mhm."

"Ruxue, what's wrong? Did something happen?" Xiao Mo asked when he saw Bai Ruxue keeping her head down.

"No. Nothing's wrong. I. I'll go cook for you today, celebrate properly." Bai Ruxue shook her head and ran into the kitchen.

A little over half an hour later, Bai Ruxue came out with the dishes.

Xiao Mo looked at the appetizing shredded chicken, which smelled and looked delicious. He couldn't wait to take a bite, but he almost choked to death.

"Xiao Mo, what's wrong?" Bai Ruxue quickly poured him a glass of water.

"Try it yourself." Xiao Mo put a piece on her plate.

Bai Ruxue took a bite, and her face instantly turned green.

"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey!"

Bai Ruxue quickly spat out the chicken.

"Um. My hand slipped just now, I put in too much salt. Xiao Mo, eat this." Bai Ruxue put a piece of green vegetable on his plate.

Xiao Mo took a bite of the vegetable, his expression complicated. "Ruxue, did you forget to put salt in the vegetables?"

"Huh? Then try this one." Bai Ruxue added a piece of rabbit meat.

"This rabbit meat is too sour!" Xiao Mo could barely take it. "How much vinegar did you put in?"

"I. I'll go make it again." Bai Ruxue ran back to the kitchen.

The food Bai Ruxue made the second time was alright.

However, when Bai Ruxue ate, she seemed lost in thought, just shoveling rice into her mouth, forgetting to take any dishes.

While washing the dishes, Bai Ruxue broke two plates.

While hanging clothes, Bai Ruxue took the clothes off the drying rack and put them in the basin, then took them out of the basin and put them on the drying rack.

This repeated.

While sweeping the courtyard, she swept one spot over and over again.

Xiao Mo was sure she had something on her mind.

Night fell. After dinner, Bai Ruxue didn't go back to her room to sleep. She just sat in the courtyard, looking up at the stars.

Xiao Mo walked out of his room, picked up a book, and gently patted Bai Ruxue's head.

Bai Ruxue was startled and glared at Xiao Mo with her peach blossom eyes, playfully annoyed. "You scared me! What are you doing?"

"I should be asking you that. You've been listless all day. Come on, tell me what happened." Xiao Mo asked with mock seriousness.

"I. I didn't." Bai Ruxue turned her head away.

"Really nothing?"

"Really nothing!"

"If there's nothing, then forget it. Sigh." Xiao Mo sighed. "I thought I was important to you, that you'd tell me everything. It seems I was just being wishful."

Just as Xiao Mo turned to go back to his room, feeling dejected, Bai Ruxue gently tugged on his clothes.

The woman lowered her head and said softly, "No. It's not like that…"

"Then why aren't you telling me?"

"I, I." Bai Ruxue hesitated, wanting to speak but unable to, burying her head almost in her chest.

Xiao Mo didn't rush, just waited for her answer.

"Xiao Mo." The girl seemed to gather all her courage, looked up, and asked nervously, "The County Magistrate wants to marry his daughter to you, right?"

"How did you know?" Xiao Mo was taken aback.

"I. I heard!" Bai Ruxue's eyes darted around. "Are you going to marry her?"

"Does Miss Bai think I should marry her?"

Bai Ruxue lowered her head again, falling into silence, her small hands gently rubbing his clothes.

After a long time, the woman's voice was as faint as the evening breeze. "I. I don't want you to marry her…"

"Silly girl."

Xiao Mo pinched the woman's tender little cheek.

"Then I won't marry her."