Er Ni

"There were five weaving factories of all sizes in Yan Prefecture, and only one had an owner surnamed Liu: Liu Shi Fabric Workshop. It was located in Feng Family Village in the North Suburb." That evening, after dinner, Liu Yuanyang brought Liu Yuanzhou some good news.

Liu Yuanzhou had jumped up in excitement.

Yan Province City had three gates—the East Gate, South Gate, and North Gate. The so-called North Suburb referred to the area within seven or eight li of the North Gate. Ma Family Village, Feng Family Village, and five or six other villages were scattered across the gently rolling hills.

Moreover, Yan Province City had been built against the mountains, leaving little room. The city itself was not large, and every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, so many workshops chose to build in the villages outside the city.

Early the next morning, Liu Yuanzhou left after breakfast and hurried toward Feng Family Village. He was going to look for Er Ni.

After leaving the North Gate, he followed the official road for two or three li before entering Feng Family Village's territory. Liu Yuanzhou was still not certain, so when he spotted a general store by the roadside, he went in and asked the shopkeeper. Only then did he confirm that this was indeed Feng Family Village.

Turning onto the main road into the village, he found many pedestrians traveling in twos and threes along the broad road. Mule Carts occasionally rolled past, some covered ones carrying passengers and others hauling goods. Before long, the road forked ahead. Liu Yuanzhou stopped a passerby to ask for directions, then took the left road.

After walking a little farther, he saw several old men squatting beneath a wall in the morning sun, smoking dry tobacco and chatting. Liu Yuanzhou went over and asked, "Sir, do you know how to get to Liu Shi Fabric Shop?"

One of the old men stood and pointed. "There, right over there. There's a sign above the gate."

Liu Yuanzhou hurriedly thanked him and walked in the direction he had indicated.

After less than a few hundred steps, he indeed saw a courtyard enclosed by tall walls on his left. A horizontal plaque hung above the gate, bearing the four large characters: Liu Shi Fabric Shop.

Liu Yuanzhou took a deep breath and calmed the excitement and unease in his heart. Then he climbed the steps toward the fabric shop's gate.

The gate stood wide open. Once he crossed the threshold, a broad courtyard stretched out before him. A row of Big Willow Trees lined the walls, while directly opposite the entrance stood a row of large tiled houses, presumably the weaving workshops.

An old man guarding the gate sat behind it. Seeing a stranger enter, he asked, "Young man, what are you here for? Buying goods or looking for someone?"

Liu Yuanzhou quickly said, "Sir, I'm here to find someone."

Before he had finished speaking, a teenage boy came hopping toward the gate. When he got close, he raised his head and stared at Liu Yuanzhou for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, "You're Second Child?"

Looking at the boy, Liu Yuanzhou said happily, "Gou Wa, this is great. You really are here." Gou Wa was Er Ni's younger brother.

Seeing that the two knew each other, the old gatekeeper stopped paying attention to Liu Yuanzhou.

The boy called Gou Wa immediately put on a stern face and lowered his voice. "Don't call me Gou Wa. I have a proper name now. Call me He Fugui."

Liu Yuanzhou secretly laughed. Gou Wa had grown up and thought his childhood name sounded bad. Looking at his clothes again, he saw they were much better than when he had been in the village. It seemed the family was living quite well in the city.

Liu Yuanzhou hastily said, "All right, Fugui. I'll remember that." He did not want to offend Er Ni's younger brother. Perhaps he would become his future brother-in-law.

Only then did He Fugui's expression soften. He smiled, revealing two large canine teeth, and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Liu Yuanzhou was briefly at a loss for words. He could not exactly say that he had come to find his sister, Er Ni. With a turn of thought, he smiled. "Hehe, I was passing by and saw Liu Shi Fabric Shop. It felt familiar, so I came in to take a look. I didn't expect to run into you."

As he spoke, he raised the pastries in his hand. "I bought some pastries for you. They're from Old Wang Pastry, very famous." He had deliberately bought them that morning.

He Fugui's eyes immediately lit up. He stared at the pastries in Liu Yuanzhou's hands but did not reach out to take them.

One look at him, and Liu Yuanzhou knew he was craving them. He stuffed the two packages of pastries into his arms. "Take them and eat."

Holding the pastries, He Fugui beamed. "Second Child, you're really nice. Then I'll go play first."

Liu Yuanzhou quickly grabbed him. "Don't be in such a hurry to leave. It's rare to meet someone from the village, so let's talk a little. Um, do your parents and your sister all work here?"

He Fugui nodded, his face full of pride. "See this big factory? My uncle owns all of it. My parents and Second Sister all work here, and they earn lots of money every month."

Putting on an envious expression, Liu Yuanzhou exclaimed, "Really? That's amazing! You said Er Ni Jie works here too. Ah, I haven't seen her in so long—I really miss her. We used to play together all the time when we were little. Go call her out. I suddenly remembered something I need to tell her."

Without a second thought, He Fugui said, "Wait here. I'll call Second Sister out. She probably doesn't have much to do right now."

With that, carrying the pastries, he hopped and skipped farther inside.

Only after He Fugui had gone far away did Liu Yuanzhou let out a long breath. He secretly marveled at how lucky he had been today.

After waiting patiently for about the time it took an incense stick to burn, he saw someone emerge from behind the tiled houses. Liu Yuanzhou's eyes widened. If it was not Er Ni, then who could it be?

Liu Yuanzhou's heart pounded wildly, and he ran forward without thinking. "Er Ni!"

Er Ni stopped and looked at Liu Yuanzhou. A flash of delight passed through her eyes as she asked in a trembling voice, "Second Child, you... why are you here?"

Looking at the smiling woman before him, Liu Yuanzhou was entranced. All the resentment he had carried before melted into tender affection. At that moment, his heart was sweet and warm, and a surge of heat rose from within it. Unable to restrain himself, he grasped her soft hand.

Er Ni blushed and quickly pulled her hand back. Her eyes darted around, and she said shyly, "People are watching."

Only then did Liu Yuanzhou realize that in his emotional agitation, he had been too abrupt with her. He withdrew his hand and said apologetically, "Er Ni, I'm sorry. How about we go out for a walk?"

Er Ni gave a soft hum and agreed.

After the two left the gate, Er Ni said, "There's a pavilion by the river. Let's go sit there."

Liu Yuanzhou nodded repeatedly. He could not have wished for anything more than a quiet place where they could pour out the feelings of their separation.

Er Ni led the way down a small path. After twisting and turning through several bends, the two finally reached a small pavilion by the river.

Looking at Liu Yuanzhou, Er Ni asked curiously, "Why did you come to the city?" She lowered her head, her face reddening as her voice softened. "Did you come specially to find me?"

Liu Yuanzhou said, "I came to the city to work. It took a lot of effort before I found out you were here."

"Oh, you came to the city to work too." Er Ni lifted her head, her expression returning to normal. "Where do you work?"

Liu Yuanzhou then briefly told Er Ni about how he had come to work at Yan Province Academy.

Although Er Ni did not know what kind of place Yan Province Academy was, that did not stop the secret delight in her heart. Her entire family had come to the city to seek refuge with relatives, and she had thought her feelings for Liu Yuanzhou had ended. After all, they were too far apart. She did not have the courage to run back to the village alone and secretly pledge herself to Liu Yuanzhou, nor did she have the means to bring Liu Yuanzhou to the city.

She was only an ordinary woman—aside from her extraordinary looks. Besides, she was nearly twenty now and had matured considerably. Thus, after coming to the city, she had ruthlessly cut off this relationship and had not even sent a single letter back.

Liu Yuanzhou's sudden appearance made her long-slumbering feelings rise again from dead ashes.

As she listened to Liu Yuanzhou speak in an unhurried stream, looking at that familiar yet unfamiliar face and those eyes—deep with affection—Er Ni gradually became entranced as well. Her eyes shimmered with moisture.

Er Ni had changed greatly in Liu Yuanzhou's eyes as well. Her clothes and accessories were fashionable, and she wore a light touch of makeup, yet she was still as beautiful and moving as ever.

Without realizing it, the two clasped hands. Er Ni leaned naturally into Liu Yuanzhou's embrace. Neither spoke. At that moment, all their former resentments had turned into tender affection.

So long as they could embrace each other at this moment, what did all those past bitter hardships matter?

"Er Ni, why are you here? Who is he?!" An angry man's voice suddenly rang out.

Liu Yuanzhou and Er Ni sprang apart at once.

A trace of panic and shyness appeared on Er Ni's face. In a low voice, she said, "Steward Bai, I... I came to see a friend. I'll go back to work right away."

But irritation surged in Liu Yuanzhou's heart. Could this be the man Li Er mentioned?

He stared at the so-called Steward Bai without saying a word.

Steward Bai did not even look at Liu Yuanzhou. He said to Er Ni, "Er Ni, although you are related to the owner, since you work in the factory, you must follow the factory's rules."

Er Ni's face instantly reddened. She said quietly, "I'll go back to work now." Then she turned to Liu Yuanzhou and quickly said, "Second Child, I'm going back first. Come find me when you have time." With that, she hurried away.

After Er Ni had gone far away, Steward Bai finally shot Liu Yuanzhou a vicious glare. With a dark expression, he too left.

Watching Steward Bai's retreating figure, Liu Yuanzhou clenched his fists. A man's intuition told him that there would inevitably be a struggle between them. Liu Yuanzhou firmly believed that the final victory would surely be his.